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Friday 27 September 2013

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Así fue el ataque de la guardia rusa a los activistas de Greenpeace

Las cámaras de las fuerzas de seguridad rusa muestran el momento en que un grupo de efectivos repelen la intromisión de los activistas, en una acción que incluye disparos de armas de municiones

El barco de Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise es remolcado al puerto de Murmansk por un buque guardacostas ruso
El barco de Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise es remolcado al puerto de Murmansk por un buque guardacostas ruso - Greenpeac

Los activistas trataron de escalar una plataforma de la empresa Gazprom para, aseguran, llamar la atención sobre la amenaza que implican las perforaciones petroleras en el Polo Norte y sobre la necesidad urgente de hacer frente al cambio climático.

Las autoridades rusas dieron a conocer hoy nuevas imágenes, tomadas desde la plataforma, que muestran a las fuerzas de seguridad rusas enfrentando a dos escaladores durante la protesta del pasado miércoles.


En las imágenes se puede observar a la escaladora finlandesa Sini Saarela gritando "¡Voy a bajar, estoy bajando!", mientras los agentes armados tironean descuidadamente la cuerda de seguridad que ella utiliza para aferrarse a la estructura. El video también muestra cómo disparan con armas de municiones en el agua a pesar de que un activista a bordo de un gomón de Greenpeace está levantando sus manos al aire en señal de paz.

Los 30 activistas permanecen detenidos en un comité de investigación de la ciudad de Murmansk donde la noche del martes cinco integrantes del grupo fueron indagados y se entregaron papeles que confirman que estaban siendo investigados por piratería. Sin embargo, aún no fueron acusados de ningún delito.

Mauro Fernández, jefe de la campaña de Clima y Energía en Greenpeace, aseguró en declaraciones a AM 1110: "Esperamos que entre hoy y mañana se eleve algún cargo o se los deje en libertad absolutamente, que es lo que venimos reclamando desde el abordaje ilegal del barco de Greenpeace que se encontraba en aguas internacionales".

"Esta protesta era absolutamente pacífica, no buscaba robar nada y sólo buscaba hacer una denuncia ambiental en la plataforma", aseguró Fernández, para luego aclarar: "Creemos que la única ilegalidad cometida es la de la Guardia Costera al haber invadido un barco de bandera holandesa en aguas internacionales".

Fuente: Infobae, Argentina.

Tobermory attracting cruise business

25 September 2013 Last updated at 08:48 GMT

Cruise ship at Tobermory
The number of cruise ships stopping at Tobermory has increased in recent years

It is famous as the setting for the fictional village in CBeebies series, Balamory. But, as BBC Radio Scotland's Kevin Mackenzie reports, Tobermory on Mull is now making a name for itself as a cruise destination.
The picturesque town with its brightly coloured sea front buildings and substantial sheltered bay has just had its best year ever - attracting more than 30 cruise ship visits during the summer.
Some of the biggest vessels to drop anchor off Tobermory has been the 644ft long liner The World - which made an unscheduled stop on its recent visit to Scottish waters.
Of the scheduled liners to call, the MV Balmoral brought the largest number of visitors to the town's streets as 1,400 passengers made their way ashore.
'Local cuisine'
Mary MacGregor, of Tobermory Harbour Association, said Mull's popularity as a destination had grown over the last few years.
She said: "Interest from shipping agents in bringing passengers to Tobermory has risen over the past three years and they've already got good bookings for 2014 and 2015.
"The main street is just a short walk from the landing pontoon and allows visitors to enjoy the shops, the museum and the distillery.
"Some of the passengers go straight onto coaches to go to other parts of the island, so it brings benefits throughout Mull and Iona."
Tobermory
More cruise ships are booked to stop at Tobermory next summer
However, the cruise liner business is not always a guaranteed bonanza.
Mrs MacGregor said: "It depends on the type of cruise it is.
"One gift shop owner saw his shop's shelves nearly emptied by the visiting passengers.
"On another occasion they'd stocked up specially and hardly sold anything, different demographics of passenger dictates."
She added: "Quite a lot of Americans and continental Europeans were keen to sample local cuisine which they don't get on the actual ship."
Tobermory is looking forward to continuing to attract liners and has a good list already established for 2014.
Mrs MacGregor said: "One of the more interesting ships due to call next summer is Wind Surf, quite an exclusive ship with sails."
Cruise Scotland, which promotes Scottish ports as destinations, said the value of the cruise industry to the Scottish economy was projected to rise to almost £50m this year, a near 65% increase in the past three years.
Source: BBC, UK.

