Today was a day of tests and drills in preparation for operations in the Open Sea. I went to the Fo’c’s’le in the ship’s bow ( aka the Deck department mural gallery ) and I ran into the fourth deck division (4D) third class who was learning how to splice line. For some it was easy understanding the process of unweaving the three strand cordage, flipping the line around, and weaving the ends back into themselves, this can be used to make an eye which can be used on a cleat when docking, to finish the end of cut pendants, or it can be used to join two lines together. Those that had an easier time took the opportunity to help their shipmates learn how to splice.

Cadets work together to splice line during their Practical Training rotation 

While I was in the mural gallery, I had the opportunity to look at the paintings that have been done over the years and it was amazing to see the history of the ship and know that within each of the paintings are friendships and inside jokes that were developed over the duration of cruise, and I can only wonder what will be going on the murals this year.
The Engine department mural gallery is “down below” in the Machinery Casing.

 

Right after lunch, we had the first drill of the day which was the Man Over Board drill. When there is a “man overboard” the morse code letter “Oscar” ( three prolonged blasts ) is sounded on the ship’s whistle. The goal is to get out on deck and get as high as possible to try and locate the missing person, and jettison flotation such as lifebuoys. In this instance, instead of a dummy ( traditionally nicknamed Oscar ) being thrown overboard, there was a watermelon thrown overboard. The melon, affectionately referred to as “Cadet Melon” was really challenging to find. While everyone was on deck searching, all their fingers went out and they pointed to something floating in the water, but upon further investigation, it was a lone fishing buoy. Everyone had gotten close to giving up hope until someone began shouting “STARBOARD SIDE! STARBOARD SIDE!” everyone made way quickly to the starboard side, and out in the water was a little green melon floating among the vast blue ocean. It was quite the challenge to find the melon, but in the end, “Cadet Melon” was saved due to the close attention and impeccable vision of the cadets, staff, and faculty on “sharp lookout”.

Cadets point to what they think is the melon, but it was actually a fishing buoy

 

The second drill of the day was the Emergency Steering Drill, from “After Steering” which is where the rudder is controlled locally as opposed to being controlled remotely from the bridge as it is in normal conditions. It is standard to do this test either quarterly, or within twenty-four hours of entering U.S. waters from the open Sea. To begin the drill, the sound powered phone was hooked up and there was testing with the bridge. Since the phone is powered by sound much like two cans tied to a string, it is necessary to talk very loudly into the phone to ensure communication is as clear as possible. Then the electrohydraulic system between the Helm on the bridge and the rudder was disconnected so steering could be done manually.

3C cadet Dan Golinski establishes communication with the bridge through the sound powered phone

 

The commands are sent through the phone and given to the person operating the “steering gear” - they must repeat the command to ensure it was heard correctly, move the “trick wheel” to the correct position, and then call out again when the rudder is in the correct position. The aft steering space is very loud- so everyone in the room giving and taking commands were instructed to yell to make sure nothing was lost among the noise.

 

4D CO Jake Schollenberg helps 3C engineer Kierney Senft learn how to control the rudder 

Cadet Third mate Solomon Kaupu controls the rudder while cadet second mate Danny Guzman lights the numbered notches behind the trick wheel 

The final test of the day is to make sure the Emergency Diesel Generator is fully operational. So this means going to the generator which is not in the engine room, but is in the 03 deck forward house. Before going in, Chief Engineer Adam Kleitman briefed everyone as to what everyone would be checking when they got into the room which was checking oil and water levels. The room is quite small, so everyone filed in and each looked at the different compartments to ensure they were all satisfactory before starting up the generator and letting it run for about 15 minutes.

All these tests and drills are necessary to ensure the ship is prepared to make her way into port,
maneuvering safely in restricted waters, past hazards to navigation and among other vessel traffic .