Calhoon Marine Engineering School

The Calhoon Marine Engineering School is critical for the MEBA. It maintains our status as the top notch Marine Engineering Union and allows us to confidently state in negotiations we have the talent, the training, and drive to constantly improve and provide the best engineers.

The Training Plan had only a year or two of funding left when I first became a Trustee in 2014. The administrations since then have worked hard to steeply increase contributions while slashing costs at the school. All of the Calhoon school employees shared in this effort to do more with less, and deserve our appreciation. The school now looks as good as ever and finally has a balanced budget.

The Calhoon school recently installed a fire fighting rig to be able teach basic safety and firefighting courses on our campus, and sell the surplus time to other unions. There also is the beginning of a partnership with Wartsila for the Calhoon school to be the North American training center for Wartsila slow speed engines. The school must continue to adapt as technology does, and prepare for the coming wave of LNG vessels and the new Electro Technical Officer rating that will be required in the near future. These and other initiatives are imperative to keep our school relevant, thriving, and delivering on its mission.

In recent years, the school has expanded its use of property to achieve income through rentals and weddings, as well as establishing a flourishing conference hosting business for the Eastern Shore of Maryland. All these efforts directly offset the training costs at the school and allow increased and improved training opportunities.

The placement of the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial on campus is an honor for our union, and we must all spend some moments of silence there when visiting the school. Consider donating to the cause if you can.

https://www.mebaschool.org/about-us/merchant-marine-memorial