SST: June 09, 2009
09 June 2009
SST 2009 – Update #2
At sea, all vessels typically keep what is called a Noon Report. This report monitors the vessel’s status and performance during the preceding 24 hours at sea or in port. Occasionally, when we change clocks to conform to different time zones, there will be not 24 hours in the Noon Report, but rather 23 hours – on a day that we advance clocks forward an hour (similar to daylight savings time) or 25 hours – on a day that we retard clocks an hour. Starting with our departure from Gibraltar today, we thoughts that it would be interesting to you all to post our Noon Report – and see what we are doing daily. For the Blogs therefore we will start with the Noon Report of the day.
Noon Report (09 June 2009)
T/S EMPIRE STATE KKFW
LAT: 39° – 32.9’ N LONG: 009° – 57.1’ W
COURSE: 341°
DIST BY OBS: 332.3 NM/ 368.6 NM
ENGINE DISTANCE: 362.9/405.3
SLIP: 8.4/9.0
LENGTH OF DAY: 25 HRS/ 28 HRS
AVE SPEED: 13.3 KTS/ 13.2 KTS
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 350 BBLS/ 390 BBLS
FUEL ROB: 11926 BBLS
MDO ROB: 599 BBLS
POTABLE WATER ROB: 707 T
DISTILLED WATER ROB: 208 T
SEA STATE: WNW/4
WIND: WNW/4
NEXT PORT: Reykjavik, Iceland
DIST TO GO: 1534 NM
ETA : 0800 LT/ 14 JUNE 2009
Yesterday we departed Gibraltar as scheduled at 0800 hours. Upon leaving the south mole of Gibraltar, and once the pilot was away, Cadet James English, 1/C Cadet Watch Officer, slowly assumed charge of the watch and brought the engines up to full sea speed. Based on our arrival time to Iceland, we require about 13.8 knots (nautical miles per hour) as the speed to make good. Looking at the weather map, and what is predicted ahead, I expect to hit some weather as we get off the coast of Ireland, but for the time being it looks like smooth seas ahead. It was a very quiet day yesterday as it usually is on the day of departure. Cadets had class, maintenance and watch as usual – we do not waste one day but rather get right back into the routine of things to take advantage of every opportunity.
Admiral Craine joined us in Gibraltar, and will sail with us through the last port of call. He has a genuine and strong interest in the professional training of your sons and daughters, and always maximizes his time onboard. I am including his first of many blog entries to close out today.
Summer Sea Term ’09 Journal #1
Dear Faculty, Staff, Parents and Friends,
Greetings from Empire State VI! It is great to be back aboard Empire State and at sea again after rejoining the ship in Gibraltar. While it is wonderful to be back with our cadets, ship’s officers, faculty and staff, I was disappointed to learn that our chaplain, The Rev. Dr. John Farrell, had been hospitalized just before I arrived for a heart condition. Captain Smith and I visited him and, while in good spirits, he needed more tests and will be staying a few days longer in Spain before returning home to New York. Several cadets were also able to visit him in the hospital before we left, which lifted his spirits a great deal. We will miss having Father John with us but will be keeping him in our thoughts and prayers.
From all accounts, Gibraltar was enjoyed by all! The weather could not have been nicer, and there was much to do and see. The highlight for most was climbing and exploring the Rock of Gibraltar. I won’t go into the rich and extensive history of the Rock, other than to say it is a very strategic place that has been fought over for centuries. Its many fortifications still abound and there are more miles of tunnels within the Rock than there are roads in Gibraltar! Additionally, the Barbary Apes- small tailless monkeys, which migrated from Africa many centuries ago, are an interesting attraction found on the Rock. They are friendly and posed for many pictures. Some even made off with candy or an ice cream cone or two that were not closely guarded! Many cadets and staff also took advantage of tours to Tangier, Morocco, a short ferry ride across the Straits. Others went into nearby Spain, making this port an opportunity to visit three different countries, all within a day.
As I write this we, have just gotten underway from Gibraltar and are en route to Iceland. The weather is predicted to be good for our transit, which will take us back out through the Straits of Gibraltar to the Atlantic, then north through the Bay of Bisque, which is off the west coast of France, then into the North Atlantic to Iceland.
It is wonderful to see the professionalism of cadets standing watch, securing lines, responding to engine orders from the bridge, maneuvering through the many ships at anchor in Gibraltar getting the ship back out to sea, and transiting the Straits.
As a parent, I wish all you parents could see all that your sons and daughters are doing and learning, and how proud they are of their accomplishments. Needless to say, it is very rewarding and heartwarming to see.
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine, Jr.
President
