tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29774226029642297272024-03-21T11:41:27.333-04:00NAUTICAL LOGNAUTICAL LOG is an activist blog and publishes Posts on mostly maritime with some non-maritime subjects. We are open to receiving comments and will publish those which are about the subject matter using appropriate professional language, anonymous comments are not published.
Observing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) we reserve all publishing Rights. European Union Laws regarding cookies and spam are also observed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger881125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-35854786784420375672017-05-24T14:51:00.001-04:002017-05-25T08:00:16.174-04:00AND THE DEVIL LAUGHED<span style="color: purple;">So once again it has happened this time in Manchester, England. Manchester that solid working class city, now the second city of England, the evil losers have struck with an explosive device. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><em><strong><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></strong></em> remembers it some 60 years ago British people with a very distinctive accent and expressions. That of course has changed considerably with the influx of persons from former British Empire countries such as India, Pakistan, Ceylon and the West Indies. Add in numerous others due to the European Union with its unwise indeed foolish "open borders" policy. What has resulted is no doubt something <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> would not recognize from 60 years ago. Yet when push came to shove and this tragic disaster occurred after a pop princess's concert the working class spirit of Manchester came into action with exemplary behavior of hotels and residents opening theirs doors and hearts to help with shelter, food and communications. There were videos of heavily armed Police Officers with arms around terrified young children, the pop princess's principal fans, comforting them and keeping them safe from further harm. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Sadly though this was after the initial incident.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">There were TV interviews where persons said that concert security ranged from non-existent to casual and relaxed which seems strange even extraordinary. You see it now turns out that the person who set off the IED was well known to the British and European counter-terrorism authorities. Warrents have already been executed, his father and brothers have been arrested with the cooperation of Libya by those same British Authorities, others are being searched for. One has to wonder how easily this evil loser planted and exploded the IED in a public space between the Victoria Street train station and the Manchester Evening News Arena. One has to question could it have been prevented? No doubt someone will have to explain all this and no doubt disciplinary action will take place within the British Law Enforcement Authorities involved - it is already being discussed by British media outlets.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">So sadly therefore the evil loser who clearly targeted the young persons leaving the concert was successful as others all over Europe and America have also been to date.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">So the evil loser having been killed by his own IED presented himself for his reward as he had been told he'd receive,</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><em><strong>And the devil laughed.</strong></em></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-72621656000829149102017-05-05T08:49:00.002-04:002017-05-08T15:01:40.334-04:00EXCEPTIONALISM<span style="color: purple;">Until <em><strong><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></strong></em> came to be based in the USA some forty-five years ago and subsequently retired here one had never heard of the word "<em><strong>exceptionalism</strong></em>". Not found in all American-English dictionaries it can be "<em>Googled</em>®" and is explained as:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: purple;"><em><strong>The condition of being unique</strong></em></span></li>
<em><strong>
</strong></em>
<li><span style="color: purple;"><em><strong>The theory that a nation does not conform to a pattern</strong></em></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: purple;">This is a status often claimed most often by public figures for the United States of America. While it may have once been partly true it no longer applies. Americans used to observe the minor laws while breaking the major ones one has heard it said that Americans would pay the parking meter while robbing the bank - again no longer true if it ever was. There has been a steady decline in recent decades under both Democratic and Republican administrations to were today we have arguments, fights and indeed gunfights over such minor things as parking spaces. Our cities both major and minor have an unbelievable level of violence - Chicago immediately comes to mind as a prime example today even with its colourful history of violent crime in the 1920's and 1930's.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">In the area of education and speech the standards never that high among the general U.S. population are now lower and one frequently hears public figures such as TV reporters unable to put a correct sentence together even allowing for the differences between American-English and English-English while broadcasting in the field. When their words are written and edited for them to read with the aid of prompters to studio cameras many mistakes and mispronounced words are all too common. The use of adverbs in a sentence seems to be unknown. </span><span style="color: purple;">One continually sees abbreviations such as PRESSER for an upcoming press conference. The result of this is that both teachers and students write using these abbreviations and alphanumeric combinations in "tweets". Thus they cannot write a clear report in American-English let alone classic English to describe life's events or clearly describe a situation, visit the court system or serve on a jury it will be an experience. General knowledge always at a very low level in America is now at a disastrous level of appalling ignorance. Open debate and diversity of opinion which should be the strength of a University are now surpressed both by the college administrators and the students unions. Are civics taught anymore?</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">When <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> took a USCG Master's examination the examination modules consisted of questions with several possible answers from which to select, all one had to do was check a box and move on. Hardly a demanding intellectual challenge. A two hour examination in Europe thus took about twenty minutes here in America including the time to double check the selected answers. Later when teaching Nautical Science and the maritime law equivalence examination the modules were send from a British University and the U.S. candidates were shocked to see they had to write essay answers. Most had never done this as both High School and College modules were in the same format as the USCG modules - tick a box get a degree. One has to question this educational system when it results - as far as maritime affairs are concerned - in tragedies such as the MS <em>El Faro </em>sinking and the behavior leading to the many dismissals in the USN these last years particularly the disgraceful "Singapore Sling" affair of some of this Nations highest ranking Naval Officers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">So were did all this moral decline in social behavior and interaction come from? One has only to look at the shoddy education system which does not really prepare the American youth to compete in the modern world. The level of arts and entertainment on the various channels of TV are of a very low standard. Situation comedies are of a pathetic intelligence level with hysterical laughter at the most inane remarks of the actors - whose abilities and talents are few - this laughter is of course canned there is in fact no studio audience. The late night shows they tell me since <strong><span style="color: blue;"><em>NAUTICAL LOG</em></span></strong> does not watch this rubbish, consist of insults, belittling those few who are trying to some degree to govern and generally make crude "jokes" about current events. One has also been told that the live audience is instructed when to applaud and laugh by signs held up off camera. This sadly is now the normal behaviour of this supposedly exceptionalism Nation - groupthink.