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North Atlantic Ocean News

14 Sep 2023

Cruise Ship Pulled Free After Running Aground in Greenland

(Photo: Danish Armed Forces)

A luxury cruise ship that ran aground this week in a remote part of Greenland with 206 people on board was pulled free by a fishing trawler on Thursday.The Ocean Explorer cruise vessel had been stuck since Monday in mud and silt in the Alpefjord national park, some 1,400 km (870 miles) northeast of Greenland's capital Nuuk."We have just successfully become free now. ...

13 Sep 2023

Expedition Cruise Ship Remains Stuck Aground in Greenland

A luxury cruise ship carrying 206 people remained stuck in a remote Greenland location on Wednesday after running aground earlier this week, the vessel's operator and rescue services said.The Danish military's Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said Tuesday's tide had failed to lift the 104-metre (341-foot) Ocean Explorer enough to free it."The tide that came in during the day, local time, did not provide the desired help to sail on," the JAC said in a statement.The passengers and crew remained safe on board, Australian cruise operator Aurora Expeditions said."There is no immediate danger to themselves, the vessel or the surrounding environment," Sydney-based Aurora said in a statement.The ship ran aground on Monday while touring the Alpefjord national park, some 1,400 km (870 miles) northeast of

13 Sep 2023

Rowing Boat Owner Sentenced in the UK After Man Was Lost Overboard

The 10.8-meter ocean rowing boat Toby Wallace. (Photo: U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch)

The owner and skipper of a rowing vessel has received a 12-month prison sentence after a 21-year-old was lost overboard in the middle of the Atlantic.In February 2016, Michael Johnson was swept overboard by a large wave in the North Atlantic Ocean, between the Canary Islands and Barbados, during a world record row attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 32 days. The seven remaining crew members on board were unable to save Johnson.Simon Chalk, owner of the rowing boat Toby Wallace…

17 Feb 2022

Fire-stricken Car Carrier Abandoned and Adrift in the North Atlantic

(Photo: Portuguese Navy)

A Panamanian-flagged car carrier is crewless and adrift in the North Atlantic Ocean after a fire broke out in a cargo hold on Wednesday.The Portuguese Navy said it coordinated the rescue of 22 crew members from the Felicity Ace about 90 nautical miles southwest of the island of Faial, in the Azores. The Portuguese Navy's ocean patrol vessel NRP Setúbal and four nearby merchant ships participated in the rescue.The mariners were transported by a Portuguese Air Force aircraft to Horta airport, and then to a nearby hotel.

18 Mar 2021

Fact Check: J.P. Morgan Did Not Sink the Titanic

© Archivist / Adobe Stock

A widely-shared meme has taken several facts about the Titanic out of context to make unsubstantiated claims that imply the ship’s sinking was a deliberate act. This is not true—experts widely agree the sinking of the Titanic was an accident. The meme was posted to Facebook on March 1 and has been shared more than 600 times (here). It consists of two images: one of the ship and a second of American financier John Pierpont (J.P.) Morgan. These sit alongside a wall of text that…

16 Nov 2020

Car Carrier Rescues Sailors in Stormy Seas

A Gibralter-flagged car carrier rescued three Canadian mariners from their disabled sailing vessel in heavy seas of the North Atlantic Ocean on Saturday.Watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard's 5th District Command Center received notification from the Bermuda Rescue Coordination Center that a personal locator beacon was activated, watchstanders then determined the location of the three boaters in distress aboard the Esmeralda approximately 140 miles northeast of Bermuda.The captain of the sailing vessel informed the Bermuda Rescue Coordination Center that he had activated his emergency position indicating radio beacon after his concern…

07 Aug 2020

Florida Current is the Weakest Its Been in a Century

A new study uses a method of tracking the strength of near-shore ocean currents from a distance via measurements of coastal sea level. (Photo by Carol Anne Clayson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

The Florida Current, which forms the start of the Gulf Stream, has slowed over the past century and is the slowest it has been at any point in the past 110 years, a new study reveals.Researchers have developed a method of tracking the strength of near-shore ocean currents using measurements made at the coast, offering the potential to reduce one of the biggest uncertainties related to observations of climate change over the past century.“In the ocean, almost everything is connected…

07 Apr 2020

Reeling in the Benefits of Upgraded Boat Controls

Thanks to its flexible design, ease of use and modular system architecture, the Marex OS III has improved the Falcon’s maneuverability—bringing the boat up to speed with many of the other, newer vessels on “Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks.” (Credit: Kelly Hinkle)

A fisherman from a popular reality television series recently outfitted his vessel with a new electronic control system—giving him the edge in a high-stakes fishing competition.The waters of the North Atlantic Ocean can be treacherous—especially for fishermen pursuing the elusive bluefin tuna. This pursuit is the subject of the popular reality television series, “Wicked Tuna,” which chronicles the competition between commercial bluefin tuna fishermen in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

22 Oct 2019

Ferry Tech: Retractable Bow Foils for M/F Teistin

Image: https://wavefoil.com

Innovation in the world of marine design and propulsion continues to move forward at record speed, driven by new emissions regulation and the push toward emission free ships. In September 2019 an innovative new technology from Wavefoil AS of Trondheim, Norway was installed on the Faroese ferry M/F Teistin, the first ship in the world with retractable bow foils that are designed not only for ship stability but also to convert wave energy directly into propulsive thrust.The foils are designed to both help in saving fuel and improving comfort on board.

