Victor Hugo wrote, “Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come.” There are some ideas whose time always appears to be coming but somehow never quite arrive. As a young naval architect in the 1970s, I recall predictions that … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
An explosion in a fuel tank on the cruise ship docks in Gibraltar today injured several on the dock and over twelve passengers on the 3,634-passenger Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Independence of the Seas. The injuries to passengers were all reported to be minor. … Continue reading
On May 31, 1911, the RMS Titanic was launched at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland. After continued outfitting, the ship was delivered to White Star Line on March 30, 1912. She set sail for New York City … Continue reading
We have recently posted about attempts to find a home for the USS Olympia, the oldest steel-hulled American warship afloat and Commodore George Dewey’s flagship during the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. On Memorial Day it seems worthwhile … Continue reading
In April of 2007, the cruise ship Sea Diamond struck a reef off the island of Santorini and sank. Nearly 1,600 passengers where rescued and two passengers drowned. Now four years later the Greek government has says that it cannot afford to remove … Continue reading
For seventy years, battleships were the unchallenged masters of the oceans, until technology swept them aside. Now the aircraft carrier reigns supreme. The US currently has five times more aircraft carrier capacity based on flight deck acreage than the the … Continue reading
The times are changing. No news there. Rather than welcoming the sailors and marines on the docks, some New Yorkers are reaching out to sailors during Fleet Week using social networking. Some sailors and marines are connecting with New Yorkers the same way. Craigslist seems … Continue reading
We recently posted about the tanker Mary Whalen being deemed eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. PortSide New York and the Mary Whalen are also participating in New York City’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which provides meaningful summer work for … Continue reading
What looks like a great exhibition, “Storm Stories! 1991: An Island Remembers” opened yesterday at the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum and will run through October 10, 2011. The exhibition commemorats the 20th anniversaries of Hurricane Bob and The No-Name Storm. The Egan … Continue reading
The Half Moon, a replica of Henry Hudson’s ship, will be open for dockside tours at the Hudson River Maritime Museum through June 16th. Replica of Henry Hudson’s ship open for tours until June 16 The ship, a replica of the … Continue reading
Back in February of last year, the Independence Seaport Museum announced that it could no longer afford to care for USS Olympia, the flagship of Commodore George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War in 1898. There was … Continue reading
Over the Memorial Day weekend, the Piscataqua Maritime Commission is sponsoring Sail Portsmouth 2011, featuring the Gazela Primeiro. The Gazela, a three-masted, square rigged barkentine built in 1883, is said to be the world’s oldest active wood hulled sailing vessel. Joining the … Continue reading
Last week we posted about Disney filing three trademark applications to to claim the rights to the phrase “SEAL Team 6.” Apparently, Admiral Mickey Mouse has changed his mind. Disney Withdraws ‘SEAL Team 6’ Trademark Application Out of “deference” to the Navy, … Continue reading
On June 12,1943 in 600 feet of water, the submarine USS R12 sank in 15 seconds in 600 feet of water, taking 42 of her crew with her to the bottom. Recently, a team led by Tim Taylor on the “RV … Continue reading
Fleet Week in New York Harbor kicked off today with a parade of ships. A short video we shot and edited of the parade: Fleet Week New York 2011, Parade of Ships, 5/25/11 [iframe: width=”480″ height=”300″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/OfXk0ASrwKY” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen] The … Continue reading
Congratulations to PortSide New York and the tanker Mary Whalen, which has been deemed eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places! The Mary Whalen is a 172’ long coastal tanker built by the John H. Mathis Company, of … Continue reading
Last week we posted about Disney filing three trademark applications for the rights to the phrase “SEAL Team 6.” Proving that they are only a step or two behind Mickey Mouse, the US Navy has now trademarked the phrases … Continue reading
Tomorrow the USS New York returns to the Hudson River to help kick off Fleet Week New York. The USS New York (LPD-21) is the fifth San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship and is the seventh ship of the United States … Continue reading
Over the weekend, HMS Bounty, on the first stop of her four month European tour, was boarded by buccaneers on the Barbican in Plymouth. Plymouth’s “Pirate Days” coincided with the release of the latest Disney ‘Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, “On Stranger … Continue reading
I was out of town so I could not attend the Save our Ships Rally at the South Street Seaport yesterday. Fortunately foo those of us who couldn’t make it, there are some great photos at Will van Dorp’s Tugster blog, the Save … Continue reading