Tuesday 24 September 2013

South China Sea: The battle against shipwreck looters

24 September 2013 Last updated at 13:58 GMT

A Chinese fishery administration ship preparing to patrol the Xisha Islands (Paracels) in March 2013

So many looters are scouring South China Sea shipwrecks that half the sites near a group of disputed islands are damaged.
That's according to China's official news agency Xinhua, which says there are more than 100 relic sites, including ancient wrecks, off the islands known as Xisha in China and the Paracels elsewhere. It quotes officials as saying treasure hunters are no longer content with stealing small artefacts like porcelain but want bigger pieces such as rock anchors and cannons.
The provincial authorities commission maritime patrols and have even bought their own boat but it seems the sea's sheer size mean that underwater treasures remain at the looters' mercy. "Those who are better equipped and more patient win," one official told Xinhua, "At this point, we are losing." The islands are claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan, but have been under Beijing's control since a short war with South Vietnam in 1974. China created a new city on the largest island to administer the group last year and has said it will open them to tourism, in a move seen as another attempt to demonstrate ownership of the potentially oil-rich area around the islands.
Source: BBC, UK.

Monday 23 September 2013

EL CATAMARÁN TOMARÁ 2 HORAS Y 12 MINUTOS PARA ENLAZAR AMBAS CIUDADES


Los viejos "Ciudad" y el nuevo Buquebus


Quedó atrás un tiempo para recordar pero desapareció un estilo de viajar a Buenos Aires en los clásicos "vapores de la carrera", durmiendo dos noches a bordo, sustituidos ahora cien años más tarde por el fast service de Buquebus dos veces por día y con auto.
Emilio Cazalá
Hace 95 años arribaron las naves "Ciudad de Montevideo y "Ciudad de Buenos Aires". Foto: archivo El País
En las viejas naves viajaban casi todos los actores y actrices argentinas de la época. Foto: archivo El País
Nos parece que el arribo a Montevideo del moderno fast ferry "Francisco Papa" de Buquebus que con mil pasajeros y 150 autos hará la travesía entre ambas orillas del Plata en dos horas y doce minutos, resulta un acontecimiento igualmente impactante y hasta revolucionario en ambas orillas del Plata, tal como lo fue hace 95 años la incorporación de dos inolvidables naves que fueron aquellos vapores de la carrera que conocimos como el "Ciudad de Montevideo y "Ciudad de Buenos Aires", entonces dos pequeños "Queen Mary", nada menos que con tres chimeneas, que asombraron a las sociedades hermanas platenses.
Frente a este cambio tecnológico de no pasarse más una noche durmiendo en la nave para cruzar el charco, vale la pena que recordemos un poco aquellos famosos barcos a bordo de los cuales ocurrió de todo para uruguayos y argentinos: nacimientos de noviazgos, casamientos, defunciones, suicidios, fiestas, despedidas, viajes de novios por millares, accidentes, muertes, la desaparición de Mateo Marques Castro, nuestro embajador en Buenos Aires.
Viajes de príncipes, desfiles de modas, viajes de actores y actrices, ministros de ambos países y extranjeros, viajes de gobernantes como Evita Perón y también de uruguayos y argentinos. En estos barcos viajaron casi sin excepción casi todos los actores y actrices argentinas del pasado y recordamos a Mirtha Legrand con su belleza y elegancia sin par, casi una reina, bajando aquellas escaleras al gran salón, una entrevista a Berta Singerman, Luis Sandrini, Guillermo Bataglia actor de aquella inolvidable película argentina "La Muerte camina en la lluvia", Carmen Sevilla y cientos de personajes argentinos y cantantes internacionales que venían del Colón de Buenos Aires para actuar en el Sodre o el Solís y orquestas musicales, a muchos de los cuales entrevistamos. Pero uno de los frecuentes viajeros a Buenos Aires fue el presidente Jorge Batlle que entonces tenía a su familia en esa ciudad, y pocos como él deben haber conocido estos vapores de la carrera; también el famoso y recordado naviero argentino Don Alberto Dodero que fue un asiduo viajero en estas naves.
Tampoco faltaron las conferencias de prensa de notables a bordo, filmaciones argentinas de películas policiales y dramaticas y viajes permanentes de famosos escritores, reuniones solidarias de ayuda social, acuerdos de negocios luego de una bien servida y regada cena en su salón principal, y hasta conciertos de piano para amenizar el viaje o presentar artistas de valía.
