Norwegian man wakes up to containership in his garden
One early May morning, the local Norwegian fire department and police responded to a containership incident near the shoreline. The containership NCL Salten, with 16 crew onboard, had narrowly avoided colliding with nearby homes. The authorities confirmed that no damage was done to residential properties and there were no injuries or oil spills reported.
Johan Helberg, who owns the house the ship nearly crashed into, said he “wouldn’t have traded this experience for anything” as he watched it being removed from his garden. “Get a ship in your garden, and you’ll find life worth living,” he told Norwegian TV channel TV2 on Tuesday.
The shipping company, North Sea Container Line (NCL), confirmed that one crew member has been named a suspect, though they emphasized that this is a standard part of police procedure. The incident is believed to have happened due to the crewmember on watch falling asleep.
On the face of it, this is a humorous story, but it could have been oh so much worse, and the ship was successfully refloated to bring the drama to a successful conclusion.
Taiwan tracks ship captain for killing dolphins after tipoff from Canada
Pingtung prosecutors investigate fishing crew over dolphin killings. (CNA, Pingtung District Prosecutors Office photo)
This is such a sickening and sad story that I felt compelled to share it with you. Frankly, one really wonders sometimes about how individuals behave. Who on earth thought killing dolphins to use as shark bait was a good idea?
So, the story goes that following a tipoff from Canada, investigators in Pingtung found a ship’s captain who ordered his crew to kill dolphins to use as bait for sharks.
The case began when Canadian authorities informed Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture about the illegal slaughter of dolphins. Acting on the information, the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office discovered that the captain of a long-range fishing trawler had instructed his crew to kill the protected animals.
The captain, surnamed Wu, was questioned and released on bail of US$3,000. The court also barred him from leaving the country or sailing out to sea. Investigators questioned the ship’s seven foreign crew members and prohibited them from leaving Taiwan, changing their residence, or returning to sea.
Prosecutors said this was not the first time this year that international animal protection groups had reported Taiwanese fishers catching and killing protected species. They emphasized that the practice damages Taiwan’s international image and marine environment and vowed to enforce the law and combat illegal fishing practices.
Wreck of steamship that sank in 1888 discovered off English coast
Well, I am certainly not a diver but reading stories such as this, I can imagine just how thrilling it must be to uncover a previously undiscovered shipwreck. A diver has discovered what has been confirmed to be a steamship that sank off the coast of England following a collision with another vessel nearly 140 years prior. The location of the ship had remained unknown until 2024, when the wreck was discovered by a local dive team.
Seasoned diver and explorer, Dom Robinson, said that the wreck of the steamship Nantes has been located on the seabed off Plymouth. History tells us that in November 1888, Nantes collided with the German sailing ship Theodor Ruger, according to Dr Harry Bennett, maritime history expert and Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Plymouth.
Dr Bennett said only three of Nantes’ crew survived the tragedy, while the bodies of some of those who perished later washed up ashore on the coast of Cornwall along with some fragments of the ship’s hull.
Robinson told the BBC that the identity of the wreck remained unknown until he himself recovered, “a broken piece of plate,” that features the Cunard Steamship crest. At the time of her sinking, Nanates was being operated by the Cunard Steamship Company. Robinson said that, on a later dive to the wreck site off Plymouth, he had found a piece of crockery that provided additional confirmation that the sunken ship was indeed Nantes.
Global icons Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds take the helm
For some reason, this story just tickled me. Famous celebrities crop up in all sorts of sectors, and it seems marine is no exception. Think of retired tennis star, Rafa Nadal (Team Rafa), and his keen interest and team ownership in the E1 electric boat racing global circus, for example.
So now it seems two other icons have joined the marine set. Australia’s three-time SailGP champions have unveiled a new identity as well as two new co-owners – Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds – who join Driver and CEO Tom Slingsby in leading the freshly rebranded BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team.
New co-owners Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds commented, “We’re incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure.” Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country, as well as being an avid fan of sailing.
Tom Slingsby, Driver, CEO & co-owner of the Bonds Flying Roos said, “This is an incredible milestone for us and our sport, having global icons Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds come on board as co-owners of our team. They bring unmatched star power, a love for storytelling, and a sharp sense of humour that fits perfectly with our team. With BONDS joining as our Title Partner and the launch of the BONDS Flying Roos, we’re building something distinctly Australian; a team driven by spirit, resilience, and national pride.”
More next month!