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">And what of the future? Looking at the recent campaign for President and the behavior of the candidates in general put forward by their respective Political Parties one is definitely not encouraged. The candidates displayed to the World weakness, bombastic, crude and arrogant behavior none of it worthy of earning a vote. Coming down - and one does mean down - to the final two one from each Party U.S. voters could only choose from an arrogant women whose style was more akin to that of a British Colonial displaying extraordinary arrogance enhanced by outright untruthfulness who called her fellow Americans who did not support her "<strong><em>deplorables</em></strong>". The other candidate, who was elected by the Electoral College unique to the Presidential Race, made at every campaign stop loud, bombastic, flamboyant, exaggerated, divisive, poorly worded speeches. Over time he insulted every ethnic group in the Nation using childish - here one insults young people - nicknames for many persons involved. Now that his election is confirmed and he is office he still makes these campaign speeches on occasions arousing the worst examples of exceptionalism behavior. This fellows the pattern of those leaders of the Italian, German, and Spanish National Socialist Parties so one has to wonder were the Nation goes from here.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">The personal family of <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> is multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi-racial and multi-lingual most of us are immigrants who became U.S. Citizens. We can identify with many of the ethnic groups in the United States of America. Having adult children and young grandchildren one has to be concerned that the Nation which started out as unique is now very much in decline lacking moral values from the Federal government on downward. What if anything does it hold for these young people who are growing up with misplaced values or worse little or none at all. We slip steadily towards that status by which the United States call many other Nations - Third World. </span><span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Stephen Hawking has said that the World shall need another planet to move to in about hundred years - will there be an United States of America by that time?</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-90446139634045279512017-04-20T11:16:00.000-04:002017-04-20T11:32:25.526-04:00FINALLY THE PENNY DROPS<span style="color: purple;">One of the more enjoyable spots on any cruise ship is the swimming pool or these days pools. They are now pretty exotic with water tunnel slides from several decks up. Missing in many cases seem to be the children's parents supervising the fun. Why? Oh! right there is a Bar just handy and that's where one can often find those parents instead of keeping an eye on the safety of their kids. Sadly this has resulted in numerous deaths and brain injuries to those same kids and on occasions adults.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">As a result of legal actions after the event cruise lines are finally posting "<em>lifeguards</em>" at the pool area. Also they are going to have safety videos and swimming vests available to their guests - see <em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em> remembered to use the current term for passengers in this Post. </span><span style="color: purple;">Since the top and senior management of cruise lines these days have the background of the hotel and entertainment industries one might wonder why this was not all in place decades ago saving numerous children's and indeed on occasions adults lives.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Well it was not required therefore why use commonsense and do it if one does not have to after all the parents sitting at the Bar are supposed to take care of their kids safety. True but unwise. Large settlements due to legal action by maritime lawyers have now changed the executives minds.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Cruise Lines are protected by a 1920 Law known as "<strong>Death on the High Seas Act</strong>" that exempts them from nearly all financial responsibility in the death of a non-wage earner such as a child or retiree. The only costs which Cruise Lines can be held liable for are funeral expenses for the victim or victims. Remember in the United States of America there is no separate Admiralty Court as in many other countries here it is dealt with under U.S. Federal Law and Courts however the cruise ships are registered outside of the United States. In most cases one is under the legal jurisdiction of the country of registry while on board the ship not the U.S. even if one is a U.S. Citizen or Legal Resident.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Should readers wish to read more about this or maybe have some doubts about this Post the following list of ships have had legally recorded incidents:</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Norwegian Escape</em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Norwegian Getaway</em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Norwegian Epic</em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Norwegian Gem</em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Norwegian Breakaway</em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Disney Fantasy</em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Anthem of the Seas</em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Oasis of the Seas</em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Independence of the Seas</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Carnival Victory</em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">MS <em>Carnival Dream</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Well now enjoy your cruise but remember to be careful and keep an eye on the kids in spite of having "<em>lifeguards</em>" on pool duty - we hope.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-15244901972154903302017-04-18T20:39:00.002-04:002017-04-19T20:20:28.749-04:00FLIGHTS OF FANTASY<span style="color: purple;">It is just over a decade since <em><strong><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></strong></em> ceased sea going after some fifty (50) years and left the cruise industry to teach nautical science. During that time there have been enormous changes in both the industry itself and the design of the vessels - none good.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">The ships have long ceased to be ships and are now floating - sort of anyway - resorts just like we have here in Florida at Orlando the site of Disney - yes they have ships also - and other similar sites.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">The latest piece of seagoing nonsense currently being built is the MS "<em>Norwegian Joy</em>" which has on its upper deck a Ferrari brand go-kart racing track. That should be nice for those living in cabins the next deck below listening to screaming Ferrari's while wallowing in sea sickness.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">One might ask why ship designers would design and companies would build these types of vessels with this stuff on board. The answer is surprisingly simple. Take a look at the resumes of the top and upper management of cruise companies you will find they all come from the hotel and entertainment industries with absolutely no sea-going experience whatsoever not even as Pursers. The term Marine Superintendent is unknown </span><span style="color: purple;">and no longer listed in cruise companies hierarchy. Oh! you might find in one or perhaps two companies a "<em>Captain X</em>" likely relating to the Safety Division who will be a former U.S. Naval Officer god help us or even worse a former USCG Senior Officer doing what is known here in America as "<em>double dipping</em>". That is something the USCG are experts at believe me. Of course they were hired to have a quiet and quick word with a still serving former classmate or shipmate in Marine Inspection, known as ring-knocking, if there is a problem with such irritating things as IMO Rules and Regulations which the USCG is the enforcing body.