Casi no había viaje donde uno no se reencontrara a bordo sorpresivamente con amigos y hasta con familiares y no faltaron los polizones que los hubo a montones. En los años 1925 y 1927 fueron numerosos las excursiones que con argentinos hicieron a Piriápolis y Punta del Este. Casi todos los agentes marítimos y empresas de seguros y hombres de negocios viajaban frecuentemente en estas naves en ambos sentidos.
Tambien lo hicimos nosotros y la verdad, nunca pudimos soportar el ruido de sus máquinas y vibraciones que no dejaban dormir, y bueno a las las 7 ya estabamos afeitándonos para una hora más tarde desembarcar en la gran Buenos Aires, impactándonos como siempre y estar en pleno Corrientes era lo más.
¡Por Dios, qué hermosa era Buenos Aires! ¡Qué inolvidables recuerdos! Y lo sigue siendo. El tranvía bajando desde Corrientes por Esmeralda, el Gran Hotel Roi, donde nos alojamos tantos años, en esa esquina fueron nuestras primeras experiencias en 1941. Era París, era Europa ahí enfrente.
Es que en aquellos tiempos ir a Buenos Aires implicaba obviamente hacerlo en los vapores de la carrera, era la excursión soñada, los negociantes apurados por el día tomaban el avión, era un viaje de oficina a oficina, el resto del mundo lo hacía en los vapores de la carrera.
Tampoco faltaron los cotidianos "bagayos", desde Buenos Aires se traía de todo, desde bebidas, ropa, y sobre todo queso Roquefort, chocolates, las infaltables corbatas, y ropa para mujer, para cuya tarea había "comisionistas" legalmente instalados.
A fin de año los visitantes que despedían a su parientes a bordo, compraban de todo para las fiestas de Navidad y Año Nuevo, y de todo era de todo, hasta pan dulce. Nos parece que todos los que cumplieron 70 años viajaron en los vapores de la carrera sin excepción. Pero siempre hay cambios.
En 1942 la empresa Mihanovich pasa a ser propiedad de Dodero, en 1944 el gobierno uruguayo acordó personería a Cunytasa (Cía. Uruguaya de Navegación y Transportes Aéreos S.A.). Pero los barcos de pasajeros quedaron en manos de la flota fluvial del Estado argentino, no los compraba nadie. Vale la pena recordar que por los años 30, Piria llevó ambos barcos en excursiones especiales, a Piriapólis, y de hecho nosotros tenemos una foto del "Ciudad de Buenos Aires" allí.
Todo eso era la Cía. de Navegación Mihanovich que hizo historia con estos barcos en unos 43 años. Fueron viajes entre 1918 y 1957 en el "Ciudad de Buenos Aires" que se hundió en un choque con el carguero norteamericano "Mormacsurf" y el "Ciudad de Montevideo" que sobrevivió cinco o seis años más pero ya estaba "out", terminó sus días siendo desguazado.
Después de aquellos famosos barcos viene el tiempo de la sustitución de los mismos por dos nuevos barcos construidos en España. El primero en llegar fue el "Ciudad de Buenos Aires" y poco más de un año más tarde lo hizo su gemelo, el "Treinta y Tres", este último a diferencia del primero era un barco de pasajeros muy diferente y sumamente lujoso, confortable con camarotes con baño privado. Entró en servicio el viernes 22 de septiembre de l966 y fue retirado el 20/4/78 para ponerlo en la línea a Brasil por el campeonato de futbol haciendo un par de cruceros, sin éxito.
Después fue vendido a un armador griego que lo reformó y puso como lujoso crucero de turismo entre la Isla de Rhodas y Atenas con el nombre de "City of Rhodas". Tenía una eslora de 130 metros. Pero ahora está trabajando en el Caribe con otro nombre.
En el interin vinieron otros barcos como el "Ciudad de Santa Fe", "Ciudad de Mar del Plata", etc., pero no sería la mismo. Después vino el tiempo de López Mena, con su sus barcos estándar y primeras experiencias, pero tuvo la visión y el tino de entender los nuevos tiempos para el cruce rioplatense y optó por entrar en la era de los barcos rápidos hasta hoy que acaba de mejorar su perfomance incorporando su fast service con el catamarán "Francisco Papa" que hará el cruce en dos horas y doce minutos, una verdadera revolución en el Río de la Plata. Sin duda podrá competir seriamente hasta con los aviones: Montevideo es una ciudad pequeña, pero llegar al aeropuerto demanda más tiempo que el propio vuelo, horas previas para embarcar, luego los trámites. El check-in, mucho transporte; mejor salir por el puerto.
Fuente: El País, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Saturday 21 September 2013

