SeaWaves Today in History May 5, 2009 Netherlands - Liberation Day. Visiting warships Dress Ship with Masthead Flags 1494 - During his second voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus first sighted Jamaica 1789 - Estaban Jose Martinez 1742-1798 arrives in Nootka Sound on Spanish warship Princesa; proclaims Spanish sovereignty on West Coast 1814 - Commodore James Yeo leads a fleet with 1,100 men from Kingston against 500 US defenders of Fort Ontario; captures valuable supplies; destroys the American naval base and firmly fixes British control of Lake Ontario until the close of the War of 1812 1818 Father of Communism Karl Heinrich Marx is born in Trier, Germany, the son of a Jewish lawyer 1821 - Napoleon Bonaparte dies in exile on the island of St Helena 1910 - The Naval Service of Canada authorized by Parliament 1915 - The Dalles-Celilo Canal on Columbia River opens to traffic 1917 - Submarine USS R-17 laid down 1917 - Cruiser HMS Curacoa launched 1918 - Minesweeper USS Widgeon launched 1923 - HMCS Armentieres returned to RCN following loan to Fisheries Dept 1926 - Repair ship HMS Albatross laid down 1927 - Destroyer HMS Amazon commissioned 1927 - Destroyer FS Valmy laid down 1928 - Submarine HMS Odin launched 1936 - Destroyer HMS Hasty launched 1936 - Patrol vessel HMS Puffin launched 1937 - Battleship HMS Duke of York laid down 1938 - Submarine depot ship HMS Maidstone commissioned 1938 - Destroyers USS Rowan & Stack launched 1938 - Soviet submarine SC-211 commissioned 1939 - Submarines HMS Truant & Triad launched 1940 - Submarine HMS Seal successfully lays mines in the southern Kattegat on the 4th before being damaged by a German mine herself. Trying to make for neutral Sweden on the surface, she is attacked and captured off the Skaw by German air and sea patrols. Lt Gunther Mehrens, piloting an Ar 196A-3 from Ku.Fl.Gr.706, spotted HMS Seal. Mehrens attacked with his cannon and bombs, forcing the submarine’s surrender. Mehrens then alighted, picked up the commander LCdr R. Lonsdale and flew him to Aalborg, the Seal being towed into Frederikshavn 1940 - Light cruiser HMS Fiji commissioned 1941 - Corvettes HMCS Kamsack & Morden launched Port Arthur ON 1941 - Corvette HMCS Sherbrooke commissioned Sorel PQ 1941 - Corvette HMS Mayflower commissioned Tyne & departed for workups 1941 - A night destroyer supply run to besieged Tobruk is successful. These runs will continue weekly for reinforcement and the evacuation of wounded 1941 - U-69 (Jost Metzler) departed Lorient for the first long range mission by a Type VIIC U-boat. She headed into the Central Atlantic to operate off the West Coast of Africa and to lay mines. Metzler received a Knight's Cross for this voyage on return to base 1942 - River gunboat USS Mindanao sunk by Japanese aircraft off Corregidor 1942 - Submarine FS Beveziers sunk off Diego Suarez by British aircraft. Raised by the Allies in April 1943 but not repaired. Stricken on 26 December 1946 1942 - Corvette HMS Auricula mined in Kourier Bay & foundered the next day while under tow 1942 - Minesweeper USS Quail scuttled off Corregidor after damage from Japanese bombs & gunfire 1942 - Fisheries II (converted yacht) destroyed to prevent capture at Corregidor 1942 - Maryann (converted yacht) destroyed to prevent capture at Corregidor 1942 - Perry (converted small patrol vessel) destroyed to prevent capture at Corregidor 1942 - Ocean Tug USS Genesee scuttled off Corregidor 1942 - Submarine Rescue Vessel USS Pigeon sunk Japanese aircraft off Corregidor 1942 - Escort carrier HMS Biter commissioned 1942 - Colonial sloop FS D'Entrecasteaux damaged & beached at Madagascar. Later salvaged 1942 - Minesweeper HMCS Grandmere arrived Halifax from builder Montreal PQ. Required engine repairs at Sydney NS & boiler repairs at Pictou NS 1942 - Canadian National Steamships Company passenger-freighter SS Lady Drake apt Percy Kelly, Master, was sunk at 2100, about 90 miles north of Bermuda, in position 35.43N, 064.43W, by U-106, KptLt Hermann Rasch, Knight's Cross, CO. Twelve passengers and crew were lost from the 272 people onboard. Lady Drake was sailing independently from Hamilton, Bermuda, to Boston & then to Saint John, New Brunswick. RMS Queen Mary passed a collection of her lifeboats at high speed on the 6th of May but her master dared not to stop the huge ship in a known submarine danger area or even to break radio silence to send a signal. She reported the sighting upon her arrival in New York on the 7th & at 0630 an a/c spotted the lifeboats, which were under sail & proceeding southward for Bermuda. USS