Wreck of Steamer Planter Found On South Carolina Coast — Commanded by Robert Smalls

Posted on by May 17, 2014

Two years ago, we posted about the the 150th anniversary of the seizure of the Confederate armed transport, CSS Planter, by Robert Smalls, a 23 year old mulatto slave, and eight fellow slaves. Smalls, who had served as the pilot of the transport, steamed it out past the batteries and forts of Charleston harbor and turned it over to the Union naval blockade.  Smalls would go on to become the first black Captain of a U.S. Navy vessel, a South Carolina State Legislator, a Major General in the South Carolina Militia, a five-term U.S. Congressman and a U.S. Collector of Customs.  This week archaeologists announced that they believe to have found the buried wreck of the Planter, off Cape Romainon the South Carolina coast, where the vessel later sank in 1876.

Ship taken by slaves 152 years ago found off South Carolina coast

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Update: SS Port Nicholson — No Platinum So Far

Posted on by May 16, 2014

In early 2012, we posted about claims made by Greg Brooks of Sub Sea Research that they had found “the worlds richest shipwreck,” the British freighter, SS Port Nicholson, carrying a secret cargo of 71 tons of platinum, sunk by the German submarine U-87 on June 16th, 1942, northeast of Cape
Cod, MS. The claim was met with skepticism, as there was no platinum on the ship’s Bill of Lading or any other evidence of the precious metal. The platinum could be worth $3 billion once salvaged, if it exists at all. There were also claims made about jewels, gold and silver aboard the ship.  At the time, we commented that “press releases are not platinum.”

Since then Brooks and his group have retrieved artifacts from the ship, including a broken compass, a fire extinguisher, and a brick.  As Michael Kaplan, an attorney represented the United Kingdom’s interest in the ship, commented to the Bangor Daily News, the salvors are missing the claimed “jewels, gold, platinum, and silver.” Kaplan also pointed out that world platinum production in the years prior to World War II averaged around 15.5 tons per year, so it is unlikely that a single ship would be carrying 71tons, roughly equal to 4.5 years of worldwide platinum production.

After reportedly spending $8 million of his investor’s money, Brooks may now be considering ending his hunt and selling off expedition assets, including the main salvage vessel.

The Navy Goes NeRD – the New Navy E-Reader

Posted on by May 15, 2014

140508104431-navy-e-reader-story-topThe Navy is issuing five Navy e-Reader Devices, or NeRDs, each preloaded with 300 books to each of the submarines in the fleet, and if all goes well plans to send NeRDs to all Navy vessels.   The e-Readers are pretty basic. They have no wi-fi connectivity and no ports or card readers.  They will be loaded with current best-sellers and public domain classics as well as titles from the Navy reading list and professional development texts.

As reported by CNN: “I know the paperbacks (on Navy ships) get passed back and forth until they fall apart,” said Nilya Carrato, program assistant for the Navy General Library Program. “We’re hoping the NeRD holds up a little better.”

Each NeRD will offer a mix of fiction, nonfiction, best-sellers, classics and historical books selected by the Navy. Popular titles will include the “Game of Thrones” series, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” “Ender’s Game,” “The Lord of the Rings,” Stephen King’s “The Stand” and “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”

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In Search of Columbus’ Flagship Santa Maria

Posted on by May 15, 2014

SantaMaria2Columbus’ flagship, Santa Maria, ran aground and sank on Christmas Day 1492 off Haiti, on Columbus’ first voyage to the New World. Now after more than a decade’s research, underwater explorer Barry Clifford believes that he has found the wreck of Columbus’ ship. The wreck was originally discovered in 2003, but was not initially ruled out.  Clifford told CNN, archaeologists at the time “misdiagnosed” the cannon found on the wreck.  Clifford said, “Every single piece fits. Now, of course, we have to go through the whole archeological process, and we plan to do that within the next few months, but I feel very confident that we’ve discovered the site.” 

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Belated Happy Mother’s Day to Orca J2, aka Granny, 103 Years Old

Posted on by May 15, 2014
Photo: Capt. Simon Pidcock / Ocean EcoVentures

Photo: Capt. Simon Pidcock / Ocean EcoVentures

A belated happy Mother’s day to the matriarch of the J pod, known as J2, but nicknamed “Granny,” by orca researchers who is believed to be 103 years old this year, and still swimming strong. The J pod is a southern resident group of orcas that inhabits the coastal waters from Haida Gwaii in British Columbia to Northern California for about eight months of the year. Remarkably, the centenarian “Granny” and the J Pod just traveled 800 miles in just under 8 days.

