ADVISORY/Houston Final Port of Call for Texas Clipper II Prior to Galveston Return.

News Editors/Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Saturday (Aug. 2)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT: A cruise aboard the Texas Clipper II, Texas A & M University at
    Galveston's training vessel, to learn how cadets live, work, train
    and prepare to earn a Texas A & M University degree and a license
    as either a third mate or third engineer in the United States
    Merchant Marine.

WHEN: Saturday, August 2, 2003 - 9:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Port of Houston Authority's Barbours Cut Cruise Terminal
    Directions: Take the East Loop 610, merge onto Texas Highway 225
    eastbound via exit 30B toward Pasadena/LaPorte. Go about 14.5
    miles. Merge onto Texas Highway 146 southbound toward
    LaPorte/Seabrook. Continue for about one mile. Take the exit
    toward Barbours Cut Blvd. Turn left onto Barbours Cut Blvd. Go
    about 3/4-mile and turn left onto North Broadway Street. Go about
    1/2-mile and turn right onto North L Street.

INFO: The cadets began their annual summer voyage May 26, with port
    stops at Boston, Portland, Maine, Charleston, S.C., New York City,
    Key West, Fla., and Houston. This summer voyage included a brave
    rescue at sea (video and photos available) and a visit from Former
    President Bush. (Video and photos available.) This is the first
    time a President or Former President has visited a Maritime
    Academy training ship. Students come to Texas A & M's Galveston
    campus from around the country, but many are from Texas including
    20 from the Houston/Galveston area, and six each from the
    Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio areas. The Texas Clipper II is
    one of six state maritime ships currently in the United States.

SCHEDULE
--------

 9:30 a.m.  Captain's welcome
10:00 a.m.  Ship Departure: Enjoy view from the fly bridge
10:15 a.m.  Tour of Texas Clipper II: Classrooms, Bridge, Galley,
            Reefers, Gym, Quarter Deck, Fire safety center, Cadet
            Mess Hall, Cadet Cabins
11:00 a.m.  Summer cruise video: rescue at sea, visit from former
            President George Bush
11:30 a.m.  Texas BBQ on the flight deck
12:00 p.m.  Fire drill: Cadets will dress in full bunker gear to fight
            a simulated fire in a smoke-filled compartment with
            casualties involved. Followed by an Abandon Ship Drill
            (Lifeboat lowered to embarkation deck with cadets donning
            survival suits and lifejackets)
12:35 p.m.  Tour of the Engine Room and Engineering Lab
12:45 p.m.  Navigating with a sextant: Opportunity to look through the
            sextant
 1:10 p.m.  Question and Answers with cadets
 1:30 p.m.  Travel with the cadets and crew to the Texas A & M at
            Galveston campus, home of the Texas Clipper II and the
            Texas Maritime Academy. Chartered busses will be
            available in Galveston to provide immediate
            transportation back to the Barbours Cut Cruise Terminal.

CONTACTS: Teri Fowle, 409-740-4830 or [e-mail]
          Sherylon Carroll, 979-862-2369 or [e-mail].

RSVP:     By 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 31