“I was kidnapped by Somali pirates”

Posted on by September 18, 2011

Today is “International Talk Like A Pirate Day.”   Many use it as an excuse to dress up in bad costumes and shout “Aaargh, Matie” and “Shiver me Timbers,” in some sort of odd homage to Johnny Depp and the Disney version of piracy.  All we can say is “please don’t.”  The pirates of the 17th century that are the basis for this nonsense were a brutal lot, and why some consider it cute to dress themselves and often their kids as murderous thieves is not immediately obvious.

Piracy today is a huge problem. Thousands of mariners have been taken hostage by pirates, held in captivity for long periods under horrible conditions.  Modern piracy costs the world between $10 and 20 billion per year.  Pretending to be a Disney pirate may be an amiable amusement but otherwise only distracts from the real problem of modern day piracy. To learn more about modern piracy go to “SaveOurSeafarers.”

An article in the Guardian from last June does something extremely unusual. It allows a real victim of Somali piracy a voice.

Experience: I was kidnapped by Somali pirates

‘They kept us in a state of terror. Even when I could not see the torturing, I could hear the screams’
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The Great Brigantine Race of 2011

Posted on by September 16, 2011

Photo: http://www.brigantines.com

Talk about match racing!  This Sunday off Newport Beach, CA, two identical brigantines, the Irving Johnson and the Exy Johnson, will race.  They will be manned by crews from rival local clubs, the Bahia Corinthian and Balboa Yacht clubs, under the supervision of the brigantine’s permanent captains and crews.  The Irving Johnson and the Exy Johnson are two identical 90′ brigantines launched in 2002, named in honor of the the husband and wife team who sailed the brigantine Yankee four times around the world over eleven years.  The two brigantines are part of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute’s “TopSail Youth Program,” a sail training “education and adventure” program.

Here comes the 2011 Great Brigantine Race

Thanks to Tom Russell in the Traditional Sail Professionals Linked-In Group and Irwin Bryan for passing the word along.

Scurvy and the Google Orange

Posted on by September 16, 2011

Today the Google “doodle,”  the image that appears above the Google search box, was an orange. Why an orange?  If you clicked on the doodle it took you to a search for Albert Szent-Györgyi,  the Hungarian physiologist who is credited with discovering vitamin C in 1930 and won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1937 for his research. It is his birth day today.  An article in CNN commented, “ if you don’t have scurvy (and we’re going to go ahead and assume you do not), you should probably take a moment to say thanks.”  What? Without taking anything away from Dr. Szent-Györgyi, scurvy was not cured in 1930 in Hungary.  The cure for scury was discovered and then,  too often forgotten, many times between when it was documented by Hippocrates and the 19th century.
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“Pirate” Battle on the Delaware with the A.J. Meerwald, the Kalmar Nyckel and the Gazella

Posted on by September 16, 2011

Kalmar Nyckel

Frankly, the A.J. Meerwald , the Kalmar Nyckel, and the Gazela deserve far better.   The A.J. Meerwald,  the “Official Tall Ship of the state of New Jersey,” is  a 1928 built Delaware Bay oyster schooner.  The Kalmar Nyckel , the Delaware’s “Official Tall Ship,” is a replica of a 1625 built pinnance, which was the flagship of the colony of “New Sweden,”  in much of what is now Delaware.  The 1901 built barkentine Gazela Primeiro is a Portuguese fishing schooner now lovingly restored in Philadelphia.

These fine vessels will  be play-acting as “pirate” ships this Sunday in mock battles  in an event sponsored by the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia.  Pairing an oyster schooner, a 15th century replica and a Portuguese barkentine is fine, but letting them be overrun by Disney-fied pirates, well that is a bit much.

Pirate Battle on the Delaware River

Fire on Norwegian Cruise Ship, MS Nordlys, Kills Two and Injures Nine

Posted on by September 15, 2011

A fast burning fire in the engine room of the Norwegian cruise ship, MS Nordlys, killed two crew members and injured nine others.  The more than 200 passengers aboard the ship were safely evacuated to the town of Aalesund, 230 miles (375 kilometers) northwest of the capital of Oslo.  Hurtigruten, the cruise line operating the MS Nordlys, has established a hotline for relatives of crew members here.

