Admiral's SST Journal Archive
June 28, 2007
To all aboard Empire State VI:
As I prepare to depart from Empire State VI, I want you to know what an honor and pleasure it has been for me to be aboard for Summer Sea Term ’07!
While Summer Sea Term got off to a very tragic start with the loss of Billy McCarthy, we came together and supported each other in our initial shock and grief, and then began the process of moving forward, as he would have wanted and expected us to do. Billy has been in our thoughts everyday and will always be missed. We have left a lot of water in our wake, seen new countries, learned a great deal about engineering and seamanship, and, most importantly, learned so much about ourselves.
To our ship’s officers, mates, engineers, faculty and crew: you have done a tremendous job, on the bridge and on deck, in the engine room, in the classroom and throughout the ship. I thank you for making a difference for us all, most especially our cadets. In addition to your “official” positions aboard the ship, you have been mentors and role models to the cadets, and they could not have had better ones than you! It has truly been a pleasure to sail with you.
To our cadets: it has been a pleasure being with you this summer. I continue to marvel at all that you are learning and how well you do all that is asked of you. I will always cherish the memories of watching you come off watch or from an exam wearing smiles of satisfaction, knowing that you put forth your very best effort. You are the inspiration behind all that we do, each and every day.
As I leave Empire State VI to return to New York, I take with me many fond memories of our time together, on the ship and in port. I wish you a safe and enjoyable transit back across the Atlantic, and I look forward to seeing you back at Fort Schuyler on July 13!
BZ!
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 24, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
We are back at sea after a very enjoyable port visit in Tallinn, Estonia. It was everything we expected, and more. There was lots of delicious food, fascinating architecture, wonderful history, interesting tours of the surrounding countryside and very friendly and hospitable people, most of whom spoke English! While it was a wonderful port, it is great to be back at sea on watch, wrapping up the classroom instruction and prepping for the all-important Coast Guard license exam that is scheduled for the end of July.
We have been blessed with a terrific officers and faculty aboard for this Summer Sea Term. It is interesting to note that of the 40 watch officers and professors, 24 are alumni and 8 are full-time faculty! I believe this speaks volumes about them and their wanting to give something back to the college that obviously means so much to them. Collectively, all the officers bring with them literally hundreds of years of at-sea experience in a multitude of different maritime environments.
Within the officers and faculty, we have a harbor pilot (class of ‘81 and current 3rd class parent) who is assisting in ‘watch standing’ and teaching the finer details of seamanship and ship handling in restricted waters. We have a couple of Merchant Marine Reservists (MMR) who, in addition to standing watches on the bridge and engine room, are able to explain the benefits of a MMR commission to our cadets. There are several officers with a Chief Engineer's license who are great mentors and whose knowledge of steam plants is unsurpassed, and several officers with a Master's license who, while they are on the bridge, are constantly teaching and imparting intricate details of seamanship and navigation to our cadets. Interestingly, our Chief Navigator, who was trained in India and the United Kingdom, is also a student at the College. One of our faculty members is shipboard environmental expert, and he is teaching a new course in environmental and safety regulations and practices. Others, yet, are involved with daily upkeep and maintenance of the ship and engineering plant and are passing along their knowledge and experience in maintaining and fixing all sorts of things. As I have mentioned before, I marvel at all our cadets are learning. The education and training they are receiving are second to none and are due in large measure to our officers, faculty, crew and alums. I, for one, am tremendously impressed by them all! When one puts what our students learn in the classroom during the regular academic year together with the Summer Sea Term, it is easy to understand why our graduates receive multiple job offers with some of the highest starting salaries in the country.
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 18, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
In my last entry, we were in the Bay of Biscay with the wind coming from our port beam, which caused some rough seas. As soon as we turned towards the East to enter the English Channel, our ride became very smooth. The fond old mariners’ saying, “fair winds and following seas,” is exactly what we had for our transit through the Channel and into the North Sea. Because the visibility was somewhat restricted due to fog and a light drizzle in the morning, we were not able to see the cliffs of Dover when we passed them, but otherwise the weather was delightful, and the sunset last night a little after 10 pm was gorgeous.
