NAUTICAL LOG

The Lennon 'Loo' There are many names given to the 'facilities' around the world and quite a few designs. Known as the 'loo' in the United Kingdom, the 'john' in the United States, and the 'head' to seafarers. Last week saw the sale of one such piece of equipment in the United Kingdom. It belonged to John Lennon, of Beatles fame, and was expected to fetch a few hundred English pounds however it fetched 9,500 English pounds. They still use pounds in UK never having changed to the euro used by most EU countries. NAUTICAL LOG thought that was pretty extraordinary, until this morning when our attention was drawn to another nautical Blog, which shall remain nameless. As a result of the lifestyle of the last few decades it has become required by many industries to have a counter-drug-use programme. Approved clinics are authorised to conduct drug tests prior too and during employment. The Maritime Industry of course requires these and has a progr...

Washing -down the blood from the slaughter W o uld you want your kids here? UPDATE August 26, 2010. Further data came in this mornings Press Release folder from the Sea Shepherds . The details are in the Sea Shepherds report from the Faeroe Islands. Above are two photos from that report - is this really the way to raise kids? Once again NAUTICAL LOG finds itself in agreement with the Sea Shepherds ; will wonders never cease? It goes to show that when things are done properly and in a non-violent manner opposites can be on the same page. NAUTICAL LOG would recommend the page to go to is the latest Press Release by Sea Shepherds with regard to the work being done to stop the obscene "The Grind" in the Faeroe Islands. Now if this can be achieved up there in the Danish Protectorate why not follow the same logic in the Southern Ocean and move the whales away from the whale hunters. On the other side of the page and not in agreement, each season down there the situation has ...

MY Golfo Azzurro HDMS Triton F358 HDMS Thetis Class frigate Thetis Class frigate Navigation Bridge The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) really keeps one supplied with material. This morning the NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder and various e-mails brought more news. For the last month the SSCS has had an undercover ship operating off the Faeroe Islands. Named the MS Golfo Azzuro she been engaged in "covert surveillance operations in the Danish Protectorate of the Faeroe Islands" as the SSCS Press Release states. It appears that in addition to having personnel ashore in the Islands they had the ship operating at sea through funding from the Brigitte Bardot Foundation. Yesterday they were exposed, boarded and searched by the Danish Police and are currently under escort by the Danish Navy. Denmark's Thetis Class frigate HDMS Triton F358 is assigned to monitor their actions as this vessel patrols Greenland and the Faeroe Islands. It should be pointed out that...

For the second time in two days NAUTICAL LOG has received reports of electronics in the marine environment 'taking over'. In the last decades marine electronics have grown in capability and convenience however they have caused a new hazard. Now that just about everyone it would seem has a cellphone and as a result there has arisen the problem of inappropriate use. The NTSB has just commented on the use of cellphones when Chairwoman Debbie Hersman said: "The use of wireless communication devices while operating vehicles in any mode of transportation poses an unacceptable distraction" This remark resulted from USCG officers being involved in two particular collisions in which cellphones were a contributing factor . These occurred in San Diego,CA and Charleston,SC the San Diego crash resulted in one death and at Charleston there were six people treated for injuries. Here in Miami-Dade County,FL NAUTICAL LOG has observed on many occasions the USCG RHIB's travelling...

During the last decade of actual sea-going NAUTICAL LOG became concerned with the skill level of Junior Officers in Celestial Navigation. It most likely started when a Swedish 'Third Mate' joined with his guitar and hair dryer but no sextant. As it happened he had no OOW knowledge anyway and left as soon as NAUTICAL LOG could activate his open return ticket. So it was greatly interesting to read in OCEAN NAVIGATOR-online today an article by Mr. Gary LaPook of a passage made aboard the SV Royal Clipper as ad hoc celestial navigation teacher. Having been trained in the methods of the British Merchant Navy NAUTICAL LOG worked out sights using Nories Nautical Tables and the full formula. This was because at that time, 1953-1966, the UK Board of Trade required the full calculation method in their 'Certificate of Competency' examinations and only Nories or Burtons Tables were permitted in the examination room. Once one was comfortable and confident we switched to th...

In the NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder this morning comes a report from the United Arab Emirates that the attack on the MS M Star was terrorism. The tanker which was attacked last week in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman suffered its damage from a home-made explosive device. Two days ago a group working with al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. A statement signed by the Abdullah Azzam Brigades said one of its suicide bombers was responsible for the blast. The report from a UAE Coastguard source states: "An examination carried out by specialised teams had confirmed that the tanker had been the subject of a terrorist attack. UAE explosive experts who collected and examined samples found a dent on the starboard side above the waterline and remains of home-made explosives on the hull." However Mitsui OSK the vessel owners said it could not confirm the report. Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said his government were aware of the report but had not yet confirmed its details...

The United States Coast Guard was created by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton on August 04, 1790 when he authorized the building of ten (10) revenue cutters. This week we shall celebrate United States Coast Guard Day on Wednesday - no they will NOT get a day off!! In other news U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound has been established. On July 30, 2010 USCG Group Port Angeles, WA and USCG Sector Seattle, WA were combined and renamed USCG Sector Puget Sound. This brings operational control of all Coast Guard resources within Captain of the Port Puget Sound under one command. USCG Sector Puget Sound offices will be located in the CMDR. Raymond J. Evans Shore Operations Building, Pier 36, Seattle, WA. Useful telephones numbers are: Emergency or Distress: 206- 217-6001 Communications Center: 206-217-6004 Non-emergency Business: 206-217-6002/6003 All VHF-FM and HF radio frequencies will now be monitored by USCG Sector Puget Sound. Good Watch.