Remembering the Normandie

Posted on by February 10, 2021

On this day, sixty nine years ago, the great French luxury liner SS Normandie caught fire at Pier 88 on the Hudson River in New York City.  The fire burned out of control and the next day the ship capsized at the dock. The liner had been seized by the United States authorities at New York and renamed USS Lafayette at the beginning of World War II. She was in the process of being converted to a troop transport when she caught fire.   Her elegant interiors were being ripped out.   It is believed that an arc from a welding machine set fire to the partially stripped ship.
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Shipping of Nuclear Waste Approved on the Great Lakes

Posted on by February 15, 2011

Bruce Power nuclear power plant Ontario

Last Friday, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved a plan for Bruce Power to ship 1,600 tonnes of radioactive waste,  in the form of 16 decommissioned nuclear reactors,  across the Great Lakes, though the St. Lawrence Seaway and across the Atlantic Ocean to Sweden for recycling.    The plan faces considerable Canadian and international opposition.   Members of the Canada’s nuclear regulator and representatives of Bruce Power are expected to be called before a Canadian Commons committee to be grilled over plans to ship used the used radioactive generators through the Great Lakes.

Nuke plant gets OK to ship generators through Great Lakes
CNSC, Bruce Power called to the carpet over nuke shipment

Thanks to Phil Leon for passing the articles along.

Wet And Wild Start For VELUX 5 OCEANS Sprint Three

Posted on by February 8, 2011

Blustery winds, gray skies and rain marked the beginning of the 6,000 nautical mile Sprint 3 of the Velux Five Oceans Singlehanded Around the World Race.  The four remaining boats departed Sunday from Wellington, New Zealand bound for to Punta del Este in Uruguay, by way of Cape Horn.  After two days American skipper Brad Van Liew retains the lead with Polish skipper Zbigniew ‘Gutek’ Gutkowski just a few miles behind.

Wet And Wild Start For VELUX 5 OCEANS Sprint Three
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On Jules Verne’s Birthday – A Look at the Submarines named Nautilus

Posted on by February 8, 2011

On this the 183th anniversary of the birth of Jules Verne, it seems worthwhile to look at the submarines named Nautilus.    Click on any of the thumbnails for a larger image.

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Salazar, Chu Announce Major Offshore Wind Initiatives

Posted on by February 7, 2011

The United States is far behind the countries of Western Europe and China in the development of offshore wind power.  Today, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced a few steps toward catching up.

Salazar, Chu Announce Major Offshore Wind Initiatives
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The Rendevous of the Last Two Ocean-going Royal Mail Ships

Posted on by February 7, 2011

RMS Queen Mary II & RMS St Helena

Last month we posted about a rendezvous of the “Three Queens,”  the RMS Queen Mary II, the MS Queen Elizabeth and the MS Queen Victoria in New York harbor.   Of the three ships only the Queen Mary II has the distinction of the designation RMS for Royal Mail Ship.   Indeed, there are only two remaining ocean-going ships in the world with the designation RMS,  the RMS Queen Mary II and the RMS St Helena, which carries the mail, as well as passengers, goods and supplies to the island of St Helena and other British outposts in the South Atlantic.  John Edwards on his Oceanliners.org  blog has a great photo of the last two ocean-going Royal Mail Ships off Tristan de Cunah.

Meeting of the Only Two “RMS” Ships
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Update : Collision in Mumbai – Indian Navy and the Mumbai Port Trust at Fault ?

Posted on by February 6, 2011

The sinking of the frigate INS Vindhyagiri, following a collision with the container ship MV Nordlake, last Sunday near Mumbai harbor,  is the worst-ever peacetime loss for the Indian Navy.   That the accident occurred as the warship was returning from a “day at sea” for families of sailors and officers, makes it all the more embarrassing.  The collision was caught on video from aboard the frigate.

The collision that set a warship on fire

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A Spice Problem in the Navy?

Posted on by February 6, 2011

“Spice” is apparently the generic name for so-called “synthetic marijuana” or “fake pot.”  In most states,  it is still perfectly legal, though that may be changing.  “Spice” is, however, not OK with the US Navy.  At the end of last month, the Navy expelled seven midshipmen from the Naval Academy for using “spice.”   On Friday, the Navy also discharged 16 sailors assigned to the Norfolk, Virginia-based USS Bataan for using or dealing “spice.”

Naval Academy expels midshipmen for smoking ‘spice’
Navy kicks out 16 sailors for dealing or using ‘spice’
Sailors face stiff penalties for using legal substances that have been outlawed by the Navy

Thanks to Phil Leon and Alaric Bond for passing the articles along.

Sail this summer on the Picton Castle

Posted on by February 5, 2011

Barque Picton Castle

The barque Picton Castle, known for its around the world voyages, is offering cruises this summer sailing around Newfoundland. It sounds fantastic.

Sail Around Newfoundland

Starkly stunning coastline. Incredible whales, seabirds and maybe even icebergs. Hospitable folks in big towns and small outport villages. And the feeling of having earned it all, working your way there as part of the crew.
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Once Upon a Blonde Island?

