In August 2001 the Bulk Carrier Windoc was lined up on the Welland Canal's Bridge 11 in Ontario Canada. After receiving the flashing amber approach light indicating that the bridge operator was aware of the vessel, the captain lined up on the centerline and maintained a speed of 5 knots. Minutes later while the vessel was half way through the bridge started descending. The … [Read more...]
This Mesmerizing Interactive Map Displays Ship Movements Across the Globe
Researchers at UCL Energy Institute together with London-based data visualization and digital journalism studio Kiln have released this amazing interactive map that plots 250 million data points to show the movements of the world’s commercial shipping fleet during the year 2012. (Hit the play button above to learn more about what is being displayed) The map was … [Read more...]
“By Guess or by God:” Catastrophe In The Heart of the Sea
by Colin D. Dewey In Nantucket, on Aug 5, 1819, the ship Essex: 87 feet at waterline, 238 tons, sailed. The Essex, an old, tired, ship, began what was planned as a routine two or three year whaling voyage: and the story began the way sea stories have always begun: like Samuel Taylor Coleridge tells it in his Rime of the Ancient Mariner, 'The ship was … [Read more...]
WATCH Failure At Full Throttle: How Not To Rescue A Drowning Swimmer With A RIB
Even well trained professionals make big, simple, stupid mistakes. The dolphin coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa is an area with near perfect weather, incredible SCUBA diving and some of the world's most experienced lifeguards. It's also the location of this epic failure which could have been prevented with the use of a simple $11 safety device. … [Read more...]
NSFW – Meet Natalia, The Crazy Russian Arctic ‘Oceanographer’ Who Polar Bear Plunges With Whales In The Nude
While not the first person to strip naked for whales, Natalia Avseenko may be the first to do it in near freezing Arctic waters. Natalia Avseenko, 36, a Russian scientist and professional diver stripped naked to swim with whales in the White Sea located at the northwest corner of Russia near the Arctic Circle. Why? According to Russian media, marine experts believe … [Read more...]