World War I Merchant Marine Training for the Sea 1917-1920

The U. S. Shipping Board began its first school in navigation training program in June 1917, in East Boston. Within months there were 43 schools in seaports from Portland, Maine to Portland Oregon.

The 6-week program trained 1,500 deck officers during the first 10 months. A land-based, 4-week course was offered to train engineering officers. A total of 14,000 men received officer training between June 1917 and October 1920.

The Shipping Board also initiated a program for men with no sea experience to help man new ships. The first to be used as floating scholarships were the Calvin Austin and Governor Dingley, docked in East Boston. Other ancient ships were used in other seaports, including the USS Iris, built in 1885, and the USS Meade, the former City of Berlin, which set the transatlantic speed record in 1875. In 1918, 30,000 men were trained on these schoolships as seamen, oilers, firemen, and messmen. Trainees received $30 per month and free uniforms.