NAUTICAL LOG

Chuck and Dick West
From our Press Folder came news of CRUISE WEST which happens to be a part of the NAUTICAL LOG sea career history. On September 08, 2010 the Company stated it was pursuing a number of options with various parties to maintain operations, including investment, selling assets and selling the company. They suspended all new bookings and closed their reservation centre. On September 18, 2010, they ceased operations a Press Release titled Cruise West Ceases Operations stated in part;
"because of the recent dip in the markets and the continued lack of economic confidence, these options have not come to fruition".
It was signed by Dick West, Cruise West's Chairman and Managing Director, the full Release can be read online.

In the 1960's NAUTICAL LOG was living in Canada and was offered a position as Third Officer in the SS Glacier Queen operating from Vancouver, BC. She was under the Canadian Flag and sailed on eight day cruises from Vancouver, BC to Skagway, …

USCG Sentinel-class
which are based on the Netherlands Damen Stan-classUSCGC opened hull view
USCG Sentinel-class interior layout

USN Cyclone-class

In the NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder comes news of Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, LA. The United States Coast Guard has awarded a $166.1 million option to start production of four 'Sentinel-class' Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). This latest award brings a total of eight FRCs under production at Bollinger with a value of $410.7 million. The current FRC contract contains options for up to 34 cutters and is worth $1.5 billion if they are all exercised.
Recently the United States Navy limited operation of its 'Cyclone-class' coastal patrol boats stationed in Bahrain and Norfolk, VA. Any vessel operation would depend on sea state and speed restrictions. This was due to structural damage as the vessels reach the 15 year mark which is considered close to the operational limit. This is apparently not a design fault but usage issue …

University of Greenwich, Kent/the former Royal Naval College on River Thames

This morning NAUTICAL LOG received information and a Press Release covering a project of the University of Greenwich, Kent, England, website (www2.gre.ac.uk/). Named SAFEGUARD it is a study of how passengers react to an emergency aboard ship.

The University Fire Safety Engineering Group is researching evacuation on three types of passenger vessels. The SAFEGUARD Partners are using Royal Caribbean International, Colorline and Minoan Lines to conduct their research

Here at NAUTICAL LOG we were most interested in the exercise conducted in RCCL's MS Jewel of the Seas. Having served as a Safety Officer in Florida based cruise ships for many years we have become increasingly concerned with their complexity.( see our Post 'BIGGER IS BETTER- NOT'). The vessels have become overblown floating amusement parks carrying thousands of passengers, now known as guests, in typical amusement park style. They are manned…

Once again Broward County Florida was in the news this morning. The incident can act as a reminder that all boat captains and particularly charter boat captains should know the Maritime Laws.
Many seafarers including NAUTICAL LOG wish to be buried at sea. Broward County homicide detectives (BSO) went into action when a body was found floating off Fort Lauderdale, FL. When everything had been investigated it turned out to be a 'burial-at-sea' improperly performed. The remains had been taken out in a chartered boat, MY Mary B III, by the family. The chartered boat captain should have been familiar with the maritime law that applies to 'burial-at-sea' prior to accepting such a charter. Broward County detectives (BSO) are conferring with the USCG before reaching any conclusion on whether any burial laws were violated.

We shall not deal with the religious burial issues here. Firstly it is legal to bury a body at sea, secondly the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ap…

In the State of Florida new boating restrictions have been proposed. In order to protect the manatees boaters in Broward County will have to slow down. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed the restrictions in July 2010 in the first review of the County's manatee protection zones in 17 years. A committee of Broward boaters and environmentalists reviewed the State's proposals and issued a report in August 2010 which agreed with most of them.

The 10 member committee which acts as an advisory board seconded the State's proposed requirement for seven-day-a-week speed reduction zones on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) during the winter months rather than the current week-end only restrictions. It also supported increased restrictions on the Hillsboro Canal.

There is public support for speed restrictions on the ICW and not to eliminate the current Summer restrictions. As to the Boating Industry the usual split decision, just as there is for Compulsor…

Following "M" Notices have been issued and can be downloaded from www.mcga.gov.uk/ The Administrator's number is 023 8032 9391 in case of any difficulty.

MIN 394 (M+F)
MGN 214 (M)
MGN 417 (M+F)
MGN 418 (M)

Good Watch.

Unlike the other Posts in NAUTICAL LOG this Post is an opinion written in the 'first person'. It is subject to all Copyright Laws and may not be quoted or republished in any form without written permission of the author. However short sentences may be used in any 'comment' sent to NAUTICAL LOG.

NAUTICAL LOG is a Blog that as it says in the heading is about Nautical things in particular and Life in general. Sometimes however an event occurs which so effects our lives that one feels moved to write and in the first person - such was 9/11. On that dreadful morning in 2001 I was in the kitchen preparing my breakfast when I caught remarks from the Florida Room television. When I saw the picture I quickly got my hearing aid and breakfast forgotten sat down to watch. So it was that I saw the second plane impact the South Tower of the World Trade Center. All of us know only too well what happened next as the Twin Towers collapsed and it seemed all of Lower Manhattan was destroye…

"Red Duster"
MN Blazer crest

Today September 03, 2010 in many parts of the world there are celebrations for Merchant Navy Day. Officially recognised in United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada memorial services are held for those lost at sea. Here in Coral Gables, FL it is just NAUTICAL LOG but no less are all the "lads" remembered particularly those that see the "Red Duster" keeps flying.

Today especially we wish all seafarers,

Good Watch.