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The following information is a service of the Maine Maritime Academy Parent’s Association. This was assembled with the assistance of parent experiences with their son/daughter enrolled at MMA.

It is not meant to supercede any Academy rules, suggestions or requirements. We hope you will find its content helpful. If you have specific questions or concerns you can direct them to the Parent’s Association or contact the appropriate office directly.

The two photos on this page were provided by the parents of Mitchel Aylouche, Class of 2013.

Cruise | Tools

MMAPA TRAINING CRUISE TIPS AND INFORMATION

The following Training Cruise information is a service of the Maine Maritime Academy Parent’s Association. This was assembled with the assistance of parents experienced with their son/daughter participating in a previous MMA training cruise. It is not meant to supersede any Academy rules, suggestions or requirements. We hope you will find its content helpful. If you have specific questions or concerns you can direct them to the Parent’s Association or contact the Regimental Office directly.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Emergency contact to the Ship is available.  If you need to contact the Ship, contact MMA Security at 207-326-2479 and they will contact the Ship and arrange for you to be able to speak to your student.

WEBSITE
The Cruise News website is the most important aspect of communication for parents! Familiarize yourself with the web page soon if you haven’t already. This site tracks the progress of the Ship allowing parents and friends access to a map of the Ship’s course, summary of the daily activities, highlights of the day, stats (Lat. And Long., speed, passage distance, etc…), weather, pictures, etc. DON’T MISS THIS DAILY UPDATE!!!!! It’s the next best thing to being there!! Students will be able to download everything that gets published on the website at the end of the training Cruise. Mailing information and emergency contact information can be found on the website.

RULES FOR the TRAINING CRUISE
The rules for Training Cruise are found in the Training Cruise Manual. The Training Cruise Manual covers everything from discipline to daily routine, watch position description to meal hours. The Training Cruise Manual can also be viewed on the Ship’s internal network during the training Cruise. Students are required to attend Personal Development classes prior to the training Cruise where additional information is given such as a list of mailing addresses.

MONEY
It is recommended that students carry no more cash than they plan to spend in the Ship’s Store. ATM/Debit cards and major credit cards are recommended for use in ports. Foreign ports use foreign currency, and banking hours will vary in these countries. Most merchants in foreign ports will accept US currency or traveler’s checks, but it is extremely unlikely the exchange rate will be even close to the current bank rate.

Due to international fraud issues, you should contact your student's bank and let them know the dates and locations that they will be out of the country and ask that they DO NOT place a hold on the student's account.  MANY banks will place a hold on the account the moment their debit or credit card is used out of the country and due to time differences it is often difficult for the student to contact the bank to assure them it is actually the student using their own card while on training cruise!

There is also the chance of losing money on board or in a port, or theft. If you student has no alternative but to bring cash for spending money in the ports, that money can be locked in the safe in the Ship’s Office. The Ship will attempt to have a representative from a local bank come on board to exchange money, but this does not always happen, and it varies from port to port.

ATM account access is important! All ports normally offer ATM access, but access will depend on the ATM banking network your bank is on. Money received through an ATM will be in that country’s currency and at the current bank exchange rate. CHECK with your bank regarding the ports listed as to bank charges for this service. Sometime the charges can be as much as $10.00 per transaction. Regardless, it is recommended that your student make one transaction per port if possible.

Internet Banking can be helpful. If your bank offers Internet Banking, you can keep track of your student’s account balance and it is updated {usually} the next day. You can see if funds are needed and add those funds prior to the next port if desired. It is not uncommon for some students to spend $250 in one port, while others may not spend $200 on the entire training Cruise. YOU know the habits of your student and should be able to judge their money needs accordingly. Keeping track of their account activity on line has beneficial points for them and you.

Credit Cards for spending in foreign ports are really the best way to go. Most merchants accept either VISA or MasterCard and you will get the current bank exchange rate. We supplied our student with a low limit credit card in his own name. This supplied a money source when an ATM was not available. To cover bases, a low limit will alleviate the possibility of theft on a parent’s higher limit card and will also establish credit that some students have not done. Note: Be sure to read the fine print and watch out for some cards that may charge set-up fees. Watch the fine print!! Sometimes the set up fees will be taken from the credit card, which means your student actually has a lower limit.

