Maine Maritime Academy training ship departs on first transatlantic cruise since COVID-19 pandemic

CASTINE, Maine (WABI) – Wednesday was a giant day for college students and workers aboard the State of Maine, the coaching ship for Maine Maritime Academy. That is the primary cruise going throughout the Atlantic for the reason that onset of COVID-19.

“This will likely be a extra again to regular cruise, which is sweet for all the scholars and workers, and get a again to normalcy for Maine Maritime,” mentioned Commander Lonnie Christian.

It’s been just a few years since college students and workers aboard the State of Maine have been capable of see completely different elements of the world.

That every one modified Wednesday when 180 college students boarded the coaching cruise, taking what they be taught within the classroom and making use of it at sea.

“I really like being on the market,” mentioned Junior, Sean Caulfield. “It’s additionally a really distinctive expertise since you come to understand in a short time if you’re on the market each one thing this measurement and one thing lots smaller, like a sailboat, which I’ve completed, you possibly can understand in a short time that you need to depend on your self and your abilities and the talents of individuals round you. It’s actually large.”

Additionally on board is Maine Maritime Academy President Jerry Paul.

That is Paul’s first marine journey with MMA since his time as a scholar.

“They’re simply so wanting ahead to closing out an extended interval of college in an extended interval of COVID, and now having the ability to get out on the open sea and see a bit of little bit of the world,” defined Paul.

There will likely be a number of Ports of Name, stops within the U.S. and in Europe. One of the vital common locations on their itinerary – Iceland.

“None of us have actually gone to Europe shortly, so it’ll be enjoyable,” mentioned Junior, Amber Card. “Everybody is happy to get off and see issues they haven’t been capable of see. Even among the professors are excited. They’ve some vegetation down there that we don’t have right here, in order that they’re excited to tour a few of these.”

With this voyage, comes a variety of duty for college students and studying how you can deal with their shipmates.

“The deck college students are going to be driving the ship and the engineering college students are going to be studying how you can use and function the ability plant, the engines on the ship, and hold every little thing moving into a wonderful route,” Christian mentioned. “The entire idea of 1 ship is what we educate right here, and that is one ship, identical to Maine Maritime Academy is one ship,” Paul mentioned.

The TSSOM will return to port in Castine in June.

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