When the academy got the Patriot State in 1985 from the U.S. Maritime Administration, the idea was to keep the parts of a freighter that a maritime student needs while installing classrooms and libraries. It was taken to San Francisco for refitting and then was towed to Mobile, Ala., where the ship was made ready to carry and teach more than 500 at sea for several months a year. A 7.5-ton crane was installed on the after deck, cargo holds were turned into dormitories, and classrooms and staterooms were made ready for faculty and staff. Extra lifeboats and life rafts were added. At the time, it was the newest, largest and most modern training ship afloat.
Today there's an odd mixture aboard.
On the upper decks, the Santa Mercades' old adornments remain. Directions to the lifeboats are still in Spanish, and the staterooms contain 1960s furniture. On the other hand, it's a modern maritime academy. But the Patriot State is getting old. Bushy thinks it might have five, maybe 10 years of life left in it.