Three Italian Captains – the Costa Concordia and the Andrea Doria

Reuters reports that Italy is enthralled by the tale of the “two captains,”  while on CNN another Italian captain, from another ship and another time, is remembered – In Andrea Doria wreck, a captain who shone. … Continue reading

The Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ready by March for Transport to Australia

Last October, we posted about the shipping cradle that had been fabricated in Australia and shipped to Scotland which will be used to transport the oldest composite clipper ship, the City of Adelaide,  back to her namesake city in South … Continue reading

Coverage of the Costa Concordia Tragedy – Unfortunate Juxtapositions

As the tragedy of the Costa Concordia plays out, newspapers still need to sell ads.  Recently some of the juxtapositions have been, well, unfortunate. (Click on any of the thumbnails below for a larger image.) Italy’s Il Gazzettino featured a … Continue reading

Update: Costa Concordia – Body Count Rises to 11, 24 Still Missing, Shocking Recording of Coast Guard Ordering Captain Back to Ship

Divers searching the wreck of the Costa Concordia have found five more bodies in the submerged section of the ship.  All were wearing life jackets and are believed to be passengers.  The number of missing, which had been as low … Continue reading

The Costa Concordia’s Fatal Salute – “Inexplicable Error” or “Nice Tradition”?

The Costa Concordia “Saluting” Giglio Last August In a recent press conference, Costa Crociere chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi blamed the grounding of the Costa Concordia on an “inexplicable” error by the captain.  Mr Foschi said: “This route was put in … Continue reading

USCG Icebreaking Cutter Healy – A Fleet of One

The United States has something like eleven aircraft carriers, fifty nine destroyers, thirty frigates, seventy nine submarines, thirty amphibious assault ships as well as numerous minesweepers patrol craft and supply ships.  The navy’s battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined.   Quite a … Continue reading

Update: Costa Concordia – Three More Bodies Found, Death Toll Rises to Six (Updated 1/16/12)

The Italian Coast Guard announced that the bodies of two elderly people were found in a flooded restaurant and the body of one passenger was located in a passageway on the Costa Concordia, raising the confirmed deaths from the grounding and sinking of the ship to six. … Continue reading

Update: Costa Concordia – Three Survivors Found Aboard, Missing Down to 17, Captain Detained

A Korean couple on their honeymoon, who had been trapped below decks on the cruise ship Costa Concordia for over 24 hours after the ship ran aground and sank in shallow water near the island of Giglio, off Italy’s Tuscan coast, were rescued yesterday.  A third … Continue reading

Thousands Evacuated as Cruise Ship Costa Concordia Strikes Reef Off Italy – At Least Three Dead

Just two hours after leaving port in Civitavecchia, the cruise ship Costa Concordia hit a reef near the island of Giglio, off Italy’s Tuscan coast, reportedly ripping a 165-foot gash in its hull.  The ship began flooding and rolled on its … Continue reading

Civil War Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley Unveiled

The Confederate Navy submarine H.L. Hunley was unveiled yesterday for the first time since it was recovered  from the ocean floor near Charleston more than a decade ago.  The vessel, a 42 feet long iron cylinder,  is credited as the first “successful” submarine … Continue reading

Update: Waiting for the Dawn – Tanker Renda and USCG Icebreaker Healy Six Miles From Nome

The Russian tanker Renda, carrying 1.3 million gallons of emergency fuel, escorted by the USCG icebreaker Healy are within 6 NM of Nome, Alaska  on Friday morning.  They are waiting for sunrise before advancing closer. Daylight will make moving though the ice safer and will help to … Continue reading

The Treacherous Antarctic Fisheries – Sinking, Flooding and Fire

The Patagonian toothfish, better known on Western restaurant menus as Chilean sea bass, is in high demand.  Living in the colder waters of the southern oceans, including  Antarctica’s Ross Sea, fishing for the toothfish can be hazardous.  Within the last 30 days, 25 sailors … Continue reading

Update: Tanker Renda and USCG Icebreaker Healy Making Slow Progress to Nome

When the sled dog, Balto, arrived with emergency supplies for the icebound town of Nome in 1926, a statue was erected in his honor in New York City’s Central park.  When the Russian ice strengthened tanker Renda, escorted by the USCG’s icebreaker Healy arrive … Continue reading