United States Merchant Marine Academy

The United States Merchant Marine Academy is a federal service academy for merchant marine education in Kings Point, extending over roughly 82 acres with training facilities, engineering laboratories, and a waterfront campus. The site provides maritime education and combines academic buildings with practical training locations for navigation and ship engineering.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the academy in 1943 and made it a central place for training merchant marine officers during World War Two. Since then it has educated leaders for civilian and military shipping services and contributed to preserving American maritime tradition.

The academy follows the motto ‚Acta Non Verba' and promotes a service ethic that visitors can observe at public ceremonies and on the training grounds of the midshipmen. The uniform is worn daily and shapes the appearance of the campus with a tradition rooted in military and maritime customs.

The campus can be visited during public events or by prior arrangement, with a walk along the waterfront promenade and through the historic buildings being a good option. Visitors should be aware that this is an active training facility where midshipmen go about their daily routines and the grounds are used accordingly.

Graduates receive both a Bachelor of Science degree and an unlimited merchant marine officer license, qualifying them for military service and commercial shipping positions. This double qualification is uncommon in the education landscape of the United States and combines academic credentials with practical certification at sea.