Photo: DNAinfo/Julie Shapiro
Update: The Seaport Museum “temporarily” laid-off another twelve staff members on Monday afternoon.
More bad news from the South Street Seaport. Last week the Seaport Museum laid off the captain of the schooner Pioneer, as well a marine educator and several others. We have posted previously about the museum’s so far unsuccessful attempts to sell historic vessels to bridge budget shortfalls. The schooner Lettie Howard, the windjammer Peking, as well as the tug Helen McAllister and the lighter Marion M. are reported to be for sale. The schooner Pioneer is supported by an active group of volunteers but is often inactive for lack of paying passengers. The museum, which has been referred to as the best kept secret in New York, has often not been effective in marketing its activities.
The tank barge Waldhof which capsized a month ago in the Rhine River near Lorelei Rock was finally raised today after its cargo of sulfuric acid was allowed to slowly drain off. Two sailors where lost in the capsize. One of the bodies was found inside the barge cabin. The second sailor remains missing and is presumed drowned. The barge has now been towed to a safe harbor close by. The capsized barge has severely restricted commercial travel on the Rhine River, Europe’s busiest inland water way.
Happy Valentines Day! Yesterday, the 
One of the wonderful and maddening things about the internet is that we all make so many virtual acquaintances; many who become good friends, and yet who we have met only through the ether of web pages and email. It was, therefore, a real pleasure last Friday evening to sit down, in the flesh, and share a drink or two or – well perhaps, it is best not to specify the specific numbers of drinks – with a group of water bloggers from in and around New York. In no particular order, there was Will van Dorp of the 
In response to our post, 
Record crowds, possibly exceeding 100,000, are expected at the 
Rear Admiral Peter Branson, who died recently at age 86, had an illustrious career in the Royal Navy. His career almost ended before it began. Branson was twice torpedoed while he was still under training, on one occasion surviving five days adrift in a lifeboat off the coast of Africa.
