(Vallejo, CA 鈥 April 25, 2012) 鈥 The Training Ship Golden Bear, the 500-foot training
vessel of The California Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), a campus of The California
State University, will arrive at the Port of West Sacramento on Sunday, April 29th.
Onboard will be approximately 320 cadets and 56 officers and staff, all of whom are
on the first leg of a two-month international training voyage that includes a transit
through the Panama Canal.
This is the first time in more than 15 years that the ship has visited the Sacramento
area. To celebrate its arrival, the Port of West Sacramento will be holding a Community
Day on April 29th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Family-friendly activities include student-led
tours of the Training Ship Golden Bear, as well as displays by community groups including
West Sacramento Police Department, West Sacramento Fire Department, River City Rowing
Club, Washington Outboard Club, and the West Sacramento Chamber.
The Training Ship Golden Bear's annual training voyage is part of the specialized
curriculum offered at Cal Maritime, whose students 94 percent job placement rate,
and in some cases with starting salaries of $60,000 and above. The cruise provides
students who are pursuing a U.S. Coast Guard license with the hours of sea experience
they need to graduate and work aboard ships of any size worldwide. For the duration
of each summer training cruise, Cal Maritime cadets are responsible for running the
ship, including navigating anddriving the ship, repairing and overseeing the engines,
and maintaining the vessel. All training cruises are supervised by Cal Maritime faculty,
the ship鈥檚 captain and chief engineer, and a team of experienced mariners.
"Transiting to the Port of West Sacramento is going to be a great experience for our
cadets and we are really looking forward to it," said Captain Harry Bolton, Commanding
Officer of the Training Ship Golden Bear. "En route, they will encounter all kinds
of shallow water and narrow channels that make ship handling a challenge, but also
provides a great learning experience. "The Port of West Sacramento has welcomed us
with open arms, and we are looking forward to visiting with the local community so
they can learn more about our unique educational programs and the important role we
play in providing the future leaders of the maritime and transportation industries."
Bolton added that the ship will depart the Port of West Sacramento on Tuesday, May 1. Other activities planned in conjunction with the ship's visit are tours for prospective students and a reception onboard for legislators, local dignitaries, alumni and parents.
After leaving the Port of West Sacramento, the ship will log approximately 8,500 nautical miles and visit ports of call that include: Los Angeles; Punta Arenas, Costa Rica; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and La Union, El Salvador. One of the highlights of this summer's training cruise will be a transit through the Panama Canal, a journey that hasn't been made by the Golden Bear in more than a decade.
"Going through the Panama Canal is a phenomenal experience for seasoned mariners and cadets alike," added Bolton. "It really makes you realize how much it has changed commerce throughout the world. You can be in one ocean and then be in another ocean of the world in just 16 hours. Knowing how long ago they built the locks in the Panama Canal and that this feat of engineering is as viable today as it was 100 years ago is just amazing."
The ship and crew will return to Cal Maritime's Vallejo campus on Friday, June 29th. To follow along on the Training Ship Golden Bear's two-month journey, visit the "Follow the Voyage" blog at www.cma-virtualftv.org.
ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, The California Maritime Academy, a campus of The 天美视频
University, is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast. Cal Maritime
was recently ranked by Forbes magazine as #18 in the 鈥淭op 20 Best Value Colleges鈥
in the nation 鈥 and the #1 Best Value in California for providing students with the
highest quality education for their academic dollar. Located in Vallejo, Calif., the
campus serves approximately 900 students and offers undergraduate degrees preparing
students for careers in engineering, transportation, international relations, business,
and global logistics. It also offers a master鈥檚 degree in Transportation and Engineering
Management, as well as a number of extended learning programs and courses. For more
information about Cal Maritime, visit www.csum.edu.
ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, 天美视频 is the only degree-granting
maritime academy on the West Coast. Located in Vallejo, California, the campus offers
undergraduate degrees that prepare students for careers in engineering, transportation,
international relations, business, and global logistics. Cal Maritime also offers
a master鈥檚 degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number
of extended learning programs and courses.