KINGS POINT, N.Y., April 11, 2023 – Last month, the United States Merchant Marine Academy’s (USMMA) premiere training ship, the T/V Kings Pointer, completed her 2023 Spring Break Trip. The vessel was crewed by 9 professional mariners and 22 midshipmen (15 Deck Cadets and 7 Engine cadets) earning sea days toward their United States Coast Guard (USCG) licenses.

Although the initial plan was to visit friends at The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Kings Pointer’s sister ship, Freedom Star, at the shipyard in Virginia, back-to-back low-pressure systems along the East Coast kept them in the Northeast. Although, it was a different type of voyage for many of the midshipmen, the Inland and Near Coastal operations allowed Deck Cadets to practice bridge team management, mooring line and crane operations, and complete sea projects.

The Engine Cadets conducted all of the day-to-day operations in the engine room; from transferring fuel oil to paralleling generators and pulling lube oil samples. For most, it was the first time that they performed any of these operations, but they quickly picked up on how to safely accomplish them. They also learned how to stand a watch, fill out the logbook, sound tanks, start and secure machinery, and conduct pre-departure and pre-arrival checks. When they were not busy in the engine room they worked on sea projects, including working on their machining projects in the onboard machine shop.

Captain Derek Schubert, Master of the T/V Kings Pointer, shared some trip notes with us:

Friday night, March 10^th, the trip started with Deck Midshipman Rey Alino, 3/C, maneuvering the Training Vessel out of the basin after Third Class Engine Cadets Stephen Pavlansky and Camden Berry got the plant online.

Our first transit was New York Harbor (East River and Upper and Lower Bay’s), and the Kills with Midshipman Christopher Cinocco, 3/C, at the conn on what was a rainy and snowy day. Midshipmen Alexander Steiner, 3/C, took the back end of the transit east, through the East River and back to the Long Island Sound. This was a great start for the midshipmen; allowing them to get into the multi-tasking mindset - maneuvering within the different channels, communicating with NY Vessel Traffic and others aboard the ship.

The following day, Sunday March 12^th, the weather calmed, and the midshipmen were able to work on Celestial Navigation and Piloting Charts along the South Shore of Long Island and Block Island Sound.

Monday, March 13^th brought another Nor’easter into the area. Due to heavy seas offshore, we continued Piloting Charts in the Inland and Near Coastal waters and had the midshipmen practice operating electronic equipment used in navigation.

Tuesday, March 14^th was the brunt of the low-pressure system coming through, but fortunately our friends in New London, CT allowed us to take shelter at the City Pier for the evening. Midshipman Lucas Sawin, 3/C, brought us through the harbor and maneuvered us perfectly, right to the pier. After tying up, the midshipmen were able to stretch their legs, visit some tourist locations, and have a relaxing evening.

On Wednesday, March 15^th, we departed New London, CT, with Katherine Kerchner, 3/C, at the conn for the outbound transit. The midshipmen wanted to test their sea legs so we transited offshore for the evening in 6-8’ seas…fortunately nobody got seasick.

Midshipmen spent the final 36 hours of the voyage, completing remaining portions of projects. The morning started with a perfect sky for stars and sunrise that continued throughout the day. We finished the evening at anchor in Huntington Bay, NY with a BBQ, thanks to our veteran cook, Denis, (25 years of trips onboard Academy vessels), on the grill some cornhole, and a good cleanup of the Training Vessel.

Friday, March 17^th we arrived back at the Academy, did a final cleanup of the vessel, and completed paperwork for the midshipmen. We transited 1105 total miles during the trip, which converts to 308 Sea Days for the 22 Midshipmen.

Captain Schubert said, “It was a successful trip before the start of Third Trimester, and a job well done. The skills that these midshipmen learned on this trip will give them a solid knowledge base to pull from as they depart to join commercial vessels in the merchant fleet.”

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