Today’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 my freshman cruise, and most people only get to go overseas on one of their two cruises. I really enjoyed exploring castles in Ireland last time and am excited to see even more this trip.

Which port are you most excited to visit, and why?
Of all the ports, I’m most excited for Belfast, Ireland. It’s the one place I don’t envision visiting again, so I intend to make the most of the opportunity. The last time we went, the people of Ireland were incredibly welcoming to the Americans—much more so than in the other countries we visited internationally.

Why did you apply for a ship rate position, and what do you hope to learn?
I applied for a ship rate position because I saw it as the best opportunity to gain hands-on experience during cruise. The chance to spend time working on maintenance during Utility Days was particularly appealing. I’m especially interested in learning about boilers, as I didn’t have exposure to steam systems during my cadet shipping experience. I see this as an excellent opportunity to gain experience with steam systems—particularly valuable if nuclear power becomes more prevalent in the maritime industry.