PHONE CALLS HOME
Number one thought in every one of our minds!! Students can call from ports. Phone cards are the least expensive way to call home from any port and should be purchased prior to the onset of the training Cruise. Be sure your student’s phone card has international phone privileges (AT & T phone cards seem to work in all ports).  In the event of an emergency students will be able to call using the ship's satellite phone.

The Regimental Staff has had very good luck with the low cost phone cards sold at Sam’s Club or Wal-Mart. Note that the number of minutes for a phone card will vary in foreign ports (i.e. The 600 minute SAM’s / Wal-Mart cards was good for 200 minutes in Ireland and 300 minutes in England. The current time available on your card is given at the beginning of each call). Using pre-paid cards is always much less expensive than collect calls and your student does not need a pocket full of change. Check also with your cell phone company regarding charges to switch to international service.

LETTERS FROM HOME
No packages should be sent to students while on the training Cruise - letters only. Emergency or medical packages only can be sent via MMA Security. FAX and emails to the ship are unreliable and emergency communication will go through the Campus Security Office (207-326-2479 – Tom Perkins, Director of Security).   Port addresses for letters are posted.  Student ship email addresses will be arranged ahead of time, but there are limitations on usage.

USE OF ALCOHOL
Alcohol laws/restrictions vary from country to country and the Academy/Ship does not have control over local restriction, but possession of alcohol aboard the T/S STATE OF MAINE is clear. It is prohibited on board the Ship. The policy aboard the Ship is consistent with that of the US Coast Guard and can be found in the Training Cruise Manual. This is real life. Students returning to the Ship from port liberty can and will be asked to submit to a breathalyzer test if it is suspected that they are intoxicated. If a student or staff/crew member refuses to submit to a breathalyzer test, they will very likely be sent home. The Parent’s Association encourages parents to review the alcohol policies. Please talk seriously with your student.

POST-CRUISE MAINTENANCE
Students may voluntarily sign up for 1 week of summer maintenance on board the ship following the training Cruise. The ship’s officers will select the maintenance crew from those who volunteer. Summer maintenance will be conducted the weeks of July 7th and July 14th.

GENERAL CRUISE DEPARTURE INFO
[Note: times and dates may change.]
Students may leave a vehicle parked in the Pleasant St. parking lot while on cruise. A set of keys to the vehicle must be left with MMA Security. All vehicles left on campus must be properly inspected and insured. NO OVERNIGHT WATERFRONT PARKING!

During the time students are docked in Castine, guests and parents will be able to visit students (that are not on watch) onboard after liberty is called. Castine is considered a working port and as such liberty is normally called at 1600 or later depending on the events of the day. Every item brought on will be searched in every port (this includes handbags). Do not bring anything on board you do not wish to have searched. All guests are required to be off the Ship by 2200 each night.

2011 Training Cruise Info:


Parent’s Association Departure Reception TBD.

Tools

All students enrolled in Marine engineering Operations, Marine Engineering Technology, Marine Systems Engineering, and Marine Transportation Operations on the annual training are required to have a tool kit. This tool kit is required to be with the student during all Maintenance Programs (Semester and Summer Maintenance) and during Freshmen and Junior Cruises.

Students showing up to Maintenance without their tool bags will be turned away from Maintenance for that session and may receive an "unexcused" absence for that session.

It is not recommended that students purchase top of the line, professional grade tools. But keep in mind … you get what you pay for. A middle grade tool such as those at Sears (Craftsman) or Home Depot (Husky) should be adequate enough to provide for years of service. (They both offer a 100% replacement guarantee for broken hand tools.) Also, Students are HIGHLY encouraged to stencil their tools for proper identification.

If you have any questions with this, please contact either the 1st A/E or Chief Mate aboard the T/S State Of Maine.

The following is a minimum list of tools required by class and major:

4th Class (both Deck & Engine majors) will need the following :

3rd Class Engine Majors will need the following additional tools:

2nd Class Engine Majors will need the following additional tools:

3rd Class Deck Majors will need the following additional tools:

2nd Class Deck Majors will need the following additional tools:

Multi-meters shall meet the following minimum requirements:  (The Sears Craftsman model listed is just an example, any multi-meter that meets the minimum requirements will do.)

  1. AC/DC voltage measurement - to at least 600 volts
  2. AC/DC Current
  3. Resistance
  4. Conductivity
  5. Temperature
  6. 0.5% accuracy
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