I’m Jacob Nowalsky, the cruise Lead Engine Cadet from Maine, and Maine’s Cadet Chief Engineer. Things have been going pretty well onboard! After being in port in Galveston, everyone was excited to finally get to sea, and now that we’re wrapping up our 2^nd leg and are here in Belfast, people are fully into the swing of things and things are running well. For upperclass leadership, we have a full complement of ship rates, who have been working diligently to manage and maintain their respective areas. We have Cadet Electricians, who fix all things electrical – most importantly ensuring the overhead lights stay on! There are Cadet Fuel rates, who do daily soundings, fuel transfers, and work with the Mates to achieve a desired trim for the ship. The Cadet Water rates are in charge of the potable (drinking) water onboard, they manage the various freshwater making equipment as well as the tanks holding said water. Our QMED (Qualified Member of the Engineering Department) Rates are in charge of all things accommodations, most notable the illustrious sewage system, as well as upkeep of equipment in the heart of the ship – the galley! The 2^nd heart, the boilers themselves, are managed by the Fuel Rates. They perform boiler water chemistry, blowdowns of the drum, burner tip cleaning, and soot blowing from the furnace. The HVAC Rates manage the air conditioning and chill boxes – where we keep food refrigerated – onboard. Finally, the Supply Rates keep track of general inventory of items, if you ever need to find anything onboard the answer is usually “down in 2-Hold,” and that’s their area of expertise.

As for the Freshman onboard, they have been equally busy learning from the Juniors. No Junior does a job without a Freshman there to help, ranging from an important capacitor replacement in the main turbogenerators to unclogging the umpteenth toilet. There are of course certain jobs that require more hands, such as the eternal battle against corrosion (also known as chipping and painting), to which the freshman are considered prime personnel for, but that’s no different than the work they’ll find themselves doing as future 3^rd Assistant Engineers! We just completed the great swap, where those who were deck freshman first half now come to the engine side and vice versa. To those leaving us, hopefully you’ll get a little more Vitamin D above the deck plates, and for those just starting, congratulations on beginning your better half of cruise!

Happy Fathers Day to everyone, especially my dad, and stay warm! Even though it’s summer, it’s gotten chilly enough in Ireland that we had to turn the steam re-heaters on!

Jacob Nowalsky
Cadet Chief Engineer, Maine Maritime