Anacortes continues to grow as a hub for marine industry businesses and education. It’s now home to Northwest Maritime Academy’s new facility. 

Just like life at sea, change is a constant in the maritime world in the Pacific Northwest — changes of ownership and locations are among those evolutions. In this case, a long-time maritime training operation based in Seattle and Gig Harbor has changed hands and is setting down roots in Anacortes.

Offering training for professionals on both commercial and recreational vessels, Northwest Maritime Academy educates and certifies both today’s mariners and tomorrow’s.

Here’s the Northwest Maritime Academy’s press release: 

The Northwest Maritime Academy (NWMA) is pleased to announce the grand opening of their new flagship office and training facility in Anacortes WA.  CEO and Senior Training Officer for the Northwest Maritime Academy, Captain Pat Boyle made the announcement Monday, saying “We are so pleased to be in a city with such deep maritime roots and to have access to a working waterfront like Fidalgo Bay literally from our back door. This makes our maritime training programs much more impactful and realistic and accessible to commercial and recreational mariners alike.”  

The Northwest Maritime Academy decided to move its operations to the North Sound following a change in the company ownership, leaving their Seattle (Pier 91) and Gig Harbor locations to move to Anacortes.  The academy trains aspiring mariners and re-certifies licensed mariners on US Coast Guard Deck and Engineering qualifications and endorsements for sea going positions. The school is one of the few training programs on the west coast to specialize in training Fast Rescue Boat, Lifeboat and Survival Craft, launching from their own davit platform which is located on Curtis Wharf under an agreement with the Port of Anacortes.  

For individuals seeking to earn their initial captain’s license, the academy offers courses for USCG Master Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (6-Pac) up to USCG OUPV Master 100-ton license.  And for those already licensed to Master 100-ton, they can bump their license up to Master 200 ton, (Near Coastal).   

For more information and a full catalogue with course descriptions please visit their website at:  www.northwestmaritimeacademy.com  or contact the NWMA at (206) 659-7178.