The Star Spangled Banner and the Search for HMS Terror

History is full of strange connections.   This week an almost 200-year-old copy of “The Star Spangled Banner” is to be sold at auction house at Christie’s auction house in Manhattan.   The sheet music is currently valued at between … Continue reading

Correction: Ecolution, Innovative Sailing Yacht Owned by Dr. Wubbo Ockels, Sinks

CORRECTION: The early news reports translated roughly from Dutch to English reported that the sailing vessel Ecolution was “sunk by demolitions.”  We interpreted that to mean explosives.  It appears however that no structural damage was done to the hull itself and that the vessel has been … Continue reading

The Pegasus Preservation Project Celebrates it 10th Birthday with the Rusty Rivet Awards

The tug Pegasus was built in 1907.  Her last major refit was in 1953 when her steam engine was removed and a diesel engine installed.   Tonight the Pegasus Preservation Project is celebrating the 10th year of restoration of the Tug … Continue reading

Maersk Ready to Order Malaccamax Containerships – 18,000 TEU ?

Maersk may be on the verge of ordering up to 20 of the largest container ships ever built,  18,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units).  The largest container ships now in service are capable of carrying roughly 15,000 containers.   Analysts have identified 18,000 TEU ships as the largest container … Continue reading

Drunken Passenger Drops Anchor on Cruise Ship MS Ryndam ! ? !

Allegedly, Rick Ehlert, 44, a passenger on the Holland America cruise ship, MS Ryndam, entered a restricted area, put on pair of work gloves, disengaged the windlass and released the stern anchor while the ship was underway, in international waters off the Florida coast … Continue reading

Preserving the Battleship Texas and Problems with the Laffey again

Last June we posted about the near sinking of the battleship Texas.  Now a final effort to save the 96 year old ship is underway.   A cofferdam will be built around the ship to create a dry berth for the battleship. … Continue reading

Karim-1 Sinks after Collision with Dutch Tanker Alessandro DP, Six Missing

Six missing after Dutch and Sierra Leone-flagged vessels collide in the Black Sea Two Dutch and Sierra Leone-flagged vessels collided during bad weather in the Black Sea on late Monday afternoon, the government confirmed. Six people are missing. The Bulgarian … Continue reading

RCCL’s Allure of the Seas Christened by a Cartoon Character

In the beginning of November we posted about the new Disney cruise ship, Disney Dream, where interior cabins will have virtual port holes, which will show the view outside the ship and will include composited Disney cartoon characters flying by as well.   Now … Continue reading

Incredible Year for the Brig Niagara – Awards, Fundraising and Movie Roles !

The Brig Niagara has had an incredible year.   The ship and its captain have been honored with major awards, the organization has raised significant sums to support the ship and the ship has been featured in a new PBS documentary. Just … Continue reading

Stealth Sub Jimmy Carter Ready to Spy on North Korea

In August of this year, ex-President Jimmy Carter traveled to North Korea on a diplomatic mission to free a captive American.  Now the submarine which bears his name is reported to be nearing North Korea as well.   Following the shelling of … Continue reading

Mystery Ship Beneath the Streets of Stockholm

This summer we posted about an 18th century ship found buried beneath the streets of Manhattan near Ground Zero.  Recently,  while excavating in front of Stockholm’s Grand Hotel during renovation work to a nearby quay, workers discovered a most unusual ship. … Continue reading

Cmdr. Andrew Coles of HMS Astute Relieved of Command

Not a great shock, but Cmdr. Andrew Coles has been relived of his command of  HMS Astute, the Royal Navy’s newest and “stealthiest” submarine which very publicly  ran aground last month near the Skye bridge off the Isle of Skye. Officer relieved of … Continue reading

Pirates Who Attacked US Navy Ship Convicted, While French Command Ship is Attacked Again

Five Somali pirates who attacked the USS Nicholas, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate,  in a wildly misguided attempt to hijack the ship in a late night attack last April, were convicted of piracy in a court in Virginia.  The prosecution … Continue reading

At TEDX: Jorne Langelaan, The new age of sail

TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) is a global series of conferences focusing on “Ideas Worth Spreading.”   An upcoming TEDxAmsterdam conference will feature Jorne Langelaan, one of  the founders of Fair Transport Shipping. With their brigantine Tres Hombres, they are attempting to demonstrate … Continue reading

After 67 years, the truth of HMS Dasher tragedy is revealed

In 1940 and 1941, Moore McCormack Lines took delivery of four Rio class C3 Class passenger/cargo liners from Sun Shipbuilding.   They were the Rio Hudson, the Rio Parana, the Rio de la Plata and the  Rio de Janeiro.  In May … Continue reading

Sea Shepherd Farce Continues with New Toy Boat and Movie Star

Paul Watson and his merry band of bumbling pirates, the Sea Shepherds, stars of the “reality” TV show, Whale Wars, have a new high speed toy boat and have recruited Michelle Rodriguez, the actor who played the kick-ass helicopter pilot in … Continue reading