Thanks to David Hayes for passing this along. There is something slightly frightening about sailors on a nuclear submarine receiving daily rum rations. Royal Navy Rum – issued daily to sailors 1655 to 1970 Alcohol and the Royal Navy often seem … Continue reading
Category Archives: Lore of the Sea
This September, we posted about the popular and nearly ubiquitous “duck tours” using refurbished World War II DUKW amphibious trucks, or vehicles inspired by them, to take tourists on tours in cities and resorts around the world. (See From DUKWs … Continue reading
The New York Times Science section has a fascinating slide show discussing the scientific innovations behind the two sailboats competing in the America’s Cup. The science is intriguing but the photos are simply breathtaking. Innovations in America’s Cup Sailing … Continue reading
A follow-up to our previous post – Free Aircraft Carrier – ex USS John F Kennedy. Maine group in running for decommissioned JFK A nonprofit group in Maine says it’s still in the running to bring the decommissioned carrier John F. Kennedy … Continue reading
Abby Sunderland is putting into Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, interrupting her round the world attempt, because of a power problem aboard her yacht, Wild Eyes. The yacht’s solar panels and wind generators were not providing enough power and the yacht … Continue reading
In January we posted about the Jewel of Muscat a replica of a 9th-century sailing ship modelled on a famous Tang Treasure ship. Recently Nova broadcast a documentary on far older ships from the region, Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s ships, dating from 1479 BCE. … Continue reading
Not every historic vessel can be saved and not every historic vessel should be saved. The difficult question is deciding which are worthy of saving before they fall prey to the ravages of time or, in this case, the bureaucracy. A story from today’s Daily … Continue reading
After being under construction for almost a decade, the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush was accepted by the US Navy following final seatrials last Friday. Northrop Grumman delivers Bush aircraft carrier to Navy … Continue reading
In July of last year, Zac Sunderland, a 17-year-old from Southern California, became the youngest person to sail around the world alone. He held that tile for only about a month as the British 17 year old sailor, Mike … Continue reading
Delivery service for the remote island of St Helena The tiny British colony of St Helena in the South Atlantic – the world’s most remote inhabited island – is being hit by Whitehall’s spending cuts. An airport considered by many … Continue reading
A great story from the Yachtpals blog. Organized by the non-profit group Oceans Watch, a flotilla of at least a dozen yachts loaded with aid for Haiti, led by the 74 foot schooner Wolf, will set sail from Key West on February … Continue reading
Last week we posted about the International Chamber of Shipping’s concern that governments are not doing enough to combat piracy. Now the British government, after long opposing the payment of ransoms to free hijacked ships is also trying to discourage the … Continue reading
Last week a navy commander and two fellow officers pleaded guilty to crashing the HMS Superb, a British nuclear submarine, in 2008, into a massive stone pinnacle under the Red Sea which was marked on maritime charts. Navy commander crashed … Continue reading
An Aframax tanker, the Eagle Otome, collided with an oil barge in the Sabine Neches Waterway at Port Arthur, Texas on Saturday. Initial reports suggested 12, 000 barrels of crude oil were unaccounted for, though local officials are now estimating that approximately 1,000 barrels … Continue reading
An intriguing article from the Sunday Times: Hunt is on for SS Gairsoppa’s £70m silver hoard AN official attempt to find a ship containing £70m worth of silver, which was sunk during the second world war, is to be announced by … Continue reading
Sam Willis has written what appears to be a fascinating book – Fighting Temeraire. J.M.W. Turner’s painting, The Fighting Temeraire Tugged to her Last Berth to be Broken Up, hangs in the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and was recently … Continue reading
Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta turns 170, Feb 1, 2010 On Monday, 1 February 2010, New Zealand’s oldest sporting event, the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta will celebrate its 170th anniversary with a celebration of our maritime history and heritage on … Continue reading
Crowley Establishing Flow of Relief Cargo Into Haiti Crowley Maritime Corporation, working under contract with the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), is unloading Haiti relief cargo in Rio Haina, Dominican Republic, today. Fifty six of the 68 20-foot containers of water … Continue reading
In November we posted about the USS New York’s commissioning in its namesake city. The new amphibious transport dock ship, the fifth of the San Antonio-class, was built with seven and a half tons of steel from the rubble of the … Continue reading
While the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan arrived in Haiti yesterday and the hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived the day before, naval ships are not the only vessels sailing to aid the earthquake victims. The schooner Amistad is on her way bearing both supplies and a … Continue reading