Don’t Shoot, We’re Republicans! – The Strange Saga of the USS Iowa and the “Willie D”

Posted on by February 16, 2016

USS William D Porter

The news that the battleship USS Iowa has found a new home brings to mind the story of the battleship and the destroyer USS William D Porter, nicknamed the “Willie D.”   The USS Iowa served in World War II as the presidential shuttle in the Atlantic Fleet, moving President Roosevelt to and from the Tehran conference.  In November 1943, while the president was aboard the USS Iowa, the battleship came under attack by a live tordepo, accidentally launched from the USS William D Porter.  The Iowa was able to avoid the torpedo by taking evasive maneuvers.  From that day until she was sunk in June 1945, whenever the Willie D entered port or joined other Naval ships, she was often greeted with “Don’t shoot, we’re Republicans!”  (President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was, of course, a Democrat.)
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Museum of the City of New York to Take Over Seaport Museum with $2M Grant

Posted on by September 8, 2011

Photo: DNAinfo/Julie Shapiro

The Seaport Museum of New York, better known as the South Street Seaport Museum, will be taken over by the Museum of the City of New York with starting funds of $2 million in the form of a grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.   The Seaport Museum has been effectively shut down since last February due to a major shortfall of funds.

A $2 Million Lifeline to Save Seaport Museum

Yet Another Reason Not to Smoke – Woman Falls Off Ferry While Lighting her Cigarette

Posted on by September 7, 2011

A 23 year old woman reportedly fell overboard into the North Sea just after 8.30pm on Monday night from the Princess Seaways DFDS ferry bound from from Newcastle to Ijmuiden. The woman was reportedly lighting a cigarette at the rail when she fell. The ferry reversed course and successfully rescued the woman using the ferry’s rescue boats. She was subsequently airlifted by helicopter to to Scarborough Hospital before being released.  Yet another reason not to smoke.  Congratulations to the officers and crew of the Princess Seaways for their speed and professionalism in executing a successful night rescue at sea, which is no easy task.  Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing the news along.

Woman rescued from North Sea after falling from ferry

Update: Somali Pirates Free 7 Danes

Posted on by September 7, 2011

Last February we posted that Somali pirates had hijacked a Danish sailboat with four adults and three children aboard.   Yesterday, the Danish Foreign Ministry announced seven Danish citizens, including a family with three children had been released. It has been reported that the pirates were paid a $3 million ransom on Tuesday.

Somali Pirates Free 7 Danes

Tourist Complains of Fish in the Harbor – Too Smelly & Disturbing to Children

Posted on by September 7, 2011

Oh well. I guess there is nothing surprising about this news report.  It seems that David Copp, a tourist visiting  Ilfracombe Harbour, west of Bristol, in the UK, complained to the harbor-master that the fish being landed on the quayside had a “disgusting smell.”  Nor, for that matter, were the fish pleasent to look at.  As reported by the Telegraph, via Yahoo:

The 46-year-old was outraged that his children, aged seven and nine, had been forced to endure the sight of 12 crates of dead fish and crabs, piled up on the quayside.   Continue reading →

MT Phoenix Finally Free from Salt Rocks, Sheffield Beach, South Africa

Posted on by September 6, 2011

MT Phoenix on Sheffield Beach

The MT Phoenix, which has been hard aground and leaking oil on a South African beach, is finally free. This Saturday, two salvage tugs, Smit Amanda and Smit Siyanda, under the direction of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), successfully towed the ship into deep water.

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120 Year Old Sail Training Vessel, Leader, Dismasted off Portland Bill

Posted on by September 6, 2011

The 120 year old ketch, Leader, was dismasted yesterday in force seven winds off Portland Bill, Dorset; losing her main mast, boom, sails and associated rigging.   An RNLI lifeboat was called to assist and successfully towed the Leader and her 16 crew to safety in Weymouth.  Aside from reports of seasickness, no one was injured.