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">As an example just a few weeks ago a cruise vessel was delayed for a few hours over lifejackets - lifejackets for goodness sake. There are numerous spare lifejackets on board a cruise ship so one imagines this was a cover up for a more serious IMO Rules problem which then received an "<em>extension</em>" to solve after sailing or at some future date. So it goes on and on. One only has to watch one of these top heavy vessels departing Port of Miami and making the turn at the sea buoy to see her lean to starboard even on a calm day to a noticeable list. On Saturday last my four (4) year old grandson asked me why the ship we were watching was falling over!! Then ever so slowly coming back to the upright which as any seaman knows indicates an unstable vessel. What would she be like in the bad weather of a passing front or worse the hurricane season? </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Neptune being a cruel god the sea every so often demands a toll and sadly one of these days it will happen that a cruise vessel carrying the current 6000 passengers - oh sorry guests is the term these days - and crew will be lost quite likely with all hands and those Ferrari brand go-karts.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><em>And you ask me why one never goes on a cruise</em>??</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-10920811214049795162017-03-24T10:45:00.003-04:002017-04-03T09:03:43.397-04:00SOME CHANGES<span style="color: purple;">As readers can see we have made some changes to </span><i><b><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></b></i><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"> and made it more interesting - hopefully - since we do not Post very much these days. The reason for that is there is so much division in our World particularly here in the U.S.A. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1acbe379-72b9-4e24-b568-400e1ac069bb" id="4fa248c1-b228-44b9-8069-4a86537f41b2">we</gs> have decided not to add to it. Yes! <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e6901a9e-7974-4cf6-9dc6-ec94fdeebe55" id="e25a5344-4d8a-439f-ad59-f51243e383bb">we</gs> shall still express our opinions on <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e6901a9e-7974-4cf6-9dc6-ec94fdeebe55" id="200ea7cd-86bb-42d3-bc5e-78733b6f0769">occasions but</gs> in a thoughtful manner format. </span></span><span style="color: purple;">Unlike one well known maritime blog,</span><span style="color: purple; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: purple;">which </span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NAUTICAL LOG</span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"> now no longer follows, we will reply politely to comments on our Posts content since we like to be addressed in the same manner. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">During that last Administration a great separation was created along mostly racial lines. It was clear to many of us that Obama had a chip perhaps a log on his shoulder in addition to a weird version of American Socialism. All this caused an extremely confused and disastrous eight years. Then along came Trump who to many peoples complete amazement became our legally elected President after a bombastic loudmouth intemperate campaign causing more division. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">So like it or not here he is and though pretty clumsy in political affairs is at least trying to rebuilt our country and solve its many many problems. One only has to look at the United Kingdom to see how it is easy to get in an immigration mess and what the results can be. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">Many persons have a great big chip on their shoulders and reflect this when they write comments even to maritime blogs. One has to separate resentments and not carry those to another issue when dealing with life. When the blog owner who clearly is not a Trump supporter replies in the same intemperate manner it comes across as rudeness. Both </span><b><i><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: blue;">LOG</span></i></b><span style="color: purple;"> and others have experienced this from the well known blog mentioned above. Rest assured that if you comment on </span><b><i><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></i></b><span style="color: purple;"> Posts this will not happen.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Enjoy our new layout and let us know what you think, in the meantime,</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-65459911434044627362017-02-04T08:54:00.000-05:002017-02-22T15:00:28.595-05:00BRAVO ZULU<span style="color: purple;">There is a very fine U.S. maritime blog named <strong><em>gCaptain </em></strong>which has had the courage to publish a long letter by an American Master Mariner <strong>CAPT. John Loftus.</strong> This should be read by every seafarer and <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> personally thanks him for his writing, the actions he took both while in command and after his dismissal.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Regular readers will know that <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> sailed professionally for fifty (50) years and holds five (5) Masters Certificates and national mariners documents issued as required by the various flags of registry for passenger vessels (non U.S.). From this background one understands Captain Loftus experiences all too well agreeing and supporting his letter in its entirety.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Having had to deal with them on non U.S. flagged vessels as a cruise ship Navigation Officer, Safety Officer and Staff Officer one can say that the work of the <strong>USCG</strong> is discriminatory and biased. Sending a 19 year old Rating with a clipboard of questions to ask and discuss with a Master Mariner twice his age items of which this "<em>child</em>" has absolutely no personal knowledge and on occasions did not recognize the equipment being inspected. This has happened on several occasions over the years during the Quarterly Inspections. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">As to <strong>ABS</strong> the description of their behaviour by Captain Loftus is all too accurate though <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> has had very little experience with them thankfully it appears from the details in the Loftus Letter, we have had some in a Norfolk, VA. shipyard. As to <strong>NTSB</strong> they have removed to some degree the <strong>USCG</strong> being, in addition to issuing the Licenses, judge and jury in maritime cases but the <strong>NTSB</strong> are not very considerate of witnesses and personal privacy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">One could go on <em>ad infinitum</em> but it is enough to encourage all seafarers to read <strong>Captain John Loftus's</strong> letter and we thank him once again for his writing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-6704996658860607342017-01-29T08:47:00.000-05:002017-01-30T12:08:23.839-05:00AND SO IT CONTINUES<span style="color: purple;">Once again <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> has a boating tragedy to report from Asia in our continuing monitoring of the lack of maritime safety in that region. This time the incident has occurred in <strong>Malaysia</strong> with the loss of a "tourist boat" from Kota Kinabalu to Pulau Mengalum with 28 passengers and 3 crewmembers most of whom are Chinese celebrating the week long Chinese New Year of the Rooster.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">The <strong>Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency</strong> (MMEA) reports it is engaged in a "<em>search and</em> <em>rescue</em>" effort hampered by bad weather. From this one might conclude that the missing catamaran departed on its passage in bad weather or with bad weather forecast. The boat is reported to have left at 0900 local time on Saturday for the 60 km trip to the popular tourist island offshore. