Featured Books
Monthly Archives: July 2010
Searching for a Ship? Try ShipIndex.org
For anyone researching a particular ship, ShipIndex.org could prove invaluable. It offers a searchable database with 143,935 entries in the free database and 1,349,574 entries available with premium access. Having done a bit of searching, it looks both easy and powerful. ShipIndex.org
Posted in History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
2 Comments
Building a New Rainbow Warrior – Remembering the Bombing 25 Years Ago
Twenty five years ago this week, French government agents attached limpit mines to the hull of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland harbor in New Zealand to stop the ship from protesting French nuclear testing in Moruroa. The exploding mines sank the Rainbow Warrior, killing Fernando Pereira, … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged French nuclear testing, Greenpeace, limpit mines, New Zealand, Rainbow Warrior, Rainbow Warrior III
Leave a comment
George Steinbrenner, Ship Owner and Shipbuilder who also owned a Baseball Team
George Steinbrenner, died today of a massive heart attack at the age of 80. He was best known as the owner of the New York Yankees but belonged to a family of shipowners. Kinsman Marine Transit was once one of the largest … Continue reading
Schooner, Building a Wooden Boat on Martha’s Vineyard – A Review
In late May, we posted about the publication of a beautiful new book by Alison Shaw and Tom Dunlop, Schooner – Building a Wooden Boat on Martha’s Vineyard. We recently had the opportunity to read the book. Our review: Schooner – … Continue reading
Posted in Lore of the Sea, Newbooks, Reviews, Seastories
Tagged Alison Shaw, Rebecca of Vineyard Haven, schooner, Tom Dunlop
8 Comments
Paul, the Octopus Oracle, Retires On Top
Paul, an octopus, was a recent sensation when he accurately predicated the outcome of eight World Cup games in a row; as many games as he has legs. Now the World Cup is over and Paul, a resident of the Sea Life aquarium … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Oberhausen, octopus, Paul, Sea Life aquarium, World Cup
Leave a comment
Blue Whales in Monterey Bay
Whale watchers were stunned last week to see 28 blue whales feeding on krill in Monterey Bay. Blue whales are the largest animal ever to live on earth and are also highly endangered with an estimated population of only 10,000 … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged blue whale, humpback whale, krill, Monterey Bay
Leave a comment
Sailing Cross-Country on a Pterosail
John MacTaggart is attempting to sail cross-country on a Pterosail, a recumbent trike with a sail and solar panel. He set off on July 1st in San Diego and is now in New Mexico on his way to Florida. He … Continue reading
Summer Sunset Schooner Regatta in New York Harbor
At the end of the recent holiday weekend I was amazed to see what at first looked like a schooner race in New York harbor. Six large schooners were all short tacking down the channel against a gentle southerly breeze. I soon realized … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged A.J. Meerwald, Adirondack, Adirondack III, Clipper City, new york harbor, Pioneer, schooner, Shearwater
1 Comment
Oak Jam from HMS Victory?
Oak flavored jam? Wood from HMS Victory bottled as a jam in a jar Admiral Lord Nelson led HMS Victory out of a few sticky situations, but now the ship finds itself in a bit of a jam. Off-cuts of … Continue reading
Hot Times on the Charlotte Maersk – Fire Reported Contained
A fire in deck containers stowed forward of the house on the 8,000 TEU containership, Charlotte Maersk, is reported to be contained. The fire broke out on Wednesday as the ship was passing through the Straits of Malacca bound … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Charlotte Maersk, containership, fire, Malaysia, Straits of Malacca
2 Comments
Irony Watch: One Whale Not Skimming Oil & Another That May Be, Unfortunately
A sad irony that doesn’t actually involve whales. The converted Ore/Bulk/Oil ship named “A Whale“ has not yet proven effective in skimming oil from the water, though modifications and testing continue. ‘A Whale’ oil skimmer testing extended a week Unfortunately, whale … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged A Whale, Ore/Bulk/Oil ship, skimmer, whale shark
Leave a comment
“A Collision at Sea…” the Most Famous Thing Thucydides Never Said
Thucydides is often said to have first written, “A collision at sea can ruin your entire day, ” in his epic history, The Peloponnesian War. While the statement is unquestionably true, Thucydides never wrote it. Today the New York Times’ Fred Shapiro … Continue reading
Posted in Language, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Fred Shapiro, Navy Capt. W. B. “Bill” Hayler, New York Times, Peloponnesian War, Thucydides
2 Comments
The New Generation of Narco Submarines
Until recent the narco subs used to smuggle cocaine into the United States were submarines in name only, as they were not designed to dive underwater and resurface. Last week, however, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Ecuadorian authorities seized a 108 … Continue reading
Revolutionary War Sister Ships Cannons on EBay
Thanks to Alaric Bond for pointing out this wonderful auction on EBay. No bids yet but there are still five days left. I would love to own these beauties but can’t figure out where I would put them or what I would … Continue reading
