Remembering the Birkenhead Drill — Women and Children First!

HMS Birkenhead was one of the first iron-hulled ships built for the Royal Navy. She was designed as a steam frigate, but was converted to a troopship before being commissioned in 1851. While transporting troops and a few civilians to … Continue reading

Footage Documents Orcas Killing Great White Shark Off South Africa, Devouring the Liver

Over the last five years, a macabre mystery has been playing out on the South African coast. The carcasses of great white sharks have been washing ashore on local beaches with their bellies ripped open and their livers missing. What … Continue reading

African Penguins Endangered by Shipping Noise in Algoa Bay

A disturbing report from Reuters:  The already endangered African penguin is being driven away from its natural habitat off the east coast of South Africa due to noise from ship refueling, a scientific study has found. The number of African … Continue reading

Fanning to Shark — “Thanks For Not Eating Me!”

Shark attacks are rare. Shark attacks on live television are virtually unprecedented, which is why the video of an encounter between Australian champion surfer, Mick Fanning, and a large shark in the waters off South Africa caught on live TV spread so rapidly … Continue reading

The Sardine Run — Gannetts, Sharks, Dolphins & Divers

A remarkable video of gannetts, sharks, dolphins & divers diving on the sardine run on the Agulhas Bank off South Africa. Shark Explorers – Sardine Run 2013 From Scuba Diver Life — Gearing Up For South Africa’s Sardine Run Exactly … Continue reading

Volvo Ocean Race Off to Rough Start – Two of Six Boats Damaged in First 24 Hours

The six boats competing in the Volvo Ocean Race departed from Alicante, Spain yesterday and were immediately battered by rough seas and high winds while still in the Mediterranean.  The Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing‘s Azzam lost her mast only six hours and 85 nautical … Continue reading

MT Phoenix Finally Free from Salt Rocks, Sheffield Beach, South Africa

The MT Phoenix, which has been hard aground and leaking oil on a South African beach, is finally free. This Saturday, two salvage tugs, Smit Amanda and Smit Siyanda, under the direction of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), successfully towed the ship … Continue reading

Second Leg of the Velux Five Oceans Race Underway

The second leg of the Velux Five Oceans singlehanded around the world race began today with the five  competitors  setting  sail from Cape Town, South Africa bound for Wellington, NZ, a 7,000 mile voyage across the wild Southern Ocean.  Brad Van Liew, … Continue reading

On the SA Agulhas, All Woman Crew Makes History

The SA Agulhas is South Africa’s ice-strengthened polar research vessel.  The ship recently completed a five day voyage with an all woman crew and on her arrival in Port Elizabeth Harbor was guided into port by a woman harbor pilot.   As part of National … Continue reading