15-Year-Old Maya Merhige Swims 28.5 Miles Around the Island of Manhattan

CNBC reports that Maya Merhige, a 15-year-old from Berkeley, California, successfully swam around the entire island of Manhattan in eight hours and 43 minutes on July 15th,  becoming only the third person her age to complete the “20 Bridges Swim,” … Continue reading

Maersk’s First Green Methanol-Fueled Boxship Sails on Maiden Voyage

Back in 2021, we posted about a pledge made by Maersk that it would launch the world’s first carbon-neutral cargo liner vessel in 2023 – seven years ahead of its initial 2030 target. This week, Maersk fulfilled that pledge, when … Continue reading

Dolphin Attacks Off Japanese Beach, Swimmers Injured

We have posted about orcas attacking and even sinking sailboats off the Iberian peninsula. Recently, we posted about a surfboard-stealing otter.  Now, officials say that four swimmers were injured in dolphin attacks on a beach in central Japan. The BBC … Continue reading

Aussie Sailor and His Dog Rescued after Nearly Three Months Adrift in the Pacific

An Australian sailor and his dog were recently rescued by a Mexican tuna trawler after surviving for almost three months at sea. Before setting sail in April from the Mexican city of La Paz on his catamaran, Aloha Toa, bound … Continue reading

Entire Pod of 55 Pilot Whales Dies in Mass Stranding in the Outer Hebrides

The BBC reports that an entire pod of 55 pilot whales died after a mass stranding on a beach in the Outer Hebrides. Only 15 were alive after they washed onto Traigh Mhor beach at North Tolsta on the Isle … Continue reading

Passengers on Cruise Ship Horrified to Witness Slaughter of Pilot Whales in Faroe Islands

When the Ambassador Cruise Line cruise ship Ambition arrived recently in the port of Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, its passengers admired the rugged coastline and the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. For many, however, the sense … Continue reading

Nearly 40% of US Attack Submarines Are Out of Commission for Repairs

Bloomberg reports that delays at naval shipyards mean that nearly 40% of US attack submarines are out of commission for repairs, about double the rate the Navy would like, according to new data released by the service. As of this … Continue reading

Grand Theft Otter — Sea Otter Keeps Stealing Surfboards in Santa Cruz

We have followed the outbreak of orca attacks off the Iberian peninsula over the last several years. Here is an only slightly less threatening story of a mischievous female sea otter which has been harassing surfers and stealing surfboards in … Continue reading

Car Carrier Don Quijote Tilting at Windmills Knocks Over Bremerhaven Shipyard Crane

In Miguel de Cervantes’ epic novel Don Quixote, the namesake hero mistakes a row of windmills for evil giants and launches a bold, if comically unsuccessful, attack.  The windmills win, as the errant knight is swatted from his steed by … Continue reading

Questions Raised by the Tragic Port Newark Fire on the Ro-Ro/Container Ship Grande Costa D’Avorio

Last Wednesday night at 9:38 PM, a fire broke out on the 10th deck of the ro-ro/container ship, Grande Costa D’Avorio, docked at Port Newark, as vehicle loading operations were underway. The fire broke out in five to seven cars and … Continue reading

Of Maps & Movies: Barbie Movie Banned by Vietnam Over “Nine-Dash-Line” on South China Sea Map

The much-anticipated live-action movie Barbie has been banned in Vietnam over the appearance of a map in the background of one scene allegedly depicting Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, claims disputed by Vietnam and at least seven … Continue reading

Two Firefighters Die, Multiple Injured, Battling Fire on Ro-Ro/Container Ship in Port Newark

Two firefighters were killed on Wednesday night after they became trapped while fighting a fire on the ro-ro/container ship, Grande Costa D’Avorio, docked at Port Newark. Approximately a dozen other firefighters were reported to be injured. The fire broke out … Continue reading

Destroyer USS McFaul Prevents Iran From Seizing Tankers in Gulf of Oman

US Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs reports that on July 5, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul prevented two attempted commercial tanker seizures by the Iranian Navy. The Iranians opened fire in one of the incidents near the … Continue reading

Happy 4th of July – A Toast to Madeira, the Wine of the Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Riots

An updated repost fitting for the day. Happy 4th of July!  Those of us in the United States celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776. Immediately after declaring independence from Great Britain, the representatives in the Continental Congress drank a toast … Continue reading

Windjammer Falls of Clyde at Honolulu Harbor to Lose Historic Designation

Last week, the State of Hawai’i Department of Transportation issued a statement that the windjammer Falls of Clyde, the only remaining iron-hulled four-masted full-rigged ship and the only surviving sail-driven oil tanker in the world, would soon be delisted from … Continue reading

Operation Fouled Anchor — Coast Guard Apologizes for Years-Long Cover Up of Sexual Assault

CNN reports that a secret investigation into alleged sexual abuse at the US Coast Guard Academy uncovered a dark history of rapes, assaults, and other serious misconduct being ignored and, at times, covered up by high-ranking officials. The findings of … Continue reading

Royal Navy Puts Unique Armada Maps on Display at Portsmouth for a Limited Time

The Royal Navy has announced that it is putting on display one of the greatest treasures in British naval history before they return to storage for months, perhaps years, to protect them. The Armada Maps chart the Royal Navy’s defeat … Continue reading

Giant ‘Gravity Hole’ in the Ocean May Be the Ghost of an Ancient Sea

A fascinating story from Scientific American: A vast expanse of the Indian Ocean is a staggering 100 meters lower than the global average sea level because of a major dip in Earth’s gravity. Scientists now think they know the cause. … Continue reading

Submersible Titan Debris Brought Ashore With Presumed Human Remains

NPR reports that human remains have likely been recovered from the wreckage of the submersible that imploded during an underwater voyage to view the Titanic, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday. The news came hours after the announcement that debris … Continue reading

Wife of Submersible Titan’s Pilot Descendent of Famous Titanic Victims

Wendy Rush, the wife of the late Stockton Rush, the co-founder of OceanGate and pilot of the Titan when the submersible imploded, is a great-great-granddaughter of two first-class passengers who died when the Titanic sank in 1912. Ms. Rush is … Continue reading