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Monthly Archives: April 2010
Vajoliroja – Johnny Depp’s very own pirate ship in the Caribbean
I ‘ve got to say that I prefer Neil Young’s and David Crosby’s taste in yachts somewhat better, but Johnny Depp’s Vajoliroja does have a certain idiosyncratic style. Johnny Depp’s very own pirate ship in the Caribbean
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Johnny Depp, pirates of the caribbean, Vajoliroja
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The Talisker Bounty Boat Begins its Epic Voyage
Two hundred and twenty one years ago yesterday, the crew of HMS Bounty staged a mutiny that remains famous to this day. Four sailors are attempting to recreate Captain Bligh’s epic 3,700 nautical mile voyage in a 23 foot long open boat … Continue reading
Cape Wind Project, the First US Offshore Wind Farm, Approved
The first offshore wind farm in the United States has been approved by Washington. The Cape Wind project is a proposed 130 turbine wind farm in Nantucket Sound. It has been opposed for years by home owners in Cape … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Cape Wind project, Nantucket Sound, offshore wind farm, Wampanoag tribe
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For Sale: Neil Young’s Classic Baltic Trader
I’ve always been a fan of Baltic traders. They were serious working craft. They aren’t necessarily graceful but do possess a certain robust beauty. The schooner W N Ragland, a Baltic trader built in 1913, converted to a yacht, is for sale. For … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Alden schooner, Baltic trader, David Crosby, Mayan, Neil Young, schooner, W N Ragland
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Seized, A Sea Captains Adventures – Battling Scoundrels and Pirates while Recovering Stolen Ships in the World’s Most Troubled Waters
Max Hardberger’s Seized, a Sea Captains Adventures – Battling Scoundrels and Pirates while Recovering Stolen Ships in the World’s Most Troubled Waters is a fascinating account of one man’s remarkable career and personal journey. In addition to working professionally as … Continue reading
The End of Smoking on Navy submarines
The prospect of women serving aboard Navy submarines will no doubt pose challenges in logistics and procedures. These may be minor, however, compared to the problems caused by banning smoking aboard subs, which the Navy will do starting December … Continue reading
Fur, Fortune, and Empire: The Epic History of the Fur Trade in America
In 2007, Eric Jay Dolin wrote Leviathan, The History of Whaling In America, a wonderful book that follows the American whale fisheries from shore whaling, to the fleets of whale ships that sailed in every ocean, to the industry’s decline in the … Continue reading
Headline Wars over Whales
There is an interesting conflict going on over the new draft proposal by the International Whaling Commission which would allow limited commercial whaling at levels significantly lower than currently practiced by Japan, Iceland and Norway. Depending on who you listen to this is either a good thing – … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Iceland, International Whaling Commission, Japan, Norway
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Right Whales in Block Island Sound, Whale Poop & Global Warming
Recently almost one hundred endangered right whales were observed feeding in the waters of Block Island Sound. Given that only between 350 and 400 of the North Atlantic Right Whales are believed to currently exist, the gathering was quite unusual. … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Block Island Sound, climate change, North Atlantic Right Whale, whale feces
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Abby Heads for Cape Town and Jessica Battles Huge Waves
Abby Sunderland’s attempt to become the youngest sailor to sail around the world non-stop ended as she decided to put into Cape Town due to mechanical failures. The boat’s main autopilot has been giving her problems during the voyage recently … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Abby Sunderland, Cape Town, Jessica Watson, youngest non-stop circumnavigator
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Pirate Weekend in Newburgh, NY and Real Pirates Charged in Norfolk
This week HMS Bounty, the replica ship built for the 1960 movie, “Mutiny on the Bounty,” will be the centerpiece of the “Pirate Weekend” in Newburgh, New York, on the Hudson River, sixty miles north of new York City. The Bounty … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged HMS Bounty, hudson river, new york, Newburgh, piracy, somalia
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April in New York Harbor – Seals, New Boats and Floaters?
It is feeling like spring in New York harbor. Earlier this month a harbor seal was seem enjoying the sun on an old pier on the Jersey City side of the Hudson. Harbor seal were once common in New York harbor but were … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged "floaters", Harbor seal, New York City Police and Fire Departments, new york harbor
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Deepwater Horizon rig sinks in Gulf of Mexico after explosion
US oil rig sinks in Gulf of Mexico after explosion An oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that caught fire after an explosion on Tuesday has now sunk, the US coastguard has said. The coastguard is still looking for … Continue reading
First Female Captain of a P&O Cruise ship
Sarah Breton, 45, from Essex, has been appointed as Captain of the 1,200 P&O cruise ship Artemis. As such she is the first female captain in P&O’s 173 year history and the first female captain of a cruise ship in … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Artemis, first female captain, P&O cruise ship, Sarah Breton
1 Comment
‘Asgard II’ may have collided with a container before sinking
Experts estimate that anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 shipping containers fall off ships each year. The problem is that they do not all necessarily sink. Some remain afloat, just on the surface, almost invisible to an observer from a … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Asgard II, sail training vessel, shipping container
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Celebrity Eclipse to the Rescue
New Celebrity Ship to Repatriate Ash-Stranded Travelers As Celebrity Cruises prepares for the launch this weekend of its brand-new Celebrity Eclipse, the line is also stepping in to help stranded travelers make their way back home. The cruise line has … Continue reading
The Ship Hotel: A Grand View Along the Lincoln Highway
A new book details the history of a hotel built to look like an ocean liner perched high in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Ship Hotel has sailed, but a jaunty new book honors its history and heyday The story of … Continue reading
Iceland volcano: Naval ships sent to rescue stranded Britons
Iceland volcano: Naval ships sent to rescue stranded Britons Three Royal Navy ships are on their way to help repatriate up to 200,000 Britons stranded by five days of flight restrictions following the Icelandic volcano eruption. The aircraft carrier Ark … Continue reading
The Last of the Victory Ships
The last four Victory ships owned by the government are on their way toward the scrapyard. The Maritime Blog recently post somegreat photos of the Pan American Victory, as she transited the Panama Canal not too long ago. She … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Earlham Victory, Pan American Victory, Rider Victory, Victory ships, Winthrop Victory
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HMCS Canada/Queen Of Nassau – Mystery Wreck to become National Historic Site
In 2001, divers located the wreck of a ship off the Florida Keys in 220 feet of water. She had the distinctive ram bow of an early 20th century war ship but lacked guns or other weaponry. She has … Continue reading
