What Calhoon MEBA Engineering School does

The Calhoon MEBA Engineering School (CMES) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit maritime training institution founded in 1966 in Baltimore, Maryland, and relocated in the 1970s–1980s to a 680-acre waterfront campus in Easton, Maryland. It is the operating arm of the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA) — the oldest maritime union in the United States — and is jointly funded by Labor and Management through the MEBA Training Plan, governed by a Board of Trustees composed of six shipping-company representatives and six union representatives. CMES delivers STCW-compliant and USCG-approved continuing-education and license-upgrade training across more than fifty courses spanning marine engineering, nautical science, electrical systems, emergency response, and computer-based maritime disciplines, supported by Wartsila and Kongsberg engine-room simulators, a bridge simulator, and on-campus accommodations in a 117-room hotel-style facility.

CMES's product portfolio includes core STCW gap-closing courses tied to the 2010 Manila Amendments, an STCW Electro-Technical Officer endorsement program, IGF Code Operations (LNG as a Fuel) training, GMDSS and ECDIS instruction, and Military Sealift Command-approved courses including a 2025-launched Antiterrorism Officer Level 2 offering. The school's primary customers are MEBA-licensed marine engineers serving on U.S.-flagged vessels; since May 1, 2007, it has also served non-MEBA maritime industry professionals, U.S. Navy officers via the Strategic Sealift Officer Program (with retirement-point credits of up to 5 annually for non-STCW and up to 30 annually for STCW-required courses), and Military Sealift Command personnel through the MSC CMEO training portal.

The business model is tuition-based, with the majority of revenue flowing through the MEBA Training Plan's Labor and Management funding mechanism; secondary revenue comes from self-sponsored industry professionals and government/military agency-sponsored students. Distribution is conducted through direct enrollment via the school's website, MEBA Union Halls nationwide, and phone inquiries, with course applications accepted in two seasonal cycles (Spring from November 1, Fall from May 1). CMES operates under DNV's Maritime Training Providers Standard and holds accreditations from the American Welding Society and the EPA, positioning it as a multi-accredited compliance training provider in a regulated niche market.

Name

Calhoon MEBA Engineering School

Legal name

Calhoon MEBA Engineering School

Website

https://mebaschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Calhoon MEBA Engineering School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit maritime training institution founded in 1966, delivering STCW- and USCG-approved continuing education to MEBA union members, maritime industry professionals, and U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command personnel from a 680-acre waterfront campus in Easton, Maryland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Training and Continuing Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Engineering & Engine Room Operations (EDAOANAB), Maritime Safety Management Systems & Training (ISM/ISO 45001, Drills, Competency) (TLAHANAF)

Keywords

• Maritime training courses
• STCW certification programs
• Marine engineering education
• Maritime license upgrades
• Emergency response training

Headquarters

HQ city

Easton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Services Revenue: The school generates revenue through course tuition and training fees for maritime professionals. Primary customers are MEBA members whose training is funded through the MEBA Training Plan (Labor and Management funded), with additional revenue from maritime industry professionals, government agencies, and military organizations paying for specialized training courses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Calhoon MEBA Engineering School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit maritime training institution that delivers STCW and USCG-approved continuing education and certification courses for licensed marine engineers, deck officers, electro-technical officers, and other maritime professionals. Course offerings span engineering, nautical science, electrical, emergency response, computer, and general education disciplines, delivered through on-campus instruction at a 680-acre Easton, Maryland waterfront facility, via bridge and engine room simulators, and through live virtual online classes.

Product overview

The Calhoon MEBA Engineering School (CMES) is a maritime training institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of courses for MEBA members and maritime industry professionals. The school's core product consists of STCW-compliant training courses organized into categories: Engineering Courses (covering Steam, Gas Turbine, Diesel, and Refrigeration systems), Nautical Science Courses, Electrical Courses, Emergency Response Courses (BST, Advanced Fire Fighting, Survival Craft), and Computer Courses (including GMDSS and ECDIS). The SSOP partnership integrates retirement point credits for Navy/Merchant Marine officers. Supporting offerings include the MSC CMEO Training Portal access, the Academy Internship Program with APL Maritime airfare sponsorship, Bridge and Engine Room Simulator training facilities (Wartsila and Kongsberg), 680-acre waterfront campus accommodations, conference facilities, and the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial. The school operates under DNV Maritime Training Providers Standard and has received USCG approvals for courses including IGF Code Operations for LNG as Fuel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation: A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity dedicated to honoring fallen seafarers, their friends and families, and the maritime industry as a whole through a memorial.

