Opened in September 2021, OCC’s new Professional Mariner Training Center (PMTC) is located just 25 miles southwest of the ports of Long beach and Los Angeles and 5-miles south of OCC’s main campus in Costa Mesa. The Training Center features a Wartsila (Transas) Full Mission Bridge Simulator, RADAR/ECDIS LAB, three USCG approved classrooms, executive conference room overlooking Newport Bay, and a student lounge and galley area. The PMTC connects to bay side facilities, the Sailing Center and OCC Crew facilities via our new pedestrian skyway.
Background
Located on Mariners Mile in Newport Beach, the Orange Coast College Waterfront Center plays an active and enduring role in our local maritime community. In fact, throughout its 60-year history, Orange Coast College has remained a community leader in nautical education.
A local resident provided a leadership donation of $650,000 in 2005 to initiate the project. The community affirmed OCC’s commitment to maritime training by passing Measure M property tax measure in 2012 that provided $22 million to fund the capital costs of the Professional Mariner Training Center.
Through gifts to the OCC Boat Donation program the Orange Coat College Foundation provided $500,000 in 2020 to help fund state-of-the-art maritime simulators for the new center.
We are seeking support from the Orange County community so future generations can enjoy the programs that the Maritime Training Center will offer.
Full Mission Bridge Simulator
With only a handful of Bridge Simulator labs in the state, OCC’s Full Mission Bridge Simulator will be the first of its kind available for community college students in California, giving local students and the surrounding community a firsthand view into the maritime world through State-of-the-art projection.
Featuring a 360-degree view using twelve 72″ video monitors, the new simulation lab will bring students as close as possible to standing on the bridge of a sea-going ship, practicing technical skills and solidifying teamwork and leadership skills while operating the vessel in real to life conditions.
Radar Lab
OCC’s Radar Lab will receive a hardware and software upgrade and be relocated from a temporary classroom on the main campus to the new Mariner Training Center. The Radar lab will feature 10 student stations – each station capable of running an individual ship simulation on 3 video monitors with joystick vessel control.
The Radar lab received funding for a software upgrade from the Perkins Grant. Additional fundraising will support the hardware upgrade.
Navigation Lab
Housed in one of the three classrooms at the Mariner Training Center, the Navigation Lab will feature standing desks sized for paper chartwork. The classroom is designed as a US Coast Guard approved learning and examination site. Students will have the opportunity to train on paper charts in the navigation lab and then walk across the hallway to the simulator labs to run their voyage plan.
Ways to Give
What are the benefits to supporting the Professional Mariner Training Center?
- Provide critical financial support for the Professional Mariner Training Center.
- Demonstrate community and industry leadership of the highest level.
- Receive title recognition in facilities, materials, media, and activities related to the Professional Mariner Training Center.
- Provide high-profile name recognition exposure to students, the public, staff and faculty, and maritime industry affiliates throughout Newport Beach and Southern California.
You are supporting:
- An accredited certificate and associate’s degree program enabling students to receive career training leading to jobs.
- State-of-the art maritime training facility including a Full Mission Bridge Simulator and Radar/ECDIS lab.
- Expanded learning opportunities adjacent to OCC’s waterfront facility with instructional vessels up to 92 feet.
- Continuing education opportunities for career mariners, bringing maritime training under one roof in Newport Beach.
Donor Naming Opportunities
Naming the Professional Mariner Training Center – $5,000,000
Naming the Professional Mariner Program Endowment – $2,000,000
Naming the Full Mission Bridge Simulator – $500,000
Naming the Training Center Endowment for Simulator Technician – $250,000
Naming the Training Center Bridge over PCH – $250,000
Naming the Radar Lab – $150,000
Naming the Bayview Conference Room – $100,000
Naming the Training Center Lobby – $50,000
Naming the Training Center Navigation Classroom – $40,000
Naming Training Center Classrooms – $25,000
Naming the Training Center Student Study Lounge – $25,000
Naming the Training Center East Deck – $20,000
Naming the Training Center West Deck – $20,000
Naming the Training Center Elevator – $10,000
Naming the Training Center Faculty offices – $5,00
Gifts can be made via cash donations, multi-year pledges and the donation of vessels.
For more information, please reach out to:
Greg Wisener, Manager – Waterfront Campus – gwisener@cccd.edu
Doug Bennett, Director – OCC Foundation – dbennett@cccd.edu