In the wild, male orcas live for around 30 years but often live for 50-60 years. Females typically live for around 50 years but as suggested by J2, Granny, can live much longer.

Granny, by the way, poses a problem for Sea World, which claims that orcas live about as long in captivity as in the wild. In the documentary “Blackfish,” one SeaWorld employee states that orcas in captivity live longer. “They tend to live a lot longer in this environment because they have all the veterinary care.” In fact, orcas live far shorter and less healthy lives in captivity. Several scientific studies concluded that captive orcas die at three times the rate of orcas in the wild. Of the 159 captive killer whales that have died, close to 2/3 didn’t make it beyond 10 years in captivity. Only 30 orcas survived more than 20 years in captivity.

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Don’t Lean on the Running Rigging

Posted on by May 9, 2014

This video has been around for some time, but I smile every time I see it.  Yes, it is in Dutch, but that hardly matters. Watch until the end.  The journalist is interviewing the mayor of the city of Kampen, which is on the the river IJssel.  The interview takes place on what appears to be a sailing vessel and the journalist uses what looks to be a brace line for support.  One word of advice — don’t lean on the running rigging.

Dutch Journalist falls into water while interviewing the mayor…

Women Serving on Submarines — US & Royal Navies & Soon the French

Posted on by May 11, 2014
Lieutenants Maxine Stiles, Alexandra Olsson and Penny Thackray (left-right) the first female RN submariners

Lieutenants Maxine Stiles, Alexandra Olsson and Penny Thackray (left-right) the first female RN submariners

Like many milestones, once it is past, it doesn’t seem like quite as big a deal.  Last week, three women made history by becoming the first female submariners to serve in the Royal Navy.

Female officers have served on US Navy submarines for the past several years.  Since the end of the ban on female submariners in 2010, 43 female US Navy officers have served aboard six Ohio-class ballistic-missile (SSBN) and guided-missile submarines (SSGN).  Submarines with women currently serving on board include USS Florida, USS Georgia and USS Wyoming, homeported in Kings Bay, Ga., and USS Ohio, USS Louisiana, and USS Maine, homeported in Bangor, Wash.

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Rare Goblin Shark Caught (and Released) Off Florida

Posted on by May 7, 2014

A rare goblin shark was caught and subsequently released by shrimp fishermen off Key West last week was only the second ever found in the region.  The goblin shark is described as ‘a rare, poorly understood species of deep-sea shark. Sometimes called a “living fossil”, it is the only extant representative of the family Mitsukurinidae, a lineage some 125 million years old.‘

That’s Not a Shrimp

Thanks to Phil Leon and Irwin Bryan for contributing to this post.

Schooner Fiddler’s Dream Donated to Kitsap Maritime Heritage Foundation

Posted on by May 9, 2014

Kitsap Maritime Heritage Foundation has announced that Seattle attorney Mike Withey is donating the 65′ schooner, Fiddler’s Dream, to the foundation.   KMHF was founded in March of 2012 with the stated purpose of being the premiere venue in the Puget Sound region for seekers of an historic seafaring experience; to bring a “tall ship,” or masted sailing vessel, to Kitsap County. The organization’s main emphasis involves exposing elementary-age school children to the ship and knowledgeable volunteers—to be a resource for history and social studies programs throughout the county who want to expose their students to first-hand knowledge of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

A floating classroom

Hughie Jones in Concert at the Noble Maritime Collection at Snug Harbor

Posted on by May 8, 2014
Click on thumbnail for larger image

Click on thumbnail for larger image

If you are in the area on Friday, May 9th, at 8PM, be sure to stop by the Noble Maritime Collection at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center at 1000 Richmond Terrace in Staten Island where the legendary British folk singer Hughie Jones will be performing live.  There will also be the dedication of a plaque to William Main Doerflinger, the sea shanty archivist who collected songs and stories of the sea at Snug Harbor.  Tickets are $15.

See our previous post from May 2011 – The William Main Doerflinger Memorial Sea Shanty Sessions at the Noble Maritime Collection at Snug Harbor  & The William Main Doerflinger Memorial Sea Shanty Session – September 18th, 2011

Farley Mowat — Writer & Sailor

Posted on by May 8, 2014

mowatI was saddened to hear of Farley Mowat’s death, at the age of 92.  Many will remember him as an environmentalist and a champion of the rights of native Canadians, as indeed he was.  I will remember him for his books about sailing and the sea. He wrote 45 books, most of which were not about the sea. He may be best known for Never Cry Wolf, which was also made into a movie.  

