TS Empire State. Credit: SUNY Maritime College
The maritime academy training ships TS Empire State VI and TS Kennedy have been ordered to get underway to Gulf of Mexico to support ongoing relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) activated the two National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels on Friday for a pre-scripted Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mission in support of the relief efforts.
The State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College’s training ship, EMPIRE STATE VI, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s training ship, KENNEDY, have received orders to set sail within 10 days for the 4 to 5-day transit from the east coast to the coast of Texas.
MARAD also received notification from FEMA to activate the Texas Maritime Academy’s training vessel GENERAL RUDDER, which will remain in-port at Galveston. Once moored on site, the self-contained vessel will support recovery efforts by providing power, housing, food and water to first responders.
Combined, these three vessels can house over 1,200 workers thereby freeing up local hotel resources for displaced individuals, according to MARAD.
The duration of the support mission is currently set at 30 days with an option for an additional 30 days upon request by FEMA.
During the next week to 10 days the vessels will be taking on crew members, provisions for the relief workers and reconfiguring the ship from its primary mission as a training vessel to a berthing support role.
These vessels have been activated in support of past relief operations with the most recent activation for Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
The ships join the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), along with USNS William McClean, in the relief efforts. The three ships departed Norfolk, Virginia on Thursday.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,770 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
By Dimitri Rhodes Nov 7 (Reuters) – Belgian oil tanker company CMB Tech says it will focus on the fast growing market in India as it reported third quarter results...
In a bold move amidst Russia’s intensified rocket attacks on civilian ships and Ukrainian ports, Maersk has launched a new weekly container service into Ukraine, signaling resilience in the country’s...
By Robert Tuttle (Bloomberg) A tanker of Canadian crude was shipped from Vancouver to Alaska for the first time in at least 10 years as the recently expanded Trans Mountain pipeline...
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,770 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