Owl, a minesweeper, recovered five lifeboats containing 260 survivors, after three days adrift. The master, who only three months earlier had been the senior surviving officer from the sinking of CNSS Lady Hawkins, was awarded the MBE and the Lloyd's Medal for heroism during both events. U-106 was a long-range Type IXB U-boat built by AG Weser, at Bremen. She was commissioned on 24 Sep 40. U-106 conducted eight patrols & compiled an impressive record of 22 ships sunk for a total of 138,578 tons & four ships damaged for a further 51,980 tons. U-106's first two commanding officers were very successful - KptLt Jürgen Oesten, Knight's Cross, (18 ships sunk for a total of 96,071 tons and four ships damaged for a further 51,668 tons) & KptLt. Hermann Rasch, Knight's Cross, (12 ships sunk for a total of 78,553 tons & two ships damaged for a further 12,885 tons). On 23 Oct 41 the entire tower watch of four men was washed overboard in rough seas. On 27 Jul 42 a 'Wellington' a/c from RAF 311 Sqn attacked U-106, killing the first Watch Officer OLtzS Wissman & wounding the commander, KptLt. Rasch. The boat had only left Lorient two days earlier & was forced to return, arriving on 28 Jul. U-106 was sunk on 02 Aug 43 north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 46.35N, 011.55W by depth charges from British & Australian 'Sunderland' a/c from 228 and 461 Sqns. OLtzS. Wolf-Dietrich Damerow was the commanding officer at the time of her loss. Twenty-two members were lost from her crew of 58, including the commanding officer. Hermann Rasch was born in 1914, at Wilhelmshaven. He joined the navy 1934. He was serving in the sail training ship Albert Leo Schlageter when the war began. In Aug 39 he was appointed as the Flag Lieutenant to the commander of the North Sea area. He transferred to the U-boat force in Apr 40 and, after conversion training, in Sep 40 became the First Watch Officer in the Type IXB boat U-106, KptLt. Jürgen Oesten, Knight's Cross, CO (19 ships sunk for 101,000 tons). In Jul 41, he was selected for command. Three months later, at the age of 27, he relieved KptLt. Jürgen Oesten, who became commander of the 9th U-Flotilla in Brest. In six patrols, mostly in the North and Western Atlantic, Rasch sank 11 ships. On his second patrol he achieved notable success, in three days sinking two large ships of 10,354 and 15,355 tons. On 29 Dec 41 Rasch was awarded the Knight's Cross. In total, Hermann Rasch compiled a record of 12 ships sunk for a total of 78,553 tons & two ships damaged for a further 12,885 tons, making him the 52nd ace of the U-boat force. He left U-106 in Apr 43. For the next year he was an Admiral's staff officer in the OKM (Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine). In Oct 44 he became a commander in the KdK (Kommando der Kleinkampfverbände, Command of Midget Battle Units), where he was responsible for the midget U-boats (Seehund, Biber) until the end of the war. Despite his distinguished service & broad experience he was not promoted to Kapitaenleutnant until Mar 45. He spent over a year in allied captivity & then worked as a journalist in Hamburg, Berlin & Düsseldorf until his death in 1974 1942 - Frigates HMCS Dunver & Cape Breton laid down Quebec City PQ 1942 - The Japanese Imperial General HQ issues the order for the Navy to prepare an attack on Midway Island 1942 - Off Corregidor, the submarine rescue vessel USS Pigeon is bombed and sunk while the tug USS Genesee and harbor tug USS Vaga are scuttled 1942 - Marshal Petain sent a message to the Governor-General of Madagascar calling on him to resist the British attack. The Vichy Government handed a note to the American charge d'affaires protesting against British landing at Madagascar 1942 - During World War II, Japanese forces landed on the Philippine Island of Corregidor 1942 - In the Caribbean, two US ships are torpedoed by German submarines. An unarmed freighter is sunk while an armed tanker is abandoned but is later reboarded and towed to port 1942 - SS Stanbank sunk by U-103 at 34.55N, 61.47W 1942 - At 2240, the unescorted & unarmed Afoundria was hit by a torpedo from U-108, which was spotted by the Lookouts just before it struck between the #4 and #5 holds on the starboard side. The explosion ripped a large hole and immediately flooded the after holds. The ship began to settle, could not be maneuvered and sank after 50 minutes about eight miles north of Le Male Light, Haiti. The radio operator had sent distress signals and received a reply from Guantánamo. The USS Mulberry was sent from there and picked up all 38 crewmembers and 8 