From Piracy to Swine Flu

There is never a dull moment in the maritime news these days. For the last few weeks, I, and much of the world, have been transfixed by the on-going piracy saga occurring in the waters near Somalia. What a difference … Continue reading

Posted in Serving our Seas | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Extra Preparations Fail to Prevent Cruise Ship Pirate Attack

Can anything really be done? I find myself mulling this question over and over in my mind as I read about the latest pirate attack against the Italian-registered cruise ship MSC Melody. With approximately 1,500 passengers and crew onboard, she … Continue reading

Posted in Serving our Seas | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Extra Preparations Fail to Prevent Cruise Ship Pirate Attack

Can anything really be done? I find myself mulling this question over and over in my mind as I read about the latest pirate attack against the Italian-registered cruise ship MSC Melody. With approximately 1,500 passengers and crew onboard, she … Continue reading

Posted in Serving our Seas | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

First Steps for Somalia?

  I finally read something that makes sense regarding the Somali pirate problem. An international donors’ conference focused on stabilizing Somalia was held in Brussels today. The Associated Press reports that over $250 million dollars in pledges have been collected … Continue reading

Posted in Serving our Seas | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Celebrate Earth Day with Personal or Public Commitment

Gibran Khalil Gibran, poet and philosopher born in 1883, in Bsharri, a mountainous area in Northern Lebanon gifted us a message about fairness toward the earth. It is timeless and reminds us of our personal responsibility toward our food, air … Continue reading

Posted in Serving our Seas | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SOMALIAN PIRACY: A COMPLEX ISSUE

  Like many people around the world, I continue to follow the media coverage of the piracy rampage occurring mainly off the coast of South Africa. Today’s headlines cover the arrival of the lone surviving pirate from the skirmish involving … Continue reading

Posted in Serving our Seas | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Sea Heroes

  In past blog entries, I have mentioned my survival of the Andrea Doria tragedy, and my resulting passion for safety at sea. My recent writing has concentrated on safety precautions, safety equipment, and current rules and regulations, as well … Continue reading

Posted in Andrea Doria, Serving our Seas | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Piracy: Can Cruise Lines Increase Passenger Safety?

Piracy continues to be a hot topic in the news, and I find myself engulfed in the on-going saga. Somalian pirates have made good on their word to pirate more ships and take more crew members hostage in an effort … Continue reading

Posted in Andrea Doria, Serving our Seas | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Pirates Unlike Captain Hook

When I was a young girl, Captain Hook of Peter Pan fame probably best represented the image of a pirate in young minds. Sword in one hand, hook in the other, he was a menacing and unlikable figure, but not … Continue reading

Posted in Serving our Seas | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Springtime Preparations for a Problem-Free Boating Season

Spring is finally here, and with it comes increased activity at the docks. Boats come out of storage and boat slips fill seemingly overnight. Unfortunately, some people go from hapsad, or even mad, when problems crop up following their boat’s … Continue reading

Posted in Serving our Seas | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment