Ocean Classroom promotes the skills and values of traditional seafaring, and our role as stewards of maritime lore is taken very seriously. Our vessels are traditionally rigged and maintained, and we sail them with the same pride, skill and devotion to the arts of authentic seamanship as did the generations of deepwater sailors who came before us. This is reflected in every voyage we make, and in the confidence and competency discovered by the students who sail with us.

Whether at sea or in port, safety is our first priority. Harvey Gamage, Virginia, Amistad, Spirit of Massachusetts, and Westward are classified as Sailing School Vessels (SSV), they are inspected annually by the United States Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Shipping (as required), and they are certified to make international voyages upon all oceans, the highest rating possible for their class. Though authentic in rig and construction, our vessels are designed to meet or exceed USCG requirements and carry up-to-date communications, navigation, and lifesaving equipment. These include self inflating life rafts, Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), and Inmarsat C satellite communications.

Harvey Gamage, Virginia, Amistad, Spirit of Massachusetts, and Westward are crewed by professional mariners with US Coast Guard certifications and licenses as appropriate to their position aboard ship. Ocean Classroom Foundation crew are selected not just for their outstanding seamanship skills, but equally for their enthusiasm for teaching our students.