All 52 passengers have been airlifted from the MV Akademik Shokalskiy by a helicopter from the Chinese Icebreaker Xue Long or Snow Dragon. The passengers were ferried to the Australian ice breaker Aurora Australis. Both icebreakers had attempted, but failed, to break through the … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
Disturbing video of the Giant Yellow Duck exploding shortly before a New Year’s Day celebration in the northern Taiwan port city of Keeling. it is unclear what caused the duck to explode though some are speculating that it was attacked … Continue reading
Happy New Year! The New Year 2014 begins with both a new moon and a supermoon. The month also ends with a both a new moon and and a supermoon on the 30th. A supermoon is the term applied when … Continue reading
Fortunately, the stranded scientists and tourists appear to be bearing up well under the strain on the MV Akademik Shokalskiy. New Year’s festivities on the ship, courtesy of the Guardian. New year on board the Akademik Shokalskiy – video … Continue reading
In the list of the world’s 25 largest operating offshore wind farms, 11 are based off the United Kingdom. Denmark has five; China three; Belgium and the Netherlands each have two, while Germany and Sweden each have one. Don’t look for … Continue reading
We posted recently about the Chinese icebreaker, Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, which came within about 6 miles of the expedition cruise ship, MV Akademik Shokalskiy, before being forced to turn back. MV Akademik Shokalskiy has been trapped in pack ice off Antarctica south … Continue reading
MSC Monterey, a 4,892 TEU container ship, was bound from the Belgium port of Antwerp to Newark, NJ, but diverted to Newfoundland after cracks in her hull were discovered. The ship is now at anchor south of Newfoundland, near Trepassey … Continue reading
Two recent items on sharks in the news — a photobombing shark off the coast of California and Australian sharks posting warnings on Twitter. Off Manhattan Beach, California, June Emerson took a photograph of her son and a friend playing in … Continue reading
By definition, shipping is the ultimate offshore industry. For most, the business of shipping is largely invisible, literally beyond the horizon. I recently came across two representations of global shipping – a plot developed from ship’s logs from the 18th … Continue reading
The Chinese icebreaker Xue Long, or Snow Dragon, has gotten to within around 6-7 miles of the expedition cruise ship, MV Akademik Shokalskiy, before it too was stopped by thick ice off the coast of Antarctica, south of Tasmania. Three icebreakers … Continue reading
A few hours ago, Professor Chris Turney, on the MV Akademik Shokalskiy currently trapped in pack ice off Antarctica, south of Tasmania, tweeted: Great news. Icebreaker Snow Dragon on horizon with penguins! Everyone very happy! We suspect that the penguins are … Continue reading
Expedition cruising is often considered “adventure travel” as it involves smaller ships and often more exotic destinations. The scientists and passengers on the current cruise on the ice-strengthened expedition cruise ship, MV Akademik Shokalskiy, appear to be having more of an … Continue reading
We hope everyone is having a joyous holiday season. Here is a beautiful version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem “Christmas at Sea.” Sting – Christmas At Sea (Live from Durham Cathedral) … Continue reading
Did you catch GliderPaloosa 2013? No? Neither did I. It was easy to miss as it was almost entirely underwater. GliderPaloosa 2013 was an event held in September and October, sponsored by NOAA in cooperation with Dalhousie University, the University of Maine, … Continue reading
On July 9, 1866, Captains Hudson and Fitch with their dog, Fanny, sailed from New York in a three masted full-rigged 26 foot long boat named “Red, White, and Blue.” They arrived in Margate in in East Kent, UK on August … Continue reading
The brochure for for the cruise liner Lakonia promised “A MARVELOUS CHRISTMAS CRUISE TO SUNNY MADEIRA AND THE CANARY ISLANDS…HAVE YOUR HOLIDAY WITH ALL RISK ELIMINATED. ENJOY A HOLIDAY YOU WILL REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.” Now fifty years later, … Continue reading
There was a recent story in the press about the wreckage of a German World War I submarine beached of mudflats on the banks of the River Medway in Hoo, Kent. The sub is, believed to be the UB-122, one … Continue reading
President Obama recently nominated Vice Admiral Michelle Howard to serve as vice chief of naval operations, the service’s No. 2 uniformed officer. If confirmed, she will be the first black and the first woman to hold the job and the first … Continue reading
A recent article in PastHorizons – Adventures in Archaeology looks at the images of ships scratched in the stones of medieval churches of England. This sailor’s graffiti shows a wide range of vessels that would have plied the waters … Continue reading
Recently there has been disturbing news that the wreck of HMAS Perth is being stripped by scrap merchants in the sea off Java. In February 1942, the Leander class cruiser HMAS Perth was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the Battle … Continue reading