Two killed in fire on Norwegian cruise liner

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Thanks to Irwin Bryan for pointing out the story.

Sink the Ark Royal ?

Posted on by September 14, 2011

There have been a book, two movies and one pop song entitled, “Sink the Bismark.”    That is what came to mind when I heard that the Torbay Council’s Harbour Committee is recommending that they sink the Ark Royal.   The aircraft carrier, the ex-flagship of the Royal Navy, has been for sale since April.  Rather than have her sold to a scrap yard, the Torbay council is recommending that the ship be sunk as an artificial reef and recreational dive site.  Wreck the World, a group behind the proposal, believes that they are  in competition with up to twenty other bidders.

Torbay harbour bosses back Ark Royal sinking plans

Not Your Father’s America’s Cup – Plymouth Capsize Club

Posted on by September 14, 2011

The old days before Facebook or even the internet, the America’s Cup races were sailed on stately 12 meters in the light air of summer off Newport, Rhode Island. The most exciting thing I ever saw a twelve meter do was when several short-tacked through the anchorage at Breton Harbor, Newport, one evening . The 70′ boats sliced between the boats at anchor, delicately pirouetting to the sound of flying sheets and the flapping jibs, as those of us at anchor held our breaths when the beautiful, but large boats, cleared our respective sterns by inches. My, how things have certainly changed. The fact that crash helmets are standard equipment for the crew may say it all. Crash helmets? After watching the proceedings at the America’s Cup World Series in Plymouth, crash helmets are, definitely, a good idea.  Those AC45 catamarans are truly wild boats.

The Plymouth Capsize Club

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Thanks to Ulrich Rudofsky for pointing out the America’s Cup demolition derby.

Mariners’ Response to 9/11 – Carolina Salguero & Jessica DuLong Speaking Aboard the Lilac

Posted on by September 13, 2011

If you are in the vicinity tomorrow evening be sure to stop by the historic buoy tender LILAC at the Hudson River Park’s Pier 25 at North Moore Street, Tribeca, Manhattan, where Carolina Salguero & Jessica DuLong will speak on the Mariners’ Response to 9/11 from  7:00-8:30pm. Carolina Salguero was a  photojournalist on 9/11 and is now Director of PortSide NewYork. Jessica DuLong, is a journalist and author of My River Chronicles  (see our review here.)   She is also Chief Engineer on the historic fireboat John J. Harvey. Though retired from service, the John J. Harvey was the first fire boat on scene on 9/11, pumping river water around the clock to the firefighters at Ground Zero.  Today, Huffington Post also published “The Untold Story of Ground Zero Evacuations by Boat” by Jessica DuLong.

The talks are part of a multi-media exhibit (photography, videos and oral history) and presentation about the extraordinary and little-known maritime role in 9/11, from evacuation to rubble removal, produced by PortSide NewYork, a waterfront-themed non-profit organization.

The Elissa – A Galveston Treasure and Fine Indian Pale Ale

Posted on by September 13, 2011

The folks at the Pint Jockeys blog have suggested a great way to support the repairs to the 1877 Barque Elissa, which is believed to have been a victim of stray current electrolytic corrosion resulting from underwater  electrical cable damage after Hurricane Ike.  The folks at Pint Jockeys recommend drinking beer, but not just any beer – Saint Arnold’s Elissa IPA.  Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Texas oldest craft brewery, has named their Indian Pale Ale after the Elissa, the official tall ship of the state of Texas. They are also donating a portion of all Elissa IPA proceeds to Galveston Historic District for preservation of the ship.

And if Saint Arnold’s Elissa IPA is hard to find locally, you can still donate $10 to the Elissa  by texting the word “ELISSA” to 50555.   Contributions of any amount can be made on the Galveston Historical Foundation’s web site at www.galvestonhistory.org or by calling 409-765-7834.  Thanks to Kurt Voss for pointing out the Pint Jockeys’ post.

