Uh oh. Real world intrudes on unicorn-land.
Haha.
Sad but true.
Sea Year is a tradition of a year of real world sea life. The Merchant Marine Academy Cadets go to college there 11 months out of the year and complete a 4 year college degree in 3 years. Sea Year is their 4th year of the Academy.
Sea Year has not been stopped even during wartime. 147 Merchant Marine Military Academy cadets gave their lives during their own Sea Years on Merchant Marine ships on convoys between 1942 to 1945.