Training at Sea

• Builder: U.S. Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, MD—1962
• Designer: Design Branch, Naval Engineering Division, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC
• Owner: Seattle Maritime Academy
• Mission: Marine Technical & Vocational Training
• Type: Coastal Patrol Boat
• Length: 82′ 10″
• Beam: 17′ 7″
• Depth: 9′
• Draft: 6′
• G.R.T.: 75
• H.P.: 1600
• Engines: (2) Caterpillar V–3412
• Speed: 23 Knots
• USCG Certification: Inspected Passenger Vessel for up to 48 passengers.

The T/V Maritime Instructor was originally commissioned as a Coast Guard cutter of the WPB “Point” class for use in coastal patrol duties. Built by the Coast Guard in 1962, the cutter was christened the USCGC Point Divide (WPB 82337) and took up station in Corona Del Mar, California in March 1963.

The cutter’s primary mission role was Search and Rescue. Secondary missions included assignments in law enforcement, boating safety, military preparedness, marine environmental response and public relations. As a public relations vehicle, the vessel appeared on television in serial shows such as Baywatch and a CNN documentary on the “drug war”.

In addition, she made cameo appearances in Hollywood films. The cutter spent its entire 31–year Coast Guard career in southern California; the normal operating area consisted of well over two million square miles extending from San Diego northward to Point Dume, CA with occasional voyages to Baja California and the Pacific Northwest.

Two of the more noteworthy events of her career include escorting the British royal yacht Britannia along the California coast during a visit by Queen Elizabeth II and interdicting the F/V Ocean Joy attempting to smuggle 10 tons of marijuana into the United States.

In 1995 the USCGC Point Divide was declared surplus to the Coast Guard’s needs and handed over to Seattle Maritime Academy under sponsorship of the U.S. Maritime Administration. Following acquisition by Seattle Maritime Academy the vessel was renamed the Maritime Instructor.

• Length: 210′
• Year Built: 1953
• Builder: United States Army
• (4) Detroit 6-71 GeneratorsCaterpillar V–3412
• (1) Hydraulic boom crane
• Use: Hands-on lab activities

• Length: 29′
• Year Built: 1976
• Builder: Jensen Marine
• (1) Caterpillar 3126B inboard diesel engine
• Use: Vessel handling training and waterfront utility work

• Length: 30′
• Year Built: 1976
• Builder: Chris Craft (Sportsman model)
• (2) Marine Power 350k gasoline inboard engines
• Use: Seattle Skills Center vessel training, Continuing Education, vessel handling training

• Length: 28′
• Year Built: 1982
• Builder: VBI
• (1) Volvo Penta TAMD41D diesel inboard engine with jet drive
• Use: Safety and vessel handling training

• Length: 25′
• Year Built: 1991
• Builder: Pesbo
• (1) Deutz inboard diesel engine
• Use: Safety and vessel handling training

• (2) 12' RHIBs with outboard engines
• (1) 14' Aluminum Jon boat
• (1) 20' uncovered life boat (human powered)
• Use: Safety, vessel handling and survival craft training