Pinnace Virginia, Maine’s First Ship, Launched in Kennebec River

Twenty-seven years ago, a plan was conceived to reconstruct Maine’s first ship, Virginia, built by in 1607 by settlers of the Popham Colony at the mouth of the Kennebec River. The original 51′ pinnace was the first English ocean-going ship … Continue reading →

Clonal Neptune Grass — the Oldest Living Thing on Earth

Yesterday, we posted about Poseidon’s ribbon weed, Posidonia australis, a clonal seagrass. Researchers recently discovered large meadows of the self-cloning sea grass growing in Shark Bay, off the westernmost tip of Australia. DNA testing of the seagrass, covering over 180km, … Continue reading →

The World’s Largest Plant, Poseidon’s Ribbon Weed, Discovered Off Australia

Australian researchers were performing a genetic survey of Poseidon’s ribbon weed (Posidonia australis), a species of seagrass growing widely in Shark Bay, off the westernmost tip of Australia. Researchers collected shoots from across the bay and examined 18,000 genetic markers … Continue reading →

Congratulations to Admiral Linda Fagan, First Woman Coast Guard Commandant

Congratulations to Admiral Linda Fagan, who today assumed command as the 27th commandant of the US Coast Guard. Breaking a major glass ceiling, (or perhaps a glass overhead), she also becomes the first woman to lead the service, as well … Continue reading →

On Memorial Day : Last Mission of the USS Olympia — Carrying the Unknown Soldier Home

On Memorial Day, an updated repost about the last mission of the USS Olympia in 1921, when she carried an American unknown soldier killed during World War I  from a cemetery in France back to Washington to be entombed at … Continue reading →

What Did the Navy Pilots See? UFOs, UAPs, or Drones?

The first Congressional hearing addressing UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in more than fifty years, yielded very few answers. The main takeaway from the hearings was that, while most sightings could be identified, a number of events have defied all attempts … Continue reading →

Fleet Week Returns to New York Harbor After 2 Year COVID Break

Fleet Week has returned to New York harbor after a two-year pandemic pause, bringing 3,000 sailors, marines, and coastguardsmen to the city. The week-long celebration will include public ship visitations, a variety of military demonstrations, and a mix of new … Continue reading →

Russian Naval Blockade of Ukraine Called Attack on Global Food Supply

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine grinds to a bloody stalemate, the Russian navy is effectively blockading the northern Black Sea, cutting off maritime trade at Ukrainian ports, in what world leaders call a deliberate attack on the global food … Continue reading →

Report: USS Connecticut Seamount Grounding was Preventable

On Monday, the US Navy released the report of its investigation of the underwater collision of the Seawolf Class submarine, USS Connecticut, with a seamount in the South China Sea. From the report’s Executive Summary: On 2 October 2021, Connecticut … Continue reading →

Cetacean Morbillivirus : Like Covid For Dolphins

“Social distancing” during an outbreak of a contagious disease is difficult for dolphins as well as for humans. Researchers are now investigating how dolphin social interactions may help spread the virus that has resulted in significant dolphin strandings and die-offs … Continue reading →

“Jaws” Child Actor Appointed Police Chief on Martha’s Vineyard, Island Where Movie was Shot

In 1975, 9-year-old Jonathan Searle appeared in Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster movie “Jaws.” In the movie, Searle and his real-life brother, Steven, memorably played two pranksters who caused mass panic on the beach after swimming into the ocean with a cardboard fin. … Continue reading →

US Navy to Name Destroyer For Telesforo Trinidad, Only Filipino Medal of Honor Recipient

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has announced that a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be named the USS Telesforo Trinidad in honor of a Filipino sailor who rescued two crew members when their ship caught fire … Continue reading →