Mikey Witkowski, A&E Editor
Originally published December 19, 2013
Mikey Witkowski
Sophomore Rory Carlson sprays Maritime teacher John Foster with a fire hose while learning the proper ways to handle a ship fire.
The clouds above the Virginia V were grey, blocking out the sun as a low fog settled over downtown Seattle. As the Virginia V trundled on through Lake Washington however, the students of the Maritime Academy busied themselves working on the ship.
Working throughout a rotation of seven work stations, a group of around 55 students experienced aspects of working on a ship.
Some of the stations taught students various safety tips and methods commonly used on ships, such as the first station, which taught students how to save men overboard. while the fourth and seventh stations taught student how to handle fires with fire extinguishers and hoses, respectively.
Students at the seventh station used a pressurized fire hose to quell the imagined fires of Maritime teacher John Foster, who wore a survival suit in order to survive the power of the fire hose.
The second and third stations taught students about operating the unique steam engines of the Virginia V, and some rope handling methods. The sixth station let students grab the wheel and direct the ship, while the last station offered maritime-related career and college opportunities to students.
