Streer of Ships — Wavertree, Peking in background Photo: R. Spilman
This Saturday, the South Street Seaport Museum celebrated its Spring Revival with the grand re-opening of Pier 16 and the Street of Ships. The ceremony began with the ringing of the bell on the historic lightship Ambrose built in 1907. The bell that once guided fog-bound ships safely into New York harbor, will, perhaps, also mark the return of the South Street Seaport Museum.
Captain Jonathan Boulware, interim president of the museum, along with the Manhattan Borough President, Gale Brewer; and District 1 – Council Member, Margaret Chin; and several others, spoke of the importance of the South Street Seaport to New York City and the nation; that the seaport was the “front door to America.” Boulware thanked all the museum supporters and the dedicated army of volunteers that have kept the museum running during recent difficult times. Boulware also announced that the museum will begin a $5.2 million dollar restoration of the square rigged ship Wavertree.
We have noted before the paradox of ocean shipping — it is simultaneously the most energy efficient means of transportation with the lowest carbon footprint while at the same time, it is a major polluter. (See our post from back in 2010 — 
For roughly fifty years, scientists have listened to an unidentified sound in the Southern Ocean, which has been described as a sort of mechanical quacking noise. It has been come to be known as the 
The death toll in the sinking of the 
Last week, 
Happy Earth Day! Then again, I have always thought that we lived on a misnamed planet. The word “earth” is a synonym for dirt while 71% of the planet is covered by water. Perhaps we should be saying Happy Ocean Day!
Are passenger ro-ro ferries inherently unsafe?
Recently the folks at 
Whale sightings in and around New York harbor are getting less and less unusual. Unfortunately, the most recent sighting was of a dead 