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">MMEA is covering a 400 nautical square mile search area where storms are common at this time of year. It is always interesting when "<em><strong>safety agencies</strong></em>" title themselves as "<em><strong>Enforcement</strong></em>" yet in the case of those involving maritime responsibility allow small craft to proceed to sea regardless of the weather and all too often uninspected.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">These reports came to us from <em>BBC World News</em> and the <em>New Straits Times </em>on the Internet.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-17919077556139373882017-01-24T10:11:00.000-05:002017-02-12T11:37:20.016-05:00FAKE NEWS<span style="color: purple;">In recent years there has been a steady decline in the professionalism, accuracy and quality of the various Media outlets and the social media. In the rush to get there first with a story the shoddy Media - lets call it the really shoddy social media - have resorted to making up stories. When growing up in the late 30's and 40's this was called lying and got one punished in our house.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Fake news includes inaccurate and unsupported stories all of which in the last year have been published without correction or apology. Now it seems this attitude has spread to the maritime blogs. One blog which was generally pretty good about its posts has slipped in accuracy lately including quoting from European tabloids. A recent post was about <strong>H.M.S. <em>Vengeance</em></strong> and its missile launches off the coast of Florida part of its programme to Certify boat and crew The story was an ill advised, inaccurate choice in subject matter as to what happened and how the incident was reported to a Foreign Nations Government. The Blog is written and published by a United States based author who would have been better advised not to have become involved in the affairs of a Foreign Nation and in particular a subject which involved that Foreign Nation's National Security and its Official Secrets Act.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> would respectfully suggest to the Blog author that the post and its - so far - two comments be removed as a courtesy to that Foreign Nations Government and its Prime Minister who arrives to meet with the current U.S. Administration this week.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Many times data crosses the <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> desk which at first look seems like making an interesting post but on further examination and assessment in this very troubled World thought best to pass over. It is better to look at the big picture rather than just what is allowed for publication under the U.S. Constitution. In fact its all part of being a mature responsible person, writer and publisher.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-45373131602368545372017-01-16T09:47:00.003-05:002017-01-16T12:03:03.973-05:00OUT BUT NOT GONE<span style="color: purple;">Well now here we are in the last couple of days of the 44th. Presidents term of Office and the end of his Administration. One recalls his Inauguration speech full of hope about all people and races in the United States of America working together - hmm that didn't last a week before he was dividing the Nation by blaming the opposition Party and previous Administration for the Nations ills. So it continued whinging and whining for the next eight years with lowering standards and governmental stagnation. The new 44th. President turned out to be quite unable to make timely decisions and develop an effective foreign policy. He continued to blame Congress and the Republican Party for being unable to get things done. Of course it is hard to win support when you continually blame your mistakes on other people which he did. Last week he made a farewell speech which referred to some imaginary country not the one he has attempted to administer these last eight difficult years.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">This is something the incoming President and his Administration needs to get into its head also. The President-Elect is another person who continually blames other people and insults them with childish immature comments on something called "<em>Twitter®</em>" which seems designed for immature thin-skinned persons to use for immature comments not the professional communication that one expects from a President.-Elect or President. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Various members of Congress of the Democratic Party the same Party as the departing President are also performing in front of Media cameras and making immature statements. To any educated voter this indicates that these Members of Congress in turn are not suitable choices to represent We the People of these United States of America.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">At Noon on Friday January 20, 2017 the President-Elect becomes the 45th. President and whether one likes it or not has voted for him or not is quite immaterial. All the egos that have been ignored, bruised, rattled, or trampled on should realize that the incoming person has the biggest most touchy ego of all - a true super-ego which will have to be dealt with regardless.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Meanwhile the former President instead of leaving Washington, D.C. as is usually done is just moving down the road from the White House, in the Clintons neighborhood, pathetically clinging to a position from where he no doubt will cause as much trouble as he can for the new Administration.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">So the World watches and wonders just what path America is taking.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-89372198147144957372017-01-13T10:18:00.001-05:002017-01-24T14:25:41.364-05:00FINALLY - ACT 3<span style="color: purple;">Yesterday came the rather surprising news that President Obama, who leaves office next week, had cancelled the "<em>wet foot, dry foot</em>" policy that applied only to Cubans trying to get into the United States of America.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">What on earth was this "<em>wet foot, dry foot</em>"? First some background to understand this discriminatory policy. Back in 1966 under a very different World political atmosphere the United States decided to create and pass into Federal Law the <strong>Cuban Adjustment Act </strong>which included the<strong> Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program </strong> it was signed into Federal Law by President Johnson that ultimate politician. <strong> Act 1</strong> was thus on stage.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">This policy being unique to Cubans led to the influx of Cubans into Dade County Florida and in a very short time they had taken over the County in business, politics and language which led to the present state where 65% of the Miami-Dade County population now are Spanish speaking and indeed in business one is expected to speak Spanish and English (hopefully - English is not required in many area retail stores and businesses). You may have noticed that the County name was changed from the historical Dade to Miami-Dade this was by a Cuban immigrant who was elected Mayor. One could bet that very few of todays population of the now Miami-Dade County know how or why the County got its original and indeed proper name.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">So it went on until in the age of bumper stickers one appeared saying "<strong>WILL THE LAST</strong> <strong>AMERICAN LEAVING DADE PLEASE TAKE THE FLAG</strong>" - pretty pathetic and sad. Then we had the Mariel Boat Lift when thousands of Cubans arrived having not been stopped leaving Cuba by the Castro regime and ended up sleeping in the streets of Miami under highways and byways. Eventually this led to a stadium being opened to them that turned it into something akin to the slums of Calcutta, India. This led to <strong>Act 2</strong> coming on stage with President Clinton, another keen political animal, signing the "<em>wet foot, dry foot</em>" adjustment to the Cuban Adjustment Act. From then on if Cubans landed on the beach they could stay if they were picked up at sea they got sent back. We know of course exactly how many dry foot persons there are but an unknown number lost their lives as wet footers. It was an unwise and foolish policy from <strong>Act 1</strong> through <strong>Act 2 </strong>and led to discrimination to all other immigrants, those in the Caribbean Basin<strong> </strong>and particularly Haiti which suffered even more than Cuba leading to resentment against the Cubans. It also led to a human smuggling business of huge proportions. