Saturday 19 January 2002

At 1200, EST the Training Ship Empire State was located at 26 degrees and 29 minutes North Latitude and 079 degrees 56 minutes West Longitude, enroute to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida anchorage with DelRay Beach, Florida bearing 270 degrees at 6.0 nautical miles. She was on a course of 187 degrees true traveling at a speed of 9.0 knots. The weather was partly cloudy, winds were from the southeast at 3.0 knots, air temperature was 79 degrees Fahrenheit, barometric pressure was 1019 millibars, humidity was 90 percent, seas were from the southwest at 1 to 3 feet, sea injection temperature was 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Depth of water beneath the keel was 109 fathoms.

CAPTAIN'S LOG

"As long as you're green, you're growing. As soon as you're ripe, you start to rot." - Ray Kroc

Conditions last night were unusually conducive to restful sleep. This grand 'ole lady rocked tenderly to port and starboard as she rode without hurry, over the gentle southeasterly swell; the tranquil night seas whispered an ancient lullaby and kissed us goodnight.

What a fabulous morning! A worldwide pageant of cosmic beauty played out before us; hushed gold and radiant orange fanned out and chased darkness from the blue-black sky. Sea birds down from the heavens, wings set, sailing effortlessly on gentle breezes, skimmed along and then suddenly shot skyward. Freshly brewed coffee, sipped piping hot from a heavy mug, served alfresco with the awakening sea... life doesn't get any better than this. Mother Nature is saying that everything is OK again; trying to make us forget last Sunday night.

Now the ship is springing to life and as we leave the harsh New England chill farther and farther behind, cadets are reacting as if it is early spring. Between classes, they crowd the bow and enjoy the warm, humid air of tropical winter. Sunglasses and suntans are becoming more important and the air will soon be filled with the sweet aroma of warm coconut oil.

However, do not be led astray, this is no cruise and we have a working ship to operate. Yesterday I talked about the Training Division. Today the topic is the cadets assigned rotational duties in the Maintenance Division. Arguably, the most thankless job, but one of the most important, falls to these young men and women. They are on a twenty-four hour watch rotation, just as those cadets assigned to the Engine Room Watch or the Bridge Watch. Their primary job: clean and fix the ship.

Five hundred and eighty five people in a cramped space can make quite a mess and the Maintenance Division concentrates on keeping common areas sanitary and habitable. In order to minimize traffic conflicts most of the cleaning tasks, such as swabbing the decks and ladder wells, are completed while the rest of the ship sleeps.

The Maintenance Division is also responsible for keeping the mess deck clean and orderly and all cadets are required at some point, to work in the dreaded scullery. Washing stacks of grimy dishes and mountains of greasy pots and pans is no fun but the work is essential to our very survival out here.

The Maintenance Division also completes superstructure maintenance and repairs. Learning to paint and learning to run thunderous deck crawlers, hammering needle guns, and age old chipping hammers to bust rust are routine to life at sea.

Another section within the division is responsible for the timely repair of small equipment and component malfunctions anywhere outside the engine room. These deficiencies are logged in an equipment status book, which is available to all aboard. For example, a cadet who discovers a leaking hot water valve while shaving may enter the problem for quick repair from the roving Mr./Ms. Fixit of the Maintenance Division.

The daily grind of ceaseless work done by the Maintenance Division quickly strips away the romantic notions that many initially associate with Sea Term. However, it teaches some of the best lessons. After this arduous assignment, few will ever take "care givers" for granted again. Clean dishes, clean sheets, and clean homes get that way because someone cares. Cadets become far more considerate of their shipmates, too. After a week in the Maintenance Division, no one would think of leaving trash behind. That is an important lesson for those who live at sea...and for those at home.

Well, folks it's that time again. We are preparing to anchor. (In the Devil's Triangle no less) Precision anchoring is a complex maneuver and involves the bridge watch, the engine watch and the deck gang, under the supervision of the Chief Mate. Working as a team, we should be able to stop 17,000 long tons of steel and drop the hook on an invisible spot in the ocean only 50 feet in diameter. It is a new skill for most and will require some coaching to achieve the desired level of confidence. Speaking of coaching... once we are anchored, then comes the play-off game. I saw the weather synopsis for kick-off at Foxborough. Guess what; We are MUCH warmer than you are. GO PATS!

Have a good night. See you tomorrow.