Training Ship T/S Enterprise Operating Status: 11/30/06

• Overview

The purpose of this article is to highlight the immediate need for completing the “as delivered” 2002 ship conversion of the T.S. Enterprise in order to meet the Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s current and future educational enrollment requirements.

Commencing with the 2008 training cruise, T.S. Enterprise will no longer be adequate to
support the MMA cadet enrollment due to insufficient berthing capacity. This
shortcoming is the direct result of not completing the berthing conversion contract “as
designed” for 600 cadets and 110 officers and crew. The current berthing capacity as
completed supports 510 cadets and 90 officers and crew. Federal funding of $9.6M is
required to complete the original conversion design to meet the MMA training mission as
originally committed in 2002.

• Ship Background

The T.S. Enterprise is a Federally owned ship that was transferred, converted and
delivered to Massachusetts Maritime Academy after an extensive conversion that cost
approximately $32M. The work was conducted by Bender Shipbuilding and Repair in
Mobile, Ala. under the direction of MARAD. The scope of work included the addition of
600 cadet berths and 110 officer and crew berths. MARAD hired a ship manager,
Interocean Ugland Management, to manage the conversion. This management hierarchy
was inefficient and resulted in decisions that MMA did not agree. As a result many
issues identified could not be rectified because they were identified to MARAD too late
or became too costly.

The conversion in 2002 transitioned a seven hatch, break bulk dry cargo ship into a
floating college campus including ten class rooms, library, computer lab., and five other
laboratories to support various majors. A full hospital suite, office areas, barbershop and
a ship’s store were conveniently located on the main deck. Berthing space was
completed during the 2002 conversion, but due to budget constraints, the build out of the
final 99 Northampton Bunk Systems for cadets ($4M), new bunks for officers and crew
($4M), addition of two gravity davits and lifeboats ($600K), and habitability upgrades to
the original midship house deck tiles, jointer panels and overhead panels that contain
asbestos ($1M) and one classroom were cut by MARAD as cost saving measures.
The ship has two complete machinery spaces, one for the main propulsion system and the
other for auxiliary systems including a 1500 KW auxiliary diesel generator.

• Sea term 2007

Sea Term begins with cadet officers reporting on January 4 and the main body reporting
on January 7, 2007. The training ship staff is actively working to prepare the ship to
depart on time. Lighting off a cold ship after some 10 months of being inactive is a
challenge for any ship’s crew, especially when some key crew members sign on just prior
to departure. The T. S Enterprise currently has a 2nd assistant engineer position open for
the 2007 Sea Term. The Captain and the Chief Engineer have their work cut out for
them between now and January 7. In order to manage potential overcrowding, which is
not an option; the Administration has been able to ship out almost all of the juniors (2nd
class) cadets on commercial ships in the past two years. This solution will no longer be
adequate for the 2008 training cruise. Other less desirable options are now being
finalized.

• Summary

The Academy Administration needs to focus on pressing the Congressional delegation
for creating the necessary funded bill to allow MARAD to complete the deferred
conversion work on the T.S. Enterprise especially in light of Congressional committee
changes after the most recent mid term National elections.. In order to get broad support,
the Administration and the Board of Trustees need to identify the Washington plan of
action so that maximum pressure can be applied to this most pressing need. This well
directed plan with major Academy Alumni and friends support is a must if the Training
Ship is ever going to be completed. MARAD will always be under extreme pressure due
to limited available funding.

• Questions

If this ship conversion is not completed for all MMA cadets, then Sophomore
Marine Engineers will be added to the other cadets already assigned to commercial
ships according to Academy Administration for FY 2008. This sea term commercial
experience for Sophomore’s may be equal or better than their training experience
aboard the Enterprise. However, carefully prepared projects and assignments are
required. MARAD requires special waiver approvals and sign off by the
commercial ship involved. What has been graduates’ past experience?

Another area for open discussion is the fact that all freshmen/women and some non
license track cadets (1 MSEP, 2 IMBU, 2 EMGT and 1 Regimental Commander)
are getting Training ship berths during this period of ship over capacity. The
question is why…. since these cadets are not preparing for future USCG licensed
careers? Why don’t the licensed track cadets have training ship berth priority?
It appears that the MARAD plan was to reduce the ship conversion contract scope
prior to the award to Bender in regards to the cadet living space and officer berths.
Why was this decision made in light of the future requirement? Was MMA in
agreement?

Need is now for a unified Academy Administration and Board of Trustees
Washington action plan for a broad level of support. When will this occur?
We do not have the answers at this time. Every member should be sending their
concerns and requests for action to the Administration and the Board of Directors at the addresses shown below:

President Rick Gurnon-President [email protected]
Chairman Jay Austin-Board of Trustees [email protected]

Written (and permission to post on-line given) by FOMMA Directors