Ernest Borgnine has died at the age of 95. He joined the Navy in 1935, straight out of high school and served through World War II, leaving the service with the rank of gunner’s mate 1st class. He became an actor, appearing in over … Continue reading
Category Archives: Current
The City of New York is a city of islands, large and small, floating in a vast harbor and waterway. Only one of the five boroughs is on the mainland and that even borough, the Bronx, is on a peninsula, with water on three sides. … Continue reading
To say that this will be a busy weekend on the New England waterfront may be an understatement. Following the 4th of July festivities in Boston, OpSail 2012 CT starts today in New London, CT, with an impressive fleet of ships. Only about 50 … Continue reading
We have blogged too often about the loss of life after overcrowded boats capsized off Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Papau New Guinea. This week was sad reminder that the problem of overloaded boats is not limited to the developing world. On Wednesday evening … Continue reading
The Navy’s Floating Instrument Platform, better known as FLIP, went into service fifty years ago, in 1962. The 355-foot research vessel is capable of operating horizontally as a conventional, if somewhat odd-looking, ship. When on station, however, it “flips” vertically 90 degrees and becomes the … Continue reading
In a previous Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 2009-2013, the U.S. Navy estimated that 150,000 marine mammals could be harmed in sonar training and testing exercises. Now in the EIS for 2014-2018, Navy estimates have soared, suggesting that sonar training and testing might unintentionally harm marine mammals 2.8 … Continue reading
For several years now cruise ships fans have been concerned that the 2008 debt crunch in Dubai would result in the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 being sold for scrap instead of being converted to a luxury hotel, as had been the plan when she … Continue reading
We recently posted about OpSail 2012 and Boston’s weeklong celebration of the USS Constitution and the bicentennial of the War of 1812. The USS Constitution, nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after British round shot bounced off her oak planks, is the world’s … Continue reading
Extremely disturbing news coming out of Italy regarding the Costa Concordia, which ran aground and sank off the island of Giglio on January 13, 2012 with the deaths of at least 30 passengers. If the reports prove to be true, the ship was sailing with open watertight … Continue reading
Mississippi lawyer John Arthur Eaves is supposed to be good at his job and is, by reputation, a pretty smart fellow. He recently filed a law suit claiming that the Costa Concordia was “defectively designed,” a ” floating coffin,” had a “propensity … to … Continue reading
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has taken the bold step of announcing that “no evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found.” In other words, mermaids aren’t real! Something is fishy here. On the other hand, the government has also denied the existence of space aliens, yet how else … Continue reading
Arthur Sewall, a shipbuilder, shipowner and industrialist from Bath Maine, is quoted near the turn of the 20th century, saying, “As long as the wind blows and water flows there will be sailing ships built and business to keep them … Continue reading
We posted yesterday about Sailing for Couch Potatoes, or how to watch the America’s Cup Races without leaving your couch. NBC, for example, is broadcasting the America’s Cup World Series Finale on Sunday. The New York Times this morning featured an article describing briefly how the Cup Races … Continue reading
The story began around 3AM Wednesday morning, when a US Coast Guard boarding team, conducting a random sweep on the container ship Ville D’Aquarius, near Sandy Hook, just outside New York harbor, heard a knocking sound which appeared to be coming from somewhere in the ship’s … Continue reading
Another in the series from Seafarers UK in observation of Seafarers Awareness Week. If world trade is going to continue to grow, we will more well trained seafarers. Seafarers UK is a major supporter of Sea Cadets. Seafarers UK Sea Cadets [iframe: … Continue reading
Back in the old days, the America’s Cup was sailed in 12 Meter yachts in the often misty light air of Rhode Island Sound. It was a competition more suited to still photography than video. How times have changed. Now elimination matches are being sailed in … Continue reading
Seafarers UK has put together a series of videos describing their mission and why it matters. Here a widow of a fisherman describes the roll of Seafarers UK in her family’s recovery following their loss. Seafarers UK Fisherman’s Widow [iframe: … Continue reading
A boat loaded with asylum seekers has capsized in Indonesian waters about 107 nautical miles north of Australia’s Christmas Island. The boat is reported to have had 150 passengers and crew aboard. CNN is reporting that 136 have been rescued by two merchants ships. … Continue reading
For anyone who loves wooden boats, Mystic Seaport is the place to be this weekend. Starting Friday and running through the weekend, the 21st Annual WoodenBoat Show will feature a fleet of beautiful wooden boats of all shapes and sizes as well … Continue reading
Beginning this Saturday, Boston Harbor will once again be filled with tall masts and square sails. OpSail Boston 2012 is celebrating the USS Constitution and the bicentennial of the War of 1812. The USS Constitution, nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after British round shot bounced off her oak planks, … Continue reading