On August 15th, 1653, the Dutch East India Company ship, Sperwer (Sparrow Hawk), was shipwrecked on Jeju Island off the southern coast of Korea. Thirty six of the sixty four crew survived. One of the survivors was the ship’s book keeper, Hendrick … Continue reading
Category Archives: Ships
In May, we posted about the death of Claude Choules at 110. Choules was the last surviving veteran of World War I. Yesterday, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the ex-Royal Navy Largs Bay, a Bay class landing ship dock, would be commissioned as … Continue reading
We recently posted about the Chinese conversion of the Russian aircraft carrier Varyag. China is not the only country looking to surplus Russian aircraft carriers to expand their naval power. India purchased the surplus carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, from the Russians … Continue reading
The barque Elissa is one of the true ship restoration success stories. The ship was rescued from near oblivion and restored at considerable cost by a dedicated group of volunteers. She has been well maintained in Galveston and has been taken on yearly sails, … Continue reading
The Viking longboat replica, Dragens Vinge, is reported to have broken up in a gale while on a voyage from Norway to Lerwick. The crew was rescued by helicopter fifty miles 50 miles east of Shetland after they activated the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon … Continue reading
In May, we posted about what appears to be the deck of an aircraft carrier built onto the top of a government building in China (China takes a Great Leap Forward in the Concrete Carrier Arms Race.) Some speculated that … Continue reading
The next Great North River Tugboat Race and Competition is coming up on Labor Day weekend, on September 4th on the Hudson River in New York harbor. If my count is correct, this will be the 19th annual tug boat race. One of the … Continue reading
The Royal Navy has appointed Lt Cdr Sarah West the command of HMS Portland, a Type 23 Duke Class Frigate launched in 1999. When she takes command on April 2012, she will be the first woman to command a Royal Navy warship. West previously … Continue reading
I am not sure that this is necessarily a good idea. The US Navy is developing unmanned robotic guard ships which could be used to patrol coastal waters. An interesting idea, but getting the deployment right will be a real … Continue reading
Under the Rules of the Road, sailing vessels generally have the right of way over motor vessels, unless the motor vessel is limited by an ability to maneuver. Specifically, “small vessels or sailing vessels must not impede (larger) vessels which can navigate only within a … Continue reading
Last December we posted that the Tallship Soren Larsen was for sale. She has now apparently been acquired by new owners who will move the ship to Sydney, Australia but will otherwise maintain her Pacific sailing schedules. We wish the new owners and operators the best of luck … Continue reading
The US Coast Guard Barque Eagle visited Brooklyn, New York this weekend and was open to visitors. She is beautifully maintained and staffed by smart, eager and enthusiastic cadets. Most of the cadets had been aboard for roughly one day, … Continue reading
There is open speculation that the expansion of the Argentine Navy lead by the construction of its first nuclear submarine could prove a threat to Britain’s ability to defend and hold the Falkland Islands. Argentina developing nuclear-powered submarine Argentina has … Continue reading
When, many, many years ago, I moved from Florida to Michigan to go to school, I stopped scuba diving entirely. I had learned to dive in the warm and clear waters of the Florida keys. Why would I want to dive … Continue reading
This is an interesting story for several reasons. First, archaeologists believe that they may have discovered the wreckage of a 17th century ship lost off the coast of Panama in 1671, from the famed Captain Henry Morgan‘s fleet. Second, a … Continue reading
Last June, the inaptly named MV Wisdom, under tow to a scrap yard, broke her tow line and drifted on to Juhu beach in Mumbai, India, after narrowly missing a major bridge. This Sunday, the tanker, MT Pavit, drifted ashore … Continue reading
We just heard from the good folks at PortSide NewYork that the US Coast Guard barque Eagle will be open to the public for the first time ever in Brooklyn, beginning Friday afternoon and continuing Saturday and Sunday at Pier 7 at … Continue reading
In June, we posted about Polynesian voyaging canoes of the “Te Mana o Te Moana” (Spirit of the Sea) expedition arriving in Hilo, Hawaii after sailing from New Zealand by way of the Marquesas and Tahiti. Yesterday, six of the vaka, … Continue reading
A well done video of Irish Naval Service fleet exercises. Naval Service Exercises [iframe: width=”475″ height=”300″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/5TPxuc3-ipM” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen] Thanks to Alaric Bond for pointing the video out. … Continue reading
Beautiful photography by Doug Mills of the The Great Schooner Race of 2011 in Penobscot Bay. It looks like they had a day of light air so the race may have been a touch on the slow side. Nevertheless the schooners are beautiful. The Great Schooner … Continue reading