Monthly Archives: January 2010

An Orca Baby Boom and Whale Whores

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Rick Spilman

Two only slightly related items : “An orca baby boom” in Washington State following a year that saw a decline in the number of orcas in the southern resident pods, and a very funny, if highly offensive, episode of South … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea | Tagged orcas, South Park | Leave a comment

Tall Ship & Traditional Sail LinkedIn Group

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Rick Spilman

Tom Russell is hosting the Tall Ship & Traditional Sail Professionals Group on LinkedIn. It is a very interesting group. He writes: If you’ve worked on a tall ship, for its supporting organization or in other traditional sail, feel free … Continue reading →

Posted in Lore of the Sea | Tagged LinkedIn, Tall Ship & Traditional Sail Professionals Group | Leave a comment

ICS: “GOVERNMENTS MUST DO MORE ON PIRACY”

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Rick Spilman

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) issued a statement which we think is right on target. The current policy of disrupting but not consistently apprehending pirates has been a failure. The unacceptable situation prevailing now, with seafarers lives being threatened … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea | Tagged International Chamber of Shipping, piracy, Somali pirates | Leave a comment

Mystery Whale Washes up in Puget Sound

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Rick Spilman

What appears to be the carcass of a Bryde’s whale has washed ashore in Case Inlet in Puget Sound in Washington State. If it is a Bryde’s whale, it is a mystery what a whale that favors tropical waters was doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea | Tagged Bryde’s whale, Case Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington State | Leave a comment

Porta-au-Prince Harbor to Reopen in Days – Crane Ships, Barge Carrier and OPDS Deployed

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Rick Spilman

The US military hopes to have the port of Port-au-Prince open for shipments of emergency relief supplies in two or three days. Damaged Haiti port to open in 2-3 days: U.S. commander In related news, the Maritime Administration has ordered … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged Haiti, Norfolk, OPDS SS Petersburg, Port-au-Prince, SEABEE class Heavy lift/Barge Carrier, SS Cape May, SS Cornhusker State, SS Gopher State | Leave a comment

Update: VLCC Maran Centaurus – Status of Ransom Payment Unclear

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Rick Spilman

UPDATE: Maran Tankers Management Inc. said the crew – 9 Greeks, 16 Filipinos, 2 Ukrainians, and a Romanian – was safe and well. In strange turn, pirates send out an SOS Unconfirmed reports suggest that infighting between rival pirate gangs … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged Maran Tankers Management, VLCC Maran Centaurus | Leave a comment

Record Ranson Paid for VLCC Maran Centaurus

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Rick Spilman

Owners of a Greek-flagged oil tanker dropped a record ransom payment of $5.5 million to $7 million on the deck of the ship today, prompting Somali pirates to release the Maran Centaurus. Ransoms to Somali pirates have reached a historic … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged Maran Centaurus, record ransom, Somali pirates | Leave a comment

Sail on HMB Endeavour

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Rick Spilman

Endeavour Voyage 2010 The Australian National Maritime Museum has an exciting season of sailing coming up on the replica of the HMB Endeavour. This April, they are offering day sails in Sydney Harbor, to introduce visitors to 18th century sailing; overnight sails where … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged 18th century sailing, Australian National Maritime Museum, HMB Endeavour, Sydney Harbor | Leave a comment

Cruelty on the Cowpens? Cruiser CO Relieved of Duty

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Rick Spilman

Cruiser CO relieved for ‘cruelty’ The commanding officer of the Yokosuka, Japan-based cruiser USS Cowpens was relieved of duty Wednesday after being punished for “cruelty and maltreatment” during her time in charge, the Navy announced. In an unusual move, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea | Tagged Capt. Holly Graf, Carrier Strike Group 5, cruiser USS Cowpens | 1 Comment

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Concludes 50th Anniversary Season

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Rick Spilman

While there have been locks on the Saint Lawrence River since at least 1862, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the current series of locks, canals and channels that permit ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the North American Great … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea | Tagged 50th Anniversary Season, Great Lakes, Saint Lawrence River, St. Lawrence Seaway | Leave a comment

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard marks 88 years of HMS Victory

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Rick Spilman

HMS Victory in recent snowy weather Portsmouth Historic Dockyard marks 88 years of HMS Victory From broadside battles off the Mediterranean coast to Vice Admiral Lord Nelson’s triumph in the Battle of Trafalgar and campaigns in the Baltic, the guardians … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, History, Ships | Tagged HMS Victory, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson | Leave a comment

Salvage ship USS Grasp & Hospital ship Comfort on the way to Port-au-Prince

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Rick Spilman

The US Navy is sending the rescue and salvage ship, USS Grasp, to Port-au-Prince, Haiti with divers and underwater construction personnel to assess the damage to piers and other port facilities. The USNS Comfort, a hospital ship with a capacity … Continue reading →