US Navy Bribery Scandal Probe Expanding – Navy Captain, NCIS Agent & Contractor Charged, Second Captain Relieved of Command

Posted on by October 3, 2013
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Capt. Daniel Dusek

Last month, the former captain of the destroyer USS Mustin, a Navy special agent and a Singapore-based defense contractor were charged in an alleged bribery scheme to swap classified ship information for luxury travel and prostitutes. Cmdr. Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, a captain-select, who commanded Mustin and later served as deputy operations officer aboard the USS Blue Ridge for the Yokosuka-based U.S. 7th Fleet, is alleged to have steered the aircraft carriers USS George Washington and USS John C. Stennis, the USS Blue Ridge and other ships to ports served by ports chosen by Glenn Defense Marine Asia, or GDMA, where the company could overcharge the Navy for millions of dollars in services to the ships.   Naval Criminal Investigative Service supervisory agent John Bertrand Beliveau II and Leonard Glenn Francis, head GDMA, have also been arrested.

The bribery probe appears to be widening.  Yesterday, Navy officials boarded the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard to relieve Capt. Daniel Dusek of his command. Captain Dusek has not been charged with a crime, but is under investigation by the Justice Department in the bribery scandal.  The investigation has focused on an alleged scheme to swap classified ship information for luxury travel and prostitutes.

Jellyfish Invasion Shuts Down Swedish Reactor – A Sign of the Jellyfish Apocalypse?

Posted on by October 2, 2013

giantjellyOver the weekend, a huge swarm of moon jellyfish shut down the 1,400 megawatt Unit 3 reactor at the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant on Sweden’s Baltic Sea coast.  The jellyfish clogged the cooling water intakes, located roughly 60′ feet below the surface of the sea.  They have since been cleared away and engineers are preparing to restart the reactor, but there is no guarantee the jellyfish will not return.  “We hope we have solved the problem regarding the jellyfish, but we are not sure because they can come back,” Anders Osterberg, a spokesman for the operator, Oskarshamns Kraftgrupp AB, said Tuesday.

The Oskarshamn nuclear power facility produces about 10% of the electricity needs of Sweden.  The plant uses the same technology as that of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex which experienced the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, following the powerful earthquake and tsunami of 2011.

Jellyfish Invasion Paralyzes Swedish Reactor

Is this incident just another sign that jellyfish are taking over the ocean?  In her recent book, “Stung!: On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean“, Lisa-ann Gershwin writes, “Our oceans are becoming increasingly inhospitable to life—growing toxicity and rising temperatures coupled with overfishing have led many marine species to the brink of collapse. And yet there is one creature that is thriving in this seasick environment: the beautiful, dangerous, and now incredibly numerous jellyfish.”

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New York Vineyard Owner Restoring Gen. Patton’s Schooner, When and If

Posted on by October 2, 2013

wandi1Back in 2010, we posted that “When and If“, a 1939 Alden schooner built for General George Patton, was for sale, as a result of the then current owner’s divorce. The 63’5” schooner was named “When and If” because Patton said that he planned on sailing the world in the schooner, “when the war was over and if I survive.” Ironically, Patton survived the war but died in a traffic accident just as the fighting ended.

The schooner was sold but soon was caught up in bankruptcy proceedings. Recently, New York vineyard owner, Doug Hazlitt, purchased the schooner and is having her rebuilt at Cayuga Wooden Boatworks at the north end of Cayuga Lake. You can follow her restoration on the yacht’s Facebook page.

New York vineyard owner restoring Gen. Patton’s schooner

Historic Clipper City of Adelaide’s Voyage Home in Limbo? Will New Government Write the Check?

Posted on by October 1, 2013
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Photo: Simon Burchett

The clipper ship City of Adelaide is supposed to be transported by heavy-lift ship back to Australia in the near future. Scottish taxpayers have already chipped in $1.2 million.  The City of Adelaide Trust, however, has been unable to book the heavy-lift ship because the government of Australia has not delivered on a promised $850,000 contribution toward the transportation. It is possible that the funds may not be forthcoming at all.  The problem is that Labor Party was voted out in the recent election and a new Coalition is in power.  The new Environment Minister Greg Hunt is now asking for more information about the project’s cost and “heritage values” before making any commitment.   Questioning the “heritage value” of the historic ship at this late date is extremely disturbing.