passengers from three lifeboats 17 hours after the attack and took them to Guantánamo, where they arrived on 9 hours after they were picked up. The master William Arthur Sillars died on his next ship, the La Salle, which was sunk by U-159 on 7 Nov 1942 1942 - At 0415, the unescorted & unarmed Joseph M. Cudahy was torpedoed by U-507 about 125 miles west of Naples, Florida. Lookouts on the tanker had spotted the burning Munger T. Ball, which had been torpedoed by the same U-boat at 0132, 74 miles NW of the Dry Tortugas Light and the master changed course for Tampa and steered a zigzag pattern at 11 knots. One torpedo struck at the waterline on the starboard side at the #4 main tank, just after the third officer had spotted the conning tower and saw the torpedo track about 20 feet from the tanker. The explosion blew a large hole in the side and started a fire in the midships house. The master steered into the wind to allow the crew of eight officers and 29 crewmen to abandon ship. The master and eight men on the forepart of the tanker left in one lifeboat and were sighted by a US Navy PBY flying-boat. A fishing schooner offered to help the men, but they declined. These men were picked up by a PBY 12 hours after the attack and taken to Key West, Florida. One other survivor was picked up by another PBY the same morning and also taken to Key West. Three officers and 24 crewmen were lost. On 7 May, the gutted and still burning Joseph M. Cudahy was sighted by patrol yacht USS Coral in 24°57N/84°10W and was sunk by gunfire, because she was beyond salvage and a menace to navigation 1942 - At 0132, the unescorted & unarmed Munger T. Ball was hit by one torpedo from U-507 about 80 miles NW of Dry Tortugas Island, while steaming on a nonevasive course at 10 knots. The torpedo struck on the port side amidships, followed by a second torpedo 30 seconds farther aft near the engine room. The tanker burst into flames after the first hit and prevented the launching of lifeboats. Only four crewmen of the eight officers and 26 crewmen on board managed to abandon the ship by jumping overboard and swimming away before burning gasoline spread on the water, trapping many men on the tanker. The burning tanker sank about 15 minutes after the second hit. The four survivors swam to a life raft, were picked up about four hours later by the Katy and landed at Key West, Florida 1942 - At 0453, the unescorted and unarmed Delisle was hit by one torpedo from U-564 about 15 miles off Jupiter Inlet in 27°06N/80°03W (grid DB 9762), as she was proceeding on a non-evasive course at 9 knots from Baltimore, Maryland to San Juan, Puerto Rico with a 2800 tons of general cargo, including a deck cargo of camouflage paint in steel drums. The wake of the torpedo was seen by the first mate but it was too late to take evasive action and it struck amidships on the starboard side. The explosion created a hole of 20 feet by 30 feet at the engine room, about five feet below the main deck. The crew of eight officers, 24 men and four stowaways abandoned ship in one lifeboat and a raft. The third assistant engineer and the fireman were killed on watch below. They reached the shore at Stuart, Florida about 30 miles north of West Palm Beach two hours later. The crew reboarded the Delisle the next day and she was towed into Miami by a Navy tug. After repairs she went back in service 1942 - U-406 encountered a British submarine off St Nazaire that fired a torpedo but didn't hit the U-boat 1942 - During handling of a torpedo, one crewmember on U-507 broke his arm 1942 - U-758 commissioned 1943 - Salvage vessel HMS Help launched 1943 - Frigate HMCS Springhill laid down 1943 - Destroyer HMS Zealous laid down 1943 - Submarines USS Sea Devil & Hammerhead laid down 1943 - Submarine HMS Viking launched 1943 - Monitor HMS Abercrombie commissioned 1943 - Four boats of XII Squadriglia MAS purchased and they join the Finnish Navy as the Jymy class 1943 - At 1120, the unescorted Holmbury was torpedoed by U-123 about 170 miles west of Cape Palmas. The vessel was sunk by 26 rounds of 10.5cm gunfire. Two crewmembers were lost. The master was taken prisoner, landed at Lorient on 8 June and taken to the POW camp Milag Nord. 37 crewmembers and six gunners landed at Tradetown, Liberia 1943 - At 0302 & 0303, U-264 fired two spread of two torpedoes at Convoy ONS-5 about 500 miles south of Cape Farewell and observed the sinking of two ships with two hits each. The ships sunk were the West Maximus and Harperley. At 0305, U-264 fired a single torpedo and observed a hit on another ship, but this is not confirmed