Earth's Water Cycle [HD]

Source: Youtube

21 September 2013 Last updated at 23:03 GMT

X men: World War II's midget submarine crews

Tirpitz
Tirpitz, the pride of Nazi Germany's surface fleet, was targeted in several attacks from the air and sea

The 70th anniversary of a midget submarine raid against a German battleship is to be marked on Sunday. The mission of 1943 was one of several attempted using small, dangerous X-craft.
Below the curving Kylesku Bridge in Sutherland is a memorial recalling the exploits of the XIIth Submarine Flotilla.
The flotilla's submariners trained in nearby Loch Cairnbawn in the use of X-craft, 52ft-long subs armed with explosive charges, for an attack against the mighty Tirpitz.
Protected by anti-torpedo and submarine nets in Norway's Alten Fjord, the heavily armed German battleship was a threat to convoys of Allied ships supplying Russia with weapons and munitions.
Its presence required the Royal Navy to keep warships, badly needed in other theatres of the war, in the North Atlantic.
After aerial attacks had failed to sink Tirpitz, it was proposed that six X-craft - each with three crew and a diver - be used in an ambitious attempt to sink it.
Two veterans of that mission, one of them John Lorimer, from Ayrshire, will lay wreaths at the Kylesku Bridge memorial on Sunday.
Mr Lorimer, today a retired Royal Navy commander, was a young submariner on X6, one of six X-craft towed by standard submarines from Loch Cairnbawn for the attack on Tirptiz.
X8 and X9 were lost during the 10-day tow to Norway. X10 was abandoned close to the target because of mechanical failures and X5 was sunk after coming under fire.
X6 commanded by Lt Donald Cameron and X7 with its crew led by Lt Godfrey Place pressed on with the assault.
A leak
In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Lorimer said X6 had slipped through the submarine and torpedo nets when they were opened to allow boats carrying German sailors pass through.
But the X-craft's crew were forced to abandon the mission when the vessel first struck an uncharted rock before a leak in the periscope caused in a fire onboard.
The men managed to release their charges close to Tirpitz before scuttling their craft and surrendering.
X7 successfully placed its charges but was damaged when they exploded. Two crew were killed while the others were captured.
Various members of the operation were later recognised for their actions. Two Victoria Crosses, three Distinguished Service Orders and one Conspicuous Gallantry Medal were awarded.
James Magennis
James Magennis was honoured for his actions on a Far East X-craft op
Lancaster bomber
Lancaster bombers destroyed Tirpitz in late 1944
Tirpitz had been crippled, but not destroyed.
On 12 November 1944, Lancasters flying out of Lossiemouth on Scotland's Moray coast finished the job by bombing the battleship.
About 10 minutes after the first bombs hit, the vessel turned on its side.
Clean the hull
There were other X-craft operations during the war while Loch Striven, a sea loch in Argyll, was also used for training the crews.
In January 1944, X20 landed hydrographic experts on Normandy's beaches as part of the preparations for the D-Day Landings. The same X-craft along with X23 helped to guide the first wave of the Allied landings.
X24 sank a floating dock used to repair U-boats in Bergen, Norway.
The mini subs and their crews were also deployed in the Far East.
XE4 and XE5 cut telephone cables used by various elements of Japan's military to communicate between Saigon, Hong Kong and Singapore. In July 1945, XE1 and XE3 sank the Japanese battle cruiser Takao.
Seaman James Magennis, from Belfast, took part in the attack on Takao.
He had to leave the submarine to clean the hull of the ship so mines would attach and then manually release one of the mines which would not detach from his X-craft.
Magennis won the Victoria Cross and a stone and bronze memorial was erected in his honour in the grounds of Belfast's City Hall in 1999.
Service on X-craft came with great risks even in friendly waters.
On 31 October 1943, X22 was lost with all four crew in the Pentland Firth following a collision with the submarine towing it.
Source: BBC, UK.

