A United States Merchant Marine Academy education is one of the great adventures of a lifetime. For sixty-five years, young men and women have come to Kings Point to acquire the knowledge, experience, discipline, and skills that strong leadership demands. As one of the five federal academies, the route to Kings Point is challenging, and will not be easy. However, it will be a rewarding challenge, and will ensure a lifetime of personal and professional satisfaction. Graduates of the Academy serve their country by pursuing careers in the maritime industry and the armed services. Many continue their studies in graduate or professional schools. Many become outstanding government and business leaders. The direction you take after you graduate will be up to you. However, two things are certain: Youll have choices and youll be prepared to make the most of them.A glimpse at a map of the world confirms that the United States is a maritime nation. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean; to the west, the Pacific; off our southern border, the Gulf of Mexico; in the north, the Great Lakes; and crisscrossing our states, great rivers like the Mississippi and other inland waterways.Every hour of every day, ships of all types ply the waters in and around our nation. They leave our ports laden with U.S. goods bound for foreign markets, or arrive in our harbors with merchandise and materials for American consumers.Tankers along the west coast with raw petroleum for our refineries; massive gas carriers bound for terminals along the Gulf coast; Great Lakes vessels load iron ore, coal or other minerals for Americas industry; huge containerships discharge in Eastern ports, their box-like containers filled with manufactured goods; general cargo ships in the Gulf unload pallets of coffee and crates of fruit; tugboats and towboats push and pull barges loaded with Midwest grain.These kinds of vessels, owned by U.S. companies, registered and operated under the American flag, comprise the U.S. merchant marine. This fleet of highly productive ships is a major part of our system of commerce, helping guarantee our access to foreign markets for sale of our manufactured goods.In time of war or national emergency, the U.S. merchant marine becomes vital to national security as a "fourth arm of defense." Our merchant ships bear the brunt of delivering military supplies overseas to our forces and allies. The stark lessons of twentieth century conflict prove that a strong merchant marine is an essential part of American seapower. The nations economic and security needs met by the U.S. merchant marine are compelling. Today, the United States imports approximately 85 percent of some 77 strategic commodities critical to Americas industry and defense. Although we, as a nation, account for only six percent of the world population, we purchase nearly a third of the worlds output of raw materials. 99 percent of these materials are transported by merchant vessels.A ship at sea does not operate in a vacuum. It depends on a framework of shoreside activities for its operations. This industry includes companies which own and manage the vessels; ports and terminals where cargo is handled; yards for ship repair; services like marine insurance underwriters, ship chartering firms, admiralty lawyers, engineering and research companies; and increasingly today, intermodal systems of trucks and railroads to distribute goods around the country. But the most important element in a productive merchant fleet and a strong transportation industry is people - men and women who are intelligent, dedicated, well-educated and competent.The purpose of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is to ensure that such people are available to the nation as shipboard officers and as leaders in the transportation field who will meet the challenges of the present and the future.