Historic riverboat, Becky Thatcher, sinks in Ohio River

The historic riverboat, Becky Thatcher, a 220-foot, 74-year-old stern-wheeler sank in the Ohio River off Neville Island near Pittburgh, apparently due to the weight of a record snowfall which also collapsed the top two decks. Historic riverboat sinks in Ohio River … Continue reading

Poisoned Shipments: Are Strange, Illicit Sinkings Making the Mediterranean Toxic?

A very disturbing article in this months Scientific American suggesting that criminal groups have been scuttling ships containing chemical and pharmaceutical waste, effectively using the Mediterranean as a toxic dump site. Thanks to Steve Phelps for pointing it out. Poisoned Shipments: Are Strange, Illicit Sinkings Making … Continue reading

Fleet Grows for Green Bay’s Tall Ship Festival

There are twelve tall ships scheduled to participate in Green Bay, Wisconsin’s  Tall Ship festival this August, though at this point, only six names have been announced. These are the HMS Bounty, the schooners Roseway, Amistad, the Pride of Baltimore II, the Unicorn … Continue reading

“Class Afloat” School Ship Concordia Sinks Off Brazil

The West Island College “Class Afloat” school ship Concordia, en route between Recife, Brazil and Montevideo, Uruguay,  is reported to have sunk last night off the coast of Brazil.   All 64 passengers and crew were reported safe after being  rescued by the Brazilian Navy and Air Force. … Continue reading

USS Kittiwake – From Ghost Fleet To Artificial Reef

Old Navy ship set to depart Va. ‘Ghost Fleet’ The federal Maritime Administration is scheduled to tow another ship from Virginia’s so-called “Ghost Fleet.”   A former Navy submarine rescue ship called Kittiwake is set to become the 85th ship to … Continue reading

Sea Shepherd Farce Continues – Illegal Boarding and Foam Baby Crocodiles

The Sea Shepherd farce continues.  The ex-captain of the Ady Gil cut through anti-boarding nets to board a Japanese whaler and was immediately arrested.   In related news, Sea Shepherd crew onboard the Steve Irwin, a vessel named for the television … Continue reading

Project Azorian – The CIA’s Declassified History of the Glomar Explorer

Over thirty years ago when I was in college studying naval architecture,  a classmate of mine got a summer job working as a naval architect for Sun Shipyard helping to design some part of the new deep sea mining ship, … Continue reading

Last Two Surviving “Spitfires of the Seas” Saved

Last Operational World War II Motor Boats Saved For The Nation Two of the last remaining fully operational high-speed World War II motor boats have been saved for the nation today by Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, with the help … Continue reading

The Sinking of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff, 65 Years Ago – the Greatest Maritime Disaster in History

Many ships carrying civilians were sunk during World War II by both sides. If current estimates are correct, the torpedoing of the M/V Wilhelm Gustloff resulted in the largest loss of life from the sinking of one vessel in maritime … Continue reading