This Day in History (1972): Marine Captains Under Training at Ras Tanura

From the Feb. 2, 1972 edition of the Sun and Flare

Nine captains of the Marine Division at Ras Tanura early last month completed the first in a series of eight-day training courses in navigation of the Gulf waters normally plied by company tugs and launches.

Captain Douglas Adey, who designed the course and now teaches it, is a consultant to Aramco from the British-Kuwaiti firm of Lambalco. His students make use of such textual and visual aids as navigation maps and charts, compasses, illustrations and model tugs and launches. One day's practice training follows completion of the classroom sessions.

Training for the first group began Dec. 26 and ended Jan. 5. Students in the first session were Hussain Mohammed al-Ghamidi, Nayif Dhaifullah al-'Utaibi, Ahmed Abdulla Abu Surur, Salih al-Ansari, Musfer Odha al-Ghamidi, Abdulla Mohammed al-Khater, Salman 'Ali al-Mutlaq, Hashim Nima as-Sadah, and Nasir 'Abd ar-Rahman Zuhairran, foreman of the Tugs Unit.

It is anticipated that all captains of the Marine Division will have completed this navigation training by the time the course ends on Feb. 26.

Caption for top photo: Captain Douglas Adey explains day hoist signals used by various ships, tugs, and launches during a classroom session of the navigation course he is currently conducting for captains of the Marine Division at Ras Tanura.

Also on this date

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1990 — F.W. de Klerk announces the unbanning of the African National Congress and promises to release political prisoner Nelson Mandela

1989 — The last Soviet armored column leaves Kabul

1971 — Idi Amin replaces President Milton Obote as leader of Uganda

1943 — The Battle of Stalingrad comes to an end when Soviet troops accept the surrender of the last German troops in the city

1922 — "Ulysses" by James Joyce is published

1913 — Grand Central Station opens in New York City

1900 — The American League is formed by agreement with teams to play in Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Chicago, and St. Louis

1887 — In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the first Groundhog Day is observed

1876 — The National League of Professional Baseball clubs of Major League Baseball is formed