Ascension : MV Ascension Capt Dana To Retire
Submitted by The Islander (Nathan Prince) 22.05.2008 (Article Archived on 05.06.2008)

The “MV Ascension” is expected to arrive at Ascension Island this weekend. However this will be the last voyage as Captain for Dana Haff as he is due to retire at the end of this trip.

It doesn’t seem possible that it was as long as 10 years ago that as
Master, I raised the flag on the stern of the MV Ascension during
re-flagging ceremony at Jacksonville, Fl shipyard. At that moment we
started our resupply service to the US Airbase, Ascension Island.

I can remember how the song "Bali-Hi" from the musical "South Pacific"
came to mind when I first laid eyes on Green Mountain's peak poking thru
the clouds over the horizon. That was in December of 1998 with Roger
Huxley as Administrator and Maj. Jeff Lowdermilk as the Base Commander.

The time has come for me to retire from sea after a 26 year career.

My youngest daughter, Rebecca is 12yrs old and is very ill with a rare type
of Bone Marrow Failure, therefore I can no longer be an absentee dad as is
typical of most Merchant Seamen.

Upon our return to the States after completing this voyage I will "swallow
the anchor" as we seamen say and retire in order to be with my family.

I has been my most profound pleasure to come to know my many friends on
Ascension Island and I will miss all of you, especially my best friend on
the Island, Johnny Hobson.

My goal now is to become a Farmer and tend to my 4000 dwarf tree apple
orchard at my home in Hartford (Washington County), NY located at the foot
hills of the Adirondack Mountains.

Upon our coming departure from Ascension Island I will bid all of you
"Fair winds and Following Seas" and hope that our paths may one day cross
again.

Best Regards,
Dana

Captain Dana Haff
MV Ascension
ascension@sealiftinc.com