For the past 18 months or so, I have published a regular column in the monthly IIMS news bulletin entitled ‘what caught my eye’, but have now decided to share this content here through my blog additionally. Some of the maritime stories I have souced have been important ones, some fascinating and some just downright daft. But I hope you will enjoy what I have chosen for you this month (and in future months to come too).
Meta employee spends a cool $300,000 to work from a cruise ship
We all know that the pandemic has changed many peoples’ lifestyles for good, including the bonus for some of working from home; but working from a cruise ship certainly takes this concept to another level. I guess it guarantees a constantly changing view! This news comes following a recent announcement by Meta regarding shrinking its office space and expanding working from home to cut costs. Instead of working from his home, one of their employees, a 28-year-old man, has decided to install his home office from a cruise ship while simultaneously travelling the world.
Austin Wells has rented a 237-foot studio for 12 years on the cruise ship MV Narrative, which is still under construction and is due to be floated out in 2025. He plans to live in his $300,000 studio for three years and adjust his work timings according to the time of the place the cruise ship will pass through.
Six Thai warship sailors lost their lives due to insufficient life jackets onboard
You may well have read in the news about this high-profile distressing accident in Thailand which has cost many lives. Pre-judging the outcome of an official investigation is perhaps unwise, but if the reports turn out to be true, it is shocking and frankly, unacceptable.
It is reported that Thai naval officials have said there were not sufficient life jackets for all on the warship that sank in extreme weather in the waters off the Gulf of Thailand, claiming the lives of multiple individuals. It appears the ship had been loaded with over one hundred individuals at the time of the sinking, thirty more than usual, and there were not adequate life jackets for all. What’s more, reports further suggest that the crew members were aware of the issue of not having enough life jackets for thirty more personnel.
Let’s wait for the official investigation report to be published, but someone should be answerable for this unforgivable omission and lessons must be learned.
Lottery grant for repairs to iconic UK Victorian boat lift
The UK Canal & River Trust has been awarded a £574,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for repairs and refurbishment to one of the canal network’s most iconic structures, the Anderton Boat Lift which dates back to the Victorian era. The funding for the lift, dubbed Cheshire’s Cathedral of Canals, will enable the Trust to carry out essential repairs to the ancient structure, prepare a plan to update facilities and interpretation at the visitor centre and extend a community outreach programme.
The lift still carries around 3,000 boats each year between the Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Weaver Navigation and needs a major upgrade to keep it operational. Work will include blast cleaning, repairing and re-painting of the iron structure, replacing the timber control cabin and updating the IT operating system.
US Navy reveals the worst rust photo so far
Of course, we all know that rust is an issue certain to affect steel ships, but this image released by the US Navy caused me to draw a sharp intake of breath. Just how serious the problem is with deck rust throughout the fleet I could not possibly begin to speculate, but it looks concerning and clearly, there is a major issue looming.
In April 2022, the US Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Mike Gilday, issued a stern warning to the US Navy fleet: rust-free ships are essential for deterrence and naval readiness. But as the above shocking photo of a warship’s deck covered in rust shows, all is not well, and his words appear to have fallen on deaf ears. It’s a stark reminder that the US Navy must take decisive action to ensure its ships are in top condition and ready for action.
Quarry workers uncover rare 16th-century shipwreck
As those of you who read this column regularly will know, I have shared several similar stories over the past months about the discovery of ancient relics. And here’s another one. I remain fascinated by these significant historical finds as they help us to piece together the ingenuity and talents of our forebears.
A crew of quarry workers has unearthed the remains of a ship from the Elizabethan period in Kent, England in what is described as a rare archaeological find. Workers with British cement company Cemex were dredging gravel out of a lake on the Dungeness headland when they stumbled on the remains of a wooden ship. The location is about 1,000 feet inland, but archaeologists believe that the site was once right on the coastline. The vessel could have been wrecked or abandoned on the former shoreline, and then gradually buried in sediment as time passed and the headland expanded.
The ship’s name has not been identified, but the method of its construction and dendrochronological dating of its timbers confirm that it was built in the period from about 1558-1580. “The remains of this ship are really significant, helping us to understand not only the vessel itself but the wider landscape of shipbuilding and trade in this dynamic period. Cemex staff deserve our thanks for recognising that this unexpected discovery is something special and for seeking archaeological assistance,” said Antony Firth, Head of Marine Heritage Strategy at Historic England.
Mike Schwarz, IIMS Chief Executive Officer
