Cruise Ship Spirit of Discovery in the Bay of Biscay — Passengers Feared for Theirs Lives, 100 Injured

A disturbing account of the Saga Cruises’ ship Spirit of Discovery that was caught in severe weather in the Bay of Biscay in which 100 passengers were injured. Five are reported to have been seriously injured. BBC reports that the … Continue reading

Update — El Nino Drought Results in Further Shipping Cuts to Panama Canal Transits

In August, we posted Panamax Meets Pana-Drought — Drought Restrictions In Canal Cause Delays and 200 Ship Backlog. A record drought associated with the naturally occurring El Nino climate pattern has resulted in one of the country’s driest years in … Continue reading

From Norse Mythology: Naglfar, Ship of the Dead, Made Entirely From Fingernails and Toenails

A second post suitable for Halloween week. In Norse mythology, there were two great ships. Skidbladnir, was a ship that could carry Odin and his followers in Asgard, which also could be folded into a cloth that would fit in … Continue reading

Which Sail Assist Technology is Best — Airbus Trying Both Flettner Rotors & Suction Sails

Of the various wind assist technologies available for commercial shipping, which is the most cost-efficient? It is likely, too soon to tell. AIrbus is reported to be trying two different approaches — retrofitting one existing ship with suction sails and … Continue reading

Update: Sailing Past the Future Stad Ship Tunnel on MS Trollfjord

This afternoon, sailing south from Ålesund bound for Haugesund, on Hurtigruten’s MS Trollfjord, I noticed something unusual. The ship was pitching and rolling. The motion was gentle but evident. On the previous twelve or so days of the voyage to … Continue reading

Updated Repost on Trafalgar Day Plus One : Conrad on Nelson — What if the Wind Had Shifted?

I am currently traveling, so I managed to miss Trafalgar Day. Here is an updated repost in honor of Nelson’s great victory over the combined French and Spanish fleets a day ago on October 21, in 1805. There is a … Continue reading

Wreckage of WWII British Submarine HMS Thistle Believed to Have Been Found Off Norway

The Institute of Maritime Research announced recently that the wreckage of the World War II British submarine HMS Thistle has probably been discovered outside Rogaland, Norway, after more than 80 years on the seabed. In the Spring of 2023, the … Continue reading

Berge Bulk Launches 21st Century “Windjammer” with 4 WindWings

In a press release on Tuesday, Berge Bulk, one the world’s leading dry bulk ship owners, announced the launch of its 211,153 DWT Newcastlemax bulker, Berge Olympus, with four retrofitted BARTech WindWings by Yara Marine Technologies. The WindWings installation is … Continue reading

Historic Schooner Victory Chimes Arrives in New York For Likely Conversion to Floating Restaurant

Last Wednesday, the 123-year-old Victory Chimes was towed past the Rockland Harbor breakwater, in all likelihood, ending her long and storied carrier as a commercial sailing vessel. This Saturday, she arrived at Pier 25 in Manhattan on the Hudson River, … Continue reading

Tragedy on the Schooner Grace Bailey — Main Mast Breaks, Killing 1 & Injuring 3

The schooner Grace Bailey, built in 1882, was returning from a four-day Fall Foliage cruise on Monday morning, when an upper section of the main mast broke and fell to the deck, killing one passenger and injuring three others.  Thirty-three … Continue reading

Bound4Blue Suction Sails to be Installed on Chemical Tanker & Ro/Ro

Recently, it was announced that Bound4Blue’s eSAIL® suction sails will be installed on an Odfjell chemical tanker and a ro/ro for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs. The technology goes by various names. When developed for Jacques-Ives Cousteau’s research vessel, Alcyone, it was … Continue reading

Coast Guard Rescues 12 From M/V Bonnie G, Aground off U.S. Virgin Islands

Yesterday the USCG issued a press release: A Coast Guard boat crew rescued 12 people, Wednesday morning, after they were forced to abandon the M/V Bonnie G that was taking on water and ran aground just south of the airport … Continue reading

Two Ships of US Navy “Ghost Fleet” Visit Japan

In August, we posted about how Ukrainian naval drones are redefining warfare in the Black Sea in Ukraine’s battle against the ongoing Russian invasion. On the other side of the globe, two US Navy unmanned surface vessels (USV) arrived in … Continue reading

MSC Orders Two Cruise Ships With Green Multi-Fuel Options

The headline on Cruise&Ferry.net reads “MSC confirms orders for hydrogen-powered ships for Explora Journeys.” The headline is somewhat misleading as the new ships on order from Fincantieri for MSC’s luxury cruise brand Explora Journeys, will not be hydrogen-powered, per se, … Continue reading