maritime

Wrecks On Wednesday. Ah-Oh, Joe. It Looks Like Snow.

Tall ship

The Tall Ship Sloop Providence, Rhode Island’s Official Flagship and Tall Ship Ambassador, has suffered damage after toppling over in blizzard conditions at Newport Shipyard on Tuesday.

The vessel is a 110 foot fully rigged sailing vessel and a faithful replica of John Paul Jones’ famous warship that sank or captured 40 British ships during the American Revolutionary War. It had been hauled at Newport Shipyard and apparently tipped over during the peak of a blizzard that brought gusts upwards of 60 mph to the coast. Read more here.

Hat tip to Matt

Mommy Monday, Also Known As "Holy Shit, We're In Some Heavy Seas." (Moving Pictures)

//player.vimeo.com/video/90296618

Extreme weather (Indian ocean) from Bulls Equities on Vimeo.

Yes, boys and girls, I've said it before and I'll say it again, the ocean is not a place for the faint of heart. So, before you decide to sail across the Pacific after taking classes at your local "commercial sailing school" (Will I really learn how to sail in a weekend on a large keelboat, Joe?), get some time out on the water (practice, practice, practice), learn a thing or two about the weather, and maybe, just maybe crew on a boat with experienced ocean sailors. We don't want to launch the "Ready Alert" and look for your sorry a%s.

Via gCaptain.

Wrecks On Wednesday: Spanish Ship Splits In Half. (Moving Pictures)

Wrecks on wednesday

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuzSkFlsILc]

What happens when your engines give out and you're next to a seawall? Munchola!

The Spanish cargo ship Luno collided into the sea wall at Anglet, after its engines failed. More at the BBC and Hybridcar.com.

Maritime Monday. The Greeks Are Still Great Mariners! (Video)

ΑΔΑΜΑΝΤΙΟΣ ΚΟΡΑΗΣ

Korais

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsnH00fzASg]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PytXU6yiCaM]

Fantastic ship handling skills by the crew of the Adamantios Korais (Αδαμάντιος Κοραής) with Captain Isidoros Ligno ( Ισίδωρο Λιγνό) on the bridge.

 

Under normal conditions

This is what it looks like under normal conditions.

Via gCaptain. Hat tip Pat Brynes.

 

Ah Yes, Life At Sea Is Romantic.

Romance

Sucks

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aETGNpm43f4]

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. 

Squirt Gun Fight At Sea!

Japan-taiwan-ships-squirt-water

Credit: REUTERS/Kyodo

Water-fight

A frat party that got out of hand?

Go ahead and spray me

"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.

 

Giant Squirt Gun Fight.

Waterfight

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.)