Texas A&M Galveston marks National Maritime Day at the Port of Galveston
The annual May 22 observance honors mariners, recognizes a vital U.S. industry, and remembers those who died.
Texas A&M University at Galveston will commemorate National Maritime Day on Friday, May 22, the date designated by Congress in 1933 to celebrate the first steam-powered transoceanic voyage. The American steamship S.S Savannah set sail from the port of Savannah, Georgia on that date in 1819.
The annual observance honors U.S. Merchant Mariners and the maritime industry while remembering those seafarers lost. More than 6,700 died during World War II.
“Mariners play a vital role in driving our economy and ensuring our prosperity in times of peace, as well as transporting equipment and supplies to our armed forces during wartime,” said Capt. Allan Post, assistant vice president for Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) and deputy superintendent of Texas A&M Maritime Academy. “They work under harsh and unpredictable conditions, navigating the world’s oceans to keep our stores stocked and maintain the flow of global trade.”
On Friday, May 22, TAMUG will join the community in observing National Maritime Day at the Port of Galveston Big Maritime Day Event, where Col. Michael E. Fossum, vice president of Texas A&M University, chief operating officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston, and superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, will serve as the keynote speaker.
The free public event, sponsored by Moody Bank, is scheduled from 8:30 to 11:33 a.m. at Cruise Terminal 16, 1602 Harborside Drive.
Fossum will speak about the importance of maritime careers and the need for more mariners, topics of focus for many TAMUG faculty, including Dr. Cassia Bomer Galvao, an associate professor of maritime studies.
“Maritime excellence is ultimately built through people: educated, respected, supported, and empowered professionals who keep global trade and maritime operations moving forward,” Galvao said.
Galvao, whose research and teaching focus on maritime labor and workforce development, also sees National Maritime Day as issuing a challenge.
“It should serve as a call to action for rebuilding and strengthening the American maritime industry at a moment when the country faces significant challenges in attracting, retaining, and sustaining a robust commercial fleet capable of supporting both international trade and national security objectives,” Galvao said.