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Now finally President Obama in his last few days in office wrote <strong>Act 3</strong> rescinding both the CAA and CMPP Acts. From yesterday all Cubans without a visa from the United States Embassy in Havana, Cuba will be refused entry to the United States of America and those landing on the beach will be returned to Cuba.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">All very interesting but what has this to do with we seafarers. Well at sea there is the long tradition of stopping to help and rescue those in trouble on the water. However thanks to this very ill advised Act the ships were caught between "<em>a rock and a hard place</em>". In rescuing these Cubans from various types of floating contraptions we are then placed in the position of applying U.S. Federal Law without even in most cases being U.S. Citizens. For the cruise ships outward bound from Florida Ports this means keeping the "<em>rafters</em>" as they are known on board for an entire cruise. Then on the homeward passage handing them over to the USCG for return to Cuba. In some cases this was actually done by some cruise ship masters but in most cases their position was just reported to the USCG and left to the U.S. Authorities to take action. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> experienced this several times over the years including being in a chartered vessel returning Haitians to their island one of the most heartbreaking experiences of 50 years as a professional seafarer.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">So now it is over both the President and the Play leave the stage and everybody goes home.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-61186171011698714392017-01-04T10:33:00.002-05:002017-01-04T16:23:11.430-05:00PROFITING ON TRAGEDY<span style="color: purple;">It must be a slow time for writers. Once again the tragedy of the <strong><em>R.M.S. TITANIC</em></strong> has been dragged up for profit. The <strong>National Geographic Society</strong> has apparently made a "documentary" based on writings by an Irish author with supposedly "new evidence" pertaining to the loss of this Trans-Atlantic liner over 100 years ago.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">It is not new evidence at all merely a repeat about the bunker coal fire in the forward starboard portion of the lowest decks where the coal trimmers work. These bunker fires were all too common in steam powered ships using coal and caused by spontaneous combustion. It was one of the jobs of the trimmers to keep these from spreading. Then in turn feed the burning coal down the coal shoots to the firemen below who in turn fed it into the boiler fires - nice job - in absolutely appalling conditions.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">There were no doubt several parameters which caused the loss of this passenger ship these include a poor lookout being kept, placing the ship on a course through an area known for drifting ice instead of steering further south, the type of steel used in shipbuilding at that time which apparently became more brittle in extreme cold and possible damage to the plating due to the coal bunker fire. However the sinking was not caused by the fire alone as some reports state, that is rubbish. The miss-reporting is even more absurd here in the United States with the Media this morning stating that the ship was <em><u>launched </u></em>with the coal bunker already on fire. Clearly neither the editors or writers have any idea about the subject they are writing about.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">The fire is reported having started soon after the ship was coaled in Belfast, NI/UK for her passage to Southampton, UK to board her passengers for her maiden voyage to New York, NY via Queenstown, Ireland/UK, now known as Cobh, Ireland. Sadly after departing from Queenstown/Cobh she never arrived in New York. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">After all this time to drag up this terrible event to make profit is callous and <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> considers the project despicable and shoddy in the extreme.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-68085380137282814502017-01-03T15:16:00.001-05:002017-01-03T16:08:45.242-05:00A PATTERN CONTINUES<span style="color: purple;">Here we are in a New Year 2017 and once again a pattern continues - that of Asian ferries catching fire, burning to the waterline with terrific loss of life. Sadly this is a pattern which continues unabated in spite of lots of talk about inspections and safety from principally these same countries Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">The latest is one of the interisland ferries in Indonesia when a ferry caught fire it appears in the engine-room and spread rapidly. Its manifest listed 100 passengers but in fact there were at least 250 persons on board. Belatedly the "captain" was arrested and we are told faces 10 years imprisonment.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">When one reads the reports from both Media and occasionally the relative Government the sequence of events is repeated time and time again. During the many years <strong><span style="color: blue;"><em>NAUTICAL LOG</em></span></strong> spent in cruise ships we had both Indonesian and Philippine crewmembers. Later some Junior Officers from these countries were employed, all had to be carefully monitored when standing Watch most particularly Bridge Watch. One might say that they had minimum training and many times false or improper documents pertaining to that training. This has been noted by the Safety Agency of the European Union and facilities in the country of origin inspected and assessed by the EU as to quality which varies greatly from school to school.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">It greatly concerns <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> that their employment continues in United States based cruise ships for many cruise lines. This in spite of the strict, supposedly, standards of the United States Coast Guard which has the responsibility for Inspections and enforcement at U.S. </span><span style="color: purple;">Ports of U.S. and IMO Rules and Regulations. Sadly in fact as we have seen with the loss of the <strong><em>SS El Faro</em></strong> this standard is not always strictly enforced even in U.S. Registered vessels. One could perhaps therefore wonder about vessels not Registered in the U.S. however they are inspected to nearly the point of harassment </span><span style="color: purple;">by USCG MSO.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">As it is unlikely that these Asian countries will do very much to change an ingrained culture of being extremely casual about safety to the point of it being nonexistent passengers planning cruises should familiarize themselves about the type and quality of the crews now manning these cruise vessels in 2017.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-61448358842149858322016-12-23T15:55:00.002-05:002016-12-25T08:05:53.513-05:00FINALLY FOUND<span style="color: purple;">So as we thought here at <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> the SSS <em>OCEAN WARRIOR</em> has started off <em>Operation Nemesis</em> in true Sea Shepherd style by violating Maritime Laws. In this case she has been sailing in the Southern Ocean not transmitting on her AIS. As a result claims to have found a vessel of the Japanese Whaling Fleet amongst the icebergs and ice floes of that area.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">There are various Media reports of varying quality that reported this event and about half-a-dozen landed on the <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> desk. It seems that the Sea Shepherd vessels have been sailing "blacked out" as regards AIS and in ice and fog found one of the Japanese catcher ships. With the speed of their new vessel they should be able to keep pace with her and no doubt find the rest of the fleet. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Sea Shepherd reported that the catcher was hunting minke whales so this in turn could led the two SSS vessels to the factory ship. In past years this has been the <em>NISSHIN MARU </em> it is aboard this vessel that the whales are killed and processed - not a pretty picture - so the protest action is no doubt planned for when they find the factory ship.