This
morning at 0730, a personnel inspection was conducted on the
flight deck. Overall, cadets looked very good.
At 1000, the signal was sounded for a simulated grease fire
in the galley. Cadets in damage control lockers 1 & 2
reported to the fire in full bunker gear while zones 1 & 4
put charged hoses over the side of ship to simulate cooling.
Down in the engine room cadets secured the watertight doors.
After muster was
completed, five cadets were reported injured; Cadet Moon,
Cadet Cope, Cadet Bono, Cadet Seckman. Rescue teams
were called to various parts of the ship to bring the
injured cadets to sickbay for treatment. The cadets
had simulated injuries ranging from head injuries to broken
bones. In order to make the injuries more realistic
for the drill, Mate Roth had fake blood oozing form the
cadets bodies. After Mate Blackburn recommended
abandon ship because the fire was out of control, cadets
mustered at their lifeboat stations with their survival
suits. Lifeboats #1 & #2 were lowered to the rails.
After the lifeboats were secured, all cadets and crew donned
their survival suits. Looking down on the deck from
the bridge, it looked like we had a bunch of Gumby Bears
walking about the ship when the cadets and crew members were
walking around with their survival suits on.
Approximately 1048, three short blasts sounded on the ship's
whistle which means secure from drill.
At 1100, an
emergency steering gear drill was conducted, cadets on the
bridge and the engine room reported to aft steering to steer
the ship from the trick wheel. Other than one instance
of being 45°
off course, the cadets did a good job of steering the ship
from aft steering while receiving helm commands from the
bridge.
After the 1300 formations,
cabin inspections were conducted by the mates and cadet
officers. Cadets Entzel, Macmurdo, Sokol, and Gee
received five merits each for outstanding cabins. Next
Saturday, another cabin inspection will be conducted and I
expect a significant improvement over this week's
inspections.
It is a beautiful day with 60°
for the outside temperature. Seas are calm.
Captain S. Stephenson
