Proctor in Admiralty

120 year old schooner technologically savvy

According to a press release from earlier today,  Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the New York Department of Environmental Protection announced a joint project to measure water conditions in New York Harbor.

According to the press release:

The Seaport Museum's 1885 schooner The Pioneer, which celebrated its 120th anniversary this month, now carries the latest technology in the form of a computerized water monitoring system as part of the Urban Ocean Observatory at Stevens. In partnership with the New York Department of Environmental Protection, the system measures water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen in New York Harbor from The Pioneer as it conducts its public sails. The data is fed via a wireless network to computers at Stevens' Center for Maritime Systems (CMS) in Hoboken. Data collected includes water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen.

The public can sail on the Pioneer as well as on the schooner Lettie G. Howard, built in 1893 and on the wooden tug W. O. Decker.  Check out the Seaport Museum website for more details.

 

"Brown Water" Blog and Resources

Check out Michael Odell Walker's Brown Water Blawg, a new blog devoted to martime law concerning inland waterways or "Brown Water" as opposed to "Blue Water" or ocean related maritime law.  Michael is also the author of MOW, Esq. - as he explains it:

A blog about the practice of law in Paducah and Western Kentucky, the Arts in Paducah, and the Paducah and the Western Kentucky area generally.

In Brown Water Blawg, Michael has already posted numerous links to valuable resources including the Tulane Maritime Law Center (here) and Charles M. Davis' website (here) among others.  Be sure to check Brown Water Blawg regularly!

The Cruise Industry Revealed

Just finished reading Janet Maslin's review of "Devils on the Deep Blue Sea", a new book by Kristoffer A. Garin that apparently details the history of and criticizes the cruise industy.  Great review and seems like a very interesting, if not harsh take on the industry.  Take this passage from Maslin for example:

Among the more striking details: the business made a major leap forward when one executive realized that small cabins would be more cost-effective than roomy ones. Tiny spaces would force passengers out into public areas, where they would contribute to the crowded, festive atmosphere and be lured into spending money. The figurative cash register is everywhere; the "web of bribes" on many ships is extraordinary. Cabin attendants must pay laundry workers if they want clean sheets; waiters must pay cooks if they want to serve hot food, etc.

The book is released tomorrow, and I already have my order placed with Amazon!