Sea Change & MF Hydra — First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Ferries

Two new ferries, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, have or will soon enter service. In Norway, the MF Hydra, the first liquid hydrogen fuel cell powered ferry entered regular service at the end of March. MF Hydra sails on the … Continue reading

Japanese Singlehander Kenichi Horie, Setting Sail to Cross the Pacific at 83

Sixty years after his first singlehanded Pacific crossing from Japan to San Francisco, Kenichi Horie is ready to go again. If all goes well, famed Japanese singlehander Kenichi Horie, 83, will set sail today from San Francisco bound for Japan. … Continue reading

Black History Month: Whaling Ship Captain William Thomas Shorey, the Black Ahab

Over nearly three centuries of whaling, some 175,000 men went to sea in 2,700 ships. Of the 2,500 masters who captained whaling ships, at least 63 were men of color. Many of the 63 sailed from the US East Coast, … Continue reading

San Francisco Firefighters Save Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien From Massive Wharf Fire

A major fire broke out on Saturday morning in a warehouse on Pier 45 on San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf which came very close to the engulfing the historic World War II Liberty ship, SS Jeremiah O’Brien. The fire was reported … Continue reading

Déjà Vu — Cruise Ship Grand Princess Held Offshore For Coronavirus Testing

Yogi Berra is alleged to have said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” News of another cruise ship in limbo over the coronavirus feels that way.  On February 5th, we posted about the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that … Continue reading

San Francisco Capsize Echoes Past Tragedy — Kandi Won & Khaleesi

Originally posted by gCaptain. Reposted with permission. Last Saturday, the 30 passengers aboard Khaleesi, a Silverton 34 power boat, were watching the Navy Blue Angels over San Francisco Bay as part of Fleet Week.  On the way back to the dock,  Khaleesi capsized and … Continue reading

The Clipper Ship Noonday & the Ships of Badger’s Island

Last year, the wreck of a the clipper ship, Noonday, was located just west of San Francisco. There was no great mystery where the ship sank in 1863, as the submerged rock where she struck has been known as Noonday Rock ever since. … Continue reading

SS City of Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco’s Deadliest Shipwreck Found Again

Recently, History.com featured an article titled “Found: San Francisco’s Deadliest Shipwreck.” They reported that the wreck of the 345-foot Pacific Mail Line passenger steamer SS City of Rio de Janeiro had been found by NOAA researchers using high-definition sonar in 287 feet … Continue reading

Panoramic and Audio Tour of USS Pampanito

Thanks to Richard Pekelney for passing along the link to a wonderful panoramic and audio tour of the USS Pampanito, a World War II Balao class Fleet submarine museum and memorial that is open for visitors daily at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. … Continue reading

Polynesian Voyaging Canoes Arrive in San Francisco through the Golden Gate

In June, we posted about Polynesian voyaging canoes of the “Te Mana o Te Moana” (Spirit of the Sea) expedition arriving in Hilo, Hawaii after sailing from New Zealand by way of the Marquesas and Tahiti.    Yesterday, six of the vaka, … Continue reading

Inside the Ghost Ships of the Mothball Fleet

Photographer Scott Haefner and a few of his friends snuck aboard ships in the Suisan Bay Reserve Fleet near San Francisco, CA and photographed and documented the rusting fleet.  Fascinating images.  The Mail Online ran an article today about his work.  For more images, see Haefner’s site: … Continue reading

Carnival Splendor Set to Sail from San Francisco

The Carnival Splendor, which was crippled by an engine room fire on November 8th, leaving it drifting for days off the coast of Mexico with nearly 4,500 crew members and passengers aboard, is expected to sail from San Francisco on Friday … Continue reading

Carnival Splendor Arrives in San Francisco for Drydocking and to Complete Repairs

After attempting to sail on Wednesday and Thursday, the cruise ship Carnival Splendor finally departed San Diego under its own power on Friday, accompanied by two tugs.  As of Sunday morning, around 05:00 local time, the ship was approaching San Francisco under its … Continue reading