BUZZARDS BAY – Family members crowded the docks at Massachusetts Maritime Academy Sunday to welcome cadets home from their over 50-day term at sea.
The excursion placed about 600 students aboard the T.S. Kennedy in a form of “living” classroom environment, where they learned the ropes of running a large vessel.
Often seen as a rite of passage for students at the Academy, the sea term is a critical part of the institution’s program.
Their hands-on classes covered laboratory training, deck and engine watches, maintenance and emergency drills.
Cadets also performed anchor drills off of Puerto Rico and made Port visits to Aruba, Barbados, St. Thomas and Fort Lauderdale. While a few days were spent at each Port, most of the students’ time was spent working 12-hour shifts at their respective posts.
One cadet commented on his experience as a bridge/deck watch, an important task to complete on any vessel, he said.
“It was a great learning experience, driving the ship, going to cool exotic places, it’s an education experience that nobody else gets,” he said.
The trip got off to a delayed start, as a snow storm forced the Academy to reschedule the departure date from January 8th to the 9th.
The student-run blog, however, reported smooth sailing for the rest of the journey.
The sea term was under new leadership this year as Michael Campbell took over as Captain. Campbell was a 1987 graduate of the Academy and replaces Thomas Bushy, who captained the annual semester at sea for the last two decades.
Captain Bradley Lima, Chief Academic Officer who was present on board for part of the trip, said that graduates often reflect on their experiences at sea at class reunions 40 years after graduation.
The cadets have a week of vacation to unwind before regular classes start up again.
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