SST: May 19, 2009
19 May 2009
Our first full day at sea was anti-climatic. We anchored at Montauk Point in the late afternoon on Monday and ended up staying for the next thirty-six hours. Communication is paramount at sea and we had to wait until technicians were able to correct malfunctions in our e-mail system. Captain Smith has set a deadline for noon tomorrow, and the Empire State will be again underway. We still expect to reach the Azores on schedule.
Shipboard life has begun in earnest though. Work details are busy performing a variety of mariners’ tasks and classes began meeting on schedule on Tuesday. There are a number of classrooms on board, besides the mess deck and student lounge which are used for classes. All were filled on Tuesday morning with eager students and enthusiastic instructors.
On Tuesday afternoon there was a fire drill which went smoothly. Cadets, crew, staff, and officers reported on their stations in a timely fashion. Roll was called. All were checked for life-jackets and head covers. Once everyone on board had been counted and accounted for, we were dismissed. It was inspiring for me to see our first class cadets taking leadership roles in the drill and behaving in a competent and professional fashion. If there ever would be an emergency, I’d feel confident following the directions of our young officers-in-training.
The whole idea of a training ship is making perfect sense to me. I commend the cadets for their diligence and the officers and staff for their dedication.
Fr. John Farrell
Regimental Chaplain
