Explorers Guide Maritime Academy

Editorial: The Coast Guard Spent $3.8 Million on a PDF The Coast Guard’s new credentialing portal promises complete applications and faster processing. One American ship captain tested it. What he found raises serious questions about automation, accountability, and whether Washington...

Attention Mariners!

Please be advised of upcoming anticipated closures at the Chicago Harbor Lock on the Chicago River (Mile 327) to facilitate repairs to the chamber walls and floor.
The lock is expected to be closed to all navigation from November 15th, 2026, through April 15th, 2027.

For further information, please call 312-846-5330 or visit the Notice to Navigation Interests website: https://ndc.ops.usace.army.mil/ords/f?p=107:1

We invite you to join us as Chicago’s maritime community is coming together to support the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Join the Coast Guard Foundation for Maritime Salutes the Coast Guard on Friday, October 16 aboard the Spirit of Chicago at Navy Pier.

The evening supports programs providing relief, education, and wellness resources for Coast Guard members and their families.

📅 Friday, October 16 | 5 PM
📍 Spirit of Chicago • Navy Pier

Tickets: coastguardfoundation.org/events/chicago-maritime-salutes-the-coast-guard

⚓ Mariners: The U.S. Coast Guard has officially launched Navita™, the new digital credentialing platform for the National Maritime Center!

We know the old, paper-heavy system caused unnecessary delays. Navita™ offers a guided, user-friendly digital experience that reduces errors, speeds up processing times, and helps you get your credentials and back on the water faster. These enhancements continue the Coast Guard’s efforts to ensure the safe and secure flow of commerce that relies on our ports, waterways, shipping, and merchant mariners.

What you need to know about Navita:

🔹 Safety and credentialing standards remain the same.
🔹 You can now submit applications and track your status online.
🔹 NMC and REC personnel are still here to support you.

Click the link to log in to the new system and check out the blog series today!: https://go.mil/navita

The bouy just north of the lighthouse is called the "Panther Bouy". It was deployed on August 6th of this year and fully operational. Here is the data link with all information:

https://web.uwm.edu/lakestat/BuoyData/SHB/dash.php?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUBpdVjbGNrBQGlynBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExeURyOVowQUh5eVh2UnVhY3NydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7WHqBRvw26zvNo_OP-nPlrmdxJRIFHEh3rl5cUNNEOPOi2B_UUGpas3lkXLg_aem_k5MN7Tjm_FMQD4ggwIp3kg

We have an August OUPV class in Sturgeon Bay coming up. There are still seats available

Sturgeon Bay, WI – OUPV Captain’s License – Deposit | August 14, 2026 | Explorers Guide Deposit only to reserve your seat. deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.