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Why the Australian Government does not send its vessels to prevent the Japanese whaling in the first place is clearly political. The Australian Federal Court Ruled against the Japanese and declared a fine which has never been paid. All calls to Australia to send an enforcement vessel of their own Rulings have been resisted so there is considerable sympathy for protest action taken by the Sea Shepherd's which in fact <strong><span style="color: blue;"><em>NAUTICAL LOG</em></span></strong> has a great deal of agreement with. It is however the nature of these actions always violent under Paul Watson that <strong><em><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> strongly objected too. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Now this new vessel <em>Ocean Warrior</em> has two powerful water cannon which have the capacity and ability too kill or seriously injure persons. Should these be used and a Japanese whaler be killed or injured would be an extremely serious situation. One can only hope that this "Captain" <strong>Adam Meyerson</strong> has the sense not to use them at all, unfortunately all these so called captains are followers of Watson so one has little confidence in them to act wisely.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><strong>Note to Adam Meyerson:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><em><span style="color: purple;">Mr. Meyerson in our research of your qualifications we learned that you are a U.S. Citizen. In one of your photographs you are wearing the sleeve insignia of a Master Mariner of the British and Commonwealth Merchant Navy. You are NOT entitled to wear this insignia which is for British and Commonwealth Officers in Command holding a Certificate of Competency as Master which you do not hold.</span> </em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>NAUTICAL LOG</strong></span> would therefore request that as a courtesy to Masters of the British and Commonwealth Merchant Navy you discontinue wearing their Merchant Navy insignia. </em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><em>Thank you.</em></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-49558116243987659422016-12-16T11:27:00.000-05:002016-12-22T09:57:35.662-05:00SSS OCEAN WARRIOR MISSING ?<span style="color: purple;"><strong>UPDATE December 22, 2016:</strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><em>According to MARINE TRAFFIC AIS the <strong>SSS OCEAN WARRIOR</strong> is in the same position, showing the same course and speed as she did on <strong>December 12, 2016.</strong> According to the art of marine navigation this is clearly impossible on <strong>December 22, 2016.</strong> So one has to believe that, in violation of Maritime Law, she is not transmitting her AIS. Not that violating the Law is anything new for the <strong>Sea Shepherd Society.</strong> </em></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">How proud Australians must be of having these vessels based in Australian Ports and in addition not having the RAN or Customs patrolling the Southern Ocean for pirate Japanese whalers under the guise of RESEARCH slaughtering yet more minke whales. This in spite of Rulings by the <strong>Australian Court</strong> <strong>System</strong> regarding both the Japanese whalers and the Sea Shepherd Society whose <strong><em>Operation Nemesis</em></strong> is run by SSS Australia.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><strong>ORIGINAL POST December 16, 2016:</strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">The last posted position of the Sea Shepherd's new vessel <strong><em><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Ocean Warrior</span></em></strong> is at approximately <strong><em>44° S.</em></strong> <strong><em>147° E</em></strong>. that was on December 12, 2016 so it appears she has not been recorded for 4 days. Under International Maritime Law she is required to transmit her position continuously when at sea usually electronically. The above position is south of Tasmania, Australia an area of some but not particularly heavy marine traffic.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Possibly the vessel is trying to remain "hidden" while waiting for the Japanese Whaling Fleet to arrive in the Southern Ocean. Possibly being a new vessel she is having teething problems and Sea Shepherd Australia who control <strong><em>Operation Nemesis</em></strong> is attempting to keep things quiet.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">One wonders !!</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-1069218159582000542016-12-13T19:29:00.000-05:002016-12-15T07:58:55.519-05:00SS EL FARO VDR TRANSCRIPT <span style="color: purple;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> has published Posts about this tragic ship sinking since the very first report of her loss. Today the <strong>NTSB</strong> has released her VDR data in particular the Navigation Bridge voice recorder - it is not good. This Post is compiled from multiple Media sources.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">On October 01, 2015 the <em><strong>SS El Faro</strong></em> a freighter sank with all hands, 33 crewmembers lost their lives and no bodies were ever recovered though one was sighted by the <strong>USCG</strong> 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. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">The ship left Jacksonville, Fl. bound for San Juan, PR and sailed directly into the eye of a <strong>Category 4</strong> hurricane named <strong><em>Joaquin</em></strong>. 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 <strong><em>Joaquin</em></strong> and changing course to avoid the worst affect. This in spite of the Officers pointing out that the ship had closed to just 22 nautical miles from the hurricane's centre. Then at 0615 the vessel lost power, listed severely and at around 0730 sank with the loss of all hands. </span><span style="color: purple;">It seems extraordinary that apparently twice before her sinking while he still had power to do so the Master had declined to alter course based it appears on his consideration of an extra 160 nautical miles the additional fuel it would consume and getting permission from the Company to alter course. This is not good vessel management it is not even good sense. Since the transcript is 510 pages long one would have to read it in its entirety to learn all that happened however several points have been extracted by the Media. From these it is evident that navigation was done with an over-dependency on electronics using a system called BVS, <em>which <strong><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></strong> is not familiar with</em>, and that this system seemed to fail or be inaccurate as were the reports from the <strong>National Hurricane Center</strong> in Miami, Fl. All one can say as to that latter statement is that having lived in South Florida for 40 years one has considerable faith in the NHC professional work. From their own recorded words in the transcript the Master and Officers did not appear to have the professional knowledge to make their own assessment of the situation as a whole or if they did have it the ability to apply that professional knowledge. By and large reading the transcript extracts quoting the Navigation Bridge staff conversations gives an impression of persons who have no experience of being in Command or standing Watch in a ship whatsoever.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">The U.S. Merchant Marine is completely bound by Unions, the Officers have one and the Seamen a separate one. This seems to restrict the actions the Master and Officers can or are willing to take and adding this to a Company's policies removes the actual decision-making from the Master limiting the range and ability to make decisions. Reading the transcript is a very sobering affair considering the actual results of this Master's actions or lack thereof and the somewhat flippant remarks made by him in the hearing of the Officers and crew on the Bridge. This is never a good or wise thing to do in front of one's crew and clearly, again from the conversations recorded, caused considerable distress to several of those crewmembers.