As all of you have obviously heard, we were merely three weeks short of being directly affected by the tsunami and earthquake off the shores of Japan.  It was the seventh worst earthquake in world history, measuring at an 8.9.  The shipboard community was not directly impacted by the disaster, although there are many participants who have family and friends in Japan.  Here are a series of emails we have received from our Dean, of which he received from the Institute of Shipboard Education in Charlottesville, Virginia: 

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Dear Shipmates,

The following is a message I just received from our Semester at Sea Headquarters in Charlottesville.

As you may know, a devastating earthquake has hit the northeastern coast of Japan.  We are closely monitoring the situation as it relates to the current voyage. The program is currently unaffected by this incident and we do not expect any future impact. Today the MV Explorer will depart Chennai, India, several thousand miles west of Kobe, Japan, where we are scheduled to call on April 4. We will continue to assess conditions in Japan in consultation with our senior shipboard administrators and risk assessment agencies and will share any updates or changes to the itinerary on our website.

As part of our crisis communication plan, a statement has been posted on our website and all emergency contacts and study abroad representatives will be contacted as well.

It is likely that this unfortunate incident will spark calls and inquiries both in the Charlottesville office and on the ship.  Please be guided by the statement above and assure everyone that the shipboard community will be kept safe and informed of any changes to the program.


We will  be working with the Captain and keep you informed with all relevant information.  In the meantime our thoughts should be with those immediately effected by this tragedy.

Warmest regards,

Dean Dan
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Dear Shipmates,

Here is another communication from ISE / Semester at Sea in Charlottesville.  Know that ISE and we are following the tragic news from Japan and will continue to update you periodically.

We continue to monitor the situation in Japan, including recent reports of the nuclear reactor explosion in Fukushima, for possible impact on the current voyage.   Fukushima is about 200 miles north of Yokohama, which is one of our ports of call.  As of now, we have no reports of any damage to the port facilities in either Kobe or Yokohama, which are our scheduled ports of call.  At this point, we do not expect any changes to the itinerary. As the situation develops in the coming days, we will keep the shipboard community and parents apprised of any changes.  The ship sailed from India on March 11th and is on the way to Vietnam.  Our scheduled call to Japan is on April 4th, more than three weeks away. As always, the health and safety of our students and everyone involved in our program, is paramount.

Dean Dan
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Dear Shipmates,

As some of you may have already seen, below is the official notice that ISE has posted.  This decision follows a conversation we had at about 1:00 a.m. our time. This is a good decision and although we will need to work hard to determine an alternative port, I know this community of  seasoned travels will take advantages of the opportunities provided in our new country stop.


March 14, 2011: The Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), in consultation with our shipboard administration, has resolved to cancel the Spring 2011 Semester at Sea voyage's call to Kobe and Yokohama, Japan on April 4 and April 7 respectively. This decision follows our careful assessment of the conditions in Japan which raise serious concerns about health and safety as well as concerns that our visit would impede relief efforts currently underway. Our assessment also takes into consideration a recent travel warning for Japan issued by the U.S. State Department.  Currently, ISE and senior voyage officials are evaluating alternative ports in consideration of safety, logistics, and maximum value to the academic and field programs. Thank you for your patience during this complex process. A revised voyage itinerary will be announced on the SAS website in the next 48-72 hours. Participants who have signed up for ISE-sponsored field trips in Japan will be reimbursed.

Please know that the choice of alternative port is very complex.  The Captain will be very involved in helping us determine our next safe harbor and the route we take.  Faculty will be meeting to examine various academic options that will supplement and compliment our current itinerary. In the end we will do the best we can to take advantage of this opportunity and make our revised stop a remarkable educational experience. As you have come to expect, Marti will keep us informed through announcements and the Dean's Memo.

My personal approach is to nod in recognition that things have changed and then lift my eye toward the horizon of possibility. Let's make a great decision and fully commit to our next port.

Warmest regards,

Dan
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As you read, they are adjusting our itinerary at this very moment.  In our Global Studies class this morning, Dean Dan stated we are swaying between a few ports of interest:
1. South Korea
2. The Philippians
3. Taiwan
4. Stay in Hawaii for longer

I believe that all of these ideas have benefits of their own.  I would personally love to see South Korea, but I will be excited all the same at whatever the decision ends up being.
I will post as soon as I find out!
Or check out Semesteratsea.org and you'll probably know before me:)