Nautical Winners of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest

Posted on by August 11, 2011

Edward Bulwer-Lytton

The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest is an annual tongue-in-cheek contest, sponsored by the English Department of San Jose State University in San Jose, California. Entrants are invited “to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels.”

Edward Bulwer-Lytton was an English playwright and novelist who had a knack for coining memorable phrases. He wrote, for example, “the pen is mightier than the sword,” “the almighty dollar,” and “the great unwashed.” He may be best remembered however for the first sentence of his 1830 novel, Paul Clifford, which begins, “It was a dark and stormy night…”  which inspired the contest which bears his name.

There is no category for nautical fiction in the contest, but several winning entries this year have a nautical theme:
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The Tall Ship Elissa : Stray Current Electrolytic Corrosion

Posted on by August 11, 2011

The barque Elissa  is one of the true ship restoration success stories.  The ship was rescued from near oblivion and restored at considerable cost by a dedicated group of volunteers.  She has been well maintained in  Galveston and has been taken on yearly sails, a remarkable achievement in its own right for a ship built in 1877.   Nevertheless, earlier this month, the US Coast Guard determined that due to corrosion in the hull plates, the ship  was no longer seaworthy.  What happened?
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Viking Longboat Dragens Vinge Lost Off Shetland, Crew Rescued After Activating EPIRB

Posted on by August 10, 2011

The Viking longboat replica, Dragens Vinge, is reported to have broken up in a gale while on a voyage from Norway to Lerwick.  The crew was rescued by helicopter fifty miles 50 miles east of Shetland after they activated the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB.)

Norwegian sailors rescued from longboat off Shetland

From Varyag to Shi Lang – the Long Strange Voyage of China’s New Twenty Year Old Aircraft Carrier

Posted on by August 10, 2011

In May, we posted about what appears to be the deck of an aircraft carrier built onto the top of a government building in China (China takes a Great Leap Forward in the Concrete Carrier Arms Race.)  Some speculated that it was for pilot training for a then unannounced Chinese aircraft carrier, the first in their fleet. Then in June, Gen Chen Bingde, head of China’s General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army confirmed that China’s first aircraft carrier is under construction.  Today the carrier to be named, Shi Lang, sailed on sea trials.   The Shi Lang is not, however, a new ship.
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2011 Great North River Tugboat Race and Competition

Posted on by August 10, 2011

The next Great North River Tugboat Race and Competition is coming up on Labor Day weekend, on September 4th on the Hudson River in New York harbor. If my count is correct, this will be the 19th annual tug boat race.  One of the reasons that he race is held every year sponsored by the Working Harbor Committee is to increase awareness of the importance of the harbor to the city and the world. Their efforts are obviously having an effect. This morning the Wall Street Journal took time out from covering market turmoil to report on the upcoming tugboat race.  (I might take exception to the characterization of tugs as “ugly ducklings” and “dowdy.”  A good article, nevertheless.)   They also produced a video using, in part, footage previously shot for the Old Salt Blog and Will van Dorp’s tugster blog.  Dean Bushala and David Sartorious also contributed footage.  Go here to see our original video of the race in 2009.

A Harbor’s Ugly Ducklings Can’t Resist the Tug of Speed

Lt Cdr Sarah West, First Woman Appointed Commander of a Royal Navy Warship

Posted on by August 9, 2011

The Royal Navy has appointed Lt Cdr Sarah West the command of HMS Portland, a Type 23 Duke Class Frigate launched in 1999. When she takes command on April 2012, she will be the first woman to command a Royal Navy warship. West previously served in the Gulf and was commander of HMS Ramsey, a minesweeper.

Royal Navy appoints first female warship commander
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Roboship Unveiled in Virginia

Posted on by August 9, 2011

I am not sure that this is necessarily a good idea. The US Navy is developing unmanned robotic guard ships which could be used to patrol coastal waters. An interesting idea, but getting the deployment right will be a real challenge.