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-21311040157107104782016-12-11T07:53:00.003-05:002016-12-12T11:32:13.752-05:00QUO VADIS SSS OCEAN WARRIOR ?<span style="color: purple;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> understood that the Sea Shepherd vessel <em>Ocean Warrior</em> 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. </span><span style="color: purple;">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. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Marine Traffic status: <em>43° 37'45 <strong>S</strong>. 147° 25' <strong>E.</strong> course 257° @ 11 knots</em>. This position is south of Tasmania, Australia.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">So it would be nice to know if <em>Operation Nemesis</em> is underway or has already become an SSS nemesis. </span><span style="color: purple;">Continued safe passage and </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-76229759666112240632016-12-08T09:28:00.002-05:002016-12-17T16:01:03.405-05:00NOTES ON COMMENTING<span style="color: purple;">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 "<em>liberal</em>" 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 unjustified expense and waste of public servants time adding to the burden on the Governments of various States and Counties.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">This attitude has now seeped into the maritime blogs with a very popular maritime blog continually getting rude replies and putdowns to comments on its posts. Since all are published without clarification it would seem that the blog itself approves of this type of comments but more likely is considerate of "<em>free speech</em>" rights. This is a pity because once the New Administration is in place from January 2017 changes will take place and there will be a change of perspective by the Citizenship of our Nation. A study of the changes now slowly taking place in the European Union may show you what can happen. That change will in turn create a different viewpoint and various blogs will become less followed which in the case of some maritime blogs would be a loss of good posts but rude comments.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-33927278170292540732016-12-07T20:11:00.002-05:002016-12-12T11:45:09.424-05:00WELL HERE WE GO AGAIN<span style="color: purple;">It has been quite some time since <em><strong><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></strong></em> 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 "<em>attack master</em>" 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.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">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". <span style="color: red;"><strong>*</strong> </span>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" <span style="color: red;"><strong>*</strong></span>. Well never mind so far they have brought home - <u><em>with one dramatic exception</em></u> - their vessels and crews.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Now they are off again. The news came out of "Downunder" namely the Australian ports of Melbourne and Hobart that two SSS vessels had sailed this past week. One is the <em><strong>Steve Irwin</strong></em> an old British Government ship already in service and a bright new Damen built patrol vessel named <strong><em>Ocean</em></strong> <strong><em>Warrior</em></strong>. The money for this expensive vessel built by one of the best European Union shipbuilders was raised from three published sources, Dutch Postcode Lottery, the British People's Postcode Lottery, and Svenska Postkod Lotteriet. Of course with the planned departure of the British from the European Union we do not know how they feel about their money being spent in this fashion but it is too late now!!</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">The International Court of Justice in The Hague declared the Japanese whaling programme in Antarctica not scientific. The Japanese were also found in contempt of an Australian Federal Court Ruling. They took time off from whaling to assess these Court Rulings but have now decided to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean in 2016/2017. As a result the attack vessels from Sea Shepherd are foaming at the mouth ready for action. <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> used foaming because they have fitted water cannon on deck to do just that. What happens if SSS injure or kill Japanese crewmembers is anyone's guess but it would not be good.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">"<em>Sea Shepherd's 11th. Southern Ocean Whale Defense Campaign is named <strong>Operation Nemesis</strong> after</em> <em>the Greek goddess of inescapable justice</em>" so stated "Captain" Peter Hammarstedt, Chairman of Sea Shepherd Australia which now runs the Society's affairs.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Perhaps he has not read history but the same name <em>Operation Nemesis</em> was used by the Armenians in the 1920's for a programme of assassination, revolt and revenge for the Armenian Massacre by the Ottoman Empire during the First World War of 1914 - 1918. Interestingly the <strong><em>Ocean Warrior</em></strong> was built at the Damen Yard in Turkey and yes sailors are quite superstitious. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Hmmm - we shall have to wait and see <u>whose nemesis</u> this operation becomes.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">As news trickles on to our desk we shall assess it and no doubt write a post or two. In the meantime safe sailing in a dangerous Ocean to the SSS ships and we shall be watching with interest how <strong><em>Ocean Warrior</em></strong> holds up. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>*</strong> With reference to the point about "Captains" <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> received information this evening that "Captain" Paul Watson is not and never has been in fact a Certificated or Licensed Master. His appointment as a "Captain" came from himself. He is apparently not currently in favour with the Sea Shepherd Society and hence no doubt the note <span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>NAUTICAL</em></strong> </span><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">LOG</span></em></strong> received. Well after all this time it is not really that important. Sadly his poor or bad influence on all these young crew persons lives is important and one hopes their is someone around who can guide them better into the future.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-40012208508308977292016-11-27T09:37:00.002-05:002016-12-09T12:18:13.126-05:00DEATH OF FIDEL CASTRO<span style="color: purple;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">A few famous words modified for him with acknowledgements to a Jesuit education and William Shakespeare.</span><br />
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<em><span style="color: black;"><strong>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.</strong></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<span style="color: purple;">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 to come and not without further misery.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">With many Nations expressing sympathy and praising Fidel Castro for his revolution it is good to know the real truth from those who have suffered at first hand from his dictatorship.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-63165610301771072582016-11-23T08:41:00.005-05:002016-11-23T08:45:08.357-05:00IMO AWARD<span style="color: purple;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">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 selected for the IMO Award recognizing her fine seamanship and courageous act.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> offers congratulations, well done and </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-82972445906590927882016-11-20T08:17:00.002-05:002016-11-20T10:45:07.095-05:00EUROPEAN UNION LOVES REGULATIONS<span style="color: purple;">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. </span><span style="color: purple;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">That's it OUT - we are NOT amused !!