Sea Term 2009: Captain's Blog
0800 ET/1300 GMT Position
Latitude 17-42.0 N Longitude 066-06.0 W
USTS Kennedy's updated track: Sailwx Track Air Temperature 26.0 C
Sea Temperature 23.3 C
Sea State 1
Barometric Pressure 1020.0 mb and rising
Wind NE @ 19.0 kts
Visibility 12 miles. Division I Alternate
Division II Maintenance
Division III Training
Division IV Watch 
Captain's Log 11 February 2009
by Captain Tom Bushy After leaving Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, we were faced with a dilemma - how do we effectively use up three days of time over 200 nautical miles of steaming? It is a good question, but one that requires a focus on the core mission of this ship - training. Now, we know that "it is all good" in the vernacular of the educational world, and I can't think of any element of our operations that do not support that claim. Remember, our cadets are rotating through four divisional assignments all the time - namely alternate assignments, maintenance, training and watch. Three out of four are self explanatory, but the alternate one needs clarification. Alternate captures some unique job assignments and an open scheduling period when faculty can access the cadets for required assessments (oral examinations). Cadets so assigned are also doing "scullery duty"...walloping pots and pans, running the dishwasher, and doing general cleaning of the mess decks and galley. They may also be assigned "compactor duty" where they process waste stream into categories, then compact them and transfer the bags to the storage container on deck. I guess there is some learning going on there - like 'what I dont want to do for the rest of my life.' So, when at anchor, some people said, "Why not just stay here?" Well, for most people on board it doesn't matter. For the engineers, they are still steaming the plant, not as vigorously, but still running all the systems like boilers, condensers, generators, evaps and purifiers. But on the bridge, they are the ones that are not given the best shale while at anchor. No, watching radar in an enclosed bay, waiting for the one ship per week to pop up in the radar isn't too tough. They needed to be moving to experience the ever changing environment of wind and weather, the traffic dynamics, and the different navigational options. So, we are moving slowly, only six or seven knots, going back and forth, east and west, south of Puerto Rico. There is traffic...there are stars and moon in the sky. Plenty of stuff for the cadets to do, only we aren't really "going anywhere." It reminds me of the cruise ship that goes from St. Thomas to Tortola, from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM, covering a total of forty miles in nine hours. But then again, all they have to do is make a comfortable ride and a good martini. Our ship demands so much more. A Hot Day On The High Seas!
by Cadet 1/C Peter Beuth With temperatures soaring into the high 80's today and a tail wind, there wasn't much of a breeze to cool us down. 3/C deck cadets found themselves learning some of the important concepts in Marine Firefighting being taught by Capt. Quinn, Maritime deck officer and United States Navy retired. I'll tell you, when Capt. Quinn made them discharge their fire hoses in a fog pattern over the windward side, I don't think any of them cared that 50% of the water was blown right back at them. If anything, the solid soaking probably felt great to them. Today I also had the opportunity to work as a training rate, working with freshmen as they learned how to don SCBAs (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus). The basic concepts that the fourth class cadets get to practice now will help build the foundation for their marine firefighting training that they will receive in their sophomore, junior, and senior years if they choose to enroll in either Marine Transportation or Marine Engineering at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. 
With the sunny hot weather upon us, the needle guns, wire wheels, and sanders are running at full speed. Each morning the cadets take problem areas down to bare metal and in the afternoon they go back and prime and paint all of these affected areas. In engine training the upper class cadets have been working on servicing electrical wiring and troubleshooting with Cdr. Eident over the past few days. Sophomores have been working in the Auxiliary Machinery labs, working on pump alignment, repacking valves, and basic electrical repairs. As we near the end of sea term most of the freshmen have attended the basic engineering training work shop where they deal with electrical safety, PVC piping, soldering, the making of male and female threads, and die taps. For those that have not, perhaps they were in there today, and if not they will be getting their turn in the engine spaces immediately upon leaving St. Thomas. With the senior deck cadets it is coming down to the wire for a select few regarding their liberty status in St. Thomas. In order to have liberty, we have been told that we must have eight of our celestial navigation assessments satisfactorily signed off. If we don't have eight, we will be redlined for one day (redlined means that person is not allowed off the ship that one day). It seems harsh, but is a necessary measure to make sure that every cadet is getting their projects done and staying on track to graduate. Sophomores also have a huge project that is nearing its completion date. Their voyage plans are most of the way done, yet they still have quite a bit of work to do in the next day or so before St. Thomas and in the five or six days before we return to Buzzards Bay on February 22. Pre-captains inspection will be held at 1900 tonight. All cadets and their berthing areas are to be inspection ready for the regimental officers, and will be given information regarding trouble areas that must be corrected before Captain's inspection which will take place on Wednesday night at 1900. Immediately following tomorrow night's Captain's inspection will be the pre-port briefing for St. Thomas. I can tell you one thing, EVERYBODY is looking forward to spending some time in the Virgin Islands. I went there as a freshman and it is a beautiful place with plenty of beautiful areas to enjoy. Hopefully, cadets will make their way to the other islands since they all have much to offer as well. And so the countdown continues to St. Thomas...one more day!! 
