Passengers on Antarctic cruise ship, Polar Star, to be evacuated after grounding

On Monday, the Polar Star struck a rock while at anchor near Detaille Island, a small island off the Northern end of Arrowsmith Peninsula in Antarctica.     The grounding damaged the outer hull of the double hulled ship.  The ship sailed for the Arctowski Station, … Continue reading

Before IMAX, there was Windjammer in “Cinemiracle”

In 1958, the New York Times published a review of  Louis de Rochemont’s new movie “Windjammer.”  It began: “Every last moviegoer with a drop of salt water in his blood will want to swing aboard “Windjammer,” which opened at the … Continue reading

The Big U purchased by Conservancy

Today, the SS United States Conservancy purchased the S.S. United States from Norwegian Cruise Line.  As we posted last July, the sale was made possible by a reported $5.8 million pledge by Philadelphia philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest.   The sale was delayed  when the … Continue reading

Suez Canal Operating Normally, Port Closures Causing Concerns

There are an estimated two million protesters in the streets on Cairo today; most rail, trucking and buses are shut down across Egypt, yet  the Suez Canal, which can represent up 8 percent of global seaborne trade, remains open and in operation.  Military escorts for protection … Continue reading