Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) located in Buzzards Bay on the south side of the Cape Cod Canal has been an institution of higher education in all things maritime and beyond for a century. It prides itself as a co-educational school with a focus on instilling leadership skills in its graduates. The MMA puts an emphasis on programing that leads students on a path to becoming a merchant mariner; it also features many other educational pathways. But first and foremost is a cadet’s mindset – the cadet must have a mindset of hard work and integrity.
MMA also provides opportunities for young people from other maritime-based schools to spend time in a short-term exchange program. For the last several years that program has given many Panamanian maritime cadets the chance to experience life aboard a ship – working, living, and learning with like-minded people.
The International Maritime University of Panama (IMUP) is located on the site of the former Albrook Air Force Station in Panama City. The university was critical in preparing Panama to assume control over the Panama Canal, which ultimately took place in 1999 after a twenty-year transitional period.
On August 21, The Wanderersat down with the Panamanian cadets to find out what the experience of being in the U.S. and with the MMA cadets has been like. They took turns explaining that in order to be considered for the exchange program, they first had to pass a test and an interview. They said that the IMUP program promotes positive attitudes and leadership qualities viewed as absolutely necessary for success. In addition, they must study English, the international maritime language.
While attendance at IMUP is funded by the Panamanian government, the training is more traditional – academic and theoretical rather than hands-on practical. The IMUP cadets said that their program does not have a ship, but it does offer a navigational simulator to train students. Still, having the chance to visit the U.S. gives a few cadets the chance of a lifetime to experience real time ship-based tasks.
The Panamanian cadets explained that the MMA cadets earn sea time during their years of study. In Panama, that is not the case. This means that IMUP graduates must find positions on ships after graduation that will allow them to earn sea time. The delay in accruing sea time sets them back several years before they can qualify for officer positions. The cadets said that in order to earn the status of Second Mate they have to have spent four months in national waters and many more years in international water.
The USTS Kennedy, the MMA training vessel where the cadets are staying while in Buzzards Bay, is 540 feet in length and weights 13,886 tons. It can accommodate 710 people. It is certainly not a toy boat.
Being at MMA is a big deal for these young people. They get to experience hands-on activities such as dropping the Kennedy’s 3.5-ton anchor. The exchange cadets do all the same activities as the MMA cadets, with most of those activities aboard a ship for the first time. One of the more thrilling experiences the cadets will have while at the MMA is the freshman three-day orientation cruise. Nearly 500 cadets and senior staff members will travel on the Kennedy to New York and back.
The cadets all work very diligently, but some of the staff overseeing the visitors wanted to give them a bit of fun, too; something that would incorporate their love of the sea and a bit of sightseeing at the same time.
Mattapoisett resident Tom Tucker has been at the MMA for over 20 years, and is the bosun on the Kennedy. Tucker is also a member of the Mattapoisett Yacht Club (MYC). He, along with other yacht club members, gives the Panamanian youths the time of their lives participating in the yacht club’s weekly Wednesday night races.
“We wanted them to have a bit of fun, see something else while they were here,” Tucker said. He is sensitive to the fact that these cadets, while pursuing education that may very well lead to a life at sea, have few opportunities to actually be on the water in their country.
Mattapoisett resident Dan White has also been part of the Wednesday night races, and in 2018 brought several students on a boat he captained.
“For the Panamanian students who travel to Mass Maritime, their experience at the school for the brief few weeks isn’t complete until they experience the life of the general population outside of the classroom and school’s campus,” said White. “The sailing adventure, while only for a couple hours on a Wednesday night, is so wonderful for the students.” White continued, “They have heard about the racing before they arrived from the previous year’s student group. It is said to be an earned privilege to be able to go sailing and they offer to help or crew by contributing strong young muscles to the racing experience and the total ‘team’ efforts to move the sail boats forward at the fastest speeds. It allows them to experience the Cape Cod Canal coastline sights and sounds. All the sailboats welcome their spirit.”
The 2019 boat races were made possible by MYC members Rich Gleason on the Fir-Na-Tine, Steve Capone sailing the Kinsail, David Rodriguez on Fearless, and Mark Thornhill on No Quarter Given.
Assisting the Panamanian cadets during their stay at MMA are MMA cadets Tyler Lorenzo of Arkansas, Monique Morales of Kansas, Jessica Fu of Illinois, Deven Campbell of New Jersey, Eryk Michalowski of Massachusetts (by way of Poland, he said) and the Tri-Town’s own Rachel Demmer of Rochester.
The 2019 Panamanian cadet group, who all hail from Panama City, are Christian Amaris, Richardo Galvez, Ricaurte Chang, Gabriel Karamanites, Paul Tovares, Neredith Pizon, Oriel Ortega, Yorman Batista, Fabio Fernandez, German Bonilla, and David Vos.
Tucker said one of the most important takeaways from the exchange program are the relationships – the lifetime friendships that are forged amongst the cadets that cannot be measured.