Geography Div (Undersea subsection)

Sixty years ago today, the submarine USS Nautilus (SSN 571) departed Honolulu on its voyage
to the North Pole, arriving on August 3rd.

Geography Div (Oh say, can you see by the dawn's early light, etc subsection)

Obviously, if you were going to explore ice-choked waters, you needed ships that were pretty strong.
Like any technology, it often is the result of war or defense. It was no different in the nineteenth century. The explorations of the polar regions were the "moon shots" of the time.
HMS Erebus  and  HMS Terror  were military ships converted to a scientific mission. Both were "bomb" (or mortar) ships with highly reinforced hulls to withstand the recoil of their armament.
So, what's that have to do with this ???

One of the vessels of the British fleet that bombarded Ft. McHenry with "the rocket's red glare," was
HMS Terror.

Geography Div (Cooler Climes subsection)

Last week I posted about the discovery of the lost ships of the Franklin Expedition.
It isn't a coincidence that HMS Terror and HMS Erebus were on a polar expedition, they had experience.
From 1839 thru 1843 Sir James Clark Ross explored the Antarctic with the self-same ships.In fact, two of the Antarctic mountains are named Mt Erebus and Mt Terror.
Unlike Franklin, Ross and his ships returned.

Geography Div (Cooler climes subsection)

While my ladylove and I are visiting sunny Arizona, thoughts turn to cooler  weather.
Gladly, not so cold that none are left to tell the tale.
I've always been fascinated by the Franklin Expedition's search for the Northwest Passage ever since I watched a PBS documentary on the autopsies of three of the sailors buried on Beechey Island (some of the images may be disturbing).

Finally, both of the missing ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror have been found. 

Day of Disaster !!!! div (aftermath transportation subsection)

Well, interesting day of Driving 4$$. I love my 'lil job  - -  every day is an adventure.

Start off with a call from dispatch to be on the lookout for a couple going to Northern Virginia - "not on your manifest." Turns out they were on the the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas, that had sailed from Baltimore, and had luckily been safe from the fire.
When I was a travel agent, I used to get beat up for stuff like this !!!

Next up is a couple heading from National Airport to the area in Baltimore affected by the derailment of a CSX freight train.

Something about the report of "a train has derailed and exploded," on the traffic reports just kinda makes you feel that things won't bode well. Work-around was available and things went well.

Like I said, love my 'lil job !!!

Shipwreck ... div (brand death subsection)

During all my years in the travel industry, Carnival was always considered the "low-end" of the mass-market cruise lines. I personally never sailed with them, but considered all client reports and criticisms when recommending a particular ship. Based on performance and the latest news, I don't think anyone could convince me to recommend them, let alone go up the gangplank.
I don't know what the future holds for the company, but despite the refunds and offers of future freebies, I see nothing but a death spiral of Carnival.
Hopefully, one of the successful lines WON'T buy them to be used as a loss-leader.

Shipwreck Div (floating disaster subsection)

And they call it one of the Fun Ships.

When I was in the travel business, I occasionally had to deal with a client that had a bad experience on a cruise. Once I was criticized because the laundry facility closest to the clients cabin was out of service - "very inconvenient." Changes in itinerary were often bitched about, but I told clients that I had no control over the weather, Coast Guard or foreign governments. Usually, they understood.

I can't imagine what abuse any agent is going to receive over this debacle, but if the reports from the passengers are true (and I have no reason to doubt them) it's going to be a real shit-storm.

Carnival always (in my experience) was at the low end of the "desirability" ratings for the big-ship cruise operators. Their fares and itineraries more low-budget and high-volume oriented. But lately, their record of performance hasn't been that great. The Carnival Splendor and the Costa Concordia failures certainly haven't added to the Line's popularity.

Apparently, they're providing the passengers with free beer and wine though, with almost no toilet facilities operating, I'm not sure that's a great idea. I've got a feeling that the hull will require a pretty thorough sanitizing, not to mention the rest of the ship.

Shipwreck Div ........ (Canadian subsection)

Today in 1917, at about this time, two ships collided in the Narrows section of the Halifax, Nova Scotia harbor. The resulting explosion killed and estimated 2000 people and leveled much of the city. At the time, it was the largest man-made explosion ever recorded.
When we were in Halifax this year, I was surprised at how many people had never heard of it.

Shipwreck div ..... addendum

Just finished watching Why Ships Sink on PBS' Nova. (Worth every nickel I contribute). Really a well done program.

I was fascinated by the story of Moss Hills an entertainer on the cruise ship Oceanus that went down off the South African coast in 1991. This is a true hero. After going below decks and finding that the ship was flooding, went to the bridge to find it abandoned. He and his wife were the ones that sent the "Mayday" and stayed to put many of the passengers in the harnesses of the rescue helicopters. They were the last lifted off before the ship sank.
Ironically, he was also an entertainer on the Achille Lauro which sank in 1994. Again, he and his wife were instrumental in helping the passengers.

The Goose Girl and I are planning a cruise ..........

SHIPWRECK ....... div

The newspapers, radio and teevee currently abound with stories about a ship that sunk a while back.

This one didn't take as many as that one, but villains and heroes still played a part.