Pirates Strike Ashore ? British Tourist David Tebbutt Killed and Wife Judith Kidnapped from Kenyan Resort

Posted on by September 12, 2011

Photo: The Telegraph

British tourists, David and Judith Tebbutt,  arrived at Kiwayu Safari Village, an exclusive Kenyan resort, at 4PM, Saturday.  Between midnight and 4AM, a gang of armed men arrived by speedboat and stormed their beachfront villa.  David Tebbutt, 58, was killed and his wife Judith, 56, is believed to have been kidnapped by the gang, which fled north by boat in the direction of Somalia.

No group, thus far, has claimed responsibility for the attack. If the attack was made by Somali pirates it will be the first time that  they  have ventured ashore to kidnap their victims. It has also been suggested that  the attackers were from the Islamist group, Harakat al-Shabab al Mujahideen.  The government of Kenya has deployed helicopters, speed boats and a spotter plane to search for Judith Tebbutt but no sightings have been reported.

Pirates kill Brit David Tebbutt and kidnap wife
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Air Swimmers

Posted on by September 12, 2011

Have you ever wanted to live in an aquarium?   I have friends who have been flooded recently, who may feel that they do and I strongly suspect that they do not recommend it. Here is an alternative which looks a lot more pleasant – Air Swimmers.

Air Swimmers

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An American Dunkirk – Evacuating Manhattan on 9/11

Posted on by September 11, 2011

Ten years ago today, amidst the smoke, flames, and debris from the collapsed World Trade Center towers, an armada of tugs, ferries, launches and virtually every other craft available in New York harbor steamed toward the docks and seawalls of lower Manhattan to evacuate hundreds of thousands of commuters. The bridges and tunnels were closed. The only escape was by water.

No one was was in command. There was no single plan. (The New York City Emergency Response Center was buried in the rubble of the towers.) Nevertheless by nightfall almost half a million commuters had been evacuated by New York mariners who knew what they had to do and worked together to do it. It was one of the largest maritime evacuations in history.  See our post from two years ago:  Maritime Evacuation on 9/11 – An American Dunkirk

My wife was one of those commuters. After being trapped in her office building by the smoke, dust and debris for several hours, she heard that ferries were running on the East River from the foot of Wall Street. Wrapping a towel around her face, she walked with her colleagues down the block to find busy ferry terminal at Pier 11.   Ferry employees directed the still stunned passengers to the appropriate ferries running to Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island or New Jersey. No fares were collected. Everyone helped each other in boarding. Miraculously, my wife was home on the other bank of the Hudson by mid afternoon.

Here is an amazing video that captures the madness, wonder, determination and commonplace heroism of that Tuesday in September.  Thanks to Wojtek Wacowski for pointing it out.

BOATLIFT, An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience

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Ferry Disaster off Tanzania and Zanzibar

Posted on by September 10, 2011

It is an all too common story, an overloaded and poorly maintained ferry in an impoverished nation capsizes, drowning many of its passengers.  It happens so often it that it is often not reported beyond the local press.  This morning at three AM local time, a ferry boat running between Zanzibar and Pemba, Tanzania sank after capsizing.  Update #2:  606 of the passengers have been rescued and 192 bodies have been recovered.  The ferry was reportedly loaded with twice the allowed weight of cargo. The ferry had an approved passenger capacity of 600 and was carrying close to 800 passengers.  This is the third ferry to capsize with a loss of life in the vicinity in the last year.

Ferry disaster in Zanzibar, Tanzania kills hundreds including tourists
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Keith Tantlinger – Father of the Container

Posted on by September 10, 2011

If Malcom McLean was the father of containerization, then Keith Tantlinger, who died recently at the age of 92,  was the father of the shipping container. Tantlinger’s container designs spurred the containerization revolution that forever changed both shipping and world trade.

