This Day In Naval History: May 2
1863 - During the Civil War, the steam screw sloop Sacramento, commanded by Captain Charles S. Boggs, seizes the British blockade-runner Wanderer off Murrells Inlet, N.C. 1896 - A landing party of 15 Marines and 19 Seaman from USS Alert arrive at Corinto, Nicaragua, to protect American lives and property during a period of political unrest. 1942 - USS Drum (SS 228) sinks Japanese seaplane carrier, and USS Trout (SS 202) sinks a Japanese freighter off the southeast coast of Honshu. 1945 - USS Springer (SS 414) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese frigate in the Yellow Sea and then sinks a Japanese coastal defense ship the next day. 1945 - Hospital Apprentice Robert E. Bush administers aid to a wounded Marine officer and fires back at the Japanese at the same time, earning the Medal of Honor.
Captain Bill III Repowers for Savings
On the first 24-hour charter trip this May 5, the repowered 110-ft.Capt. Bill III achieved speeds over 25 knots and used 240 gallons less fuel than with the old engines. The additional speed resulted largely from the increase in horsepower to 2,100 hp total generated at 2,100 rpm by the three six-cylinder, four-stroke Cummins KTA19 M4 engines. These replaced three 12-cylinder two stroke engines that produced a combined 1,740 hp at 2,300 rpm for a top speed around 22 knots. The fuel savings, that came in spite of approximately 20 percent increase in horsepower, results from the move to 4-cycle technology, reduced rpm and design efficiencies. The reduced rpm and fuel burn can also be expected to result in longer intervals between engine overhauls.
"Cruise to Nowhere" from Myrtle Beach
Federal District Judge David Norton issued a declaratory judgment, giving Dewayne Williams, who runs LA Cruise, Inc. of Mayport, Fla., permission to operate a "cruise to nowhere" vessel out of South Carolina. Williams has expressed interest in operating a casino boat out of Murrells Inlet. Casino gambling is banned in South Carolina, but federal law permits "cruise to nowhere" gaming ships to operate in the absence of a state law specifically prohibiting them. Norton pointed out in his ruling, the only way the state could prevent "cruises to nowhere" from taking passengers into international waters (three miles offshore) to gamble, would be to pass a law specifically forbidding such activity. A general ban on casino gambling is not sufficient.
