Ahoy!
Another week of Summer Sea Term is winding down, but we are still having fun and gaining new experiences - and one of the coolest activities MT cadets get to do on SST is climbing the ballast tanks!
One by one, cadets and their instructor Deck Training Officer Ramsey Ali descended into the ballast tank. Great preparation is taken to ensure the tanks are safe to climb into - tanks must be empty and well ventilated prior to entry.
Once inside the tank, cadets learned about how the ballast system works, and how to safely navigate and climb down through the tanks themselves (plot twist: the tanks are deep and go down multiple stories). You have to be careful and watch where you step, and stay within the gated areas as it is obviously pitch black down there. PPE and ample lighting are essential.
Throughout SST, each deck division will take turns going into the ballast tank for training. The tank pictured is usually left empty because of its location. However, ballast tanks can be found all over the vessel, as the purpose of the ballast system is to increase manageability and safety of the vessel, control its draft and trim for maximum efficiency; and control its stability to ensure safe passage (National Academy of Sciences, 2024). Basically, water is moved from tank to tank depending on various conditions, to keep the ship stable while underway.
Aside from tank climbing, it's business as usual on TS Golden Bear: lots of daywork, painting, and weekly drills.
We are slowly but surely checking off all the boxes to ensure SST requirements are met not only for cadets, but for the management of the vessel. It's a round-the-clock gig, and it's not always for the faint of heart, but it's always worth it!
For more information on ballast systems, here are a couple links:
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/5294/chapter/4#31
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/ballast-tanks
Fair winds and following seas!
~Faye Joelson, Assistant Purser & Jessica Fowler, Purser
Check back often and follow the voyage with our blog series that gives the latest news from Summer Sea Term! TSGB will travel to Honolulu, HI, Busan, South Korea, Yokohama, Japan, and Los Angeles, CA prior to returning to Vallejo on August 5th.
Stay tuned for updates to the Follow the Voyage blog.
ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, California State University Maritime Academy is the only degree-granting
maritime academy on the West Coast. Located in Vallejo, California, the campus offers
undergraduate degrees that prepare students for careers in engineering, transportation,
international relations, business, and global logistics. Cal Maritime also offers
a master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number
of extended learning programs and courses.