Update: Good and Bad News From Flooded Museum Ship USS The Sullivans

The museum ship, the retired United States Navy Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans,  partially sank after taking on water at its berth in the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, in mid-April. Now that the historic ship has … Continue reading

Overboat Personal Foiler — Silent Alternative to Jetskis?

Here is a short demonstration video from Toby Hodges at Yachting World of Neoocean’s Overboat electric personal foiler. Unlike the noisy and generally noxious jetski, the Overboat is practically silent, uses roughly 80% less energy than a comparable outboard motor-driven … Continue reading

Autonomous Cargo Ship Completes 500-Mile Voyage in Congested Tokyo Bay

In January, we posted about the successful test demonstration of the world’s first fully autonomous ship navigation systems on a large car ferry on a 240-km route from Shinmoji (Northern Kyushu) to Iyonada, Japan. Now, ​​Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), … Continue reading

Endangered Whale Sharks Threatened by Ship Strikes

Ship strikes — collisions between ships and large marine life — are a serious threat to whales and other large marine creatures.  According to the non-profit Friend of the Sea, ship strikes kill more than 20,000 whales every year. Now, … Continue reading

World’s Largest Oyster Restoration Project Completed on Piankatank River

We recently posted about the dire conditions of Texas and Gulf Coast oyster beds that have been devastated by floods, droughts, and hurricanes. In contrast, here is good news about oyster bed restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Mercury … Continue reading

Update: Superyacht Scheherazade Impounded By Italian Authorities, Ties to Putin Suspected

In early March we posted The Mystery of the Superyacht Scheherazade — Who is the Owner?. The 495′ long superyacht, valued at $700 million, was drydocked undergoing repairs in Marina di Carrara, a small Italian town on the Tuscan coast. … Continue reading

The War in the Black Sea — Ukrainians Hit Russian Patrol Boats, Landing Craft, and Possibly a Frigate

As brutal combat continues in the eastern part of Ukraine, the war in the Black Sea continues to heat up. Three weeks ago, Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles hit and subsequently sank the guided-missile cruiser and the flagship of the … Continue reading

Dentist Visit Helps Locate Site of Punic War Naval Battle of 241 BC

An intriguing account by the BBC of archeological serendipity that began with a trip to the dentist.  The Battle of the Aegates was a naval battle fought on 10 March 241 BC between the fleets of Carthage and Rome during … Continue reading

More Than 200 Sailors Moved Off Carrier USS George Washington Following Multiple Suicides

CNN reports that more than 200 sailors have moved off the USS George Washington aircraft carrier after multiple deaths by suicide among the crew, including three in less than one week in April, according to the Navy. The sailors are moving to … Continue reading

First New Polar Icebreaker Delivery Delayed Until 2025

In 2019, we posted that US Coast Guard was finally getting an appropriation to build three new heavy polar icebreakers, followed by the construction of three new medium polar icebreakers. The Coast Guard currently has one heavy icebreaker, USCGC Polar Star, which … Continue reading

Russia Using Trained Dolphins to Patrol Protect Black Sea Naval Base

Satellite photographs show Russia has deployed trained dolphins at the entrance to the key Black Sea port of Sevastopol, home to Russia’s Black Sea naval fleet. The dolphins are likely to be trained to intercept Ukrainian divers attempting to sabotage … Continue reading