Historic City of Adelaide clipper ship journey home to SA in limbo over heritage assessment

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Flaming Duck on the River Thames – 30 Passengers Escape with Minor Injuries

Posted on by September 30, 2013
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Photo: The Guardian

In wholly unrelated news, one day after the people of Pittsburgh held a party on the Allegheny River to celebrate the arrival of the Rubber Duck (as well as to kick-off the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts), see our recent post,  a tourist “duck boat”, an amphibious bus, caught fire in the River Thames just off the Houses of Parliament, in London on Sunday.  Roughly thirty passengers were rescued by police, the fire brigade and a passing boat.  Many had jumped into the river to escape the flames. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

Duck boat passengers rescued after fire on river Thames

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Weird & Deadly Floods : The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919

Posted on by September 29, 2013

BostonMolassesDisasterWe recently posted about a serious molasses spill in Honolulu harbor which has killed 26,000 fish and may have longer term consequences for the harbor ecology.  Rick Austin was kind enough to forward an article about a far larger and more deadly molasses spill, the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919.

On January 15, 1919, in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, a large molasses storage tank burst, sending a 7.5 meter high and 50 meter wide wave of molasses surging through the streets at an estimated speed of 35 mph (56 km/h).  The tank flooded the streets with an estimated 2,300,000 US gallons of molasses, or roughly ten times the size of the spill that has done so much damage in Honolulu.  The Boston molasses flood killed 21 and injured 150. As reported by Scientific American: The deluge crushed freight cars, tore Engine 31 firehouse from its foundation and, when it reached an elevated railway on Atlantic Avenue, nearly lifted a train right off the tracks. A chest-deep river of molasses stretched from the base of the tank about 90 meters into the streets. From there, it thinned out into a coating one half to one meter deep. People, horses and dogs caught in the mess struggled to escape, only sinking further.  

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New Review from Historic Naval Fiction: Turn a Blind Eye by Alaric Bond

Posted on by September 28, 2013

A new review from Historic Naval Fiction:

Alaric Bond‘s new novel, Turn A Blind Eye, moves away from his ‘Fighting Sail’ series and the Royal Navy to the world of smuggling on the South Coast of England. It follows Commander Griffin and the crew of the Revenue cutter Bee as they battle to rid Newhaven of an entrenched gang of snugglers who hold sway over the town.

Bond is a master storyteller and he weaves a well written plot that explores the divided loyalties of the townsfolk who support small scale smuggling but are fearful of the gangs strength. The narrative vividly recounts life in a small fishing town where the Revenue men seek to combat a practice that is draining the country of money to fight the war against France and even sometimes supplying the enemy, whilst their fast agile cutter is often outgunned by the smugglers.

As usual Bond’s research shines through as he subtly educates us about smuggling in a fast paced hard to put down book. Highly Recommended.

See also our review of August 5.

Guess Who Arrived in Pittsburgh Yesterday Afternoon?

Posted on by September 28, 2013

rdpittsDutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s inflatable sculpture, “Spreading Joy Around the World,” universally known simply as “Rubber Duck” has arrived in Pittsburgh after spending the spring and summer on Hong Kong.  Pittsburgh will be the 14th city on the Rubber Duck’s world tour.  The WTAE Channel 4 Action Cam caught the image of the 40-foot-tall, 30-foot wide Rubber Duck arriving under tow on the Allegheny River.

Giant rubber ducky quacking tonight in Pittsburgh

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City of Adelaide at Chatham, UK

Posted on by September 27, 2013

The oldest surviving clipper clipper ship, City of Adelaide, was towed on its barge to Chatham where she will be fumigated. In mid-October, the 1864 built composite clipper ship will be moved to Greenwich, near the just slightly younger composite clipper, Cutty Sark, where a renaming ceremony will be held on October 18, with the Duke of Edinburgh in attendance. While we and most others have referred to the ship by her original name, she was renamed HMS Carrick after she was taken over by the Royal Navy as a training ship in 1923. The renaming ceremony will officially return the original name to the ship before she is transported by a heavy lift ship back to her namesake city in Australia.

A short video of the City of Adelaide arriving in Chatham by Thamespics.

