Empire State (II) (Ex-USS Hydrus) After the loss
Bucksport. Launched 1938; 493.6'; 10,000
of American Sailor, a temporary solution came
gross tons; two boilers driving two cross-compound
from State University of New York with the offer
turbines; 9,000 hp.
of this ship for the cruise of 1953. She was the
sister ship of Yankee States and served as a cargo
State of Maine (III) (Ex-USNS Upshur) While
attack vessel near the end of World War II. The
operating as a troop/dependent ship for the Military
cruise included ports in the Caribbean, Panama,
Sea Transportation Service, this ship carried
Mexico and Texas before returning to Maine.
thousands of troops across the globe, including
Launched 1944; 384' 9", 6,059 gross tons; twin
evacuating U.S. dependents from Cuba during
turboelectric motors; 6,600 hp.
the Missile Crisis in 1962 and 34 trips of Korean
service carrying more than 85,000 troops in 1969.
State of Maine (I) (Ex-USS Comfort) MMA's first
Attributed with 23 cruises for MMA, this ship had
dedicated training ship arrived in Castine after a
good features for training: designed with a D-type
tow from storage in New York. Since funds were
boiler; the super heater was the same. She had air
scarce, much work was done by MMA to get the
heaters instead of economizers, usually found in
former hospital ship ready for the cruise of 1954.
industrial versus marine applications. Among her
There were breakdowns at sea, mostly related to
nicknames was "Gray Ghost of the Maine Coast,"
water in the ship's fuel oil, but each was overcome.
and she was the first American training ship to
When the ship returned to Castine, the crew was
visit the Soviet Union. She made her last MMA
justifiably proud. The 1955 voyage took in the
cruise in 1995, and for many who served aboard
Caribbean with return stops in Charleston and
it was hard to see her go. "She just was a heavy
Portland. After extensive repairs in late 1955, the
ship, big ship, she did well in weather," said one
1956 cruise visited the Caribbean again. Future
crewman. Launched 1951; 533' 9"; 17,630 tons
cruises would include a transit of the Panama
displacement; steam turbine; 13,750 hp.
Canal and to California, followed by a visit to
New Orleans. The first Transatlantic cruise came
Patriot State (Ex-Santa Mercedes) After 20 years
in 1961, which included Funchal, Madeira and
of service running cargo and passengers mostly
Marseilles. By 1962, after nine training cruises,
to and from South America, this ship was turned
the ship's power plant was 20-years-old, along with
over to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy for
other accumulated deterioration, it lacked space
training purposes and loaned to MMA for its 1996
for a growing student body, and so it proved to be
cruise, which included New Orleans, the Caribbean,
her last training cruise. Launched 1943; 417' 9";
Mexico and Nova Scotia. Launched 1964; 547';
7,000 tons; two steam engines; 4,400 hp.
14,440 gross tons; steam turbine; 18,000 hp.
State of Maine (II) (Ex-Ancon) Originally designed
State of Maine (IV) (Ex- USNS Tanner)
as a passenger vessel, Ancon was converted
Completed as a fast oceanographic research vessel,
to a troopship by the Army in 1942 and had
this ship had a short-lived career with the Navy
a distinguished war record (five battle stars),
but has served MMA well since 1997. As of this
serving in key invasions in the Mediterranean and
writing, she's bound for Ireland on her annual
Normandy. This venerable ship went on to serve
training cruise and going strong. The State of Maine
MMA for 13 training cruises that took students
is the flagship of the academy fleet, and provides
as far south as Brazil and north to Finland and
an outstanding opportunity for midshipmen to
Denmark. During her long tenure the ship saw the
get hands-on experience afloat. Ports of call have
college grow with the change from a three-year to
included berths from Iceland to South America
four-year accreditation, more campus facilities and
and along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast to the
overall broadening of the curriculum. Although
Mediterranean. Launched 1990; 499' 10" length;
always in need of careful upkeep, she was a source
15,821 tons displacement; 6-cylinder diesel;
of pride to the academy and attributed with having
8,000 bhp and an auxiliary emergency and training
a whistle so loud she could be heard almost to
engine (electric), 1,200 hp.
Training Ships of MMA
Background image: Inboard Profile Plan, State of Maine (IV)

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