As I write this, we are in the Kiel Canal. It is a sight that I wish everyone could see. There is beautiful farmland on either side of the canal, and every so often, cities and small villages appear, along with ferry crossings along the canal. The fields along the roads on either side of the canal are filled with cows, horses and sheep, and along the roads on both sides of the canal, people can be seen walking their dogs and pushing baby carriages. We just passed the City of Rendsburg, about midway through the canal, and we heard our National Anthem being played as the ship passed by. Wow! Pretty impressive, to say the very least!!
The Canal is 62 miles long and 240 feet wide at its narrowest point. It was opened in 1895 during the time of Kaiser Wilhelm, and today is the world’s busiest artificial waterway. It connects the North Sea to the Baltic and saves ships from having to circumnavigate the Danish Peninsula and numerous islands off the northern tip of Denmark. We entered the Canal via the river Elbe. It takes about 8-10 hours to get the Baltic. We are in a convoy of four ships, and, periodically, we’ll pass ships coming from the opposite direction. With our beam of 76 feet, and with opposing ships of similar size, there isn’t much room to spare on either side. We just passed a cruise ship, and it looked like we could almost reach out and touch it! To ensure safe passage for all the ships, canal pilots and helmsmen come aboard and take control of the steerage of the ship. They know all of the characteristics of the canal, and it is fascinating to watch them as they maneuver the ship through it.
Going through restricted waters like this requires extra watches throughout the ship, so today will be a long day for the crew and cadets on watch. We have extra line handlers out to tie the ship to the two locks at either end of the canal. Throughout the transit, the bow is manned with extra people to release the anchor, if required, and in the stern, the auxiliary steering gear room, which is located above the rudder, is manned to provide backup steering, should it be needed.
For all of us aboard--even those who have been through the canal previously, this is an experience that we’ll never forget. For the cadets on watch, particularly for those on the bridge who were allowed by the pilots to relieve the canal helmsman to steer the ship, it is an experience of a lifetime, and their feeling of pride is palpable after they have completed their watch! It is very gratifying and rewarding to see.
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 16, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
Today, we were in the Bay of Biscay and it was a beautiful day. I have transited this area many times and this was first time that I‘ve actually seen the sun! On previous occasions, there was always a storm with high winds that were perpendicular to our route which made for a very rough passage.
The routine of work, class and watch continues. These long periods of time between ports are great for getting a lot of concentrated classroom instruction done and work related projects completed by the same group of cadets.
We have had to change our next port of call from St. Petersburg to Tallinn, Estonia. After having been told that no visas would be required for the St. Petersburg visit, we have now been informed that everyone aboard will be required to have one, at a cost of $100 per person. Visa processing would cause our schedule to be disrupted, so we decided to look for another port. The ship visited Tallinn three years ago, and everyone enjoyed their time there, so this was an easy choice to make. It is also very close to St. Petersburg, so any family members who were planning to meet the ship there will find it easy to get to Tallinn instead.
Captain Smith and I have been having small groups of cadets join us for dinner every night. This provides a great opportunity to get to know them a little better, in a relaxed environment, and for them to share with us their observations of the on-board training and their experiences ashore. The dinners are delightful, as well as insightful. We learn a great deal about why they decided to come to the College in the first place and what they really like about it. While the reasons for choosing to come are generally the same – they know of others who had come here or had heard about it from a friend, or came for a visit to the campus, or wanted a somewhat structured environment, they soon learned that the reason for staying is because of the time aboard the ship during the Summer Sea Terms. While some will choose not to “ship out” following graduation, most will cherish their time aboard the ship, the opportunities to really get to know their classmates and visit other countries. This experience is like no other. The friendships and bonds that are forged here last a lifetime. The teamwork required to complete almost every daily task and the leadership skills that are developed on every watch or work detail will serve the cadets well for the rest of their lives. There has not been an evening that we have not come away pleased with what we have heard about the value of this experience, the quality of the instruction here and back on campus, and the appreciation for the continuous improvements that are being made at the College. While these comments are nice to hear, what is truly gratifying is the maturity, thoughtful reflection, and confidence that they exude. This tells us that the experience of attending Maritime College is truly making a difference in their lives. We hear this all the time from alumni--how the College made a difference in lives--but to see and hear this from our current students makes being here a very rewarding experience. Our cadets are truly inspiring to be around!
