State Maritime Academies

The Maritime Administration vigorously supports maritime training and education programs. Our intent is to improve the quality of the U.S. maritime industry through improved services to the people who serve at sea and those who work ashore in diverse professions such as shipbuilding, steamship company operations and port operations. Recent events in the world have required the Maritime Administration to address an array of security and training issues to provide a safer and more efficient operation of the merchant marine of the United States.

To ensure a consistent supply of capable and well trained merchant mariners, the Maritime Administration provides limited funding to the six State Maritime Academies (SMA's): California Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Texas Maritime Academy, and the State University of New York Maritime College. The education of merchant marine officers is an essential Maritime Administration responsibility to meet national security needs and to maintain the defense readiness. The maritime academies meet that need by educating young men and women for service in the American merchant marine, in the U.S. Armed Forces, and in the Nation’s intermodal transportation system. The Maritime Administration also provides training vessels to all six State maritime academies for use in at-sea training and as shoreside laboratories. The vessels are part of the Maritime Administration’s assistance to the academies to train highly qualified licensed officers.

A select number of State maritime academy students are in the Maritime Administration’s Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program.  These cadets receive tuition assistance in exchange for a post graduation service obligation.  The graduates of the SIP Program all incur this service obligation. They must be employed in the maritime industry for three years, maintain a UCSG license for 6 years, be active in a U.S. Armed Forces reserve unit for at least 6 years and report their service obligation annually to the Maritime Administration until all service obligation components are fulfilled. This requires each graduate obtain a merchant marine officer’s license prior to graduation from the SMA, and maintain that U.S. Coast Guard Unlimited license for at least 6 years. The maritime service employment obligation for three years may be satisfied in the merchant marine as an officer aboard U.S. merchant ships, or in shoreside maritime or intermodal transportation industry positions, if afloat employment is not available, and with the approval of the Maritime Administrator. Active military duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or service with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also satisfy the employment obligation. The critical maritime skills developed with their military training significantly increases our Nation’s defense readiness.

The State maritime academy graduates in the SIP Program are required annually to report to the Maritime Administration on the compliance of their service obligation. The preferred method of reporting is via the web-based computer called the Maritime Service Compliance System (MSCS).  Graduates who are unable to report via the web-based MSCS can submit annual reports via email to maritime.graduate@marad.dot.gov or mail to: The Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Compliance Obligation (MAR-740; W23-403), Washington, DC 20590.