by Allied sources. The Harperley later sank in 55°03N/42°56W. Nine crewmembers and one gunner were lost. The master, 32 crewmembers and six gunners were picked up by armed trawler HMS Northern Spray & landed at St John's. Harperley suffered six killed 1943 - At 2150, U-266 fired four torpedoes at Convoy ONS-5 and reported one ship sunk, one probably sunk and that two detonations had been heard. In fact the three ships Selvistan, Gharinda and Bonde on stations #91, #101 and #84 were hit within three minutes and all sank. The Bonde was the smallest ship in the convoy and was hit by one torpedo and sank slowly. Eleven survivors were picked up from a lifeboat and a raft by frigate HMS Tay one hour later. The master was allowed to go back to his ship and found another survivor. The master Rodney Rosbrook Stone, 81 crewmembers and ten gunners from the Gharinda were picked up by frigate HMS Tay & landed at St John's, Newfoundland. One crewmember and five gunners from the Selvistan were lost. The master, 38 crewmembers and one gunner were picked up by HMS Tay & landed at St John's 1943 - At 0422 & 0428, U-358 fired torpedoes at Convoy ONS-5 south of Cape Farewell and observed two ships sinking. In fact, the Bristol City sank after 20 minutes and Wentworth remained afloat and sank later that morning. Eleven crewmembers and four gunners from the Bristol City were lost. The master, 26 crewmembers and seven gunners were picked up by HMS Loosestrife & landed at St John's. Wentworth was scuttled by HMS Loosestrife 1943 - SS West Madaket sunk by U-584 in Convoy ONS-5 1943 - Between 0243 & 0246, U-628 fired six torpedoes at Convoy ONS-5 about 500 miles south of Cape Farewell and reported one ship sunk, one ship probably sunk, one ship burning and two end-of-run detonations. However, only the Harbury (Master Walter Edward Cook) was hit. Six crewmembers and one gunner were lost. The master, 33 crewmembers and eight gunners were picked up by HMS Northern Spray & landed at St John's. It is possible that Hasenschar thought that the ships sunk by U-264 (Looks) at the same time were his own victims. At 0502, U-628 fired her last torpedo against a corvette and observed a huge tongue of flame after 28 seconds and a heavy explosion afterwards, the target disintegrating. However, Allied sources do not report the loss of any escort vessel. At 1651, U-628 finished off the wreck of the Harbury with 40 rounds of 88-mm & 100 rounds of 20-mm gunfire. The vessel capsized to starboard at 1737 & sank in 55°10N/42°58W (grid AJ 6453). 1943 - At 1400, the Dolius in Convoy ONS-5 was torpedoed and sunk by U-638 NE of Belle Isle. Three crewmembers and one gunner were lost. The master, 57 crewmembers and eight gunners were picked up by HMS Sunflower & landed at St John's. The U-boat had been sunk by the corvette after the attack 1943 - At 0222, the North Britain, a straggler from Convoy ONS-5 (about five miles behind), was hit by one of three torpedoes fired by U-707 and sank by the bow within two minutes south of Cape Farewell. The master, 27 crewmembers and seven gunners were lost. Ten crewmembers and one gunner were picked up by HMS Northern Spray & landed at St John's 1943 - U-358 was depth charged in the North Atlantic by destroyer escort HMS Pink. The boat was damaged so badly that she had to return to base 1943 - U-406 & U-600 had a collision in the North Atlantic. Both boats were damaged so badly that they had to return to base 1943 - U-421 hit a mine in the Baltic Sea during exercises and was badly damaged 1943 - U-648 had to return to base to due severe technical difficulties 1943 - U-471, U-544, U-976 commissioned 1943 - U-1171 laid down 1944 - Destroyer Escort USS Fechteler sunk after being torpedoed by U-967 northeast of Oran Algeria 1944 - USS PT-247 destroyed by Japanese shore batteries off Bougainville 1944 - At 0354, U-967 fired a Gnat at Convoy GUS-38 about 120 miles NW of Oran, Algeria and reported a hit on a medium-sized ship after 11 minutes 58 seconds, but this was probably an end-of-run detonation. Destroyer escort USS Laning located the U-boat after the unsuccessful attack and started an attack run, but U-967 fired a Gnat at the escort ships at 0441, hitting the USS Fechteler amidships. