Atlantic Seas News

TecnoVeritas, a marine engineering consultancy company, announced that its UOPV (Unmanned Oceanic Patrol Vessel) project was approved by the Fundo Azul, run by the Directorate-General for Sea Policy of the Ministry of the Sea, Portugal.According to the provider of the energy management services and products for the maritime industry, the project itself is focused on maritime safety.UOPV is wave propelled and performs equally well on all headings including directly into wind and waves. It has zero emissions and can roam the oceans for very long periods, transmitting data via satellite to shore."This extreme endurance coupled with a unique…

Two Florida brothers, Ralph and Robert Brown, will take to the high seas on the world's longest trans-Atlantic voyage in a 21-ft flats boat on June 27 to raise $3m for military charities in the name of fallen Marines. The I Am Second Wounded Hero Voyage Crossing the Atlantic Presented by Interstate Batteries will embark on a 48-day, 6,200-mile trip from Tampa, Fla., to Hamburg, Germany that includes 20 stops along the North American and European Atlantic coasts. The Browns will use the Intruder-21, the same vessel which landed them in the "Guinness Book of World Records" in 2007. The pair is out to prove the humble boat they designed and built, capable of sailing in two inches of water, can also weather the rough Atlantic seas.

The broken-up Maltese-registered tanker Erika, carrying up to 25,000 tons of fuel oil, sank in stormy Atlantic seas off northwestern France on Dec. 3, according to the Cross Maritime Rescue Center. The tanker's stern, which contained most of the oil, sank as it was being towed farther out to sea to try to avoid pollution on Brittany's tourist coast. The bow disappeared earlier beneath the waves, about 24 hours after it split from the stern 45 miles south of Brittany's rugged Finistere Peninsula in 60 mph winds and 20-ft. (6 m) waves. Helicopters rescued the 26 crew members on Dec. 12. Officials said the oil did not pose an immediate threat to the coast.

Authorities along the length of France's Atlantic coast were on alert last Wednesday as a giant fuel oil slick slowly drifted south of Brittany, threatening an ecological disaster. Maritime officials said two navy ships were heading for the slick equipped with floating booms and giant vacuum cleaners to try to contain and pump the oil which escaped from the sunken Maltese-registered tanker Erika. Three more vessels, including a British ship, also equipped with vacuum pumps, were scheduled to join them on Thursday, and a Norwegian ship was due on Friday. Transport Minister Jean-Claude Gayssot said France had also asked for help from Germany and Spain. Despite the international response of equipment and personnel, stormy seas were threatening to hamper the pumping.