News From Fort Schuyler

February 27, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 11

JOURNEY'S END - A member of the Class of 1939, FRANK W DUNHAM, died on February 16. Frank was for many years the manager of the Port of Albany. He retired in 1983. He was Second Mate aboard the SS STEEL SCIENTIST when it was torpedoed and sank in 1942. According to the book, "A Careless Word...a Needles Sinking," by Captain Arthur R. Moore, Frank was one of forty-four crew members who eventually reached safety in Paramaribo after nine days at sea in lifeboats. It must have been an unforgettable and daunting experience. According to CRAIG SMITH, Class of 1954, who informed me of this death, Frank sailed until 1946.

46th ANNUAL FORT SCHUYLER FORUM - On Thursday March 5, the Maritime College once again will host this Society of Marine Port Engineers New York event. The theme of the forum, which begins with 0800 registration, is a hot one: "ISM Code Compliance." The morning session will offer presentations by Peter Clark, Maritime Attorney, and representatives of Germanischer Lloyd, Lloyd's Register, and Amerada Hess. The afternoon technical session is sure to be lively. It will feature an open forum with Port Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard representatives. Registration cost for forum, lunch and social period is $35. For more information call the SMPE office at 732-381-7673.

VOTES IN, BALLOTS COUNTED - Congratulations to the newly elected Alumni Association officers for 1998: TOM FOX 62 (President), STEPHEN CARBERY 80 (1st VP), THEODORE MASON 57 (2nd VP), CHARLES HOETZL 66 (Secretary), and THOMAS MUNSTER 83 (Treasurer).

RIDING STEEL DECKS is the title of a new novel by Trish Schiesser, the wife of BOB SCHIESSER, Class of 1958. The book will be published later this year by Canadian publisher, Commonwealth Publications. According to Ms. Schiesser: "The book is about a fictitious female graduate of Ft. Schuyler, an ex-navy Lt. Cmdr. who sails at Great Lakes as a Third Assistant Engineer aboard an ore carrier called the SS JAKOB STRUMP. Ida, the heroine, encounters obstacles not covered in the curriculum taught at the Fort! This is an adventure story and a "must read" for anyone with maritime interests." Ms Schiesser, a literary consultant and author, sailed aboard an ore carrier in 1988, " ...never knowing I'd write a book based on some of my experiences." Are there more authors out there? The Luce Library would love to host alumni/spouse book signing events during the 1998 Homecoming. It will be fun, there are lots of customers and, of course, the library will expect at least one free, autographed copy of the book for the collection.

NO MORE MORSE CODE IN THE ANTIPODES EITHER - In a follow-up to the February 12 NFFS query posed by CRAIG SMITH about the demise of Morse Code, GARY CORDES, Class of 1966, writes: "Greetings from Sydney, Australia where I reside when not serving as Master of the MS SEA-LAND EXPLORER which is employed in the West Coast - East Asia service.... The S/L EXPLORER recently commissioned its GMDSS radio station. A Morse key is not required nor fitted. The old station is aboard although not operating. I expect that it and the Morse key will be removed shortly."

DISNEY MAGIC UPDATE - According to World Maritime News, the maiden voyage of DISNEY MAGIC has been moved from 30 April to 30 July due to construction delays. PETER "SCOTT" JAMES, Class of 1979, and former EMPIRE STATE C/M, is the Chief Mate aboard this 2400 passenger ship. (Source: World Maritime News, February 20, 1998.)