Sept: 12 | 16 | 20
Oct: 17 | 21

September 12, 2005

As Master (captain) of the 524’ United States Government ship Sirius -Texas A&M Training Ship, I have been asked to write daily reports about the Katrina Relief Operations currently in progress. We expect to arrive in New Orleans approximately 1600LT 9/12/05.

In order to understand the operation fully, I will back up to Saturday 9/3/05. On Saturday morning, I was at my house relaxing when a phone call came in with the caller ID showing “US Government.” My wife handed me the phone and she knew the call meant the ship was going to be activated. After the call from United States Maritime Administration (owner of the ship) confirming the ship was being activated, numerous phone calls were made between me, Texas A&M University at Galveston, and Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. (operator of the ship for Katrina Relief). Saturday afternoon, the first meeting was held with Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. to start the activation of the Sirius.

By Monday (Labor Day), the activation was in full progress. Contractors were working to make conversions to the ship for the relief effort. Crew from Seafarers International Union (SIU) and officers from the American Maritime Officers Union (AMO) started arriving early Monday morning to crew the ship, along with the permanent crew from Texas A&M. Before the crew had a chance to place their sea bags in their cabins, they were put to work preparing the ship to be activated by Friday.

The Maritime Cadets from Texas A&M at Galveston, came aboard the ship in their free time to help activate the ship. Doing jobs the chief mate or chief engineer assigned for them to do, including standing gangway watch at night, soundings, and lights. They did a great job!

During this time alongside, stores (food) were loaded for 250 people for sixty days; the helicopter hanger was converted into berthing for 50 people by installing air conditioning and placing 50 cots in the hanger. The stewards department during this time stayed very busy cleaning the 140 cabins aboard ship and readying the cabins for guests and also getting the galley operational to serve hot meals.

By Friday morning the ship was ready to sail, however sailing was delayed until 0700 Saturday morning in order for the ship to load four containers of water donated by Stolt Nielson Offshore, for a total of approximately 120 tons of water in addition to the water already aboard, approximately 700 tons for a total of 219,760 gallons of water.

Saturday morning at 0700, the accommodation ladder was brought aboard and tugs eased the ship off the dock, and we proceeded to anchorage in order to take bunkers (fuel).
At anchor approximately 238,000 gallons of diesel fuel was transferred to the ship by barge, more stores came out on a launch and two 31’ high speed patrol boats were loaded aboard the ship. At 2000, we heaved anchor and soon were heading to New Orleans. We had to wait until Monday morning to pick up the pilot for the Mississippi River because ships can only transit the river in daylight due to aids of navigation (buoys) not being in their correct place.

Upon arrival in New Orleans, our mission will be to provide housing and support to the New Orleans firefighters and police. The ship will become a place were the firefighters and police can sleep, take a shower and be fed a hot meal, something most of us take for granted on a daily basis. The ship’s steward department will be serving food 24/7 in two dining areas.

The 41 crewmembers from S.I.U., A.M.O., and Texas A&M have been outstanding, I have never sailed with such a hard working crew who has been so mission focused. Work started on the ship Monday and by Friday morning the ship was ready to sail. In five days, two months of work was accomplished.

When I hear the US Government has not responded sufficiently, I disagree, the government employees I work with have worked around the clock to make sure this ship sailed on time. America has pulled together for its fellow citizens in distress and it makes me proud to be an American!

Captain Sam Stephenson
Master, Sirius