A Redcoat Storms Aboard Old Ironsides!

Posted on by December 6, 2010

The Boston Globe has documented the boarding of the USS Constitution by a Redcoat!  During her long years of active duty, the USS Constitution, known as Old Ironsides, was never successfully boarded by enemy marines.  Yet, here we see the distinctive uniform of a Royal Navy Marine – a red coat with white trim and a black belt.  Immediately behind the Redcoat was a gentlemen in green. Could that be a British rifleman?  The hat definably looks wrong however.  (Looks more like an elf than a rifleman. )  And I didn’t think the Royal Navy allowed their marines to have such long white beards. Very confusing.

Update: Disabled bulker MV Golden Seas under tow to Dutch Harbor

Posted on by December 5, 2010

Tor Viking

MV Golden Seas, a 74,475 DWT  bulk carrier, which suffered a turbocharger failure on its main engines and was in danger of drifting onto the Aleutian Islands, has been taken under tow by the tug/supply boat Tor Viking II.   The bulk carrier is being towed to Dutch Harbor, Alaska and is expected to arrive early Tuesday.  The  US Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley is escorting the two vessels.

Bulk Carrier Rescued After Being Disabled & Adrift in Bering Sea

Not Swords into Plowshores but Marine Mines into Furniture

Posted on by December 5, 2010

Mati Karmin, an Estonian sculptor, is not turning swords into plowshares, but he is turning marine mines into some rather remarkable furniture and household appliances.  Karmin’s mine furniture is steampunk with a post-apocalyptic twist.   On the northern coast of Estonia, especially on Naissaar and other islands, there were large fields of anti-submarine mines left behind when the Soviets withdrew in the early 90s. The explosives in the mines had been burned out, leaving rusting steel spheres.  Karmin has turned these relics of war into armchairs, fireplaces, baby carriages, swings, beds, desks and and a variety of other useful and quirky items.

Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing this along.

MV Hong Wei, Nickel Ore Carrier Sinks, 10 Sailors Missing

Posted on by December 4, 2010

The MV Hong Wei with a cargo of 40,000 tons of nickel ore, sank Saturday off the northern Philippines. Fourteen crew were rescued and ten remain missing.   The ship was Panamanian flag and had a Chinese crew.   The Hong Wei is the second bulker carrying nickel ore to sink in the Pacific in the last month.  On November 11th, the Nasco Diamond loaded with 55,000 tonnes of nickel ore from Indonesia to China sank off the southern coast of Japan.

10 Chinese sailors missing, 14 rescued after cargo ship sinks

MV Golden Seas Struggles To Avoid the Aleutian Islands

Posted on by December 4, 2010

Photo: Sara Francis

The 74, 475 DWT  MV Golden Seas carrying a cargo of rapeseed oil suffered a turbocharger failure on its main engine late Thursday night,  reducing main engine power sufficiently so that the ship could not make headway against the 29 foot seas and 35 knot winds.   The ship was drifting perilously close to the shore of the Aleutian Islands. The Coast Guard reported that with moderating weather conditions, the crew had regained control of the ship while roughly 24 miles from shore and was now steaming at about 3.5 knots.
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Ockels’ Ecolution to be Repaired

Posted on by December 4, 2010

Ockels’ sustainable voyage to go ahead

Wubbo Ockels, a former Dutch astronaut, says he is convinced his sailing yacht Ecolution, which was sunk by unknown assailants earlier this week, will soon be repaired, so he can continue his sustainable energy campaign. Mr Ockels has since received thousands of messages of support.
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HMS Victory in the Snow

Posted on by December 3, 2010

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has posted some lovely photos of HMS Victory and the dockyard after a recent snowfall. Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.   To see more visit their website or Facebook album page.

