Coast Guard Honors Charleston Harbor Pilot Christopher Thornton For Safely Steering Runaway Container Ship

Early last month, we posted about the departure on the morning of June 5th, of the container ship MSC Michigan VII from the North Charleston Container Terminal in Charleston, South Carolina. Its engine was set to “dead slow ahead” as … Continue reading

Throttle Stuck at Full Ahead on Container Ship MSC Michigan VII in Charleston Harbor, Bridge Shutdown

On Wednesday morning at 11:46 a.m. the container ship MSC Michigan VII departed the North Charleston Container Terminal in Charleston, South Carolina, with its engine set to “dead slow ahead” as it moved down the Cooper River toward the Arthur … Continue reading

Update: Submarine USS Clamagore Towed From Patriots Point to be Scrapped

In March, we posted that the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in South Carolina had decided after years of debate to scrap USS Clamagore, a Cold War-era submarine that proved too costly to maintain. This week, the Balao-class submarine was … Continue reading

Remembering Robert Smalls – Slave, Pilot of the Planter, First Black Captain in the US Navy & Congressman

Robert Smalls is an unsung American hero. If all goes well, he may soon get some of the recognition that he deserves. Last year, it was announced that Charles Burnett is directing a movie about Robert Smalls for Amazon Studios. … Continue reading

Movie to Be Made About Robert Smalls’ Daring Hijacking of CSS Planter

On May 13, 1862, Robert Smalls, a 23-year-old slave, who served as the pilot of the Confederate armed transport, CSS Planter, seized the steamer, sailed it out past the batteries and forts of Charleston harbor and turned it over to the Union naval blockade. Smalls … Continue reading

NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown Returns After Record Deployment — 1,347 Days

NOAA’s largest oceanographic research vessel, Ronald H. Brown, is based in Charleston, SC, although if you haven’t seen her in her homeport for quite a while, you are not alone. She only recently returned from a record deployment of 1,347 … Continue reading

Schooner Spirit of South Carolina Returning to Charleston

Great news. The schooner Spirit of South Carolina is on her way home to Charleston, South Carolina.  We recently heard from Meryl Huckabey: “As a long-time reader of oldsaltblog.com I am pleased to tell you that the Spirit of South Carolina, tall ship … Continue reading

Remembering Robert Smalls – Slave, Captain of the Planter, First Black Captain in the US Navy & Congressman

One hundred and fifty years ago today, Robert Smalls, a 23 year old mulatto slave, who served as the pilot of the Confederate armed transport, CSS Planter,  led eight fellow slaves in an audacious flight to freedom.  They seized the CSS Planter, steamed … Continue reading

The Fourth Leg of the Velux Five Oceans Singlehanded Round the World Race Underway

The fourth leg of the Velux Five Oceans Singlehanded Round the World Race is underway as the four competitors set off from Punta del Este, Uruguay bound for Charleston, South Carolina.  The racers are currently sailing at north at around ten knots … Continue reading