Azerbaijan: New Shipyard in Baku 
Officially Opened
Azerbaijan: New Shipyard in Baku Officially Opened

A new shipbuilding yard that is jointly developed by Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) was officially opened 
Friday, 20.Sep.2013, 21:29 (GMT+3)


A new shipbuilding yard that is jointly developed by Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) was officially opened by President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev. Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, also attended the inauguration ceremony of the new yard.
Named Baku Shipyard LLC (Baku Shipyard), the new 62-ha yard in Baku, Azerbaijan, is designed to undertake the construction of a wide range of specialised vessels and merchant ships including subsea vessels, anchor handling tug/supply vessels and multi-purpose offshore support vessels such as platform supply vessels, as well as tankers and cargo vessels. The yard also has ship repair and conversion capabilities.
Baku Shipyard adds to Keppel’s existing footprint in Azerbaijan where it has been operating the Caspian Shipyard Company (CSC), also a joint venture between Keppel O&M and SOCAR, since 1997.
Keppel O&M currently has 10% share in the new yard, while SOCAR and AIC own the remaining 65% and 25% respectively. Keppel O&M will be responsible for the management and operation of the yard.
Phase 1 of the yard was built at an estimated cost of US$470 million. When operating at full capacity, it is able to undertake up to 100 repairs and conversions per annum and is estimated to achieve an average annual steel output of 25,000 tons. Plans for Phase 2 include the construction of a graving dock with added facilities for offshore projects.
The yard is already in discussions on several potential new projects ahead of its opening, and has received two contracts worth about US$50 million in total – to construct one unit of 50-tonne bollard pull azimuth stern drive tug and one set of pontoons for a semisubmersible in conjunction with CSC.
Mr Tong Chong Heong, CEO of Keppel O&M, said, “The inauguration of Baku Shipyard signals the opening of a new and additional chapter in the long-standing partnership between SOCAR and Keppel O&M. Our participation in the yard demonstrates our commitment to be a long-term solutions provider for Azerbaijan.
From our years of cooperation with SOCAR in CSC, we have accumulated a rich reservoir of technical know-how as well as meaningful market insights and networks to operate a first-class shipyard. SOCAR and Keppel O&M will continue to leverage our collective strengths to achieve new successes through our partnership in the Baku Shipyard.
In this regard, Baku Shipyard will also build upon CSC’s experiences, and at the same time support CSC in its construction activities. The new yard reinforces Keppel O&M’s Near Market, Near Customer strategy and enables us to unlock synergy in our Caspian operations. We are hence confident that our enhanced presence in Azerbaijan will place us in good position to capture more growth opportunities and contribute significantly to the region’s energy sector.
Mr Rovnag Abdullayev, President of SOCAR, said, “We are very happy that our partnership with Keppel O&M has once again borne fruit with the successful opening of Baku Shipyard. With the strong growth potential in Azerbaijan’s oil and gas sector, we believe that Baku Shipyard is well placed to support this growth and contribute to the country’s economic development.
As a leading global offshore and marine group, Keppel O&M will bring its invaluable experience to Baku Shipyard, and we are confident that our combined strength will propel the facility into an internationally recognised centre of excellence in shipbuilding, repair and conversion.”
Following the inauguration of the Baku Shipyard, President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev named a new floating drydock at the yard. He also officiated at a strike steel ceremony for the semisubmersible drilling rig that is being built by CSC for a subsidiary of SOCAR, Caspian Drilling Company Ltd. Built to Keppel’s proprietary design, DSSTM38M, the rig is expected to be completed in 4Q 2016.
The above mentioned joint venture and contracts are not expected to have any material impact on the net tangible assets and earnings per share of Keppel Corporation Limited for the current financial year.

