Skip to main content

Posts

SS EL FARO VDR TRANSCRIPT

NAUTICAL LOG has published Posts about this tragic ship sinking since the very first report of her loss.  Today the NTSB has released her VDR data in particular the Navigation Bridge voice recorder - it is not good.  This Post is compiled from multiple Media sources.

On October 01, 2015 the SS El Faro a freighter sank with all hands, 33 crewmembers lost their lives and no bodies were ever recovered though one was sighted by the USCG in a survival suit but not picked-up.  By an extraordinary search, resumed at the insistence of a U.S. Senator from the State of Florida, the VDR was found  and now after months of investigation some results have been released. 

The ship left Jacksonville, Fl. bound for San Juan, PR and sailed directly into the eye of a Category 4 hurricane named Joaquin.  Why the ship was where it was in the first place is a question yet to be fully answered but it seems that the Master was more focused on fuel consumption than plotting the path of the hurricane Joaquin an…
Post a Comment
Read more

QUO VADIS SSS OCEAN WARRIOR ?

NAUTICAL LOG understood that the Sea Shepherd vessel Ocean Warrior had sailed for the Southern Ocean however we have seen no news of her passage southwards.  Since she is a new vessel and in waters which are renowned for storms building up quite rapidly we wonder if all is well.  One suspects that is not due to the rampant publication of events by the SSS people on every occasion that they accomplish even the slightest act which they consider positive to their aims.

Marine Traffic status:  43° 37'45 S.  147° 25' E.  course 257° @ 11 knots.  This position is south of Tasmania, Australia.

So it would be nice to know if Operation Nemesis is underway or has already become an SSS nemesis.  Continued safe passage and

Good Watch.
Post a Comment
Read more

NOTES ON COMMENTING

After a very polarizing General Election to choose a new President and others throughout the United States of America it seems commenting has reached the depths of rudeness.  Many commenters in their rush to publish do not read and understand the post then think about the wording of their comment.  It is clear that many deliberately ignore the post and the previous comments content to spout forth their own political opinion.  They do not seem to realize that by doing so makes their comment largely valueless and portrays them as uneducated persons worth little or no attention.  This of course is the common trend of most if not all of the so called "liberal" population which by their continued display of ignorance of the subject matter become more and more ignored and indeed laughed at.  The current Green Party U.S. candidate is a typical example making a fuss after obtaining barely 1% of the vote.  Asking for recount nay rather demanding recounts is not just pointless but an …
Post a Comment
Read more

WELL HERE WE GO AGAIN

It has been quite some time since NAUTICAL LOG addressed the activities of the Sea Shepherd Society.  One does not hear much about or from CAPT. Paul Watson one of its founders and the "attack master" of the Japanese Whaling Fleet in the Southern Ocean with several vessels in various conditions, usually not very good, manned by crews of little or no experience.

Largely by guess and by god and with overworked guardian angels they pretty much survived, learnt and those that stayed with it became competent seamen.  One must really respect them for that and some were then appointed by and within the Sea Shepherd Society as "Captains".  *The title is in quotes because it is given as a courtesy to Masters of civilian vessels that hold Masters papers from a recognized maritime Nation.  The Sea Shepherd Society has never to our knowledge published the Masters Certificates or Licences of its appointed "Captains" *.  Well never mind so far they have brought home - w…
Post a Comment
Read more

DEATH OF FIDEL CASTRO

Here in South Florida, most particularly Miami-Dade County, the Cubans have been celebrating the death of Fidel Castro the revolutionary leader of Cuba.  While it is wrong to celebrate the loss of life who can blame them after fifty years of misery clearly caused by this dictator. 

A few famous words modified for him  with acknowledgements to a Jesuit education and William Shakespeare.

Amici et Quirites prolesque Iuli, aures praebete.  Veni ad Castro sepeliendum, non ad laudandum.  Malefica superstites maleficis.  Beneficia una cum ossibus lorem luimata sunt.  Fiat sic Castro.

Indeed so far one has not heard a single thing about him that was good just tales of families torn apart, some never seen again from the political prisons of that tragic Island of Cuba.  One could also mention the many lost at sea, perhaps thousands we really do not know how many, trying to reach Florida across the Florida Straits in homemade craft.  Now while there are some expectations of change it will be slow …
Post a Comment
Read more

IMO AWARD

Many years ago now when one sailed in Andrew Weirs Bankline ships we had Indian crews.  At that time we had some Sikh engineers but no deck officers or even deck apprentices.  Later Indian shipping companies were formed and maritime schools organized to train crews for the Indian Merchant Navy.  It seems the programme has been quite a success as nowadays there are many Indian Masters of vessels including the first Indian women Master.  Captain Radhika Menon has recently been awarded the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea for her rescue of fishermen from a sinking fishing boat in severe weather.  The incident occurred off Gopalpur, India in 25 foot seas, winds of 60 knots and torrential rain.

Captain Menon has had an interesting career beginning as a Radio Officer then becoming a Deck Officer and rising through the ranks to an appointment as Master.  Coming from a country that has traditions and lifestyle not always easy for women it is particularly encouraging to see this Master …
Post a Comment
Read more

EUROPEAN UNION LOVES REGULATIONS

If you read the header remarks of the Blog you will notice an additional sentence regarding the EU and its beloved Regulations.  Recently though with the pending departure of the British there have been rumblings of discontent from several other Member States.  Sitting in Brussels are vast numbers of petty bureaucrats writing, at great expense, these Regulations which range through all facades of the society.  They cover such things as maritime interests, fishing rights, crop planting, selling your products and yes the design and size of a British teapot.  Good lord is it any wonder that the British populace voted to leave the EU - that sacred and revered object was actually examined, critisised and regulations drafted covering its size, design and usage. 

That's it OUT - we are NOT amused !!

Now one receives a lengthy notice from the European Union via Google that we blog writers must inform y'all that there are regulations covering blog writing for cookies, spam and other int…
Post a Comment
Read more