NAUTICAL LOG

It has come to the attention of NAUTICAL LOG via another nautical Blog that a mail order company is selling nautical equipment that includes nearly outdated items. Seafarers should clarify the date of manufacture of items ordered as it may not be the current year (2010). Most items have a 5 year life for USCG Inspections and customer expectations. If an item is ordered and has only a 3 year inspection life left, for example, the mail order company should advise the customer before shipping and reduce the price pro rata to the remaining years. Seafarers should be aware of this practice when ordering online for mail order safety equipment. Check all your equipment expiration dates, have everything current for Inspections and if you are not an Inspected Vessel then get a Courtesy Inspection and display your sticker. Safe boating is no accident!! Good Watch.

MS Steve Irwin Loose at sea from Hobart, TAS. Supposedly bound for Europe - but the world wonders? UPDATE March 26, 2010: According to Mr. Roest's statement the SS-PG vessel MS Steve Irwin sailed from Hobart, TAS for sea. However she is not showing on international ship tracking systems thus one presumes she is a 'rogue' vessel. Opening the morning NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder is always interesting and sometimes material for a Post. Today was no exception, we had a report from our EU correspondent based in Ireland about an ITF action there. This was followed by two Releases from the Sea Shepherd Pirate Group (SS-PG) which addressed Mr. Bethune and bluefin tuna - no surprise there. So lets have a look at the Bethune case for a start. The SS-PG with a weak showing, compared to its usual strident outpouring of adjusted facts to suit itself, states that Bethune peacefully boarded the MS Shonan Maru #2 on February 15, 2010. Of course by doing that he violated Japanes...

We seafarers have a set of Rules which are known as the International Rules of the Road . While not perfect, after all what is, they work pretty well when known and followed. Many countries have an Inland set of Rules of the Road for use by vessels operating within their rivers, waterways and canals. The US Inland Rules and the European Rhine Navigation Rules come to mind as examples of long established inland rules. As the size and draft of vessels increased in the 1970's it was realised that some consideration of this had to be incorporated . Because these vessels could not physically observe the Rules on occasions Rule 28 'Vessels Constrained by Their Draft' was passed. It applies to the International Rules but is not incorporated in the US Inland Rules, however signals are displayed day and night indicating the vessel is so constrained. Harbour and Pilotage Authorities have bye-laws covering this situation as necessary. There lies a problem in the passing of bye-law...

Is it really possible that the SS-PG swords have been beaten into plowshares? Going through the NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder there is not a word since March 12, 2010, some eight days ago, from the Sea Shepherd Pirate Group. This has been the longest that 'Wats-his-name' has been so quiet. Are they hunkered down in their pirate lair sanctuary of the Port of Hobart, TAS plotting their next dastardly move, arrrgh!! Or perhaps they are considering a more effective approach since the violence executed this season failed totally. It did not accomplish anything positive in their declared mission and reduced "Operation Waltzing Matilda" to a joke. Partly as a result of the failure by Monaco to pass the ban on Bluefin fishing at CITES and the ITF worldwide programme against piracy they may have serious problems. SS-PG openly declared that their intention on arriving in Europe is to attack the Bluefin tuna fisherman. In turn this places the various Port Unions, Maritime...

Running a bit late today so just got around to opening the daily Press Release folder. As it happens there was something in there that relates to previous NAUTICAL LOG Posts. From Doha, Qatar comes a report that the 175 nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Spies (CITES) failed to pass a proposed ban by Monaco on Atlantic Bluefin tuna fishing. With stocks of the fish reportedly down 75% the defeat was a set back for the United States, European Union and the conservationists who backed the Monaco proposal. Fishing nations from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean and representatives of European fishermen complained that any ban would damage their fishing communities. They felt that fears of the stock's collapse were overstated. This may reflect the lack of trust in scientific studies as a result of the British global warming e-mails. In fact Libya accused Monaco of lying and trying to mislead delegates before calling for the vote. The largest consumer of Bluefin...

