Update: Jeff Bezos’ Yacht Towed Out of Shipyard Under Cover of Darkness

Posted on by August 5, 2022

After months of controversy, the 417-foot-long, three-masted sailing yacht built for billionaire Jeff Bezos slipped out of the shipyard in Rotterdam under the cover of darkness.  At 3AM on Tuesday, the Oceanco shipyard towed the yacht to the Greenport shipyard. The yacht’s three masts were moved separately out of the shipyard by barge. The masts are expected to be stepped at the Greenport yard.

In February, we posted Billionaire Bezos’ Really Big Boat and the Rotterdam Railroad Bridge, about how the Oceanco shipyard wanted to dismantle the center span of a historic railroad bridge to allow the yacht to access the North Sea. The fully rigged superyacht apparently has too great an air draft to safely fit beneath the Koningshaven Bridge, known locally as De Hef, which has a clearance of 131 feet over the Nieuwe Maas River.

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Happy 232th Birthday US Coast Guard!

Posted on by August 4, 2022

Alexander Hamilton suggested in The Federalist Papers that “a few armed vessels, judiciously stationed at the entrances of our ports, might at a small expense be made useful sentinels of the laws.”

When Hamilton became the first Treasury Secretary of the newly formed United States, he lobbied for the acquisition of 10 revenue cutters to assist in the collection of duties and to catch smugglers. On August 4, 1790, 232 years ago today, President Washington signed a bill establishing the Revenue Cutter Service, the precursor to today’s United States Coast Guard. Alexander Hamilton is considered by many to be the father of the US Coast Guard. An updated repost.

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Hot Sand Causing 99% of Sea Turtles to be Born Female

Posted on by August 3, 2022

Climate change is threatening the future of sea turtles. Whereas the gender of most animals is determined at fertilization, the sex of most turtles, as well as alligators, and crocodiles is determined by the temperature of the developing eggs. The hotter the sand where the eggs are buried, the more female turtles are hatched. Recent heat waves have caused the sand on some beaches in Florida to get so hot that nearly every turtle born was female.

Reuters quotes Bette Zirkelbach, manager of the Turtle Hospital in Marathon in the Florida Keys, saying, “The frightening thing is the last four summers in Florida have been the hottest summers on record.”

“Scientists that are studying sea turtle hatchlings and eggs have found no boy sea turtles, so only female sea turtles for the past four years,” Zirkelbach said, whose turtle center has operated since 1986.

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Great Lakes Schooner Denis Sullivan Laid-up, Voluntarily Gives Up COI, Maintenance Ongoing

Posted on by August 2, 2022

Last April, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal reported that the 137-foot Denis Sullivan — the world’s only replica of a 19th-century three-masted Great Lakes schooner — will remain docked at Discovery World again this year, according to museum President and CEO Bryan Wunar. And its future at the museum is being reevaluated as Discovery World begins the process of seeking ways to use and care for the ship.

In July, there were erroneous reports that the ship’s Certificate of Inspection (COI) was taken away by the Coast Guard. Recently, the Friends of the Denis Sullivan provided a clarification on their Facebook page:

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Hope for the Global Food Crisis as First Bulker Loaded With Grain Sails From Odesa

Posted on by August 1, 2022

The handysize bulk carrier Razoni was one of roughly 80 international vessels that have been stranded in Ukraine for more than six months by the ongoing Russian invasion. Now, the Sierra Leone-flagged vessel has sailed from the port of Odesa bound for Lebanon, loaded with 26,527 tonnes of corn, under a safe passage deal described as a glimmer of hope in a worsening global food crisis.

Reuters reports that the sailing was made possible after Turkey and the United Nations brokered a grain and fertilizer export agreement between Russia and Ukraine last month – a rare diplomatic breakthrough in a conflict that has become a drawn-out war of attrition.

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DNA May Prove the Legend of the Wild Ponies of Assateague Island & the Spanish Galleon

Posted on by July 29, 2022

Two herds of wild ponies have lived for hundreds of years on Assateague Island, a 37-mile-long Atlantic barrier island that crosses the border between the states of Virginia and Maryland. The Virginia side of the island is just east of Chincoteague Island.

This week was the 97th Annual Chincoteague Island Pony Swim, where local wranglers, dubbed “Salt Water Cowboys,” swim the herd across to Chincoteague Island. Following a parade of the horses through the village, foals are auctioned off to help maintain the size of the herd at around 150, roughly the number of horses that the island can support. The remaining horses are then led back to Assateague Island.

Where did the ponies come from? Until recently, most historians and scientists have thought that the herd grew from horses left to graze by English settlers. Local folklore, however, told a different tale — that the ponies escaped from the wreck of a Spanish galleon. While the coast has seen many shipwrecks, there is no record of any such Spanish wreck carrying horses.

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Robot Dog Helps Christen NavyX’s “Maritime Sandbox” XV Patrick Blacket

Posted on by July 29, 2022

NavyX’s new maritime sandbox, XV Patrick Blacket, was christened today in Portsmouth, UK with the help of a robotic dog.

