US mercantile marine / naval training ship in Cork Harbour

cork | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Wednesday June 07, 2006 21:46

by John Jefferies, Cobh, Co. Cork - Cork Anti War Campaign

Cobh, Co. Cork

(086) 3004573

Ship involved in training for US Army and Navy

A large training ship, the m.v. State of Maine, arrived in Cork Harbour yesterday evening (6/6/06 - how appropriate!) and berthed at the Deepwater Quay in the town of Cobh, just 500 metres from the town centre and 300 metres from the headquarters of the Irish Naval Service at Haulbowline.

Picture from the Maine Maritime Academy's website

The vessel m.v. State of Maine arrived in Cobh on Tuesday evening and docked at Deepwater Quay which is usually used by large ships including cruise liners.

The ship is owned by the Maine Maritime Academy which, on the face of it is a merchant marine training academy, however one look at its website www.mma.edu makes clear that it is very much tied in to the Reserve Officer Training programme of the United States Army and Navy.

There are currently said to be 200-300 trainees and crew on board the ship which in its former incarnation was the USS Tanner, i.e. it was previously a US Navy supply ship..

The ship suffered major engine problems in the mid 1990s and in 1997 the US Navy handed it over to the Maine Maritime Academy and its gunmetal grey was painted over in dark blue.
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I observed the ship docking at the Deepwater Quay last evening (Tuesday). Many of the personnel onboard were in uniform, some in blue marine style uniforms, others in the sandy coloured fatigues popular with senior US officers..
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It is planned to mount a protest against the ship at Deepwater Quay, Cobh on Friday evening, 9th June from 7.30pm. Deepwater Quay is behind Cobh Railway Station and trains from Cork are regular. There is a train from Kent Station, Cork at 6.30pm which would suit. Return trains leave Cobh at 8.30pm, 10.00pm and 11.00pm. The return fare to Cork is E5.10.