We have posted in the past about the heroic and pioneering US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Sara Faulkner. She was the first of only a handful of women who have qualified and served as rescue swimmers. Faulkner joined the Coast … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
For a third day, the USS Bonhomme Richard continues to burn at the dock, despite the best efforts of hundreds of Navy and civilian firefighters to quench the inferno. The casualty raises the question, are dockside fires on ships worse … Continue reading
On Sunday at around 8 AM Pacific Time, an explosion and fire were reported aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard dockside at the Naval Base San Diego. More than 24 hours later, the fire is still raging. Fifty-seven … Continue reading
The US Coast Guard will name the eleventh ship in its new Legend-Class National Security Cutter (NSC) program in honor of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, a pioneering code-breaker for the Coast Guard during the prohibition era and World War II. Marine-Executive … Continue reading
On March 27, astronomers discovered a new comet that they designated C/2020 F3. The comet was located using NASA’s space telescope, the Near Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE), the comet is being called Neowise. While not one of … Continue reading
For decades scholars have argued over how the myriad islands of Polynesia came to be settled. Did the early settlers sail or drift on rafts from South America on the prevailing currents and then continue to sail westward? Or, did … Continue reading
How little we know about the ocean is staggering. What little we know and understand about orcas, killer whales, is just one example. For years, there were thought to be two types of orcas — residents and transients. Residents stayed … Continue reading
Recently, four statues of Confederates were removed from city property in Richmond, Virginia. Three of the individuals represented by the statues were well know — Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, and the Confederate generals, Stonewall Jackson and J.E.B. … Continue reading
On April 24, Angela Madsen set off from Marina del Rey, California bound for Hawaii in the 20′ ocean rowing boat, Row of Life. A three-time Paralympian and a Marine veteran, her goal was to be the first paraplegic and … Continue reading
In September 2019, the car carrier Golden Ray lost stability and partially capsized as it departed the Port of Brunswick, GA, carrying about 4,200 vehicles. In October 2019, the Golden Ray was declared a total loss, and it was announced … Continue reading
On Friday, June 26, 2020, Eastern Shipbuilding Group launched the Sandy Ground, the second of three new 4,500-passenger ferries for New York City’s Staten Island Ferry system. The Ollis Class ferries will be double-ended, with an overall length of 320 feet, … Continue reading
Two groups of fishermen had recent close encounters with humpback whales off the Jersey Shore. In early June, two men fishing in a 25′ boat not far offshore near Seaside Park, NJ were thrown from their boat when it was … Continue reading
In May, we posted about the virtual return New York’s South Street Seaport Museum‘s monthly Chantey Sing. It was great fun. The next Seaport Chantey sing is scheduled for this Sunday, July 5th. From the Seaport press release: South Street … Continue reading
On June 23, the keel was laid for the Interlake Steamship‘s new Great Lakes bulk carrier at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, WI. The 639 ft-long, 28,000-tonne Lake-Class self-unloading bulker is the first US flag self-propelled bulk carrier to … Continue reading
We recently posted about a delay in the start of the Maine windjammer schooner passenger season due to the pandemic and concerns that it may not start at all. The good news is that the State of Maine, working with … Continue reading
Whale watchers off San Diego were shocked to see what appeared to be a beluga whale in southern Californian waters. Video shot from a drone confirmed the sighting. Belugas typically live in the waters of the Arctic and sub-Arctic. This … Continue reading
At the end of May, we posted about the unplanned 10,000-mile voyage of the bark Europa, made necessary when the pandemic shut down transportation options for its crew. Argentine sailor, Juan Manuel Ballestero, 47, faced a similar challenge and found … Continue reading
For decades, schooners referred to as “windjammers” have sailed up and down the Maine coast carrying vacationers from May to October. This year, however, the pandemic has delayed the season and there are concerns that it may not start at … Continue reading
While this may not appear to be the best time to start a new cruise venture, if all goes well, in the Spring of 2021, Tradewind Voyages will offer voyages on the Golden Horizon, a 272 passenger five-masted barque. Setting … Continue reading
The 958-foot long, US flag container ship, Maersk Idaho is anchored off the coast of Virginia after several crew members tested positive for COVID-19. Maersk is working on a plan to evacuate the ship, bring the crew to a quarantine … Continue reading