Split to Halifax

Friday, 22 June     Day 50   Daily Log   Voyage #  0607

We are getting closer to Maine; We know this because we can not see the bow due to the dense fog we are in.

The fog whistle is blasting every 2 minutes to warn other vessels of our presence. The fog in this area is generated by the warm water associated with the northern reaches of the gulf stream merging with the cold water of the Labrador current as it comes south from the arctic region. We are not anticipating any icebergs along our track, but we are monitoring the International Ice petrol reports. Ship's crew is a little more diligent when you combine steel ships, zero visibility, and ice bergs.  Radars will pick up large ice with regularity. As long as we monitor the radars, adhere to the advice of the ice petrol, and maintain a diligent look out, we will not hit any bergs.

June and July is the time when ice bergs break free of the ice pack and drift down. I know it is difficult to imagine that ice is a major concern this time of the year, but it is, and we are well aware of our surroundings.

2nd class deck students will be tasked with a simulated medical emergency, which will put them to the test. This will require them to use all the skills that they have been taught . It is important to realize that these students will have to be able to meet very challenging problems throughout their chosen career, which will require them to come up to the bat and push their comfort zone. You can't give up out here; you always have to find a way to get the job done. Today's exercise will challenge their Moxie.

Position at 1200 Local Time (LT)                                                   Zone Description GMT-2 hours
Latitude 43-03.5N   Longitude  051-37.5 W

Noon to noon (or Departure to Noon or Noon to Arrival):  
Distance: 339.7 N miles
Time run: 24 hrs. 00 min.
Average speed: 14.2 kts.
Total passage distance:3712.9 N miles      
Total passage time: 10 days 21 hours 00 minutes
Total average speed: 14.2 kts.

Distance to go (Great Circle) 543.5 miles

Speed required to make our June 24, 2007   0700 arrival 12.4 kts.

At Sea, In the fog routine

Wind: SSW 3
Sea: Slight
Swell: Moderate Sky:  Dense Fog
Temperature: 53 Air   47 Sea   

Synopsis: 

               I don't get it! Where do the fries come out?              Designed and built by 2nd Class Winkler, Starbird, & Erickson

  What do you think this is, Wal-Mart? (Joe our stores keeper)                   Donny and his boys really have Moxie

                                MMA's Mister Good Wrench Team

Early this morning, the ship’s brats of Charlie Company accompanied by Suave Kaveh’s musical theme “Eye of the Tiger” from the movie Rocky was First Engineer Dave Howard’s Annual Bilge Party kick-off. Other selections were YMCA by the band Men-at-Work and Pick-up-the-pieces appropriately.

4^th class Christopher Hodgkins of MDI is describing the flow of cooling water through the Ship’s service diesel generator to Prof. Mazerall as his upper class big brother 2^nd class Carignan of Saco, Me. observing the results of his mentoring.

Gibraltar Info:            

Palermo Info:

Split Info:

Halifax Info:

Rockland/Castine  Excursion:

Rockland to Castine the day we arrive back at our home berth (30 June) has been designated as a possible "excursion day".  The U.S. Coast Guard has granted us a permit to take extra persons on board above our vessels certification.  To do this we have to have certain lifesaving procedures and equipment on board.  Accordingly the numbers we can take are strictly limited.  We, of necessity,  have limited our guests to 2 persons per upper class student on cruise (immediate family members only) plus official MMA invitees and crew member guests.  We can not offer more because we do not have the lifesaving capability.  Also this is always a tentative adventure which, because of weather, security, operational difficulties etc. may be cancelled up to the last moment.  The security issue is becoming a big item in how we offer and execute these excursions, so for those who are planning to attend please be patient with the necessary safety and security procedures.

Castine to Gibraltar

Gibraltar to Palermo

Palermo to Split

Split to Halifax

Halifax to Rockland / Castine

TOTAL Cruise Mileage:      

 3889.5   Nautical Miles

    4460   Nautical Miles   (Estimated)

      280   Nautical Miles   (Estimated)