You might well ask, what is NavyX? What is a maritime sandbox? And what about the robotic dog?

Navy X

NavyX describes itself as “the Royal Navy’s Autonomy and Lethality Accelerator, which rapidly develops, tests, and trials cutting-edge equipment, with the aim of getting new technology off the drawing board and into the hands of our people on operations at a pace.”

NavyX has a new ship, the XV (Experimental Vessel) Patrick Blackett, that is described variously as a “maritime sandbox” and a “testbed ship,” intended to support trials of the latest tech and autonomous systems.
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UK to Phase Out Admiralty Paper Charts by 2026

Posted on by July 28, 2022

In 2019, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA ) announced that it was phasing out the production of traditional paper nautical charts over a five-year period. NOAA intends to focus on improving the fully electronic navigational charts (ENCs) that they provide.

Now, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has announced it will stop producing Admiralty paper charts by late 2026 to likewise increase its focus on its digital navigation products and services. Admiralty charts are the most widely used paper charts globally.

Yachting Monthly reports that the UKHO will develop digital alternatives for sectors still using paper charts, in consultation with customers and stakeholders, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as well as other regulatory bodies, hydrographic offices, industry partners, and distributors.

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The Summer of the Shark, Jersey Shore 1916

Posted on by July 26, 2022

sharknj

Yesterday was the start of the Discovery Channel’s ever-popular Shark Week. Along the coast of Long Island, NY and the New Jersey Shore, we are well into what could be called “Shark Month” with multiple shark sightings.  Since the unofficial start of summer during Memorial Day weekend, beach officials have used drones, helicopters and beach closures to prevent a potentially deadly shark encounter after at least five people have suffered shark bites. Fortunately, none of the attacks have been life-threatening.

Given the shark activity on local beaches, it seems like a good time to look at the horrific shark attacks of one hundred and six years ago this month, when Americans, for the first time, learned to be afraid of sharks. An updated repost.

On the evening of July 1, 1916, Charles Vansant, 25, of Philadelphia was on vacation with his family at the beach-side resort town of Beach Haven on the New Jersey Shore. He decided to go for a swim before dinner. Shortly after he dove into the surf, he was attacked by a large shark and died of loss of blood.

Worse was yet to come. Five days later and 45 miles to the north in the resort town of Spring Lake, New Jersey, Charles Bruder, 27, a Swiss bell captain at a local hotel, was attacked and killed by a shark while swimming. The shark bit him in the abdomen and severed both his legs.

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US Navy Tests Upgraded 3D Printer at Sea on USS Essex

Posted on by July 25, 2022

The USS Essex, a Wasp-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), recently loaded a new 15,000-pound 3D printer, just prior to departing to participate in the multinational Rim of the Pacific exercise underway at Hawaii and California. The amphibious assault ship will be the first to test the new 3D printer during underway conditions at sea.

Unlike previous 3D printers tested by the Navy that print objects using polymers or metal powders, the Xerox ElemX 3D printer uses aluminum wire to create parts and tools. 

Lt. Cmdr. Nicolas Batista, the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) officer aboard Essex stated that the new 3D printer is one of the fastest printers on the market, capable of fabricating and printing aluminum up to 10” by 10”. Many common components may be created on the ship to include heat sinks, housings, fuel adapters, bleed air valves, valve covers and more.

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Flying Catamaran Demonstrates Generating Hydrogen From Wind Power

Posted on by July 24, 2022

The 18′ foiling catamaran seen recently flying over the waves off the coast of Essex in the UK, was a small boat testing a very big concept. As it flew during the two-hour sea trial, the boat drove an underwater turbine that generated electricity which then used electrolysis to split seawater into hydrogen and oxygen. 

During the test run, the generator filled a six-liter storage tank with clean, green hydrogen; the only by-product was oxygen, which was vented. The boat actually produced so much electricity that, if the tank had been bigger, it could have made 60 liters of hydrogen.

Drift Energy, the British startup behind the project, claims that the foiling sailboat is the first in the world to generate clean hydrogen using just the power of the wind while under sail. 

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Sailing on a Milky Sea — Sailboat & Satellites Confirm Sailors’ Glowing Ocean Lore

Posted on by July 22, 2022

Digital photography of the 2019 Java milky sea, captured by Ganesha’s crew, showing a view of (A) the ship’s prow and (B) a color-adjusted to human perception

For thousands of years, sailors have told of nighttime seas that mysteriously glowed a milky white or luminescent blue, stretching out to the horizon. Referred to as a “milky sea,” the tales date back at least to Greece and Roman times and may have provided inspiration for the “ocean of milk” from Hindu mythology.

As with so many sea stories, the challenge for scientists has been to document and study what sailors had observed far from land in remote stretches of the world’s oceans.

Now, scientists using light-sensing satellites have been able to track milky sea luminescence. And by happenstance, they now have sea level confirmation of their observations from a private sailing yacht that happened to find itself sailing in a glowing sea that coincided with the satellite observations. 