Today NAUTICAL LOG had its 10,000 visitor as recorded on the 'sitemeter' . This is a big milestone for us because we do not use, and never intend too, 'Facebook, 'Twitter' or 'RSS' . Our visitors are those who find us, usually on a 'search engine', enjoy reading the NAUTICAL LOG opinions, sometimes commenting on them and then return again to see what's happening. It was our intention to recognize visitor 10,000 with a Certificate however the visitor is marked as ' unknown ' only an IP Address 94.230.106# they visited for 21 minutes and 45 seconds so certainly deserve recognition. If you would like to contact us with an e-mail address we will be happy to send your Certificate. Congratulations, thank you and 'all hands' please keep on visiting NAUTICAL LOG. Good Watch.

Welcome news indeed this morning. From the NAUTICAL LOG correspondent in Ireland (EU) comes the news that union representatives meeting in Berlin, Germany (EU) have voted to launch a new campaign against piracy. They will work to persuade all governments to commit the resources necessary to end the increasing problem of Somalia based piracy. Seafarers delegates at the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) meeting in Germany authorised the ITF to build a campaign. It is hoped to present a petition to governments by World Maritime Day, September 23, 2010. The Petition will call on nations to: Dedicate significant resources and work to find a solution Take immediate steps to secure the release and safe return of kidnapped seafarers to their families work within the international community to secure a stable and peaceful future for Somalia and its people ITF Maritime Coordinator Steve Cotton stated that "We also highlighted the scandalous negligence of countries making bi...

The following "M" Notices have been issued by the United Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK MCA) MIN 376 (M+F) MIN 378 (M+F) MIN 379 (M+F) Non-UK issued SSO Certificates are now recognised by the MCA . MGN 406 (M+F) These are available as always from www.mcga.gov.uk/ If there is a problem the "M" Notice Administrator's telephone number is 023-8032-9391 Good Watch.

How do you ensure your boating, by insurance and preparation to give you assurance - hmmm. Now that the clocks have sprung forward one hour for most of us, we start thinking of Spring and Summer activities. This includes boating, of course for those of us here in South Florida it is a year round activity. However it is still necessary to prepare and check things out properly. We need a basic Marine Insurance Policy coverage for the boat itself to take care of damage and loss. But we also should have repairs and towing coverage just like we have for our car probably with the American Automobile Association (AAA). There are two main organizations that offer Commercial Towing Assistance to both its members and others, Boat Assist and Sea Tow. Look around your marina and you will see at least one of them. Boat Assist are the Red guys and Sea Tow the Yellow guys whose websites are in 'Link List' below. Stop by and visit with them, get their program explained, learn how it works ...

Following the COMMENTARY added to the NEXT CHAPTER Post below NAUTICAL LOG would like to direct this Post to the Sea Shepherd ships crews and those thinking about joining these vessels. The Sea Shepherd Pirate Group have been remarkably quiet since their return to their pirate lair sanctuary Port of Hobart. This is understandable really as they have had a disastrous anti-whaling season without accomplishment. While 'Animal Planet' and 'hollywood types' will no doubt more than cover their expenses it is still nice to actually accomplish something worthwhile. So NAUTICAL LOG has a suggestion for the crew of MS Steve Irwin and possibly the MS Bob Barker. As it happens there is an opportunity to do just that in the coming weeks and months and truly become the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society . During the long planned voyage of 12,000 nautical miles to Europe via the Panama Canal and no doubt with a call at the Galapagos Islands you can get involved in several usefu...

Mr. Bethune COMMENTARY: 2200, March 14, 2010. For those of you who watched Part 1 of "Pacific" tonight we now know that the political correctness of the 21st. Century is not applied to this miniseries. It is, as indeed it should be, the political attitude of the 20th. Century era 1940's. It also is a reminder that the World has changed both in the Western nations and Japan. If we make persons like Mr. Bethune above "hero's" of Western culture, as Mr. Watson of Sea Shepherds has suggested he is, we regress to the attitudes of the 1940's that so many of us have worked so hard to overcome. In the months ahead during the trial and possible punishment of Mr. Bethune let us all, both Japanese and Westerners, maintain a decorum. Remember that this person did what he did for a narrowly focused cause. It was a self-centered action which risks the greater cause of peace in this World, a partial peace which is fragile and tested each day. There is nothing heroic ...