Leader is operated by the Trinity Sailing Trust as a sail training vessel for young people.  She was built on the Dart river in the A.W.Gibbs boatyard at Galmpton in 1892 and is one of the last working sailing trawlers still afloat.

Drama on the high seas as crew of 120ft yacht are rescued after losing mast and rigging
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Waterford Tugboat Roundup Canceled

Posted on by September 6, 2011

Ironically, the further inland from where Hurricane Irene made landfall in Brooklyn, the more damage and disruption the storm caused.  While the 19th Annual Great North River Tug Boat Race and Competition  went off without a hitch, the annual Waterford Tugboat Roundup scheduled for Sept. 9-11 at the Waterford Harbor on the Erie Canal has been cancelled due to storm damage from Tropical Storm Irene.

Waterford Tugboat Roundup canceled 
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Gloucester Schooner Festival 2011

Posted on by September 5, 2011

While here in New York harbor, we were cheering on tug boats racing along belching black smoke, the good folks in Gloucester, Massachusetts were celebrating classic schooners.  The tug boat race was great fun, but I do so love schooners and the schooners at Gloucester put on quite a show. Video courtesy of  GoodMorningGloucester.com

Gloucester Schooner Festival 2011

Great North River Tug Boat Race 2011

Posted on by September 4, 2011

The Hudson River as it enters New York harbor is still an unhealthy shade of brown from all the runoff from Hurricane Irene. Nevertheless it was a fine day to be on the river, especially to watch the 19th Annual Great North River Tug Boat Race.  A short video of the race.

Great North River Tug Boat Race 2011 

For photographs taken from shore check out Will’s tugster blog.

Fin Whales Return to Wales

Posted on by September 3, 2011

Fin whales have been called the “the greyhounds of the sea” because they are fast and sleek. grwoing to almost 90 feet, they are the second longest animal on the planet but only the the sixth heaviest. Though they are baleen whales, from a distance they can be mistaken for dolphins due to their scimitar shaped dorsal fins.  The great fin whales have now returning to the Irish Sea off Wales and the Sea Trust is keeping an eye out for them. Sea Trust is  the marine arm of the Wildlife Trust, South & West Wales.

Giant fin whales making their annual trip to Welsh waters
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Down-Rigging HMS Victory

Posted on by September 2, 2011

Recent surveys have indicated that Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, was leaking, suffering from rot and being pulled apart by her own weight.   Now, as the first part of a major restoration project, the ship is being down-rigged. Twenty six miles of rigging will be removed.  Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing the news along.

Victory is mine: Where Napoleon failed, our man in the rigging helps tear apart Nelson’s mighty flagship

Timelapse footage of HMS Victory Mast Removal

Eight Foot Long Whale Tooth Stolen From Museum in Norway

Posted on by September 2, 2011

Was the stolen 8' long "whale tooth" a narwhal tusk?

The thief is described as a man, 40 to 50 years old, dressed in black leather, wearing a dark coat, carrying an 8 foot long whale tooth. The man was also reportedly walking a white dog.  He allegedly stole the tooth from a museum in Stavanger, Norway.  The tooth is said to be more than 100 years old and is valued at around $9,300.

The story, as it has been reported, raises more questions than it answers. Exactly how does one walks out of a museum with an eight foot long whale’s tooth without being noticed?  What variety of whale has an eight foot long tooth?  Sperm whales, the largest of the toothed whales, typically have teeth around 7 inches long.  Was the stolen “whale tooth”  a narwhal tusk, perhaps?  Thanks to Irwin Bryan for passing the article along.

Whale Tooth 8 Feet Long Stolen From Norway Museum

San Diego Festival of Sail September 2 – 5th

Posted on by September 1, 2011

This like a great weekend to be in San Diego.  OK, an especially great weekend as the Port of San Diego and the  Maritime Museum of San Diego are hosting a four day Festival of Sail.  Music food, sailing, mock gun battles, a parade of tall and historic ships.  Even the Pacific Voyagers will be joining in.

Festival of Sail 2011 will be Friday September 2nd thru Monday the 5th, 2011