Skip to main content

A FRESH START


From Maritime New Zealand comes a PR that the MS Steve Irwin has been released from the search for the missing Norwegian yacht SY Berserk. The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) spoke with the vessel at 2100 NZDT on February 27, 2011 and officially ended their involvement in the search. In that communication RCCNZ expressed their "gratitude" for the five (5) days of searching which included 24 hours of air search. Of the five (5) persons on board four (4) were Norwegian and one (1) was British. Two (2) Norwegians were ashore and made their way to a McMurdo Sound Base and are now being flown to Christchurch, New Zealand, itself the scene of a recent devastating earthquake.

So what happens now to the SSCS fleet since the Japanese whaling fleet is nearing Japan after a strange and confusing, at least to NAUTICAL LOG, season. During the season the SSCS fleet appeared to accomplish nothing worthwhile for the second year running. After the Japanese ended their season entirely for their own reasons the MS Gojira and MS Bob Barker went - where? There have really been no definative reports as to their actions and while there have been rumors of crew dissension nothing has been confirmed. Perhaps some enterprising media persons will find and interview crewmembers but that never seems to happen, as is normal in cults.

As to the MS Steve Irwin her actions since the JWF departed have been engaged in a search under the guidance of the RCCNZ and they conducted themselves honourably. This would seem to NAUTICAL LOG an ideal opportunity for them to review their strategy in anti-whaling and anti-tuna fishing operations and their tactics. In turn the Norwegians could remove charges against SSCS for past transgressions in recognition of the efforts to find the SY Berserk. Here at NAUTICAL LOG that is what we shall be doing giving SSCS a fresh start and ourselves a new look.

Therefore it is completely up to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) to set the tone for their future actions and to be judged by it. We have no suggestions about what they might do from now on as they know how to behave and must decide the path they are going to take. However they should be aware and warned that further violence on the High Seas is absolutely unacceptable.

Whatever way they go they have a long passage ahead in the physical voyage, in organisation politics, their strategy and nautical tactics. Intense violent political action is current all through the Middle East and North Africa an area now and for the foreseeable future completely unstable. Action off North Africa in the tuna fishing grounds will be met with intense counter-action. The European Mediterranean countries and the North African countries need the blue tuna fishing industry and will not tolerate interference with the fishing this coming season.

Good Watch.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PAINT LOCKER FIRES

The photographs above are revealing in several ways, lets have a look. Clearly the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) vessel JS "Kurama" impacted the Korean container ship MS "Carina Star" just aft of the turn of the fo'cs'le on the Starboard side. Please note that's the Starboard side, thus it appears JS "Kurama" would have shown "Carina Star" the red port sidelight and "Carina Star" would have shown JS "Kurama" the green starboard sidelight. This impact point would tend to suggest that JS "Kurama" was the 'stand-on' vessel and the MS "Carina Star" is the 'giving-way' vessel. Until there is a complete plot of the tracks made good of both these vessels and the position in the Kanmon Strait of the point of collision no determination can actually be made. As a result of this impact there was severe bow damage to JS "Kurama" and in addition a massive f...

HOW TO WEAR A LIFEJACKET

A popular U.S.-based cruise ship style A popular European ferry style Several times during the year NAUTICAL LOG has had visitors searching for lifejacket instructions. With two just over Christmas we decided to publish something for everybody to see and read. Choose a Coast Guard approved life-jacket and make sure it is undamaged. Make sure life-jackets are readily accessible, never locked away. Check the fit, there are adult, child and infant sizes, the correct one MUST be used. Choose bright colour life-jackets so as to be seen easily by Search and Rescue (SAR). Put your life-jacket ON BEFORE you leave the berth. Make sure you have a light and whistle attached AND they BOTH WORK. Good Watch

CYCLONES AND SENTINELS

USCG Sentinel-class which are based on the Netherlands Damen Stan-class USCGC 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 ...