The Training Ship GOLDEN BEAR is a unique living laboratory that offers California State University (CSU) students classroom instruction while providing an international experience. California Maritime Academy (CMA) students operate the vessel, under the supervision of licensed instructors. Shipboard living arrangements are tight, and some loss of privacy exists.

The Training Ship is owned by the Federal Government and is provided to the State of California (CSU) for the purpose of training students for careers on merchant ships. Among the world’s maritime academies, CMA has a tradition of excellence that it must uphold when visiting foreign countries. This requires the GOLDEN BEAR to hold receptions, the crew to be in uniform, and all aboard to act as representatives of the United States government. The ship has official United States diplomatic status.

For the above reasons, you are enrolled at CMA and take lifesaving and basic shipboard safety courses, as well as a survey course in ship familiarization, navigation, seamanship, and engineering, for which credit is received (See Cruise 190/195). You will also have to present the proper image when arriving and departing from foreign ports; therefore, a non-military uniform is required. The GOLDEN BEAR is drug and alcohol free. You are part of the crew and receive merchant seamen documents from the United States Coast Guard. This requires drug screening and other information.

You are required to have a physical examination before joining the crew. It is also required that you have a passport. This is necessary to get you home from a foreign country if you become ill. Once you sign on board as a crew member, you become part of the ship. When you enter a foreign country with the ship, you must leave with the ship. If you stay, you become an illegal immigrant and will be deported upon apprehension. If the need arises, the ship can make arrangements for you to return home by what is called “mutual consent” agreements, usually at your own expense.

The Training Ship
The Training Ship GOLDEN BEAR was born in 1989 and constructed with U.S. Navy funds to be a deep ocean survey vessel. Her original name was the USNS MAURY, and she was operated by the Military Sealift Command and engaged in underwater mapping throughout the Pacific Ocean. Overcome by technological advances in a mere five years and suffering from high operational costs, she and her sister ship, the TANNER, were retired by the Navy in 1995. The MAURY was transferred to the Maritime Administration and converted in 1996 to serve as a civilian Maritime Officer training vessel. The fourth training ship GOLDEN BEAR was thus acquired by CMA and is now certified as a "Nautical School Ship.” She is subject to the construction, equipment and manning levels of those particular federal regulations. She IS NOT certified as a passenger vessel and cannot be operated as such. Similarly, the sister ship has become the training vessel for the Maine Maritime Academy.

CMA, and thus, CSU, does not own the GOLDEN BEAR. The vessel is the property of the U.S. Federal government and on loan to the Academy for maritime training purposes. Therefore, the GOLDEN BEAR is a public vessel of the United States. In addition to the ship itself, the federal government also provides annual funding to the Academy for maintenance and repair of the vessel, as well as funding for required dry-dock periods. The State of California, in the form of the CSU, funds the manning and operating costs of the ship.

Facilities
The ship boasts six classrooms, a computer lab, gym, library, student lounges, laundry facilities, and a small sundry store. A doctor and nurse are available around the clock in a fully equipped medical facility. the gallery serves 3 excellent meals a day, including a vegetarian entree at each meal, and provides snacks around the clock. There are plenty of leisure time activities as well; students can soak up the sun, rent movies, participate in a talent show and much more. Students have a choice between state rooms or bunk rooms. State rooms have three beds and one desk. One common bathroom is shared with another room. Bunk rooms have 9-15 cadets per room and have bathroom facilities which are separate from the room. Reduced fees are available for students who choose to stay in bunk rooms.