By Samia Nakhoul and Yara Abi Nader BEIRUT, Aug 4 (Reuters) - A huge explosion in a port warehouse district near the center of Beirut killed more than 25 people, injured over 2,500 others and sent shockwaves across the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, shattering windows and causing apartment balconies to collapse. Officials expected the death toll to rise sharply as emergency … [Read more...]
Large Bulk Carrier Runs Aground in Mauritius
Update: Mauritius Environmental Minister: No Oil Spill from Grounded Wakashio A large bulk carrier has run aground on an Indian Ocean reef off Mauritius. The Panama-flagged MV Wakashio was underway from China to Brazil when it ran aground Saturday night off Pointe d'esny on Mauritius' south-eastern coast during a voyage from China to Brazil. At 203,130 deadweight … [Read more...]
Watch: Cruise Ship MS Monarch Arrives at Turkish Breakers
In what is a sure sign of the times amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 1991-built MS Monarch has arrived at a Turkish shipbreaking yard for dismantling. With cruises around the world suspended due to the pandemic, the former Royal Caribbean ship was sold for scrap along with the MS Sovereign and MS Horizon. All three were part of the fleet of Pullmantur Cruises, a Royal … [Read more...]
Watch The Resurgence Of Amateur Radio – A Silver Lining Of COVID-19
https://youtu.be/T5lQob5mqbE Today's Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) regulations requires that every ship carry old-school HF radiotelephone and radiotelex equipment but, traditional radio is rarely used aboard ship. The problem is twofold. Today's satellites are more convenient and reliable than HF radio and most land based radio stations have closed or … [Read more...]
Watch: Naval Historian Breaks Down USS Bonhomme Richard Initial Fire and Response
On the morning of Sunday, July 12, 2020, at 8:50 AM PDT, USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) moored at Naval Base San Diego, Pier 2 reported a fire in the lower (Deep V) vehicle deck. The ship activated the emergency response system and a 3-alarm fire was triggered resulting in the dispatch of fire units from Federal, National City, and San Diego Fire Departments, along with crews … [Read more...]