Toast to Jack

Don't forget April 28th at 1730 we toast Jack Patterson
.  OUR BOND AS CLASSMATES GROW STRONGER WITH EACH PASSING YEAR. IT IS NEVER BROKEN - NEVER SEVERED -NOT EVEN BY DEATH. TO JACK AND ALL OUR CLASSMATES WHO HAVE PASSED OVER THE BAR, REST IN PEACE

Keel laying for the M/V Greeley
received from Joe Ponit

A group of us went to visit the Viking Welding and Fabrication Co. on April 19 to view the initial work that has started on the USCG Research Vessel, MICHAEL GREELEY. I told those in attendance that I would write a short narrative for you to use in the Alumni Bulletin. A professional photographer took a number of pictures and they will be sent to Joe Carilli who will in turn send a copy to you and to Jim Sylvester. Here's what I remember of the visit:

Patriot's day was well spent by a group from the class of 1961 who visited the Viking Welding and Fabrication Co. in Kensington, NH to view the initial work that had statred on the construction of the USCG Research Vessel, MICHAEL GREELEY. Don Johnson and his son Errick who run the place, as well as Bill Lincoln the designer hosted our visit and gave us an excellect briefing of what's going on and what is planned to get the new vessel up and running.

Attending from our class were Joe Carilli, Brian Richards, Larry Merlino, Don Wheeler, Joe Ponti and Joe Ponti jr as well as Len Pechini from the class of 1962.

The aluminum hull was initially being built upside down in order to optimize the welding operation of the main structural members of the hull. At Joe Carilli's suggestion all of us wrote our names on the verticle component of the keel. I'm sure some naval archiologist will discover the names and wonder who those characters were. In addition Joe Carilli further suggested, and the contractor agreeded, saving one of the aluminum cut outs and have it laser etched or engraved with an appropriate logo and accompanying words with the idea that this remnant could be then framed and given to the alumni office for hanging in the board room or other appropriate area as a memorial. Joe agreeded to follow up and create an ad hoc committee to get this done.

 With respect to an overall schedule,final plating of the hull itself is expected to be completed by late May or Early June at which the hull will be flipped (carefully I hope) to allow installation of the decking, pilot house and the initial piping and wiring. This work is expected to be completed by the end of August. During the fall the main engines, and remaining equipments will be installed, and as a prelude to launching the entire vessel will be bead blasted to obtain a uniform finish prior to painting. The contractor hopes to get the boat into the water at Newburyport by January and conduct sea trials as the final steps prior to turn over to the Coast Guard. The current thinking is that after turnover the vessel will be sailed to New London for final equipage of scientific equipment at the Academy.  A number of these milestone dates will allow further inspection visits as work progresses.