Fort Schuyler Magazine Spring 2023

Loose For nearly a century and a half, SUNY Maritime’s regiment culture and mariner license training program has engendered and nurtured undeniable and unmatched critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This was reinforced during one historic storm on November 6-7, 1953. T he coastal low-pressure system that merged with a Canadian high that Friday brought gusty storm winds, coastal flooding, experience – including the future Class of ’57 MUGs who were rousted from slumber by the urgent “All hands!” call around 2:00 AM – the storm’s 50- to 65 knot northeast winds and flood tides had already driven water across the Throggs Neck campus entrance. Meanwhile, the Under relentless wind pressure and heaving of the East River, her lines parted. Clad in hastily-donned storm gear, MUGs dashed pier side to find TSES II, chains and cables still snapping, angled nearly 85 degrees from the pier as if shipping out sans skipper, mate, or crew, threatening to head for the rocks at

driving rain and record snowfall to many northeastern U.S. areas. By early Saturday morning, it had also brought to New York Maritime cadets a moment of truth. Memorialized in The Porthole campus newspaper and etched in the memories of alumni who lived through the

Training Ship Empire State II, with all power and propulsion machinery shut down, lay broadside lee to the pier, held by steel cables and chains common to “cold iron” winter mooring.

Whitestone. Soon, just one chain held the ship fast. Cadet Ship Duty Officer Seth Hawkins ’54, aboard on watch that night,

38 | Fort Schuyler Spring 2023