Jamaican Maritime Institute staggered by Hurricane Dean

Jamaican Maritime Institute staggered by Hurricane Dean    The Kingston, Jamaica-based Caribbean Maritime Institute, a maritime academy for the Caribbean islands that is scheduled to start fall classes in September, has suffered millions of dollars in damages as the result of Hurricane Dean.
   The roof of the school's Seamanship Laboratory was completely ripped off by the storm, and expensive equipment in the facility was damaged or blown into Kingston Harbor, according to a report in the Jamaica Observer.
   CMI Executive Director Fritz Pinnock said the storm destroyed or damaged much of the institute's special training equipment, including a full ship's bridge simulator that is valued at $1 million. A gantry crane simulator also appeared to be damaged, although the extent of the damage has not been determined.
   The report said other equipment, such as industrial compressors and sand blasters, were destroyed along with other training equipment with total value in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Several specialty life-preserving jackets and industrial fire protection suits — which cost $12,000 apiece — were washed into the harbor.
   Pinnock said school officials are still trying to determine how they will deal with the situation. Classes had been scheduled to begin the first week of September, with enrollment up 300 percent from a year ago.