Posted on by February 5, 2011

Somehow this sounds like a really bad idea.  I just hope everyone brings sun screen.  Back in October, the BBC ran an article about a Lithuanian company’s plans for a Maldive island resort  run entirely by blondes.  The proposed development was reported on again this  week in the Associated Press, the Huffington Post and other sources.  The company Olialia, pronounced “ooh-la-la”, “ is run and staffed by blonde women, and already operates in 75 different business sectors, making products from computer software and food products to pop music.”

Lithuanian blonde island plan raises eyebrows
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Trimaran Banque Populaire V hits a UFO (an Unidentified Floating Object)

Posted on by February 4, 2011

Photo: Yacht Pals

The press release, translated from the French by Google, reads, “Maxi Banque Populaire V hit a UFO*. ”   The footnote clarifies that the trimaran hit an “unidentified floating object.”   (Late last month we posted about the trimaran Banque Populaire V setting off from Brest in an attempt to win the Jules Verne Trophy.)  Nevertheless, the entire account has an otherworldly aspect.
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Spirit of South Carolina Tall Ship program

Posted on by February 2, 2011

A wonderful video highlighting the educational programs on the schooner Spirit of South Carolina.

Spirit of South Carolina Tall Ship program

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Thanks to Troy LeBoeuf for pointing it out.

Santy Anno sung by The Hard Tackers

Posted on by February 3, 2011

Santy Anno sung by The Hard Tackers over a film made by Joe Cook of  The Hard Tackers when he sailed aboard the Pride Of Baltimore II as a crew member.

Santy Anno

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Thanks to John Locke for passing along the video.

Passengers on Antarctic cruise ship, Polar Star, to be evacuated after grounding

Posted on by February 3, 2011

On Monday, the Polar Star struck a rock while at anchor near Detaille Island, a small island off the Northern end of Arrowsmith Peninsula in Antarctica.     The grounding damaged the outer hull of the double hulled ship.  The ship sailed for the Arctowski Station, a Polish research facility on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, where divers made a thorough inspection of the damage.   The cruise operator decided to evacuate the 80 passengers aboard the ship to Ushuaia on other expedition cruise ships sailing in the region. The Polar Star then will undergo temporary repairs before crossing the Drake’s Passage back to Ushuaia, with only crew on board.

Evacuation planned for passengers on damaged cruise ship
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Coast Guard Cutter Morro Bay Rescues Man on an Ice Flow on His Birthday

Posted on by February 2, 2011

Jim Turton, from Colchester, Ontario, turned 45 years old today.  Because of the efforts of the officers and crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Morro Bay, a 140 foot Bay class icebreaker, he just may have a shot at celebrating his next birthday, (provided he stays off snowmobiles on thin ice in the upcoming year.)   Turton was one of four snowmobilers who fell through the ice near Colchester.  His three companions made it to shore, but Turton crawled onto an floating ice flow drifting out into Lake Erie.

Coast Guard Cutter rescues man adrift on Lake Erie ice floe on his birthday
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Before IMAX, there was Windjammer in “Cinemiracle”

Posted on by February 2, 2011

In 1958, the New York Times published a review of  Louis de Rochemont’s new movie “Windjammer.”  It began:

“Every last moviegoer with a drop of salt water in his blood will want to swing aboard “Windjammer,” which opened at the Roxy last night. For this giant, panoramic color picture of a 17,000-mile ocean cruise in a Norwegian training sailing vessel, shown in the new Cinemiracle process, which is akin to Cinerama, is so full of the thrills and beauties of ocean sailing that it takes the breath away.”

A worn and faded copy of the movie was located in 1997 and over the last decade a team of film professionals from Sweden and the United States has been at work restoring the movie.    A new DVD and theatrical version is hoped to be completed some time in 2011.

“Windjammer” – On it’s way to a home screen near you, and maybe the cinema too

FINALLY! The Windjammer Restoration Preview & Restored Trailer

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In the Belly of the Beast – A look inside the SS United States

Posted on by February 2, 2011

Photos: John Griffin/ABC News

Now that the SS United States Conservancy has acquired the S.S. United States, the next question is – what they are going to do with her?   Her interior was gutted in 1994 to remove considerable quantities of asbestos.   Thanks to Alaric Bond for pointing out the photographs.

Tour the Belly of a Naval Wonder

The Big U purchased by Conservancy

Posted on by February 1, 2011

Today, the SS United States Conservancy purchased the S.S. United States from Norwegian Cruise Line.  As we posted last July, the sale was made possible by a reported $5.8 million pledge by Philadelphia philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest.   The sale was delayed  when the Environmental Protection Agency raised questions about toxic PCBs on the ship.

Conservancy purchases SS United States through grant from Lenfest Foundation
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Suez Canal Operating Normally, Port Closures Causing Concerns

Posted on by February 1, 2011

There are an estimated two million protesters in the streets on Cairo today; most rail, trucking and buses are shut down across Egypt, yet  the Suez Canal, which can represent up 8 percent of global seaborne trade, remains open and in operation.  Military escorts for protection through the pirate-prone Gulf of Aden are unavailable and crew repatriation and purchase of provisions have not been possible for some ships.   Troops have been deployed to protect the SuMed pipeline transporting crude alongside the Suez Canal.

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