News From Fort Schuyler

September 6, 2000 - Volume 4, No. 28

NEW MINTED ALUMNI - Forty-four students completed their degree requirements in time for the August 18th Summer Graduation date. 1 associate, 22 bachelors, and 21 masters degrees were awarded. Receiving special recognition were: JASON ANDERS (BS) and JONATHAN WRINN (BE) "With Distinction," and RICHARD ARMSTRONG (BE) and MELVEYN FERNANDES (MS) "With Honors." Also, three MS graduates earned Coast Guard licenses: MARVIN NIXON, KEITH OHLINGER, and EDWARD SANDERS.

DEPARTURE OF THE TUGS - According to the Plan of the Week for September 4-10, 2000 "On August 25th the tugs RARITAN and GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER were towed from their berths at the college. They have left campus for the last time. Both vessels were over 62 years old and saw extensive duty as Coast Guard patrol draft and ice-breaking on the Hudson River. The GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER suffered a major engine failure last winter that proved too uneconomical to repair. Both vessels were sold for scrap. We have already begun the search for vessel or vessels to replace the GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER. We have identified the vessel type that would best meet our needs. We intend to replace these vessels as quickly as possible."

In response to an NFFS query, President DAVID C. BROWN noted that: "... they were both beyond the point of effective use. The RARITAN had been completely stripped of all possible useable parts and equipment and was in danger of sinking (it almost sank last year but for the quick action of the crew of EMPIRE STATE VI and our cadets.) The GEN SCHUYLER could no longer be maintained economically (obsolete propulsion system with limited parts available and increasingly expensive mechanical failures)." The Admiral concluded, "While we seek a permanent replacement (ideally a more modern and suitable work boat or response vessel in the 100 - 120 ft. range), we have other, smaller vessels to meet our immediate needs for the Small Vessel Operations program and the Marine Environmental Science afloat lab requirements."

PICTURE THIS - A web-based photo album is being compiled by KARL E. HUBNER, Class of 1954, from images and captions (56 so far) provided by his classmates. You can view these images, ranging from vintage B&W photographs of Fort Schuyler days to colorful current shots, by going to the following URL: http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4293748103&code=472493&mode=invite Great idea and their 50th Reunion is still four years off.

DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT - Documentation confirming the serious nature of the boarding incident that Captain JERRY BENYO, Class of 1958, recently experienced in the Adriatic, was provided by ROY SOLURI, Class of 1962, Deputy Chief, Marine Navigation Department of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency: "The incident with the DELAWARE BAY off Montenegro caused the State Department (in conjunction with the US Navy and MARAD) to issue Special Warning 112 for the Adriatic." Roy provided the text of the warning, which read in part: "SUBJ: SPECIAL WARNING NUMBER 112. MONTENEGRO. 1. ON 19 AUG 2000, A US FLAGGED VESSEL ENROUTE TO THE PORT OF BAR WAS STOPPED THREE MILES OFF THE COAST OF MONTENEGRO. THE SHIP WAS BOARDED BY YUGOSLAV MILITARY PERSONNEL, ORDERED TO PROCEED TO SHUT DOWN ALL COMMUNICATIONS AND PROCEED TO A MILITARY BASE, BOTH OF WHICH THE CAPTAIN REFUSED TO DO....."

MODERN PIRACY - Commenting on the resurgence of piracy, San Francisco Bar Pilot PAUL LOBO, Class of 1969, wrote: "As a Bar Pilot here I see more and more ships rigging themselves with anti-pirating devices. I was on a tanker the other night that trades to the Far East and it had bars on every window, plus swing gates that could come down and be locked to prevent anyone from coming from aft to the main deck or climb up any of the outside ladders ! This modern day piracy is very real." [BTW - This semester one of the reserve reading assignments for freshmen in some Professional Studies 101 license course sections is the August 20th article about piracy in the Malacca Straits cited in NFFS 4:27. Now that is really an "up-to-date" reading assignment.]

STIMULATING STRAITS - "I noticed an article in your latest news about the Strait Of Malacca," writes KEVIN COATES, Class of 1979. "Both Captain RANDALL ROCKWOOD (Master of the USNS HENRY J. KAISER, Class of 1982), and I transited through there 4 times while we were in that part of the world. The only thing I can compare it to was like driving on the both the West Side Highway and East River Drive. Being the ship's navigator was a challenge, but I would not have traded it for anything. Experience is the greatest teacher. Captain Rockwood said it all, when he referred to both the Malacca and Singapore Straits as 'THE ULTIMATE SIMULATOR.' They both had it all. You have to be on your toes constantly. ALL BUSINESS." Kevin, who is completing five months leave after a 17-month tour of duty as 2nd Officer aboard the KAISER, assigned to the Rapid Deployment Force out at Diego Garcia, writes that "I have been with MSC, Atlantic for 22 years, and this was my best assignment." He concludes: "I leave here next week to report back to work, have no idea where I will be sent. I will leave the Malacca Straits and the great port of Singapore to other Domers to experience."

ACCESS FOR ALL - In compliance to the New York State "Universal Accessibility for NYS Web Sites" policy the Maritime College is updating its website so the all of the informational content is accessible to persons with disabilities. ( http://www.oft.state.ny.us/policy/99-3.htm) College webmaster, MIKE FRANCE, Class of 1996, is working on this project. Take a look. Since many URLs for various web pages at the college have changed it might be best to start at the basic Maritime College URL - http://www.sunymaritime.edu

BOOK SALE - The Homecoming Book Sale at the Luce Library begins Saturday, September 16. If any NFFS readers want to lend a hand setting up on Friday or working on Saturday, contact rcorson@nyc.rr.com