Old Salt Blog

Molly Shakespear Rimington died at age 93 at the end of January but her obituary only appeared in the Telegraph this week.   She was a fascinating individual.  The daughter of Brigadier Talbot Shakespear, she joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service, WRNS,  popularly and officially known as the Wrens just before the start of World War II.  In 1942 she was given the job of writing the war diary for Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, who was Naval Commander Expeditionary Force, North Africa.

She would later marry the submarine ace, Commander Michael Rimington, DSO and Bar. At her wedding Admiral Sir George Creasy commented that Rimington was marrying a woman “who has a war record almost as distinguished as his own.”

Molly Rimington

Thanks to Alaric Bond for pointing out the obituary

Private security guards shot and killed a Somali pirate during an attack on the the MV Almezaan off the coast of East Africa. This is believed to be the first killing of a pirate by armed private contractors.   The  MV Almezaan has been hijacked twice before.   Six other pirates were captured by EU naval forces and then released for lack of evidence despite being found in the same boat with the dead pirate.

EU Naval Force: Private guards on ship have killed an attacking Somali pirate for first time

EU Naval Force frees 6 Somalis seized after fatal shooting by private guard aboard ship

There is a certain irony that a sailing ship would have to be taken out of service because its engine did not meet current emission standards, but such was the case with the Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington. She ran afoul of  tough new California pollution regulations.  She is now, however, back in service, with a new cleaner engine as well as a new foremast.  The Lady Washington should be rejoining the Hawaiian Chieftain on April 10th.

Lady Washington Returns To Service, Greener

Maine man creates huge online ship database

Thousands of ships over hundreds of years have navigated the rolling waters of Maine’s Penobscot River across the street from Jon Johansen’s home.

Inspired by that history, Johansen set about documenting every ship ever built along the shores of the state’s largest river. What started as a modest endeavor has turned into a gargantuan undertaking: Johansen is attempting to create a database of virtually every vessel built in the United States.
Continue reading →

A fascinating post from the Lawyers, Guns and Money blog. Thanks to Andy from the Maritime Texas blog for passing it along.  The bottom line seems to be that piracy is an expensive business and may be progressively less profitable as ship operators make hijacking more difficult and as the international navies get more aggressive in arresting pirates and sinking motherships.

How to Run a Maritime Militia
Continue reading →

The Isle of Wight based charity, the Little Brig Sailing Trust, now has the bragging rights of owning a fleet of the world’s smallest tall ships.   (Actually they have only two ships, so perhaps they could also claim the smallest fleet of the smallest tall ships.)

The two 9 meter brigs, the Bob Allen and the Caroline Allen, are designed to introduce sailors as young as ten to the fun and challenges of sailing a square rigged “tall ship.”   The small tall-ships cost less to build, operate and crew than larger vessels. They are also incredibly cute.   The brigs were designed by British naval architect Colin Mudie.   Thanks to Tom Russell of the Tall Ship & Traditional Sail Professionals Linked-In group for pointing it out.

Cowes naming ceremony for world’s smallest tall ship

Last July, we posted a video of the Fisherman’s Friends singing the chantey ‘South Australia.’   The group is made up of ten crab and lobster fishermen and their friends who live within half a nautical mile of each other in fishing village of Port Isaac in Cornwall.   They have recently  signed an album deal – said to be worth £1m – with Universal Music.   Universal Music also represents Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse.  I wonder if there is any cross marketing potential. Perhaps Amy and Lady G could perform with Fisherman’s Friends?   Several chanties come immediately to mind.  Spanish Ladies, Liverpool Judies and perhaps Whiskey in the Jar might be good fits.  Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing the article along.

Fisherman’s Friends Net Catchy Album Deal

Fisherman’s Friends sing South Australia

The death of Eustace at the Battle of Sandwich

The Oxford Dictionary of National Bi0graphies features an intriguing character from history today – Eustace the Monk,  a Benedictine monk from the 13th century who was also a sea captain, a mercenary and a pirate. Quite a resume.  A romance biography written about Eustace around 1225 by an unknown poet from Picardy, is said to have influenced the medieval myths of Robin Hood.
Continue reading →

A sunken British frigate rumored to be carrying gold to  pay the troops? Sounds a lot like the HMS Hussar which sunk in New York in 1780.  This more recent discovery is the British storeship  Prince, which sank in the Black Sea in a heavy storm in 1854 during the Crimean War.   Like the Hussar, the rumors of gold are likely no more than rumors.  The HMS Prince has been often confused with the steamer Black Prince. The steamer did carry gold, while there is no record that the Prince ever did.

Storm-sunken “treasure ship” found in Ukraine
Continue reading →

I will admit to being easily amused, but I found this to be very funny.  For those with more money than sense, here is a “couture superyacht” designed by a fashion designer.   I would worry that it might be more fashionable than seaworthy but it does look rather conventional overall.  (As a naval architect, I  promise that I will never, ever design clothes.)

Couture superyacht brings high fashion to the high seas
Continue reading →