My understanding(s) from talking to my DS:
1) No place to dock it while Mallory Pier gets rebuilt - a very, very much needed Capital improvement that will take considerable time.
2) For some time there's been lots of discussion if it was a good training vessel/fit for it's role and USMMA's needs, and it is very expensive to operate and requires several (vice one or two) licensed officers to get underway and use for training - further driving up operating costs.
3) Texas A&M has needed a new training ship for sometime - my DS said 4 years, and their training Ship hadn't left the pier and gotten underway for that time because it was unsafe to operate. Apparently they (Texas A&M) have been sending their C/M to sea terms aboard the Golden Bear (Cal Maritime) and/or Empire State (SUNY-MC) during that time.
4) My DS said Kings Pointers could get sea days (up to some number) aboard Liberator and that recently some had made up sea time on the SI Ferry. He also speculated if necessary something could be worked out to make up some sea days aboard the Empire State (SUNY-MC) until the pier was repaired and another more suitable vessel of vessels had been identified and made available to USMMA.
5) Personally from what I've seen while the Kings Pointer hasn't been bad, there has to be better alternatives such as a) a couple more YP's like Liberator which could be tied up on the other side of Haugue Basin during the Mallory Pier renovations and only require one (1) licensed officer to take Mids out and get underway for training; or b) when a pier is again available a larger training vessel on size order of current Kings Pointer but with a power system/engine that is more on the order a normal Mid-Speed diesel and like a more typical commercial vessel vice the diesel-electric plant the current Kings Pointer has and that is not normally found on a commercial vessel such as c) one of the more modern and larger offshore supply vessels with some of the aft deck enclosed and converted into berthing an living spaces to enable say 20-30 midshipmen to get underway for a couple of days ... and we could go on... Why Texas A&M hasn't done something like a - c hasn't been done by Texas A&M if they haven't been able to get their TS underway for 4 years escapes me, but who knows.
I will say I do imagine that this action, though it may be necessary does make it harder for the Classes of 2013, 2014, 2015 and the incoming Class of 2016 to make sure they get an adequate number of sea days. That said I anticipate the midshipmen will be more focused and prioritize things to make sure they do get the required number of days while on their two sea years.