23 Aug 2019

First Manned Dive to the Titanic in 14 Years

(Photo: Atlantic Productions)

A groundbreaking expedition in early August led a team of experts and scientists 3,810 meters below the ocean's surface to the Titanic's final resting place at the murky depths of the North Atlantic Ocean.The series of five dives over eight days aboard a high-tech Triton 36,000/2 manned submersible Limiting Factor were the first to carry humans to the historic wreck site in 14 years.Patrick Lahey, Triton Submarines president and Co-Founder, and pilot for three of the five dives…

06 Aug 2018

Cincinnati Teacher Completes Record trans-Atlantic Row

(Photo: Bryce Carlson / Twitter)

Cincinnati schoolteacher Bryce Carlson set a record for the fastest solo unsupported west-east row across the North Atlantic ocean on Saturday and also became the first U.S. citizen to complete the feat.The 37-year-old landed at the port of St Mary's in the Scilly Isles, off the coast of south-west England, some 38 days six hours and 49 minutes after he set off from St John's in Newfoundland.The previous record for the solo west-east crossing was 53 days eight hours and 26 minutes set by Canadian Laval St.

18 Jul 2018

Shipping Losses Continue to Fall

Large shipping losses have declined by 38 percent overall in the past decade, according to the Safety & Shipping Review 2018 by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).Further, the number of total losses declined by 4 percent to 94 last year, the second lowest number in a decade.“Insurance claims have been relatively benign, reflecting improved ship design and the positive effects of risk management policy and safety regulation over time,” says Baptiste Ossena, Global Product Leader Hull & Marine Liabilities, AGCS.Sinking was the most common cause of the loss of a vessel, with 61 foundering events recorded for 2017. Wrecked or stranded vessels were the second major cause…

21 Feb 2018

MOL Car Carrier Rescues Sailors in Distress

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced today that on February 9, 2018, the MOL-operated car carrier Progress Ace rescued three sailors form a yacht in distress in the North Atlantic Ocean. At 10:05 a.m. local time on February 9, the Progress Aace, sailing from Port of Brunswick in the U.S. to Port of Walvis Bay, Namibia, received a distress relay message from the French Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers and rushed to the scene. By 3:45 p.m. the same day, all three survivors were safely rescued from the yacht. The three survivors were handed over to the local authorities in Walvis Bay, Namibia, on February 19. Progress Ace LOA: 199.54 meters Gross tonnage: 57,789 tons Crew: 24 (Filipino) Registry: Panama

05 Dec 2016

Bibby Offshore wins Shell Contract

Howard Woodcock, Chief Executive, Bibby Offshore

Bibby Offshore won a contract with Shell, due to commence in Q1 2017, that will see Bibby Offshore provide engineering and subsea construction activities in the Gannet G field in the Central North Sea. Bibby Offshore is contracted to use utilize its multipurpose dive support and offshore construction vessel - Bibby Polaris - and its integral 1000 ton basket carousel to lay flexible pipe systems in water depths of approximately 95m. The company has also collaborated with a third party operator who will carry out trenching operations after the initial workscope is complete.

09 Nov 2016

Bibby Offshore Wins Shell Subsea Deal

Bibby Offshore, the leading subsea services provider to the oil and gas industry, has this year been awarded two contracts from Shell to provide inspection services on assets in the Corrib Natural Gas field in the North Atlantic Ocean. The first contract, completed in June this year, saw Bibby Offshore’s construction support vessel Olympic Ares - equipped with Quantum Work Class and SeaEye Cougar Inspection Class ROVs - perform subsea inspections 83km off the North West coast of Ireland, in water depths of approximately 360m. The 40 day campaign involved pipeline survey inspection work on a 83km long 20” gas pipeline, and internal wellhead and manifold fault diagnostics, structural inspection and cathodic protection measurements, to ensure optimum levels of productivity were achieved.

