Technology and Library Services
Library Services
Hours
The MMA Library, located on the first and second floors of the ABS Information Commons, opens at 0700, Monday through Friday. Daily, weekend, and special hours of operation can be found on the Library web page.
Collections
The library maintains an outstanding collection of print and electronic books, journals, newspapers, media and online databases. Remote access to the digital collection is available 24x7 for students and faculty. The collection contains more than 535,000 volumes with access to thousands of full-text journal and newspaper subscriptions in print and online. The library is fully integrated within a library network, affording access to millions of volumes by courier and inter-library loan services. Materials required for license examinations are loaned to students for the semester. Professional staff are available to assist with research using scholarly resources and the Academy Archives.
Computing
Students can bring their personal laptops and use the wireless system or utilize computers located throughout the ABS building that are connected to the campus-wide network and Internet. Laptops and tablets are also available to students on a short-term loan basis from the Service Desk.
Course Support
Faculty can request library support specific to their courses. Librarians are available for in-class research tutorials, creating web-based course guides, and embedding research guides directly into Blackboard courses. Faculty can also request that books or other research materials be placed on reserve for their courses; these are available for short-term borrowing by students.
Service Desk
The IT Service Desk is located at the library’s circulation counter. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to ask for IT- and library-related assistance in person, by telephone at (508-830-5308), via e-mail to servicedesk@maritime.edu, or via the online ticketing system at helpdesk.maritime.edu. The IT Service Desk offers assistance with any technology-related issues, including user accounts, access to Academy systems and computer equipment loans.
Simulation Technology
The Academy now maintains nine simulators that form an integral part of student education.
Ship Handling
The Maersk McKinney Moeller Ship’s Simulation Center is a state-of-the-art navigation and full-mission simulator with a 360-degree horizontal field of view, and is only one of nine such simulators in the world. It enables trainees to be fully immersed in the virtual environment, thus increasing training realism. The simulator can be fully integrated with the Tugboat and ENL simulators, and it is highly configurable. Instructors can manipulate everything from the number of ships in the channel and the weather to the time of day and the current.
Liquid Cargo Handling
The George P. Livanos Dangerous Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator (LCHS) is designed to train and certify crew members of liquid cargo tankers, gas carriers, and terminals, and it is used to train other staff responsible for safe cargo handling and the operation of auxiliary equipment.
Electronic and Navigation
The Electronic and Navigation Lab (ENL) is a computer-based navigation system compliant with International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and can be used as an alternative to paper nautical charts. The lab consists of eight student stations, each station being itself a stand-alone full mission simulator.
Engine Room Operations
The Engine Room Operations Simulator provides our Marine Engineering students with basic to advanced training in engine room operations. The simulator provides three different ship models: a turbo-generated tanker, a medium speed diesel ferry, and a diesel electric passenger ship. Included in this simulator are teaching assessments to ensure that students meet the STCW requirements in engine room operations.
Gas Turbine Operations
Used by the Marine Engineering students, the Gas Turbine Operations Simulator is built on a Navy propulsion model. This simulator focuses on operating routines, integrated checklists, and corrective actions when faults occur.
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Lab (GMDSS) includes all equipment required to carry out advanced exercises in all aspects of GMDSS/SAR training. The equipment is realistically emulated to simulate the various types of radio equipment most commonly used onboard ships.
Integrated Navigation
The Integrated Navigation Lab (INL) uniquely combines radar information, navigational charts, ENC safety parameters, targets, user-maps, routes, and tools for decision support, which all ensure safer navigation.
Mate of Towing Operations
The Towing Simulator is a state-of-the-art navigation and full bridge simulator dedicated to tug and towboat operations. The simulator offers a 270-degree horizontal field of view allowing the trainee to be fully immersed in realistic tug operations such as towing barges astern, pushing ahead, ship docking, escort operations, and inland waters and river towboat operations. The towing simulator allows students to complete many of the Towing Officers Maneuvering Assessments and provides 15 days of creditable sea time towards the Mate of Towing License Endorsement required by the USCG to operate as a licensed officer aboard tugs.
Emergency Management
The Clean Harbors Emergency Management Operations Training Center includes an Emergency Operations Center and Incident Command Post that can integrate and display both legacy and emergent technologies to simulate command and control in a realistic environment, facilitating development of tactical and strategic decision-making modeled after real-world scenarios.
Infrastructure Technology
Infrastructure Technology (IT) provides network and computing infrastructure that allows faculty and students access to information and services that are important for academic success. The department provides wired and wireless network services, along with desktop resources and applications, printing services, and cloud-based application suites. Working in conjunction with the IT Service Desk, IT responds to technical issues and also works to identify new and improved technologies that would benefit the campus. Students are required to bring their own computing devices to MMA. IT determines the minimum specifications for the student’s personal device. These specifications can be found on the MMA web site.
There are many instructional technology resources available for students and faculty, including projection and sound systems, computers, document cameras, and DVD players. Online resources and cloud-based systems are available for learning management, training, and skills development. Tools and support for the development of online courses are also provided to the faculty.