Infrastructure challenges at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

The United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point is a treasured national service academy where smart, sea-loving women and men become merchant mariners, playing key roles in commercial shipping and national security.

But for years, USMMA’s troubles have received more attention than its successes. That was especially true when it came to sexual assault and sexual harassment complaints, which continue to plague the academy.

More recently, however, other problems have taken center stage. Despite its home on a glorious stretch of 82 acres along Long Island Sound, USMMA is falling apart. For more than a decade, its facilities and underlying infrastructure have deteriorated. Mildew, mold and water damage are commonplace in buildings. Structural cracks are noticeable in the gym and pool and in some facades. Midshipmen living on campus have at times been without hot water and last year, during final exams, sources say matter from the school’s sewage system seeped into the water supply.

Other pressing concerns include stormwater management and the need for an upgraded sea wall to make the campus more resilient to rising water levels and storm surges.

Such a deteriorating atmosphere has real repercussions, especially in recruiting new midshipmen. That, in turn, has significant ramifications for the nation’s commercial and military transportation operations.

MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Some of the trouble is unsurprisingly due to funding needs. But the academy also hasn’t been able to appropriately manage its infrastructure, buildings and grounds. It lacks steady, permanent leadership when it comes to its physical plant and lacks even the maintenance staff needed for regular upkeep.

Over the years, there have been numerous efforts to detail concerns and offer potential solutions. In August, a disturbing report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office spelled out the issues in stunning detail. That report made several recommendations, a road map for improvement.

Topping the long list of needs is “continuous leadership” in the academy’s facilities and infrastructure department. For years, the person who directs that office has been borrowed from the Federal Aviation Administration. Just this month, the academy is hosting candidates for facilities director. Without appropriate staff, however, a new director won’t get the job done. The academy hopes to expand its facilities staff and needs the budget to do so.

MORE OVERSIGHT NEEDED

Problems go beyond money and staff. There has been little long-term planning and oversight, both from within the school and from the federal officials who govern it. Too often, the academy gets stuck in the bureaucratic muck of academics and government, unable to quickly and nimbly take on large-scale challenges. USMMA falls under the purview of the Federal Maritime Administration, which sits within the U.S. Department of Transportation. While current Maritime Administrator Ann C. Phillips seems to understand the importance of the academy and its troubles, and has made some inroads, she’s a political appointee who will be replaced in the new administration. President-elect Donald Trump’s DOT secretary nominee, Sean Duffy, and whomever is chosen to lead the maritime division, must prioritize the academy and address its shortcomings.

USMMA is in Rep. Tom Suozzi’s district, and his oversight is necessary to make sure the academy gets the attention and resources it needs. Suozzi sits on the board of visitors, along with Rep. Andrew Garbarino. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a USMMA alum, can lead from that perch, too. Rep. Nick LaLota, a Naval Academy graduate whose district abuts Suozzi’s, recently highlighted that the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act passed by the House includes $64 million for capital improvements and $22 million for maintenance at USMMA. That’s a start, but a more steady infusion of cash over time will be necessary. LaLota should push the academy’s needs to the forefront — and make sure the Trump administration prioritizes them, too.

In recent months, the academy has made some progress, thanks to the spotlight shone on it and advocacy from congressional representatives, Phillips, and DOT officials. Renovations are finally moving forward and a strategic plan is expected next spring. That would help — but only if everyone follows through. What the academy needs, outgoing administrator Phillips told the editorial board, is “consistent, confirmed capacity” in funding and in staff. Also necessary: a plan and process that consists not of one-shots and quick fixes, but thoughtful planning and permanent hiring and funding mechanisms.

Many who speak of the United States Merchant Marine Academy do so with reverence, evoking the ideal of what it could be, rather than the reality of what it is. Now, those at the helm must steer the ship in a better direction — so future midshipmen experience the treasure, rather than the tarnish.