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water and broke her in two. Most crewmembers abandoned ship before both parts sank. 29 crewmembers died and 26 were injured. USS Laning then picked up the survivors together with other escort ships 1944 - Destroyer escorts USS Snyder & Cronin commissioned 1944 - Minesweeper USS Measure commissioned 1944 - Destroyer minelayer USS Aaron Ward launched 1944 - Destroyer USS Bristol laid down 1944 - Frigate USS Long Beach launched 1944 - USS Comfort is commissioned in San Pedro, CA; first ship to be manned jointly by Army and Navy personnel 1945 - Minesweeping trawler HMS Coriolanus mined & sunk in the Aegean 1945 - Aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge launched 1945 - In the only fatal attack of its kind during World War II, a Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing the pregnant wife of a minister and five children 1945 - Frigate HMCS Carlplace departed Londonderry with escort for a Gibraltar convoy 1945 - When U-349 was scuttled, Obermaschinist Wilhelm Hegenbarth set the charges off and refused to leave the boat 1945 - At 1740, the unescorted Black Point was struck by a torpedo from U-853 in the stern, while proceeding in fog. The explosion carried away the aftermost forty feet of the ship aft of the #5 hold. The vessel quickly began to sink by the stern about five miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island. The most of the eight officers, 33 crewmen and five armed guards (the ship was armed with one 6pdr and two .30cal guns) abandoned ship in two boats and a raft. The Black Point capsized and all but the bow disappeared beneath the water 25 minutes after the torpedo struck. Eleven crewmen and one armed guard (W.L. Whitson Lloyd USNR) died. 17 men on a raft were picked up by the Yugoslavian steam merchant Karmen and two men by the Norwegian steam merchant Scandanavia. All were later transferred to a US Coast Guard patrol boat, which brought them to Point Judith. Crash boats from Quonset Point, Rhode Island rescued 15 survivors and landed them at Newport. The Black Point was the last American-flagged ship sunk by a German U-boat. Immediately after the sinking the US Navy searched for U-853 and sank her in the morning of 6 May 1945 - U-579 sunk in the Kattegat east of Aarhus, in approximate position 56.10N, 11.04E, by depth charges from an RAF 547 Sqn Liberator 1945 - U-733 scuttled Flensburg Fjord, position 54.48N, 09.49E, after being damaged by bombs and gunfire. Broken up 1948 1945 - U-2367 sank near Schleimünde, in approximate position 55.00N, 11.00E, after a collision with an unidentified German U-boat. Raised in August 1956. Renamed U-Hecht (pike) and served in the German Federal Navy from 1 Oct 1957. Stricken on 30 Sep, 1968 and broken up at Kiel in 1969 1945 - U-2551 sunk near Flensburg Solitude, in position 54.49N, 09.28E Wreck broken up 1945 - U-534 sunk in the Kattegat NW of Helsingör, in position 56.39N, 11.48E, by 10 depth charges from an RAF 86 Sqn Liberator. 3 dead and 49 survivors. Earlier in the action, U-534 shot down an RAF 547 Sqn Liberator. U-534 raised 1995 and now a museum piece at Birkenhead 1945 - U-955 shot down an unknown Liberator aircraft 1946 - HM minesweeper ZZ 12 capsized & sank in heavy weather in the Firth of Forth 1948 - VF-17A becomes first carrier qualified jet squadron (USS Saipan) 1948 - VP-AM-1 ex VP-53 disestablished 1950 - Waves caused by 50 knot winds break through the dikes of Winnipeg, inundating the city, leaving one dead, and causing $100 million damage; one third of the population are forced to flee their homes. The picture shows two nuns paddling a canoe through the gates of their convent 1958 - Frigate HMCS New Glasgow recommissioned as training ship with Fourth Escort Squadron Esquimalt BC 1960 - Federal Express ex-HMCS West York sank collision Montreal, aft section salved & broken up 1960 1961 - CDR Alan Shepard Jr. makes first US manned space flight. Flight of Freedom 7 (Mercury 3) which lasted 15 minutes and 28 seconds reached the altitude of 116.5 statute miles with a velocity of 5,134 mph. Recovery was by HUS1 helicopter of HMR (L)-262 from USS Lake Champlain 1968 - USS Kitty Hawk port call Hong Kong 1964 - USS Constellation commenced Vietnam deployment 1971 - USS Ticonderoga port call Hong Kong 1971 - USS Hancock port call Subic Bay 1980 - USS Robert E Peary rescues 440 Vietnamese refugees from disabled craft south of Thailand 1980 - Destroyer HMCS Margaree commenced DELEX refit at Canadian Vickers Montreal PQ 2003 - MV Cape Washington laid up Baltimore RRF 2005 - Two fishermen are safe after their boat collided early this morning with a jetty near Grays Harbor, Wash. The operator of the 32-foot fishing boat Loree contacted the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 at 0003 to report that his boat struck the Grays Harbor north jetty after he fell asleep at the helm. A 47-foot motor lifeboat from Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor and an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., were launched minutes later to assist the men. The Ocean Shores, Wash., Police Department also responded to assist. At 0028 the crew of the motor lifeboat located the men on the jetty near their severely damaged and partially submerged fishing boat. The men were able to walk from the jetty to shore 2005 - The Admiralteiskiye Verfi state-owned shipyard in St. Petersburg delivers the second Project 636 submarine built under a current Chinese Navy contract. The first sub was launched in June 2004. The third submarine in the order has also been completed and is currently being tested at the factory. The fourth vessel will be launched in May, and the fifth in June or July. Russia is currently building eight submarines for China at a total cost of $1.6 billion 2005 - Vice-Admiral Bruce MacLean, the Commander of Canada's Navy, will make the final report of the HMCS Chicoutimi board of inquiry public at a news conference at 1100. The conference will take place at HMCS Scotian, located at 2111 Lower Water Street. Vice-Admiral MacLean convened the Chicoutimi BOI to investigate the fires and casualties that occurred in HMCS Chicoutimi on October 5th 2005 - Transport Canada’s 2005 Marine Safety Award was presented today to Mr. Helmut Lanziner of North Vancouver, British Columbia, for his extensive work in marine research and development. Mr. Lanziner received the annual award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to Canadian maritime safety, at the biannual meeting of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council. Mr. Lanziner is a forerunner in side-scan sonar and underwater acoustic techniques. His work involved the development of instrumentation for numerous applications in the petroleum exploration field. His greatest single achievement has been in the development and production of electronic chart systems which, when combined with radar, are highly effective in preventing maritime collisions. With his diverse maritime background, Mr. Lanziner played an important role in advancing charting systems from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Continually striving for greater accuracy and more user-friendly systems, he has often incorporated feedback from mariners into future system developments. Today, the electronic chart system is a viable tool used extensively aboard ships to enhance the safety of mariners at sea 2005 - Steamboat Laurie Ellen is a new to the zone vessel scheduled to operate in the Juneau area during this cruise season. The vessel is constructed in the "African Queen" style containing a wood-fired boiler and is owned by John George 2005 - At 1424 Aberdeen Coastguard were called by the crew of the under 10 meter fishing vessel Challenge with two people on board saying that they were sinking and required immediate assistance. They gave their position at the time as 1 nautical mile off Aberdeen Exhibition Center. Both Aberdeen inshore and all weather lifeboats were requested to launch and the Aberdeen and Portlethen Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent to the shoreline. A creeler Artemis began heading towards the vessel after hearing the distress signal and indicated to Aberdeen Coastguard that they were in a position to take both men off the sinking vessel which was seen to be down by the head. After both men had been taken on board the Artemis, the crew of the Challenge then took the sinking vessel under tow and headed in towards the beach with the intention of beaching the stricken vessel. The vessel continued to take on water during the tow and grounded while under tow 300 yards from the shore, a mile North of the River Don, Aberdeen. The Aberdeen Coastguard Rescue Team are remaining on scene to monitor the situation with the stricken vessel in case of any signs of pollution until owners are on scene to deal with their vessel. Both the crewmembers have been taken into harbor by Artemis 2005 - Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. announced today that its Board of Directors recently approved a conversion program to retrofit two coastwise sulfur tankers into US-flagged, new generation 370-foot multi-purpose supply vessels (MPSVs). The total project cost to acquire and convert the two vessels is expected to be $55 million to $65 million in the aggregate. The Company plans to fund the project from current cash on-hand, projected free cash flow and available revolver capacity. The Company anticipates delivery of the converted vessels by the