RCCL’s Explorer of the Seas Sets New Record for Contagion with Almost 700 Ill

It is no doubt not a record that Royal Caribbean would have aspired to. Their ship, Explorer of the Seas, on its voyage from New York harbor to the Eastern Caribbean, from January 21-29, 2014, had the largest outbreak of … Continue reading

The Left Coast Lifter Arrives in New York to Build the New Tappan Zee Bridge

The “Left Coast Lifter” has arrived in New York.  The Lifter is described by the New York Times as the “superman of floating cranes.” It is a shear-leg crane barge capable of lifting over 1,800 tons, built to help lift … Continue reading

Norovirus on RCCL Explorer of the Seas — Worse than Cannibal Rats

My next door neighbors left last Tuesday for a 10 day cruise in the Eastern Caribbean on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship Explorer of the Seas.  I saw them shortly before they departed.  We were both shoveling snow from our … Continue reading

“Gasparilla Pirate Fest” and the Fictitious Pirate, Jose Gaspar

Today, Tampa, Florida will be “invaded” by pirates. Every year about this time, Tampa celebrates the Gasparilla Pirate Fest notionally in honor of Jose Gaspar, reputed to be the “Last Buccaneer.” It is described as “a swashbuckling good time” involving … Continue reading

The Ghost Ship, the Irish Coast Guard, Chris Reynolds and Uri Geller

I may owe Chris Reynolds an apology.  In a reply to a comment about our post, Lyubov Orlova, Ghost Ship Crewed by Cannibal Rats Drifting Toward the UK — Phony Hysteria on a Slow News Day?, I suggested that Reynolds, Director, … Continue reading

British Maritime & Coast Guard Agency Statement on the “Ghost Ship” Lyubov Orlova

The Twitterverse has gone crazy (crazier?) over reports of the Ghost Ship Swarming With Cannibal Rats Bound for Britain. Dozens of newspaper websites have feaverishly picked up the story.  In all the foolishness, I was reminded of Evelyn Waugh’s satirical novel “Scoop” … Continue reading

Clipper Ship City of Adelaide — Close to Home but Short on Cash

The world’s oldest surviving clipper ship, City of Adelaide, has arrived in Port Hedland, Western Australia. She has been carried from Scotlandon the deck of the heavy-lift ship MV Palanpur, with intermediate stops to load and discharge other cargo.  MV Palanpur is … Continue reading