Roboship unveiled in Virginia

Roboships can be used to help keep the US more secure. These ships can be run without a human being and they have the ability to make contact with possible intruders.  “He will put himself in a position between the point he is defending and us,” said Capt. Carl Conti the director of Fleet Experimentation.  He is actually in it, an unmanned surface vessel and a floating robot. These are not remote controlled boats like their predecessors of the 20th.

century.

Collision at Cowes – Sailing Yacht Dismasted After Cutting in Front of Tanker

Posted on by October 9, 2013

Under the Rules of the Road, sailing vessels generally have the right of way over motor vessels, unless the motor vessel is limited by an ability to maneuver.  Specifically, “small vessels or sailing vessels must not impede (larger) vessels which can navigate only within a narrow channel.”  This weekend at the races at Cowes there was a demonstration of what happens when these rules are ignored, when the yacht ‘Atlanta of Chester’ appears to have attempted to cut across the path of the UK-flag 174,000 dwt 260-metre Suezmax shuttle tanker Hanne Knutsen.  Fortunately no one was seriously injured.

DRAMATIC COLLISION BETWEEN YACHT AND TANKER

At just after twenty past three this afternoon Solent Coastguard were informed by Hamble Rescue that the yacht ‘Atlanta of Chester’ had collided with the tanker ‘Hanne Knutsen’ off Egypt Point, Isle of Wight.  Two people were thrown overboard by the collision and the yacht lost its mast and rigging.

Yacht dismasted by supertanker off Cowes, Isle of Wight

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New Owner and Home Port for Tallship Soren Larsen

Posted on by August 8, 2011

Last December we posted that the Tallship Soren Larsen was for sale.  She has now apparently been acquired by new owners who will move the ship to Sydney, Australia but will otherwise maintain her Pacific sailing schedules.  We wish the new owners and operators the best of luck with this beautiful ship.  From the Soren Larsen Newsletter:

The Tallship Soren Larsen will be sailing towards a future base and new owners in Sydney at the end of this year, with the professional and experienced team at Sydney Tallships. Her 2011 Pacific voyages will complete as planned in October when the Soren Larsen sails from New Caledonia to Sydney. The “Bluewater” leg across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand is the only change. 
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61-year-old Diana Nyad Attempting to Swim from Cuba to Florida

Posted on by August 8, 2011

Yesterday at 7:45 PM, American endurance swimmer Diana Nyad, 61, set off swimming from Havana in an attempt to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage.  The swim, if she succeeds, is expected to take roughly 60 hours. Before departing on the attempt she said, “I’m standing here in the prime of my life … Now I look out at a dead, flat calm, so I think this is my day..” Ms. Nyad attempted the crossing once before when she was 28 but was stopped by winds and rough seas.

American sets off on record 103-mile Cuba to Florida swim

Nyad said her comparatively advanced age is one of the reasons she will try the swim. She hopes the swim will help people her age and older realize they still can accomplish many things.

US Coast Guard Eagle in Brooklyn

Posted on by August 8, 2011

The US Coast Guard Barque Eagle visited Brooklyn, New York this weekend and was open to visitors. She is beautifully maintained and staffed by smart, eager and enthusiastic cadets. Most of the cadets had been aboard for roughly one day, so as tour guides they lacked certain skills but their excitement about sailing the ship made up for any shortcomings.

A few photos:

Argentine Nuclear Sub Under Construction – Threat to the Falklands?

Posted on by August 7, 2011

British nuclear sub. Argentina plan to built their first nuclear sub

There is open speculation that the expansion of the Argentine Navy lead by the construction of its first nuclear submarine could prove a threat to Britain’s ability to defend and hold the Falkland Islands.

