Cruise 2023 Has Started!
Yesterday, May 7th, at 0800, boarding the TSSOM for Cruise 2023 started with check-in. LCDR Gualtieri and Warrant Officer Kowalski ensured that every cadet had their paperwork, passports, TWIC card, and juniors had their Merchant Mariner Credentials. Then CMDR Christian and LT Willette reviewed the cruise agreement and conducted bag searches for unapproved items. If Midshipmen had hair out of regulation, quick haircuts were issued before they were allowed to board. After MIDN had loaded their own bags, additional fire gear was brought onboard. Next, faculty and students headed to the forecastle to be issued a lifejacket and immersion suit, also known as a survival suit, by members of the Emergency Squad. The ship’s crew will conduct emergency drills to practice and perfect a system to ensure everyone onboard is accounted for and executes their duties during an emergency. As specified in the Safety Management System Manual, “Emergency Drills and/or Exercises (must) be conducted on a weekly basis at a minimum during underway periods.” (8.6.1 EMERGENCY DRILL AND EXERCISE PROGRAM) Everyone is talking about their last cruise or which port they are most excited about; all involved are excited to get underway. Tomorrow, we are expecting to get a large shipment of stores (food/supplies), so loading operations are expected to take the whole day. Stay tuned.
Latest 2024 Summer TSSOM Cruise
- Day 3: Departure Day is Here…This morning began with reveille at 0600, followed by breakfast and muster at 0700. After muster everyone reported to cleaning stations and then each company turned to their assignment for the day. Alpha had classes, Bravo on utility, Charlie on maintenance, and Delta on watch. Morning operations were interrupted for a fire drill and abandon […]
- Day 2: Stores, Stores and More Stores…Today, on Tuesday, May 7th, Alpha company was on utility. Usually, this means that cadets spend a few hours cleaning before getting a day of much-needed rest. This was not the case today because TSSOM was taking on supplies, which we call stores. Stores were met with mixed anticipation in the Alpha berthing because although […]
- Day 1: Drills, Drills, and More Drills…Today, May 6th, marked our second day on the ship and our official start of the cruise. The TSSOM is docked in Castine, preparing to set sail. We began with a morning muster followed by thorough cleaning and maintenance tasks. The highlight of our day was conducting three drills. First, an abandon ship drill where […]
- Cruise Departure and LivestreamThe TSSOM will depart Castine Harbor on May 8, 2024, with the lines beginning to be taken between 11:15 and 11:30 am. Please join us in wishing all aboard a safe and successful training cruise either in person or via the livestream. The event will begin at 10:30 am with remarks from leadership. The livestream […]
- Day 0: Cruise 2024 Has Started!Alpha Company Report: Today, Sunday, May 5th, 2024, marked the start of the 2024 TSSOM Training Cruise. Alpha company began boarding at 0800, starting with check-in with LCDR Gualtieri and LT Willette. They were the first to move into their respective berthing spaces and commenced watch at 1000, which they will maintain until 0800 on […]
- 2024 Cruise Ports AnnouncedThe 2024 ports have been announced and include: Port Everglades, Florida; St. Thomas, USVI; Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Spain, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Oporto (Leixoes), Portugal; Newfoundland, Canada; Portland, Maine. Review dates on the Port Information page.