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 14, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
We are back in the Atlantic under a gray, overcast sky with moderately rolling seas. The transit to the English Channel will take 2 days and then another day to Kiel Canal. We will begin the 55 mile transit of the canal early Monday morning.
As I go around the ship, I am continually amazed at the excellent condition of our ship that is 46 years old! Most ships that were built when this one was built (in 1961) are now fishing reefs. I have been on newer ships that are not nearly in as good shape as the Empire State. We are truly blessed to have a terrific crew that has rebuilt many systems and maintained the ship in excellent condition. We are also fortunate to have cadets who, while aboard, do a lot of work in keeping the ship operating and looking great.
I asked Matt O’Donnell, our Chief Engineer, to provide some examples of what the engineering cadets are doing on a daily basis to maintain the ship. His comments follow:
I believe all of my licensed engineers are working toward the same goal with regard to the training of our cadets. That is, to help them acquire a ‘working knowledge’ of the ship’s systems and equipment and to gain the self-confidence associated with having done something important and done it well.
For the upper class, it might mean starting the cargo refrigeration system or raising vacuum and warming the main engine. For the under class, it may be as simple as dismantling, cleaning and re-assembling a fuel oil burner for the boilers.
(A) Routine Daily Maintenance Performed By Cadets on M&R (maintenance and repair):
1. Fuel oil transfers from storage tanks to the settling tanks.
2. Boiler chemical testing, dosing and soot blowing.
3. Changing and cleaning of fuel oil strainers.
4. Defrosting of refrigeration systems.
5. Adding oil to refrigeration compressors.
( B) Recent Repairs Performed By Cadets:
1. Fabricated parts to repair the galley meat slicer;
2. Troubleshot and repaired electrical circuits in the galley fryer
3. Repaired plumbing associated with the garbage disposal
4. Repaired controls associated with the galley ice machine.
5. Repaired solenoid valves in the commercial clothes washing machines.
6. Repaired various plumbing equipment
(C) Routine Operational Tasks Performed By Cadets on Watch:
1. Operating and maintaining temperatures, levels and pressures of all equipment.
2. Raising vacuum and warming the main engines.
3. Operating the throttles during maneuvering (responding to “bells’ from the bridge).
4. Starting of auxiliary generators for arrivals and departures.
5. Disassembly, cleaning and re-assembly of burners.
Where many of them stood “in the wings” at the beginning of cruise, hoping not to be called upon, there are now many who volunteer to demonstrate that they “can do” it and do it well. The confidence gained by many of them is obvious in their faces and in their step, and that is our reward.
Wow! A pretty impressive list! I have to add that I marvel at, and am continually impressed by, all that our cadets--engine and deck--are learning and doing. They are learning skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. One deck cadet, who was retiling a floor, jokingly said he hoped his parents would not find out that he had learned how to tile, or he would be redoing their kitchen and bathrooms when he returned from cruise. Actually, I think he is looking forward to showing how well he can do it!
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 13, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
We have completed our three days of deck training off the coast of Gibraltar. By all accounts, the cadets did a terrific job in all the training evolutions. It was particularly pleasing to see how well they performed some of the maneuvering drills- anchoring the ship and performing the Williamson Turn for the man-overboard drills. These maneuvers are not easy to do, even in the best of conditions, and when there are 15- 20 knots of wind and currents to consider, they are particularly difficult; but, our cadets took all of this into consideration, and performed them magnificently!
“The Rock” is now in our wake, and we are heading out of the Mediterranean, north toward the Bay of Biscay off the West coast of France. From there we will enter the English Channel and then proceed through the very narrow Kiel Canal to the Baltic Sea. The canal cuts through the northern part of Germany and will provide for some very precise navigation.
