Tall Ship News

Almost two centuries after Charles Darwin's voyage around the world, environmentalists plan to follow in his footsteps by undertaking a two-year journey across four continents to study endemic wildlife and boost conservation.The group will set sail on board a 105-year-old schooner on Tuesday from the southern English port of Plymouth, from where British naturalist Darwin's own expedition began in 1831, leading him to develop the theory of evolution by natural selection.The 40,000 nautical mile "Darwin200" expedition hopes to anchor in 32 ports, including all the major ports visited by Darwin's

The question on many minds this week is why did some of the world’s richest men risk death to venture to the bottom of the sea in a cold and cramped “experimental” submersible for a chance to glimpse the wreck of the Titanic?The “unsinkable” ship that sunk on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg is arguably the world’s most well-known boat. The Titanic is recognisable to more of the world’s population than, say, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria (Christopher Colombus’s fleet that launched the Spanish conquest of the Americas)…

A 112-year-old tall ship has toppled over during a drydock maintenance period in South Africa.The Netherlands-registered Europa fell over during an attempt to transfer the steel-hulled barque back into the water from drydock at a Cape Town ship repair facility, leaving one crewmember with minor injuries."The injured sailor is receiving the necessary medical care and is doing well, given the circumstances," the ship's operator Bark Europa said. "He is currently in stable condition…

In February Gard published the results of its review of Lloyds Open Form (LOF). Their review indicated a disturbing reduction in the number of LOF contracts, and noted some other concerns with regard to loss of use of LOF in salvage situations.Lloyds Open Form is a classic and, in my mind, cherished, example of the core beauty of maritime. It combines a large number of maritime concepts into a simple device that solves a complex problem.It reminds me of a few of the lines in the song “Wooden Ships” by Crosby, Still, Nash and Young.

After a program of vital welding work, the Scottish Maritime Museum is on track to complete essential repairs to what is believed to be the oldest floating Clyde-built ship in time for the vessel’s 150th anniversary this Summer.The Scottish Maritime Museum raised £40,000 for much-needed repairs to the 1872 MV Kyles, one of Britain’s most important historic vessels and a rare and nationally important survivor from a key period in Glasgow shipbuilding, through a Keep the Kyles Afloat Crowdfunder campaign last year.The Museum’s technical team…

When Dutch boat captain and engineer Ernst-Jan de Groot applied to continue working in Britain after Brexit, he became ensnared in a bureaucratic nightmare because of an online glitch and says he is now likely to lose his job.Under new immigration rules coming into force, de Groot faces the prospect of losing the right to come to Britain to work unless he can successfully apply for a visa through a government website by the end of June.Following its departure from the European Union’s orbit at the end of December…

The U.S. Coast's training barque is gearing up to begin summer training for more than 130 Coast Guard Academy cadets.At 295 feet in length, the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, known as “America’s Tall Ship,” is the largest tall ship flying the U.S. flag and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.Scheduled to depart New London, Conn. on Saturday, May 8, Eagle will resume foreign port calls for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.“We are extremely excited to be getting back underway for a full summer training season,” said Capt.

For the first time in decades U.K.

BAE Systems’ HybriGen technology is creating a path to zero emissions.The rise in planet-warming greenhouse gases is driving a need for cleaner transportation on the ground, in the air and on the water. Leaders in the marine industry are taking note, and vessel operators are making the move to green power and propulsion systems.BAE Systems is creating a path to cleaner harbors and waterways with its HybriGen Power and Propulsion system. The system has three configurations to provide operators with options on their way to zero emissions.

Sea Cloud Cruises' third tall ship, Sea Cloud Spirit, is taking shape in Vigo, Spain. Interior outfitting is underway as specialists from the Polish shipbuilding company Chorén have erected the approximately 54-meter-high aft mast for the 138-meter-long, three-masted sailing ship due to enter service later this year. Raising the aft mast is an important prerequisite for the completion of the Sea Cloud Spirit, says Daniel Schäfer, Managing Director of Hamburg-based Sea Cloud Cruises The mizzenmast not only carries the sails…

Beneath the decks of vessels across the U.S. a quiet revolution is underway. Inside their underbelly is a high-tech set of components that work in unison – quietly humming together to push vessels through the water without a splash.The technology isn’t new. In fact, it has been powering cars and buses for years. However, with the rise in planet-warming greenhouse gases, it’s now making its way to the open water and creating a new wave of clean transportation. As vessel operators see the environmental benefits…

Four magnificent tall ships  will come to Hamburg for the 830th Hamburg Port Anniversary from 10 to 12 May – Alexander von Humboldt II, Kruzenshtern, Sedov and Mir.The Queens of the oceans will participate in the grand arrival and departure parades in the heart of the city, on the Friday and Sunday respectively, and invite visitors to look around on board, said a press release from Germany's largest port.Alongside these amazing tall ships, the Hamburg Port Anniversary will be a meeting place for some 300 vessels of all kinds, including many classic sailing vessels that will also be open to visitors.The Alexander von Humboldt II is currently Germany’s largest operational sail training ship, with length overall 66 metres.

Dutch shipowner and manager JR Shipping takes over four container spring ships and is expanding its fleet again.Harlingen-based JR Shipping said that it has added three 1,436 TEU container feeders to its fleet. A fourth vessel with the same capacity will be added within the next few months.Taking into account the recent sale of one of its container feeders, JR Shipping will thus increase its container capacity by over 4,500 TEU.The phased purchase concerns the MV’s Aalderdijk, Akerdijk and Alsterdijk (first phase) and the MV Amerdijk (second phase). The first-mentioned two vessels have now been rechristened MV Essence and MV Escape and will sail for JR Shipping under the Dutch flag.The current charter contracts with WEC Lines and Unifeeder will continue.

