The Continuing Legacy of the Christmas Tree Ship

A report from a few years ago. A story well worth retelling. Today the Christmas Ship is Chicago’s largest all-volunteer charitable support program for inner-city youth and their families at Christmas time.  At the turn of the twentieth century, the “Christmas Tree … Continue reading

A Christmas Miracle — Cruise Ship Empress of the Seas Rescues Fishermen

Call it a miracle, serendipity, or just good luck, but two stranded Costa Rican fishermen were rescued by the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Empress of the Seas after the ship was rerouted because of a storm. If the ship had continued on … Continue reading

Tsunami Kills More Than 200 Following Anak Krakatau Eruption

On Saturday, a tsunami in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait killed at least 222 and injured 843. The huge wave hit without warning at night destroying hundreds of homes and buildings, sweeping away cars and uprooting trees. Officials say more than 160 people were killed in … Continue reading

What is the World’s Most Densely Populated Island?

Recently, the BBC posted a video about Santa Cruz del Islote, a tiny island on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, which it described as the “world’s most densely populated island.” With five hundred people living on an island the size of a soccer … Continue reading

Visiting the Titanic in Person For the Cost of An Original First Class Ticket

OceanGate, a privately owned manned submersible and survey company, recently tested its newest submersible, Titan, at depths of 13,000 feet underwater in the Abacos. Next year, the company plans to use the sub to perform 3D laser surveys of RMS Titanic. For $105,129 … Continue reading

Update: Norwegian Frigate and Tanker Collision — What Happened?

On November 8, just after 4 AM, the Norwegian navy frigate, KNM Helge Ingstad, collided with the Maltese flag, Aframax tanker, Sola TS, near the Sture terminal in the Hjeltefjord near Bergen, Norway. The night was clear. Local traffic control and the tanker both communicated with the … Continue reading

Brexit & the Scallop Wars May Save RN Patrol Vessels

The Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey, and HMS Severn had been scheduled to be decommissioned. Now, however, the three River Class patrol vessels, which support the Fishery Protection Squadron, have been given extended lives, potentially … Continue reading

Wreck of John Paul Jones’ Ship USS Bonhomme Richard Located Off Yorkshire

Researchers believe that wreckage found off the coast of Filey in Yorkshire is from the American warship USS Bonhomme Richard.  The ship, under the command of John Paul Jones, fought a four-hour battle with HMS Serapis off nearby Flamborough Head in … Continue reading

Drone Footage from Sultana Downrigging Weekend

Sultana Education Foundation‘s Downrigging Weekend Tall Ship and Wooden Boat Festival has evolved into one of the largest annual Tall Ship gatherings on the East Coast. Here is some lovely drone footage by Shore Studios from the 18th Sultana Downrigging … Continue reading

USS Arizona Memorial Remains Closed, Expected to Reopen Late March 2019

On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the iconic USS Arizona Memorial remains closed to the public. As we posted last June, the memorial close indefinitely after structural cracks in the memorial dock were reported in early May. The National Park Service (NPS) … Continue reading