We are now back to several routine training days of watches, academics and ship work. Dr. Burke, the Senior Engine Training Officer, has provided a statement of some of what the engineers are doing aboard the ship. His statement follows:
“Engineering training on the Empire State VI this year is aimed at integrating knowledge, practice, and professionalism. Knowledge comes from classroom instruction on how machinery is constructed and operated, and why it works or does not work as it is designed to work. Practice comes from actually operating and maintaining the equipment, putting the knowledge gained in the classroom to work together with a dirty boiler suit and an occasional bruised knuckle. Professionalism -- learning to take direction before being allowed to give it, taking responsibility for getting the whole job done right, and properly communicating back to supervisors – is the element that will most clearly distinguish our engineers after graduation.
The third class cadets are spending their sea term learning about boilers.. Today’s lesson is about chemical testing and treatment of boiler water. Since the water in the boiler is kept at such high temperatures and pressures, impurities that would be harmless in ordinary tap water would do damage to the steel drums and tubes. The water must be tested and treated, so this becomes the practical application of the cadets’ freshman chemistry course – how do you test for pH, alkalinity, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, chlorides, and other dissolved solids, and then apply the appropriate chemicals in the proper amounts? They are learning it in the classroom this morning, then they will see it done at the boiler, and eventually they will each do it themselves..
The second class engineers are learning about electricity. Generators, motors, and batteries have already been covered, so today’s lesson is about transformers. A ship is its own electric utility – there is no ConEd out here – and the engineers have to make sure that the lights stay on. The theory behind a transformer is fairly straightforward, but cadets must learn about different types of transformers, how to hook up a transformer, and how to diagnose problems. The emphasis with electricity is on safety, and ignorance is just not safe.
The first class cadets are preparing for the US Coast Guard examination, which is about a month and a half away. Even while standing their watches and supervising their maintenance parties, they are preparing for license seminar, a series of practice Coast Guard examinations in each of seven areas. It is all of marine engineering, everything they must know to operate this ship or any ship they might join after graduation. It is hard, and they feel the burden, but everything they are covering they have learned in some other course. They are facing one of life’s realities: you don’t learn things for an exam, you learn them for the rest of your life.”
More on some of the “routine” maintenance and work our engineers are doing every day in the next journal!
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 12, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
Yesterday, I described some of the deck training events in which our cadets participated. I have asked Mr. Anthony Palmiotti, chairman of the Marine Transportation Department and the Senior Deck Training Officer for the Summer Sea Term, to share with us a little more of what the deck cadets are doing aboard ship. His comments follow:
“Amid scattered whitecaps and in the shadow of the Rock of Gibraltar, the deck training schedule is changing its routine today to give each watch section a chance at some ‘hands-on’ training.
First class cadets will con the ship with Captain Smith in a series of ship handling exercises while the underclass rotate through a series of exercises, including handling mooring and lines, rigging, damage control and search and rescue. This evening, as the wind settles, boats will be lowered, and cadets will operate the lifeboats and fast rescue boat. Each section is timed in the various exercises in a spirit of friendly competition. The winning watch section will receive extra liberty in Estonia.
Onboard training is designed to compliment and reinforce the academic classes held at the campus during the year. Cadets who learned celestial navigation in class and labs at the Fort are now finding their position at morning and evening stars. Third class cadets are using newly learned chart work skills during piloting watches entering and leaving port. The summer sea term is where everything becomes real, where theories become practice.
This year we have revised the training schedule to better reflect the realities faced by today’s mariners and ship managers. Prof. Nadolny has added a section on regulatory and environmental compliance for first class cadets. This section will help cadets understand and comply with a host of new laws and regulations that have become as much a part of the shipping industry as navigation and seamanship.
After completing our ‘Anchor Days” training schedule, we will head north for the Kiel Canal and the Baltic Sea. Along the way, cadets will stand watches in some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. In addition to navigation and ship handling, cadets are managing watch sections, making operational decisions concerning their work assignments and, in effect, are preparing themselves to take their place as mates, managers and leaders in the world of international business.”
