International Ship Masters' Association

06/02/2026

Attention Ship Masters:

Port Huron Lodge #2 invites all ISMA members, family, and friends to join them for their summer cruise aboard the Huron Lady II on September 12. Details below.

06/01/2026

🌊 MITAGS + Grand River Navigation Apprenticeship Program – Now Accepting Applications for 2026! 🌊 This program prepares you to become a licensed Unlimited Inland Mate, combining classroom training with hands-on experience aboard 1,000-ft bulkers on the Great Lakes. Program Highlights: ✔ Ca...

05/23/2026

ISMA was represented at the National Maritime Day program at the Department of Transportation Headquarters in Washington, DC yesterday. Two of the featured speakers represented the Great Lakes shipping industry, namely Greg Binion, CEO of Mainstay Maritime, and J.M. "Mike" McCoshen, Administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Development Corporation. These speakers extolled the economic value of Great Lakes shipping, and recalled the historic contributions of our regional industry. Six officers of the American Merchant Marine Veterans organization, including ISMA Grand President Capt. Chris Edyvean, received the Mariner medal for Outstanding Achievement. Finally, MARAD presented the Gallant Ship Citation to the crew of the M/V Stena Immaculate for their response last year after the ship was struck by another vessel while anchored. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy (a former Wisconsin Congressman whose district borders a portion of Lake Superior) was one of the opening speakers.

05/22/2026

Happy National Maritime Day!

05/21/2026

Here is the livestream link for tomorrow's National Maritime Day program at HQ in Washington, DC. This national ceremony will included remarks by Great Lakes Seaway Administrator Mike McCoshen and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who is from Wisconsin.

National Maritime Day

05/21/2026

Here are some photos from Milwaukee Lodge #6's participation in the We Work The Waterways events today in Milwaukee. (Some familiar logos on those sponsorship t-shirts!)

05/18/2026

Here's another reason to get your tickets for "Voices at the Valley Camp" July 18th!! Not only do we have some incredible panel guests who I will be interviewing, we have some fabulous Special Guests in Attendance as well INCLUDING our very own Duluth/Superior Editor Jon Columbus who is making the trip here with his Mom and nephew from Minnesota!!! How awesome is THAT!! I'm SO THRILLED he will be coming... and not only that he has made this 12x24 print of the Alpena in the Duluth Harbor and it will be one of the auction items available to bid on that night!!

Thank you so much to Jon for doing this and for making the effort to be here and meet people and join in the fun of the evening to help raise money for the International Ship Masters' Association Scholarship Fund!

Tickets to this event are limited in number so be sure to get yours while they are still available! You do so just by getting in touch with me and I will take care of you :)

Can't make the event but still want to help? Buy a DONATION ticket! They are the same price as the regular tickets and I send it to you as a memento and keep the stub filled out with your info so you can also be included in the door prize draw! If you win I will ship the door prize to you!

Tickets are $40/person and if you attend you'll get to mix and mingle with all the panel of Captains, the VP of the Lakes Carriers Association and all our Special Guests in attendance... Food is being catered by the Sault Ste Marie Country Club, auction tables will be set up, the door prize draw... it's going to be a fabulous night you won't want to miss! And all for a fabulous cause that is so important to me

So get your tickets now while they are available and come on out to meet me, Jon and everyone else in attendance that night!

05/14/2026

You don't want to miss this event at the this summer! All proceeds go to the ISMA Grand Lodge Scholarship Fund.

05/11/2026

ISMA is seeking new members from the Kingston area in attempt to set up a new lodge.

International Ship Masters’ Association explore Kingston for new lodge location

05/06/2026

Yesterday was a busy day in the Port of Toledo, with 3 salties up and down to the grain elevators. All assisted by Captain Paul Lamarre and piloted by Shipmaster brothers. Photo credit to Captain Scott Skrzypczak while riding between ships with Captain Lamarre.