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Monthly Archives: June 2010
Quest for the South Magnetic Pole
We recently posted about the centennial of Robert Falcon Scott‘s departure on his ill-fated expedition to reach the South Pole. Now the Australian National Maritime Museum will host a new exhibit, the Quest for the South Magnetic Pole. The quest to … Continue reading
“A Whale” – World’s Largest Oil Skimmer Waiting on EPA and Coast Guard Approval
Update: According to her AIS (Automatic Identification System) the A Whale is now off Louisiana. Thanks to Buck for pointing it out. Click here to see per position on the chart. A Taiwanese-owned, Liberian-flagged tanker, the A Whale, has been modified … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged A Whale, Liberian-flagged tanker, offshore oil skimmer, Taiwanese-owned
13 Comments
Belated Happy 100th Birthday Wishes to Bill King, World War II Sub Commander and Adventurer
We are five days late but nevertheless would like to wish Commander William Donald Aelian “Bill” King a most happy 100th birthday. He is only living submarine commander from World War II. He initially served on the battleship, HMS Resolution, and later becoming … Continue reading
BP Deepwater Horizon – Whales and Dolphins Sick and Dying in the Spill
Sobering aerial video of the scope of the ongoing spill. At around 6:30 there is footage of pods of dead and dying dolphins and a sperm whale caught in the oil. Difficult video to watch but important, nevertheless. BP Slick Covers … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged BP, Deepwater Horizon, dolphins, Oil spill, whales
7 Comments
Happy Birthday to the Lydia Eva – 80 Year Old Steam Herring Drifter
Famous steam drifter celebrates 80th birthday in Yarmouth The world’s last surviving steam drifter, the Lydia Eva, will be celebrating her 80th birthday in Great Yarmouth on Sunday. As well as celebrating her birthday, the weekend will also mark … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Great Yarmouth, Lydia Eva, Steam Herring Drifter
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Portside New York – Big BlueBQ July 3rd
Portside New York is a maritime hub and cultural space whose centerpiece is the historic coastal tanker Mary Whalen. Portside is based this summer on pier 11 in the Atlantic Basin, Red Hook, Brooklyn. On Saturday, July 3rd, Portside is hosting the Big … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Atlantic Basin, Big BlueBQ, Brooklyn, maritime hub, PortSide New York, Red Hook
1 Comment
Asian Carp Invading the Great Lakes
Two species of Asian carp, the bighead and the silver, were imported in the US in the 1970s by catfish farmers to eat algae in ponds. In flood in the 1990s, Asian trout escaped in the Mississippi River basin have … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Asian carp, bighead carp, Great Lakes, Lake Calumet, Lake Michigan
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Lost Wooden Steamer L.R. Doty Located After 112 Years
In October of 1898, the wooden steamship L.R. Doty disappeared in Lake Michigan in a storm with seventy mile an hour winds and thirty foot waves. Her crew of 17 and two ship’s cats were lost. A group of … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged L.R. Doty, Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, shipwreck, Wisconsin, wooden steamship
2 Comments
Chauncy Maples, Africa’s Oldest Ship, Returning as Clinic Ship on Lake Malawi
In 1898, the Chauncy Maples was built at the shipyard of Alley & McLellan in Glasgow. She was then disassembled into 3,481 parts and shipped out for reassembly at Monkey Bay as a missionary/hospital steamer on Lake Malawi. Now, one hundred and … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Alley & McLellan, Chauncy Maples, Lake Malawi, Thomas Miller
8 Comments
Mystic Seaport Wooden Boat Show, June 25 – 27
A wonderful boat show in a enchanting setting, the Mystic Seaport Wooden Boat Show starts this Friday. I am seriously annoyed that it looks like I will be be missing it again this year. The show is hosted in partnership with Wooden Boat … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Mystic Seaport Wooden Boat Show, Wooden Boat Publications
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The Channel Islands at War
For those in the UK, the Yesterday Channel is beginning a new documentary series, The Channel Islands at War, next week on Monday 28th, Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th of June. The Channel Islands at War
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Alderney, German invasion, Guernsey, Jersey, Nazis, Sark, The Channel Islands at War, world war II
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Lake Erie Shipwreck to Remain in the Deep ?
An interested court case between a private salvor and the State of New York appears to have been settled in favor of the state. The salvor, Northeast Research, claimed the 19th century schooner, which it claims is the Caledonia. … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Caledonia, Lake Erie, Northeast Research, U.S. Abandoned Shipwreck Act
3 Comments
‘Jaws’ Shark Hunted Down
It says something about our society that a missing prop from a classic movie, specifically Bruce, the mechanical shark from Jaws, has its own Facebook page. I’m not exactly sure what it says, but it has to say something. For those who might … Continue reading
USS Forrestal arrives in Phila. to await fate
USS Forrestal arrives in Phila. to await fate The aircraft carrier Forrestal arrived in Philadelphia Friday morning to await its fate. The ship, decommissioned in 1993 in Philadelphia after 38 years in service, had been moored next to the Saratoga … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged aircraft carrier, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, USS Forrestal
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Mermaid Parade 2010 – Coney Island
Happy Solstice to All. One way that at least some New Yorkers mark the beginning of the summer is to observe or participate in the Mermaid Parade, an event celebrating the sea and the season, in the Coney Island section … Continue reading
Red Bull Plane Race in New York Harbor – Attack of the Giant Mosquitoes
A section of upper New York harbor, just north of Ellis Island, has been taken over for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. Huge 20 meter air filled pylons sprang up over a three mile course and small, brightly colored … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged new york harbor, Red Bull Air Race World Championship
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Donald Scott Sutherland – Chronicler of New York Harbor
Don Sutherland, marine photographer and writer, died on May 24 of cancer. In the words of Carolina Salguero, Director, PortSide NewYork, ”Don covered the working waterfront in this port like no other with an adoring eye, passionate voice and sharp … Continue reading
‘ARTEMIS NORTH ATLANTIC CHALLENGE’ 2010
As many of us were watching Reid Stowe sail into New York harbor from his 1,000 day plus journey, a team of four intrepid rowers were apparently setting out in their attempt to break the 114 year old record set by Harbo and Samuelson … Continue reading
Whale Whore$ – Diplomats Acting Badly: A Possible New Reality TV Show?
We have been critical of the Sea Shepherds and their reality TV show, “Whale Wars,” which has not only demonstrated dreadful seamanship but has also encouraged illegal and dangerous vigilante violence. We have suggested that diplomacy is preferable to … Continue reading
Posted in Lore of the Sea
4 Comments
Round Britain Rowing Race – Women’s Team in First & Last Place
The Virgin GB Row 2010 is one of strangest and most challenging rowing races in the world. As described on the Virgin GB Row 2010 website: It’s 2,010 miles non-stop and unassisted rowing around Great Britain in some of … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Go Commando, Round Britain Rowing Race, Seagals, The Misfits, Virgin GB Row 2010
2 Comments
