USMMA – SEA YEAR

“The world is our campus…and everything we learn in this classroom will be on the test.”

For midshipmen at the Merchant Marine Academy, about half of your sophomore and junior years are spent at sea.

During “Sea Year”, midshipmen are assigned in pairs to U.S. merchant vessels to traverse different trade routes, gain knowledge of operating vessels, and become familiar with the ocean shipping industry.

The first sea period (sophomore year) lasts ~100 days. The second sea period (junior year) is longer, lasting approx. 235 days. During time at sea, midshipmen will be paid about $1,000 a month and will visit an average of 19 foreign countries.

There’s no better way of learning than by doing.

Source: https://www.usmma.edu/academics/departments/sea-year