</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Now one receives a lengthy notice from the <strong>European Union</strong> via Google that we blog writers must inform y'all that there are regulations covering blog writing for cookies, spam and other internet goodies. One can imagine a Brussels bureaucrat proudly going home by bicycle, being concerned about global warming, having drafted the British teapot regulation. Dodging around large numbers of refugees and of course avoiding those sections of the City reserved for those who detest the people who have allowed them to cross into their country via its open borders to live in Brussels.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Is this really the way to live just pretending everything is good and if there is a difficulty just write a regulation, don't face the reality just relax with the latest comfort medication because that too is legal now ?</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Sadly we have been through all this before in the days of the <strong>Weimar Republic</strong> with its rampant, relaxed, depraved, lifestyle and lack of social responsibility which in turn led to violent reaction, reversal and the rise of the <strong>Fascist States</strong> leading to millions of dead during <strong>World War 2</strong> and indeed since.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Perhaps the first steps against this unwise lifestyle have taken place with British departure from EU and the election in America of a President-elect who is putting together an administration that is prepared to take action to direct a change, painful as it might be in some cases, that will lead to an overall better approach to living our lives. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">One hopes so for the sake of yours and my children and grandchildren.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-13649907167331142142016-11-15T15:58:00.000-05:002016-11-15T15:58:06.578-05:00PERIGEAN SPRING TIDES<span style="color: purple;">It sometimes happens that one is going to write a Post on a subject when lo and behold there is already an excellent one. Such is the case today; so rather than repeat everything let me refer you to the source of that Post</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">At present we are experiencing <strong>Perigean Spring Tides</strong> which occur when the Moon is at perigee on its oval path that is the closest point to Earth. One of the principal results are higher than usual Spring Tides as against the Neap Tides.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Should you be interested in the full explanation of this phenomenon then you might like to reference <strong><em>"Old Salt Blog"</em></strong> which has an excellent explanation of this event and uses all the correct terms - quite unlike our Media here in South Florida.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-6013627742742680772016-11-11T09:07:00.001-05:002016-11-15T15:44:53.016-05:00VETERANS DAY 2016<span style="color: purple;">Here in the United States of America and in many Nations around the World it is Veterans or Armistice Day and best wishes to all fellow veterans.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">After a very scruffy campaign in the USA we have elected a new President the 45th. in our relatively short history. He has promised to look after veterans considerably better than has occurred in the past, the 44th. Administration was particularly bad at that job, so hopefully those of us who need care will be looked after decently and those of us that can will help.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Therefore we should give him the chance to do his job, not expect results in two weeks or even two months after his Inauguration but over the first two years of his term of Office. Most of us, one believes, were glad he was the choice and not that other candidate who clearly was neither truthful or dependable and thus not capable of doing the job in spite of lengthy political experience. In fact that experience so misused was what helped bring her down.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">So instead of moaning, groaning and whinging, as has already started, lets back him up and find out if there is a way to help the First Term be the success him is looking for.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Thank you everybody for your Service and</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-50687652375776124262016-09-14T08:39:00.000-04:002016-09-14T08:41:10.695-04:00BENDING RULES - AN UPDATE<span style="color: purple;">As hoped there were updates to the <span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>NAUTICAL LOG</em></strong></span> Post "BENDING RULES".</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">We would direct those interested to the excellent <strong>"OLD SALT BLOG"</strong> and read the comment by Doug Nash who is a member of the<strong> S.S. John W. Brown</strong> crew. Mr. Nash explains the USCG procedure which is similar to that for non-U.S. registered vessels. It might be well for their website to reflect this data so that peace of mind is given to those of us who know the hazards of the sea only too well.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">How sad that it appears the <strong>S.S. El Faro</strong> was not so well cared for. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2977422602964229727.post-58388856088856274712016-09-11T10:46:00.002-04:002016-09-12T08:45:09.774-04:00BENDING RULES?<span style="color: purple;">Today is the 15th. Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States and is now known as Patriot's Day. One can remember with horror watching the second plane ram into the tower and the resulting fires in both towers leading to their collapse and the destruction of The World Trade Center. Sadly it is now known warnings were ignored which led to this terrible Islamic Terrorism act.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">As part of the remembrance of this dreadful event the <strong>S.S. John W. Brown</strong> based in Baltimore, MD is due in New York. This vessel is one of two, the other being the <strong>S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien</strong> based in San Francisco, CA., World War 2 Liberty ships. Both these vessels have been fully restored, are registered as vessels of the United States Merchant Marine and are manned by USMM volunteer Union crews.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">As part of their role as active floating museums they are open for daily visits and tours of the ship. Also offered for about $145 per adult are <strong>"Living History Cruises"</strong> which depart in the morning around 0900 returning, safely one hopes, around 1700. Why is <strong><em><span style="color: blue;">NAUTICAL LOG</span></em></strong> concerned about their safety? Well these vessels are not passenger vessels and it seems do not have lifesaving appliances to cover the allowed number of persons on board. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">According to the reply to my question of the <strong>S.S. John W.</strong> <strong>Brown</strong> they stated -</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"> <strong><em>"We can carry 730</em></strong> <strong><em>passengers on a Living History Cruise".</em></strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Frankly one was shocked!! How can this be certified by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) ?</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Having spent many years as a cruise ship Officer in various positions particularly that of Safety Officer one knows at firsthand the incredible nitpicking that goes on when the USCG inspects these vessels, which already meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards, for US Passenger Ship Certificates. Yet here we have two <strong>WW2 Liberty</strong> ships allowed to carry hundreds of people on <strong>"Living History Cruises"</strong>. So it appears that the Rules applied by USCG to non-US flag vessels are different to those applied to US flag vessels. This was already evident from the disgraceful condition of the <strong>S.S. El Faro</strong> when she was lost with all hands last year and whose VDR was recently recovered and is being examined.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Remembering all those lost fifteen years ago today and hoping that there is never an accident with those two old <strong>WW2 Liberty</strong> ships we say</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">Good Watch.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0