NAUTICAL LOG

HMS Astute alongside at Southampton Docks   UPDATES:   As always seems to happen in these incidents, since the Media nowadays rushes to be 'first-with-the-news', the updated story is somewhat different from the original this morning.  It now appears that the shooting did take place on board HMS Astute and NOT on the pier ashore as first reported; also the weapon was NOT a 9mm pistol but an SA80 assault rifle.  The Rating had just been issued the SA80 for his sentry duty to relieve the Watch.  An argument broke out in the Control Room which resulted in his opening fire killing the Weapons Engineering Officer LT.CMDR. Ian Moyneaux RN and seriously wounding another Rating.  The Rating was restrained, disarmed, detained and taken into custody by the Hampshire Constabulary which is the local police service for the Port of Southampton, Hampshire.  No doubt there will be further corrections to the story as it progresses. ...

At this time in ones life most of the news of former shipmates is the passing of contemporaries.  So it was nice to hear some other news from our correspondent in Ireland John Molloy this morning.  John who is the author of  " Steady as She Goes " and was also like myself a Deck Apprentice in Irish Shipping Ltd. (ISL) sadly now long gone, received an invitation to the 90th. birthday of a former Chief Steward in ISL Mr. Jimmy Clinton of County Louth, Ireland.  We both wondered how many former ISL seafarers are in their 80's let alone 90's maybe the families can let us know by sending comments to this Post or letting John know.   On March 26, 2011 John celebrated the 80th. birthday of a former ISL Engineer Officer.  NAUTICAL LOG left Ireland over 50 years ago and is really out of touch except for an exchange of e-mails with several former ISL shipmates. Chief Steward Jimmy Clinton thank you for service to us and suffering those enevitable complia...

This morning a most shocking report landed on the NAUTICAL LOG desk.  Frankly being so appalled we had to carefully research and read up on the issue to actually believe it was happening in a country we had lived and worked in some 50 years ago - New Zealand. When it comes to environmental issues New Zealand presents itself as a paradise for eco-touring and eco-adventures.  In addition it makes a public stand on saving whales by financially supporting, offering berths in its Ports, fuelling and resupplying the eco-terrorist group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.  When it comes to human resources, particularly non-kiwi foreign nationals it could care less.  What is going on?  We shall explain about New Zealand's "Slavery at sea exposed" to quote the national newspaper "Sunday Star*Times" www.sstlive.co.nz/ .  The following are comments with quotes based on their article "Slavery at sea exposed": Alerted to terrible conditions ...

An item on our TV Local News this evening acted as a heads-up that USCG has changed the Loading and Capacity Plate formula.  Why would they do that?  Well as we know our persons are now heavier so instead of the average used being 150 lbs. it is now 185 lbs.  Therefore the formula to use is: Length x Breadth  ÷ 18.5 =  persons capacity Now this becomes U.S. Law on December 01, 2011, however if you want to check that your boat capacity plate and your Load and Capacity Certificate will remain unchanged use the 185 lbs.  One excurscion boat just inspected in the Florida Keys was certified for 100 persons, under the new formula that will be reduced to 86 persons.  Being a rather serious reduction NAUTICAL LOG checked with a well known Instructor and he was kind enough to get back straight away confirming he uses 185 lbs.  Make sure always to wear your lifejackets regardless of the capacity and the number of persons actually on...

what IS this? Well ' Cattledog' kind of gave it away, did his research and published the link to the answer, pity that was really my job - oh well.  Next time we have a quiz  NAUTICAL LOG will not publish the content of a correct answer to make it more fun for everybody to try and figure it out without just a 'Google'. So yes the answer is a Tidal Bell and this one is in Appledore, Devon, England.  Until next time!! Do you know what this is?  Do you know its location?  If so sent your answer to us by a comment.  We shall be giving or confirming the answer soon, depending on those comments.  To be honest NAUTICAL LOG had never seen one until about 5 minutes ago and found it fascinating so we are sharing some nautical knowledge. Good Watch. Please remember the seafarers held captive by pirates off Somalia - let us work with India to free them.

It seems that this year of 2011 is flying along and here we are April 01 already.  Since it is Friday here is "Friday Report" which seems to have become a weekly Post.   We received an e-mail from one of the NAUTICAL LOG correspondents in Europe and yes once again it is about piracy.  There are stranger and stranger ideas being presented when the solution is really quite simple and being implemented by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.  It is to follow the United Nations Law of the Sea on Piracy which states: "Nations have a duty to co-operate in the repression of piracy on the High Seas or in any other place outside the jurisdiction of any state, every state may seize a pirate ship or aircraft or a ship or aircraft taken by piracy and under control of pirates and arrest persons and seize the property on board. The Courts of the state which carried out the seizure may decide upon penalties to be imposed and may determine the ...

 MS Ivan Papanin UPDATE:   Some news which landed on the NAUTICAL LOG desk this afternoon is that the Russian icebreaker MS Ivan Papanin is currently in Capetown, South Africa.  It has been chartered and is heading for Tristan da Cunha next week to aid in the cleanup from the grounding disaster she has a helicopter and large flight deck as can be seen from the photograph.  This is very good news and was something that is really needed to get to the remote areas of these remote Islands. To get the full story readers can go to the T. da C. website - in brief the Smit tug MS Amandla has now left Tristan for Capetown, South Africa and the tug MS Singapore is due late Sunday or early Monday with supplies and equipment to continue the excellent work being done to protect wildlife.  Also at the website of  Agreement on Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels http://www.acap.aq/  which is based in Tasmania, Australia, there is an excellent...