We arrived at the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River this morning at
0700. Clear skies, but still very cold. At this writing, the bright sun is
warming us up.
Our
pilots today include one of our alumni, Alan Vacha, who is an apprentice. Coincidentally his brother Eddie is a mate on
board, and his mother works as a steward's assistant for the deck department.
Also joining us for the transit is a member of the Crescent River Pilots, a
state group, but he is here as a courtesy because his
daughter is a deck cadet (from Texas Maritime Academy). It's like old home week
up on the bridge.
The Mississippi River is a lesson in and of itself for the deck and engine
cadets. Eight straight hours of helm and engine commands as we work our way up
the river. The river also has a unique navigation system, using mile markers
(just like driving down the Florida Keys) atop major docks, pipeline crossings
and oil refineries. Unique to the shipping world, they use statue miles as
opposed to nautical miles.
We'll be alongside our dock at the Governor Nichols Street Wharf at about 1600
today. Ship's crew and select cadet officers will be permitted ashore as a
bonus to the early arrival - but most will have to wait until 0800 on Sunday to
find their way down the gangway. But they will have cell phones...
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