All Blog!

Climb aboard the 540-foot TS Kennedy for Sea Term 2021! Thanks to cadet blogs, the Captain’s Log, photographs, videos, special features, and a unique hands-on curriculum, you will virtually travel with Massachusetts Maritime cadets. Each day, you’ll read about and watch the shipboard responsibilities of cadets majoring in Marine Engineering, Marine Transportation, and Facilities Engineering as they tackle challenging topics such as weather forecasting, celestial navigation, ocean currents, rust removal, engine maintenance, sewerage treatment, firefighting, and seawater desalination.

You’ll feel like you’re right beside the cadets as the ship conducts anchoring drills off the coast of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico or cruises down New York’s East River and passes the Statue Of Liberty. For the health and safety of the cadets and crew aboard the TS Kennedy, the ship will not be making any port stops during Sea Term 2021.

This non-stop adventure begins on Saturday, May 29th when the ship departs Buzzards Bay. The TS Kennedy is scheduled to return on Wednesday, June 23rd. There will be posts each day – even on weekends.

Thanks for being a part of Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s free, one-of-a-kind, K-12, STEM adventure on land and sea!

Captain's Log: Friday, June 11, 2021 - Happy 130th Birthday, MMA!

Good morning, Followers - It is an honor to be serving as the Captain of the TS Kennedy on the Academy's milestone birthday. It looks like my wife and our three youngest children are celebrating back in Narraganset, Rhode Island. They may be having birthday cake for breakfast this morning. Don't let the sign on the right confuse you. It is the Academy's 130th birthday, not mine. We won't be missing out on birthday cake aboard the TS Kennedy. Chartwells has made a cake for all of us to enjoy with our dinner. On Saturday, the TS Kennedy will be in anchorage off of Miami, Florida. A small boat will deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to the ship. This will be a great…

Safety First: Safety Advice From Commander Tim Brady - Friday, June 11, 2021

Whether instructing cadets on the Bridge, out on deck, way down below in the Bow Thruster Machinery Space, or in a classroom, Marine Transportation Professor Timothy C. Brady continuously stresses the importance of staying safe. Commander Brady is a graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He also received an advanced degree from Cambridge College. Before returning to the Academy, Commander Brady spent years working at sea. He holds a Master Mariner Unlimited Tonnage license. This is the highest level of professional qualification for mariners and deck officers. The word Unlimited explains that there is no limit to the tonnage or power of the vessel that he may command. He may…

Safety First: Damage Control Lockers - Friday, June 11, 2021

Are you wondering what a "Y Gate" is? Also called a "Gated Wye", this valve divides one stream of water into two. There are five Damage Control Lockers aboard the TS Kennedy. These lockers which contain the equipment used by emergency squads in the event of an emergency are sometime called Fireman’s Outfit Lockers or Emergency Squad Lockers. An inventory control sheet is posted inside each locker. Each locker contains: 3 Fireman’s Helmet 3 Fireman’s Jacket 3 Fireman’s Pants 3 Fireman’s Boots 3 Fireman’s Gloves (stored in jacket pockets) 3 Flash Hoods (stored in jacket pockets) 3 Flashlight/Lantern (stored in jacket pockets) 3 Fire…

Meet 4/C Jack Dyan (MENG)

Meet 4/C Jack Dyan, a Marine Engineering major from Norwell, Massachusetts. He attended Cole Elementary School, Norwell Middle School, and Norwell High School. Jack has always loved the outdoors. He began fishing when he was very young. Two of his favorite pastimes are boating and fishing for stripers off of the Spit in Scituate. Jack chose Massachusetts Maritime Academy because he wanted the discipline and structure of the regiment, as well as the promising opportunities after graduation. Pursuing a degree in Marine Engineering was the perfect choice because he enjoys working with his hands. Jack is having a great time as he learns at sea.

TSK Video Archives: Cofferdam On The TS Kennedy (2019)

What is cofferdam? Climb down into the TS Kennedy’s Engine Room to hear a cadet explain its definition and provide examples. You'll find this selection from the TS Kennedy's Video Vault very informative. Middle school followers, high school followers, and adults may enjoy continuing this lesson. Click on the link below to read the article, What Is Cofferdam On Ships? https://www.marineinsight.com/naval-architecture/what-is-cofferdam-on-ships This 37-second video was created by Blogger Heather Gaughan in January 2019.

Cadets Share Happy 130th Birthday Wishes From The TS Kennedy

Happy 130th Birthday, Massachusetts Maritime Academy! Here’s to 130 more! Cheers to you, MMA!

