Eighty Years Ago Today — Sinking of the HMT Lancastria, the Worst Maritime Disaster in British History

Posted on by June 17, 2020

On June 17, 1940, the HMT Lancastria was sunk by German bombers near the French port of Saint-Nazaire. An estimated 4,000 people died in the sinking. Fewer than 2,500 survived. It was the worst maritime disaster in British history, worse than the Titanic and the Lusitania combined. While often described as forgotten history, that is not accurate. Rather than being forgotten, the tragic sinking was largely covered up for almost 70 years. 

Several weeks after the evacuation at Dunkirk, there were still more than 100,000 troops and civilians in need of evacuation from France. The Cunard passenger liner Lancastria had been requisitioned by the British government. Although the ship configured as a troopship had a capacity of 2,180 including 330 crew, the captain was ordered to take as many people aboard as possible. Estimates of passengers embarked range from 5,000 to 7,200. 

Continue reading →

USS Gerald R. Ford — Almost a Carrier or Still a Berthing Barge?

Posted on by June 16, 2020

The $13 billion dollar aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford  is the most expensive warship the world has ever seen. Commissioned in 2017, the ship is still not ready for deployment.  Is the Ford almost ready for combat service or is it still what critics have called a $13 billion berthing barge? It all depends on who you ask — the Navy or the General Accounting Office (GAO).

According to the Navy, things are going well. The National Interest reports that the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) recently completed the tests to prove that the latest aircraft carrier to enter service can launch and recover jets. Now the U.S. Navy has announced that it has the largest air wing embark to date. In addition, the Ford completed its first ordnance movement from a lower deck magazine to the carrier’s F/A-18E Super Hornets using the ship’s state-of-the-art Advanced Weapons Elevators.

A GAO Report issued at roughly the same time as the Navy announcement has a somewhat different view. Continue reading →

Remembering the General Slocum Disaster of June 15, 1904

Posted on by June 15, 2020

An updated repost from a few year’s back. One hundred and sixteen years ago today, the disaster on the General Slocum resulted in the largest loss of life in New York City prior to the attacks of 9/11/01.

At around 9AM on June 15, 1904, approximately 1,350 passengers, mostly women and children from the German-American community of New York’s Lower East Side, boarded the Knickerbocker Steamship Company paddle steamer General Slocum for an annual end-of-school outing to Locust Grove Picnic Ground at Eatons Neck on Long Island.  The trip was sponsored by the St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Instead of a fun-filled day away from the city, the trip shortly turned into a nightmare. Continue reading →

After Three Years, USS Fitzgerald Returns to Service

Posted on by June 15, 2020

USS Fitzgerald after collision

On June 17, 2017, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Fitzgerald, collided with the container ship  ACX Crystal near Toyko Bay off the coast of Japan. Seven US sailors died in the collision and at least three more were injured, including the destroyer’s commanding officer. 

Now, almost three years to the day after the collision, the USS Fitzgerald has finally returned to service, sailing from Ingalls Shipbuilding bound for her homeport of San Diego. The ship was transported by heavy-lift ship to the Mississippi shipyard almost a year after the collision, where it underwent two years of repairs and upgrading, impacting every aspect of the ship, including hull structure, machinery, electrical, combat systems, comms, intelligence and command, and control systems.

A US Navy investigation of the collision determined that Fitzgerald’s watch teams “disregarded established norms of basic contact management and, more importantly, leadership failed to adhere to well-established protocols in place to prevent collisions,” concluding that the accident was avoidable.

Trailer ‘The Restoration of Centaur’ — Insights on Horse Dung and Coal Tar

Posted on by June 14, 2020

Centaur is one of three sailing barges owned and operated by the Thames Sailing Barge Trust. Launched in  February 1895 at John and Herbert Cann’s Bathside yard in Harwich, Centaur was built as a coasting barge – able to trade all around the British coast and to the near continent.

In the most recent restoration of the historic barge, filmmaker Simon North shot a documentary of the process, ‘The Restoration of Centaur‘. Here is a short video that highlights the traditional, but certainly new to me, use of horse dung and coal tar in replanking the barge. Thanks to David Rye for passing it along.

Trailer ‘The Restoration of Centaur’

Drone Footage Captures Biggest Gathering of Sea Turtles Ever Caught on Camera

Posted on by June 13, 2020

Raine Island, Australia, on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, is one of the world’s largest nesting sites for green sea turtles. Researchers have found that drone cameras are the best way to count the young sea turtles.  Using the drone footage researchers have estimated that there were around 64,000 of the endangered green sea turtles at the rookery or almost twice as many as previously estimated. Thanks to Phil Leon for contributing to this post.

Great Barrier Reef: drone footage allows researchers to count 64,000 green sea turtles

Gulf of Mexico ‘Dead Zone’ Will Be Large This Summer, But Maybe Smaller than Last Year

Posted on by June 14, 2020

The bad news is that the annual summer “hypoxic” or “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico this year may be larger than average. The good news is that it will be about 15% smaller than last year’s model prediction and roughly 20% smaller than the record “dead zone” in 2017. Nevertheless, at 6,700 square miles, this year’s “dead zone” is still larger than the State of Connecticut.