We are extremely fortunate to have Mr. Palmiotti, as well as Dr. Richard Burke, the Chairman of the Engineering Department, and the Senior Engine Department Training Officer, with us for the Summer Sea Term. They bring years of professional and academic experience and knowledge with them, as well as their memories and experiences of having once been cadets at the Maritime College! Their presence and leadership aboard the ship are important, as they know what has been covered in the classrooms back on campus and what hands-on training the cadets need to accomplish on the ship to be prepared for and successfully pass the license exams.
In the next journal, we’ll hear from Dr. Burke about engineering training!
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 11, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
After refueling in Gibraltar, we pulled up the anchor and moved to the other side of “The Rock.” We are now anchored about 200 yards from the face of “The Rock”- an impressive sight, to say the very least!
We’ll stay here for 2 days conducting various Deck Training drills and maneuvers. This is an ideal spot to do this training, as it is somewhat sheltered from the wind and seas, which will make putting our lifeboats in the water a little easier. The cadets who will be in the lifeboats will also appreciate the calmer water!
In addition to lifeboat training, other out-of-classroom training includes damage control training, block and tackle work, search and rescue in a smoke filled space, and mooring operations. The damage-control trainer is a large metal box that has several holes and large cracks into which seawater is pumped under high pressure. The idea is try to plug and fill the holes and cracks with whatever one finds - pieces of wood, cloth, hose, etc. to keep the water from flowing out. There is an overflow port at the top, and when water comes out of the top, the cadets know they have succeeded in “saving their ship” from sinking. In the confined-space search and rescue drill, a ‘smoke’ machine fills a darkened room with what looks like smoke, and a pair of cadets don breathing devices and are tethered to a rope held by a third cadet, and they enter and search the room to ensure that someone who might be incapacitated is not left in the room. In the block and tackle training, cadets get to rig and use blocks (pulleys) and tackle (line) to move cargo from one side of the ship to another. The “cargo” in this drill is other cadets! All of these drills, while important in the safe operation of any ship, are also a lot of fun.
While all of this is going on, other cadets are on the bridge maneuvering the ship under the direction of Captain Smith. One of the maneuvers they learn to accomplish is the “Williamson Turn” which is used if there is a ‘man overboard’. While it is not the quickest way to turn a ship around, it is the best way to get headed back in the opposite direction on the same track or path the ship was on prior to something or someone falling off the ship.
The engineers are not left out of these drills. Those on watch are keeping the plant operating efficiently and are responding to various engine speed changes that are being directed from the bridge. For those in classes, today is the day for mid-term exams!
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 10, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
We arrived in Gibraltar on Saturday evening and proceeded to our anchorage which was very close to the inner port. We had a gorgeous view of “The Rock” and the surrounding city. We were surrounded by other ships that were there for fuel too- Gibraltar is a popular and convenient port for fuel because of its location at the entrance to the Mediterranean and because of its ease of entry into the port.
During the night we took on 8,600 barrels or 361,200 gallons of fuel oil for the ship. The fueling evolution took 7 hours and required most of the crew and engineers to be up for most of the night. There are several fuel tanks and they need to be continually ‘sounded’ or checked to ensure they are not over filled. Before there were gauges and other instruments for checking the level of fuel in the tanks, the engineers would tap on the sides of the tank and listen for the tone or sound of the tap to determine the fuel level. Now there are several ways to check the fuel level in the tanks. One is by reading a gauge, much like that in a car, and another is by dropping a ‘sounding bob’ that is connected to a measuring tape on a reel into the tank and listening to hear when it hits the top of the fuel. The tape is then read to see how high the oil level is in the tank.
Being that today is Sunday, means it is barbeque day! A barbeque provides for a nice break in the routine and it is a great time to see and talk with those we do not get to see everyday. And, they are just plain fun!
