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GulfQuest to welcome training ship from Texas A&M; Maritime Academy
Jul 29, 2016
MOBILE, AL – GulfQuest/National Maritime Museum will host the T.S. General Rudder, a training ship from Texas A&M Maritime Academy, Aug. 1 - Aug. 4, on the Mobile Riverfront. The public is invited to tour the ship on Tuesday, Aug. 2 and Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Commissioned in 1984, the T.S. General Rudder is a 224-ft. ocean surveillance vessel built in Tacoma, Washington. The ship will have on board 15 crew and 50 cadets from the maritime academy, which is part of Texas A&M University in Galveston, TX. Used for shore side training and training cruises, the T.S. General Rudder is docked at the Mitchell Campus of Texas A&M Maritime Academy on Pelican Island.
“We are very excited to serve as the host site for the T.S. General Rudder,” Tony Zodrow, executive director of GulfQuest said. “ "Providing maritime educational opportunities is the hallmark for both GulfQuest and the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. Having the ship here, with the cadets providing tours, is a wonderful way for GulfQuest visitors to gain a glimpse into the lives of those pursuing higher education and training in the maritime field. We believe our visitors will love the opportunity to go on board this training vessel, which serves as a floating classroom/laboratory for these students.”
Combined with the academic degree programs of Texas A&M University, the Maritime Academy offers professional licensing for the U.S. Merchant Marine and officer training for the U.S. Navy.
For those wishing to see the arrival and departure of the T.S. General Rudder, the ship will arrive dockside at GulfQuest Monday around 9:30 a.m., Monday, August 1, and will depart around 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4.