The “dead zone” forms every year due to an algae bloom which deprives the Gulf waters of oxygen. The little or no oxygen in the water can kill fish and other marine life. NOAA explains that the algae bloom is caused “by excess nutrient pollution from human activities, such as urbanization and agriculture, occurring throughout the Mississippi River watershed. Once the excess nutrients reach the Gulf they stimulate an overgrowth of algae, which eventually die, then sink and decompose in the water. The resulting low oxygen levels near the bottom are insufficient to support most marine life and have long-term impacts to living marine resources that are unable to leave the area. Considered one of the world’s largest, the Gulf of Mexico dead zone occurs every summer.

Continue reading →

A Drone Visit to Gradually Reopening Mystic Seaport Museum

Posted on by June 12, 2020

The Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut is a magical place to visit, particularly in the Spring and early Summer. Unfortunately, the museum was shut down by the pandemic since the beginning of April. The great news is that as of May 23rd, the seaport museum has been progressively reopening. Their website describes it as “the beginning of a gradual return to regular operation and for the initial weeks visitors will be able to access only the outdoors portion of the grounds, as the village buildings and indoor exhibitions will remain closed.”

In the meantime, here is a marvelous 4K drone video of Mystic Seaport by Ryan Smith. From the Charles W. Morgan to the Mayflower, with a myriad of vessels in between, the bird’s-eye view is breathtaking. Continue reading →

First American Woman to Walk in Space Also First Woman to Visit the Challenger Deep

Posted on by June 10, 2020

Dr Kathy Sullivan and Victor Vescovo after their dive to Challenger Deep. Photo: Enrique Alvarez

In addition to serving as a crew member on three Space Shuttle missions, Kathryn Sullivan was also the first American woman to walk in space on October 11, 1984. Now, at 68, she has become the first woman to reach the Challenger Deep, about seven miles below the ocean’s surface, the deepest spot in the world’s oceans. 

Kathryn Sullivan became the eight-person to travel 35,810-feet below the surface to the Challenger Deep, descending in the DSV Limiting Factor piloted by Victor Vescovo of Caladan Oceanic.

Continue reading →

Solo-Sailor Jeanne Socrates Honored in Victoria

Posted on by June 9, 2020

Jeanne Socrates was 76 when she set sail alone from Victoria, British Columbia, in October 2018, on her 38′ yacht Nereida. She returned to Victoria 339 days later, then 77, having sailed singlehanded non-stop around world, becoming the oldest sailor to do so. On a previous circumnavigation, she also set a record as the only woman to have circumnavigated solo nonstop from North America.

Last November, her home port honored Jeanne Socrates by naming the dock in Victoria’s Inner Harbor where Nereida is berthed in her honor. A plaque now identifies the commercial dock as the Jeanne Socrates Dock.

Last week the city also installed a bronze plaque in her honor on Victoria’s Wall of History overlooking the Inner Harbour, to commemorate her epic voyages.

Congratulations, Jeanne. Well deserved.

Continue reading →

On World Ocean Day, Attack on Atlantic Ocean Marine Sanctuary

Posted on by June 8, 2020

Deep-sea octopus on Bear Seamount within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument off the coast of New England Photo: NOAA

Happy World Ocean Day, held every year on the 8th of June to celebrate the oceans and to take action to restore and protect them. This year the day’s theme is ‘Innovation for a sustainable ocean.’

Unfortunately, the current US administration seems determined to move backward rather than forward on the protection of the ocean. Late last week, the current occupant of the Oval Office announced, while on a trip to Maine, that he intended to open the first and only Atlantic marine sanctuary to fishing and to cancel the planned phase-out of lobster and crab fishing in the area.

Continue reading →

GPS Spoofing Mystery — Crop Circles & Ghost Ships

Posted on by June 6, 2020

Image: Global Fishing Watch / Orbcomm / Spire.

On June 5, 2019, the offshore supply boat Princess Janice was operating from a Nigerian oil terminal when suddenly the AIS (Automatic Identification System) an automatic tracking system showed the vessel a continent away, circling above Point Reyes, CA, eventually veering off above Utah. The false AIS reading continued for over two weeks.

Princess Janice was not the only ship with false AIS data. A total of 12 ships’ AIS positions appeared to be being thousands of miles from their actual position, traveling in circles or ovals, often partially over land. Most of the vessels reported circling positions off the coast of Northern California, though two were shown off Madrid, one to the vicinity of Hong Kong and another to the Chinese city of Shanwei.

Continue reading →

Affirmation of “Respect, Dignity and Inclusion” From US Navy Sixth Fleet Leadership

Posted on by June 5, 2020

As protests over the death of George Floyd and against racism and police brutality continue across the nation and parts of the globe, the leadership of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet has issued a letter titled “Respect, Dignity and Inclusion.”  The letter is signed jointly by the Sixth Fleet Command Master Chief Johannes J. Gonzalez; U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Fleet Master Chief Derrick A. Walters; Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, Vice Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti; and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, Admiral James Foggo and reads as follows:

Dear CNE/CNA/C6F Teammates,

As we continue to watch the demonstrations and violence playing out in cities across America and here in Europe, it is important to take time to reflect upon the situation and acknowledge the impact this is having on us, our shipmates, and our families. The catalyst for the current situation may have been the death of Mr. George Floyd, but we should all understand that the outrage sparked by his death goes much deeper across many communities in our great Nation.