Matson’s Massive Molasses Mess – Bitter Aftermath of a Sticky Sweet Spill

Posted on by September 26, 2013

molassesWhat is worse than an oil spill?  A molasses spill, apparently.  There are ways to clean up after an oil spill, whereas no one knows how clean up spilled molasses.  Earlier this month, a Matson pipeline spilled 1,400 tons (233,000 gallons) of molasses into Honolulu harbor, resulting in a brown plume which so far has killed 26,000 fish.  The molasses is also believed to be killing shoreline coral reefs. The brown ooze has displaced oxygen in the water which fish, crustaceans and coral need to survive.  There is currently no known way to clean up the molasses which has settled to the bottom. It is believed that overtime bacteria will consume the molasses though there are concerns that a bacteria bloom could cause another fish kill. The EPA announced this week that they would be launching an investigation into the spill.

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Congratulations to Oracle Team USA! A Comeback For the Ages – America’s Cup Stays in America

Posted on by September 25, 2013

oraclebannerThe comeback by Oracle Team USA has been nothing short of amazing. Oracle appeared to be facing certain defeat, with only one more win needed by Emirates Team New Zealand to clinch the Cup.  Nevertheless, Oracle came back with eight wins, completely shutting out the Kiwis in hard fought match-races.  An incredible performance.  The America’s Cup is staying in America.

The Final America’s Cup Race – Winner Take All

Posted on by September 25, 2013

Oracle Team USA has come screaming back from what appeared to be an impossible deficit, winning the last 7 races.  In total races, they have now won 10 to the Kiwi’s 8.  Only the two race penalty assessed for past improprieties has kept Oracle from winning the competition already.  Now with the tally board at 8-8, the race this afternoon will determine the winner.  Will Emirates Team New Zealand win one final race and take home the Cup or will Oracle maintain their momentum and win it all?  The race is scheduled to start this afternoon at 1:15 Pacific Time.

Video of yesterday’s races 18 & 19.

Russia to Charge Greenpeace Activists with Piracy

Posted on by September 24, 2013

arcticsunriseFor thirty years, Greenpeace has used “non-violent direct action” in their environmental protests.  In recent years, Greenpeace activists have boarded drilling platforms to disrupt operations. In most cases, the protesters involved were arrested, made to pay fines for trespass and were then let go.  The Greenpeace activists who boarded a Russian drilling rig last week, however, may be facing much more serious charges.

Last Thursday, two Greenpeace activists operating from the Greenpeace Netherlands-registered icebreaker, Arctic Sunrise, attempted to to climb onto the Prirazlomnaya platform, an offshore drilling platform in the Arctic owned by the state-controlled gas company Gazprom.  In response the Russian board the Greenpeace ship, arrested those aboard and escorted the vessel to an anchorage outside Murmansk. The Russian authorities have now announced that they intend to charge those involved in the action with piracy on the high seas.

Russia to File Piracy Charges Against Greenpeace

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Big Problems on the Royal Princess — New Ship Taken Out of Service After Power Outage

Posted on by September 24, 2013

Royal_Princess1If you take a cruise on a ship owned by Carnival, you may want to bring along a flashlight. The newest Princess Cruises ship, the Royal Princess, suffered a power outage while sailing between Mykonos and Naples.  Power was reported to be out for between three and four hours. The ship, carrying 3,594 passengers and 1,336 crew, was on the seventh day of a 12-day voyage from Venice.  The cruise has been cancelled and passengers will disembark in Naples. The ship will then be taken out of service for repairs.  The power outage may not be the only problem on the ship. As reported by Cruise Critic:  A Princess Facebook fan posted on Princess’ page today that “the ship has had many other problems in the past eight days, plumbing, electrical, air-conditioning, and last night we were delayed leaving Mykonos for over four hours because they couldn’t get the anchor up.”   The Royal Princess entered service in June of this year after being christened by the Duchess of Cambridge.  Princess Cruises is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation.

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America’s Cup – Oracle Rebounds with a Vengence

Posted on by September 23, 2013

Kiwiemirates2After looking like they were in an impossibly deep hole, Oracle Team USA has come charging back. Only last Wednesday, Emirates Team New Zealand was on the verge of winning the America’s Cup.  They had won 8 of the 9 races necessary for victory while Oracle had only won 3. But, as Oracle had been penalized 2 races for cheating during the prior round of races, the tally board stood at 8-1. Now, Oracle has won the last five races.  In absolute terms Oracle and the Kiwis have both won 8 races and the momentum is clearly on Oracle’s side.  All it will take is the Kiwis winning a single race to take the Cup. Based on the last five races, the next one, two or three races, as necessary, will be hard fought indeed.