WASHINGTON-Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton and John M. Murray, president and chief executive officer of Hapag-Lloyd USA, LLC, recently signed an agreement for cadets from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and state maritime academies to take their training voyages on Hapag-Lloyd vessels.

Maritime cadets must have sailing time on working vessels in order to qualify as licensed mariners. Currently, there is a worldwide shortage of licensed mariners, and U.S. maritime academies have geared up to train more students. Students will begin to serve on the foreign-flag vessels in October.

"Cadets will receive excellent training from skilled maritime professionals on a variety of seagoing vessels," said Administrator Connaughton. "Hapag-Lloyd should be commended for their commitment to these American students."

The Hapag-Lloyd group is the world's largest liner shipping companies. Its vessels sail all the major sea lanes of the world providing global shipping services.

This Memorandum of Agreement is the fifth such training agreement signed between the federal government and private industry. Previous agreements were with APL Liner, Ltd.; Overseas Shipholding Group; Great American Lines, Inc.; and SeaRiver.