The Urban Harbors Institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston

Chris Sweeney is the Director of Marine Operations at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Chris is a graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a bachelors of science in Marine Engineering and a U.S. Coast Guard Engineers License. Having sailed in the U.S. Merchant Marine for 5 years, he came closer to home to earn his U.S. Coast Guard 100 ton Masters license while working on various vessels in Boston Harbor. He was the Waterfront Director on Thompson' Island for several years and has Captained many vessels throughout Boston Harbor for over ten years.

Since working at UMass Boston Chris has developed the Division of Marine Operations from a small facility with several small floats used seasonally and a couple of small power boats into a licensed year-round facility. Presently the two docking facilities maintained by Marine Operations can accommodate more than 30 vessels with full service shore-side utilities available. A 'quarterbarge' for safe storage of multi-department equipment has been installed on site. A seasonal free-standing pavilion adjoins one of the docking facilities and is used by groups of up to one hundred people waiting to disembark on a ferry vessel or enjoying a cookout. Two inspected charter vessels and a fleet of small support vessels compliment the operation and provide a revenue stream. In 2001 he earned a Masters in Business Administration from UMass Boston. In putting this degree to good use the Marine Operations department's operational budget is supplemented with revenue from contractual marine transport work through-out the harbor. Today the revenue account at Marine Operations represents one of the largest most active accounts of this type at the University.

In 2004 Marine Operations first began offering academic courses in the field of recreational marine industry. Today Marine Operations offers two accredited courses and three non-credit courses offered as part of the Marine Operations and Technology Certificate Program through the Dept of Earth Environmental Ocean Sciences.




Chris Sweeney is the Director of Marine Operations at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Chris is a graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a bachelors of science in Marine Engineering and a U.S. Coast Guard Engineers License. Having sailed in the U.S. Merchant Marine for 5 years, he came closer to home to earn his U.S. Coast Guard 100 ton Masters license while working on various vessels in Boston Harbor. He was the Waterfront Director on Thompson' Island for several years and has Captained many vessels throughout Boston Harbor for over ten years. Since working at UMass Boston Chris has developed the Division of Marine Operations from a small facility with several small floats used seasonally and a couple of small power boats into a licensed year-round facility. Presently the two docking facilities maintained by Marine Operations can accommodate more than 30 vessels with full service shore-side utilities available. A 'quarterbarge' for safe storage of multi-department equipment has been installed on site. A seasonal free-standing pavilion adjoins one of the docking facilities and is used by groups of up to one hundred people waiting to disembark on a ferry vessel or enjoying a cookout. Two inspected charter vessels and a fleet of small support vessels compliment the operation and provide a revenue stream. In 2001 he earned a Masters in Business Administration from UMass Boston. In putting this degree to good use the Marine Operations department's operational budget is supplemented with revenue from contractual marine transport work through-out the harbor. Today the revenue account at Marine Operations represents one of the largest most active accounts of this type at the University. In 2004 Marine Operations first began offering academic courses in the field of recreational marine industry. Today Marine Operations offers two accredited courses and three non-credit courses offered as part of the Marine Operations and Technology Certificate Program through the Dept of Earth Environmental Ocean Sciences. .

	Last modified: March 23, 2007