News From Fort Schuyler

November 17, 2008 - Volume 8, No. 40

HE TOED THE LINE - A report from another long-distance runner comes from JOHN HANNON '77. "I completed the NYC Marathon on November 2nd alongside my daughter Bridget, age 25. This was my 6th marathon in 10 years, and it was my daughter's first marathon, which made it a great experience for both of us. It is always good to be back for a visit to NYC and to run in one of the world's great marathons. My wife Kathleen (who I first met my 4th class year at Fort Schuyler during a Glee Club concert trip to Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY) came along to be our cheering section." [When John isn't running a marathon, he may be found in Washington, D.C., working at the U.S. Coast Guard HQ in the Office of Vessel Activities.]

TOWING FORUM - Last Monday SUNY Maritime College hosted the 9th Annual Towing Forum, a one-day event which attracted leaders of the towing industry. Speakers from the Coast Guard, admiralty lawyers, owners, and academic addressed topics such as licensing, owner liabilities, towboat operators acting as pilot, training, regulations, liability issues and manning requirements. Of special interest was a presentation about the Cadet Observer Program on tugs by CAPT. ERIC JOHANSSON, Vice Chair of SUNY Maritime's newly formed Professional, Education and Training Department. According to Capt. Johansson: "The students must fulfill their academic requirements as well as their work obligations when they are out on a vessel ... The Cadet observer program is a win-win situation." He went on to remind the attendees, however, that: "I just was to stress the fact that our corporate partners must be aware of the fact that the students are still in school and still have academic requirements to fulfill in addition to their on-the-job duties." (For full details go to www.sunymaritime.edu)

RETIRING TO THE ERIE CANAL - Once he retired, DONALD F. WHITE October '46, "...became involved in the history of Oneida County, New York (Utica and the surrounding area). He became president of the Oneida County Historical Society (he is now retired) and he now is on a lecture tour, along with writing articles, about the Erie Canal (NY Canal System.) At the age of 82, you are never too old to have something of interest to pass along to our younger generations and, in Upstate New York, the interest is there" writes his class mate, OTTO LIEPIN. Otto continues: "I am certain that there are many more school grads who have accomplished useful 'paybacks' to their communities. Our old school has been most inspirational in my life ' and I am thankful for that experience (1944 through 1946.)" Besides authoring many articles, Don wrote the 263 page book: "Exploring 200 Years of Oneida County History, published by OCHS in 1998. [NFFS wonders if Don White is descended from Canvass White (1790-1834), the surveyor and canal engineer for the Delaware and Raritan Canal, who also invented a waterproof hydraulic cement.]

21st CENTURY WORKING WATERFRONT - On 13 November, Dr. SHMUEL YAHALOM presented his paper, "Growing Maritime Use" at the 2008 Waterfront Conference. The findings in this 21-page research presentation, funded by the NYC Economic Development Corp. and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Industrial Park, were based on surveys and interviews that he and his co-principal investigator and Maritime College colleague, ERIK JOHANSSON, carried out. While the waterfront is being converted to housing, recreation, and parks he argued that the needs of New York City's maritime support service industry needs to remain an important factor in any waterfront use planning, with special attention to providing increased infrastructure for the tug and work-boat industry. He also highlighted the dramatic need for working waterfront space for additional dry dock and repair facilities for ships, barges and ferries. There is much more. You can read the full 195 page report and 174 page appendix at the New York City Economic Development Corporation's website - www.nycedc.com/Web/AboutUs/OurProjects/CurrentProjects/MaritimeStudy.htm)

PLAN FOR A WORKING RETIREMENT - Prof. Gerhardt Muller '65 will retire from teaching at Kings Point at the end of this year, but he has really long-range plans. "...I will be working with a small team at Columbia University on forecasting what the maritime industry will look like by 2030 - that is right, 2030."

THOSE ALLURING ANDROIDS - There is a 60-minute video of an illustrated lecture by Maritime College Humanities professor Julie Wosk on the Channel 13 website. Her talk, "Alluring Androids and Robots in Film, Photography and Art" (the subject of a new Fort Schuyler Press book) was presented at the Cooper Union School of Engineering. Since the auditorium was dark, Julie is poorly lit, but her projected illustrations are bright and clear. (http://www.thirteen.org/artsandculture/alluring-androids)

THE MORE THE MERRIER - New subscribers to NFFS during the past month include: FRANK JACOBELLI '44; WILLY FEDORKO ' OCT '46; BOB MENDE '47; BOB SIMPSON '55; ANDREW FLOOD '56; SANDY NELSON '60 - GARY RAFFAELE '60; DICK ENNIS '61 - JOHN KAHLKE '61 - RUDY POULOS '61; JACK ROCHE '63; DICK DREYER '66; BOB LIDDEL '67 - GEORGE SHABERG '67; ROBERT FALAGUERRA '68; JOHN TOMICH '71; RICH FRANK '72; ROBERT HANSLER '73 - BOB OEHRLEIN '73; CHARLIE WARD '74; AL MIRAGLIA '75; KEVIN JIRAK '76; DOUGLAS NEMETH '79; WALTER BURKE '81; JOHN EVANS '84; DARREN McGOWAN '86; PATRICK BRODERICK '87; KEVIN GARVEY '88; DAN WOOSTER '99; and TIM MURRAY Class of 2002. [Your input is always welcomed