Northeast Maritime Institute is a private, coeducational, maritime college offering an Associate in Applied Science in Nautical Science degree. Established in 1981, Northeast Maritime Institute is the only private degree-conferring maritime college in the US. The college is in the Town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts located in the United States and is within walking distance from the Acushnet River across from New Bedford Harbor. The college was originally established to provide an alternative to traditional maritime academy regimented-styled training and graduates of the college's Associate program are eligible to receive a United States Coast Guard Masters license upon graduation. The college operates a training ship, the m/v Navigator, as well as the brigantine tall ship m/s Fritha.