end of 2006. Based on preliminary indications, including discussions with certain customers, the two vessels are expected to add combined earnings of $0.25 to $0.35 per diluted share in their first full-year of service. Hornbeck purchased the Energy Service 9001, formerly known as the M/V W. K. McWilliams, Jr., from Freeport-McMoRan Sulphur in November 2001. The Company recently signed a definitive agreement to purchase an identical "sister vessel," the M/V Benno C. Schmidt, from an undisclosed private owner 2005 - The owner and master of the reefer Nova Scotia operating in the Falkland Islands have pleaded guilty to failing to report to Stanley’s Harbor Master oil or oil residue or a mixture containing oil, which escaped into Berkley Sound. The master, Peter Mosselburger and Owners Thien and Heyenga GmbH were each fined fifteen hundred pounds for the offence. Ros Cheek prosecuting told the court that the Nova Scotia had come into a collision with Cochon Island and managed to free herself. The collision happened around quarter to two in the morning of the 20th April. At first light, the crew noted an oil spillage from the number four tank on the port side. The master informed the ship’s owners and agents FIC. The Harbor Master was later informed of the spillage by a member of the FIC Shipping Agency. Richard Marlor for the defense said the reason for the damage was an uncharted rock and argued that the master simply forgot to inform the authorities. Senior Magistrate Clare Faulds, sentencing said that although the oversight was not intentional, nevertheless they had the duty to report to the Harbor Master. Mr Mosselburger and Thien and Heyenga GmbH were each ordered to pay three hundred and twenty pounds towards court costs. The Nova Scotia is to be towed to Montevideo for repairs by the high seas tug Anglia Warrior. However the reefer remains impounded until payment of the fine is made 2005 - Atlantic LNG celebrated the company’s 700th cargo was lifted onto the Golar Freeze, bound for Elba Island, USA. Shareholder company BG charters the tanker. This recent milestone is the latest of several expected this year as the company readies for Train IV’s first LNG in the fourth quarter. Company officials are looking forward to Train IV’s production accelerating the projected delivery date for Atlantic’s 1000th cargo. Atlantic’s 600th cargo was lifted on November 2, 2004 2006 - Coast Guard official change of command to signify the establishment of Sector Anchorage at 0900 at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Capt. Mark DeVries, commanding officer of Marine Safety Office Anchorage will become the Sector Commander. In addition he will continue to hold the title of Captain of the Port Western Alaska. Rear Adm. James C. Olson, Commander 17th Coast Guard District will attend the ceremony 2006 - Sri Lanka's navy and air force hit Tamil Tiger targets on land and sea in the island's northwest 2006 - CIA Director Porter Goss has resigned, President Bush announced from the Oval Office 2006 - BAE Systems Plc, the UK's largest builder of warships, and four other companies won contracts worth 143 million pounds ($266 million) to advance the design of two aircraft carriers that are to be the biggest and most powerful vessels built in the country. BAE, VT Group Plc, Babcock International Group Plc, Thales SA and Halliburton Co.'s Kellogg Brown & Root unit received contracts “o refine and mature all aspects of the ship design and its ship equipment, including mission systems and the planned all-electrical power and propulsion system,'' said Paul Drayson, UK defense procurement minister 2006 - Russian frigate Pytlivyy left Sevastopol bound for Italy and a stint with NATO’s Operation Active Endeavor 2006 - A massive gap in the effective search and rescue coverage along the east coast of Africa and out into the Indian Ocean is to be filled with the inauguration (on 5 May 2006) of a new Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Center (MRCC) in Mombassa, Kenya. The MRCC is to be commissioned by IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos during an official visit to Kenya and Tanzania 2006 - Sri Lankan Navy attacked a Tamil Tiger flotilla off the northwestern coast and sank at least one craft, the Defense ministry said. A navy gun boat confronted four boats of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) near Kuthirimalai Point off the coastal district of Mannar, the ministry said. "We have sunk one boat," ministry spokesperson Prasad Samarasinghe said. "Our gun boat was slightly damaged when it was hit