06 Apr 2016

Wildcard for 2016 Hurricane Season

Photo courtesy of AccuWeather

AccuWeather reports the potential movement of a 'cold blob' of water in the North Atlantic Ocean may be the wild card in the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, experts say. The cold blob refers to a large, anomalous area of colder-than-normal sea-surface temperatures, located east of Newfoundland and south of Greenland. "This area of colder water started to show up a few years ago and has become larger and more persistent during the past couple of years," AccuWeather Atlantic Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said.

23 Dec 2015

KVH Expands mini-VSAT Broadband Network

Image: KVH

KVH Industries, Inc. expanded the capacity of its mini-VSAT Broadband network with two upgrades recently, supporting growing customer demand for broadband at sea. One expansion added a new satellite beam that doubled the mini-VSAT Broadband network capacity in the North Atlantic Ocean region, including Canada’s Hudson Bay. The second expansion added a new beam across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to add 30 percent more capacity across areas such as the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

30 Apr 2015

Contest: Join a Plastic Pollution Research Voyage to the Atlantic Ocean

The 5 Gyres Institute, a leader in global plastic pollution research, has launched an online contest for those who want to learn first-hand about the problem and help drive solutions. One winner will be chosen to join the final leg of 5 Gyre’s June research expedition to the North Atlantic Ocean. Contestants may enter here through May 11, 2015. The final, six-day leg of the voyage will traverse the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, where plastic pollution collects in high concentrations. It will depart St. George’s, Bermuda on June 18 and arrive in New York, New York on June 23. Contestants will be asked to submit a short video describing what they’ll do after the trip to solve plastic pollution locally.

29 Apr 2015

MAIB Blames 'Structural Weakness' in Cheeki Rafiki Capsize

An accident report into the loss of the Cheeki Rafiki mid-way through a transatlantic crossing last May, found that undetected damage to fittings around the keel after a string of earlier groundings are among the likely causes, says the Telegraph. The loss of four UK sailors in the Atlantic was "a tragic accident", the head of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said. Days later the hull of the 40ft yacht was found with its life raft still on board. There was no sign of the crew. The loss of the yacht Cheeki Rafiki and its four crew in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 720 miles east–south-east of Nova Scotia, Canada was happened on 16 May 2014.

25 Feb 2015

International Ice Patrol Opens Annual Ice Season

The U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol opened the annual ice season February 3 to detect and track icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean. The IIP deployed its first Ice Reconnaissance Detachment (IRD) to Newfoundland, Canada, to meet with Canadian partners and to conduct the initial aerial patrols of the season. The IIP conducts iceberg reconnaissance using HC-130J Hercules aircraft from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The IRD detected 156 icebergs on this first deployment. The IIP will continue to monitor the risk of iceberg collision in the North Atlantic Ocean and distribute daily iceberg warnings to the maritime community throughout the season. IRDs will deploy to Canada until late in the summer.

21 Jul 2014

Crystal Cruises to Sail Elusive Northwest Passage

The “World’s Best” Crystal Cruises is introducing a new expedition-style  voyage traversing the Arctic Ocean via the legendary Northwest Passage – one so mysterious and remote (500 miles north of the Arctic Circle), that explorers spent centuries seeking the passage, until it was first completed successfully by Roald Amundsen just over 100 years ago. Crystal will be the first luxury cruise line to ever navigate the route, maneuvering through 900 miles of majestic waterways lined with spectacular glaciers, towering fjords, and vast unspoiled landscapes away from mainstream civilization and tourism, north of mainland Canada. Beginning August 16, 2016 in Anchorage/Seward, Alaska, the award-winning Crystal Serenity will sail for 32 days from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean/New York City.

18 Jul 2014

Crystal to Cruise via Arctic Northwest Passage in 2016

Crystal Cruises says it is introducing a new expedition-style voyage traversing the Arctic Ocean via the Northwest Passage (500 miles north of the Arctic Circle) that explorers spent centuries seeking, until it was first completed successfully by Roald Amundsen just over 100 years ago. Crystal claims to be the first luxury cruise line to ever navigate the route, maneuvering through 900 miles of majestic waterways lined with spectacular glaciers, towering fjords, and vast unspoiled landscapes away from mainstream civilization and tourism, north of mainland Canada. Beginning August 16, 2016 in Anchorage/Seward, Alaska, the award-winning Crystal Serenity will sail for 32 days from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean/New York City.

08 Jul 2014

Technip Secures new subsea deal from trio

Technip was awarded a new framework agreement by Statoil, Exxon Mobil and Gassco for diving, subsea intervention and repair contingency services. Under the terms of this framework agreement, a replacement of an existing frame agreement held for eight years, Technip will provide these services for the next four years. This contract, effective from December 1st 2014, also includes an option for additional periods up to seven years. - The services comprise diving and remote operations using the Group’s dedicated diving support vessels (DSVs) and/or construction vessels. - The area of operation includes continental areas from the Barents Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic Ocean as well as Newfoundland, Canada.