More that one hundred Australian doctors and dentists on a medical conference cruise have found themselves stranded onboard the cruise ship Roald Amundsen off Punta Arenas, Chile after the country after the country banned cruise ships from docking in response … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
The story goes that somewhere around the year 400 AD, a lad of 16, named Maewyn Succat, was kidnapped by pirates from his home in what is now Wales and was taken as a slave to Ireland. He was enslaved … Continue reading
While there is an understandable concern for the passengers on cruise ships struck by the coronavirus, the crews are often overlooked. What challenges do they face and what happens to them when the last passengers leave the ships? Nowhere to … Continue reading
After all the stress of the past week, some beauty and tranquility feels appropriate. Here is some absolutely breathtaking drone footage, shot by Ryan Smith, of the Training Ship Kennedy returning to Massachusetts Maritime Academy from Sea Term 2020. A … Continue reading
The press release from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) was clear — the cruise industry is now shut down. No more cruising from the United States. CLIA is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, representing more than 50 … Continue reading
The Russian Navy recently found and raised a Soviet G-5 Type motor torpedo boat sunk in the Siege of Sevastapol during World War II. Approximately 300 G-5s were built, of which 73 were lost during World War II. Despite specific … Continue reading
Viking Cruises announced that it is suspending operations of all ocean and river cruises until May 1. Viking operates over 70 river and cruise vessels, including 16 ocean-going cruise ships. A short time later, Princess Cruises announced that it was … Continue reading
The Strait of Dover, only 18 nautical miles wide between Britain and France, dividing the English Channel from the North Sea, is one of the world’s busiest seaways. While requiring careful navigation today, during World War II it was a … Continue reading
The once-grand passenger liner SS United States may be moving closer to conversion and restoration to a floating hotel, hospitality space, and museum. RXR Realty, a real estate owner, operator, and developer in the New York Tri-State area, has partnered … Continue reading
Will the coronavirus cripple the cruise industry? With 278 ships in service and 19 scheduled to be delivered in 2020, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) values the industry’s global economic output at $150 billion worldwide. The past several weeks … Continue reading
We recently posted about the red giant navigational star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion, which was observed to be growing significantly dimmer. Not a little dimmer but about 40% dimmer. Some astronomers speculated that the dimming suggested that the star … Continue reading
In a press conference yesterday, Vice President Pence announced that of the 45 people tested on the cruise ship Grand Princess, 21 has been found to be infected with the coronavirus Covid-19. Of the 21, 19 were ship’s crew and … Continue reading
British researchers have discovered a new species of amphipod. The team from England’s Newcastle University, led by Dr Alan Jamieson, found the shrimp-like crustacean in the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench between Japan and the Philippines and below the Great Pacific … Continue reading
Yogi Berra is alleged to have said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” News of another cruise ship in limbo over the coronavirus feels that way. On February 5th, we posted about the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that … Continue reading
On New Year’s Eve, 1862, USS Monitor was under tow off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in a winter storm. The ship was taking on water and in grave danger of sinking. Francis “Frank” Butts, of Providence, R.I., the Monitor‘s helmsman, … Continue reading
Climate change is affecting the oceans in a wide variety of ways. Oceans are warming and acidifying as temperatures rise and CO2 increases. Sea levels are rising as polar ice caps melt. Recently a study suggests that ocean currents have … Continue reading
Congratulations to Australian Bill Hatfield, who at 81, recently completed a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe. His almost nine-month voyage on his 38-foot yacht L’Eau Commotion, was all the more remarkable because he sailed westward against the prevailing winds … Continue reading
Artifacts recovered during 93 dives by Parks Canada on the wreck of HMS Erebus over three weeks this fall provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the officers and sailors on the doomed Franklin Expedition of 1845. More than … Continue reading
While some ill-advised politicians are referring to the threat from Covid-19, the rapidly spreading coronavirus, as a “hoax,” the US Navy is taking it very seriously. Ships in the 7th Fleet has been ordered to spend at least 14 days … Continue reading
Mother Nature Network is reporting that a team of scientists led by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) counted 55 Antarctic blue whales during their 2020 expedition to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia — a number they called “unprecedented.” In … Continue reading