Our Programs
Five integrated pillars — classroom rigor, industry credentials, real career support, modern technology, and stewardship of the sea.
Academic & Technical Training
Our core curriculum is delivered by credentialed instructors with decades of combined sea-going experience and meets or exceeds federal training standards. Students rotate between classroom instruction, simulator labs, and time aboard our training vessels.
Each cadet builds a foundation in seamanship, navigation, and marine engineering — then deepens expertise in either the Bridge, Deck or Engineering track based on their career goals.
- Seamanship & deck operations
- Celestial & electronic navigation
- Marine engineering fundamentals
- Naval architecture basics
- Maritime regulations & STCW
- Vessel stability & cargo operations
- Bridge resource management
- Emergency response, Fire fighting, Life Safety & damage control
Industry Certifications
HLS prepares students to test for and earn every credential needed to work as a professional mariner. All exam fees, study materials, and proctor costs are covered for qualified students.
Our certification curriculum is mapped directly to U.S. Coast Guard and STCW (International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) requirements.
- TWIC — Transportation Worker Identification Credential
- MMC — Merchant Mariner Credential
- STCW — Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping
- BST — Basic Safety Training
- Able Seaman (AB) endorsement
- QMED — Qualified Member Engine Department
- DDE — Designated Duty Engineer
- USCG Captain's License pathway (OUPV / 100-Ton Master)
Career Support
A credential without a job is just a piece of paper. Our career services team works with every cadet from day one to build the network, résumé, and interview skills that turn certifications into a paycheck.
Target: 80%+ of graduates placed in maritime employment within six months.
- Résumé and sea-service document preparation
- Mock interviews with hiring partners
- Direct job placement through union and corporate partners
- Registered apprenticeship pathways
- Alumni mentorship pairing
- Lifelong job-referral network
- Continuing-education and license-upgrade support
- Relocation guidance for first contracts
Technology & Innovation
The bridge of a modern ship looks more like a flight deck than a ship of decades past. HLS trains cadets on the technology the industry actually uses — not yesterday's equipment.
Our investment in simulators, VR, and digital systems lets students fail safely, practice repeatedly, and arrive at their first ship already familiar with modern equipment.
- Navigation Bridge Simulators
- Engine Room Simulators
- VR / AR immersive training scenarios
- Digital Twin vessel management
- Maritime cybersecurity fundamentals
- Electronic chart display (ECDIS) training
- Drone & remote inspection systems
- Predictive-maintenance data systems
Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship
The next generation of mariners will be defined not just by skill but by stewardship. HLS integrates environmental responsibility into every track of the curriculum.
From IMO emissions regulations to hands-on training in fuel-efficient operations, our graduates leave equipped to operate ships responsibly in a changing climate.
- Eco-friendly ship operations
- Emission controls (scrubbers, low-sulfur fuels)
- Waste-reduction & MARPOL compliance
- Sustainable vessel design principles
- Alternative fuels (LNG, methanol, hydrogen) literacy
- Ballast-water management
- Marine conservation partnerships
- Port-state environmental compliance
Career Pathways
Four representative trajectories — each one starting with the same HLS foundation.
Deck Officer Track
Deckhand → Able Seaman → Mate → Captain. A clear and obtainable pathway to a license-eligible role on commercial vessels.
Engineering Track
Wiper → QMED → DDE → Chief Engineer. Hands-on engine-room career with strong union pathways.
Yacht Crew
Deckhand → Bosun → First Officer. Global travel and competitive pay aboard private and charter yachts.
Cruise & Port Operations
Hospitality, deck, engine, or port-side operations for the world's largest cruise and port operators.
The HLS Alumni Network
Graduation isn't the end of the relationship — it's the start. HLS alumni get continuing professional development, license-upgrade support, a global job-referral network, and an active mentorship platform that pairs experienced mariners with current cadets.
Get in Touch