Hello, Followers!

Climb aboard the TS Kennedy for Sea Term!  On behalf of the cadets and crew, I would like to welcome the many elementary school, middle school, and high school students participating in the Follow The Voyage Program.  Throughout Sea Term, be sure to log onto my Captain’s Log.  I am looking forward to providing you with daily updates and answering as many of your questions as possible.

I am a 1987 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.  In December 2013, I was hired as Second Mate of the TS Kennedy.  A year later, I became the Acting Chief Mate.  At a Change Of Command Ceremony in August 2016, I became the Master of the TS Kennedy .  My position merges my Chief Mate responsibilities with that of captaining the ship. As Chief Mate, I am in charge of implementing safety management for all personnel.  I am also responsible for the planned maintenance of the ship’s interior and exterior spaces, including the machinery.   It is a demanding job, but I couldn’t be happier.  

When I am not on the TS Kennedy, I treasure my time at home with my wife and children in Narragansett, Rhode Island.  

I welcome your comments and questions throughout our voyage.  Please send them to me via ftv@maritime.edu.  

Thanks again for being a part of Sea Term!

Sincerely,
Captain Michael J.  Campbell
Master, TS Kennedy

Nautical Terms

Aft - The back of a ship. If something is located aft, it is at the back of the ship. The aft is also known as the stern. 

All Hands - Entire ship’s company, both officers and enlisted personnel. 

Aweigh - The position of anchor as it is raised clear of the bottom.

Bow - The front of the ship is called the bow. Knowing the location of the bow is important for defining two of the other most common sailing terms; port (left of the bow) and starboard (right of the bow). 

Bridge - A structure above the weather deck, extending the full width of the vessel, which houses a command center, itself called by association, the bridge. 

Deck Hand, “Decky” - A person whose job involves aiding the deck supervisor in (un) mooring, anchoring, maintenance, and general evolutions on deck. 

Forward - The front of a ship. If something is located forward, it is at the front of the ship. This is also known as the bow. 

Knot - A unit of speed: 1 nautical mile (1.8520 km; 1.1508 mi) per hour. Originally speed was measured by paying out a line from the stern of a moving boat. The line had a knot every 47 feet 3 inches (14.40 m) and the number of knots passed out in 30 seconds gave the speed through the water in nautical miles per hour. 

Port - Port is always the left-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing terms when used in the open waters, port is used to define the left-hand side of the ship as it relates to the bow, or front. 

Rack - The term to describe a bed aboard a ship.

Starboard - Starboard is always the right-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, starboard is used to define the right-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front.