The 103-year-old National Historic Landmark
Returned to Castine Harbor from her
first Arctic expedition in 16 years
CASTINE,
Maine, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The historic
schooner Bowdoin, the
flagship of Maine Maritime Academy's
sailing fleet, arrived at her home port in Castine, Maine after an eight-week Arctic
voyage of more than 4,500 miles, having accomplished the goal of
crossing north of the 70th Parallel. The schooner
Bowdoin, designated a
National Historic Landmark and the official vessel of the state of
Maine, was purpose-built for
Arctic exploration and launched from Hodgdon Brothers Shipyard in
East Boothbay in 1921. This was
the Bowdoin's
30th Arctic voyage and the first in 16 years.
Describing the experience, Captain Alexander Peacock stated that "Navigating the
Arctic waters packed with icebergs and sea ice requires careful
observation, close communication among the crew, and precise
maneuvering. I'm filled with pride at the impressive growth of the
student crew over the eight weeks aboard the Bowdoin. They matured as individuals, came
together as a group, and rose to the countless challenges with
confidence."
The Bowdoin departed
from Boothbay Harbor, Maine on
May 29 and made port calls in St.
John's Harbour, Newfoundland, Nuuk
Port and Harbour, Greenland,
Ilulissat, Greenland, Godhavn,
Disko Island, Greenland, Sisimiut,
Greenland, and Mary's Harbour,
Newfoundland. After crossing the
Arctic Circle at 66°32.33′, the crew explored fjords, witnessed
calving glaciers, examined abandoned settlements, and weathered
strong katabatic winds, crossing N70° on June 29.
Maine Maritime Academy Interim
President and Chief Operating Officer Craig
Johnson said, "The schooner Bowdoin's Arctic voyage, culminating in
the crossing of the 70th Parallel, is an illustration of the
multidisciplinary, practical and academic pursuits of the students,
staff, and faculty at Maine Maritime
Academy. Their journey adds to the Bowdoin's historical legacy so important
and unique to the State of Maine
and the Academy."
The Bowdoin's journey
was supported, in part, by a $50,000
grant from L.L.Bean. L.L.Bean's Senior Manager of Partnerships
& Charitable Giving, Christina
Semanyshyn, expressed pride in the opportunity to support
the continued operation of the Bowdoin, adding that the "schooner
Bowdoin is a national
treasure representing an important part of U.S. maritime heritage
and Arctic exploration and we are pleased to facilitate the voyage.
L.L.Bean has been supporting the Bowdoin's Arctic expeditions since
outfitting its very first skipper, Donald
MacMillan with Bean Boots in 1921."
The Bowdoin's crew
consists of six professional mariners including Captain Peacock,
chief mate David Stolz, Tyler Jupp, Kimberly
Stinson, Graham McKay, and
Tom Klodensky, in addition to nine Maine
Maritime Academy students. Student crew members are pursuing
courses of study in vessel operations and technology, marine
biology, power engineering technology, and international logistics
management. Captain Peacock noted the "value the fully immersive
experience on the vessel offers students as a part of their
maritime education."
The Schooner Bowdoin's
student crew is also conducting scientific research under the
supervision of Maine Maritime Academy
professor, Kerry Whittaker,
involving the collection of environmental DNA to measure and
monitor biodiversity. They will then investigate the relationship
between observed biodiversity and the physical parameters of the
marine environment including conductivity, temperature, and
depth.
Mackenzie Morin, a Coastal Marine
& Environmental Science and Small Vessel Operations student at
the Academy said that "The skills we learned on this voyage are
diverse and invaluable. We developed seamanship under challenging
conditions, posed scientific questions in remote environments,
honed engineering competency while maintaining the vessel's
integrity, and gained business insight in coordinating logistics.
These experiences have not only equipped us with the ability to
navigate the Arctic seas, but also to overcome the demands of our
respective careers and fields in the future."
Among the purposes of the schooner Bowdoin's 2024 Arctic voyage is cultural
exchange with the indigenous Greenlandic Inuit and Maine Maritime Academy is pleased to continue the
century-old legacy. Many elders in villages throughout coastal
Greenland remember the schooner
Bowdoin from visits during
their childhood and still have the black and white photographs;
renewing these ties and forging relationships with new generations
is an important aspect of the Bowdoin's mission. According to Captain
Peacock, "it's an honor to welcome the Greenlandic Inuit aboard the
Bowdoin; they're an
essential part of her history."
About Maine Maritime
Academy
Maine Maritime
Academy is a co-educational, public college offering 22
academic programs in engineering, management, science, and
transportation to promote the maritime interests of the United States. The college is consistently
recognized for providing a high-value education by organizations
including the Brookings Institution, U.S. News and World Report,
and Money Magazine. A 2022 Report by Georgetown University ranked MMA #1 among all
public colleges for return on investment for low-income students at
public bachelor's degree institutions.
Media Contact
Michael Dickerson
Michael.dickerson@mma.edu
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-historic-schooner-bowdoin-completes-eight-week-4-500-mile-arctic-voyage-crossing-north-of-the-70th-parallel-302218218.html
SOURCE Maine Maritime Academy