Lt. Kurt DiCicco Recalls His Longest Stretch Of Time At Sea

LT. Kurt DiCicco loves sharing his knowledge with cadets aboard the TS Kennedy. Check out these facts about the oil spill. The cadets have been at sea for twelve days without a port stop. Many of our K-12 followers have commented that this is a “long time” to be out on the ocean. LT. Kurt DiCicco would disagree. Before LT. DiCicco became an Assistant Marine Transportation Professor at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, he had an exciting career at sea. I asked LT. DiCicco to tell our Followers about one of the longest stretches of time that he spent working on a ship. He proudly recalled, “When the Exxon spill happened, I had a job on the first American oil spill skimmer. We…

Cadet Blog: 4/C Dylan Lydell "Slow Ride Past Cuba" Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Another calm and beautiful day here off the coast of Cuba. We're still due to arrive in Miami on Saturday, but since that's so much time to go so little distance, we dropped our speed so we aren't too early. I spent another day up on the Bridge doing the 8-12 watch, and the 1/C cadets have been teaching me some pretty cool things! Faster Speed = Faster Steering When at the helm, you are given a course to follow, and if you deviate from that course at all, you need to turn the wheel to compensate. What I've learned however, is that when the ship is moving faster through the water, it's much easier to steer. At full sea speed, it's relatively easy to get back on your course if you get…

Captain's Log: Thursday, June 10, 2021

Good morning, Followers - Each year, I receive emails from students, teachers, and even some grandparents of cadets asking if I am getting enough sleep. This year, people are especially concerned because they know that the ship will not be making any port stops. They fear that I will be working on the Bridge for three weeks straight. There is no need to worry. I am getting plenty of sleep. At all times, there are cadets on the Bridge, supervised by a crew member. Because this is a training ship, cadets are given an opportunity to participate in all aspects of navigation. My room is just one deck below the Bridge. There is a sound powered telephone by my bed that can wake me…

Little Buc's Blog: Talk Like A Cadet! Thursday, 6-10-21

Ahoy, Followers! Cadets aboard the TS Kennedy are expected to use proper maritime phraseology at all times. Would you like to learn to talk like a cadet? Here's your first lesson! deck: floor beam: width dogs: latches galley: kitchen gangway: ramp head: toilet ladders: stairs line: rope overhead: ceiling scuppers: drains Want to feel like you're cruising aboard the TS Kennedy? Try incorporating these ten vocabulary words into your conversations today. Your green linguist at sea, Little Buc

Hello, Followers!

Climb aboard the TS Kennedy for Sea Term 2021! On behalf of the cadets and crew, I would like to welcome the many elementary school, middle school, and high school students participating in the Follow The Voyage Program. Throughout Sea Term 2021, be sure to log onto my Captain’s Log. I am looking forward to providing you with daily updates and answering as many of your questions as possible.

I am a 1987 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. In December 2013, I was hired as Second Mate of the TS Kennedy. A year later, I became the Acting Chief Mate. At a Change Of Command Ceremony in August 2016, I became the Master of the TS Kennedy . My position merges my Chief Mate responsibilities with that of captaining the ship. As Chief Mate, I am in charge of implementing safety management for all personnel. I am also responsible for the planned maintenance of the ship’s interior and exterior spaces, including the machinery. It is a demanding job, but I couldn’t be happier.

When I am not on the TS Kennedy, I treasure my time at home with my wife and children in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

I welcome your comments and questions throughout our voyage. Please send them to me via ftv@maritime.edu.

Thanks again for being a part of Sea Term 2021!

Sincerely,
Captain Michael J. Campbell
Master, TS Kennedy

Nautical Terms

Aft - The back of a ship. If something is located aft, it is at the back of the ship. The aft is also known as the stern.

All Hands - Entire ship’s company, both officers and enlisted personnel.

Aweigh - The position of anchor as it is raised clear of the bottom.

Bow - The front of the ship is called the bow. Knowing the location of the bow is important for defining two of the other most common sailing terms; port (left of the bow) and starboard (right of the bow).

Bridge - A structure above the weather deck, extending the full width of the vessel, which houses a command center, itself called by association, the bridge.

Deck Hand, “Decky” - A person whose job involves aiding the deck supervisor in (un) mooring, anchoring, maintenance, and general evolutions on deck.

Forward - The front of a ship. If something is located forward, it is at the front of the ship. This is also known as the bow.

Knot - A unit of speed: 1 nautical mile (1.8520 km; 1.1508 mi) per hour. Originally speed was measured by paying out a line from the stern of a moving boat. The line had a knot every 47 feet 3 inches (14.40 m) and the number of knots passed out in 30 seconds gave the speed through the water in nautical miles per hour.

Port - Port is always the left-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing terms when used in the open waters, port is used to define the left-hand side of the ship as it relates to the bow, or front.

Rack - The term to describe a bed aboard a ship.

Starboard - Starboard is always the right-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, starboard is used to define the right-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front.

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