Living Laboratories at Sea
The Vessel Refit & Experiential Training Program — a self-sustaining model that converts surplus vessels into revenue that recycles back into student tuition coverage.
A floating classroom you can actually touch.
HLS strategically acquires decommissioned, distressed, or surplus vessels — tugboats, ferries, fishing boats, even superyachts — from auctions, government surplus, and private donations. Each vessel becomes a comprehensive training platform where students learn marine electrical, welding, HVAC, propulsion, plumbing, and structural repair by performing the work themselves, supervised by professional mentors and licensed instructors.
When the refit is complete, the vessel either joins HLS's Floating Campus — where cadets accumulate documented sea time toward their USCG certifications — or is sold on the open market, with proceeds reinvested into the next training vessel and the next cohort of students.
Three Steps. One Self-Sustaining Cycle.
Acquire
HLS sources distressed, decommissioned, or surplus vessels from government auctions, industry partners, and private donations — at zero or minimal cost.
Restore & Train
Students perform full refit work — electrical, welding, HVAC, propulsion, hull repair — alongside professional mentors, building eight core trades simultaneously.
Deploy or Sell
Restored vessels either join our Floating Campus for cadet sea-time, or are sold on the open market — with proceeds funding the next refit and the next class.
Eight Disciplines Cadets Master
Every refit teaches every trade — no two student paths look the same, but every graduate has touched all eight.
Marine Electrical
AC/DC systems, switchboards, navigation lighting, and shipboard power distribution.
Welding & Fabrication
Steel and aluminum welding, structural fabrication, and metalwork to marine standards.
HVAC & Refrigeration
Climate control, refrigeration cycles, and provision-cold-storage systems.
Propulsion & Diesel
Main engine overhauls, fuel systems, and auxiliary machinery maintenance.
Hull & Structural Repair
Plating, fairing, corrosion control, and load-line compliance work.
Marine Plumbing
Potable water, gray/black water, fuel transfer, and bilge systems.
Navigation Electronics
GPS, radar, AIS, ECDIS, and bridge-system integration.
Interior Finishing
Joinery, marine-grade upholstery, and crew/passenger space outfitting.
A self-sustaining funding engine.
Traditional nonprofits depend almost entirely on annual fundraising. HLS doesn't. Every vessel we refit either generates revenue at sale or generates value as a training asset — converting donor gifts into long-term resilience instead of one-year scholarships.
Over time, vessel-refit proceeds are designed to fund a growing share of operations, freeing donor capital to expand programs rather than simply sustain them.
Sponsor a Vessel Refit
Where the Work Happens
A modern shore-side campus plus a growing on-water fleet — purpose-built for hands-on maritime training.
Modern Classrooms
Climate-controlled instructional spaces with maritime-specific media and reference libraries.
Navigation Simulator Lab
Full-scale bridge simulators replicating commercial vessel operations and harbor traffic.
Engine Room Simulator
Diesel and steam plant simulators for engineering-track cadets to practice safely.
Firefighting & Safety
STCW-compliant practical firefighting, water survival, and lifeboat training facilities.
Training Docks
Dedicated dockage in Jacksonville for active training vessels and refit-in-progress hulls.
Floating Campus
Academy-owned vessels in active rotation for cadet sea-time and underway instruction.