Scenes were filmed on Maine Maritime Academy's training ship, TV State of Maine, during its annual training cruise in May 1977. Some senior midshipmen were used as extras.
The Coast Guard cutter USCGC Decisive (WMEC-629) featured in the film was still in service as of 2022. She is based in Pensacola, Florida. It made the first seizure of a Russian fishing trawler in 1977 under the newly enacted 200 mile limit.
When actor Arkin plays with his family, he speaks English for American audiences to understand; but when he is asked by the ship's captain to speak in English, as a Lithuanian/Russian, he states that he barely speaks English.
Gedda Petry's debut.
Same subject as documentary Suolis/The Jump (2020).