Fire on the Horizon: The Untold Story of the Gulf Oil Disaster by John Konrad and Tom Shroder

Posted on by February 28, 2011

When the Deepwater Horizon suffered a blowout, caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Mexico last April, it was only forty miles off the coast of Louisiana.  Yet,  in many respects, the world aboard the ill-fated rig was as alien to most of us as if it had been dropped from outer space. Even within the shipping industry, deep-water offshore drilling is often  poorly understood, a world wholly unto itself.

Nevertheless, the catastrophe on the Deepwater Horizon touched us all. The explosion and fire killed eleven, injured seventeen and resulted in  the worst accidental marine oil spill in history.  The impact, on both the environment of the Gulf of Mexico and on offshore oil policy, is likely to be far reaching. This is why John Konrad’s and Tom Schorder’s new book, Fire on the Horizon: The Untold Story of the Gulf Oil Disaster, is so timely and so welcome.
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NYC rower tries for third time to cross Atlantic

Posted on by February 27, 2011

We can only wish him the best of luck. The third time may be the charm.

NYC rower tries for third time to cross Atlantic

There is something about the sea that has caused Victor Mooney to lose all reason.

For years now, the 45-year-old New Yorker has believed that for all its vastness, the Atlantic Ocean is ripe for conquest; That a lone man pulling a pair of oars can shove off an African beach and slowly, steadily, row partway around the globe to New York harbor.
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Poppa Neutrino – Free Spirit and Raft Builder

Posted on by February 27, 2011

Poppa Neutrino

David Pearlman, widely known as Papa Neutrino, died last month at 77 of congestive heart failure in New Orleans.   His remarkable life was summarized in an obituary in the Telegraph:

“Poppa Neutrino, who died on January 23 aged 77, was an itinerant American whose singular life story featured episodes as a card sharp, a soldier, a prisoner and a pastor; he never lived in any permanent structure for more than a year, and owned almost nothing, but in 1998 he became the first man to sail across the Atlantic on a raft made of junk.”
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Maersk Triple E Class Ships – the VLCCS of Container shipping?

Posted on by February 26, 2011

In the late 60s, the first VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carrier) were initially referred to as Malaccamax tankers, as they were the largest tankers that could navigate through the Straits of Malacca.  Maersk Line has recently ordered ten Malaccamax container ships, each capable of carrying 18,000 containers.  These ships will be the world’s largest by size, if not necessarily by deadweight.    They are dubbed the “Triple E” Class, referring to “”Economies of scale, Energy efficiency and Environmentally improved.”  The ships will be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding at a cost of around $1.9 billion and the first delivery is expected in 2014.   Maersk also has the option of ordering ten more ships under the contract.

Maersk’s new 18,000teu ships

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Maersk Orders 10 Triple-E Class 18,000TEU Container Ships

Queenly Rendezvous All Over – Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Mary

Posted on by February 25, 2011

Carnival Cruise Lines seems to be working the “Rendezvous Circuit” for all its worth with the three Queens of its subsidiary, Cunard Line.    Last month we posted about the   “Royal Rendezvous” in New York harbor –  “Cunard Takes Manhattan – The Three Queens Rendezvous in the Harbor” when the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth, all sailed from New York harbor in unison.  Then we posted about the “The Rendevous of the Last Two Ocean-going Royal Mail Ships” when the RMS Queen Mary briefly sailed in company with the  RMS St Helena.   Last week we posted about the rendezvous in Sydney harbor of the  Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth.

Now we hear about another rendezvous. The Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Victoria will meet in a “Historic Cunard Royal Rendezvous in Long Beach Harbor on 3 March“, where the Queen Mary 2 will  sail by the original Queen Mary, now a resort hotel docked in Long beach.

Iranian Navy Ships Dock in Syria and US Chartered Ferry Finally Reaches Malta

Posted on by February 26, 2011

Maria Dolores

On Tuesday, we posted about the first northbound transit by two Iranian Navy ships through the Suez Canal since 1979.  Yesterday these ships docked in Syria on a training mission.  Thanks to Phil Leon for passing the article along.

Iran warships dock in Syria after crossing Suez

Also in the Mediterranean, the Maria Dolores, a ferry chartered by the United States, carried 300 passengers, including at least 167 U.S. citizens, out of Libya, arriving in Malta today, after three days of delays.  Strong winds and high seas had delayed the ferry’s departure.

Ferry with Americans aboard finally reaches Malta

 

Founder and First Seaport Museum President Calls for Resignations

Posted on by February 25, 2011

Peter Stanford, a founder and first president of the South Street Seaport Museum has written a letter calling for the resignation of the museum’s current chairman, Frank J. Sciame,  and its president, Mary Pelzer.  The museum recently laid of most of its staff and is in severe financial trouble. See out previous post – New York’s Seaport Museum Struggles to Stay Afloat

From the New York Times Art Beats Blog:

Founding President of Seaport Museum Calls for Resignations
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Off Antarctica, Hope Fades for Crew of Yacht Berserk

Posted on by February 25, 2011

The called themselves the Wild Vikings.  They were to be the “new generation of explorers.”  From their website:

The crew onboard Berserk II wish to pick up the old Norsemen traditions opposed to todays so called “civilized” and often artificial way of living. Instead of being a part of the playstation-generation, in a 7 – 4 life with computers, electrical tinopeners and washingmachines, they seek adventures and exploration in the spirit of the ancient vikings. Simply equipped on a low budget, The wild vikings turn the time back to the old days when men were men. Back to basics. Back to nature in harmony with its simple and real beauty to the worlds remote corners.