Well it is said that no good deed shall go unpunished but one has to wonder. Back in the SS-PG pirate lair sanctuary Port of Hobart, TAS the Australian Federal Police (AFP) returned the logbooks of the MS Steve Irwin and MS Bob Barker . No real surprise there, it is a simple matter to copy them and they are needed aboard to record daily events in accordance with maritime law. The AFP have made no arrests to date and that does now seem unlikely. Also as usual The Netherlands has not taken any action against its Flag State vessel thus indicating that it approves the SS-PG actions. No surprise there, what is a little surprising is that according to Australia the West African nation of Togo has not informed them that MS Bob Barker is deflagged. She was therefore entered into Australia as a Togo Flag State vessel and Australia is currently her Port State. In passing one could note that Togo is very inexperienced in maritime affairs and is in a state of political turmoil. It really does no...

UPDATE March 23, 2010. THE "HUMP" IS OVER See what can be achieved by non-violent protest. The "Hump" has announced its closing due to being found serving whale meat. Perhaps SS-PG can learn from this, reassess their methods and find an effective strategy. Certainly "Operation Waltzing Matilda" was a disastrous campaign. On rare occasions it happens that an organization that usually sets a bad example does something good. It must therefore in fairness be recognized. Such is the case with the Sea Shepherds Conservation Society, yes indeed, our SS-PG 'friends'. It turns out they were behind the action that revealed the well known restaurant 'Hump' at Santa Monica Airport, CA was serving whale meat. In a sting operation members of the SSCS ordered the 'omakase' ( chef's choice ) and asked the server if they could have whale. They were duly served eight slices of what the server called "whale" according to the affid...

From their pirate lair sanctuary the Port of Hobart, Tasmania comes news that the SS-PG vessel MS Steve Irwin will depart later this month. It is bound across the Pacific for the Panama Canal, after transit it will sail across the Atlantic to France, quite likely the Port of Lorient in Brittany. There no doubt a warm welcome awaits from those hardy Breton fishermen. As an indication of how the French enjoy pirates in the NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder this morning there is a report entitled "France captures 35 'pirates' in three days off the Somali coast". The French Navy frigate Nivose seized four 'mother-ships' and six skiffs. After firing warning shots French and EU forces used helicopters to make the 'Stop and Capture' operation. The French Naval and Special Forces have captured nearly 100 pirates and killed 6 since the capture of a French luxury yacht in April 2008. Captured pirates are usually flown to Kenya for trial and about 10 are ...

Panama (Flag S tate) illegal bluefin tuna boat in the Mediterranean. Well finally today comes word from the Sea Shepherd Pirate Group who arrived back in Sanctuary on Saturday. After a weekend of relative silence which included a visit from investigation teams of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). They had allowed 'Wats-his-name' to disembark to the dock to talk with a small group of media people. The normally swashbuckling pirate captain was remarkably subdued, in fact he seemed to be more buckling under life and had lost all his 'swash'. SS-PG produced an 'Antarctic Campaign Report' covering "2009-2010 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign: Operation Waltzing Matilda". As it turns out it was quite a good choice of name as the SS-PG have been waltzing around accomplishing something between very little to nothing. Other than perform for the 'Animal Planet' TV coverage the whole venture was a complete waste of time, burnt fuel oil, a lost toy boat...

Yesterday the two Sea Shepherd Pirate Group ships the Dutch MS Steve Irwin and the stateless MS Bob Barker returned to their sanctuary port of Hobart, Tasmania. Both ships were boarded on arrival by teams of Australian Federal Police (AFP). In keeping with the traditions of the sea the senior Master was the only person allowed ashore so 'Wats-his-name' was free to be interviewed but was notably subdued - at least for him. The Investigation is in response to about 100 complaints by the Japanese Government. Warrants were apparently served for video material, computer records, logbooks, charts and anything that will assist their investigation. The crews were interviewed and statements taken for now they remain aboard their individual ships. By allowing an unregistered vessel the MS Bob Barker into one of its ports the Australian Government has taken responsibility for it. Until the vessel can find a Flag State it must remain in Hobart under Maritime Law. As Port State the Austr...

