🚢 The Golden Bear's Final Voyage Marks the End of an Era

For nearly 30 years, the Training Ship Golden Bear has been a familiar sight along the Vallejo waterfront, serving as the floating classroom for generations of cadets at California State University Maritime Academy. This summer, however, the ship completed its final training voyage, bringing an important chapter in Vallejo's rich maritime history to a close.

The Golden Bear departed Vallejo in early May on its last Summer Sea Term, taking cadets on an approximately 12,500-mile journey across the Pacific Ocean. During the voyage, students visited ports including San Diego, Tahiti, Fiji, and Honolulu while gaining valuable hands-on experience navigating the ship, operating engineering systems, participating in emergency drills, and learning the skills needed for careers in the maritime industry.

For thousands of graduates, the Golden Bear represents much more than a training vessel. It has been a place where future captains, engineers, and maritime leaders learned their profession while creating lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories. Its long-standing "Learn by Doing" tradition has prepared students for careers in commercial shipping, government service, and the U.S. military.

The ship returned to Vallejo on July 6, 2026, completing its final voyage before being retired from service. It will soon be replaced by the new Training Ship Golden State, a modern vessel designed to continue educating California's future maritime professionals for decades to come.

Although the Golden Bear's sailing days have come to an end, its legacy will live on through the thousands of cadets who began their careers aboard its decks. For the people of Vallejo, the ship will always remain an enduring symbol of the city's proud maritime tradition and its unique connection to California's seafaring future.

🌐 Learn More: California State University Maritime Academy

🎥 Video: Watch the Golden Bear's Final Voyage