Source: Sea News, Turkey.

Friday 20 September 2013

Vikings and Viking Ships (Full Documentary)



Building a Viking Ship



The Vikings (1958) (whole movie)

Source: Youtube.

Venice residents to stage canal-bank protest over cruise ship invasion

St Mark's Basin will be turned into a motorway when 13 cruise ships travel through in one day, say protesters
Cruise ship in Venice
Residents of Venice will protest over the procession of cruise ships through St Mark's Basin. Photograph: James Morgan/AP
Residents of the beautiful, fragile city of Venice are preparing to stage a canal-bank protest on Saturday over an invasion of up to 13 cruise ships in the space of 24 hours, which they say will turn St Mark's Basin into a motorway.
The particularly busy weekend, apparently caused by a quirk in the cruise ship calendar, has reignited growing fears over the impact the vessels are having on the city and the alleged risk they pose to its infrastructure and inhabitants.
The groundswell of popular consternation has swept up Adriano Celentano, one of Italy's most famous singers, who took out a page in the country's biggest-selling daily newspaper to voice his anger.
"Tomorrow will not be a nice day for our city, even if the sun is out," declared the 75-year-old in an advert in Corriere della Sera, half of which was taken up with a black and white photograph of himself.
"With the ignoble procession of 13 ships in the Venice lagoon comes the Eternal Funeral of the world's beauties," he added.
Celentano is far from alone in his concern.
Silvio Testa, spokesman for the No Big Ships (No Grandi Navi) committee, which has been fighting against the rising traffic of cruise ships in Venice, has called on residents to attend a vigorous protest on the narrow Giudecca canal – a strip that cruise ships sail down daily, usually in far smaller numbers.
"We want to say 'enough' to this situation," Testa told La Nuova Venezia newspaper. "St Mark's Basin is like a motorway. Soon we'll have to put traffic lights up."
An estimated 40,000 tourists will be brought into Venice on board the cruise ships on Saturday and Sunday. Some view the influx of visitors as a much-needed economic boost, with tourists spending and thousands of locals employed in jobs related to the industry. But others fear the shiploads of tourists encourage a "Disney-fication" of their city – already one of the most visited in Europe. The number of tourists arriving in Venice on board cruise ships rose from below 100,000 passengers in 1999 to 1.7 million in 2012.
In a year that has seen the wrecked Costa Concordia languish off the coast of Giglio and a container ship crash into a tower in the port of Genoa, meanwhile, there are also concerns about the safety of the huge so-called floating palaces.
Earlier this summer, a large ship was alleged to have come within 20 metres of the shore and almost squashed a vaporetto, or water bus. Owner Carnival denied the incident, saying the report was mistaken and photographs had distorted the distances involved.
But Italy's environment minister, Andrea Orlando, has said that in general the issue is cause for concern. "As much as there may be a high level of professionalism in the controls and in the management of the traffic, there is always a margin of risk," he told La Stampa newspaper last week. Convinced that something needs to change, he has invited the various parties to present their suggested solutions to the government.
Source: The Guardian, UK.