This mornings Press Release folder brought news of a cruise ship returning to Florida with sick passengers. As it happens it is a vessel of one of my former company's so NAUTICAL LOG took more than usual interest. The report states that "a large number of passengers and crew members complaining of flu-like symptoms during a two week voyage". Of course the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) arrived and determined that 168 passengers of 1,211 and 19 crew of 559 were sick. One passenger Mr. (77) stated "I feel the ship didn't do what they were supposed to do to take care of us. They should have cleaned the damned place up". But another Ms. (66) stated "They were so careful they sprayed our cabins down with chemical to kill it". Having served in cruise ships for three decades these are typical reactions of passengers/guests. Cruise ships are cleaner than most hotels ashore, just about all restaurants and most likely Mr. 77's own ...

Typical example of a UKHO paper chart Last year on June 18, 2009 NAUTICAL LOG published a Post entitled "Voyage & Passage Planning". At that time the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office www.ukho.gov.uk/ were in the final stages of the development of the future of navigation. Indeed that is just what it was named "The Future of Navigation" and there is a link to it and the UKHO in our 'Link List' below. We would suggest a visit to learn all the details of this onboard and ashore system. In Shanghai, China on December 01, 2009 the UKHO 'Admiralty e-Navigator' was duly launched so it has now been in operation for three months. To quote the International Maritime Organization (IMO) "e-Navigation is the harmonised collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of maritime information onboard and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth to berth navigation and related services, for safety and security at sea and protection of...

cleaning up broken glass this morning MS Louis Majesty SAFETY NOTE: March 04, 2010 Looking at the crew cleaning up the debris from the broken windows NAUTICAL LOG was struck by how close those unprotected windows are to the bow. Taking the crew average height of say 6 feet it appears the sets of three windows are only 24 feet from that bow jackstaff forward. The widows should be fitted with steel shutters for protection in heavy weather, and preferably capable of being closed by a remote control from inside. There are several roll-up brands available used for hurricane and storefront protection. That forward windowed bulkhead is acting as a breakwater - which it did. UPDAT E: March 04, 2010. There seems to be some confusion as to where this incident occurred and where the ship was on passage from and to. At NAUTICAL LOG we read reports this morning in Greek, French, Spanish as well as English to try and clarify. It seems that the MS Louis Majesty left Cartagena, Spain and headed f...

Just a reminder that due to the Earth axis shift as a result of the 8.8 earthquake in Chile navigation is effected. All seafarers on South American West Coast voyages should be aware of the physical changes to the sea bottom and the coastal islands of Chile. It is reported that some islands have risen by two metres, this will change the range they are picked up on radar for example. March 09, 2010: Latest studies indicate that some areas have been moved 3 metres to the West. Navigation Officers must build this data into their Passage Plans, allowing for possible depth changes and missing navigational marks. It is suggested that the sounder/sonar be operated continuously, give land masses a wider berth than usual where possible and obtain navigational data from the Armada de Chile prior to entering Chilean waters. The Consular Officers of Chile may have useful data however it must be realised that there has not yet been the opportunity to survey for chart corrections. Mariners may find...

After some chilly weather here in South Florida this morning was somewhat warmer. Got the coffee going went to collect the newspaper, from under the front wheel of the car furthest from the road. Now there's a good question how is it the worlds newspaper deliverers are all able to completely defy the Laws of Physics. From our avenue it is quite impossible to make such an angled throw to this mornings 'point of landing'. Newspaper collected NAUTICAL LOG refilled the bird feeder and headed for the kitchen for coffee. But we digress as those SS-PG supporters, who lacked courage to sign their names to their opinions, would say the 'Old Fool' is at it again. Indeed now with coffee at hand we can read the latest SS-PG Press Release, I think so anyway. Today quotes a Dr. Andrew Pershing from the University of Maine who got a bit carried away with his writing, we all do at times, and describes whales as the "forests of the ocean". Really NAUTICAL LOG kids you n...