- Dat 29-30 | Washdowns and BriefsDay 29 and Day 30 It has been a quiet few days on board as we transit around the bottom of Florida. In the last few days, the companies have been cycling through port briefs, where they receive safety training and city familiarization on our next port of call, Charleston, SC. In addition to briefs, […] The post Dat 29-30 | Washdowns and Briefs appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 27 -28 | Anchored off TampaDay 27 and Day 28 For the last two days, the training ship has been anchored off of Tampa FL, while Maine juniors conduct training on Anchoring. (pictures to come) The rest of the Cadets have been enjoying some downtime hanging out on the back deck. (I apologize in advance for the picture quality; the […] The post Day 27 -28 | Anchored off Tampa appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 25 – 26 | Calm WatersDay 25 and Day 26 As we head north towards Tampa, Florida, the seas outside are flat and calm. Lucky Cadets have gotten views of dolphins, swordfish, and flying fish as we cut through the swells. We are on our way to Tampa after coming around Cuba to conduct some anchoring drills before we head […] The post Day 25 – 26 | Calm Waters appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 24 – 25 | Life at SeaDay 24 and Day 25 For the last two days, everyone has settled into normal underway life. As we drive around the southern side of Cuba, cadets onboard have been adapting to working together, blending the two school cultures. There has been a big push to clean the ship lately, with cleaning crews working all […] The post Day 24 – 25 | Life at Sea appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 23 | Safety meeting / Lifeboat ops.Day 23 Today we conducted a Safety meeting. This meeting involves both cadets and crew and gives everyone a chance to share safety tips, close calls, and questions regarding safety. The meeting also included two demonstrations. The first was AED operation, while the other was EEBD (A device that gives emergency air to escape a […] The post Day 23 | Safety meeting / Lifeboat ops. appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 21 | Leaving GalvestonDay 21 Departure Day! The training ship left port at 0930 this morning, on its way around Cuba, and back up to Florida to conduct anchoring evolutions before heading over to South Carolina. Texas sent us off in style, with families following the ship out, cheering us on. Cadets dressed in their Salt and Peppers […] The post Day 21 | Leaving Galveston appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 20 | Ship ToursDay 20 Today, onboard, cadets gave ship tours to friends and family who came to the BBQ hosted by Texas A&M. Students led visitors around the ship, showing off everything from the bridge to the engine room. For Cadets not involved in the tours, liberty off the ship was called early, allowing cadets to go […] The post Day 20 | Ship Tours appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Galveston Departure LivestreamThe STATE OF MAINE, with its additional crew from Texas A&M, is scheduled to depart Galveston for Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CDT. For those in Galveston, Texas, please join us either from the Texas A&M Galveston campus or on the flotilla. A livestream will be available beginning at […] The post Galveston Departure Livestream appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 17 – 19 | Texas and Maine IntergrationDay 17 – 19 I would like to start out by apologizing for missing a few days. As a Cadet on board, I was busy with watches, while also having some WIFI issues. To catch up, I put a few days together. This works out because, on board the last few days there isn’t much […] The post Day 17 – 19 | Texas and Maine Intergration appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 16 | Texas onboardingDay 16 Today was the day when a majority of Texas Cadets loaded onboard. Maine Cadets assisted in onboarding, bag checks, and helping find rooms for their new shipmates. The post Day 16 | Texas onboarding appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 15 | ArrivalDay 15 Today the Training ship arrived at Texas A&M Maritime. The day was filled with tying up to the pier, unloading trash and reloading food stores. It also marked the second time the ships RORO deck was unfurled with some help from the Engineers. The post Day 15 | Arrival appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 14 | The GulfDay 14 Calm waters and offshore oil rigs are the name of the game today. As we get ready to dock tomorrow morning, Cadets spent some well-deserved time off on the helo deck enjoying the warm air, while others enjoyed group activities such as trivia night and movie night. Rest and relaxation onboard are just […] The post Day 14 | The Gulf appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 13 | Blue WatersDay 13 Day 13 consisted of lots of cleaning and getting ready for Texas to move