Nevertheless, his books Grey Seas Under  and The Serpent’s Coil are classic accounts of the little understood business of deep-sea salvage.  Mowat’s very funny book about his misnamed schooner, Happy Adventure, in the The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float should be required reading for any boat owner.  Whatever his subject, Mowat was a master storyteller. He will be long remembered.       

Two Dead Whales in Less Than a Month in New York Harbor

Posted on by May 8, 2014

seiwhale1Fin and sei whale are not usually seen in New York’s upper harbor, yet in a period of less than a month, two have made an appearance. Unfortunately, both were dead, pinned to the bows of ships.

On the April 12th, a 65′ fin whale was found in Port Elizabeth, carried in on the bow of a container ship. Last Sunday, a 45′ sei whale was carried into the harbor by the cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway. The dead whale may have been related to damage to one of the ship’s pod propulsion units. The damage delayed the ship’s docking by three hours, much to the displeasure of at least some of the 4,500 passengers aboard the ship. Evidence of striking the whale was found on the bow of the cruise ship. A necropsy of the female sei whale was not able to determine whether the whale was alive or not when it was hit by the cruise ship. Fin and sei whales are the second and third largest whales in the ocean, respectively. Both species are endangered.

While the focus in much of the media has been on Japanese “research” whaling, ship strikes pose a far greater risk to endangered whales. Continue reading →

Poveglia, the World’s Most Haunted Island for Sale

Posted on by May 7, 2014

Poveglia is a small island located between Venice and Lido in the Venetian Lagoon of northern Italy. Once a quarantine for plague victims, the island contains one or more pits where plague victims were buried en-masse. Some estimates suggest that 100,000 people died on the island over the centuries. It was later the home of a hospital for the mentally ill, which legend has it was run by a cruel doctor who performed unauthorized experiments on its residents. Perhaps not surprisingly, it is said to be the “most haunted” island in the world. It is also available for sale, or more precisely, a 99 year lease from the Italian government.

Not everyone is pleased by the prospective privitization of the island. A group of Venetians has formed the Poveglia Per Tutti (Poveglia For All) association to oppose the sale or lease. The group is seeking help in raising money to buy the island.  If you would like to share in the public ownership of an island in Venice with a colorful history, click here: Message-in-a-Bottle.org

Italy’s Haunted Island for Sale

SSV Oliver Hazard Perry — Nearing Completion & July 5th Gala

Posted on by May 6, 2014

ohp-haul-out-prThe SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, the largest square-rigged sailing ship built in this country in over 100 years, is nearing completion.  The 132′ long three masted steel ship has been hauled at at Newport Shipyard for final exterior work and painting. On the west coast, the Spar Shop at Gray’s Harbor Historical Seaport fabricated the masts, yards and spars on the largest tracer-lathe in North America.  The masts, yards and spars have been delivered to the Perry‘s crew of riggers in Portsmouth, R.I. who are finishing the standing rigging.  Likewise, Hood Sailmakers  is completing the ship’s 14,000 square feet of sails.  

From the OHP press release: 

“The Perry is a modern, steel-hulled ocean-going civilian sail training vessel, with a 13 ½ story rig and 20 sails (made by Hood Sailmakers in Middletown, R.I.) with 14,000 sq. ft. of sail area,” says the ship’s Captain Richard Bailey, a Wellfleet, Mass. native greatly respected for his previous Tall Ship commands and his knowledge of maritime traditions, education and their combined relevance in the modern world. “Her design is based on centuries-old tradition, but her equipment is anything but antiquated.”

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Dead Whale Found Floating in New York Harbor’s Upper Bay

Posted on by May 6, 2014

brooklynwhaleUpdate: The dead whale is now identified as a sei whale. One report says that it was hit by a cruise liner, possibly the Norwegian Breakaway.

Last month, a 60 ton dead fin whale arrived in New York harbor, pinned to the bow of a container ship calling on Port Elizabeth, NJ. This morning, a 25′ whale was spotted floating near the Brooklyn Army Terminal, close to the 58th Street pier. The New York Daily News has reported that the whale is a sperm whale, although the photos posted appear to be a baleen whale, such as a humpback or fin whale.

