| CAPTAIN'S
LOG I asked our new
captain to introduce himself and to give us his comments on recent
event.
My name is Brendan McAvoy and I currently
serve as Master aboard the training ship STATE OF MAINE. Ten months
out of the year I make my home in Belfast, Maine where I could
commute to work by boat across 10 miles of the upper Penobscot Bay
or drive 36 miles of U.S. 1 through Searsport and Bucksport to
Castine. I chose the latter for the simplicity and the reliability
of automobile transportation that we have all come to appreciate.
Boating across the bay would be full of hazards known and unknown
like cold water, inclement weather, rough sea conditions, lobster
pot buoys and trawl lines, ledges, communications or propulsion
equipment failure and the lack of immediate medical assistance in
case something happened. Those same hazardous conditions exist for
mariners plying the oceans about the globe, but the stakes are
higher. The distances are farther apart and time equals money so
there is a push to be as efficient as possible. When things go
wrong the magnitude of any casualty and/or response to one increases
exponentially. It is a gamble to say the least, but acceptable by
the fact that 95% of global commerce is moved by ocean borne
transportation-ships carrying cargo. However, it remains the most
economical method of keeping pace with the demands of global trade
today. On May 27th, just 4 days ago, we were sharply
reminded of how fine a line we tread out on the open sea.
Early in the morning
on my 0400-0800 watch (as Chief Mate) the ship’s doctor informed me
that medical attention was required for Captain Larry Wade who had
taken ill. A satellite call was placed on our INMARSAT satellite
telephone and we were quickly patched through to Rescue Coordination
Center (RCC) Rome. A reassuring voice gathered the preliminary
information: ship’s position, course speed, medical response
capability on board and the nature of the emergency. I had traded
in this part of the Mediterranean Sea during the first Gulf War in
1990 and was familiar with the area we were transiting. Quick
reference in government publications retained aboard the STATE OF
MAINE established Siracusa, Sicily as the closest port with hospital
facilities. Relaying this information to RCC Rome, we were informed
that we would be contacted shortly. The ship’s course was changed
for Siracusa at 0709 and as the STATE OF MAINE proceeded, several
anxious hours were spent pacing and waiting for “the call”. About
1015 a scratchy voice hailed us over the VHF radio in broken English
stating he was the Siracusa harbor pilot and for us to proceed
directly to the entrance of the harbor where he would board and
bring the ship to anchor. We were also informed that the Italian
Coast Guard was standing by in the harbor with a boat and medical
technicians and that an ambulance was waiting on the dock in the
city for transport to the hospital. By 1157 we were safely anchored
in the harbor, Captain Wade was aboard the Coast Guard’s medical
transport and the ship’s doctor, Dr. Andrew Iverson, was close
behind in another launch.
The professionalism
displayed by the ship’s crew, staff and midshipmen in addressing all
the required tasks between 0709 and 1157 was commendable. If you
look at any individual piece of the response effort, you could say
“…that is what we train for”. All fundamental lessons learned had
to be brought together, and quickly, to ensure a safe and efficient
response to our emergency.
As for today, we are
secured starboard side to a commercial dock in Palermo, Sicily. If
I were to direct a taxi driver from within the city I would ask him
to take me to Porto Di Palermo, Puntone Pier. We are berthed quite
close to the business district of this city of approximately 1
million people. Shopping and nightlife is only several blocks
away. The beach community of Mondello lies to the northwest along
the coast at about 10 kilometers distant. It is on the other side
of a mountainous area known as Riserva Di Monte Pellegrino, but an
obtainable goal if seeking the public transportation experience in
Palermo. I am told that there is a nautical school here in Palermo
and perhaps there will be some sort of ideological exchange as we
may get to visit their campus or they may come and visit us.
I am in command of a
well found vessel with a very seasoned and professional crew. These
are people that I literally entrust with my life and they in turn
trust me with theirs. We will continue our mission of training
through three more ports-of-call and thousands of sea-miles before
we are back on home shores. Not an hour goes by for me now without
thinking how well Captain Larry Wade has trained us.
Respectfully,
Brendan McAvoy
Master, T/S STATE OF
MAINE
"Updates on Captain Larry
Wade are available on the Academy's online bulletin board: http://www.mma.edu/;
and on the web site of the Maine Maritime Academy Alumni
Association: http://mainemaritimealumni.org/"
Check out our Question and
Answer page.
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