MV Rena Aground on Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga, New Zealand

The Liberian flagged container ship, MV Rena, ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga, New Zealand yesterday, flooding two cargo holds.   The ship is loaded with approximately 2,100 containers and has around 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel.  There has been no spillage of … Continue reading

The Strange and Tragic Delivery of the Russian Submarine Nerpa

Next month, the Russian nuclear submarine, Nerpa, will be delivered to the Indian Navy, which has leased the submarine for a reported $900 million from the Russians for ten years with an option to buy.  The delivery of the new nuclear sub … Continue reading

HMT Lancastria Finally Honored – A “Secret Sacrifice” No Longer

The evacuation of British troops and civilians from France in 1940 did not end with Dunkirk.   Several weeks later,   on June 17, 1940, the British Cunard liner Lancastria was loaded to capacity with troops and civilians off the French port of St. Nazaire, when she … Continue reading

U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Acushnet, “Queen of the Fleet,” Now for Sale on EBay

Last March we posted that the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Acushnet,  the oldest commissioned Coast Guard cutter, was being sold in an online auction.   The ship was reportedly sold to an unidentified buyer.  The ship has now been put up for auction on … Continue reading

The Knockdown and Capsizing of the SV Concordia – the Official Report

We recently posted that Transportation Safety Board of Canada has concluded that poor training played a role in the knockdown and capsizing of SV Concordia.  The official Marine Investigation Report examines the events leading up to the capsize in some detail.  It … Continue reading

Update: Tanker Mattheos I and Crew Released Without Ransom – Why the Gulf Of Guinea is Not Somalia

Just over a week ago we posted about the hijacking of the product tanker 45,000 DWT tanker,  Mattheos I, with a crew of 23, off Benin in the Gulf of Guinea.  Last Saturday, the ship and crew was released. No ransom … Continue reading

Russian Nuclear Sub, Svyatoy Georgiy Pobedonosets, Damaged in Collision with Fishing Vessel

What is interesting about this story is how it has been reported.  Here is what we know: The fishing boat, Donets, ran into the Russian nuclear submarine, Svyatoy Georgiy Pobedonosets (St. George the Victor,)  in the Avachino Bay on the … Continue reading

Updates: Murderer on HMS Astute Sentenced, Kidnapped Briton in Somalia & MSC Luciana Refloated

Updates on three previous posts:  On Monday, Able Seaman Ryan Donovan was sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to murdering a senior officer on board the HMS Astute last April.   Submariner’s grudge turned proud day into tragedy British tourist Judith Tebbutt, … Continue reading

The Great Brigantine Race of 2011

Talk about match racing!  This Sunday off Newport Beach, CA, two identical brigantines, the Irving Johnson and the Exy Johnson, will race.  They will be manned by crews from rival local clubs, the Bahia Corinthian and Balboa Yacht clubs, under the supervision … Continue reading

“Pirate” Battle on the Delaware with the A.J. Meerwald, the Kalmar Nyckel and the Gazella

Frankly, the A.J. Meerwald , the Kalmar Nyckel, and the Gazela deserve far better.   The A.J. Meerwald,  the “Official Tall Ship of the state of New Jersey,” is  a 1928 built Delaware Bay oyster schooner.  The Kalmar Nyckel , the Delaware’s “Official Tall Ship,” … Continue reading

Fire on Norwegian Cruise Ship, MS Nordlys, Kills Two and Injures Nine

A fast burning fire in the engine room of the Norwegian cruise ship, MS Nordlys, killed two crew members and injured nine others.  The more than 200 passengers aboard the ship were safely evacuated to the town of Aalesund, 230 miles (375 kilometers) northwest of … Continue reading

Mariners’ Response to 9/11 – Carolina Salguero & Jessica DuLong Speaking Aboard the Lilac

If you are in the vicinity tomorrow evening be sure to stop by the historic buoy tender LILAC at the Hudson River Park’s Pier 25 at North Moore Street, Tribeca, Manhattan, where Carolina Salguero & Jessica DuLong will speak on the Mariners’ Response … Continue reading

The Elissa – A Galveston Treasure and Fine Indian Pale Ale

The folks at the Pint Jockeys blog have suggested a great way to support the repairs to the 1877 Barque Elissa, which is believed to have been a victim of stray current electrolytic corrosion resulting from underwater  electrical cable damage after Hurricane Ike. … Continue reading