Captain's Log for Saturday, 22 January 2000
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As of 0800 EST, 1200 local time, and 1300 GMT, the Empire State was moored to the pier in Gibraltar: 36 degrees 08 minutes North Latitude, 005 degrees 21 minutes West Longitude. She was taking various services from the pier. The weather report; Partly cloudy, wind out of the east at 3 kts, air temp 52 degrees, water temp 58 degrees, barometric pressure 1022 millibars, steady. CAPTAIN'S LOG As you know, the purpose for this stop was for lifeboat training. Our intent was to anchor in Algeceras Bay and use both sides of the ship to practice raising and lowering the lifeboats. I had full intention of doing so, but was guided by the old nautical rule "a dock is better than an anchor". I reached out to the United States Navy and their liaison officer in Gibraltar to see if they could fit us in. This officer is permanently stationed in Gibraltar to allow smooth communications between the British Forces and the USN Sixth Fleet. This includes assisting when a US Naval vessel comes into Gibraltar for R&R (rest and relaxation). As luck would have it the liaison officer turned out to be CDR Chris Melhuish, whose last station was the Commanding Officer of the Constitution! His efforts to help out our Massachusetts College were tremendous. He reserved a terrific spot for us... the best in Gibraltar! A two hundred-yard walk has you on Main Street, right in the center of town. Upon docking we were granted immediate approval to allow our crew to go ashore. No hassle clearing customs, immigration or agriculture; we got the red carpet treatment! I was required to make a courtesy call to the Commander of British Forces, Gibraltar, Commodore Andy Millmett. He was extremely interested in our curriculum and all facets of American "Mercantile Marine" training. I subsequently invited him to lunch aboard in the Officer's Mess. CDR Melhuish and six of the ship's officers joined us. The party included Rear Admiral Moss Bresnahan, President, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, who checked aboard the ship here in Gibraltar to observe the sea term training evolution. Conversation was lively and fun as we were all "seamen" by trade and spoke a similar language.
RADM Bresnahan and I, along with three Officers, were also invited to enjoy "High Tea" with the Governor of Gibraltar and his wife. The walk to Government House (called the "Convent") took only a few minutes. We enjoyed tea and crumpets with the Governor and Lady Luce and listened intently as they explained the history of Gibraltar. Anecdotes about the history of the house and its name were interesting. It is called the "Convent" because in the 15th century under Spanish rule, that was its function. When the British won this strategic point on the Med, the largest location for the British Government offices was the convent, so they moved in. The name stuck, but was officially proclaimed to be the "Government House" by George the Fifth because of pressure from Protestants. George the Sixth reversed the decision shortly after World War II and it's been the "Convent" ever since. The tour of the Convent included the gardens. They were beautiful and included trees such as "Dragon Tree", planted in 1484, and still thriving. One sad story: the tree planted by Prince Charles and Diana on their honeymoon died shortly thereafter. Another was planted, but it also died. A third attempt to provide a keepsake for the future King was planted, but, as you might guess, it also withered and died. Governor Luce told wonderful stories about the WW II Supreme Commander; General Eisenhower. For security reasons, Ike was flown from England all the way to Gibraltar at an altitude of only 100 feet! His passenger was a Scottish Terrier who, Ike remarked, was the only companion that would NOT talk about the war. Ike lived in the Convent and planned Operation Torch from his offices within the nearby Rock. When the Governor learned that we had just sailed from Madeira, he told us how Gibraltar and Madeira have a connection. It seems that during WWII, all the women and children of Gibraltar were evacuated. Some went to London, which was more dangerous than Gibraltar, others to Jamaica, but one-third went to safety on Madeira. To this day Madeira and Gibraltar enjoy a great relationship.
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