Barquentine Gazela Returns To Sea

Philadelphia’s tall ship, the barquentine Gazela has returned to to sea after five years of being limited to protected water sailing due to a damaged rudder.  With a new rudder, the turn-of-the-century Portuguese-built barquentine set sail from Philadelphia bound where she … Continue reading

Collision in the North-East Passage – Two Arctic Tankers Collide

With the onset of limited trans-arctic navigation environmentalists have voiced concern about the potential for pollution due to increased ship traffic.   The recent collision  between two arctic tankers, the Indiga and Varzuga, on the Russian Northern Sea route, demonstrates the basis for these concerns. … Continue reading

Happy World Ocean Day – But How Should We Be Celebrating ?

Today is the second annual celebration of World Ocean Day!  The only thing that is unclear to me is what and how we should be celebrating.  From the World Oceans’ Day website: “In 2009 The Ocean Project started an annual tradition associated with … Continue reading

Update: SS Olympia – Stuck in Philadelphia by Sandbars and Scandal

Recently we posted that the Independence Seaport Museum is seeking a new owner for the USS Olympia which it cannot afford to support.  See Philly Museum Sends SOS to Care for Historic Ship.   Sadly it appears that not only … Continue reading

Schooner Amistad Sails for Haiti

While the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan arrived in Haiti yesterday and the hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived the day before,  naval ships are not the only vessels sailing to aid the earthquake victims.  The schooner Amistad is on her way bearing both supplies and a … Continue reading