The Navy has selected an active-duty female gunner’s mate for promotion to master chief petty officer for the first time in the service’s 230-year history. Senior Chief Gunner’s Mate Jessica Saunders, who joined the Navy in 2002, was slated for … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
Today is National Donut Day. Why is there a national day for donuts? The day celebrates an event created by The Salvation Army in Chicago in 1938 to honor those of their members who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I. But who invented … Continue reading
On Sunday, an overloaded chartered houseboat on Italy’s Lake Maggiore was caught in a sudden, violent storm and capsized, killing four of the 21 passengers and two crew. Sadly, this sort of boating accident, while tragic, is not entirely out … Continue reading
We missed this story the first time around, but it seems worthwhile to mention it, all the same. For what is being referred to as the first time it has occurred, a merchant ship had an allision with a wind … Continue reading
For more than a decade, warships sunk in World War II have literally been disappearing from the ocean floor. Illegal scrappers operating grabs from barges have been looting of Australian, American, British, Dutch, and Japanese warships for scrap metal in … Continue reading
A year ago, we posted about Andrew Bedwell, who planned on attempting to set a new world record for sailing the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic. His vessel, Big C is just over 1m/3.2ft long. On Saturday, Bedwell set … Continue reading
Last year we posted about the christening of the Royal Navy’s research ship XV Patrick Blacket. (The “XV” designation refers to “experimental vessel.”) The 42-meter, 270 tonne modified crew-supply ship is intended to be a platform on which to test … Continue reading
Recent videos of a sea drone attack on a Russian warship released by Russia’s Defence Ministry and by Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne tell two very different stories of the encounter. The Russian video shows a Ukrainian sea drone, a small … Continue reading
In 2019, we posted about fishermen off the coast of Norway who encountered a beluga whale wearing a harness that read “Equipment of St. Petersburg. Researchers think the beluga may be a Russian spy in training. There was speculation that … Continue reading
We are all familiar with Melville’s novel, Moby Dick, inspired, at least in part, by the ramming and sinking of the whaleship Essex by a rogue sperm whale in the Pacific in 1820. Less well-known is the sinking by a … Continue reading
An updated repost on National Maritime Day. In 1933, the US Congress created National Maritime Day to recognize the maritime industry in the United States. The date chosen to celebrate the new holiday was May 22, in honor of the … Continue reading
We now have the answer why the Royal Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, broke down off the Isle of Wight, in late August 2022. The external shaft coupling on the starboard propeller shaft failed, resulting in serious damage … Continue reading
The 112-year-old steel-hulled bark Europa slipped on her side while attempting to be placed back into the water from a drydock at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday morning. One crew member was injured, but is … Continue reading
Orca attacks on sailboats off the Strait of Gibraltar and the Iberian Peninsula continue. Janet Morris and Stephen Bidwell from Cambridge told The Sunday Times that on May 2, on the second day of training for their week-long sailing course … Continue reading
The Jules Undersea Lodge is the only underwater hotel in the United States. Located 30 feet (9 m) deep at the bottom of the Emerald Lagoo in Key Largo, Florida, guests have to scuba dive to get to their rooms. … Continue reading
The BBC is reporting that the first full-sized digital scan of the Titanic, 3,800m (12,500ft) down in the Atlantic, has been completed using deep-sea mapping, providing a unique 3D view of the entire ship. “There are still questions, basic questions, … Continue reading
An updated repost appropriate for Mother’s Day. Sailors choose their tattoos for various reasons. Among the most popular sailor tattoos are anchors, hearts, and swallows. Not infrequently, “Mom” also made an appearance as a reminder of loved ones and home. … Continue reading
Ecoclipper has announced that with the maiden voyage of the recently refitted De Tukke, their emission-free short-sea Western European liner service has begun. From their press release: De Tukker, the first ship operated by the sail cargo company Ecoclipper, has … Continue reading
The three-masted, gaff-rigged Chesapeake ram schooner Victory Chimes was recently sold at auction to Miles and Alex Pincus, who currently own two restaurants aboard historic schooners in New York harbor, as well as several shore-based establishments. While it had been … Continue reading
In late November of last year, the guided-missile destroyer, USS Momsen, and the dock-landing ship, USS Harpers Ferry, were moving in opposite directions in San Diego Bay when they came close to colliding. The two ships came within 35 yards … Continue reading