Putting together a barbeque for 625 people is not an easy job, but Chartwell’s, our food service provider, makes it look easy and they do a terrific job. By the end of the day, for lunch and dinner on the Sun Deck, they will have grilled over 1000 hamburgers, 850 steaks, 400 Italian sausages, 300 hot dogs and 300 pieces of barbeque chicken! If this isn’t enough, we’ll polish off 400 pounds of pasta salad and cold slaw, 36 watermelons and 60 gallons of ice cream! Tomorrow, I’m sure the gym and cardio room will be packed!
And, we can’t have a barbeque without ‘games’- The Empire State Damage Control Olympics. Actually, they are not games, but very important training events put together by the Deck Training Department. More on Deck Training in the next journal.
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 09, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
It is another beautiful day aboard the Empire State as we continue to make our way toward Gibraltar. As I write this, we are just south of the Balearic Islands that are located off the east coast of Spain. The most popular of the islands is Mallorca where the ship stopped in Palma de Mallorca a couple of years ago.
Aboard the ship, it is another typical day of watch, classroom instruction and work. One of the daily routines, as I mentioned in an earlier report, is blowing tubes or clearing soot out of the stack. Today, at the same time the engineering cadets on watch were assisting in the performance of this procedure, others were in a classroom learning the theory behind the procedure. In another classroom, deck cadets were learning the theory and application of Great Circle navigation, while other deck cadets were about to ‘shoot the sun’ with a sextant to determine what time the sun would be directly overhead. To most non-sea going types when the sun is straight up, it is usually thought of as noon, or 12:00 pm, but to mariners it is referred to as ‘local apparent noon’ or LAN, and it is important in determining location at sea. Today, the time of LAN is 1:45 pm, or for shipboard or military time- 1345. The reinforcement of classroom theory with hands-on, practical application is one of the benefits of a Maritime College education.
Even the work environment provides for a learning experience where useful life-long skills are learned. Today, for example, cadets were polishing brass, learning that Cool Aide of all things, is useful in removing tarnish, while others where learning how to properly prepare surfaces for paint and to retile floors. The new tile floor in the barbershop is as fine a job as one could find anywhere! One cadet on his first summer aboard the ship said he never dreamed he would learn all that he has during his short time at Maritime.
We are still planning on taking on fuel in Gibraltar. More on that in the next journal.
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 07, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff, Parents and Friends,
We are back at sea, having departed Civitavecchia this morning. The weather is absolutely beautiful today, as it was for all but our first day in port. As we head west, we will transit through the Straights of Bonifacio, the body of water between the islands of Corsica and Sardinia.
From all accounts, the visit to Italy was most enjoyable. There were visits to Rome, Florence, Siena, and other surrounding cities. For most, Rome and the Vatican were the highlights of our time in port. Father Mike had arranged for an audience with the Pope on Wednesday, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that we had front row seats when we arrived from Civitavecchia in a caravan of buses! Pictures of our time with the Pope have been posted on the website, and more details of the visit will be provided by the cadets who made presentations to the Pope. Needless to say, it was a very memorable experience for all 500+ of us who attended! Once again, our thanks and appreciation go to Father Mike.
During our time in Rome, I had the pleasure of taking some of the tours with several of our cadets, and I also saw them in various restaurants around the city. I have to tell you, I was really proud of how they presented themselves throughout the visit--courteous, polite, poised and proud are words that come to mind. Many proudly wore their uniforms around the city following the Vatican visit, and they were occasionally stopped by other tourists and locals to inquire about what school they were from.
The next 10 days will be filled with watches, classes and lots of ship work. Within just a few hours of being back at sea, we have very quickly settled back into the shipboard routine, which is good to see.
As we make our way out of the Mediterranean, we will stop for fuel in Gibraltar for a day. This stop will be only for fuel, and we will not be going ashore.
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
June 04, 2007
Dear Faculty, Staff, Parents and Friends,
It is great to be back aboard the Empire State! I flew into Rome Saturday, June 2, from Odessa, Ukraine, were I was attending an international maritime conference. While in Rome, I rendezvoused with two cadets who were also returning to ship, and we took the train from Rome to Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, where the ship will be until Thursday, June 7th. As we got off the train, we were greeted by a hundred or so cadets who had just gotten off the ship and were headed for Rome and Florence! For many, it was their first time out of the United States, and they looked eager to experience a new country. It was also GREAT to see their smiling faces again!
