The foundation and further history of the Academy is closely connected with the history of Kherson city. It is an important port on the Black Sea and Dnieper River, and the home of a major ship-building industry.

Founded in 1778 and located at advantageous geographical and military position Kherson became a cradle of shipbuilding industry on the Black Sea. The rapid development of shipbuilding emerged the demand for marine specialists – navigators and skippers. A new maritime educational institution, offering degree in Maritime Engineering, has been founded in 1834 on the 20th of February.

At present, Kherson State Maritime Academy (KSMA) is a higher educational institution of the ІVth accreditation level, which trains specialists in area of seagoing and shipbuilding specialities.

International students can get full-time and correspondence education at KSMA. After completing studies students obtain Bachelor and Master degree. The courses are taught in both English and Ukrainian languages. Educational program are offered in «Navigation», «Ship Power Plants Operation», «Ship's Electrical Equipment and Automation».

There are 12 departments at the Academy with 146 lecturers, including 10 doctors of science, professors and 65 PhD, assistant professors and also functional maritime professionals – shipmasters, chief engineer officers, electrical officers etc. In addition, the best teachers of higher qualification from Europe are regularly invited to teach special disciplines at the Academy.

One of priority tasks of the Academy is to prepare competitive maritime experts at national and global labor markets. Students of the Academy do practical training on the vessels that belong to famous shipping companies of Germany, Greece, Holland, Great Britain, USA etc.

In 2007 Maritime Academy and the company «Marlow Navigation» (USA) signed a cooperation agreement on the preparation of maritime experts. The agreement provides training, certification and further employment of students on the company's ships after graduation.

Currently, training-resource facilities of the Academy meet international requirements of standards in maritime education and includes 5 educational and laboratory buildings, 2 educational-production workshops, 2 sports and 2 assembly halls, dining room, 3 hostels, 2 water-training facilities (located on the Dnieper River and on the Black Sea), a 3-branches library with collection of about 200 thousand copies. There are 19 laboratories, 16 simulators and 21 training rooms that provide a high level of training for students of Kherson State Maritime Academy and allow them to take their firm position on national and international labor markets.

Lecture and practical facilities complies with all national and international requirements for training of marine specialists. A set of simulators for preparation of highly-qualified maritime specialists has been designed by Kherson State Maritime Academy. There are no analogues in Europe to such simulators.

In addition to scientific and practical training, all students of the KSMA have the opportunity to practice both on the Academic training ship and commercial ships of foreign and domestic companies. One of such craft is a ship for heavy oversized cargo «Warnow Jupiter», provided by "Marlow Navigation Co., Ltd.

Kherson State Maritime Academy has designed facilities to offer high quality education under national and international practical training. These training solutions are targeted on cadets of all ranks and ages. The Academy is aimed to give practical knowledge and skills that our cadets can use. In 2012, the Academy won the 1st place among other maritime higher educational institutions in Ukraine according to the rates of the Ministry of Education and Science, Youth and Sports of Ukraine.