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Monthly Archives: December 2011
The Schooners of Madagascar and the Brittany Shipwrights
Last month we posted about the Bugis schooners of Indonesia – Where the Age of Sail Never Ended – the Bugis Phinisi, an Appreciation. Recently AFP (Agence France-Presse) published an article about another region where the age of commercial sail … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Brittany, Joachim brothers, King Radama II, Madagascar, schooners, shipwrights
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Congratulations to Australian Rear Admiral & General Robyn Walker
Only months after allowing women to serve in frontline combat units, Australia has promoted Commodore Robyn Walker to Rear Admiral, the nation’s first female admiral. Admiral Walker will also serve as the Australian Defence Force surgeon-general. Admiral and surgeon general? Rear Admiral Walker … Continue reading
Cargo Ship TK Bremen Blown Ashore on Kerminihy Beach in Southern Brittany, Leaking Oil
The Maltese flagged 6,600 DWT dry cargo ship, TK Bremen, was stranded this morning in high winds on Kerminihy beach at Erdeven, in southern Brittany, near the port of Lorient, France. Some of the 220 tons of fuel on board … Continue reading
Posted in Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Brittany, Erdeven, France, Kerminihy beach, Lorient, TK Bremen
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Russian Fishing Vessel Sparta Listing After Striking Sea Ice in Antarctica
The 157 feet long Russian fishing vessel, Sparta, with a crew of 32 aboard, was holed below the waterline after striking sea ice in the Ross Sea off Antarctica early Friday morning. The vessel is reporting have a one foot hole, five feet … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Antarctica, Chiyo Maru No. 3, Ross Sea, Russian fishing vessel, San Aspiring, sea ice, Sparta
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First Tsunami Flotsam Arrives on West Coast & Perfect Storm Flotsam Discovery in Ireland
Two stories about flotsam and ocean currents. The first flotsam from the earthquake and tsunami, which struck Japan on March 11, is beginning to arrive on the West Coast of the United States. A large black float, believed to have floated from Japan, was … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Curtis Ebbesmeyer, flotsam, Ireland, Japan, Perfect Storm, tsunami
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China’s First New-Old Aircraft Carrier Returns from Second Sea Trial
Last Sunday the first Chinese aircraft carrier returned from its second round of sea trials. The as of yet unnamed carrier, which reports suggest will be christened Shi Lang, was originally the unfinished Russian aircraft carrier Varyag whose keel was laid … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Chinese aircraft carrier, Russian aircraft carrier, Shi Lang, Varyag
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Building the Viking Longboat Dragon Harald Fairhair
In western Norway, an ocean going Viking longship is taking shape. Named the Dragon Harald Fairhair, (or in Norwegian Draken Harald Hårfagre) she is the largest Viking longship to have been built in modern times and is due to be … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged clinker-built, Dragon Harald Fairhair, Norway, Viking longboat
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Great Moments in Maritime Porcelain – Kaiser Willhelm’s Urinal Found at Bottom of Baltic
German maritime archaeologists believe that they have to have found a urinal used by Kaiser Wilhelm II in the wreck of the light-cruiser, Udine, lying on the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The Udine was sunk by the British in … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Kaiser Willhelm, light cruiser, Udine, urinal
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Schooner Spirit of South Carolina For Sale
Sad news from the Palmetto State. The South Carolina Maritime Foundation plans to try to sell the schooner Spirit of South Carolina to pay off its mounting debts. The foundation is reported to be being sued by a bank and a … Continue reading
Instead of a Jet Pack – the Zapata Water-Jet Flyboard
I suppose for those who never got over not getting a jet pack for Christmas as a kid, the Zapata Racing water-jet Flyboard just might be perfect. It appears that if you connect one of these contraptions to a powerful … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Flyboard, jet ski, personal watercraft, water-jet, Zapata
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How Big is Too Big? The Strange Case of the Valemax VLOCs
The Vale Brasil is the largest dry cargo ship in the world with a capacity of over 400,000 DWT. It is the first of the Valemax class of Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOC). The Vale Brasil was built with one purpose – to carry iron … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Vale Brasil, Valemax, Very Large Ore Carriers, VLOC
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The Gundalow Piscataqua Splashes into the Piscataqua River
For over 200 years, gundalows – sail and oar powered cargo barges – moved on the winds and tides of the rivers and estuaries along the New England coast. Yesterday, the brand new gundalow, Piscataqua, splashed into the the Piscataqua River … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Captain Edward H. Adams, gundalow, New Hampshire, Peirce Island, Piscataqua, Portsmouth
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Cutty Sark’s Masts Rise Again
After being gutted by fire in 2007, the 1869 composite tea clipper Cutty Sark has been undergoing a methodical reconstruction. She reached a milestone recently when her foremast was restepped in the ship. The main and mizzen masts are expected to be … Continue reading
ROV Training on the Tanker Mary A. Whalen
Yesterday we posted about the New York Police Department Harbor Unit’s use of ROVs to maintain security in the harbot. We had missed an amusing post by Portside New York‘s Carolina Salguero on NPYD security training on the MARY A. WHALEN. From her post: … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Harbor Unit, Mary Whalen, New York Police Department, NYPD, ROV, tanker
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