Sea Training

The sea training of the curriculum is divided into three training periods of approximately eight weeks each. During the training periods students put the skills and knowledge that they have been taught in the classroom to the ultimate test: actual practice. The entire operation of the Training Ship GOLDEN BEAR is under management by students, with faculty licensed officers acting in an advisory capacity. First-year students do the more elementary tasks while third-year students perform all the duties of ships' officers, from loading the ship's cargo of provisions and lighting of the boiler plants, to navigating and providing power for the ship to visit exotic ports anywhere in the world. Grades are assigned by faculty members based on actual performance, professionalism, and aptitude for life at sea as a licensed officer.

Sea Training – Department of Marine Transportation (Deck)

First Sea Training
Seamanship – Under the direction of upperclass students, first-year students perform routine shipboard maintenance and repair. In addition they receive instruction in the more advanced skills of mariners such as launching of lifeboats and man-overboard drill underway, damage control and emergency equipment, wire rope splicing, and canvas work.

Watchstanding – The students receive their introduction into the routine and complexities of standing watch on a ship underway. First-year students act as bow lookout, helmsmen, and bridge messenger.

Communications: Rules of the Road – The students receive elementary instruction in the skills of communications by signal light and flag hoists and an introduction into the complex subject of rules of the nautical road.

Deck Skills Program – The students receive elementary instruction in the areas of deck seamanship. These areas include line handling, cargo gear operations, marlinspike practical proficiency, and associated deck skills.

Second Sea Training
Commercial Cruise – Students are embarked aboard a commercial vessel as a cadet for a period of not less than 60 days. All components of navigation, seamanship, labor relations, and cargo operations are included in the students' projects while aboard these vessels.

Third Sea Training
Ships Supervision and Management Lab – Third- year students act as the overall managers and organizers of all shipboard evolutions including feeding, sleeping, recreation, and discipline. They organize and administer each day's shipboard routine.

Navigation – The navigator works at sea and in port to include practical celestial navigation, piloting and electronic navigation, estimated position, navigation chart and hydrographic publication corrections, tides, and current tables. During the cruise, each cadet acts as ship's meteorologist taking weather observations, coding,and sending radio messages. He/she receives weather information, develops a weather map, makes a forecast, and weather routes the ship.

Watchstanding – As a third-year cadet, a student will act as the Officer of the Watch and have the responsibility for the complete safe navigation of the ship including maneuvering, emergency drills, daily routine, and ship's management.

Communication/Rules – Instruction is offered in the skills of communication by flashing light and in the International Rules of the Road.

Deck Skills Program – The students receive instruction in the areas of deck seamanship. These areas include line handling, cargo gear operations, marlinspike and associated deck skills. A marlinspike proficiency exam is given at the completion of this program.

Sea Training--Department of Marine Engineering Technology (Engine)

First Sea Training
Watchstanding – Under the direction of upperclass students, first-year students are instructed in and perform the watch duties of oiler, fireman, watertender, evaporator operator, and wiper. On completion they must have developed a level of competence enabling them to perform these watch duties without help or direction from the upperclass.

Maintenance and Repair – The student works as a junior member of repair and maintenance groups to gain experience in the actual repair and maintenance associated with an operating ship. Work groups are under the direct supervision of an instructor or artificer, i.e. ships' electrician, marine machinist, marine pipefitter, etc.

Second Sea Training
Cruise Project – All aspects of engine room operation, shipboard engineering systems, and firefighting and safety systems and equipment are included in a comprehensive report that the student completes during a 60-day-at-sea training period. Students who meet engineering department guidelines (see Student Handbook) have the option of meeting this requirement aboard a commercially operated vessel or a government vessel other than the Training Ship GOLDEN BEAR.

Third Sea Training
Watchstanding – Third-year students are responsible to the Licensed Watch Engineer for the standing of watches as Watch Engineer and Jr. Watch Engineer. On completion the student must have demonstrated ability to perform all of the duties required of a Licensed Third Assistant Engineer.
Maintenance and Repair – Students are responsible to the instructor or artificer for being in charge of maintenance and repair groups. They are responsible to the supervisor for the accomplishment of assigned tasks. On completion they must have demonstrated the ability to perform maintenance and repair commensurate with those required of a Third Assistant Engineer. Included in this course is the use of vibration analyzing equipment and interpretation of readings.