Learn about Tides, Ocean Currents and Waves



Source: Youtube

Gastroenteritis outbreak on cruise ship now docked in Fife

20 September 2013 Last updated at 15:11 GMT

Fred Olsen’s Black Watch

A total of 130 passengers contracted gastroenteritis on board Fred Olsen's Black Watch now docked in Rosyth in Fife
A total of 130 passengers have contracted gastroenteritis on board a cruise ship now docked in Rosyth in Fife.
They became ill on Fred Olsen's Black Watch during a 12-night Scandinavia and St Petersburg cruise.
The ship departed on 8 September. There were 778 guests on board.
There were still 29 passengers unwell when the boat moored in Rosyth. Specialist cleaners have been brought in to clean and fumigate the ship.
Intensive cleaning
A Fred Olsen spokeswoman said: "Fred Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm, during Black Watch's 12-night Scandinavia and St Petersburg cruise, there was an outbreak of a gastroenteritis-type illness, and every effort was made to contain the illness, in accordance with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines onboard medical protocols.
"Black Watch returned to Rosyth on Friday, where she is currently undergoing an intensive cleaning and sanitisation programme, which includes a complete ship fumigation by professional external contractors.
"Representatives from the local health authorities and Rosyth Port Health have been on board the ship this morning, and have confirmed that they are satisfied with the containment and preventative measures being undertaken by the ship
"It is frustrating that, even with the extra preventative and containment measures that were put in place, a number of guests on board suffered from this illness, which is common in hospitals, schools, hotels, cruise ships and other areas where people are in close proximity.
"Symptoms of the illness include a sudden onset of vomiting and/or diarrhoea; some people may have a temperature, headache and stomach cramps.
"The sickness usually abates within one or two days, and there are no long-term effects."
Source: BBC, UK.

¿Cómo ocurre El Niño y La Niña? Video BBC Mundo


Source: Youtube.

Delivering a fitting tribute to the Merchant Navy: 
Royal Mail unveils stamps featuring historic 
trading ships from the Cutty Sark to the Arctic 
Convoys in tribute to sailor

  • Collection of six stamps celebrates the work of Merchant Navy servicemen over past two centuries
  • Veterans invited to launch the series aboard Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London today 
  • A miniature collection of black and white photographs also released to honour war time Merchant Navy ships


A collection of stamps featuring historic trading ships has gone on sale to commemorate the Merchant Navy.
The Royal Mail has created the series of Mint stamps to pay tribute to the contribution of Merchant Navy sailors to the country over the last two centuries. 
The collection was launched today aboard one of its featured vessels, the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, with a handful of Merchant Navy veterans there to see their efforts recognized.


The historic tea clipper Cutty Sark is among the collection of paintings which honour Merchant Navy servicemen

The historic tea clipper Cutty Sark is among the collection of paintings which honour Merchant Navy servicemen
The Clan Matheson is among the ships featured in the collection. It was bought and sold several times before being purchased by the Ministry of Transport in 1955 under the name Empire Claire

The Clan Matheson is among the ships featured in the collection. It was bought and sold several times before being purchased by the Ministry of Transport in 1955 under the name Empire Claire
The RMS Britannia was among the first ships to be built by Robert Duncan & Company in 1840, and famously carried Charles Dickens across to the US in 1842

The RMS Britannia was among the first ships to be built by Robert Duncan & Company in 1840, and famously carried Charles Dickens across to the US in 1842

Among the ships are two Royal Mail ships, the Britannia and the Queen Elizabeth, which were used to shuttle mail in and out of British ports in the 19th and 20th centuries.  
The collection is accompanied by a miniature sheet of four additional black and white photographs which depict the service personnel who sailed in Atlantic and Arctic convoys during the Second World War. 
The famous ships each hold a special history which is celebrated in the collection which costs £5.20.
RMS Britannia was a large vessel for its time, measuring 207 feet  long and 34 feet across the beam, with three masts. 