Argentina developing nuclear-powered submarine

Argentina has announced it is developing a nuclear-powered submarine, leading to fresh warnings that Britain would face an “insurmountable” task if the country invaded the Falkland Islands again. 
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Michigan’s Great Lakes offer ‘the best shipwreck diving in the world’

Posted on by August 4, 2011

Photo : Doug Bell

When, many, many years ago, I moved from Florida to Michigan to go to school,  I stopped scuba diving entirely.  I had learned to dive in the warm and clear waters of the Florida keys. Why would I want to dive in the cold dark waters of the Great Lakes?   When it comes to ship wrecks, however, cold and dark may not be such a bad thing.  Unlike in salt water, ship wrecks can often be unusually well preserved in the dark, deep, fresh water of the Great Lakes.   Apparently, Michigan is a great place for wreck diving.  Perhaps I should have invested in a dry suit, all those years ago.

Michigan’s Great Lakes offer ‘the best shipwreck diving in the world’
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Captain Morgan’s 1671 Lost Fleet Found?

Posted on by August 6, 2011

This is an interesting story for several reasons. First, archaeologists believe that they may have discovered the wreckage of a 17th century ship lost off the coast of Panama in 1671, from the famed Captain Henry Morgan‘s fleet.   Second, a fact buried in the article, the expedition is being funded by Captain Morgan Rum.   Now, I can drink rum and support underwater archaeology at the same time.

Archaeologists discover 17th century shipwreck believed to be from Captain Morgan fleet
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Essential Knots & Hitches You May Never Need : The Highwayman’s Hitch

Posted on by July 17, 2011

Everyone should know at least a few knots and hitches. The square knot, the bowline, and clove hitch come immediately to mind. Then there are all the other “essentials” that you may never need but are great to know.  One good example is the highwayman’s hitch. I presume it got its name because a highway man could use it to hold the reigns of his horse securely but could make a quick get away with the simple tug of the bitter end.

The Highwayman’s Hitch

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MT Pavit on Juhu Beach – A Security Breach Big Enough to Drift a Tanker Through

Posted on by August 5, 2011

Last June, the inaptly named MV Wisdom, under tow to a scrap yard, broke her tow line and drifted on to Juhu beach in Mumbai, India, after narrowly missing a major bridge. This Sunday, the tanker, MT Pavit, drifted ashore on the same beach, to the apparent surprise of all concerned. The ship had been previously reported to have sunk on June 29 off Oman following flooding in the engine room.

After the attacks of November 2008, in which ten terrorists in inflatable speedboats came ashore in two location in Mumbai, there have been efforts made to strengthen coastal security. Nevertheless the MT Pavit drifted for nearly 100 hours in Indian territorial waters without being detected, arriving on Juhu catching the police and coastal authorities by surprise..  As was the case following the grounding of the MV Wisdom, investigations are being called for  to determine how the MT Pavit breached coastal security.

Coast Guard Intercepts Narco Sub with 7.5 Tons of Cocaine in Caribbean

Posted on by August 4, 2011

On the 221st anniversary of the founding of the US Coast Guard here is a dramatic look at the service in action.

Narco Sub With 7.5 Tons of Cocaine Caught in Caribbean

The Coast Guard caught a narco submarine trying to smuggle $180 million worth of cocaine into the U.S., intercepting the drug vessel as her own crew tried to sink her off the coast of Honduras.

Coast Guard video shows the crew of the semi-submersible craft jumping off the boat and into a yellow life raft. As a Coast Guard boat comes alongside, the submarine can be seen quickly sinking into the Caribbean.

Crew of Cocaine Submarine Tries to Flee

Happy 221st Birthday US Coast Guard !

Posted on by August 4, 2011

On August 4, 1790, Alexander Hamilton founded the Revenue Cutter Service, the predecessor of the United States Coast Guard.   The anniversary is celebrated in various ways around the United States. Portsmouth, VA will host a celebration today through Saturday. In Alaska, August has been proclaimed “United States Coast Guard Appreciation Month.”   The National World War II Museum will also be celebrating the anniversary with a lecture by author Thomas P. Ostrom.