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As Europe & North America Broil, Greenland Melts

Posted on by July 21, 2022

As record-breaking heat waves have sent temperatures soaring across Western Europe and parts of North America, unusually warm weather in Greenland has triggered massive melting of glacial ice. CNN reports that the amount of ice that melted in Greenland between July 15 and 17 alone – 6 billion tons of water per day – would be enough to fill 7.2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Put another way, it was enough to cover the entire area of the state of West Virginia with a foot of water.

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Watching for Migaloo — White Whale Washed up on Australian Beach Not Famous Albino Whale

Posted on by July 19, 2022

A ten-meter-long white humpback whale carcass recently washed ashore on Australia’s Mallacoota beach raising fears that it could be the world-famous albino humpback nicknamed Migaloo.

A closer examination by Victoria’s Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning revealed, however, that the dead whale is a “sub-adult female.” Migaloo is an adult male humpback. Migaloo is also larger at around fifteen meters long. It is also unclear whether the dead whale is indeed white or whether the apparent lack of pigmentation is due to bleaching.

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US Navy Punishes Over Two Dozen Officers and Sailors Over Fire on USS Bonhomme Richard

Posted on by July 18, 2022

In July 2020 an explosion and fire broke out aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard dockside at the Naval Base San Diego. The fire would burn for four days, injuring 60 firefighters and ultimately resulting in the total loss of the ship, which was towed to a scrap yard in April 2021.  

Last Friday, the US Navy announced punishments for more than 20 officers and enlisted personnel for their actions and inaction in connection to the fire. The fire itself is believed to have been started by an act of arson. Navy Seaman Apprentice Ryan Sawyer Mays was charged with arson in the disaster. He faces a hearing on Aug. 17, with his trial expected to run Sept. 19 through Sept. 30.

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Repost: Sailing on the Schooner A.J. Meerwald in New York Harbor

Posted on by July 17, 2022

We recently posted about the A.J. Meerwald, a Delaware Bay oyster schooner launched in 1928, completing an extensive 10-month restoration and refurbishment in Maine. The Meerwald is also the “Official Tall Ship” of the State of New Jersey and was included in the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1995.

Here is a short video aboard the A.J. Meerwald sailing in New York harbor from 2009.

Sailing on the Schooner A.J. Meerwald in New York Harbour

UK Sea Forts for Sale: Fully Refurbished at £3,000,000 & a Fixer Upper Starting at £50,000

Posted on by July 16, 2022

Interested in social distancing?  Looking for a unique residence or hotel venue, preferably one with serious armor plating? Do you also have a substantial cache of cash? If so, there are at least two UK sea forts on the market that may meet your needs.

Spitbank Fort — Fully Refurbished

Spitbank Fort is listed by the agents as a “9 bed detached house for sale.”  Detached is an understatement. Located in the Solent, near Portsmouth, England, the 162′ diameter fort is one of four sea forts built in the estuary between 1867 and 1878.  The asking price is £3,000,000, not including boats.

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Captain of Container Ship Algeciras Express Missing at Sea

Posted on by July 15, 2022

The first officer of the 4,250 TEU container ship Algeciras Express, chartered by Hapag Lloyd, reported that the ship’s captain was missing on a voyage from Turkey to Spain. The crew had noticed the captain’s absence on July 3. They searched the vessel and reported that the captain could not be located.

Safety4Sea reports that the container ship arrived at Algeciras on July 7. Upon arrival, a new captain came on board, and the ship was authorized to moor at the TTI Algeciras terminal.

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The A.J. Meerwald, Official Tall Ship of the State of New Jersey, Completes 10-Month Restoration

Posted on by July 14, 2022

The A.J. Meerwald, a Delaware Bay oyster schooner launched in 1928, is back in the water after an extensive 10-month restoration and refurbishment at Clark & Eisele Traditional Boatbuilding of Lincolnville, Maine. The Meerwald is also the “Official Tall Ship” of the State of New Jersey and was included in the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1995.

The Bangor Daily News quotes Garett Eisele, co-owner of the boatyard, saying, “It feels good to get the Meerwald and make her really look brand-new.  We are really excited to see the boat in the water. We are really pleased with how it turned out.”

The schooner is owned by the non-profit Bayshore Center at Bivalve, an environmental history museum located on New Jersey’s Maurice River. It’s used as a traveling classroom to teach people about the historically rich oyster grounds of Delaware Bay and more.

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Tragedy on the Hudson — Two Die and Three Critically Injured After Chartered Boat Capsizes

Posted on by July 13, 2022

Yesterday just before 3 PM, a chartered powerboat with 12 passengers aboard, capsized in the Hudson River near Pier 86 in Midtown Manhattan.  The accident fatally trapped a 7-year-old boy and 50-year-old woman underneath the overturned boat. Three others were reported to be in critical condition. 

Two NY Waterway ferries were the first on the scene and rescued nine from the river. Both the NYPD and the city’s Fire Department dispatched crews in response to a 911 call at 2:46 PM. The NYPD Harbor Patrol arrived at Pier 86 at West 46th Street where they found the capsized boat and rescued two victims drifting by the boat. Scuba divers dove into the water, bringing out the woman and boy who were declared deceased. 

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