NAUTICAL LOG

MS Bimini Superfast at Terminal "F" in the Port of Miami, FL   ADDITIONAL NOTES: JUNE 28, 2013; Ok here we go - well not quite it turns out!!  In this mornings The Miami Herald there was a wrap around page advertising the MS Bimini Superfast and at last the website at www.rwbimini.com and phone at 1- 888-930-8688 for all the booking and service details starting in July 2013.  NAUTICAL LOG will definitely be going but later when things have settled down into a regular routine as this should be a fun trip. NAUTICAL LOG has learned from local sources that the MS Bimini Superfast was indeed delayed by USCG-MSO requirements.  In prior days this was often the point at which NAUTICAL LOG was contacted to conduct "tune-up" Drills and correct training problems identified by the USCG-MSO. Kind of miss those days!! JUNE 27, 2013;   To date there does not seem to be a booking website for the Genting vessel MS Bimini Superfast though she...

From various Alabama and maritime Media sources comes word that Carnival Group has sued BAE Systems shipyard at Mobile, AL.  Yes that's right Carnival has sued rather than get sued though in fact that to has happened also. In February 2013 the BAE Systems shipyard accepted the MS Carnival Triumph the cruise vessel to assess and complete repairs resulting from a loss of power while underway at sea.  On April 03, 2013 in strong winds she broke free from moorings under the responsibility of the BAE Systems shipyard and was further damaged.  During this incident tragically a BAE shipyard worker was killed.  For some reason the attorney hired by that workers family sued Carnival Group, rather than BAE Systems where the worker was employed, in a suit filed in May 2013.  One can only surmise that this was due to inexperience on the part of the lawyer, a lack of knowledge in maritime law or some quirk in Alabama State Law.  However it was the underst...

The revision of Posts published can consist of editing them, or their removal entirely.  In accordance with ones thinking that may be considered censoring or editing as a result of a change of viewpoint.  Regular readers - do we have those? - will notice that two Posts in particular were removed due to the topics they addressed not that any of their content was wrong or improper. Over this weekend NAUTICAL LOG had the latter - a change of viewpoint as to published work - it seemed that with all the fuss over the behaviour of NSA contract employee Mr. Snowden those Posts could give the impression that one agrees with his viewpoint and subsequent behaviour.  As far as NAUTICAL LOG is concerned nothing could be further from the truth.  Mr. Snowden has violated his employment Oath of Office which includes the keeping of the Official Secrets Act and retaining in house any concerns that he might develop in the course of his work....

  There is interesting news in the Maritime world generally today and more particularly here in South Florida which has a large Nicaraguan community. The Government of Nicaragua has given the Hong Kong Nicaraguan Canal Development Investment Co. Ltd. known as the HKND Group a fifty (50) year concession to survey, develop , design and build a Nicaraguan Canal connecting the Pacific side to the Caribbean side of that country.  This was originally going to be done instead of the Panama Canal as prior to its independence, with considerable United States assistance, did not exist.  It was a province of Columbia from Spanish Colonial days.  As nations in South America became free of empires in general and Spain in particular so various provinces also wanted freedom and the end result for many was as " Banana Republics " under United Fruit and the strong influence of the United States.  So much for being free of empire building!! Anyway as ...

NLIN #8 - 2013. The following may be downloaded from www.dft.gov.uk/mca if you have problems call 023 8032 9391 MIN 464 (M+F)  Non-Pyrotechnic Flares. MGN 486 (M) Maritime Passenger Rights: Role of the National Enforcement Body. MGN 489  (M) Pleasure Vessels - UK Regulations. Good Watch.

United States military cemetery Colleville-Sur-Mer, France German military cemetery La Cambe, France June 06, 1944 some 69 years ago today a young boy was looking at all the adults gathering on our street and knew that something really important was going on. Then most of the women and indeed some of the men headed off to Roman Catholic Mass and Church of Ireland Services. D - Day 1944. At that time NAUTICAL LOG was just seven and a half years old and remembers it well, maybe, mostly it is memory in retrospect having heard about it so many times with parents worrying about relatives and friends some of whom sadly never came home.  However as a result of their courage and sacrifice we still live in relative peace and it would seem that after all Germany rules Europe through the European Union that great Socialist boondoogle.  Oh! well cannot win them all. So this morning the French, who can be so difficult about things but never about the Normandy Landing...

After Hearings by the United States Congress, numerous lawsuits and several TV shows with blocks about the Cruise Industry, not to mention the unbelievable coverage on at least one occasion by CNN there is now an industry bill of rights.  So what!!! The cruise lines members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have agreed to a ten (10) point International Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights.  Of course all this actually does is list the things they are supposed and expected to do should things go wrong on the cruise.  It was previously called "brand protection". This BOR is meaningless in many ways not least the fact that it does NOT obviate the fine printed crammed in on the back of your cruise ticket this being the legal and final word on what these cruise lines really have to do - and it is not much.  Anyway so that you may see what this listing is all about here it is: 1.  The right to disembark a docked ship if essent...

NLIN #7 - 2013. the following M - Notices are available at www.dft.gov.uk/mca .   If you have problems call 023 8032 9391. MIN 459 (M+F) Navigation: MCA policy on Charging for Navigation Warnings MIN 460 (M) Written Examination Dates 2013/14: Deck and Engineere Officers (Merchant Navy) MIN 461 (M) Written Examination Dates 2013/14: Engineer Officers (Yachts and Sail Training Vessels. MIN 462 (F) Written Examination Dates 2013/14: Deck Officers (Fishing Vessels) MIN 463 Navigation: Vessels Traffic Services V103 and Local Port Services Course Dates 2013/14. MIN 465 (M+F) Relocation of Great Yarmouth Marine Office. MSN 1837 (M) Categorisation of Waters. Good Watch.