After experiencing engine trouble on their training ship the “State of Michigan,” Great Lakes Maritime Academy cadets are back on track to getting their required time out on the water.
The ship left Traverse City on May 18 to start the first of four scheduled training cruises, but experienced mechanical problems while on the Detroit River the next day.
This had sidelined 80 cadets who need the equivalent of 360 days of sea time in order to graduate.
Thankfully, the Academy was able to find spots for their cadets among commercial vessels, as well as aboard training ships from the Massachusetts and Texas A&M Maritime Academies, with costs of traveling to Galveston, Texas being covered by the NMC foundation.
“I think they’d prefer to be on their own ship on the Great Lakes, working the Great Lakes pilotage,” said ——. “But they’re aware that ships have their own personalities sometimes. And this is just one of those things that we had no ability to prevent it.”
The “State of Michigan” is currently being repaired in Toledo, Ohio. The Academy hopes to have the ship up and running for their third scheduled training course on July 21.
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