Port Canaveral has taken the delivery of mobile harbor crane - 270-foot-tall Liebherr LHM 600 - the largest of its kind in the US.The huge LHM 600 crane arrived at the port on January 18, 2018 aboard the “Happy Dover”, a heavy load carrier and  will be operational in the second quarter of 2019. It joins two 270-foot-tall ship-to-shore cranes in service at the port since 2014.The Canaveral Port Authority purchased the mobile harbor crane to accommodate the Port’s growing diverse cargo throughput, adding handling flexibility and extended lift capability, including heavy cargo and space components for the Port’s cargo operations.“Port Canaveral has added a new dimension to our harbor and cargo management capability,” Port CEO Capt.

The fully-rigged sailing ship Christian Radich has departed Damen Shiprepair Harlingen (DSHl) following five weeks of repairs and maintenance. The Norwegian-flagged, 63-meter, three-master is not only used as a training ship for young Norwegians, she also undertakes cruises and races with paying guests. She is therefore maintained to a high standard.The maintenance works at DSHl included high pressure jetting and cleaning of the exterior, while the rudder assembly including the shaft underwent maintenance works and the rudder trunk was replaced.

Tall Ship Lady Washington will be docked at Jack London Square at the foot of Broadway, Saturday and Sunday, informed a press release from Port of Oakland.Visitors can experience maritime history by taking a vessel tour for a small donation to the floating museum. There are also ticketed sailing trips on San Francisco Bay.Lady Washington was built in Aberdeen, Washington, by the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority and launched in 1989. She is a full-scale replica of the first American vessel to make landfall on the West Coast of North America in 1788 and the first American merchant ship to trade in Honolulu, Hong Kong and Japan.In 1787, after the Revolutionary War, she was given a major refit to prepare her for a unprecedented trading voyage around Cape Horn.

Russia’s largest shipping company Sovcomflot Group (SCF Group) informed that the SCF Far East Tall Ships Regatta 2018 was officially launched. This marks the first time that Russia’s Far East will host an international tall ship race.The principal competition begins on 1 September with the race from Yeosu (South Korea) to Vladivostok, with over 20 vessels from Russia, Japan, China, South Korea, Indonesia, and other countries competing to be the first to cover the distance of over 500 nautical miles. The ships are expected to arrive to Vladivostok on 8-9 September 2018. The regatta events in Vladivostok will coincide with the 4th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).The regattas are traditionally held under the patronage of the heads of the participating states.PAO Sovcomflot (SCF)…

The 1914-built three-masted steel bark Statsraad Lehmkuhl is the oldest of the large square riggers still in operation today. The century-old tall ship, which is currently in use as a Norwegian sail-training ship, will be able to cruise out of Bergen harbor next year without any greenhouse gas emissions, thanks to a hybrid power system from Rolls-Royce. Norway’s state-owned company Enova, which works to facilitate the country’s transition to a low-emissions society, is providing just over NOK 4.2 million for an innovative project to equip the historic tall ship with shipboard battery power.

The Royal Australian Navy operated Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour celebrated 30 years of challenging and inspiring young Australians at Fleet Base East on Thursday, January 25, 2018. The day marked exactly 30 years since the Prince and Princess of Wales oversaw the Union Flag and Merchant Naval Red Ensign being replaced by the Australian National Flag and the RAN White Ensign, signifying the ship’s presentation by the United Kingdom to the people of Australia as a ‘living gift’ to mark Australia’s bicentenary. The 30 year celebrations coincided with the end of Young Endeavour’s second youth development voyage for 2018. 21 enthusiastic youth crew members greeted waiting families and warships alongside Fleet Base East with a robust rendition of Advance Australia Fair…

STS Young Endeavour is joining a race on every sailor’s bucket list, the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. While the 44 metre brigantine won’t be chasing line honours, she will play an important support role acting as the standby radio relay ship. Lieutenant Commander Mike Gough, Commanding Officer Young Endeavour said the southern ocean could throw up many perils, so the role of the Royal Australian Navy’s sail training ship was important. “The weather conditions on the southern ocean can be unpredictable and ships can get into trouble,” he said. “Our role will be to relay any messages of distress from ships in the race to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, so the most appropriate support can be provided.

U.S. Coast Guard Station Castle Hill established a safety zone in Newport Harbor, R.I., Sunday night after a tall ship lost power and hit multiple other vessels before grounding near Perrotti Park. No injuries or pollution have been reported. The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, an educational tall ship homeported in Newport, was leaving Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival with 12 crewmembers aboard when it lost power and began to drift. A 911 dispatcher alerted Coast Guard watchstanders to the incident at about 6:15 p.m.

For as long as there has been a need to transport cargo there has been a maritime industry. Throughout that history both owners and mariners have worked to devise ways of saving costs, making faster transits, and carrying more cargo. In 1819 the Steam Ship Savannah made maritime history by being the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, sounding eight bells for the traditional cargo carrying tall ship. Although that eight bell sounded for quite some time, the future of shipping arrived with Savannah. In 1911 M.S.

Old photos show mid-nineteenth century sailing ships abandoned in the San Francisco Bay area by crews who caught gold fever. Some of these abandoned hulls lie under the modern day city of San Francisco. Over in Sausalito, just to the north of the famous Golden Gate Bridge, what may well be the spirit of one of those buried vessels has taken shape under the direction of Captain Alan Olson, who has several decades of experience building and restoring and sailing classic wooden ships.