b'particular, are prime candidates for a spot in the passenger vessel work-force and there is no place better to discover what their future may hold than through PVA.In fact, several of our cadets have interned with PVA at the Virginia headquarters, with one hired upon graduation. Speaking of cadets who have gone on to enjoy a career in the passenger vessel industryAngela Sampson, a member of the Academys graduating class of 2006, holds a position with the Woods Hole, Marthas Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship Authority, a PVA member.With vessels ranging from whale-watching and harbor excursion,all the way to large ferry systemsthat carry thousands of passengers daily, the need for workforce development is significant. Graduating with a degree in Marine Safety and Environmental Pro-tection, Sampson was hired by the Steamship Authority to create a Health, Safety, Quality, and Environmental (HSQE) program from the ground up. This department oversees approximately 800 em-ployees, and I am a department of one, said Sampson. Due to this, it was imperative to create the first ever MMA internship program within my department.Every year, Sampson helps mentor and train 2/Class and 1/Class cadets. These juniors and seniors work in the Steamship Authoritys HSQE de-partment for approximately six weeks and gain skills, knowledge, and experience in supporting regulatory compliance programs. Cadets in the past have assisted with medical surveillance, hazardous materials, and compliance training programs via the Steamship Authoritys Learning Management System. Cadets also attend environmental, health, and safety compliance audits and learn about state, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and U.S. Coast Guard regulations. In addition, the marine operations department employs cadets to serve as ordinary seaman, able bodied seaman, and oilers. This provides the opportunity for cadets to obtain necessary sea time for their maritime credentials and to learn valued maritime expertise in the passenger trans-portation industry. Said Sampson, I am very excited that the Steamship Authority has a close relationship with the Academy, and I am equally excited about it combination with challenges in recruiting a new cohort of employees isgrower even stronger in the future. Robert Davis, general manager of critical to consistent industry operations. Building the next generationthe Woods Hole, Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Author-of crew members will help passenger vessels find the staff they need toity, echoed those sentiments, saying Our relationship with the Massa-deliver the quality of service guests are accustomed to. chusetts Maritime Academy is instrumental to our ongoing recruitment efforts. So many of our employees come to us with an MMA education We recognize that the passenger vessel industry presents an outstand- and go on to have long careers here. Its a partnership that we have had ing opportunity for many of our graduates (and those looking aheadfor decades and hope to deepen in the decades to come.to graduation) in which to build experience. For certain, some of our students have a clear vision of their career path, while others are not asCharles B. Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Lines, add-certain about the route they wish to follow. Those latter students, ined to that theme. We are very proud of the strong partnership between 19 NOVEMBER 2022'