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Monthly Archives: November 2010
SS Great Britain’s ‘significant’ new maritime library
A wonderful collection of more than 9,000 books and periodicals on ships and the sea has gone on display in a new library in Bristol. SS Great Britain’s ‘significant’ new maritime library The David MacGregor Library, named after a life-long supporter … Continue reading
Posted in Lore of the Sea
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Dive to the Titanic from your Desktop
I am not much of a computer gamer, but this looks like fun. Astragon\TML Studios has a new diving simulator that lets you pilot a submersible and ROV around and through the wreck of the Titanic. The graphics may not be quite … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Astragon\TML Studios, diving simulator, Titanic
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What secrets lie in Sydney’s ship cemetery?
Earlier in the month we posted about New York harbor’s “graveyard of ships”. Yesterday the Daily Telegraph featured an interesting article about Sydney’s ship cemetery – an abandoned wrecking yard in Homebush Bay where several wooden barges and at least five ships … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Ayrfield, Homebush Bay, Newcastle collier, SS Heroic, Sydney's ship cemetery
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Van Liew wins 1st leg of Velux 5 Oceans Round the World Race
Brad Van Liew has won the first leg of the Velux 5 Oceans Singlehanded Round the World Race arriving in South Africa in only 28 days after his departure from La Rochelle, France. Van Liew wins 1st leg of race – … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Brad Van Liew, Cape Town, France, La Rochelle, Le Pingouin, Velux 5 Oceans
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Donald McNarry – Master of “Extreme” Miniature Shipbuilding
Donald McNarry Donald McNarry, who has died aged 89, was considered by model ship enthusiasts to be the master of “extreme” miniature shipbuilding. He took up model making as a hobby when he was a boy and built model ships … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged "extreme" miniature shipbuildin, Donald McNarry, model making
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Laura Dekker Resumes her Sail Around the World Alone
After waiting out the hurricane season in the Canary Islands 15-year-old Dutch sailor Laura Dekker has resumed her attempt to sail around the world alone on her 38′ ketch Guppy. Ms. Dekker had been at the center of a … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged 15-year-old Dutch sailor, 38' ketch Guppy, Jessica Watson, Laura Dekker
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British Sailors, Paul and Rachel Chandler, Freed by Somali Pirates
After more than a year long ordeal, British sailors Paul and Rachel Chandler were released today by Somali pirates. The retired couple was seized by the pirates on October 22, 2009. Paul and Rachel Chandler released by Somali pirates … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Paul and Rachel Chandler, Seychelles, Somali pirates
3 Comments
Why did the Carnival Splendor go dark?
How could an fire in one of two engine rooms do sufficient damage to the electrical distribution system on the Carnival Splendor to completely disable the ship? The answer isn’t obvious. The Carnival Splendor is diesel electric powered, which is to say, instead of … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Carnival Splendor, diesel electric propulsion, engine rooms, fire
64 Comments
Robert Louis Stevenson, Tusitala & Creator of Long John Silver
Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson was born today 160 years ago in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father grandfather and great-uncles were light house engineers and designers, but Robert was too sickly as a child to follow in the family profession. Instead, he became a writer, … Continue reading
Posted in History, Lore of the Sea, Seastories
3 Comments
Smoke on the Water – A Post from Carnival Cruise Director’s Blog
It started as a tweet ( a post on Twitter) from Carnival Cruise Lines: “You can view Sr Cruise Director, John Heald’s new blog post about his experience onboard Carnival Splendor here.” OK, that sounded interesting, I suppose. … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
4 Comments
Search Continues for Missing Crew from Bulk Carrier Nasco Diamond
On Thursday morning, Nasco Diamond loaded with 55,000 tonnes of nickel ore from Indonesia to China was reported missing and believed to have sunk off the southern coast of Japan. Five of the twenty five crew have been accounted for, with at least … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Intercargo, missing crew, Nasco Diamond, southern coast of Japan
7 Comments
Bernard Cornwell’s The Fort – A Review
Bernard Cornwell’s The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War is not strictly speaking nautical fiction but does focus on an ill-fated expedition that ended as the worst American naval defeat prior to Pear Harbor. At first glance, The Fort … Continue reading
Posted in History, Newbooks, Reviews, Seastories
Tagged Bernard Cornwell, Penobscot Bay, The Fort
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Canada’s Naval History – a New Online Exhibit Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Canada’s Navy
The Canadian War Museum is marking the 100th anniversary of Canada’s navy with a fascinating new online exhibit – Canada’s Naval History. Canadian War Museum launches online naval history exhibition “Canada’s Naval History explores the wide range of this country’s … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Canada's Naval History, Canadian War Museum
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Remembering Merchant Mariners on Veterans Day
On this anniversary of the armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day or the eleventh month that ended the “war to end all wars,” it seems worthwhile to remember the often overlooked role of merchant mariners in national defense. Though it … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea
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