Twice Forgotten: Story of the WWII Submarine R-12

An interesting Kickstarter fundraiser to complete the documentary “Twice Forgotten: Heroes of the R12 Submarine,” about the WWII submarine USS R-12, which sank off the coast of Key West, Florida on June 12, 1943 with the loss of 40 American sailors and 2 Brazilian officers. … Continue reading

Murder of a Tall Ship Sailor – Kyle Bruner, Chief Mate on Liberty Clipper, Gunned Down in Nassau, Bahamas

Sadly, the world is a dangerous place, both at sea and ashore. Over the weekend, Kyle Bruner, chief mate on the schooner Liberty Clipper  was murdered in Nassau, Bahamas while attempting to stop a mugging.  As reported by NBC Chicago: Kyle … Continue reading

“Whisky Galore” Bottles fetch £12,050

Two bottles of whisky salvaged from the wreck of the cargo ship SS Politician have been sold for £12,050 after an online auction.   The wreck inspired the novel “Whisky Galore” and the movie of the same name. Whisky Galore bottles … Continue reading

Is the AC72 the Boat That Could Sink the America’s Cup?

Wired Magazine ran a weirdly prophetic article that appears to have been published almost immediately before the tragic death of British Olympian, Andrew Simpson, in the capsize of the Swedish Artemis Racing AC72 catamaran yesterday in San Francisco Bay.  In the article, titled “The Boat That Could … Continue reading

The “Shutter Plank” Goes on the Whaleship Charles W. Morgan Today at Mystic Seaport, CT

Correction:  The original post listed the wrong date for the anticipated launching of the  Charles W. Morgan. The correct date is  July 21, 2013. Congratulations to the Mystic Seaport Museum and all those working on the whaleship Charles W. Morgan.  This afternoon at around 2PM, … Continue reading

British Olympian Dies in Artemis Racing AC72 Capsize Practicing for the America’s Cup

Andrew Simpson, a British double Olympic medalist and a sailor with the Swedish Artemis Racing team, has died in the capsize of an AC72 catamaran while practicing in San Francisco Bay for the upcoming America’s Cup races. One other sailor is reported to be seriously injured There were 11 … Continue reading

South Street Seaport Museum’s Schooner Pioneer Sails Again

This weekend,  the South Street Seaport Museum’s schooner Pioneer set sail again from the seaport in New York’s East River.  After two summers of sitting tied to the dock the venerable old schooner, built of iron in 1885, is again carrying passengers on regular sails in … Continue reading

Container/Ro-Ro Ship Jolly Nero Topples Genoa Port Tower, At Least 7 Dead

The container/ro-ro ship Jolly Nero  slammed into the port control tower in Genoa, Italy on Tuesday night around 11PM, destroying the 165 ft-tall cement tower and killing at least seven.  Four people were reported to be injured  and at least two are still missing.  … Continue reading

Update: Chinese Vessel Did More Damage to Tubbataha Reef than USS Guardian

Despite being smaller than the USS Guardian and spending less time aground on the Tubbataha reef, the Chinese fishing vessel F/V Min Long Yu, which ran aground on the protected reef on April 8, apparently did more damage than the US Navy minesweeper.  In addition … Continue reading

Moby Dick on a Barge and the Card Game

For those near New York harbor, the Brave New World Repertory Theatre is presenting MOBY DICK–REHEARSED by Orson Welles, co-directed by John Morgan and Alexander Harrington at Red Hook’s Waterfront Museum & Showboat Barge on May 3-5 & 10-12 at 7:30. … Continue reading

E/S Orcelle – Wallenius Wilhelmsen Concept Car Carrier Powered by Sun, Wind and Waves

In a recent Working Harbor Committee presentation, “Sailing Ships at Work – Past, Present and Future,” we included the E/S Orcelle, a Wallenius Wilhelmsen concept car carrier design, as an example of an innovative design that featured wing sails, as one … Continue reading