The training ship Golden Bear is nearing the completion of its final training voyage after serving as the primary training vessel of Cal Poly Maritime Academy for nearly 30 years. The ship is scheduled to return to Vallejo, California, on July 6 after completing the academy's Summer Sea Term 2026, bringing home 283 cadets following a 12,500-mile voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

During this year's voyage, the cadets visited several ports, including San Diego, Tahiti, Fiji, and Honolulu. While at sea, they gained practical experience by standing watch on the bridge and in the engine room, operating shipboard systems, participating in emergency drills, and developing the skills required of future merchant marine officers.

Since entering service as a training ship in 1996, Golden Bear has served as a floating classroom for thousands of cadets. Originally built for the U.S. Navy as the oceanographic survey ship USNS Maury (T-AGS-39), the vessel was later converted into a training ship and became a key part of Cal Poly Maritime Academy's hands-on maritime education program.

The academy is preparing to replace Golden Bear with Golden State, a new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) expected to arrive in 2027. The modern training ship will provide expanded instructional facilities, updated technology, and enhanced opportunities for practical training while supporting the education of future maritime professionals.

The completion of Golden Bear's final voyage marks the end of an important chapter in the academy's history. After three decades of service, the vessel leaves behind a legacy of preparing generations of cadets for careers in the maritime industry, while the transition to a new training ship reflects continuing efforts to modernize maritime education and training.