Texas A&M Maritime Academy Announces Ports Of Call For Summer Sea Term 2025
Cadets gathered on TS Kennedy at the start of Summer Sea Term 2024. Texas A&M Maritime Academy recently announced the ports of call for Summer Sea Term 2025 (SST ’25). This summer, cadets, crew, faculty and staff will depart Galveston on May 18, docking in New York City, New York; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Halifax, Nova Scotia and Portland, Maine before returning to Galveston. Find the full schedule on the SST ’25 website.
Each summer, cadets embark on a semester at sea, attending classes and gaining hands-on experience in ship navigation, marine engineering systems, ship maintenance, safety, security and more. They live and work aboard the 540-foot academy-operated vessel, TS Kennedy, earning sea time and training in preparation for their third mate or third assistant engineer Coast Guard licensing exams and future careers. As TS Kennedy travels from port to port, cadets will also have the opportunity to explore each location.
SST ’25 marks the start of a two-year partnership between the Texas A&M Maritime Academy and Maine Maritime Academy. This summer, cadets from both academies will sail together aboard TS Kennedy. For Summer Sea Term 2026, Texas A&M Maritime cadets will join Maine Maritime Academy on TS State of Maine, a sister ship to TS Lone Star State.
The U.S. Maritime Administration will deliver the new, state-of-the-art National Security Multi-Mission Vessel, TS Lone Star State to campus in 2026. This multifunctional ship will have the capacity to train 600 cadets and can act as a disaster response vessel, equipped with extensive medical facilities, helipad, roll-on/roll-off ramp and the ability to house up to 1,000 people in times of humanitarian need.
The Texas A&M Maritime Academy is one of just six state maritime academies in the U.S. and the only academy on the Gulf Coast. The academy trains over 400 cadets annually for maritime service and employment worldwide. Cadets can pursue one of several designated license-option degrees, with undergraduate and graduate options, and graduates earn their license to serve as officers aboard ocean-going and inland waterway vessels.
The academy will post periodic updates on social media on all platforms as @TexasMaritime. Check the SST ’25 site regularly for updates, and remember, details are always subject to change.