The story began around 3AM Wednesday morning, when a US Coast Guard boarding team, conducting a random sweep on the container ship Ville D’Aquarius, near Sandy Hook, just outside New York harbor, heard a knocking sound which appeared to be coming from somewhere in the ship’s … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
Another in the series from Seafarers UK in observation of Seafarers Awareness Week. If world trade is going to continue to grow, we will more well trained seafarers. Seafarers UK is a major supporter of Sea Cadets. Seafarers UK Sea Cadets [iframe: … Continue reading
Back in the old days, the America’s Cup was sailed in 12 Meter yachts in the often misty light air of Rhode Island Sound. It was a competition more suited to still photography than video. How times have changed. Now elimination matches are being sailed in … Continue reading
When I was coming of age, many thought that the future of speed on the water would be in motor-powered hydrofoils. While there are still a few hydrofoil ferries in operation, the idea really never caught on. Now, however, hydrofoils have appeared … Continue reading
Last April, we posted that PT-728, a World War II Patrol Torpedo boat, was listed as for sale in the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog. The vintage PT boat has now been purchased by the newly opened Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton … Continue reading
Seafarers UK has put together a series of videos describing their mission and why it matters. Here a widow of a fisherman describes the roll of Seafarers UK in her family’s recovery following their loss. Seafarers UK Fisherman’s Widow [iframe: … Continue reading
A boat loaded with asylum seekers has capsized in Indonesian waters about 107 nautical miles north of Australia’s Christmas Island. The boat is reported to have had 150 passengers and crew aboard. CNN is reporting that 136 have been rescued by two merchants ships. … Continue reading
For anyone who loves wooden boats, Mystic Seaport is the place to be this weekend. Starting Friday and running through the weekend, the 21st Annual WoodenBoat Show will feature a fleet of beautiful wooden boats of all shapes and sizes as well … Continue reading
Beginning this Saturday, Boston Harbor will once again be filled with tall masts and square sails. OpSail Boston 2012 is celebrating the USS Constitution and the bicentennial of the War of 1812. The USS Constitution, nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after British round shot bounced off her oak planks, … Continue reading
We posted recently about the attempts to repair hull leaks in the BattleshipTexas, the oldest remaining dreadnought battleship and only one of six surviving ships to have served in both World War I and World War II. The ship has been on … Continue reading
In concert with IMO’s “Day of the Seafarer,” the good folks at Seafarers UK are sponsoring Seafarers Awareness Week, starting today and running through the July 1. Seafarers UK is a leading charity for seafarers in need and gives grants of £2.5 million annually to … Continue reading
We recently posted about Max Young, who was close to completing a twelve year circumnavigation on his 50′ sailboat, Reflections, when it was struck by a whale. The sailboat was severely damaged by the impact and began sinking. Max was … Continue reading
Today is the IMO “Day of the Seafarer.” So? Why does it matter? It matters because without the hard working men and women who go to sea, our world, our global civilization, simply would not exist. Take a look at a world … Continue reading
The Mermaid Parade has been held on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York since 1983. And I missed it again this year. Damn. Maybe next year. Fortunately, the intrepid Will Van Dorp was on hand with his camera. Check out his … Continue reading
Last week, we posted about the MV Alaed, a 9,000 DWT geared cargo ship, reported to be carrying refurbished Russian attack helicopters bound for Syria. The ship, sailing under the Curacao flag, was turned aback after the cancellation of its P&I … Continue reading
The Sea Orbiter concept design looks like something straight out of science fiction. Floating half above and half below the surface of the water, it appears to be more like a scimitar-shaped inter-galactic spaceship than any sort of oceanographic research vessel. Fifty eight meters … Continue reading
The 185-foot Honduran-flagged coastal freighter Jireh ran aground Thursday morning on Mona Island, a rocky outcropping in the Mona Passage about midway between Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The island is uninhabited and maintained as a nature preserve, while the reefs around the island are … Continue reading
If you are anywhere near New York City next week, the Fourth Annual North River Historic Ship Festival looks like lots of fun. Hosted by the North River Historic Ship Society, the festival commences Thursday night, June 28th, with an opening party … Continue reading
Thanks to Anne Maclachlan and the Naval History & Heritage Command for pointing out on Facebook, a forgotten bit of history – the ill-fated Greely Expedition, which was rescued at Cape Sable on Ellesmere Island on June 22, 1884. In 1881, First Lieutenant … Continue reading
Wooden boat building is part science, part engineering and part pure artistry. On Tuesday, the National Endowment for the Arts honored Harold Burnham of Essex, MA as a 2012 recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship. Harold Burnham is an eleventh generation boatbuilder, … Continue reading