October 23, 2002
Ship tours takes public both above and below deck
'State of Michigan' part of Great Lakes Maritime Academy bi-annual open house
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Opening its decks to the public, the State of Michigan welcomed visitors young and old Saturday during the Great Lakes Maritime Academy's bi-annual open house.
The 224-foot training vessel, which just docked in Traverse City in August, was the star of the day as everyone from Cub Scouts to retirees to prospective academy cadets and their families swarmed over the decks and plumbed the ship's depths. The curious traveled from engine room to pilothouse, bunkrooms to infirmary.
"I wanted my sons to see this, they love big ships," said Lori Brownell of Traverse City, who toured the ship with husband, Larry, and twin sons Timothy and Sean, both 6. "I can't believe how well maintained it is, it is immaculate."
The Great Lakes Maritime Academy building and classrooms also drew visitors Saturday afternoon as interested students and their families checked out the educational and career offerings. The academy is temporarily housed in a college building east of the Holiday Inn but hopes to move into a new instructional facility next fall.
On the nearby docks, the more than 100 cadets in the academy have already been familiarizing themselves with the State of Michigan. Tours and basic housekeeping chores, such as putting in lines, mopping the decks and painting have been keeping them busy.
"We've made chafing gear you tie on the lines to protect the rope," said Al Warmbier, a first year deck cadet from Richmond Va.
Training cruises are not scheduled until next spring. The school is still working to incorporate the ship into the curriculum, said Admiral John Tanner of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy.
"Eventually we hope to sail for 60 days a summer for supplemental training," Tanner said. "Students here need 276 sea days and this is going to help students understand how a ship functions. It is a bit of a culture shock the first time they go out."
The ship is a former Navy and Coast Guard vessel that was assigned to the Northwestern Michigan College by the United States Government. The government still owns the former spy ship and will continue to pay for upkeep and maintenance costs.
The State of Michigan was used during the Cold War to track Soviet submarines; one room in the ship stills has dangling wires from where the high-tech spy equipment was installed. The Coast Guard later used the vessel, which was built in 1986, for drug interdiction in Florida. It decided that the ship's 12-knot top speed was too slow and the ship eventually became available for the college.
After a formal request for the ship from Governor John Engler in May, the ship sailed this July from New York Harbor. It was staffed by a crew of current cadets and graduates, as well as instructors and administrators in the program. The 30-day journey covered nearly 5,000 miles and culminated on August 13 when the ship docked in Traverse City.
"This is a great opportunity because there's so much learning possible," said Deacon Jack, a first year engine cadet. "This is a new vessel, state of the art."
Great Lakes Maritime Academy graduates go on to work for the big freighters plying the Great Lakes. Graduates of the engine program may work on the ocean-going freighters; deck cadets, however, must take additional training to work on saltwater.
With excellent job placement, great starting pay and benefits and a promising career path, Tanner noted that more people of all ages are enrolling in the academy. This year's class of 46 first-year cadets represents a 35 percent overall enrollment increase over the last two years.
"We are trying to bring in 60 new cadets for the next year, which the ship and the new building will help," Tanner noted.