Port of Galveston National Maritime Day Celebration

The Port of Galveston will open its National Maritime Day celebration to the public on Friday, May 22, with three hours of vessel tours, maritime exhibits and a commemorative ceremony at Pier 21, port officials said. The free event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and is sponsored by Moody Bank, according to the port. Organizers said the program is intended both as a tribute to mariners and as a public-facing showcase for maritime careers. The event comes two days before the 2026 observance weekend and continues a Galveston tradition the port says has run for nearly two decades. ### What will people actually see at Pier 21? Pier 21 will host vessel tours, maritime-related information booths and a ceremony during the Friday morning program, the Port of Galveston said. Exhibits are set to include a Galveston Texas City Pilots vessel and a Port of Galveston Police Department marine response vessel, according to the port’s May 7 announcement. Booth participants will include the Galveston Seafarers Center, the Galveston Naval Museum and Visit Galveston, the port said. (portofgalveston.com) A Bay-Houston Towing tugboat is scheduled to perform a water cannon salute and maneuvers in front of the pier between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., according to the port. Organizers said the public event is free and open to visitors. ### When is the ceremony, and what tributes are planned? The Port of Galveston’s May 7 release said the commemoration ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at Pier 21. (portofgalveston.com) A separate April 6 port announcement listed the ceremony at 10:30 a.m. and said it would include a color guard, speakers and a wreath laying. The port’s more recent event notice did not mention the color guard but said port police will place a wreath at the merchant marine World War II memorial plaque during the ceremony. Congress declared May 22 National Maritime Day in 1933, the port said. The Galveston Wharves has marked the day with a public event for more than 16 years, according to the port, and Rodger Rees, the port director and chief executive of Galveston Wharves, said the port has recognized mariners on Maritime Day for “almost 20 years.” (portofgalveston.com) ### Who is speaking, and what are they expected to talk about? Col. (Ret.) Michael E. Fossum, vice president of Texas A&M University, chief operating officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston and superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, is the keynote speaker, the port said. The port said Fossum is expected to speak about maritime careers and the need for workers in a growing industry. (portofgalveston.com) Galveston College President Dr. W. Myles Shelton is also scheduled to speak, according to the port. The port said Shelton will address maritime-related careers and skills training at the college. ### Why is the port tying the event to careers and scholarships? Rodger Rees said the event gives the public a chance to learn more about maritime careers and the industry. (portofgalveston.com) In the port’s April 6 statement, officials said they especially wanted families, educators and students to attend. The port said more than 500 people attended last year’s event, including industry leaders, elected officials and students interested in maritime work. The Galveston Wharves said this year’s public event will be followed by a scholarship fundraising luncheon for maritime scholarship endowments at Texas A&M University at Galveston and Galveston College. The port said it established those endowments with proceeds from bicentennial sponsorships during its 200th anniversary celebration in 2025. (portofgalveston.com) ### What happens after the public event ends? Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant, at 2200 Harborside Drive, is scheduled to host the scholarship luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the port said. Philip Burns-O’Brien, an executive with Davie Defense Inc., is slated to speak at that luncheon, according to the port. The Port of Galveston said a limited number of table sponsorships were still available as of its April 6 announcement, and it directed people seeking details to its event materials and communications office. (portofgalveston.com) Friday’s public program remains scheduled for May 22 at Pier 21, with the port’s latest event notice listing the time as 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.