b'MEMBER NEWSMEMBER NEWS Inaugural Sea Term for Massachusetts Maritime Academys Patriot State T he training ship Patriot StateTheshipwillfirstheadtotrainingThisSeaTermmarksthefirstex-is set to embark on its inaugu- exercisesoutsideMayaguez,PuertotendedvoyagefortheTSPatriot ral Sea Term, departing fromRico. From there, the ship will headState,whicharrivedoncampusin MassachusettsMaritimeAcademyto San Juan where an open ship willearlyOctober.Thenationalsecuri-(MMA)onSaturday,Jan.11.Thebe held for prospective students. Thetymulti-missionvessel(NSMV)is ship is anticipated to return at the endopen ship events are designed specifi- outfittedwithnumeroustraining of February. cally for high school students interest- spaces,includingeightclassrooms,a ed in MMA as a possible college andfull training bridge, lab spaces, and an For more than 130 years, MMA hasprovideanopportunitytoshowcaseauditorium. The NSMV has space to offered cadets the opportunity to par- both the training ship and career op- train up to 600 cadets at sea (with an-ticipate in Sea Term, a hands-on learn- portunities available in the maritimeother 100 staff, crew, and personnel), ing environment where cadets put intoand related industries. maximizing the capability of the ship practice the skills they have learned inand its mission to provide cadets with the classroom. The cadets will prepareTheTSPatriotStatewillthenstopa world-class education.for the trip during Alongside Week,in Charleston, S.C., and St. Thomas, a time spent loading the vessel withU.S.VirginIslands,beforearrivingSea Term is a requirement for all fresh-allthefood,supplies,andtrainingat its final port of call, Tampa, Fla.men and sophomore cadets majoring equipment needed for the voyage. SeaMMA Admissions will host a secondinmarineengineering(engine)and Term will be led by Captain Michaelopenshipforprospectivestudentsmarinetransportation(deck)and J. Campbell, an MMA graduate frombeforethevesselbeginsitsreturnfreshmen majoring in energy systems the class of 1987.to campus.engineering,alongwithseniordeck and engine majors. A typical day for cadets includes rotating through class-es, participating in laboratory training at sea, routine maintenance, ship oper-ations, deck and engine watches, and emergency drills. Sea Term participa-tion also helps cadets fulfill the days at sea requirement needed to sit for the United States Coast Guard exam. The TS Patriot State replaces MMAs previoustrainingshipandisthe secondoffivetrainingshipscom-missionedbytheU.S.MarineAd-ministrationtomodernizeanaging training fleet with new purpose-built NSMVsthatnotonlyenhancethe trainingcapabilitiesofthenations maritimeacademiesbutalsoserve ascriticalassetsforfederalsupport during times of need.FOGHORN 56'