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Displaying items by tag: TS Empire State

#UStrainingShips –Afloat.ie can now confirm following our previous report, that the US training ship T.S. Empire State (1962/14,557grt) had made a 'sail-past' only visit of Dublin Bay this morning while en route to Copenhagen.

The vessel is no stranger to Dublin Port having called on previous occasions.

The brief appearance of the former general cargoship on US Independence Day, involved the vessel circling around the southern end of the bay before departing off the Baily Lighthouse.

On board are male and female students from the Maritime College of the State University College of New York (SUNY) who are undertaking their Summer Sea Term, which is held annually.

 

Published in Dublin Bay

#UStrainingShips -Today been the 4th July, the United States celebrates its Independence Day where patriotic events take place also overseas and on board a pair of training vessels in Irish waters, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the two US training ships visited Cork recently, SSV Corwith Cromar and TS Empire State (1962/14,557grt) though the latter vessel this morning arrived into Dublin Bay.

As part of her annual Summer Sea Term, she is scheduled to visit several European ports and among them the next port is call is understood to the Danish capital of Copenhagen.

The arrival into Dublin Bay of the cadetship with students from the Maritime College of the State University College of New York (SUNY) is somewhat surprising, though for the last three days she undertook training exercises held off Cork Harbour with overnight anchorage taken offshore.

It remains to be confirmed if the former general cargoship which has visited Dublin Port previously is set to make an un-scheduled call.

Or this could merely be a 'sail-past' of Dublin as part of the route taken of the Empire State during her passage through the Irish Sea, past Scotland and onward to Scandinavia.

Also following a transatlantic sail from the US East coast, the other training vessel, the steel-hulled 1988 built SSV Corwith Cramer which made her first visit to Cork. She remains berthed at Cork City Marina where she was open to the public last Sunday.

On Tuesday a talk "One Ocean: Lightening Talks on Ocean Discovery" was held on board with researchers from the US and Ireland. She is due to depart on Sunday.

 

Published in Dublin Bay

#TrainingShip – Veteran US merchant training ship T.S. Empire State (1962/14,557grt) arrived into Cork Harbour this morning, the Irish port forming one of several European ports of call as part of an annual Summer Sea Term, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The former general cargo vessel crossed the Atlantic Ocean, where around 500 male and female cadets from the Maritime College of the State University College of New York (SUNY) will get hands-on experience to learn seafaring skills to compliment their classroom based studies.

This year's Summer Sea Term involves calls to ports in U.S. East coast ports, Portugal, Canary Islands and Denmark. The voyage will provide an opportunity to visit Western Europe and exposure to cultures overseas.

The cadets at SUNY Maritime enroll for four-years at the college which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Launched in 1961, the Empire State was laid down originally as the general cargos ship SS Oregon at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia. Her career began with States Steamship Company for service in the Pacific trades.

In design terms, her era is reflected through her classic hull form lines, cargo derricks and large superstructure compared to her modern container counterparts.

For further details of the ships interim career prior to her current role in which she has served since 1990, click this Link.

Empire State is no stranger to Irish ports as last year's Sea Term included Dublin Port. Her arrival today to Cobh, where the majority of cruise ships berth will provide something different for onlookers to witness.

 

Published in Cork Harbour

#TrainingShip – The veteran US training ship T.S. Empire State (1962/14,557grt) arrived into Dublin Bay yesterday having crossed the Atlantic Ocean, she is however not due to dock in Dublin Port until tomorrow, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Operated by the SUNY Maritime College, University of New York, the 565-foot Empire State provides an essential component of the maritime experience for trainee cadets during the annual Summer Sea Term.

Cadets travel across the world learning about the hands-on operations of the ship which complements classroom studies while gaining exposure to international cultures.

This year's Summer Sea Term calls to ports in the U.S Gulf Coast, Canada, Ireland, Italy and Malta.

The cadets at SUNY Maritime enroll for four-years at the college which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. As well as the summer training-ship cruises, there are 20 varsity athletic teams, five ROTC options, US Coast Guard license and intern programs.

Empire State was laid down originally as the general cargos ship SS Oregon at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia and launched in 1961. Her career began with States Steamship Company for service in the Pacific trades.

Note the vessel's design of a different era as expressed through her classic hull form, fitting of cargo derricks and large superstructure compared to her modern container counterparts. For further details of the ships interim career prior to her current role in which she has served since 1990 click this Link.

Published in Ports & Shipping

The Half Ton Class was created by the Offshore Racing Council for boats within the racing band not exceeding 22'-0". The ORC decided that the rule should "....permit the development of seaworthy offshore racing yachts...The Council will endeavour to protect the majority of the existing IOR fleet from rapid obsolescence caused by ....developments which produce increased performance without corresponding changes in ratings..."

When first introduced the IOR rule was perfectly adequate for rating boats in existence at that time. However yacht designers naturally examined the rule to seize upon any advantage they could find, the most noticeable of which has been a reduction in displacement and a return to fractional rigs.

After 1993, when the IOR Mk.III rule reached it termination due to lack of people building new boats, the rule was replaced by the CHS (Channel) Handicap system which in turn developed into the IRC system now used.

The IRC handicap system operates by a secret formula which tries to develop boats which are 'Cruising type' of relatively heavy boats with good internal accommodation. It tends to penalise boats with excessive stability or excessive sail area.

Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium. 

At A Glance – Half Ton Classics Cup Winners

  • 2017 – Kinsale – Swuzzlebubble – Phil Plumtree – Farr 1977
  • 2016 – Falmouth – Swuzzlebubble – Greg Peck – Farr 1977
  • 2015 – Nieuwport – Checkmate XV – David Cullen – Humphreys 1985
  • 2014 – St Quay Portrieux – Swuzzlebubble – Peter Morton – Farr 1977
  • 2013 – Boulogne – Checkmate XV – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1985
  • 2011 – Cowes – Chimp – Michael Kershaw – Berret 1978
  • 2009 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978
  • 2007 – Dun Laoghaire – Henri-Lloyd Harmony – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1980~
  • 2005 – Dinard – Gingko – Patrick Lobrichon – Mauric 1968
  • 2003 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978

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