Why did Captain Michael Davidson set a course that brought his ship, El Faro, into the path of Hurricane Joaquin last October with tragic results? That question, for which we many never have a fully satisfactory answer, has been at the core of the initial investigation being held at US Coast Guard hearings in Jacksonville, Florida which began on Tuesday.
Several officials from TOTE Services, the ship owner and operator, were questioned at the hearing. Vice President of Commercial Maritime Operations Philip Morrell reiterated that the captain made the final decision as to ship routing. Captain Davidson had sent an email the day before encountering the hurricane, requesting a course change on the way back to Jacksonville from Puerto Rico. Morrell responded to questions about the email by saying that captain did not require permission and that the email was sent as a courtesy to the home office. TOTE President Phil Greene was questioned on Wednesday and said much the same thing, albeit not so directly.
A few days after the 
There are still almost as many questions as answers as to why the US flag ro/ro 
In recent years, there have been many claims made that modern cruise ships are inherently unstable and unseaworthy. Naval architects, shipyards, and regulators, have replied, “No, they are not,” but the argument continues. Recently, the Anthem of the Seas put the argument to the test. As ungainly, bulky and high-sided as she indeed is, she did rather well under terrible conditions. Here is an article I wrote for 
Thirty-three years ago today, on February 12, 1983, the collier 
Only last June, the media were reporting the project to build a near-replica of RMS Titanic was dead. The 
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The winter storm that struck Royal Caribbean’s 
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On February 3, 1943, the troopship 
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In the late 60s and early 70s, hovercraft ferries were the ships of the future.