Thunder on the Thames – HMS Belfast Gangway Collapses

The gangway to HMS Belfast, collapsed into the Thames River in London shortly after noon today.  Two work men are reported to have been taken to the hospital with what are described as abrasions.  More than 100 people on board the ship, including 30 school … Continue reading

The USS HORNET Project – Building a Replica of the Historic Sloop of War

The Naval Heritage Society is attempting to to build a full-scale, fully functional replica of of the USS Hornet, a sloop of war built in 1805, which had a successful career in the War of 1812 and beyond, before being lost in a hurricane in … Continue reading

Captain Seog Hae-gyun Earns IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea 2011

On November 21st, at IMO Headquarters in London, Captain Seog Hae-gyun was awarded the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea for 2011 “for his decisive, brave and courageous actions to protect his ship and crew during a vicious pirate attack … Continue reading

RV Atlantis Rescues 93 Egyptians from Fishing Trawler in the Mediterranean

Last Friday night, only twelve hours into a 15 day Mediterranean voyage, the research vessel Atlantis received a mayday call, relayed by the Greek Coast Guard reporting a fishing boat in distress about 40 miles away, near the island of … Continue reading

New Frigate HMS Westminster Sent to Libya Short on Missiles & No Royal Navy Warship Left to Guard Britain

The impact of the ongoing budget crisis in Britain on the Royal Navy has been far reaching. Last week we posted about concerns that budget cuts would leave Britain with a shortage of attack submarines.  Recently, it was revealed that the … Continue reading

Bulk Carrier Swanland Sinks off North Wales – Two Crew Rescued & Five Missing

Update: Prince William co-piloted the Sea King helicopter which rescued two crew from the sinking Swanland.   Prince William serves with RAF Valley in north Wales. The bulk carrier Swanland is reported to have sunk this morning off north  Wales in heavy … Continue reading

Bombs Along the Rhine – Drought Exposing WWII Unexploded Munitions

A near record drought has lowered the water levels on the Rhine River, Europe’s most important inland maritime waterway, by five feet below average, stopping many ships and barges from trading.  In several locations, river levels have fallen to one hundred year lows.  To … Continue reading

Win for Cook Inlet Beluga Whales – Judge Rejects Removal from Endangered List

The beluga whale population in Alaska’s Cook Inlet has been declining since the 1980s.  Hunting by Alaska Natives killed nearly half the remaining 650 whales in only four years between 1994 and 1998. Native hunting of the belugas has since been … Continue reading

USCG Cutter Mohawk to become Reef off Sanibel Isalnd, FL

The World War II era US Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk is scheduled to be  scuttled in 2012, 16 miles off the coast of Sanibel Island, FL in the Gulf of Mexico to serve as an artificial reef. Veteran’s Memorial Reef planned off … Continue reading

Update: MV Rena – Unloading Containers & Little Blue Penguins Released

The clean-up continues on the MV Rena which ran  hard aground on Astrolabe Reef near Tauranga, New Zealand on October 5, 2011. The remaining oil has been pumped off and efforts are beginning to remove the container cargo from the stricken ship.  Roughly forty containers have been … Continue reading