Update: Two Clipper Round the World Sailors Rescued by US Coast Guard Cutter

Yesterday we posted the Clipper Round the World 68′ racer, Geraldton Western Australia, which was struck by a large wave in a storm in the Pacific.  The wave sheared off the boat’s steering pedestal, damaged electronics and injured four crew, who were … Continue reading

Update: Azamara Quest – Passengers Praise Captain and Crew of Stricken Cruise Ship

In a pleasant contrast to events surrounding the sinking of the Costa Concordia, the passengers aboard the  fire damaged cruise ship Azamara Quest are reported to have high praise for the actions of the captain and crew. A fire broke out in one of the ship’s engine … Continue reading

PT 728, World War II Patrol Torpedo Boat, for Sale in Hammacher Schlemmer Catalog

Hammacher Schlemmer’s catalog is subtitled: “Offering the Best, the Only and the Unexpected for 164 years.” One item for sale certainly qualifies as “unique.”  They currently list for sale the World War II PT-728, the only PT boat in existence licensed … Continue reading

Update: MS Carnival Triumph Allowed to Sail from Galveston, TX in Costa Concordia Lawsuit

Update:  The MS Carnival Triumph was allowed to sail as scheduled following last minute negotiations. The 2,758-passenger cruise ship MS Carnival Triumph was supposed to sail today for a five-day cruise to Yucatan and Cozumel. Instead, a Texas judge has ordered the ship … Continue reading

Fire on the MV Azamara Quest Only the Latest Failure on Modern Diesel Electric Cruise Ships

The fire on the MV Azamara Quest, is one of a recent series of disabling fires and power failures on diesel-electric powered cruise ships.  Unlike the MV Azamara Quest, however, the ship’s crews aboard the Costa Allegra, the Carnival Splendor,  and the MSC Opera were unable to effect … Continue reading

Updated: Fire on Cruise Ship MV Azamara Quest, Five Crew Injured

Update: A fire broke out late Friday in an engine room on the luxury cruise ship, MV Azamara Quest, while en route from Manila to Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia.  Five members of the crew were injured, suffering smoke inhallation. One crew member is reported … Continue reading

Tall Ships: The Privateer Lynx – Documentary On-line for a Limited Time

Through an agreement with Snag Films, TheSailingChannel is showing the documentary, Tall Ships: The Privateer Lynx, in HD, free of charge, for a limited time. Thanks to Tom Russell on the Linked-in Traditional Sail Professionals group for pointing out the … Continue reading

The Costa Concordia’s “Black Box” – A Look at Voyage Data Recorders

What really happened on the Costa Concordia in the final hours leading up to and following her grounding and sinking off Giglio on January 13, 2012?  The first step in definitively answering that question began in early March when an Italian judge … Continue reading

Japanese Fishing Trawler, Carried Away by Tsunami, Found Drifting Toward British Columbia

A 150′ foot long fishing trawler carried away last March by the tsunami off the east coast of Japan has been spotted drifting in the Pacific Ocean, 120 miles off Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada.  About 5 million tons of debris … Continue reading

Re-Living History on the SS American Victory

The waters around Tampa Bay may appear to step back in time tomorrow as the World War II Victory ship SS American Victory leaves the dock for her first cruise in nearly three years. The critically acclaimed “Re-Live History Cruise”  will feature reenactors, … Continue reading

The Two Frigates Hermione – Part 2 : l’ Hermione, 1780 – Freedom’s Frigate

If HMS Hermione, commissioned in 1783, became a symbol of Royal Navy cruelty and bloody mutiny, the French light frigate l’ Hermione, commissioned in 1779, would become a symbol of American independence.  On March 21, 1780, the 23 year old Gilbert du … Continue reading

The Two Frigates Hermione – Part 1: HMS Hermione, 1797 – Brutality, Murder and Mutiny

There were two frigates, both named Hermione, both launched within a few years of each other.  The British HMS Hermione would become a symbol of cruelty and bloody mutiny, whereas the French Hermione would carry the young Gilbert Motier, better known as … Continue reading

Vanishing Sail – A Documentary about West Indian Commercial Sail

Thanks to Dexter Donham for pointing out this trailer for Vanishing Sail, a documentary still under production and expected to be out in 2013.  Filmed in the Grenadines, Vanishing Sail looks at the sailing vessels that once were both the lifeblood of Caribbean commerce. From … Continue reading

Record Year for Ship Scrapping & ex-Exxon Valdez Heading for Scrap Yard

The twenty eight year old bulk carrier Oriental Nicety was recently sold for scrap for $16 million.  The ship was originally a tanker and has four owners and as many names. She is best known as the Exxon Valdez, the single hull … Continue reading

Cruise Ship Silver Shadow Collides with Container Ship in Fog off Vietnam

The luxury cruise ship Silver Shadow  may have lived up to its name on Friday morning when it collided with a container ship in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.  There were no reported injuries on the cruise ship, though passengers reported being knocked off their … Continue reading

The Mystery of the Osberg Viking Ship – Seaworthy or Only Decorative ?

In 1904 and 1905, archaeologists Haakon Shetelig and Gabriel Gustafson excavated a burial mound at the Oseberg farm near Tønsberg in Vestfold county, Norway that contained a well-preserved Viking ship.   The Osberg ship was reconstructed and has became Norway’s largest tourist … Continue reading

Remembering the SV Concordia

Two years and one month ago today, the SV Concordia, a school ship operated by West Island College International, was knocked down and sank off the coast of Brazil.  Fortunately, all 64 passengers and crew aboard were rescued.  The final … Continue reading