by Tiger gunfire. Navy boat was first attacked by the Tigers and the navy retaliated" 2006 - The US and Canadian Coast Guards signed an agreement today in Seattle to improve radar and video surveillance in Cooperative Vessel Traffic Management System waters on the international border. The agreement ensures the Coast Guard will install microwave equipment at the Canadian coast guard facility located at Mount Newton, British Columbia. The equipment will link an existing US facility located at Mount Constitution, Wash., located in the San Juan Islands. A future US facility is scheduled to be installed at Turn Point on Stuart Island, Wash 2006 - Archibald (Archie) MS Morgan, IV, joined Tidewater Marine LLC as Manager of Engineering and Technical Services. Morgan was most recently the Operations Manager of Alliance Marine Services in Houston and has 18 years of international ship management experience, including technical fleet management, crew management, and assignments as chief engineer aboard US and foreign flag tanker and cargo vessels. Morgan, originally from West Virginia, is a graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering. He will be based in New Orleans 2006 - Two men were rescued from the sea off Yarmouth by a ferry rescue boat after a speedboat accident. Solent Coastguard was informed by the Isle of Wight car and passenger ferry Cenred that the two men had been spotted in the water off Yarmouth at 1812. The Coastguard requested the Coastguard helicopter India Juliet to scramble, the Needles Coastguard Rescue Team was tasked to attend the scene and the Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch. However, before the rescue resources arrived at the scene, the rescue boat from Cenred was able to rescue the two men from the water. The rescue boat took the two into Yarmouth, where they were transferred by awaiting ambulance to St Marys Hospital. Shortly afterwards, a 999 call was received in the Solent Coastguard operations room reporting that a speedboat had run aground at Pennington Marsh, west of Lymington. Two men had been seen being thrown clear of the speedboat that then circled several times before running aground. Following investigations by the Coastguard it was confirmed that the two men were the same people who had been picked up by the rescue boat 2006 - At 1326UTC whilst covering for MRCC Belfast, MRCC Clyde received a 999 call from a small 14ft boat that had suffered a broken fuel line in the River Foyle to the South of Londonderry. MRCC Clyde tasked the private rescue boat 'Foyle Search & Rescue' to assist the vessel and the two people on board. At 1416UTC the casualty was located and a tow commenced back to the Rescue Boat's Base. No injuries were sustained to either of the people onboard 2006 - At Thames Magistrates' Court Antoine Koch, the skipper of the 60 foot racing trimaran Sopra No. 8 pleaded guilty to a breach of the International regulations for preventing collisions at sea 1972 2006 - A tail section from an F-14 Tomcat discovered on a beach in Ireland came from an Oceana-based plane that crashed 3 1/2 years ago off Key West, Fla., the US Navy later confirmed. How it got at least 4,900 miles away, no one knows for certain 2007 - Singapore Navy received its first frigate, RSS Formidable at Changi Naval Base during celebrations to mark its 40th anniversary, attended by past and present Navy Chiefs 2007 - Sri Lankan military officials say the navy has sunk two Tamil Tiger boats off the east coast killing at least 10 rebels 2007 - Hundreds of people attended the 65th commemoration of the Battle of the Coral Sea May 5 at the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Newstead Park in Brisbane 2008 - The Federal Government ordered the Nigerian Navy to attack any ship entering Nigerian territorial waters illegally to lift oil from the Niger Delta 2008 - The commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 143 was relieved of his duties. Cmdr. Raymond B. Worthington was relieved from duty by Capt. Scott Stearney, Commander, Carrier Air Wing 7. Stearney cited the loss of confidence in Worthington's ability to command as the reason for his relief. Cmdr. Jake Elzey has temporarily assumed command of VFA-143 Copyright 2009 Shirlaw News Group ISSN 1710-6966 Today in History Archives This information is licensed to the recipient only. Images may be subject to copyright. Ask before you right-click. Royal Navy photos are Courtesy of www.oldships.org.uk unless otherwise indicated. To contact us: 418-145 West Keith Rd North Vancouver BC V7M 1L3 Canada Phone: 778-968-7447