Products and services

• Engineering Courses Training covering engineering disciplines including Steam Engineering, Gas Turbine Engineering, Diesel Engineering, Refrigeration, Container Refrigeration, and advanced marine engineering systems, delivered to licensed marine engineers and maritime professionals.
• Nautical Science Courses Courses for deck officers and nautical science professionals covering vessel operations, navigation, and maritime operations.
• Electrical Courses Electrical training programs for maritime applications including various electrical disciplines for shipboard systems.
• Emergency Response Courses Emergency response training including Basic Safety Training (BST), BST Revalidation, BST Refresher, Advanced Fire Fighting, Proficiency in Survival Craft, and Antiterrorism Officer Level 2 courses for maritime safety and security.
• Computer Courses Computer and technology courses for maritime professionals including GMDSS, ECDIS, and other maritime technology systems.
• STCW Gap Closing Courses STCW gap-closing courses required for mariners to meet the STCW 2010 Manila Amendments requirements, including Leadership and Management, ERM, MEECE, and other management-level courses.
• STCW Electro-Technical Officer Endorsement Program Training program for Electro-Technical Officer endorsement under STCW, with resources and checklists for obtaining the ETO endorsement for vessels with main propulsion machinery of 750kW or more.
• IGF Code Operations (LNG as a Fuel) Course Combined Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations training for LNG as a Fuel, with USCG approval for fuel transfers under CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-21.
• GMDSS Training GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) training and certification preparation courses.
• VPDSD Training VPDSD (Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties) course information and training for maritime security personnel.
• Bridge Simulator Training Bridge simulator training facility for deck officers and maritime professionals to practice vessel operations in a simulated environment.
• Engine Room Simulator Training Engine room simulation training using Wartsila and Kongsberg simulator systems for engineering officers.
• Academy Internship Program Program providing MEBA members and maritime industry professionals with internship opportunities at CMES, with airfare booking and funding provided by APL Maritime, LTD.
• Strategic Sealift Officer Program (SSOP) Approved Courses Program supporting the Strategic Sealift Officer Program (SSOP), approved as professional education courses, with retirement point credits for officers (up to 5 points per year for non-STCW courses and up to 30 points per year for STCW courses).

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 5 retirement points per anniversary year for non-STCW courses; up to 30 retirement points per year for STCW required courses through Strategic Sealift Officer Program

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Welding SocietycoreTechnology or IntegrationCMES courses and certifications are accredited/approved by the American Welding Society, enabling students to receive AWS certifications alongside their maritime credentials.
• DNV (Det Norske Veritas)coreTechnology or IntegrationCMES operates under the DNV Maritime Training Providers Standard and holds DNV accreditation, providing third-party validation of training quality and regulatory compliance.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreTechnology or IntegrationCMES merges with EPA certification programs, allowing mariners to obtain environmental protection credentials alongside their STCW requirements.
• Military Sealift Command (MSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMES provides MSC-approved training including CMEO training through MSC's training portal. Courses have received MSC approval for fuel transfers and antiterrorism officer certification.
• Strategic Sealift Officer Program (SSOP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. Navy program that credits Navy officers with retirement points for completing CMES professional education courses - up to 5 points per year for non-STCW courses and up to 30 points per year for STCW courses.
• APL Maritime, LTDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPL Maritime has graciously offered to book and fund round-trip airfare for everyone attending CMES's internship program, reducing barriers to attendance.
• Lipps PropellerminorOthersDonated a 23-ton ship propeller for use in the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial, demonstrating community support for the school's memorial and historical preservation efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS): MITAGS is a nonprofit maritime training center offering STCW-approved courses, license upgrade programs, and simulator-based training for licensed mariners in the Pacific Northwest. It is directly comparable to CMES as a union-affiliated maritime training institution serving similar STCW compliance and professional development needs.
• Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education: Operated by the Seafarers International Union (SIU), the Paul Hall Center is a maritime training school delivering STCW, USCG, and union-funded upgrading courses. Directly comparable to CMES as a competing union-affiliated maritime training facility with similar course catalogs and funding structures.
• STAR Center (Simulation, Training, Assessment and Research): STAR Center provides STCW-approved maritime training, including ECDIS, BRM, and engine room simulation courses, and is closely comparable to CMES in its simulator-based training offerings and STCW/USCG course catalog.

Broad incumbents

• United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point): A federal service academy that trains commissioned officers for the U.S. Merchant Marine and offers maritime engineering and nautical science programs. Broader incumbent compared to CMES because it is a four-year degree-granting institution serving entry-level cadets rather than licensed officer upgraders.
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy: A state maritime college offering marine engineering, marine transportation, and maritime-related degree programs with USCG license tracks. Comparable to CMES in producing STCW-compliant licensed mariners, though operating as a degree-granting college rather than an upgrading school.
• SUNY Maritime College: SUNY Maritime is a degree-granting maritime institution offering marine engineering, naval architecture, and maritime business programs. Comparable to CMES in producing USCG-licensed mariners with STCW endorsements, though primarily at the entry-level degree stage rather than continuing education.
• Texas A&M Maritime Academy: Texas A&M Maritime Academy delivers marine engineering and maritime transportation degree programs with USCG license pathways. Overlaps with CMES in producing STCW-certified officers but is part of a broader university system and serves primarily entry-level students.
• Great Lakes Maritime Academy: Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Maritime Academy provides maritime training and USCG licensing pathways. Comparable to CMES in STCW-relevant training but primarily focused on Great Lakes and near-coastal operations.

Regional players

• International Maritime Safety, Security and Environmental Academy (IMSSEA): IMSSEA delivers STCW and maritime safety/security training with a focus on international and emerging-market seafarers. Comparable to CMES in STCW course portfolio but primarily serves seafarers outside the U.S. market.

Emerging players

• Pacific Maritime Institute: PMI/MarineNet provides maritime training including STCW courses, often in partnership with larger institutions. It is an emerging player focused on flexible and online delivery formats that partially overlap with CMES's growing live virtual course offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/calhoon.meba.engineering.school
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calhoon-meba-engineering-school

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calhoon MEBA Engineering School