Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized the vehicle carrier Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea on Sunday, officials said, taking over two dozen crew members hostage. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they hijacked the ship over its connection to Israel. The group … Continue reading
Category Archives: Current
Over the Veterans’ Day weekend, the iron-hulled sailing ship Star of India left her dock at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, setting sail, for the first time in five years, to celebrate her 160th birthday. A short news video: … Continue reading
A popular, full-day excursion to Blue Lagoon Island, from a cruise ship docked in Nassau in the Bahamas, ended in tragedy on Tuesday when a ferry boat loaded with 100 passengers rolled over and sank in choppy waters. A 75-year-old … Continue reading
Intriguing news from Saildrone. The developer of ocean data collection using autonomous vehicles announced that it has received the first-ever classification for an autonomous, uncrewed surface vehicle (USV). From their announcement: The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has been a … Continue reading
The world’s newest island has risen from the Pacific Ocean off the Japanese island of Iwo Jima after an underwater volcanic eruption that began toward the end of October. In just 10 days, volcanic ash and rocks built up on … Continue reading
A disturbing account of the Saga Cruises’ ship Spirit of Discovery that was caught in severe weather in the Bay of Biscay in which 100 passengers were injured. Five are reported to have been seriously injured. BBC reports that the … Continue reading
A wonderful story from Robyn White writing for Newsweek. A pod of dolphins led a whale and her calf back to their migration route after they became lost and distressed, a heartwarming video shows. The albino mother humpback whale was … Continue reading
In August, we posted Panamax Meets Pana-Drought — Drought Restrictions In Canal Cause Delays and 200 Ship Backlog. A record drought associated with the naturally occurring El Nino climate pattern has resulted in one of the country’s driest years in … Continue reading
Of the various wind assist technologies available for commercial shipping, which is the most cost-efficient? It is likely, too soon to tell. AIrbus is reported to be trying two different approaches — retrofitting one existing ship with suction sails and … Continue reading
This afternoon, sailing south from Ålesund bound for Haugesund, on Hurtigruten’s MS Trollfjord, I noticed something unusual. The ship was pitching and rolling. The motion was gentle but evident. On the previous twelve or so days of the voyage to … Continue reading
The Institute of Maritime Research announced recently that the wreckage of the World War II British submarine HMS Thistle has probably been discovered outside Rogaland, Norway, after more than 80 years on the seabed. In the Spring of 2023, the … Continue reading
In a press release on Tuesday, Berge Bulk, one the world’s leading dry bulk ship owners, announced the launch of its 211,153 DWT Newcastlemax bulker, Berge Olympus, with four retrofitted BARTech WindWings by Yara Marine Technologies. The WindWings installation is … Continue reading
Last Wednesday, the 123-year-old Victory Chimes was towed past the Rockland Harbor breakwater, in all likelihood, ending her long and storied carrier as a commercial sailing vessel. This Saturday, she arrived at Pier 25 in Manhattan on the Hudson River, … Continue reading
Today, October 13th, is celebrated as the birthday of the United States Navy, not to be confused with Navy Day which was once celebrated on October 27th. The current “birthday” may have more to do with bragging rights than real … Continue reading
After sitting dark for a decade, Alligator Reef Light in the Florida Keys is shining again. An Islamorada community group is spending $6 million to restore and preserve the 150-year-old lighthouse. The group turned on its new solar-powered lights last … Continue reading
The schooner Grace Bailey, built in 1882, was returning from a four-day Fall Foliage cruise on Monday morning, when an upper section of the main mast broke and fell to the deck, killing one passenger and injuring three others. Thirty-three … Continue reading
Like millions of other children, I was taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. Then when I was seven years old, the site of the Norse settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland was discovered and I learned that Columbus … Continue reading
Recently, it was announced that Bound4Blue’s eSAIL® suction sails will be installed on an Odfjell chemical tanker and a ro/ro for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs. The technology goes by various names. When developed for Jacques-Ives Cousteau’s research vessel, Alcyone, it was … Continue reading
Yesterday the USCG issued a press release: A Coast Guard boat crew rescued 12 people, Wednesday morning, after they were forced to abandon the M/V Bonnie G that was taking on water and ran aground just south of the airport … Continue reading
Sharks are among the top predators of sting rays. Here is a short video of a large school of stingrays narrowly escaping a shark attack in September off Anna Maria Island, in Manatee County, FL. The drone footage, captured by … Continue reading