The whale was towed by the Army Corps of Engineers to Jersey City, where the Riverhead Foundation will attempt to determine how the whale died. Initial reports suggest that a large gash near the whale’s dorsal fin may have been caused by a ship’s propeller. As we noted in our previous post, a recent study indicates that up to 30% of whales found dead have shown evidence of being struck by a ship.  Ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear are among the greatest threats to endangered species of whales today.

Norwegian Breakaway Delayed Docking in NY – Pod Problems, Currents & Reports of Chaos

Posted on by May 5, 2014

450px-Norwegian_Breakaway_10The Norwegian Breakway is one year old this week. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a particularly auspicious birthday.  As the cruise ship  entered New York harbor yesterday, after a seven day cruise, the captain reported some sort of problem related to the ship’s azipods, which prevented it from docking.  Like most new cruise ships, the 1,068-foot Norwegian Breakway, which can carry 3,969 guests plus its crew of 1,651, does not have conventional shaft mounted propellers or rudders. Instead, it is powered by propellers mounted on streamlined pods, which can rotate, and therefore also serve as the ship’s rudders.  The ship also has three bow thrusters.

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The Sewol Tragedy — Stability , Loading and Roll Period

Posted on by May 4, 2014

sewolbow1It is not always easy to decipher the news being reported on the tragic sinking of the Korean ferry Sewol , which capsized in the Yellow Sea on April 16, leaving more than 300 dead or missing.  There have been numerous reports that the ferry was overloaded when she sank, yet by all indications, the likely problem was that the ship had inadequate stability. The ferry sank while under the command of a relief captain.  Last week the captain who was regularly in command of the ferry told Korean investigators that he had warned the ferry’s owners of “serious stability problems,” but that his warnings had been ignored.

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Worrisome Decrease in Baby Lobsters in the Gulf of Maine — Is the Boom Ending?

Posted on by May 3, 2014

1398890327000-lobstersLast August we asked “Will The Maine Lobster Boom End in a Bust?” It doesn’t necessarily look like a bust, but scientists say that they now are seeing a drop in the number of baby lobsters on the bottom of the Gulf of Maine. After catching an average of 20 million pounds per year for decades, over the last several years, Maine’s lobster-men landed a record 125 million pounds of lobster. With the decreased number of baby lobsters being observed, many worry that they may be seeing the end of the lobster boom.

Decrease in baby lobsters worries fishermen

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Was the Lusitania Carrying Munitions in 1915? Newly Released Documents Raise Questions

Posted on by May 2, 2014

article-0-0000D2A300000CB2-493_306x435When the Cunard liner RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine during World War I, on May 7, 1915, with the loss of 1,198 passengers and crew, the Germans claimed that the ship was carrying high explosives, which the British vehemently denied. The British later admitted that the ship was carrying 4,200 cases of small arms cartridges. In 1918, a New York judge ruled that that these did not constitute “war munitions”. The sinking of the ship was used by the British army for recruiting purposes, particularly in Ireland, and was crucial in swaying public opinion in the US in favor of declaring war against Germany. Newly released documents, however, raise questions about what may have been aboard the ship when she was torpedoed.

In documents from 1982 released on Thursday by the Foreign Office from the British National Archives at Kew, Noel Marshall, the head of the Foreign Office’s North America department, expressed concerns that a proposed salvage operation on the wreck of the Lusitania could still “literally blow up on us”.   Continue reading →

Has the Blue Whale Exploded Yet?

Posted on by May 1, 2014

_74525457_nfwhale1Update: CNN is now reporting that there are three dead blue whales on nearby beaches in Newfoundland. Thanks to Phil Leon for the heads-up.

In case you missed the news, a dead 25m (81ft) blue whale has drifted ashore on the rocky beach of Trout River on the island of Newfoundland, Canada.  It was believed to have died in heavy ice several weeks ago.  The now decaying whale is bloating with methane gas as it decomposes.  As local officials and federal authorities argue over who is responsible for the whale’s removal, there is a real concern that the whale may explode. Last year a sperm whale carcass that washed up on the Faroe Islands exploded as a biologist attempted to dissect it.  (Video after the page break.)

But how does one keep track of what is happening to the bloated dead whale on the distant Newfoundland beach?  Through the wonder of the internet, the answer is only a click away. A new website, HastheWhaleExplodedYet.com, reports that as 23:48 PST 4/30/14 (5:48 Newfoundland Time 5/1/14,) the answer is “No. Not Yet.”

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