- A Day in Belfast IrelandHello! Belfast Ireland is unique in that all of the second class Maine students came here our freshman cruise, and while I thought that would be a negative… I was so wrong! I thought I had exhausted things to do freshman year, and I was wrong again. I had heard about some people doing a […]
- Stronger Ties FormedCadets aboard the TS Kennedy spent the past 10 days underway, sailing between New York City and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Students enjoyed calm seas for most of the leg but were stuck under overcast skies, much to the chagrin of the upper-class deck cadets who are actively trying to complete their celestial navigation project. This […]
- Running Smooth in Belfast: A Cruise Check-In from the Cadet Chief EngineerI’m Jacob Nowalsky, the cruise Lead Engine Cadet from Maine, and Maine’s Cadet Chief Engineer. Things have been going pretty well onboard! After being in port in Galveston, everyone was excited to finally get to sea, and now that we’re wrapping up our 2nd leg and are here in Belfast, people are fully into the […]
- Switching to the Engine RoomOur second leg of our Summer Sea Term 2025 cruise has been really fun! During this leg to Belfast from New York, we saw a lot of whales, flying fish, and other marine life. We also recently just hit our halfway point, which means Maine Maritime cadets switched deck/engine focuses on cruise. From 5 May […]
- From Celestial Navigation to Food Grinding: Embracing Every RoleAs we’ve embarked on our journey aboard the Kennedy, it’s been a great experience watching everyone settle into shipboard life. As a junior, I’ve been focusing on celestial navigation, taking on senior-level watches, and experiencing significant personal growth as a leader. These experiences have helped unite the Maine and Texas communities on board. A few […]
- From Hesitation to Hands-On Learning: Life at Sea on the KennedyMy experiences on the Training Ship Kennedy have been phenomenal so far. I came onto the ship with adverse thoughts, with the ship being from the 1960s, and cruising with another maritime academy. However, the Kennedy proved me wrong! I have met a lot of new people with different experiences and shared different aspects that […]
- From Engines to Charts: An Unexpected Journey Into NavigationSo far, the most memorable part of this experience has been standing night watch. There’s something incredibly peaceful and almost surreal about being out on the open ocean after dark. The calm of the water paired with the vastness of the star-filled sky creates a sense of stillness and wonder that’s hard to describe and […]
- The Job in Front of MeI’ve really enjoyed the simplicity of life at sea. Being underway is a lot of fun—everyone spends time together, and there’s something amazing about being out in the middle of the ocean. I’ve learned so much already, and it’s been great to apply what I learned in the classroom to real shipboard tasks. It’s also […]
- Out at Sea, It All Starts to ClickAfter spending the past year in the classroom, it feels amazing to finally be out at sea. I didn’t really know what to expect when I first stepped onto the Kennedy, but I was relieved to find that everything we learned in class actually connects to what we’re doing out here. Seeing it all in […]
- All Parts Seamlessly Working TogetherThough I’m a sophomore on my freshman cruise, this experience has already become one of the most meaningful parts of my time at the Academy. There’s something about being out at sea that brings people together in a way that’s hard to describe. I’ve enjoyed the strong sense of community and camaraderie that’s grown among […]
- Ready to Get UnderwayAfter nearly two weeks of preparation and training in port, cadets and staff aboard the TS Kennedy are ready to set sail from Galveston, Texas as part of Summer Sea Term 2025. Since arriving on May 5, the crew has been hard at work conducting drills, stowing supplies, and getting the ship ready for departure. […]
- Happy Mother’s Day!Wishing all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!
- Ship FamiliarizationGetting adjusted to the ship, but slowly settling in. We have been organizing and cleaning up the utilities for the journey ahead. The first few days have been filled with walkthroughs and ship familiarization. The juniors have started showing the freshmen the expectations of shipboard living. It has been an interesting process of learning and […]
- Student-Athlete at MMAOn May 4th we hosted the NAC Championship game for Men’s Lacrosse. A rematch from 2023, against SUNY Delhi we came from behind and won 14-12. Winning the NAC, lead to a delay on our arrival to the ship, but a campus wide collaboration worked hard to ensure we had the opportunity to play in […]
- Getting the TS Kennedy ReadyIt’s raining today in Galveston, where the TS Kennedy is tied to the pier. Currently, the ship is buzzing with Maine cadets as they begin to find their way around. Texas A&M cadets are still ashore in their academic semester, so MMA 2/C and 4/C are working hard to prepare the vessel for the next […]
- Departure from Galveston on May 18The TS Kennedy is tentatively scheduled to depart Galveston, Texas, on May 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. (CDT) to begin its voyage. Please join us in wishing the crew a successful journey, either in person or via the livestream. The livestream will begin at approximately 9:45 a.m. and will include a few prerecorded interviews with […]
- Trip to TexasMonday’s travel was the culmination of weeks of planning that involved faculty, staff, and student leadership. In all, 222 cadets and 12 staff were picked up from four locations and driven by bus to Portland Jetport. From Portland, two charter planes carried the group to Houston Hobby Airport, where buses were again used to complete […]
- Jacob Nowalsky ’26 | Lead Engine CadetToday’s Summer Sea Term student leadership highlight is Jacob Nowalsky ’26. Midshipman Nowalsky is from Port Republic, NJ, and is also a member of the Coast Guard AUP program. 🔹 What are you looking forward to this summer? I’m most looking forward to going overseas again. The only other time I’ve traveled abroad was during […]
- William Sherrill ’26 – Cadet MasterPreparations for this summer’s training cruise are well underway—and our student leadership is stepping up. Today, we’re highlighting William Sherrill, our Cadet Master and the highest-ranking student officer aboard the ship. ⸻ 🔹 What are you looking forward to this summer? I’m looking forward to working with cadets from @texasmaritime. This summer presents a unique […]
- Traveling with Texas A&MThe Commandant’s Staff at Maine Maritime Academy is looking forward to this summer’s joint sea term (SST25) with Texas A&M Maritime aboard their ship, the TS Kennedy. The Texas team has brought great energy and has been tremendously helpful in the preparation process—beginning with hosting our Cadet Master, Cadet Chief Engineer, Cadet Chief Mate, and […]
- Port AnnouncementDuring this year’s training cruise, Maine Maritime Academy and Texas A&M Maritime Academy will sail together aboard the TS Kennedy. Scheduled port calls include Galveston, TX; New York City, NY; Belfast, Ireland; Halifax, NS; and Portland, ME. You can view the full schedule on the Port Information page.
- 2025 Summer Sea Term in FluxPlans for the 2025 Summer Sea Term are still very much in flux. Much of the planning depends on the delivery timeline for our new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel, TS STATE OF MAINE (see MMA NSMV Updates), as well as the completion of the reconstruction of our pier in Castine. As those plans come together […]
