TAMUG Training Ship to Assist in
Hurricane Relief Efforts
GALVESTON,
Sept. 5, 2005 – The USNS Sirius, soon to be the USTS Texas
Clipper of the Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M
University at Galveston, has been selected for emergency
deployment to aid in relief efforts on the Gulf Coast in the
wake of the devastation resulting from Hurricane Katrina.
The announcement was made Saturday by U.S.
Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).
The USNS Sirius has been a supply ship for U.S. troops in
the Persian Gulf and will now set sail from Galveston Friday
(Sept. 9) on a 60-day mission.
University officials note that 100 percent of
the vessel’s full-time crew and officers employed by Texas
A&M University at Galveston have volunteered to help out and
have been activated through a local union, American Maritime
Officers, to crew the ship on its mission.
“We don’t know the full mission of the ship
yet,” remarked Capt. Sam Stephenson, Master of the SIRUS,
“but we will be ready to go to whatever location and
complete whatever mission is given to us.”
Maritime
Administrator John Jamian said, “Once again, the men and
women of the merchant marine are coming through. The
merchant marine serves the
United States
in war and peace, and now for relief and reconstruction.”
MARAD
which provides training
ships for all state Maritime Academies
has appointed Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. of Houston as the
operator during the emergency deployment. Jim McGregor,
president of Ocean Shipholdings, says his company is
experienced in government ship operations.
“Our people understand the magnitude of this
crisis and are glad to have an opportunity to get involved,”
McGregor said.
“I have made it a goal to see this ship used
for more than training, and I am very glad to see this ship
activated to offer assistance in the tragedy,” said Dr.
Bowen Loftin, vice president and CEO of Texas A&M University
at Galveston.
“I think all of our students and cadets from
the affected region are happy to see our training ship
activated and helping the area they call home.”
In fact, Cadet Eddie Compass, Jr., whose
father is the Chief of Police in New Orleans, has said the
cadets are happy to know their training ship will be used to
aid those affected by the hurricane.
“I talk with my dad every night and we are
each other’s strength. We are bound together and are being
strong for each other.”
Compass stated that his dad is his role model
and he is so proud to see his dad and his officers give so
selflessly of themselves for the people of New Orleans.
Compass is attending Texas A&M University at Galveston on a
scholarship from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge Steamship
Pilots Association (NOBRA). His dream is to someday be a
New Orleans harbor pilot. One person with the NOBRA trying
to help make that dream come true is Capt. Kelvin Boston,
currently a displaced harbor pilot.
“Capt. Kelvin Boston has been trying to call
me to let me know he’s OK and that everything with my
scholarship is OK. He is another mentor in my life. With
all he is going through, he thought to call me to make sure
I’m OK, he doesn’t just care about my education, he cares
about me,” commented Compass.
Compass is leaving with friend and fellow
Pilot’s Association scholar Pierre Beard for San Antonio
today. Beard is on scholarship from the Associated Branch
Pilots Association and he found his mom during the weekend
after a week of wondering if the worst had happened. His
mom was rescued from a rooftop last week.
“I’m so happy Pierre found his mom. I can’t
imagine the weight he felt on his shoulders wondering if she
was OK or not,” Compass added.
Compass is extremely thankful for everyone
who is helping out. With deep emotion he mentioned the Aggie
Family and the love he is feeling from everyone here. He
prays every day for his father who is still in the thick of
things in New Orleans and for all the people still there and
the survivors living in shelters. He noted that this
disaster has taught him to check his values and realize that
it is not the material things that are important. He calls
on everyone who can to donate to the Red Cross to help
people in shelters.
The Texas Maritime Academy is one of six
state maritime academies in the United States and the only
academy on the gulf coast training cadets in the Texas A&M
University at Galveston Maritime Corps of Cadets to be
officers in the United States Merchant Marine.
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Contact: Teri Fowle (409) 740-4830
fowlet@tamug.edu
