Save the Tug Urger, Flagship of the Erie Canal!

Posted on by October 17, 2018

The New York State Canal Corporation’s website still refers to the tug Urger as the “flagship” of the Erie Canal. The Urger served more than 60 years hauling machinery, dredges, and scows on the Erie and Champlain Canals until she was retired from service in the 1980s. Now, 117-year-old tug, which has served as a floating classroom for the canal since 1991, is earmarked to become a display at a Thruway rest stop. 

In addition to the Canal Corporation and New York State Power Authority’s plan to beach the Urger at the Exit 28 rest stop in Montgomery County, they have already sunk already sunk seven canal vessels off the coast of Long Island to make artificial reefs and have another six vessels under review.

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New Jersey Opening Bids on Major Offshore Wind Project

Posted on by October 3, 2018

The State of New Jersey has opened the bidding on a 1,100 megawatt offshore wind project, the largest of any state in the nation. The project is the first step in meeting New Jersey’s goal to deploy 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind by 2030. New Jersey has more than a hundred oceanfront miles.

“Bidders will be required under the statute to pay a $150,000 application fee,” said Ken Sheehan, director of the Clean Energy Division at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. “There are six primary criteria — they are the OREC purchase price, the economic impacts for the state, ratepayer impacts, environmental impacts, the strength of the guarantees of economic impacts and the likelihood of successful commercial completion. The purpose of this is not wind at any cost, it is to do this well, to do this smart.”

Governor Phil Murphy said in a statement, “In the span of nine months, New Jersey has vaulted to the front of the pack in establishing this cutting-edge industry. We campaigned on rebuilding New Jersey’s reputation as a clean energy leader and that involves setting an aggressive timetable on offshore wind.”

Fighter Jets Land for the First Time on HMS Queen Elizabeth

Posted on by October 2, 2018

From the BBC:  Fighter jets, specifically F-35 Lightning stealth jets, have landed on the UK’s new £3.1bn aircraft carrier for the first time.  Portsmouth-based HMS Queen Elizabeth was commissioned into the British fleet last year.

The crew are currently undergoing sea trials off the east coast of the US, and are expected to carry out 500 landings and take-offs during the carrier’s 11 weeks at sea.

F35 Lightning jets on HMS Queen Elizabeth | Royal Navy

NTSB Video on the Investigation of the Sinking of US Cargo Vessel El Faro

Posted on by October 3, 2018

Three years ago this week, the ro/ro container ship El Faro sank with all hands in Hurricane Joaquin northeast of Crooked Island in the Bahamas. The 28 American crew and 5 Polish repair technicians died.  Recently the  National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) posted The Sinking of the US Cargo Vessel El Faro — an Illustrated Digest, as well as the video below, summarizing the facts and findings related to the tragic sinking.

The Investigation of the Sinking of US Cargo Vessel El Faro

US and China Navy Have “Unsafe” Encounter In South China Sea

Posted on by October 2, 2018

A Chinese destroyer came perilously close to the US destroyer Decatur as it sailed 12 nautical miles off Gaven and Johnson reefs in the Spratly Islands.  The Chinese destroyer is reported to have approached within 45 yards of the Decatur, which maneuvered to prevent a collision.

The Spratly Islands in the South China Sea are variously claimed by China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam. In recent years, China has been attempting to enforce their claims of sovereignty over the 45 scattered islands and 100 or so reefs that make up the archipelago. The United States does not recognize the Chinese claims and recently sent the USS Decatur to the Spratly Islands as part of what the US Navy calls freedom of navigation operations, which are meant to enforce the right of free passage in international waters.

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None of Indonesia’s 22 Tsunami Early Warning Buoys Were Working

Posted on by October 2, 2018

After the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed nearly a quarter of a million people, the United States, Germany, and Malaysia donated an advanced tsunami warning system to Indonesia. When the city of Palu on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia was hit by tsunami waves of up to 6 meters following the magnitude 7.5 earthquake on Friday, none of the 22 tsunami early warning buoys was working. Some have been damaged by vandals and others have been stolen. Reportedly, the system has not worked for at least the last six years due to a lack of funding.

Indonesia does have a tsunami early warning system, but it is limited in its capabilities. The nearest closest tsunami tidal gauge to Palu was over 200km away. Based data from this gauge the Indonesian authorities predicted a tsunami wave of from 0.5 to 3 meters high. 

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SB Met, First Robot Vessel to Cross the Atlantic — Or Is It?

Posted on by October 1, 2018

Recent reports in the media have announced that the 2-meter long robot sailboat, SB Met, has become the first unmanned vessel to cross the Atlantic after completing a 1,800-mile (3,000 km) journey from Newfoundland in Canada to Ireland.