East Indiaman Atlas made its maiden voyage in 1813 to India and made at least nine more journeys thereafter until 1830

East Indiaman Atlas made its maiden voyage in 1813 to India and made at least nine more journeys thereafter until 1830
The Bulk Carrier Lord Hinton was launched in 1986, measuring 508ft in length and 79ft in breadth

The Bulk Carrier Lord Hinton was launched in 1986, measuring 508ft in length and 79ft in breadth
Contracted to carry Royal Mail post for over two years the RMS Queen Elizabeth became a luxury mode of transport, taking those aboard from Southampton to New York

Contracted to carry Royal Mail post for over two years the RMS Queen Elizabeth became a luxury mode of transport, taking those aboard from Southampton to New York

Boasting paddle wheels and a two-cylinder side-lever engine the ship was relatively fast with an average speed of around 8.5 knots. 
While the Britannia had room for only 115 passengers, RMS Queen Elizabeth held a crew of 400 on her maiden voyage from Clydebank to Southampton.
The gearless Lord Hinton bulk carrier was last active in 2004 and measured 508ft by 79 ft.

War veterans Sid Hunt, 89, Leslie Taylor, 89, Don Staddon, 88, Captain Gwilym Williams, 98, Derek Ings, 88, and Stanley Mayes, 88 celebrate the stamps' launch in Greenwich today
War veterans Sid Hunt, 89, Leslie Taylor, 89, Don Staddon, 88, Captain Gwilym Williams, 98, Derek Ings, 88, and Stanley Mayes, 88 celebrate the stamps' launch in Greenwich today
Captain Gwilym Williams, 98 took part in Atlantic Convoys during WWII. He was honoured today alongside other veterans abord the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, where the paintings have been turned into flags and raised on the ship's mast Captain Gwilym Williams, 98 took part in Atlantic Convoys during WWII. He was honoured today alongside other veterans abord the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, where the paintings have been turned into flags and raised on the ship's mast

Captain Gwilym Williams, 98 took part in Atlantic Convoys during WWII. He was honoured today alongside other veterans abord the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, where the paintings have been turned into flags and raised on the ship's mast 

The East Indiaman Atlas took its maiden voyage in 1813 to India with a crew of 130 men. The ship was sold in 1931 for breaking after changing hands numerous times. 
Aboard the Cutty Sark, the last known tea clipper which now serves as a monument to war time Navy personnel,the paintings have been turned into flags and are flown on the ship's mast. 
A spokesman for the Royal Mail said: 'This collection salutes the heritage of Britain's trading fleet of ships, which exported and imported goods from around the world, as well as transported passengers - and continues to do so to this day.'
Costing £1.28 each, the stamps are available on the Royal Mail's website.

An accompanying miniature collection of stamps reveals black and white photographs of maritime servicemen in World Wars One and Two

The collection salutes the work of maritime servicemen in WWII who sailed in the Atlantic and Arctic convoys of WWII
The additional stamps honour the service personnel who sailed in the Atlantic and Arctic convoys during the Second World War

One of the four black and white photographs depicts a Merchant Navy North Sea Convoy during the Second World War
Merchant Navy HMS Vanoc takes part in an Atlantic convoy during the war in which many lost their lives at sea

Merchant Navy HMS Vanoc takes part in an Atlantic convoy during the war in which many lost their lives at sea
Servicemen shovel snow from the deck of HMS King George during an Arctic convoy

Servicemen shovel snow from the deck of HMS King George during an Arctic convoy

Source: Daily Mail, UK.