Engineering Aboard TS Kennedy
by Cadet 1/C Peter Beuth A Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduate of the class of 1983, Cdr. Alan Gillis is an extremely knowledgeable member of the Sea Term Engineering Department. Currently in the midst of his seventh cruise out of the eight years he has worked at the academy, Cdr. Gillis has helped the Engine Department make great strides in the at-sea engineering program for the upper class cadets, all the while readying themselves for the ever greater influx of fourth class cadets going on their freshman cruise. Currently the engineering department has eight faculty members on board in addition to the ship's engineering officers. To put together a training regimen for the seniors, sophomores, and the entire freshmen class takes months of painstaking planning and preparations. 
There are many aspects to the engineering training program for both the upper class cadets and the sophomores and freshmen. The Engineering Training Spaces are equipped with various training tools including electrical and auxiliary machinery labs, motor control rooms, and pump and valve repair stations. 1/C engine cadets spend three days in the electrical controls lab and three days in the classroom undergoing operational training. 3/C engine cadets spend 3 days in the auxiliary machinery labs and three days in the classroom undergoing operational training as well. Additionally, 1/C and 3/C cadets spend half the sea term engaged in maintenance and engine watch standing. 4/C cadets have a slightly different training schedule, spending two days in classroom training, two days in the machinery lab, two days in electrical lab, and two days in engineering maintenance projects. 4/C cadets will spend almost one third of their freshmen sea term with the Marine Engineering department. All engineering cadets must also satisfactorily complete numerous STCW (Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping) assessments in order to receive a passing grade for their engineering sea term grade. Overall, twenty-five hundred assessments will be completed, seven hundred of which are one-on-one oral exams on ship systems in the engine room. 
With over three hundred freshmen on cruise, the senior engineering leadership has become more and more crucial for the successful training of the freshmen class. Senior engineer training officers provide the majority of the training to freshmen with faculty oversight. Such people include 1/C Tim McCallum who is the head training officer, 1/C JT Walsh, and 1/C Mike McDonough. At any given time there are twenty-five freshmen engaged in engine training, and the seniors teach the individual plant systems to them. Cdr. Alan Gillis is extremely proud with the way that the senior cadet leadership has conducted itself this year, and the vast amount of knowledge-based progress that has come out of this year's sea term. According to Cdr. Gillis, "Cruises are far superior to what they were twenty-five years ago when I graduated." This is undoubtedly due to the better training practices utilized nowadays, a better teaching environment, and more technological advancements which provide for better training. Even more so, however, is the continually evolving cadet leadership which provides the foundation for all of the sea term engineering programs and will continue to do so, perhaps in even larger roles in the near future. Sea term is not simply a two month proposition but requires a full ten months of planning followed immediately by its two month implementation period when we are at sea. The hard work of the Engineering department and the cadet leadership should be recognized for their service. When asked if there was anything he would like to add during the interview, Cdr. Gillis replied, "Yes...I'm wonderful!" And you know what? I think we can all agree, Cdr. Gillis truly is wonderful...his hard work and humorous nature stand as testaments to his 'wonderful' nature. Not only was Cdr. Gillis an MMA graduate of the class of 1983 but he received a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from UMASS Amherst in 1985. Upon the completion of his degree he worked from 1986 until 2000 as an energy consultant, developing energy conservation programs for a number of large corporations and a number of utility companies in New Hampshire. It is not always easy to be an energy consultant because, according to Cdr. Gillis, "To go into a plant and tell the plant engineer that you have to make them more efficient...well, you make a lot of enemies." Despite the tough nature of the job, energy issues are more and more at the head of our economy and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. With a vast amount of experience in energy conservation and energy management, Cdr. Gillis has been able to bring an essential modern day issue to the forefront, both in the classroom at sea as well as at the academy. It is important to note that energy conservation is different from energy management. Energy conservation deals with using less energy by using less machinery and devices. Energy management deals with developing more efficient products and procedures to maximize energy efficiency, to save both money and the environment. Currently the Massachusetts Maritime Academy is offering classes in which they teach both energy conservation and energy management. Follow the Voyage
Here are today's questions: History: When was the Federal holiday known as Washington's Birthday officially changed to Presidents Day?
Math: What shape is formed by the intersection of a plane with a sphere?
Science: What used to be the 'fire triangle' is now the 'fire tetrahedron'. What are the three sides of the fire triangle? What is the fourth side added to the fire tetrahedron?
Geography: Belgian Congo, Ceylon, Persia, and Yugoslavia are countries whose names have changed in modern times. Where are they geographically and what are their current names? Can you name some more countries with new names? LINKS:
Official MMA Photography
Christiaan Conover Blog Page
Buzzards Bay Weather
MMA Parents Association Departure Photos
Cape Cod Times Online Departure Photos
217 Photos of TS Kennedy's Arrival in Tampa
Should you have an emergency and need to contact someone at MMA regarding your cadet or a crew member, please contact Commander Stephen Kelleher:
Commander Stephen Kelleher
508-830-6485 (daytime)
508-364-6217 (Evenings/Weekends)
seaterm@maritime.edu If Commander Kelleher is not available, you may contact me at any time:
Captain Allen Hansen
508-269-0925
ahansen@maritime.edu
Parting Shots...
Printable Page
Important Information:
Seabag Requirements
1c & 2c Seabag Requirements
3c Seabag Requirements
4c Seabag Requirements
Engineering Toolkit Requirements
2009 Sea Term Tours
2009 Mailing Information
SGA Sea Term Flyer
|
