Twenty five years ago this week, French government agents attached limpit mines to the hull of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland harbor in New Zealand to stop the ship from protesting French nuclear testing in Moruroa. The exploding mines sank the Rainbow Warrior, killing Fernando Pereira, … Continue reading
Category Archives: Current
George Steinbrenner, died today of a massive heart attack at the age of 80. He was best known as the owner of the New York Yankees but belonged to a family of shipowners. Kinsman Marine Transit was once one of the largest … Continue reading
Paul, an octopus, was a recent sensation when he accurately predicated the outcome of eight World Cup games in a row; as many games as he has legs. Now the World Cup is over and Paul, a resident of the Sea Life aquarium … Continue reading
Whale watchers were stunned last week to see 28 blue whales feeding on krill in Monterey Bay. Blue whales are the largest animal ever to live on earth and are also highly endangered with an estimated population of only 10,000 … Continue reading
John MacTaggart is attempting to sail cross-country on a Pterosail, a recumbent trike with a sail and solar panel. He set off on July 1st in San Diego and is now in New Mexico on his way to Florida. He … Continue reading
At the end of the recent holiday weekend I was amazed to see what at first looked like a schooner race in New York harbor. Six large schooners were all short tacking down the channel against a gentle southerly breeze. I soon realized … Continue reading
Oak flavored jam? Wood from HMS Victory bottled as a jam in a jar Admiral Lord Nelson led HMS Victory out of a few sticky situations, but now the ship finds itself in a bit of a jam. Off-cuts of … Continue reading
A fire in deck containers stowed forward of the house on the 8,000 TEU containership, Charlotte Maersk, is reported to be contained. The fire broke out on Wednesday as the ship was passing through the Straits of Malacca bound … Continue reading
A sad irony that doesn’t actually involve whales. The converted Ore/Bulk/Oil ship named “A Whale“ has not yet proven effective in skimming oil from the water, though modifications and testing continue. ‘A Whale’ oil skimmer testing extended a week Unfortunately, whale … Continue reading
Sail Tampa Bay 2010 is a five day festival, which starts today, celebrating Tampa Bay’s rich maritime history. The festival centerpiece is a visit by three sail training ships – the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Eagle, three-masted Columbian training barque Gloria … Continue reading
Until recent the narco subs used to smuggle cocaine into the United States were submarines in name only, as they were not designed to dive underwater and resurface. Last week, however, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Ecuadorian authorities seized a 108 … Continue reading
Thanks to Alaric Bond for pointing out this wonderful auction on EBay. No bids yet but there are still five days left. I would love to own these beauties but can’t figure out where I would put them or what I would … Continue reading
A tourist amphibious duck boat overturned after colliding with a barge in the Delaware River this after noon. Of the 37 aboard the duck boat, two are still reported missing. Philadelphia Duck Boat Overturns; Dozens Rescued … Continue reading
We had previously posted about the fleet of sailing ships visiting Toronto as part of the Great Lakes United TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE, coordinated by the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) across all five Great Lakes. The fleet has now moved on to Cleveland, Ohio. … Continue reading
John Diebold, 1944-2010 John Diebold, a marine scientist who sailed the world’s oceans for more than four decades using sound waves to study earthquake faults, underwater volcanoes and other normally hidden features of the seabed, died on July 1 at … Continue reading