on. With a projected arrival time of 0800 on May 17th, all the Cadets are busy getting the ship in “ship shape” for the Texas A&M Cadets. As the ship transits through the Gulf, the water around us takes […] The post Day 13 | Blue Waters appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 12 | CubaDay 12 Day 12 started with land in sight at morning muster. Cadets were able to spot atolls off of Cuba, and while we are not stopping, there was an excitement in the air of seeing new places. We have also entered the “special MARPOL area” around the Caribbean, and part of the requirements requires […] The post Day 12 | Cuba appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 11 | Man overboard DrillsDay 11 Day 11’s highlight was the man overboard drill we conducted in the morning. This consisted of taking a whole ship muster to see who was missing, turning the ship to the optimal pick-up area, and simulating launching the rescue boat. The temp and humidity continue to rise as we near Cuba on are […] The post Day 11 | Man overboard Drills appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 10 | Passing FloridaDay 10 At 5:00pm today TSSOM was located at 28.30N by 073.28W as we continue on our way south. The water is bluer, and the mood onboard is positive as the weather and humidity both increase. The deck watches last night got the chance to view a lightning storm lighting up the sky off the […] The post Day 10 | Passing Florida appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 9 | Sea DayAs the training ship continues southward, approximately 31 degrees north by 71 degrees west, the ship’s cadets and crew are starting to settle into their at-sea routine. From driving on the bridge to lounging on the fantail, everyone onboard is both learning and relaxing. The post Day 9 | Sea Day appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 8 | Happy Mothers Day!The Training ship passed by Mass Maritime this morning as it exited the Cape Code Cannel. The ship is now on its way southward, next stop Texas! Everyone on board wanted to take a second to say, “Happy Mother’s Day!” to all the mothers out there who have sons and daughters sailing far from home. […] The post Day 8 | Happy Mothers Day! appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 7 | Departure from Portland, MaineToday, the Training ship departed Portland on its way to Galveston Texas, to pick up the remaining Texas Cadets. Lifting anchor started with a bit of a tangle when the Anchor flukes brought up a nest of old fishing gear off the bottom, but with the help of the pilot boat, the anchor was cleared. […] The post Day 7 | Departure from Portland, Maine appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 6 | AnchorageDay 6 This morning, the training ship departed its Portland, ME berth and traveled a few miles over to an anchorage. Once anchored, the ship conducted both fire and abandon ship drills with the USCG present to observe our ability to handle these emergency situations. Part of these drills includes raising and lowering the lifeboats. Cadets got […] The post Day 6 | Anchorage appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 5 | DrillsDay 5 Work continues onboard with loading the last of the stores. Today, cadets also participated in both abandon ship drills and fire drills. These drills are conducted to build familiarity with their assigned roles during emergency situations. We are also welcoming a few cadets and staff from Texas A&M on board. They will be […] The post Day 5 | Drills appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 4 | In port fire drillToday, the training ship conducted a fire drill involving the Portland Fire Department. Cadets and crew disembarked the vessel while the onshore fire department boarded via their ladder truck. This exercise was conducted not only to practice for an in-port emergency evacuation, but also to have the ship’s crew and the Portland firefighters gain experience […] The post Day 4 | In port fire drill appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 3 | Stores LoadDay three started early with the loading of food and other supplies on board. Cadets, under the supervision of the ship’s crew, worked together to load approximately 5,000 boxes of food in a single morning. In addition, vital supplies such as medical stores were also transported onboard and properly stowed. These provisions form the core […] The post Day 3 | Stores Load appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
- Day 2 | Preparing the Ship, One Hose at a TimeDay two aboard the STATE OF MAINE is already a strong reminder that every successful voyage begins long before the ship leaves the pier. While some students are still settling into routines and shipboard life, others are hard at work ensuring that critical systems are tested, verified, and ready for sea. Today, Alpha Company took […] The post Day 2 | Preparing the Ship, One Hose at a Time appeared first on TSSOM Training Cruise Blog.
