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Operational Status: Open

Sea Year Schedule

The academic year at the Academy is an 11-month year running from late July to late June, which is divided into three 13-week trimesters. Midshipmen spend approximately one year at sea, regardless of their major, and this sea time is fully integrated into the academic calendar. The academy is a rigorous academic program that includes three years in-residence time and a year of sea time away from the academy. 

The Two Sailing Periods

The Sea Year is broken up into two distinct periods based on your class year.

First Sailing Period

This occurs during your sophomore (third class) year and lasts approximately 130 to 150 days.

 

Second Sailing Period

This takes place during junior year (second class year) and/or parts of your senior year (first class year) and spans two academic terms, lasting approximately 245 to 270 days.

The Split System

To accommodate the fleet and campus capacity, the class is divided so that half the students go to sea while the other half remains in residence. During their fourth-class year, midshipmen are assigned splits based on their campus involvement (Athletics, Waterfront, Band, etc.) These schedules are categorized into three "splits":

The Sailing Splits

  • "A" Split: Midshipmen complete their sea service during the fifth, eighth, and ninth trimesters.
  • "B" Split: Midshipmen complete their sea service during the fourth, seventh, and eighth trimesters.
  • "C" Split: Midshipmen complete their sea service during the sixth, ninth, and tenth trimesters.
A graphic labeled 'Year 1' showing Trimesters 1, 2, and 3 in blue blocks. There are no ship icons underneath, indicating midshipmen remain on campus for their entire first year.
A graphic labeled 'Year 2' showing Trimesters 4, 5, and 6 in dark grey blocks. Ship icons below indicate sea terms: a blue ship under Trimester 4 (B-Split), an orange container ship under Trimester 5 (A-Split), and a grey tanker under Trimester 6 (C-Split).
A graphic labeled 'Year 3' showing Trimesters 7, 8, and 9 in dark blue blocks. Ship icons indicate sea terms: a blue ship under Trimester 7 (B-Split), both a blue ship and an orange container ship under Trimester 8 (B-Split and A-Split), and both a grey tanker and an orange container ship under Trimester 9 (C-Split and A-Split).
A graphic labeled 'Year 4' showing Trimesters 10, 11, and 12 in grey blocks. A grey tanker ship icon under Trimester 10 indicates a sea term for the C-Split, with no ships under Trimesters 11 and 12.

Split A Schedule

An orange timeline graphic featuring an illustration of a container ship, displaying the A-Split sea year schedule which takes place during the 5th, 8th, and 9th trimesters.

Midshipmen complete their sea service during the fifth, eight, and ninth trimesters.

Split B Schedule

A blue timeline graphic featuring an illustration of a front-facing ship, displaying the B-Split sea year schedule which takes place during the 4th, 7th, and 8th trimesters.

Midshipmen complete their sea service during the fourth, seventh, and eighth trimesters.

Split C Schedule

A grey timeline graphic featuring an illustration of a tanker ship, displaying the C-Split sea year schedule which takes place during the 6th, 9th, and 10th trimesters.

Midshipmen complete their sea service during the  sixth, ninth, and tenth trimesters.

Last updated: Thursday, April 23, 2026

Applications for the Class of 2031 open on 1 May 2026

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