nmlcfp

Check out Yahoo news. The Maersk Alabama had an armed contingent onboard that fought off Somali pirates.

Luigi59

Although I'm very happy to hear that the pirates were repelled, I'm confused about the connection to the Merchant Marine Academy - were there KP mids on board?

nmlcfp

Not sure, but my son just completed 4 trips through there on the Maersk Georgia and I was holding my breath the whole time.

kp parent

Luigi 59, My son just finished three months on the Maersk Iowa and we were concerned every day.

usmmakp2010dad

Here is the LINK!!
The Associated Press: Maersk Alabama repels 2nd pirate attack with guns

Luigi59

I sure hope the Maersk Georgia and the Maersk Iowa have an armed guard contingent aboard like the Maersk Alabama does, especially when KP mids are on board.

So did the Maersk Alabama have any KP mids aboard? I'm pretty sure the last time there were none, and it doesn't appear that there were any this time either, at least from the stories I have read so far.

People sometimes forget that KP is the only academy that regularly sends their mids into harms way (sailing into pirate-infested waters and into war zones on supply ships) while still students in school.

suzannegra

Whew..at the moment my son is on board a Coast Guard Cutter in the south atlantic Hope when he's done with that he gets on an APL or another Matson ship in the Pacific or stays in the Gulf of Mexico.
Praying that all the KP Cadets on-board all the ships are staying safe!

CPASteve_98

Suzanne you should be very happy as to where Alex is. :-)

In reply to Luigi 59. As of 2 weeks ago there were no armed contingent on the Maersk Georgia. Maersk Georgia has higher sides and fantail than the Maersk Alabama. My son actually did some pirate watches with his knief and radio.

Glad he is back at Kings Point now. Preparing to wrestle Coast Guard in January!! :-)

Go Kings Point - Beat Coast Guard!

MMAMom2011

"PIRATES OF THE 21st CENTURY" - Saturday - 10 pm - FOX news. Do I want to watch this?

snappler

Is Luigi59 a Graduate of KP or does/did he have a son or daughter at the Merchant Marine Academy?

Luigi59

No, neither. My son received an appointment to USMMA but chose to go elsewhere.

I am, however, a huge supporter of KP and the mission of the USMMA, and I have a few relatives and close friends who have either attended KP or are working in the maritime industry today.

Is there some requirement that I am either an alumni or parent before I am allowed to post questions here? I'm confused by the intent of your question.

You won't find many people who are neither KP alumni nor a KP parent who support KP as much as I do.

Except when they play Coast Guard.

jasperdog

Luigi59: Don't worry we all love you!

nmlcfp

Megga dittos to that Luigi. Keep up your postings.

davygravy3

I actually got a chance to see the Alabama from not too far away a couple months ago, was pretty cool...

snappler

Luigi59-I asked the question because, when nmlcfp made the original post... (Maersk Alabama attacked again! This time the result was different!)... your immediate reply was...(Although I'm very happy to hear that the pirates were repelled, I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THE CONNECTION TO THE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY- were there KP mids on board?)... Luigi59, there does not have to be a direct connection to KP for someone to start a topic about piracy on this forum. KP mids aboard the Alabama or not, piracy is a concern. There are KP mids and graduates of the academy on Maersk ships, and I recall a mid posting on this forum a while back, that they were on the Alabama in the past. I know this is an open forum, I was curious as to what your connection with KP was, and now I know. As the parent of a Merchant Marine Academy midshipman, I can see a connection to a Maersk ship with American merchant mariners aboard and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.