NEWPORT, Rhode Island (July 28, 2008) - As reported by Captain Tony Arrow, at approximately 3:00 PM on Sunday, July 27, the Spirit of South Carolina was off the east coast of Block Island when a strong line of squalls approached. The ship was struck by lightning, disabling most of the electronics onboard and the engine power which is controlled by electronic components. There were no injuries to passengers or crew. At the time of the bright blast the ship was operating in heavy weather mode with passengers down below and everything battened down while keeping a close eye on traffic. Other vessels in the same area were also struck by lightning. The Spirit of South Carolina is equipped with substantial lightning protection as well as surge protection in the electrical system. Coincidentally the ship was preparing to return to Newport, Rhode Island following this adult education voyage and begin a scheduled maintenance period in August, which will now include a thorough investigation to assess any and all repercussions of the lightning strike to the vessel.

The ship was conducting an open enrollment program out of Newport, Rhode Island at the time of this incident, with twelve passengers onboard, primarily from South Carolina, plus its regular crew of nine.

"We had lightning all around us and all of a sudden there was a big, bright blast and I knew it had hit the ship," said Captain Arrow. "We lost radios, GPS, and engines but thankfully were well prepared for the situation with a handheld GPS, handheld VHF radio and mobile phones."

Following the intense blow, Captain Arrow and his crew assessed the situation and found that although the ship's huge wooden hull appeared to be uncompromised, they immediately called a PAN-PAN message to the U.S. Coast Guard, making them aware of the ship's location and the current state of lost electronics and engine power. A Coast Guard vessel came to the ship to standby for temporary assistance and kept in close communication with the vessel overnight. The ship is currently awaiting a tow to the Newport Shipyard in Newport, Rhode Island. All of the passengers onboard have been transferred off the vessel as today was the planned return of the voyage.

The New England sailing opportunity was the first of its kind offered onboard The Spirit of South Carolina, a ship devoted to experiential education programs for South Carolina youth. The ship has participated in many special events during its travels north, including Norfolk Harborfest, the Merrimack River Maritime Festival, as well as its planned educational program, Spirit Ocean Adventure, for South Carolina teens in Portland, Maine (www.spiritoceanadventure.com). The ship will return to Charleston on or about October 4th for its Sea Spray Scouts day sail program for 5th-8th grade students. Other upcoming events include an Open Ship Community Day (October 5th), the Captain's Cup Golf Tournament (October 7th), and The Spirit Ball (October 11th).

The Spirit of South Carolina is a project of the South Carolina Maritime Foundation, an organization dedicated to offering a unique educational platform for the youth of the Palmetto State. The hands-on programs that are offered on board are designed to challenge and engage students while promoting responsibility, teamwork, and stewardship for both their community and their environment.  Photos are available upon request. Visit www.scmaritime.org for more information.

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