the horse's mouth

If I've Said It Once, I'll Say It A Thousand Times.

The sea is not for the weak of heart. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Ah Yes, Life At Sea Is Romantic.

Yes, I too think about heading out to sea. Then I remember what it was really like: Salty food, 10 second showers (wet down, soap up, rinse off. Use no more than 1-2 minutes of water!), being surrounded for weeks by the vast endless landless horizon, and hanging out with crazy shipmates who talked to imaginary cats. Of course, I'm sure it's more romantic to be on a small sailboat bouncing around the heavy seas rather than on an aircraft carrier.

note: The reason we could stay at sea for weeks is that we would be resupplied while underway. 

Sometimes, The Last Place You Want To Be Is At The Beach.

Sad is the sailor who loses his boat to the wrath of the sea. But, happy is he whose life is spared.

Wrecks On Wednesday.

I think someone is line for a promotion after such a fantastic display of his navigation skills. Well done, sir! Mind you, the rangers are pissed that you didn't pay the entrance fee.

Wrecks On Wednesday.

If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, this is not a hobie cat!
The Panagia F aground on Shipwreck Beach in Praia Santiago, Angola.

Source: Naval Architecture. Orginal photo from the Daily Mail.

Putt Putt Putt Putt...

What is the sound an old outboard makes?
Spotted on Richardson Bay.

Squirt Gun Fight At Sea!

Credit: REUTERS/Kyodo

A frat party that got out of hand?

"Taiwan recently entered a mounting dispute over islands in the East China Sea by sending ten ships from the Taiwanese coastguard accompanied the fishing boats on their protest, which lasted longer than 24 hours. When near the coast of the islands, Japanese ships got in their way, both sides started firing water cannon at each other. Taiwan's coastguard demanded over a loudspeaker that the Japanese ships respect Taiwan's territory." At least they didn't start shooting live rounds at each other.

"The islands at the center of the dispute are a small archipelago off the coast of Taiwan, claimed by China, Japan, and Taiwan itself. They are dubbed the Senkaku in Japan, the Diaoyu in China and the Tiaoyutai in Taiwan. Japan annexed the islands from China in 1895 and has controlled them ever since, except when the country was administered by the US from 1945 to 1972. The waters surrounding the islands are rich fishing grounds, and a 1968 geological survey discovered possible oil and gas reserves in the area." Ah-ha, follow the money!

Yes kids, adults are mature. You need to pay attention to them.

 

Maritime Monday.

It's not easy being a fisherman.

No fishermen, no halibut.

Lobster Boat.

All praise the lobsterman!

What Do You Mean This Isn't A Beach Cat?

The TK Bremen, a Maltese-flagged freighter, ran aground at the end of last year near the Ria d'Etel (Morbihan).

Wreck On Wednesday.

Oh my, even the photos of wrecks have wahines in them!

If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again.

I know honey, this cruise didn't turn out the way we wanted. But let's give them a second chance. What are the odds of them screwing it up again?

What do you mean we have no power? So are you telling me I won't be getting my rum and coke?

Not exactly what I call good for the brand.
I guess it wasn't the Love Boat.

Rescue From A Cold Sea.

The trawler Trec'her ran aground on Wednesday (2/29) morning at 6:30 about 800 meters from the shore of Île de Batz. The video above shows the dramatic rescue of the crew was by the French Navy. Est-ce que je peux avoir un coup de bourbon ?

Giant Squirt Gun Fight.

Firefighting exercise at sea?
Look at the guy dangling off the crane.

Are you thiking about crossing the Pacific? Have you trained to fight fires or in damage control? How about safety and survival? You don't want to die, right? When going out into the ocean, I suggest that you prepare for anything and everthing that can go wrong. You can't always count on someone coming to your rescue.

note: Every sailor in the U.S. Navy is trained in firefighting, damage control and water survival. (Exp: No PFD, no big deal. Sailors learn how to turn their shirts or pants into flotation devices.)

How Do You Remove A Bridge Quickly?

You crash a ship into it.

The bow of the Delta Mariner was covered in twisted steel and chunks of asphalt from the two-lane bridge. The boat hit the bridge Thursday night on the Tennessee River on its way to Cape Canaveral, Fla. .....The five-story high Delta Mariner was too tall to pass through the portion of the bridge that it struck (you don't say), and the resulting collision left a 300-foot wide gap.

Skipper! You got some 'splainin to do!

Another View Of The Costa Concordia,

Did someone move the water?
Via kasparallenbach.ch

Got Milk? (Monday Morning Mishap)

So there you are, cruising along and you hit a reef. Things then start to tumble into the sea. (like big containers)

Half and half?

The next thing you know, you've got bags of powdered milk on the beach.

A cargo ship grounded off the New Zealand coast since October has split into two pieces after being lashed by pounding seas, spilling sea containers and debris and sparking fears a fresh oil spill could wash ashore, maritime officials said on Sunday.

The wreck of the Greek-owned Rena was described as New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster even before the rear section of the ship, lashed by pounding seas, broke away overnight. The ship previously spilled heavy fuel oil that fouled pristine North Island beaches and killed up to 20,000 seabirds, and despite salvage efforts nearly 400 tons of oil remain onboard.

Sources: Telegraph | Globe and Mail | The Australian | SF Gate

Monday Maritime Mishap.

Rescuers from Dumaguete in the Philippines hold on to a rope as they form a human chain to rescue 32 passengers and crew of the M/V Ever Transport III, which sank after running aground off barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City. (photo by Melissa Alexandra B. Pal)

Wreck On Wednesday.

Oh look, someone is going to be happy. Those guys are wearing helmets.
Basta on helmets!

Wreck On Wednesday.

Leo Solinap / Reuters

An aerial shot shows the sunken M/V Asia Malaysia at the seas of Panay and Negros islands, central Philippines, August 2, 2011. M/V Asia Malaysia, a passenger cargo ship, sank near Iloilo in central Philippines on Sunday and all 147 passengers and crew were rescued after the vessel tilted to its right side due to strong winds and choppy waters, a Philippine coast guard official reported. Picture taken August 2, 2011.