GAO Report on USS Zumwalt Debacle — Deficiencies, Delays and No Big Guns

A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticizes the Navy and the shipyard, Bath Iron Works, for serious deficiencies with the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer program. The report found more than 320 “serious deficiencies” found upon inspection when … Continue reading

Jeanne Socrates, Singlehanding at 76, Suffers Knockdown Off New Zealand

Singlehander Jeanne Socrates, 76, on her fourth circumnavigation, suffered a knockdown on S/V Nereida off the South Island of New Zealand. Despite damage to solar and wind charging equipment, Socrates is unhurt, and sails, rig, most instruments, autopilot and radio … Continue reading

Update: Wind Challenger Project — Developing a Hybrid Sail Assisted Cargo Ship

We have been following the development of the Wind Challenger Project since it first was unveiled in 2012. Initially developed by the University of Toyko and now with the support of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Oshima-shipbuilding, the concept is for … Continue reading

Trash In the Trench — Record Dive Find Plastics in Challenger Deep

American diver breaks record with journey to the Mariana Trench American adventurer Victor Vesco broke the record for deepest submarine dive ever in the Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench. In his four hours at the bottom, he … Continue reading

Hamburg Hafengeburtstag 2019, 830th Birthday of the Port of Hamburg

This weekend Hamburg celebrated its Hafengeburtstag 2019, the 830th anniversary of the founding of the Port of Hamburg, established in 1189 by Frederick I. And celebrate they did. An estimated 300 ships participated and were greeted by over one million … Continue reading

Sailors’ Tattoos on Mother’s Day

A repost appropriate for Mother’s Day. Sailors choose their tattoos for various reasons. Among the most popular sailor tattoos are anchors, hearts and swallows.  Not infrequently, “Mom” also made an appearance as a reminder of loved ones and home.  On … Continue reading

Opportunity to Sail on Picton Castle in the Great Lakes

Just returning from its seventh round the world voyage, the barque Picton Castle will set off again this summer bound for the Great Lakes to take part in the Tall Ships America’s Tall Ships Challenge — Great Lakes 2019.  The … Continue reading

US Takes Control of Wise Honest, North Korea’s Sanctions Violating Bulker Carrier

The media has been full of reports about the sanctions violating North Korean bulk carrier, dubiously named Wise Honest. Virtually every headline begins with “US seizes North Korean ship” or some variation thereof.  The Justice Department also used the word … Continue reading

Jean-Jacques Savin Completes Trans-Atlantic Crossing, Drifting in a Barrel

After a voyage of 147 days covering more than 2,000 nautical miles, French adventurer Jean-Jacques Savin, 72, has successfully drifted across the Atlantic Ocean on the wind and currents in his 10′ by 9′ orange barrel-shaped  craft. He departed from … Continue reading

Heavy-Lift Ship Blue Marlin Freed After Attempted Hijacking Off Equatorial Guinea

On Sunday, May 5th, armed pirates boarded the semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel Blue Marlin, 80 nautical miles offshore of Equatorial Guinea on the west coast of Africa. The ship, operated by the Dutch firm Boskalis, had unloaded cargo near Luba port, … Continue reading