Studying merchant marine operations at the university level is a core component of MARAD's education strategy, particularly its essential responsibility to meet national security needs and maintain maritime defense readiness. The six maritime academies and USMMA meet that need by educating young men and women for service as officers in the United States Merchant Marine, U.S. Armed Forces, and Nation’s intermodal transportation system.

The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)

To ensure a consistent supply of capable and well-trained merchant mariners, MARAD funds and operates the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, New York. This is MARAD's flagship merchant marine academy, built from the ground up to train and educate merchant marine officers. Its congressional endorsement requirement and highly-demanding cirriculum are similar to the other service academies designed to develop leaders for its relative role in national defense. The USMMA curriculum is especially challenging as it condenses a four-year degree into only three years of study -- symbolizing that the maritime industry needs newly-trained mariners as soon as possible.

The State Maritime Academies

In addition to funding and administering the USMMA, MARAD also provides limited Federal assistance and training vessels to six State Maritime Academies (SMA). These four-year undergraduate programs operate as colleges within state universities and do not require a congressional endorsement, but still include all the instruction, theory, and at-sea training required to become a commissioned officer and merchant marine (a U.S. Coast Guard license).  For additional information, reach out to an SMA today or contact MARAD's Office of Maritime Labor & Training.