Status of Academy Ships

**Jetryder223** · February 20th, 2012, 03:25 PM

Please settle an arguement over Academy Vessel status.

I know Mass Maritime and Maine Maritime ships are in good shape and ready to cruise.

Rumor mill has it that:

1)SUNY Maritime's Empire State is having maintenance issues and not being used for cruises.
2)Texas A&M boat is not commissioned.
3)USMMA's boat is going to Texas to fill the void at Texas A&M
4)Cal Maritime's Golden Bear is out of commission for reasons unknown

Can someone confirm the status of these vessels?

**Jetryder223** · February 21st, 2012, 02:27 PM

Hmmm, 158 views and no replies. Guess it goes to show how I rate...

Anyway, did some of my own research and it appears Texas Maritime was without a boat, but they are getting the Kings Pointer leaving USMMA boatless.

Cal & SUNY Maritime boats seem to be operational from what I can tell.

**Robert** · February 21st, 2012, 03:57 PM

I'm sure many of us viewed it and didn't have any pertinent information to offer.

**ryanwood86** · February 21st, 2012, 07:24 PM

SUNY's vessel has had some serious issues since 2008. It left late every one of my cruises but we always made it back on time. As far as I know they are still using it.
TAM is getting KP's old training vessel

**c.captain** · February 21st, 2012, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Robert

I'm sure many of us viewed it and didn't have any pertinent information to offer.

I don't think anyone really knows what is up at the moment but it appears that MarAd is possibly in the process of reducing the number of active training ships. Remember MarAd owns all of them and funds most of the shipyard maintenance and repair plus pays for a good bit of the operating expenses as well. With MarAd's budget being cut, you know they will rob from the state schools to keep money going to KP. I don't know what they have in the works for a KP vessel but I well imagine they'll find a way to pay for one from somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if ship sharing between schools is in the cards.

**GLMASailor** · February 21st, 2012, 08:37 PM

Our training ship the State of Michigan is in excellent condition, they did a several million dollar automation upgrade 2 years ago, they have rebuilt 2 out of 4 cats. They just put all brand new watertight doors on. Our chief and the assistant engineer stay busy updating stuff all winter. Last year was refrigeration stuff and more sewage valves, and all new hoses and stuff in the steering gear.
ECDIS is scheduled to be installed this coming fall. We always leave the dock on time weather permitting, run the rivers daily for 10 round trips on each then head home. We didn't have a single problem the 50 days we were out last summer.

This past fall the Navy and Marad used our vessel manned with a hired student/alumni crew to do a alternative fuel study with so many days under way and a bunch of days at the dock. Pretty neat and we got free lunch almost everyday for a month.

We may be the left out Maritime Academy but we probably have one of the nicest training ships except she is only 225 feet and turns on a dime compared to a 1,000 footer.

**ryanwood86** · February 21st, 2012, 08:57 PM

At 225' and running rivers, it better be pretty nice. How old is it? SUNY's ship is quite old and if I'm not mistaken, the only one with a steam plant. Its amazing how much salt water will wear on a vessel compared to fresh. At least we've had ECDIS for a while lol

**JPetru82** · February 22nd, 2012, 07:34 AM

Our ship, the Golden Bear, here at CMA is running just fine. It's going into dry dock at the end of our next summer cruise, but just for routine stuff.

**Jetryder223** · February 22nd, 2012, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by c.captain

. I wouldn't be surprised if ship sharing between schools is in the cards.

From a Cadet perspective - WE WISH THEY WOULD SHARE.

Standing watch on a ship that's at the dock for 10 out of 12 months a year is a drag. We would love to see it off the dock so we can concentrate on studies and not have to nervously scan the duty roster every day.

**ryanwood86** · February 22nd, 2012, 09:22 AM

Come to think of it... I hear the empire state has no screw on her because they ran out of yard time

**Jetryder223** · February 22nd, 2012, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by ryanwood86

Come to think of it... I hear the empire state has no screw on her because they ran out of yard time

I'm just a 4C Deckie, but aren't screws kind of important?

**ryanwood86** · February 22nd, 2012, 03:12 PM

Ahhh a mug. Lol. Yea a screw is important but I hear they are going to have it right before cruise. I don't know how or if its even true. Who knows

**Jetryder223** · February 23rd, 2012, 06:45 AM

So, Looks like Mass, Maine, Cal and GL boats are good to go.

TAM does not have a boat but will getting Kings Pointer soon.

SUNY's is not in running order but it can be fixed.

USMMA is boatless - maybe something new is in the works, no one seems to know for sure. They will remain boatless at least until their pier is rebuilt.

Smart money is on Academys sharing boats in the future. Saves money and reduces dockside watch obligations.

**brjones** · February 23rd, 2012, 10:37 AM

My last 3rd was from Texas and he said they have been going on the Golden Bear that last few years

**Jb27** · February 23rd, 2012, 02:59 PM

The Empire State currently has her screw, the yard time thing was a myth. You can see the top of it sticking out of the water right now. She is currently undergoing some tank maintenance but otherwise she is operational. They had to disassemble the starboard boiler before cruise last year to find a crack, but they had it all back together before departure time.

**JPetru82** · February 23rd, 2012, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by brjones

My last 3rd was from Texas and he said they have been going on the Golden Bear that last few years

Texas used to sail with us. This past summer was their last year of doing so. Our school decided to go down to only one summer cruise, so now we have room for only us. This summer sounds like a pretty fun cruise, not sure on exact ports, but I know it's grade through the panama canal.

**ryanwood86** · February 24th, 2012, 04:05 AM

Mass used the Empire State for years before they got their own ship. They would go in the winter and SUNY would go in the summer. KP has always been boat less in a way. The Kings Pointer was used every now and again but the cadets always got all their sea time on a commercial ship from my understanding.

**Jetryder223** · February 24th, 2012, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by JPetru82

Texas used to sail with us. This past summer was their last year of doing so. Our school decided to go down to only one summer cruise, so now we have room for only us. This summer sounds like a pretty fun cruise, not sure on exact ports, but I know it's grade through the panama canal.

Mass Maritime did Panama Canal this year. Also stopped at Ecquador, Costa Rica and St. Thomas,

**hemmer_time** · March 26th, 2012, 05:17 AM

I go to SUNY maritime and our ship is totally fine and ready for cruise.. She was in dry dock for a while In the winter but that was just for a few repairs

**ryanwood86** · March 26th, 2012, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by hemmer_time

I go to SUNY maritime and our ship is totally fine and ready for cruise.. She was in dry dock for a while In the winter but that was just for a few repairs

If my memory serves me correctly, it was time for her 5 year dry dock period.