Two quadcopters approach the Costa Concordia wreck site in this screengrab from the video below.

The Costa Concordia wreck site sets the backdrop for this quadcopter promotional video just posted to Youtube from a company called Team Black Sheep.

The video opens with the following message:

This video was shot at the location of a tragic accident. It is not our interest to gain attention on the backs of those who have lost loved ones. This video is supposed to be a showcase for possible UAV applications. Our goal is to display the stranded ship in a never-before seen way. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who drowned on this day and we are hoping for a swift removal to reveal again the underlying beauty of Giglio Island, Italy.

Check it out…

The filmers of this particular video were apparently arrested for their work, since picture taking is banned at the site, but “[Team Black Sheep] does not approve of censorship and therefore will always ignore such rules.” Lucky for us, I guess.

gCaptain Coverage: Costa Concordia Salvage

This isn’t the first amazing footage of a ship shot from a quadcopter either. You can view some previously posted quadcopter videos HERE.

Location of port of Wakkanai, Japan

Six crew members of a Cambodian-flagged crab fishing vessel were killed Thursday after a fire broke out on their ship while anchored in a Japanese port, coast guard and media reports said.

The AFP, citing an Japanese coast guard official, reports that the fire broke out on the 497-tonne Tiagan while in the port of Wakkanai in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

The ship had a crew of 23, made up of mostly Russians and some Ukrainians. The six killed are reported to be all Russian citizens.

The fire is believed to have burned for about 11 hours before it was put out. The six bodies were found after the fire was extinguished and water was pumped out.

Strong winds have pushed huge ice sheets ashore at Lake Mille Lacs, Minnesota.

The Department of Natural Resources says about 10 miles of shoreline are covered with the huge piles of ice, with some reaching up to 30 feet high.

ABC News coverage:

Via UnofficialNetworks.com

Maersk-Alabama Capt. Richard Phillips, right, stands alongside Cmdr. Frank Castellano, commanding officer of USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) after being rescued by U.S Naval Forces off the coast of Somalia. Philips was held hostage for four days by pirates. (U.S. Navy Photo)

The official trailer for the new movie about the 2009 Maersk Alabama piracy incident, titled “Captain Phillips,” has just dropped.

The movie stars stars Tom Hanks as Captain Richard Phillips and is based on his book “A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea.”

IMDB Synopsis:

The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.

Of course the incident ended – spoiler alert – with Captain Phillips being taken hostage by the pirates aboard a lifeboat until a team of U.S. Navy Seal snipers on the nearby USS Bainbridge took care of business in rather dramatic fashion.

Enough talk though… here’s the trailer:

Phillips was hailed as a hero following the incident, but later came under fire after he was accused by former members of his crew of endangering the ship by ignoring warnings about Somali pirates and sailing too close to the Somali coast (although I don’t think that i what this movie is about).

“Captain Phillips” is directed by Paul Greengrass, who also directed The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum and United 93, the story of one of the planes hijacked on 9/11 that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

“Captain Phillips” will be released on October 13, 2013 in the United States. International release dates can be found HERE.

So what do you think, will you see it?

The Norwegian Breakaway at a pier on the Hudson River in New York City, May 7, 2013. Photo: NCL Breakaway on twitter

Norwegian Cruise Lines on Wednesday christened the Norwegian Breakaway, the first of two Breakaway-class ships ordered from Meyer Werft shipyard.

The ship was christened during a ceremony in New York City featuring the famous “Rockettes” as the Godmothers and hosted by Buddy (you know that guy from that show about the cakes).

Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of the 146,600 GT cruise ship on April 25th from the Papenburg-based shipyard, just 18 months after the first steel was cut.

The Norwegian Breakaway can accommodate 4,000 passengers in 2,014 staterooms, including 1,508 outside cabins. The vessel features a diesel-electric pod drive system and improved hydrodynamics for increased efficiency and reduced operating costs.

Fittingly, theme of the Norwegian Breakaway is New York City, featuring hull art – a NCL staple – created by artist Peter Max showing the famous NYC skyline. The ship will sail on seven day cruises from New York to Bermuda starting on May 12 and will be the largest vessel to be homeported year-round in the city.

The second ship in the Breakaway-class, the Norwegian Getaway, is expected to be delivered from MEYER WERFT in January 2014.

Here are two screengrabs I caught on the Christening live webcam (yes, I watched it):

The “Rockettes” doing their famous leg kick aboard the Breakaway.

Champagne bottle break.

Image via Prefulla.net

These are a real pictures. So now that that’s out of the way… Today’s ship photos come to us via Hong Kong, where on May 2nd internationally renowned artist Florentijn Hofman’s Rubber Duck project made its way into the harbor.

The duck measures 16.5 meters tall, easily dwarfing its escort tugs.

About the project from the Hofman’s website (because it makes more sense when he explains it):

The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers, it doesn’t discriminate people and doesn’t have a political connotation. The friendly, floating Rubber Duck has healing properties: it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them. The rubber duck is soft, friendly and suitable for all ages!

Image via Prefulla.net

Since 2007, the duck has been making its way around the world and has already been seen in St. Nazaire, Sao Paulo, Auckland, Hasselt ,Osaka and Hiroshima, Sydney, Nürnberg, and Amsterdam, among other places.

But Hofman’s art isn’t just limited to giant rubber ducks. He also has a Fat Monkey, Slow Slugs, and Mickey the Pig exhibits on display in cities throughout the world.

The Rubber Duck will be in Hong Kong until June 9th.

Have you seen the Duck?

Image via Florentijn Hofman

UPDATE!! (May 17): The Rubber Duck had to be deflated after some of its parts broke.

A deflated Rubber Duck by Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman, is lifted up for repair by a crane on a ship in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour May 15, 2013. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Not to worry, the duck is expected to return to service following repairs…

Built in 1992, the 7,600-ton Nathaniel B. Palmer is capable of breaking 3 feet (1 meter) of ice at 3 knots. It is 308 feet (94 meters) long and has 12,720 horsepower.

The ship is operated by Edison Chouest Offshore and chartered by the United States National Science Foundation.

The R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer in Antarctica in 2011.

Kaleen McAllister. Photo: McAllister Towing

A tugboat owned by McAllister Towing sank Saturday night at a pier in Locust Point in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Kaleen McAllister sank at Pier 3 in Locust Point just before 10 p.m. after striking a submerged object earlier in the evening, causing the tug to take on water.

No injuries were reported.

The tug can carry 22,900 gallons of fuel and 710 gallons of oil on board and a small sheen was reported.

The 102-foot, 3,300 HP Kaleen McAllister is one of three tugs owned by McAllister Towing that is homeported in Baltimore.

Dolphins are one thing, but have you ever had a pod of Orcas play in your wake?

PS – I think it’s safe to say this lady had the best day ever.

Best day ever!

Photo: Craigslist

Check out this customized Gibson houseboat up for sale in St. Louis. Here’s the Craigslist listing…

Built on 50′ 1988 Gibson houseboat. Brand new twin 454s, Kohler generator, V drives. Holds 30 people, looks like a Hollywood set! Great as a live aboard…and an AWESOME party boat! 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Just surveyed for $110,00, will sell for $79,000 – trades considered. Call 314-XXX-XXXX

What do you think? Good deal?

Update: As Tradewinds points out, the owner of this gem, Tim Woodson, sold this thing for $80,000 just days after listing it on Craigslist. As it turns out, the market for cheesy pirate ships is pretty hot. Woodson just started work on his sixth one.

Photo: Craigslist

Photo: Craigslist