The idea of “containerizing” cargo had been around for a long time but no one had made it work. Two innovations developed by Keith Tantlinger made containerization practical.  He developed a container “corner casting” which is fitted on each of the four corners of the rectangular container.  The corner casting has holes on the top and sides which allowes a twist lock, a mechanical fitting which locks into the corner casting, allowing containers to be stacked securely one on top of the other. The corner casting also provided a means for dockside gantry canes to lock onto containers to load or unload them from ships.  Becausre the vertical loads were all transferred through the corning casting and corner pillars which support them, the container itself can be built light, allowing more cargo to be carried.
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Weekend Round Up Part 2 – Non Pirate Activites

Posted on by September 9, 2011

For those of a non-piratical bent there is still a lot going on this weekend.

The Yonkers Riverfest 2011 will be held tomorrow just a bit up the river from New York City.    The schooner A.J. Meerwald  will be offering sails from Burlington NJ Sept this weekend.  The Kalmar Nyckel will also be offering sails at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

The Portside NewYork  – The Maritime Role in New York on 9/11 multimedia exhibit will be open for viewing  on the historic buoy tender Liilac at Pier 25 from 1pm to 6pm this Saturday. I went to the opening last night and it is fantastic.

On Sunday, on the other coast, the the Santa Barbara Yacht Club is hosting a Charity Regatta to benefit the hospice program at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care.

Piratical Weekend Round Up

Posted on by September 9, 2011

The good folks in Eastport, Maine have seen fit to once again hold their annual Eastport Pirate Festival this weekend, featuring lots of fun activities including a lobster boat race. (Who knew pirates had lobster boats?)   The Treasure Coast Pirate Fest in historic downtown Stuart, Florida is also being held this weekend.  No lobster boats, but lots of food, music and other activities.   On the West Coast, the Toshiba Tall Ships Festival hosted by the Oceans Institute is being held this weekend at Dana Point.  Not strictly a “pirate festival” the tickets are being sold as “Pirate Adventure Passes.”  Children are invited to attend the “Friendly Pirate School! Watch as your child learns to talk like a pirate, walk like a pirate and sing like a pirate!”
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Happy Birthday Captain Bligh !

Posted on by September 9, 2011

On this day in 1754, William Bligh was born. Following the famous mutiny on HMS Bounty, his name would become synonymous with harsh discipline bordering on tyranny.   The mutiny on the Bounty would be only one of four mutinies that Bligh would live through before he retired as Vice Admiral.  He was captain of ships that mutinied in the fleet-wide mutinies at both Spithead and the Noire in 1797.  As the Governor of New South Wales, now Australia, he was arrested in the mutiny referred to as the “Rum Rebellion” in 1808.  In courts marshall which followed the mutinies, Bligh was always exonerated.

If the Bounty had merely sunk instead of mutinied, Bligh would likely be remembered as one of the greatest navigators of the age.  Following the mutiny, he sailed an overloaded 23′ open boat, with 18 loyal crew members, on a 47-day voyage across 3,618 nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean to Timor without charts or compass, equipped only with a quadrant and a pocket watch.   A recent biography by maritime historian Rob Mundle, Bligh, Master Mariner, makes the case that there is a “lot more about Captain Bligh than the Bounty, mutiny and convicts.”
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Don’t Shoot, We’re Republicans! – The Strange Saga of the USS Iowa and the “Willie D”

Posted on by February 16, 2016

USS William D Porter

The news that the battleship USS Iowa has found a new home brings to mind the story of the battleship and the destroyer USS William D Porter, nicknamed the “Willie D.”   The USS Iowa served in World War II as the presidential shuttle in the Atlantic Fleet, moving President Roosevelt to and from the Tehran conference.  In November 1943, while the president was aboard the USS Iowa, the battleship came under attack by a live tordepo, accidentally launched from the USS William D Porter.  The Iowa was able to avoid the torpedo by taking evasive maneuvers.  From that day until she was sunk in June 1945, whenever the Willie D entered port or joined other Naval ships, she was often greeted with “Don’t shoot, we’re Republicans!”  (President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was, of course, a Democrat.)
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