Monthly Archives: September 2009

Fans of World’s Fastest Ocean Liner Put Out a Distress Call

The Wall Street Journal today has an article about the SS United States Conservancy, a group of individuals who fervently wish to save the SS United States. I have the somewhat heretical view that the “Big U,” as she is called, is … Continue reading

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Jessica Watson sets sail again – to cheers and jeers

After sailing into a bulk carrier earlier this month on her first day at sea after apparently dozing off, sixteen year old Jessica Watson has set sail once again on her attempt to circumnavigate the globe singlehanded.   While she has received … Continue reading

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Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez – Bidding Summer Adieu

Saint-Tropez Races Bid Summer Adieu According to legend, a bet in 1981 between two yachtsmen at a fashionable Saint-Tropez restaurant led to a race between Pride, an American-owned Swan 44 sailboat and Ikra, a French-owned International 12-meter rival. On Sunday, … Continue reading

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Samoa police say 63 dead in tsunami, toll may rise

Samoa police say 63 dead in tsunami, toll may rise Samoan police commissioner Lilo Maiava told The Associated Press that police have confirmed 63 deaths, and officials are still searching the devastated areas, so the number of deaths might rise … Continue reading

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The Leaving of Liverpool

“The Leaving of Liverpool” is a wonderful sea song,  capturing both the promise of a new voyage and the sadness of leaving loved ones behind.   It was “collected” by William Main Doerflinger in 1951 from Dick Maitland, an old sailor at New York’s … Continue reading

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Aquacalypse Now – The End of Fish

Daniel Pauly has an article in this month’s New Republic “Aquacalypse Now – The End of Fish“.   It addresses the very real and threatening problem of overfishing.  His is a great title for an article but his use of the metaphor of corporate fishing … Continue reading

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Record £240m cocaine bust as Royal Navy sinks smugglers

The Royal Navy in joint operations with the US Coast Guard off South America has seized a £240 million cocaine shipment – the biggest haul in Royal Navy history.   HMS Iron Duke’s crew sank the 138ft drug boat with bursts of cannon fire … Continue reading

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Lobster Hot Line Hotter Than Expected

To provide information about a new Canadian lobster industry financial stimulus program,  Canada’s department of fisheries set up a “hot line” which proved somewhat hotter than expected.  Instead of hearing information on lobstering, callers were greeted with a woman’s voice saying,  “Hey there, hot stuff, … Continue reading

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Visualizing Sea-Lanes

From New Scientist:  As new ways of analysing the world around us are developed, new ways to visualise that information are needed.  At the recent Eurographics Symposium, held in Berlin, traffic in shipping traffic near Rotterdam was mapped on both calm and … Continue reading

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Photo for a Monday Morning – the bow of the NIRINT PRIDE

Some Monday mornings feel like I was in a head on collision with a containership.  Here is a photo of the bow of the  Nirit Pride which did indeed collide earlier this month with the MSC vessel Nikita in shipping lanes near … Continue reading

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Whale Watching Roundup – Whales, Sharks and Ships

In honor of our unexpected whale watching in New York harbor, we are taking a brief look at whale watching around the country this summer.  It has been an interesting summer indeed.   After staying off shore for several years, fin and humpback … Continue reading

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Submarines Lost and Found, Part 4 – Russian WWI Sub Gepard May Be Found

As reported by the Stockholm News – WW1 Russian submarine found The submarine wreck was discovered by a research ship of the Swedish Maritime Administration the 10 September. A closer study with a radio-controlled underwater vessel indicate that the submarine … Continue reading

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Unexpected Whale Watching in New York Harbor

This morning while sailing on the schooner Pioneer in Upper New York Harbor, we were all surprised when the captain shouted “whale”.    There, close aboard to starboard, the back and dorsal fin of a whale rose and then disappeared beneath the surface of the harbor. The … Continue reading

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Falls of Clyde – Beauty, Like the Devil, is the the Details

Susan Yamamato has been posting some wonderful photographs from aboard the Falls of Clyde on her blog, Notes from the Wooden and Iron World.    Beauty, like the devil, is often in the details.  Click here to view the gallery. Falls of … Continue reading

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Update: Aftermath of the Sinking of the Princess Ashika

There will be a preliminary hearing into the sinking of the ferry, Princess Ashika, next Thursday in Nuku’alofa by the Royal Commission set up by the Government to investigate the tragedy. A letter from Port Authority Port Authority general manager, … Continue reading

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