The 48′ steel yacht, Berserk II, with a crew of five sailed for Antarctica with the intent of reaching the South Pole “in the wake of Admunsen.”   The yacht dropped off two “explorers” on shore in McMurdo Sound on the Antarctic coast.  An empty and damaged life raft was found today, believed to be from the Berserk II. There is no sign of the  remaining crew of three. Continue reading →

14th Annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon

Posted on by February 24, 2011

David Densmore, Fisher Poet (photo by Patrick Dixon)

The FisherPoets Gathering is an gathering of poets, songwriters, storytellers and artists involved in the  fishing industry, getting together to to share poems, stories, songs, memoirs, essays and art.   Sounds like great fun.  It is  being held from held from Friday through Sunday  in Astoria, Oregon.  Thanks to Darren O’Brien for passing the news along.

Annual gathering of fisher poets to kick off in Astoria
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Weekend Round-up – Chicago Maritime Festival, New England Boat Show, and Big U Fundraiser

Posted on by February 23, 2011

Chicago's Tall Ship Windy is a festival sponsor

For a late winter weekend, this one is busy with maritime events.   The Chicago Maritime Festival this weekend sounds fantastic.  “Daytime activities include maritime history, lighthouses, shipwrecks, model boats for kids, life raft demonstrations, marine art, songs for younger sailors, knot tying and more, presented by working mariners, authors, divers, educators, explorers, artists, and nautical notables from around the world. The evening concert features some of the finest maritime singers from both sides of the Atlantic.”    Wow.
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Velux 5 Oceans Update: Rounding Cape Horn

Posted on by February 23, 2011

Brad Van Liew on La Pingouin

The four boat fleet of the Velux 5 Oceans Singlehanded Around the World Race has rounded or is rounding Cape Horn on the third leg of the race.   Brad Van Liew on La Pingouin has kept the lead.    Unless I am mistaken Van Liew is now the only American to have rounded Cape Horn singlehanded three times.   He posted about his latest rounding yesterday:

What a 24 Hours
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Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth Rendezvous in Sydney

Posted on by February 23, 2011

On January 14th we posted about the Royal Rendezvous in New York harbor, the rendezvous of the three Queens of the Cunard Line, the Queen Mary 2,  the Queen Victoria, and the Queen Elizabeth.  Now just over a month later the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth entered Sydney harbor together at 6am local time, Tuesday.

Two queens of the sea arrive in Sydney

Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing the article along.

Why did the Pirates Kill their Hostages ?

Posted on by February 22, 2011

USS Sterett

Why did the pirates kill their for American hostages aboard the sailing yacht Quest?   We may never know.  Naval officers are speculating  that the close approach of the destroyer USS Sterett may have panicked some of the pirates.  The Sterett reportedly drew closer to the Quest as the radio batteries aboard the yacht were growing weaker and the destroyer wanted to maintain contact.   The pirates were told that that was the reason the destroyer was approaching.   The pirates may have been aware that the last time the US Navy rescued a US citizens held by pirates, Captain Richard Phillips from the Maersk Alabama,  the three pirates were killed by snipers firing from the deck of a destroyer.
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Iranian Navy Ships Transit the Suez Canal – First Since 1979

Posted on by February 22, 2011

For the first time since the Iranian revolution in 1979, two ships of the Iranian Navy are transiting the Suez Canal bound for the Mediterranean Sea.  The two ships, Alvand, a patrol frigate and Kharg, a supply ship, entered the canal at 5:45am, local time, Tuesday.  Last week the nuclear powered US aircraft carrier USS Enterprise transited the Suez Canal in the other direction.  The Enterprise was one of the  four ships shadowing the hijacked yacht Quest. The hijacking ended tragically with the deaths of the  four American sailors aboard.

Iranian navy ships enter Suez Canal

Thanks to Phil Leon for passing the news along.

Pirates Kill American Hostages on SV Quest

Posted on by February 22, 2011

The US Central Command announced this morning that four Americans aboard the hijacked sailing vessel Quest were shot and killed by pirates at approximately 1 a.m. EST today.  The victims were Jean and Scott Adam, the owners of the yacht,  and Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, who had signed on as crew.   “We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest,” said Marine Gen. James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command Commander.
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Gulf spill’s effects ‘may not be seen for a decade’

Posted on by February 21, 2011

In contrast to claims made by BP suggesting that the Gulf will have recovered from the Deep Horizon oil spill by 2012, a recent study presented at an American Association for the Advancement of Science conference says that the damage is far worse. The report by Dr. Samantha Joye of the University of Georgia suggests that  it may be a decade before the full effects on the Gulf become apparent.

Gulf spill’s effects ‘may not be seen for a decade’
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Update ; Hijacked SV Quest Split from Group; Now Trailed by US Navy

Posted on by February 21, 2011

We are learning more about the hijacked SV Quest, seized by pirates off Oman last Friday.   The sailing yacht, reportedly with Americans Scott and Jean Adam, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle aboard, had been sailing with the Oz-Med section of the Blue Water Rally.   The Blue Water Rallies are groups of cruising boas which travel together around the world for mutual support.    From the Blue Water Rally website:
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The Rise and Fall of the South Street Seaport Museum

Posted on by February 19, 2011

The restored South Street Seaport, on New York’s City’s East River, has always been an uneasy balance between a historic seaport and a real estate deal.   South Street  is now far  more shopping mall than historic seaport.  The current museum chairman, Frank J. Sciame,  is himself a real estate developer. Depending on who one asks, Sciame is either the museum’s savior or its destroyer.   Since March, Mr. Sciame has lent the museum $3 million to cover operating expenses.  Over the last three weeks, seven of the 21 trustees resigned from the museum board, and according to sources at the Seaport, twelve employees were furloughed on Monday, leaving at most a skeleton staff to continue Seaport operations.  Whether the Seaport Museum will survive its current financial crisis is unclear.

As reported in yesterday’s New York Times:
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