Bayfront School Students Tour USCG Icebreaking Tug Neah Bay
The United States Coast Guard Cutter Neah Bay was in Erie for the past several days. Students attending the Bayfront Alternative Education Program got a tour of the vessel while it was tied up on Dobbins Landing. The 140-foot Neah Bay is an impressive vessel capable of breaking up to 20" of ice by using a low-pressure-air hull lubrication, or bubbler system. The bubbler forces air and water between the hull and ice improving icebreaking capabilities by reducing resistance against the hull. The students toured around the deck, pilot house, engineering control and the galley and mess area.
Students and staff asking questions before touring the Neah Bay.
The captain and crew of the Neah Bay were very generous with their time. On the bridge the students learned about the highly technical aspects of the vessel while examining the communication and navigation equipment and the ship's controls. The important real world application and integration of science, technology, engineering, and math, STEM, is quickly made very evident on the bridge of a modern ship.
Students recognize the ECDIS system, the same one they operate at school while running the BCMS Maritime Training Simulator.
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember, Involve me and I learn. -Ben Franklin
Sophisticated communication, navigation, and fire control systems require competent operators with a solid science and math background.
While walking around the icebreaker students asked the crew questions about life aboard a ship in the Coast Guard.
Thanks again to Commanding Officer LCDR William Woityra and the crew of the Neah Bay!