Joe Faris, Assistant Professor of Maritime Transportation in front of the TS Kennedy at Ocean Gateway Today.  Both Faris and the Ship’s Captain Wade Howell Said They are Supporters of President Trump.  They Didn’t Say Why.

The TS Kennedy, a 540 ft. training ship based in Galveston, Texas, arrived in Portland Harbor yesterday morning on the last stop of its 70 day trip before returning to her .home port according to Captain Wade Howell.  Docked at Ocean Gateway until tomorrow, the Kennedy has hosted 240  cadets from the Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, whose training ship is under construction.  The State of Maine training ship is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025.

The TS Kennedy is the training ship for the Texas A&M at Galveston, an ocean-oriented campus.  The ship is owned by the US Government and used by Texas A&M to train students to be officers, deck hands and engineers.  The 70 day trip  started in Galveston, Texas; went on to New York City; then on to Belfast, Ireland; Halifax, Canada and finally to Portland.  The trainig ship will leave tomorrow for Gavelston.

The Kennedy was built by Lyles Lines, in New Orleans, LA. in 1967.  It was used to transport amnunition during wartime said Joe Faris, an Assistant Professor of Maritime Transportation, at Texas A&M’s Maritime Training Academy.  The company went out of business and the Kennedy was sold to the US Government.  And that is how she ended up as a training ship in Texas.

The State of Maine vessel currently under construction for the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine is expected to be ready in September or October.  It is under construction at Hanwha Philly Shipyard according to Michael Dickerson, PH.D. Director of College Relations at Maine Maritime Academy.  Bringing this collaboration full circle, next year Texas A&M cadets will join the State of Maine on its maiden voyage while Texas awaits delivery of its new vessel.