Kennedy Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

BUZZARDS BAY – In a recent update, the federal Maritime Administration announced that the Massachusetts Maritime Academy's training vessel, T/S Kennedy, will be deployed for recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Chris Ryan, a spokesperson for MMA, confirmed that the academy was informed on Friday about the dispatch of their vessel to the Gulf of Mexico. Owned by the Maritime Administration but operated by the academy, the T/S Kennedy holds significant historical relevance in relief operations. Details regarding the specific tasks the vessel will undertake are anticipated to be revealed next week. Traditionally, the T/S Kennedy serves as an integral part of the academy’s semester at sea program, offering students hands-on experience in maritime operations while they pursue their academic studies. Notably, this vessel has a history of service, having previously aided the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2012 during recovery efforts following Superstorm Sandy in New York.

The T.S. Kennedy, the training ship of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, docked back in Buzzards Bay on Sunday following an intensive sea term that lasted six weeks. Throughout the voyage, around 600 cadets had hands-on experience operating the vessel, navigating twice through the Panama Canal, and delivering humanitarian aid to communities in Haiti. "Returning home after such an adventure is always exhilarating, as it allows cadets to reconnect with family, friends, and loved ones," stated Admiral Francis McDonald, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

In an important response to the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the T.S. Kennedy, a training ship operated by the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, is set to embark on a mission to New Jersey. According to Adm. Richard Gurnon, the president of the Academy, the U.S. government has deployed the federally-owned vessel to the mid-Atlantic region to serve as an offshore lodging facility for disaster relief crews engaged in recovery efforts. The 540-foot T.S. Kennedy is scheduled to depart for Elizabeth, New Jersey, on Sunday, where it will remain for approximately one month. Designed to accommodate up to 700 individuals, including about 30 crew members, the ship will provide essential housing for emergency responders, utility workers, and others dedicated to restoring the affected areas. This initiative underscores the commitment of both local and federal resources in the ongoing recovery from the devastation caused by the superstorm.