Windcoop Orders World’s First Sail-Powered Container Ship

In February, we posted about the world’s first commercial sailing ro/ro, the Neoliner Origin. Launched by Turkish shipyard RMK Marine, the ship is expected to enter service in mid-2025. This week, it was announced that Windcoop, a French maritime cooperative based … Continue reading

Congratulations to Sophie Pierce, First Person to With Cystic Fibrosis to Row Across the Atlantic

Sophie Pierce did not believe she would live until she was 30 due to cystic fibrosis, a genetic illness affecting her ability to breathe. Remarkably, she has just completed a world record-breaking row, at age 32, becoming the first person … Continue reading

Expedition Ship Ocean Explorer Hit By 40′ Waves in Drake Passage

Quark Expeditions bills it as “The Ultimate Drake Passage Cruise” and it appears that passengers aboard Quark’s expedition cruise ship Ocean Explorer got their money’s worth as the ship was slammed by 30-to-40-foot waves in its crossing of the notorious … Continue reading

Update: Microalgal Bloom Causing Toxic Sea Foam on South Australian Beaches Identified

We recently posted about a mysterious foam on beaches of the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia, that is being blamed for sickening more than 100 surfers and for the deaths of leafy seadragons, fish, and octopuses. Now, the Australian Environment … Continue reading

Tourist Submarine Sinks in Red Sea Off Egypt — 39 Rescued, 6 Dead

Reuters reports that on Thursday morning, six Russians died and 39 foreign passengers were rescued when a tourist submarine sank off the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada. The Red Sea Governorate said the submarine, named Sindbad, had 50 people … Continue reading

A Tale of Two “Code Talkers” — Marine Radioman Thomas Begay & Navy Wave Winnie Breegle

Last week, Trump’s Defense Department removed articles about Navajo code talkers from its websites amid an ongoing campaign to rid the military of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Once again, under Trump, opposition to DEI was used as a … Continue reading

Sea Foam Sickens Over 100 Surfers on South Australian Beaches

Five years ago, we posted about a surge of sea foam stirred up by severe weather off the east coast of Australia that inundated several beaches. While that foam proved harmless and non-toxic, recent sea foam washing up on Australian … Continue reading

Royal Navy’s Cetus, First Uncrewed Submarine, Launched

British unmanned systems manufacturer MSubs has launched Cetus, the UK Royal Navy’s first Extra Large Underwater Autonomous Vehicle (XLUAV) technology demonstrator.  At 12 m in length, 2.2 m in diameter, and weighing up to 25 tonnes with a full test … Continue reading

China Building Fleet of ‘Invasion Barges’ Suitable For Taiwan Landings

Many have dismissed Chinese threats to invade Taiwan as saber-rattling. Recent imagery, however, suggests that the risk of invasion is very real.  The images show that the Chinese are building a fleet of “invasion barges” apparently designed to facilitate an … Continue reading

Battleship USS Texas Finally Finds Home in Galveston

The battleship USS Texas, the oldest remaining dreadnought battleship, may finally have a permaneny home in Galveston, TX. After decades of heglect, the venerable old ship was drydocked in 2022 to undergo $60 million in repairs and refurbishment, which was … Continue reading

Fire and Explosions After Container Ship Strikes Anchored Tanker Off Humber in North Sea

This morning, the 804 TEU Portuguese-flag container ship Solong struck the 49,729 DWT US-flag product tanker Stena Immaculate, at anchor in the North Sea, off the mouth of the River Humber. Multiple explosions were reported as the ships caught fire.  Both … Continue reading

Women’s History Month — Celebrating Admiral “Amazing Grace” Hopper

As the current administration launches a frontal attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is a good time to remember Admiral Grace Hopper. Grace Hopper was a pioneering computer scientist and a United States Navy Rear Admiral. Hopper received a … Continue reading

The Long Goodbye — Preparing SS United States to be Sunk as an Artificial Reef

The iconic passenger liner  SS United States arrived early Monday in Mobile, Alabama, nearly two weeks after departing under tow from South Philadelphia. She was docked at Modern American Recycling Service (MARS), where if all goes according to plan, she … Continue reading

A23a, World’s Largest & Oldest Iceberg, Runs Aground 50 Miles Off South Georgia Island

The world’s largest and oldest iceberg, designated A23a, has run aground in shallow water approximately 50 miles off the remote British island of South Georgia, in the South Atlantic. The island is home to millions of penguins and seals. The … Continue reading

Trump’s DOGE Fires 800 More NOAA Scientists — Endangering the Economy & Public Safety

Yesterday, hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees were fired, lawmakers and weather experts said.  Federal workers who were not let go said the afternoon layoffs included meteorologists who do crucial local forecasts … Continue reading

Leaked Recordings Challenge Greek Coast Guard Account of Deadly Migrant Shipwreck

On June 14, 2023, the Adriana, an aging fishing trawler overloaded with up to 750 people, capsized in international waters off the Greek town of Pylos. One hundred and four men were rescued, and eighty-two bodies were recovered.  An additional 500 … Continue reading

In Honor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion During Black History Month — the Floating Freedom School

At a time when programs supporting the American values of diversity, equity, and inclusion are being banned in schools across the nation, it is incumbent on the rest of us to keep alive the history that some are now seeking … Continue reading

Pacific Northwest Waterways Association Pushes Back Against DOGE Cuts of Corps of Engineers’ Critical Employees

In a surreal moment, Elon Musk, who heads the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE), pranced around on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week in oversized sunglasses, a black gothic MAGA hat, a thick gold chain around his … Continue reading