Financial Assistance for Professional Maritime Training
$500 Scholarships for Commercial Fishermen and their Families
Scholarship Fund Eligibility
Commercial Fishermen (majority of income is from commercial fishing, includes shell fishermen) who are at least 18 years old, and who reside in, or fish from boats homeported in any of the New England or Mid-Atlantic states (Maine to North Carolina) are eligible to apply for a Ted Williams Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is for funding to attend courses that support professional maritime and safety skill training. Also eligible are family members of the above Commercial Fishermen who are pursuing commercial fishing or maritime careers. Awards, not to exceed $500, are limited to one per person per year and are paid directly to the course provider.
SUMMARY OF ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Commercial Fisherman (includes Shell fisherman) or a family member of a commercial fisherman pursuing commercial fishing or a maritime career.
- At least 18 years old.
- Resides in or fishes from boats homeported in any New England or Mid Atlantic State (Maine to North Carolina).
- For courses that support professional maritime and safety skill training.
- For future courses only. Not for courses already completed or currently enrolled.
- Submit application three weeks in advance of the course start date.
- Award is for the cost of the course up to a maximum of $500.
- Award is limited to one per person per year.
- Award is paid directly to the course provider.
Selection of Professional Maritime Training Facilities
| STATE | FACILITIES | WEBSITE |
| MA | New England Maritime | https://www.nemaritime.com |
| MA | Northeast Maritime Institute | https://www.northeastmaritime.com |
| ME | Downeast Maritime | https://www.downeastmaritime.com |
| VA | Downeast Maritime | https://www.downeastmaritime.com |
| NY | The Nautical School | https://www.nauticalschool.com |
| ME | Atlantic Captains Academy | http://www.atlanticcaptainsacademy.com |
| MA | Massachusetts Maritime Academy Center for Maritime and Professional Training | https://www.maritime.edu/professional-training |
| WA | MITAGS | https://www.mitags.org |
| MD | MITAGS East | https://www.mitags.org |
| RI | Narragansett Bay Maritime Training | http://nbmtri.com |
| VA | Mid Atlantic Maritime Academy | https://mamatrains.com/ |
| VA | Chesapeake Marine Training Institute | https://www.chesapeakemarineinst.com |
| NC | 3B’s Captains School | https://www.captainsschool.com |
| NY | Captains School of Long Island, Inc | http://www.captainschoolli.com |
| RI | Confident Captain | https://confidentcaptain.com |
| NY | Sea School/Staten Island Yacht Sales | https://seaschool.com/courses |
| NC | World Wide Marine Training, LLC | https://www.worldwidemarinetraining.com/ |
| NJ | Captains License Class | https://captainslicenseclass.com |
| VA | National Seafares Academy | https://www.seafarers.org/ |
| ME | Center for Professional Development | https://mainemaritime.edu/continuing-education |
| AK | AMSEA | https://www.amsea.org |
About the Ted Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund
Ted’s Legacy of Safety
Established in 2020 by Hercules SLR and Fishing Partnership Support Services to honor the life and legacy of lead Safety Instructor Edward “Ted” Williams, the Ted Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to commercial fishermen to take advanced maritime training classes that improve their safety and professional skills. Through his career, Ted taught thousands of commercial fishermen, who deeply respected his style of imparting life-saving knowledge and skills with a wry sense of humor. His instruction reached thousands of commercial fishermen from Maine to New Jersey over 15 years. The Ted Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund honors Ted’s legacy for safety at sea.
Apply for a Scholarship
Allow 3 Weeks for Processing
Request Services
Are you or your spouse a fisherman? Do you come from a fishing family? Or, are you a shoreline worker that lives in a coastal community [that’s anyone that has a job that supports fishermen getting their product to market and includes boat mechanics, fish cutters and lumpers to name a few]? We’re here to help. Complete the Request for Services form and we’ll answer your call.
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