U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

MARAD operates the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, to educate young men and women to become officers in the American merchant marine. Graduates receive bachelor of science degrees and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) licenses as deck or engineering officers, or both, and a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve or another uniformed service. USMMA graduates are obligated to complete the academy’s course of instruction; obtain a merchant marine officer’s license on or before graduation and maintain that license for at least 6 years. Serve as a commissioned officer in an armed force reserve component for at least 6 years from the date of graduation; and maintain employment in the maritime industry for at least 5 years from the date of graduation. The employment obligation may be satisfied in the merchant marine as an officer aboard U.S. merchant ships, or in shore side maritime or intermodal transportation industry positions, if afloat employment is not available. The Academy is an integral component of the defense readiness called for in our national security policy, and guarantees a source of merchant marine officers, to meet our domestic and international U.S.-flag crewing needs.