After getting back aboard, I learned that the Atlantic crossing and transit through the Mediterranean had been smooth for all but about 6 hours, just west of Italy. For many cadets, it was their first experience with rough seas, and from all appearances, they handled them just fine. What was really wonderful to hear was how tremendously impressed Captain Smith was with the cadets’ performance. Whether on the bridge, in the engine room, on deck, or in the classroom, they have been professional and really eager to learn.
We are grateful to have Father Michael Moynihan with us for the Summer Sea Term. In addition to conducting daily Mass, he has been holding Italian language classes and has arranged some terrific tours of Italy, including an audience with the Pope on Wednesday, June 6th. He is also personally leading daily tours of the Vatican, where he became a priest and later returned to earn his canon law degree. Thank you, Father Mike!
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
May 16, 2007
SUNY Maritime College remains deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected death of Cadet Billy McCarthy on the Training Ship Empire State VI early Wednesday morning. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers continue to be with the McCarthy family during this most difficult time.
We also know this is a difficult time for Billy's shipmates and friends, and their families. Once it was known that no more could be done for Billy aboard the ship, arrangements were made to quickly return him to his family. The ship was diverted to the closest suitable port, Morehead City, North Carolina. When the ship arrived at the Morehead City anchorage Wednesday afternoon, Billy was transported ashore with the assistance of the Coast Guard and was accompanied by Admiral Craine, Peter Vecchio, his swimming coach, and two students, one of whom is a cousin and the other a close friend since childhood. While the others returned to New York the next day, Admiral Craine remained behind to accompany Billy home to his parents Friday evening.
On board the training ship, following Wednesday morning's formation and while steaming to Morehead City, Captain Smith and Admiral Craine assembled the cadets, by class, to talk with them about what had happened... Arrangements were also made to have three counselors from the College meet the ship in Morehead City. Two of the counselors went aboard the ship to offer assistance, and the third remained ashore to be with and accompany the two cadets back to New York. The College counselors remained with the ship as it continued on to its original destination, Charleston, South Carolina, where it was met by a Coast Guard chaplain. Back in New York, as soon as news of Billy's passing reached the campus, the College chaplain, Father Moynihan, the College Provost, Dr. Hoffman, and Mrs. Craine went to be with the family. Father Moynihan will join the ship on Saturday following Billy's wake and will remain with the ship for the remainder of the Summer Sea Term.
While the exact cause of Billy's death will not be known until all the toxicology reports come back, the medical examiner was able to share with us that, from his initial examination, there is no evidence whatsoever of any disease that would cause us to be concerned about the health of our cadets. Please know that the safety and well-being of all aboard the ship are the primary focus of all we do. We take great care to insure that the ship's environment is a safe and healthy one. Further, prior to each deployment, the ship is inspected and the crew certified by the Coast Guard to ensure the safety of all aboard.
On behalf of the entire Maritime College family, our deepest condolences and sympathy go out to the McCarthy family.
May 15, 2007
Admiral's Journal Dear Faculty, Staff, Parents and Friends,
Greetings from Empire State VI! It is great to be at sea again. Empire State got underway as scheduled, at 1000 this morning, with 545 cadets and 74 staff aboard. The weather could not have been nicer--clear blue skies, 65 degrees, and, most important, a calm sea.
It was great that many parents, family members and friends were able to see the ship off. I could not help but notice cadets proudly showing family around the ship.. As departure time approached, there were lots of hugs, kisses and tears--tears over having to say goodbye and tears, too, of pride.
As I write this at the end of our first at-sea day, we have transited the Long Island Sound and are now heading south for Charleston, South Carolina. It has been a smooth transit thus far. The ship is in terrific condition, and there is a feeling of anticipation and excitement about the ship. The first of what will be many “watches” has been successfully stood. The eagerness of the cadets to learn and the desire by the ship’s officers to pass on their many years of knowledge is readily apparent. All in all, it has been a great first day!
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
