BP Kept Drilling Despite Leaks in Blowout Preventer Control Pod & Bypassed Alarms

There is reported stonewalling by witnesses who have cancelled their scheduled testimonies at the ongoing investigation of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.  Nevertheless,  startling testimony was presented this Tuesday: A BP official, Ronald Sepulvado, a well-site leader, testified that BP continued drilling for oil … Continue reading

Irony Watch: One Whale Not Skimming Oil & Another That May Be, Unfortunately

A sad irony that doesn’t actually involve whales.   The converted Ore/Bulk/Oil ship named “A Whale“ has not yet proven effective in skimming oil from the water, though modifications and testing continue. ‘A Whale’ oil skimmer testing extended a week Unfortunately, whale … Continue reading

Fire in Tampa, Lightning in the Gulf and the Battleship Texas Still Afloat

Busy days in the Gulf of Mexico.  On the surface above the continuing Deepwater Horizon disaster yesterday, a drill  ship attempting to contain the oil was struck by lightning and caught on fire shutting down containment operations.  Reportedly, operations resumed today.   BP: Oil … Continue reading

Happy World Ocean Day – But How Should We Be Celebrating ?

Today is the second annual celebration of World Ocean Day!  The only thing that is unclear to me is what and how we should be celebrating.  From the World Oceans’ Day website: “In 2009 The Ocean Project started an annual tradition associated with … Continue reading

Pelicans, Back From Brink of Extinction, Face Oil Threat

Though the pelican is featured on the state flag, by the early 1960s, brown pelicans had been pushed to extinction along the Louisiana Gulf Coast by DDT and other pesticides. In 1968 pelicans were reintroduction to Louisiana from colonies in … Continue reading

Semi-Submersible Drilling Rig, Transocean Marianas, Evacuated off Ghana

The semi-submersible drilling rig, Transocean Marianas, was preparing to move to a new location off the coast of Ghana when the rig developed a serious list and was in danger of sinking.  The rig, under contract to Italian oil company Eni, … Continue reading

BP Oil Spill – One Year Later, Some Good News and Lots of Bad

There appears to be both good and bad news exactly one year after the explosion and fire that sank the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, killing eleven, and triggering the largest  accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum … Continue reading

Do They Serve Canned Meat on the USCGC Harriet Lane?

I will admit to doing a double take when I saw the USCG press release announcing “Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane returns home after 9-week patrol.”   I wondered, who would name a ship the Harriet Lane?  For the record, the … Continue reading

“A Whale” – World’s Largest Oil Skimmer Waiting on EPA and Coast Guard Approval

Update:  According to her AIS (Automatic Identification System) the A Whale is now off Louisiana.  Thanks to Buck for pointing it out. Click here to see per position on the chart. A Taiwanese-owned, Liberian-flagged tanker,  the A Whale, has been modified … Continue reading