The T.S. Kennedy crossing the equator.
OFF THE COAST OF PANAMA – It was a busy weekend aboard the T.S. Kennedy as the 2016 sea term continues for nearly 600 Mass Maritime cadets.
Cadets spent the weekend at port after docking in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Many students chose to explore the area, including Jaco Beach and the shops and restaurants in the small port city. Cadets also took part in two school-booked excursions, ziplining in the rainforest and whitewater rafting in central Costa Rica.
Cadets were also briefed on the increasing Zika virus risk and were given bug repellent for excursions off the vessel.
Before arriving in Costa Rica, the T.S. Kennedy crossed the equator late last week, and in the process held a centuries-old celebration called shellbacking.
“Today as we approached the equator we cadets were considered little pollywogs but once crossed the equator ceremony we became mighty shellbacks,” said the school blog posting chronicling the voyage. “Part of the shellbacking tradition is that as a pollywog you must never reveal the events that happened during the crossing. So to maintain the tradition I cannot tell you a lot about it, but it was truly an experience.”
The first series of on-ship exams were also held on Saturday.
The Kennedy is now making its way back to the Panama Canal for a return transit. Cadets navigated through the canal a week and a half ago before docking in Panama City, where a reception was held to commemorate the school’s 125th anniversary.
“We are approved to transit the Panama Canal late [Tuesday] afternoon, which means we have to hook up the Kennedy to get there on time,” said Captain Thomas Bushy in a blog posting on Monday. “This ship used to trade at about 18 knots year ago when in commercial service, now we rarely take her above 15 knots. But today is different, and we will need every bit of 18 knots – so everyone better hold onto their hats!”
Bushy announced earlier in the voyage that this sea term, his 20th at the helm, would be his last.
Earlier in the voyage, students spent four days conducting anchoring drills off the coast of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, one of the major training elements of the trip. Cadets dropped off humanitarian supplies in Haiti and also held a memorial service at the site of the sinking of the El Faro cargo ship, which was lost during Hurricane Joaquin in October.
Two Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduates, Keith Griffin and Jeffrey Mathias, were among the 33 crew-members lost at sea.
Griffin was a native of Winthrop and graduated from the Academy in 2005. Mathias was from Kingston and graduated in 1996.
The Kennedy departed Buzzards Bay on January 9 and is scheduled to return on February 21.
Cadets are scheduled to visit Aruba and Key West before returning home.
By MATT McCARTHY and MATT PITTA, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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