A few years ago I decided that I wanted to put together some sort of hawsepiper's educational retreat as a way for greenhorns and non-union people — those who couldn't afford attending a maritime academy — to develop their seamanship skills together. This would serve as a community-building effort among new mariners, and hopefully as a way for young people to think about transitioning into the more commercial side of the industry. I passed the idea by a focus group of professional mariners, research vessel crew, marine tradespeople and traditional sailors on Facebook, and asked them which classes would benefit new hawsepipers the most. They agreed that they needed a better understanding of bridge resource management, marine weather patterns, outboard engines, damage control, marine wiring and route planning, among other things.
Capt. Katelinn Shaw and Laura Cooney participating in Damage Control Simulator training. Photo by Bonnie ObremskiSome time passed and I began working with a wonderful facility in Port Townsend, Wash. — the Northwest Maritime Center. The NWMC is a maritime focused event and educational facility, complete with a fully equipped boat shop, rooms for teaching ECDIS, a new pilothouse simulator, a maritime library, and various classrooms.
Jake Beattie, the executive director, said he was willing to provide the event space for my educational symposium and a service that allows students to sign up online. That got the ball rolling. I found many local experts willing to see this event succeed. Andy Crawford of Crawford Nautical School taught our BRM class for $550 per student — a great rate compared to most schools in the country. Sarah Fisken of Washington Sea Grant had the Coast Guard bring their damage control simulator up from Seattle. Jake McFadin of Schooner Creek Boatworks came up from Portland to offer a free all-day marine wiring class. Locals Ace Spragg and Kelley Watson taught an intensive "Basic Watchstanding" class, sponsored largely by Washington Sea Grant, which included route planning, paper and electronic chart basics, aids to navigation, and many other important tips for greenhorns unfamiliar with standing watch. Rigger Brion Toss spoke at length about how to identify metal fatigue and rigging dangers. We had a potluck and a few social events, new friendships were formed between mariners from different sides of the industry, and overall, "HawseFest" was a huge success.
Jake McFadin teaching marine wiring at the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, Wash.I'm going to take some time to think about what I'll do differently for the next HawseFest. Eric Dawicki, president of the Northeast Maritime Institute, would like to start an annual HawseFest East out in Massachussetts as well. NMI currently offers a two-year accredited maritime program and many classes that can be taken separately, but I think Eric has a soft spot for young mariners who are excited about learning proper seamanship skills and crossing over to the commercial side. I'm interested in hearing from anyone who either wants to attend or present at one of these education symposiums. Feel free to contact me at kim(at)nwmaritime.org!
A special shout-out goes to Capt. Heather Ann Swan, an OSV captain who works off the coast of Brazil and a former tall ship sailor. She donated several hundred dollars so that tall ship sailors could attend this event for free.
