Castine Current
Subsea Engineering Project: The MMA ROV
By JILL SCHooF, PRoFESSoR oF ENGINEERING
AnewlyformedclubhasmovedMMA MATECompetitionheldinMayandJune2016
engineering designs, project development,
at Dartmouth, Massachusetts and at St. Johns,
and scientific investigations underwater.
Newfoundland. The design requirements of this
Nate Dublin '15 and David Weeks '15, both
challenging competition support the goals of
marine engineering majors, organized the Subsea
the offshore oil and gas industries, and the polar
JoIn tHe engIneerIng depArtMent At
Engineering Society with a mission to educate,
science community. Each team's RoV must func-
MAIne MArItIMe AcAdeMy
conduct research into subsea opportunities, and
tion in three categories of tasks: Arctic science
to construct and test a remotely operated vehicle
under ice, subsea pipeline inspection and repair,
(RoV). Current students Kevin Pepin '16, Caleb
and offshore oilfield production and mainte-
Maine Maritime Academy currently seeks qualified
Dublin '17, Jessica Menges '16, Alex Scott '16, and
nance. Science tasks include collecting algae
professors for full-time faculty postions:
Jordan Peeples '17 wil take the lead in the fal .
from the underside of an ice sheet, measuring the
Assistant professor of engineering
Professor Jil Schoof, a specialist in instrumenta-
dimensions of an iceberg, mapping its location,
(3 open positions; USCG Chief Engineer's
tion and controls, wil be faculty advisor.
and determining the iceberg's threat level to area
License or equivalent Navy time with
Nate Dublin and David Weeks were the 2014
oil platforms. Subsea pipeline inspection and
Chief Engineer experience required;
NASA fellows representing Maine Maritime
repair tasks require inspecting an oil pipeline
pending funding approval)
Academy and received grants from the Maine
for corrosion, turning a valve to interrupt the
Space Grant Consortium to help them develop
flow of oil through the pipeline, examining an
MMA is a remarkable place to work and grow in
their subsea project. Kevin Pepin (project leader
oil pressure gauge, and measuring and removing
a career: rich in opportunity, experiences, and
and president of the Subsea Engineering Society)
a section of corroded pipeline. offshore oilfield
rewards.
and Jordan Peeples (programmer) have recently
production and maintenance tasks include testing
Visit the "Employment at MMA" section of our
received 2015 NASA fellowships for their planned
the grounding of anodes, determining the angle
website to learn more: www.mainemaritime.edu
RoV project.
at which a wel head emerges from the seafloor,
The 2015 student engineers wil design a
turning valves to determine flow paths through
MMA is an EoE; women and minorities are
tethered robot for subsea engineering and science
a pipeline system, and determining the average
particularly encouraged to apply.
work in the Arctic. The team wil prepare for the
flow rate.
JARED HALL '16 ORGANIZES "MOVEMBER" FOR kASEE WILSON '14
By JARED HALL '16, SUE HALL, LoRI WILSoN & LAURIE SToNE
themonthofNovember2014sawMaine bysupportingindividualcadetsthroughthe"Go drugtohelpboosthisproductionofbloodcels
Maritime Academy regimental men
Fund Me" crowd-sourcing web page), friends,
and platelets but because his immune system is
sprouting facial hair in various fashionable
and families. Approximately 150 men partici-
compromised, he must live in an almost germ-
styles. ordinarily, male cadets may not have
pated. Prizes were awarded for best beard, best
free environment. He must also visit the hospital
beards, mustaches, or goatees but Jared Hal
goatee, or best mustache. Jared, Alice, and Kurt
in either Boston or Bangor once or twice a week.
'16 heard that his and his older brother's (Sam
had notified Kasee Wilson ahead of time that
The good news is that he recently learned he
Hall '14) friend, kasee Wilson '14 had been
they were undertaking this venture and al the
could start his re-immunization process (a two-
diagnosed with mylodisplastic syndrome (MDS),
money raised went directly to Kasee.
year commitment that wil keep him away from
just after graduation, during his pre-employment
Kasee had his U.S. Coast Guard license in
his career at sea until al vaccinations have been
physical. Jared, along with Alice Stenquist '16,
hand and had his first shipping assignment with
administered).
and kurt Borkman '15 organized a fundraising
Crowley Marine when he was diagnosed with
Family and friends have established a Facebook
initiative in conjunction with the international
MDS. It became clear that he would not be able
page called the Kasee Wilson Benefit Page where
men's health event, called "Movember" (short for
to go to sea as planned immediately after grad-
friends, classmates, alumni, and others can
"Mustache November") to raise money to help
uation, and that he needed to undergo a bone
track Kasee's progress and donate to help offset
Kasee and his family offset some of his medical
marrow transplant in Boston, a three-month
medical costs if they wish. Another site that has
expenses.
process not including recovery time, so he had to
been established for fundraising is a Go Fund Me
"Movember," approved and sponsored by the
contact Crowley Marine. The company's response
account at http://www.gofundme.com/gk2mcg
Regiment of Midshipmen at MMA, ran the entire
was sensitive and kind, offering to find Kasee a
Jared Hal , Alice Stenquist, and Kurt Borkman
month of November and gave men a chance
position when he was ready to work so he could
have displayed their compassion and concern for
to buy a ticket to grow a mustache, goatee, or
concentrate on defeating MDS.
a fellow MMA student and hope others wil join
beard for 10 dol ars, 50 dol ars, or 400 dol ars,
one of the side effects of chemotherapy is the
them in their efforts.
respectively. over 3,500 dol ars were raised from
almost complete eradication of the patient's im-
undergraduates, some alumni (who participated
munity. Kasee has been taking an experimental
mainemaritime.edu
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