NAUTICAL LOG

The following e-mail arrived at NAUTICAL LOG.   It is supposed to be in reference to Paul Watson but we have no confirmation of that.  It is published in a fair and balanced approach to giving all sides of a story.  Following are partial quotes; " Via Paul Watson:  Yes I have arrived back home.  I legally entered the United States on Monday morning in San Pedro Harbor in California.  Interpol has dropped the RED Notice from Costa Rica and I will defend my position with regard to Japan if required............ " It was also stated that the Interpol RED Notice from Costa Rica had expired due possibly to a statute of limitations on the original charges.  Note that NAUTICAL LOG would need that to be confirmed by Interpol which has not been done. In another item the Executive Administrator of SSCS was questioned regarding a vessel named DECURION which was berthed in South Africa.  It was considered by the ICR attorney to be a ...

Well now here we are at the end of October and within a month no doubt the Japanese will once again be in the throes of preparation for the annual whale hunt in the Southern Ocean. Where are the Sea Shepherds ?  This year they have been pretty quiet with Paul Watson presumably still under that Interpol   RED Notice , which has been ignored by most countries.  While supposedly he remains at sea on board one of the SSCS ships, in the photo below all three ships are at " The Base " - lets not put that in Arabic.  Is there a fourth that has Watson aboard ?   SSCS work has apparently been going ahead from Australia whose Government has decided to throw their lot in with the Sea Shepherds and gave them the base - pirates lair perhaps -  at Williamstown, near Melbourne, Victoria. The Pirates Lair  This actually makes a great deal of sense as we all know where they are and what they are doing, the vessels ...

  NAUTICAL LOG should like to introduce a new website added to our My Blog List .  It covers  Irish Maritime History , a subject  much forgotten perhaps outside Ireland. We had our losses at sea during World War 2 (known as " The Emergency" in typical Irish understatement) from belligerent action in spite of being a neutral country. NAUTICAL LOG would also like to recommend " The Long Watch " by Frank Forde, Master Mariner which is mentioned on the website.  It has accounts of many Masters and Officers with whom NAUTICAL LOG had the honour to know and serve with during my training with Irish Shipping Limited  as Deck Apprentice, 4th. Officer and 3rd. Officer from 1953 to 1957.  A copy of " The Long Watch " is in the NAUTICAL LOG study bookcase. Good Watch.

UPDATE INFORMATION:   The Greenpeace crew of the MS Arctic Sunrise have become known in the Media as the " Arctic 30 ".  This week the Russian Authorities have changed the charges of Piracy against these persons to Hooliganism.  This has been described in some maritime blogs as a reduction of charges actually it is anything but and the " Arctic 30 " are in greater difficulties. Under Russian Law Hooliganism is defined as:  " is a gross violation of public order, expressing clear disrespect for society, committed with the use of objects used as weapons, organized group that is associated with resistance to authority". The sentences handed down as punishment for being convicted of Hooliganism under Russian Law by the Russian Courts can be severe.  By taking this action the Russian Authorities bring all charges under Russian Law only.  Therefore they do not have to prove an Act of Piracy under International Maritime Law as stated in ...

Example of a NOAA chart   After 151 years NOAA will no longer produce printed paper navigational charts.  So how does one satisfy the USCG requirement to carry paper charts as a backup to electronic charts?  Well NOAA will still produce the electronic charts and nautical chart agents at least those who have the necessary equipment will be able to produce the Print-on-Demand  charts which many seafarers are already using. How this will all work out remains to be seen.  If it follows the path of most other ventures, such as the Affordable Care Act in its deplorable debut, of the current mis-Administration it could mean disaster.  With a high degree of certainty it will mean higher chart prices and/or shoddy PDF workmanship/printing as inexpensive - read cheapskate - vendors try to make quick and easy money. Like the medicines they will be available via the Internet® from goodness knows whom, out of somewhere, with who knows...

There is considerable concern amongst Roman Catholics over the behavior of Pope Francis 1 since he was elected Pope some six months ago in spite of Pope Benedict still being alive, living in the Vatican and having only resigned not abdicated as Pope.  Some blogs have been quite scathing in their articles regarding his behavior and those articles generated comments that were quite vicious about changes he has made to date. Well some things never change and Pope Francis 1 - as have Popes in the past - shows that the quality of mercy and forgiveness depends not on Jesus Christ's guidelines on how to lead ones life but the politics of man.  An example: On October 11, 2013 Erich Priebke died at the age of 100 years and was due to have his Roman Catholic funeral at Albano Laziale, Italy.  However there were protests, security concerns and then Pope Francis 1 refused to allow his funeral in a Roman Catholic Church. This is interesting bec...

Here at NAUTICAL LOG we are sometimes approached to publish posts by guest writers.  To date we have not done so, however we are open to offers. Basically we are a maritime blog and therefore prefer articles about maritime affairs that follow our publishing rules as stated in the header.  We are also open to non-maritime posts which again follow our publishing rules. Interested writers should send an e-mail stating the subject matter before sending a post ready for publishing.  If accepted the full post will be vetted before NAUTICAL LOG will publish it in the Blog.  NAUTICAL LOG will not charge fees or make payments to guest writers. Finally we much prefer to receive comments on our Posts content and suggested subjects for future Posts. Good Watch.

Under arrest at Murmansk, Russia The Russian  drill rig involved  Greenpeace RHIB alongside the Russian drill rig   UPDATE:   We would suggest readers refer to the article in the maritime blog gCAPTAIN titled " Seaman Unions Defend Greenpeace Crew ".   NAUTICAL LOG is not and has not been a member of any of the Unions mentioned in the article during a 60 year oceangoing sea career.    NAUTICAL LOG  does not have an opinion on these Union actions, but does regard the Greenpeace action as piracy in that it violates UNCLOS which clearly defines Acts of Piracy.  It will be the decision of an Admiralty Court to rule after consideration of all the circumstances and opinions.        Good Watch.   Peter Willcox, Master of MS Arctic Sunrise and MM&P member.   According to the European Media reports this morning the Russians are preferring drug charges ag...

One of the many hazards of the seas is piracy - but what is it ?  Modern piracy was clearly defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982. If one opens UNCLOS Articles 100 through 107 and 110 it is all there to read, understand and follow.   As a result of the attempted boarding of a Russian oil rig on the High Seas in International Waters the Russian Law Enforcement Authorities detained activists from the organization Greenpeace .  As a result of their questioning of these activists - maritime terrorists under Russian Law - Russian Maritime Authorities boarded, detained and towed to Murmansk, Russia their vessel MS Arctic Sunrise. Now after continuing inquires the entire crew of the MS Arctic Sunrise have been charged with piracy under UNCLOS Articles 100 - 107 & 110.  Of course the Greenpeace Organization can whine and moan at the injustice of the charges brought against them but they must know quite...