The Daily Mail reports that the boat’s two-and-a-half-month journey saw it cross the North Atlantic as part of the Microtransat Challenge – a transatlantic race for autonomous boats.

The SB Met, built by Norwegian company Offshore Sensing AS, is the first vessel to complete the challenge after more than 20 attempts by various teams.

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Wreck of 400 Year Old Portuguese Spice Ship Discovered Near Cascais

Posted on by September 29, 2018

Photo: Reuters

Archaeologists have found a 400-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Portugal, near Cascais, close to the capital Lisbon. The shipwreck was found in early September while dredging the mouth of the Tagus river. 

Spices, ceramics, and cannons engraved with Portugal’s coat of arms were found at the wreck site.  Archaeologists believe that the ship was returning from India when it sank sometime between 1575 and 1625, at the height of Portugal’s spice trade with Asia. One expert has called the shipwreck the “discovery of a decade”.

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Indonesian Earthquake & Tsunami — Over 400 Killed or Missing

Posted on by September 29, 2018

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami which struck the city of Palu on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. At least 384 have been reported to be killed and 29 are missing. 540 are being treated in local hospitals. The wall of water smashed into buildings and swept away homes in the coastal city of Palu city, the capital of Central Sulawesi Province and home to 350,000 people. The city is built around a narrow bay that apparently magnified the force of the tsunami waters as they raced into the inlet. 

Preparations had been underway for a beach festival when the tsunami hit on Friday evening. Rescue workers have not yet reached all areas thought to have been affected, and it was feared that the death toll could still rise.

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Slapped in the Face by a Seal with an Octopus, It’s Not About You

Posted on by September 30, 2018

If you are kayaking and happen to get slapped in the face by a flying octopus hurled by a seal, don’t take it personally. Its probably not about you.

Kyle Mulinder was kayaking near Kaikoura, New Zealand on Saturday when he was slapped in the face by a flying octopus, hurled by a seal. The seal wasn’t trying to send Mr. Mulinder a message. The seal was simply trying to catch some lunch. The octopus was just trying not to get eaten. 

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Remembering Jack Putnam — South Street’s Seaport Melville and So Much More

Posted on by September 27, 2018

Jack Putnam as Herman Melville

John Putnam, who preferred to be called Jack, died earlier this month at the age of 82. Jack was the historian at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York and so much more.

Jack joined the museum in 1982 as an office manager and cook for the Pioneer, the museum’s schooner. He became the retail manager of Bowne & Company Stationers, a historic printing house owned by the museum, and then became the manager of the museum’s bookstore. He would also serve as shipkeeper of the 1911 built barque Peking, docked at Pier 16, for more than a decade.

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Update: Trial Date Set for Smuggler Charged with Murdering His Wife at Sea

Posted on by September 26, 2018

Lewis Bennett & Isabella Hellman

About a year ago, we posted about the strange disappearance of Isabella Hellman while sailing with her husband, Lewis Bennett, on a catamaran from Cuba to Florida in 2017. Bennet has now been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his wife. 

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Indonesian Teenager Adrift for 49 Days Rescued Near Guam

Posted on by September 25, 2018

An Indonesian teenager working as a lamp keeper on a floating fish trap anchored off North Sulawesi was rescued off Guam after drifting for 49 days. 

Aldi Novel Adilang, 19, had one of the loneliest jobs in the world. He worked on a rompong, floating fish trap anchored 125 kilometers offshore. Above the water, the rompong looked like a shed on a small floating platform. Every night Aldi turned on lamps suspended below the trap to attract fish. His only contact with people was a boat sent out weekly to harvest the fish and to resupply the rompong with food, gas for cooking, clean water and fuel for the generator.

On July 14th, the anchor rode of the rompong chafed through in high winds and Aldi found himself adrift with less than a week’s supplies. He was blown north and east by the high winds. He drifted for 49 days and ultimately was able to attract the attention of the bulk carrier Arpeggio, in waters off Guam, on August 31st. 

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Golden Globe Race — Injured Sailor on Dismasted Yacht Rescued

Posted on by September 24, 2018

Commander Abhilash Tomy

Injured sailor Abhilash Tomy has been rescued by a French fisheries patrol vessel. Tomy, a 39-year-old Indian naval commander, was injured when his yacht Thuriya capsized and dismasted in a severe Southern ocean storm on Day 82 of the Golden Globe Race. 

Osiris, a French fisheries vessel reached Tomy’s dismissed boat today at 5:30 UTC. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Canberra which co-ordinated the rescue reported: “Tomy is conscious, talking and onboard the Orisis. Australian and Indian long-range P8 Orion reconnaissance aircraft are circling overhead. Thuriya’s position is 39 32.79S and 78 3.29E

After the dismasting, Commander Tomy texted, ROLLED. DISMASTED. SEVERE BACK INJURY. CANNOT GET BACK UP. He later messaged: ACTIVATED EPIRB. CAN’T WALK. MIGHT NEED STRETCHER, and later, FEEL NUMB. CAN’T EAT OR DRINK. 

