The Northwest Maritime Academy

The Northwest Maritime Academy is a cutting-edge institution located in Anacortes, Washington, United States. We offer a unique Telepresence and live Able Seaman Course that has been available since June 2022. This course is the first of its kind in the United States, allowing students to participate either in person at our training facility or online. The tuition for this course is $1025.

Our Telepresence course utilizes state-of-the-art technology, including a three-camera system and conferencing platform, to ensure that online students have the same level of interaction with instructors and fellow students as those in the classroom. In addition to the in-house instructor, online students will also have a dedicated online instructor to facilitate communication and answer questions.

The course is conducted in partnership with Seafarers Worldwide Career Training and is a five-day, 40-hour program that begins on Monday morning at 0800. The final exam and knot practical will be given on Friday, with online students taking the exam online as well. All Coast Guard Telepresence Exams are taken online.

To participate in the course, students will need a computing device with a webcam and microphone, as well as a reliable broadband internet connection. It is important to be in a distraction-free space during class time to ensure a quality learning experience.

Prior to the start of the course, students should organize their sea time and complete the necessary forms for their Able Seaman Credential application. The course covers different levels of AB ratings based on sea time requirements, with the highest level being AB Unlimited requiring 1080 days of sea time on oceans.

Overall, The Northwest Maritime Academy offers a comprehensive and innovative Able Seaman Course that combines traditional classroom learning with cutting-edge technology to provide a top-notch educational experience for students.