This is news concerning ConocoPhillips, but issued by the State University of New York Maritime College, and is posted here for informational purposes.

THROGGS NECK, NEW YORK, September 8, 2005 --- SUNY Maritime College’s 17,000 ton, 565 foottraining ship, the Empire State VI is being provisioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet to provide housing and support for port workers and petroleum industry workers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  The Empire State VI will be utilized to berth up to 700 ConocoPhillips employees and contract workers as they begin repairs on strategic infrastructure and facilities at ConocoPhillips’ oil refinery in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.
 
Captain Ralph Rohena, a Maritime alumnus from the Class of 1974 and Director of Global Vetting and Audits for ConocoPhillips Marine, specifically requested the Empire State VI. “I know Maritime keeps a highly qualified full time staff to maintain and train on board, and I am familiar with their ‘can do’ spirit that will make things happen,” said Rohena. 
 
Vice Admiral John W. Craine, Jr., acting president of SUNY Maritime College announces that Captain Richard ‘Rick’ Smith ’81, Master of the Empire State VI and crew members including Chief Engineer Matt O’Donnell, Chief Mate Matt Mahanna ’04; 1st Assistant Engineer (1A/E) William McCaney; Navigator, Captain Ann Barry ’94; and LCDR Tom Spina ’94 and LCDR Andrew McCarthy ‘96 will depart from Maritime’s Olivet Pier at approximately 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 10.  “It will take approximately five and a half days by sea to reach Louisiana.  Captain Smith and our professional crew are expected to operate the ‘floating hotel’ while ConocoPhillips employees and contractors work to return the refinery to operating condition. We are pleased and honored to respond to this call for help with relief efforts and to assist ConocoPhillips any way we can.  It is crucially important to the future economy of the Gulf Coast region and the critical energy infrastructure of our nation.”
 
Captain Smith, who at one point in his career had piloted one of the largest oil tankers in the world adds, “Not only is it a privilege to provide shelter and provisions to these 700 workers, but an important service to Louisiana, the country and the world to assist them in getting the Alliance refinery operational again.”
 
The oldest and largest maritime school in the country, SUNY Maritime College prepares students for careers in the maritime industry, government, military, and private industry.  Maritime graduates experience an extremely high placement rate and are often employed in careers of their choice within three months of graduation.  A four-year college located at historic Fort Schuyler in Throggs Neck, New York, SUNY Maritime offers undergraduate degree programs in Engineering, Business Administration/Marine Transportation, Marine Environmental Science, Humanities, International Transportation and Trade, and a Master’s degree in International Transportation Management.  Maritime’s curriculum also features annual Summer Sea Term career training aboard Empire State VI to international ports of call and U.S. Coast Guard license and non-license programs.  Maritime is home to the only Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) unit in the New York City metropolitan area.  The unit offers commissioning opportunities in the Navy, the Navy Reserve through the Merchant Marine Reserve program and the Marine Corps.  The Maritime College and NROTC unit also support training of active duty Sailors and Marines through the Navy Seaman-to-Admiral and Marine Enlisted Commissioning and Education Programs.

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CONTACTS: 
Diane L. Zapach
Director of Public Relations, SUNY Maritime College
Office: 718- 409-7201
Cell: 917- 579-4405  
dzapach@sunymaritime.edu

Tamara Boorstein
MWW Group
Office: 212-827-3755
Cell:  718-812-9030
tboorstein@mww.com