Leading The Way: 1/C Andrew Vinisky, Outside Rate

Meet 1/C Andrew Vinitsky, a Marine Engineering major from Mashpee, Massachusetts. Andrew attended KC Coombs School, Quashnet Middle School, and Mashpee Middle-High School. During Sea Term 2020, Andrew is leading the way in his position of 2nd Outside Rate aboard the TS Kennedy. While taking a break in the Mess Deck, Andrew agreed to answer a few questions.

What are you’re the responsibilities of a 2^nd Outside Rate? “Leading a crew of people to fix what needs to be fixed.”

What previous experiences on the TS Kennedy prepared you for this position? “Working with outsides rates during both my freshman and sophomore Sea Terms.”

What do you most enjoy about this leadership position? “Always having something to do. “

What has been the biggest challenge of this leadership position? “Making sure work gets done in a safe and timely manner.”

Please tell us about your Commercial Placement experience. “Interlake Steamship Company, M/V Lee A Tregurtha, Duluth, Minnesota”

What advice do you have for a student in elementary school, middle school, or high school who is thinking about pursuing a career in Marine Engineering? “Try hard, work hard, and learn as much as you can hands on.”

Andrew is looking out of a shaft, covered with grease.

Andrew is in a shaft, wearing a blue boiler suit.

Welcome aboard the T.S.Kennedy! The cadets, crew, and I are thrilled that you are participating in the 2020 Follow the Voyage program. We are bound for many exciting ports of call. I know that there will be miles of learning ahead. Please watch for new entries to my Captain's Log. I welcome your comments and questions.

Most sincerely,
Captain Michael J. Campbell

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.