About HLS Maritime Academy
A new model for maritime education — rigorous, hands-on, tuition-free, and built around the cadets who need it most.
Our Mission
At HLS Maritime Academy, our mission is to eliminate financial and systemic barriers that prevent young adults from accessing careers in the maritime industry by delivering high-quality, no-cost training that integrates classroom learning with hands-on experience.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every passionate, capable young adult has a clear pathway into the maritime profession — regardless of socioeconomic background. We aim to become the national benchmark in nonprofit maritime education and to build a more equitable and diverse maritime workforce.
Five principles that guide every decision.
Access
Maritime education is a right, not a privilege. We remove cost as a barrier.
Excellence
We train to global maritime safety standards — no shortcuts, no compromises.
Empowerment
We build confidence alongside skill, so every graduate steps aboard ready.
Integrity
Accountability to our students, our donors, and the communities we serve.
Community
Uplifting local Jacksonville and the global maritime industry alike.
Why Now
A historic maritime workforce shortage meets a generation of young adults looking for a path forward.
The global maritime industry is facing a workforce crisis of historic proportions. Roughly 50% of today's maritime professionals are expected to retire within the next decade, while global shipping demand continues to grow at approximately 3.5% annually. Cruise lines, port operators, shipping companies, and the U.S. flag fleet alike report acute recruitment bottlenecks at every level — from entry-rated mariners to licensed officers and engineers.
At the same time, hundreds of thousands of capable young adults — in Jacksonville and across the country — have no realistic on-ramp into this industry. Traditional maritime schools cost tens of thousands of dollars. Certification exam fees alone can exceed a month's rent. Sea-time requirements demand access to vessels that simply aren't available to outsiders.
HLS Maritime Academy was created to bridge that gap. By combining rigorous classroom instruction, industry-recognized certifications, and a self-sustaining vessel-refit program that gives students real ships to learn on, we turn untapped talent into the credentialed mariners the industry desperately needs — at no cost to the students themselves.
Our Milestones
A five-year plan to build a national benchmark in nonprofit maritime education.
Foundation
Secure USCG and MARAD accreditation. Close $2M in seed funding. Onboard founding instructor team and first cohort.
Scale
Expand enrollment to 150+ students annually. Acquire and activate 3 training vessels. Launch the alumni network.
Benchmark
Graduate 500+ mariners annually. Operate a fleet of 10+ vessels. Become the national reference for nonprofit maritime education.
Strategic Partnerships
We work shoulder-to-shoulder with the agencies, employers, and institutions that define the modern maritime industry.
U.S. Coast Guard
Credentialing and licensing pathway alignment for all student certifications.
MARAD
The U.S. Maritime Administration — federal grants and workforce-development alignment.
Maritime Unions
Apprenticeship pipelines and hiring-hall placement for graduates.
Global Shipyards
Refit partnerships and industry mentorship on active commercial projects.
Cruise Lines
Direct hiring pipelines for hospitality, deck, and engine departments.
Yacht Charter Firms
Career placement for graduates entering the global yacht-crewing industry.
Educational Institutions
Articulation agreements with community colleges and four-year maritime academies.
Corporate Partners
Workforce-development contracts and CSR-aligned sponsorships.