Launch of "Maritime Throwdown Movement"

Maritime Throwdown Partners with Texas A&M University at Galveston and Texas A&M Maritime Academy, Ushering in a New Era of Collegiate Maritime Training

New Orleans, LA — At the recent International WorkBoat Show, Maritime Throwdown (MTD) announced a groundbreaking partnership with Texas A&M University at Galveston and the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. This first-of-its-kind collaboration between MTD and Texas A&M’s dedicated marine and maritime campus and its state maritime academy is a significant step forward in the evolution of collegiate maritime training.

1 Texas A&M University - Galveston Seniors of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy "Sea-Aggies" work with Captain Kenny Brown

2 Captain Kenny prepares Founding Dean, College of Marine Sciences, Debbie Thomas on line handling.

3 Capt/PhD Augusta "Gussie" Roth with Col. Michael E. Fossum (Ret), USAFR, chief operating offices of Texas A&Ms Galveston Campus looks on.

4 We're excited to initiate the Maritime Throwdown Endowment  at Texas A&M's Galveston Campus to fund cadets with growing their training program.

5 Gussie made the ship hook with this throw. Then worked with Captain Kenny to manage the line drop into the 4 inch hook. A lesson in patience and line skills.

Central to the partnership is Maritime Throwdown’s Incentivized Training Rig and scoring matrix, a patent-pending training platform developed over the past six years. Designed to simulate real-world maritime tasks, the rig enhances traditional training by introducing competition, measurable performance metrics, and heightened visibility for developing mariners. The goal is not only to recruit new talent into the industry, but also to retain skilled professionals by making training more engaging, relevant and rewarding.

Maritime Throwdown operates across four distinct divisions:

• Junior Division for maritime high schools

• Cadet Division for students enrolled in two- and four-year maritime programs

• Pro Division for active deckhands and working mariners

• Legacy Division for former mariners now serving in office, supervisory, or captain roles

Together, these divisions create a continuous pathway of training, competition, and professional development across all stages of a maritime career.

Col. Michael E. Fossum (Ret.), USAFR, chief operating officer of Texas A&M’s Galveston Campus and superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, has been a strong proponent of the initiative. Speaking to alumni in New Orleans, he emphasized that Maritime Throwdown represents more than a training program — it is a movement dedicated to uniting the maritime industry, elevating training standards and shining a spotlight on the skill, athleticism and professionalism of maritime workers. MTD’s long-term goal is to expand its competition and training regimens into new national and international markets and to raise awareness of the need to train mariners to drive the blue economy and support the maritime industry.

This partnership marks the first step in transforming maritime training into a dynamic, competitive and highly visible experience. As the industry continues to evolve, Maritime Throwdown, Texas A&M University at Galveston and the Texas A&M Maritime Academy are leading the way toward a more engaged and inspired future workforce.