Container Ship MOL Summer Rescued 116 of 246 Survivors of Capsized Ferry

The officers and crew of the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines container ship, MOL Summer, deserve a special commendation for their rescue of 116 people following the capsizing and sinking of the passenger ferry MV Rabaul Queen off the coast of Papua New Guinea early Thursday. Eight merchant vessels assisted in … Continue reading

British Passenger Seen Falling Overboard from Cruise Ship Allure of the Seas

On Friday morning, a British passenger was seen falling overboard  fell from the balcony of his cruise ship cabin on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship,  the Allure of the Seas, while cruising off the coast of Mexico, near the island of Cozumel.  The Allure of the Seas with a capacity of … Continue reading

Arms & Drug Trafficking – Container Ships and Rust Buckets

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has recently released a study of arms and drug trafficking by ship. The headline is “Most ships involved in arms and drugs trafficking are based in world’s richest countries.”  The larger part of the picture, however, is not … Continue reading

Mine-Detecting Dolphins and USS Ponce, Commando “Mothership” in Persian Gulf?

As Iranian saber-rattling raises tensions around the Straits of Hormuz, the US Navy has cancelled plans to decommission the 40 year old USS Ponce (LPD-15), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship.  Instead the ship is reported to be being refitted to operate as a “mothership” … Continue reading

Costa Concordia Update: Search for Missing in Flooded Ship Ends, Salvage Could Take a Year, Cost Could Reach a Billion

The search for the missing in the submerged portions of the Costa Concordia has ended due to concerns for the safety of the rescue workers.  The estimated toll from the sinking stands at 33 dead or missing.  The bodies of … Continue reading

SS Port Nicholson – Sunk Off Cape Cod in 1942, a $3 Billion Shipwreck?

The Portland, ME based, Sub Sea Research (SSR) recently sent out a press release announcing that they had located what they claim to be “the worlds richest shipwreck,”  the British freighter, SS Port Nicholson, carrying a secret cargo of 71 tons of platinum, … Continue reading

Ocean Rowing Round-up, Part 2: Bouvet Guyane Solo Atlantic Rowing Race 2012

Twenty three boats set off this weekend in the the third Bouvet Guyane Solo Atlantic Rowing Race 2012 in a 2,600 mile race between between Senegal and Guyana.  All solo rowers are competing in identical 8 meter long boats.  One major challenge of … Continue reading

Ocean Rowing Round-up, Part 1: Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge Setting Records

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, which bills itself as the “world’s toughest rowing race,” is winding down. Of the 17 boats which set out on December 4th, seven boats have crossed the finish line in Barbados, four are still rowing, … Continue reading

Carnival’s Micki Arinson Faces the Heat, More or Less & American Express Costa Concordia Offer

Carnival’s CEO & Chairman, Micki Arinson has been criticized for maintaining a low profile following the sinking of the Costa Concordia where over 30 passengers and crew are dead or missing.  Last Friday, he made what was believed to be his … Continue reading

Nelson’s Sword Discovered in Wreck of HMS Victoria

While on peace time maneuvers off Libya on June 22, 1893, Vice Admiral George Tryon, the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, gave a series of orders that resulted in HMS Camperdown ramming his ship, HMS Victoria, which sank with the loss of 358 lives, including … Continue reading

MV Delta Mariner in Wrong Channel in Bridge Collision, on a Long, Winding Voyage to the Gulf

The investigation is ongoing as to why the MV Delta Mariner  collided with the Eggner Ferry Bridge on the Tennessee River in Kentucky last Thursday night, taking out over 300′ of the span, but reportedly, the ship was in the wrong channel. … Continue reading

NYC’s East River Water Turbine Energy Licence Awarded to Verdant Power

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued its first license for a tidal energy project to Verdant Power.  The Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project is located in New York’s East River just west of Roosevelt Island. Since 2006, Verdant … Continue reading

Costa Concordia Update – 17th Body Found, Fuel Pumping Delayed & Salvors Line Up to Bid

The body of a woman, believed to be a member of the crew, has been found in the wreck of the Costa Concordia, bringing the body count to 17. An additional 15 are missing and presumed dead. The Dutch salvor Smit has … Continue reading