We encourage you to have the courage to discuss this challenging situation with your colleagues, so we can all gain a better understanding of underlying concerns, as well as find ways to work together to develop and put in place lasting solutions. Continue reading →

TBT — Panoramic and Audio Tour of USS Pampanito

Posted on by June 4, 2020

subpano1
On May 24th, a fire in a warehouse on Pier 45 on San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf came very close to the engulfing the World War II Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien and the USS Pampanito, a Balao class fleet submarine museum and memorial from the same era. Fortunately, the timely arrival of San Francisco Fire Boat #3, St. Francis, helped to save both historic ships.

On Throwback Thursday here is a repost of a link to a wonderful panoramic and audio tour of the USS Pampanito.  By clicking and dragging your mouse across the images you can wander from the main deck to the forward and after torpedo rooms and everywhere in between. The 360-degree panoramic photos are extremely well done. There is text explaining what you are seeing as well as an mp3 audio tour that you can click. According to the Fact Sheet & Backgrounder, the sub has its own ice-cream maker. See yesterday’s post, How Ice Cream Replaced Booze in the US Navy. 

TOUR OF USS PAMPANITO (SS-383)

How Ice Cream Replaced Booze in the US Navy

Posted on by June 3, 2020

General Order 99
One hundred and six years ago next month, on July 1, 1914, Secretary of the US Navy Josephus Daniels issued General Order 99, banning “the use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station.” The US Navy had ended the rum ration in 1862 and imposed progressively more stringent restrictions on what alcohol sailors could have on shipboard. General Order 99 ended even the serving of alcohol in the wardroom and the captain’s cabin.

Prohibition and Ice Cream
Six years later, in 1920, the entire country followed the Navy’s example. With the ratification of the 18th Amendment, the United States banned the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. The thirteen year period known as Prohibition led to the growth of criminal gangs and the proliferation of “speakeasies,” illegal drinking establishments. 

Continue reading →

Factory Trawler American Dynasty Hit Hard by COVID-19

Posted on by June 2, 2020

Photo: American Seafood

The Seattle-based factory trawler, American Dynasty, cut short its fishing season off the Washington coast after most of the 126 crew tested positive for COVID-19. A statement by American Seafoods, which owns the ship, reported that a crew member tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the company decided to test the entire crew and on May 30 an additional 85 crew members were confirmed positive. Results are pending for nine outstanding tests.

How the virus came onboard is unclear. From the company press release:

Continue reading →

Two Hundred and Seven Years Ago Today — “Don’t Give Up the Ship”

Posted on by June 1, 2020

On June 1, 1813, two hundred and seven years ago today, the British frigate HMS Shannon defeated and captured the USS Chesapeake in single-ship combat. Captain James  Lawrence on the Chesapeake was mortally wounded during the battle. His last words were, depending on the account,  “Don’t give up the ship. Fight her till she sinks,” or “Tell them to fire faster; don’t give up the ship.”  If  “don’t give up the ship” was an order, it was impossible to follow and never carried out. The ship had already been taken by British boarders.

Continue reading →

Bark Europa — An Unexpected 10,000 Mile Voyage Home From the End of the World

Posted on by June 2, 2020

The bark Europa arrived in the port of Ushuaia, Argentina in late March. Ushuaia, which describes itself as “the end of the world, the beginning of everything,” would normally be the jumping-off point for the ship’s regular voyage to Antarctica. This year, however, the concurrent arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic changed everyone’s plans. The crew found themselves stuck aboard in port in pandemic limbo. 

As reported by Newsweek, since there was no way on how to know when this world crisis would be finished, Dutch Captain Eric Kesteloo and his international sailing crew of 11 women and 8 men refused to sit and wait, and so they decided to sail back to Bark Europa‘s home harbor in Scheveningen, the Netherlands.

The Europa is currently completing the 10,000 mile non-stop voyage under sail back to her homeport. Marine Traffic reports that she departed Ushuaia on March 27 and is currently sailing east at 4.5 knots, with an estimated arrival in Scheveningen on June 16.

Continue reading →

Time Bomb in the Thames — Removing the Masts from the SS Richard Montgomery

Posted on by May 31, 2020

Three rusting masts rise from the Thames Estuary, off Sheppy Island, not far from Sheerness. They are the masts that once supported the swinging booms on the Liberty ship USS Richard Montgomery, which sank with a cargo of high explosive bombs and other munitions in 1944. The wreck still contains an estimated 1,400 tonnes of potentially highly volatile explosives. The remaining munitions are too dangerous to remove and also too dangerous to ignore. 

Now, the Ministry of Defence is offering to pay £5 million ‘danger money’ to any company prepared to hack off the rusting masts of the ship that the BBC has referred to as the “ticking time bomb of the Thames.” The concerns are that the rusting masts could waste away and fall onto the munitions, potentially causing a detonation.

Continue reading →