Captain’s Log #5

July 11, 2025 | by Captain Wade Howell '02

39.81° N, 66.44° W | Atlantic Ocean

We left Halifax last Wednesday, July 2, and are now bound for Portland, where we will say goodbye to our shipmates from Maine. This summer has been an excellent experience, and everyone is looking forward to seeing each other again next summer on TS State of Maine.

On the Fourth of July, we celebrated Independence Day at sea. Crew worked with cadets to set off flares so that the ship could enjoy some pyrotechnics, and though the flares may not be exactly the same as your typical fireworks, a good time was had by all. We also celebrated the McNeice Memorial Games, a maritime-style field day style competition named for the former master of the training ship, Captain Sean McNeice, who passed away in 2022. Students enjoyed sunny and warmer weather, something many folks had been missing. The games included a gumby suit relay, bucket brigade and firehose reverse tug of war, among others, and are always a highlight of the sea term.

For about 24 hours from Sunday to Monday, we anchored at Stapleton Anchorage in New York City to fuel up for the rest of our journey to Portland. TS Kennedy can hold 457,381 gallons of heavy fuel oil and 85,303 gallons of marine diesel, but as you might imagine, it takes a lot to get the ship from place to place.

We arrive in Portland on Monday, July 14. We will have just one full day in port on Tuesday before we set our course home on Wednesday.