Finger-Pointing and the Oil Spill in Borneo’s Balikpapan Bay

Six days ago, oil began spilling into Borneo’s Balikpapan Bay. The oil would spread to cover an area of nearly 13,000 hectares and pollute 60 km of coastal ecosystems, including mangrove wetlands and marine mammal habitats. At least one protected dugong … Continue reading

Voices From the Deep — the Lost Mail from the SS Gairsoppa

A new exhibit has recently opened at the Postal Museum in London — Voices from the Deep. The exhibit features undeliveredd letters retrieved from the wreck of the SS Gairsoppa, a British merchant ship which was sunk by a U-boat 300 miles southwest of Galway … Continue reading

Tall Ships Challenge Gulf Coast 2018 Begins With Tall Ships Galveston April 5 – 8

A fleet of tall ships is sailing to Galveston Island, Texas which will host Tall Ships Galveston from April 5 – 8th to kick off the Tall Ships Challenge Gulf Coast 2018 tall ship race. Included in the fleet will be: Galveston’s … Continue reading

Is North Korea Adding a Nuclear-Armed Ballistic Sub to its Arsenal?

As if things were not complicated enough, it appears that North Korea is building a second and more capable ballistic missile submarine. In addition to developing inter-continental range ballistic missiles launched from land, North Korea has for several years been … Continue reading

John Fisher, Sailor on SHK/Scallywag, Lost Overboard in Volvo Ocean Race

British sailor, John Fisher, crew on the Volvo Ocean 65 Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, went overboard on Monday and is presumed lost. Fisher went missing while on watch approximately 1,400 miles west of Cape Horn, in high seas, with winds at 35 … Continue reading

Shipment of Next-Gen Container Cranes to Close Delaware Memorial Bridge

For about 30 minutes early Saturday morning the Delaware Memorial Bridge will close as the heavy lift ship, Zhen Hua 16, with two large container cranes on deck, passes beneath it.  The distance from the water level to the top of the cranes … Continue reading

Wreck of Five Sullivans’ Cruiser USS Juneau Discovered on St. Patrick’s Day

The latest news from Paul Allen’s research vessel Petrel: Wreckage from the USS Juneau (CL-52) was discovered on March 17, 2018, by the expedition crew of Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel. The Juneau was sunk by a Japanese torpedo during the Battle … Continue reading

Planking Underway on Ernestina-Morrissey Restoration

Wooden vessels can be a bit like the ax that doesn’t wear out as long as you keep replacing the head and the handle.  Such is very nearly the case with the Ernestina-Morrissey, a 124-year-old schooner now being restored by Bristol Marine at Boothbay Harbor … Continue reading

DOJ Arrests $260 Million Superyacht “Equanimity” as Bizarre 1MDB Scandal Rolls On

On February 28th, Indonesian police seized the superyacht Equanimity, moored in Bali, at the request of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Equanimity is a 300′ luxury yacht owned by Malaysian financier Jho Low. The yacht, which is reported to have … Continue reading

WhalingHistory.org — Most Comprehensive Whaling History Database

This looks fascinating. The New Bedford Whaling Museum has announced that, in partnership with Mystic Seaport Museum, they have developed the world’s most comprehensive whaling history database which is now available online for everyone to use at WhalingHistory.org.  In their … Continue reading

On International Women’s Day — Remembering Mary Patten, Clipper Ship Captain

On International Women’s Day, it seems a good time to remember Mary Ann Brown Patten, the first woman to command an American merchant ship. The year was 1856. The ship was the clipper ship Neptune’s Car, bound for San Francisco from New … Continue reading