The Star Spangled Banner and the Search for HMS Terror

Posted on by December 3, 2010

HMS Terror

History is full of strange connections.   This week an almost 200-year-old copy of “The Star Spangled Banner” is to be sold at auction house at Christie’s auction house in Manhattan.   The sheet music is currently valued at between $200,000 and $300,000.   The Star Spangled Banner, which became the national anthem of the United States, is known for the vivid lyrics, “by the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, we knew through the night that our flag was still there.”
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HMS Dasher Memorial

Posted on by December 3, 2010

Last week, we posted about a new book which examines the causes of the tragic explosion and sinking of the HMS Dasher, in which 379 out of 528 crewmen died  and ranks as one of Britain’s worst naval disasters during World War II.   David Hayes was kind enough to point out video footage from the 2007 memorial weekend for survivors, families of survivors and those lost when the HMS Dasher sunk off of Arran on 27th March 1943.

HMS Dasher Memorial 2007

Thad Koza, Tall Ships Photographer, Dies at 69

Posted on by December 2, 2010

We posted about his new Tall Ships calendar about a month ago.  One of his calendars is hanging on my wall waiting for the new year to begin.   Sadly, we learned last night that Thad Koza has died of cancer. In addition to his beautiful calendars, Koza also published a number of books, including Tall Ships: The International Guide.

Tall ships photographer Thad Koza dies at 69

Correction: Ecolution, Innovative Sailing Yacht Owned by Dr. Wubbo Ockels, Sinks

Posted on by December 3, 2010

CORRECTION: The early news reports translated roughly from Dutch to English reported that the sailing vessel Ecolution was “sunk by demolitions.”  We interpreted that to mean explosives.  It appears however that no structural damage was done to the hull itself and that the vessel has been pumped out and is afloat, which would suggest that we were wrong in our interpretation of the phrase “sunk by demolitions.”   The error was entirely ours.  Thanks to Martin Römer of the Tres Hombres Packet Company for alerting us to the  mistake.

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Last night, the sailing yacht Ecolution sank at the No Limits Shipyard in Groningen by parties unknown.  Ecolution is an innovative sailing yacht owned by Dr. Wubbo Ockels, Dutch physicist and former ESA astronaut.    A reward is being offered for the tip that leads to the arrest of the perpetrator or perpetrators.

Vandals destroy expensive sailboat in Groningen

Ecolution is a 25 meter steel schooner designed to be “the most sustainable yacht in the world.”    The schooner is equipped with hydroelectric power generation and carbon fiber masts.

Wubbo Ockels realizes his dream in Groningen – the most sustainable yacht in the world
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The Pegasus Preservation Project Celebrates it 10th Birthday with the Rusty Rivet Awards

Posted on by December 1, 2010

Photo: Will van Dorp

The tug Pegasus was built in 1907.  Her last major refit was in 1953 when her steam engine was removed and a diesel engine installed.   Tonight the Pegasus Preservation Project is celebrating the 10th year of restoration of the Tug Pegasus with the First Annual Rusty Rivet Awards to “eight treasured volunteers.”  The festivities are taking place this evening  from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM at the Woolworth Tower Kitchen, 9 Barclay Street (at Broadway), New York, NY. Click here to learn more.

Maersk Ready to Order Malaccamax Containerships – 18,000 TEU ?

Posted on by December 1, 2010

Emma Maersk, currently the largst container ship.

Maersk may be on the verge of ordering up to 20 of the largest container ships ever built,  18,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units).  The largest container ships now in service are capable of carrying roughly 15,000 containers.   Analysts have identified 18,000 TEU ships as the largest container ships able to pass through the Straits of Malacca, where a 20 – 25 meter draft is the limiting factor.  On the bulk side of the industry,  Malaccamax tankers, in common parlance often referred to as “super-tankers, are the Very Large Crude Carriers, VLCCs.  VLCCs are the work horses of the oil industry.  It will be interesting to see whether or not the proposed Maersk 18,000 TEU ships will fill the same role in the long haul container trades.

Maersk Reported Close to 18,000-TEU Ship Order
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American Indian Sailed to Europe With Vikings?

Posted on by December 1, 2010

Photo: Robert Harding Picture Library, Alamy

Interesting new evidence that the Vikings and the North American natives, who the Vikings called skrælings may have gotten along a bit better than suggested by the sagas.   DNA testing of 80 living Icelanders shows indicates a genetic variation similar to one found mostly in Native Americans.

American Indian Sailed to Europe With Vikings?

Five hundred years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue, a Native American woman may have voyaged to Europe with Vikings, according to a provocative new DNA study.
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