The Golden Globe Race had issued a Code Red alert, requesting other boats in the area to assist Commander Tomy. Unfortunately, the closest boat in the race was Irishman’s Gregor McGuckin’s yacht Hanley Energy Endurance, which was also dismasted in the same storm.

Thuriya was dismasted about 1,900 miles southwest of Perth, Australia “at the extreme limit of immediate rescue range” according to the race organization. In addition to dismasting McGuckin’s and Tomy’s boats, the storm which was reported to pack 80 mph winds and 46-foot seas, also damaged Mark Slats‘ boat Ohopen Maverick. 

Race organizers report that Gregor McGuckin, whose yacht Hanley Energy Endurance was also dismasted in the same storm last week, is making 2.2 knots towards Thuriya’s position, sailing under jury rig. The 32-year old Irishman is still 25 miles to the West and in radio contact with the reconnaissance aircraft. He is not in distress but has asked for a controlled evacuation from his yacht.

The Australian, Indian and French navies sent planes and vessels to assist. Australian authorities are sending an Anzac-class frigate, but it is expected to take four to five days to reach Tomy. 

Commander Tomy’s yacht Thuriya is a replica of the boat which won the original race fifty years ago—Suhaili –under the command of (Sir) Robin Knox-Johnston.

Thanks to Alaric Bond and David Rye for contributing to this post.

Survivor Found Inside Tanzania Ferry 2 Days After Capsize, Death Toll at 209

Posted on by September 23, 2018

The severely overloaded ferry, MV Nyerere, capsized in Lake Victoria in Tanzania on Thursday. The current death toll stands at 209 people. Two days after the capsize, divers rescued an engineer from an apparent air pocket inside the overturned ferry.

The NY Times report that the engineer who was rescued, Alphonce Charahani, was immediately rushed to a medical facility on Ukara island to receive care. Few details on his health have been released, but the authorities described him as being covered in oil when he was found.

The ferry had an official passenger capacity of only 100 people. Some estimates are that it may have been carrying three times that number when it capsized.

Hundreds Feared Drowned as Overloaded Ferry Capsizes in Lake Victoria

Posted on by September 21, 2018

MV Nyerere, a ferry traveling from Bugolora to Ukara island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania capsized on Thursday. While the ferry had a rated capacity of 100 passengers, reports indicate that as many as 400 people may have been aboard when the ferry capsized. Only 80 passengers were rescued. At least 126 have been confirmed dead. Close to 200 may be missing.

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Bouchard at 100 — Remembering Captain Fred and the Attack on Black Tom

Posted on by September 21, 2018

Captain Frederick Bouchard

This year the East Coast tug and barge operator, Bouchard Transportation Company, turned 100 years old. The company’s origin, however, dates back to 1916, and to Captain Frederick Bouchard’s heroism during the worst attack on New York harbor prior to 9/11.

At around 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, July 30, 1916, New York harbor exploded. German saboteurs blew up high explosives at the Black Tom terminal in Jersey City. Black Tom was one of the largest munitions terminals in the country, storing and shipping millions of tons of ammunition and high explosives to the French and the British, who were in the second year of what was then called the “Great War” against Germany and its allies.

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Archaeologists Closer to Identifying Cook’s Bark Endeavour

Posted on by November 30, 2023

HMS Endeavour off the coast of New Holland, by Samuel Atkins

We are within days of the 250th anniversary of when Captain James Cook set off on an epic circumnavigation, stopping at numerous islands in the Pacific, as well as Australia and New Zealand on the bark HMS Endeavour. Now, the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP), working with the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM), has come closer than ever to locating the wreck of Cook’s bark Endeavour in the waters off Newport, Rhode Island.

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Former Liberty Ship Converted to Nuclear Power Plant to be Scrapped

Posted on by September 20, 2018

Photo: Erhard Koehler, 2014.

Did you know that in the 1960s the US Army converted a World War II Liberty ship to a floating nuclear power plant? Neither did I. And as it is now heading for the scrap yard, will soon be no more.

In the early 60s, the US Army installed a 10 MW nuclear power plant in the World War II Liberty ship, SS Charles H. Cugle. The Liberty ship, renamed Sturgis, became a nuclear plant on a barge, designed to be towed where needed to provide electrical power. The Sturgis was deployed in Gatun Lake, between the Gatun Locks and the Chagris dam spillway in Panama to provide power to supplement the Gatun Hydroelectric Station, during a serious drought. Tellingly, the Sturgis was also assisted by a 20 MW conventional diesel-electric power plant on a barge, the Andrew J. Weber.

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