Summer Sea Term

Texas A&M Maritime Academy To Host Two Local Events 

The academy will kick off the annual summer sea term with a dock party and sail away flotilla.
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With Summer Sea Term (SST) 2025 quickly approaching, the Texas A&M Maritime Academy announced two public events here in Galveston to mark the start of the sea term. This summer, cadets, faculty and staff will sail from Galveston, 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.

This summer, cadets from Maine Maritime Academy will join Texas A&M Maritime Academy cadets for the final sea term of TS Kennedy. The following year, for SST 2026, Texas A&M Maritime Academy cadets will join Maine Maritime Academy on the new TS State of Maine before the anticipated arrival of TS Lone Star State.

During this two-year partnership, cadets from both academies will live, learn and work together on the training ships that serve as living laboratories where cadets attend classes on board, earning hands-on experience in ship navigation, marine engineering systems, maintenance, safety and security.

Dock Party:

The annual Dock Party will kick off SST 2025 on Saturday, May 17, marking the beginning of an exciting two-month semester at sea aboard TS Kennedy. All are invited to campus from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM to tour the 540-foot training ship and enjoy live music, face painting, barbecue and Blue Bell!

All activities are free and open to the public. Tours are offered first-come, first-serve. All ship tours require closed-toe shoes. No skirts or dresses, please. Ship tours are only available for those five years old and up due to safety protocols.

Sail Away Flotilla:

public crowd waving goodbye to TS Kennedy
Family and friends wish cadets fair winds and following seas during last year’s sail away events.

The Sail Away Flotilla is an annual Galveston Campus tradition to wish cadets fair winds and following seas as they embark on their summer sea term. Join friends, loved ones, industry supporters and former students on Sunday, May 18 at 10:00 AM to escort cadets, faculty and crew aboard the TS Kennedy through the Galveston Ship Channel.

Please keep in mind, all maritime operations are fluid and subject to change with little notice so plan to be flexible. The departure date and time may vary based on a variety of conditions beyond the control of the academy. We will provide notice on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to communicate any changes in date, location or time. No RSVP is required. 

Launching, recovering and docking at the Galveston Campus Dock is strictly prohibited. 

Looking for more information about Summer Sea Term? Follow along on social media and on the Summer Sea Term Website

Media Contact

Taylor Bounds
bounds@tamu.edu
409-740-4929