Author Archives: captnmike

Boating Safety Tips For The Holiday Weekend

Posted on September 4, 2020 by captnmike

The Coast Guard urges boaters across the country to use extra caution while on the water this Labor Day weekend. Here is the safety advice from two districts with additional suggestions I have learned over the last 30 years as … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Falling By Brion Toss

Posted on May 17, 2020 by captnmike

Falling by Brion Toss is a delightful and entertaining must read for anyone that works aloft, while the adventures are mostly from the marine field, anyone that has ever worked aloft will find something interesting and maybe even amusing as … Continue reading →

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Quick Lighthouse Tour – Nine Lighthouses Viewed From The Water In 4 1/2 Hours!

Posted on October 19, 2019 by captnmike

Recently I went on a Saturday afternoon tour of selected Puget Sound Lighthouses organized by The United States Lighthouse Society (USLHS).     The USLHS chartered a high speed whale watching catamaran that cruised at 40 mph which let our … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Into the Raging Sea, Thirty Three Mariners, One Megastorm, And The Sinking of the El Faro

Posted on January 21, 2019 by captnmike

Into the Raging Sea Thirty Three Mariners, One Megastorm, And The Sinking of El Faro By Rachel Slade The loss of the 790 ft U.S. Flagged container ship in Hurricane Joaquin three years ago on October 1, 2015 with 33 … Continue reading →

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“YOU MIGHT BE A COASTIE, IF…”

Posted on October 27, 2018 by captnmike

Originally posted on Chuck Hill's CG Blog:
Misappropriated this from Fred’s Place Tribute Group on Facebook. Feel free to add more in the comments.  1. You know instantly that “work smarter, not harder” means billet cuts. 2. People ask…

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NOAA charts new hazards and helps ports recover following Hurricane Florence

Posted on September 19, 2018 by captnmike

While conducting hydrographic surveys at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard following Hurricane Florence, NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey navigation response teams (NRT) identified hazardous obstructions in the Cape Fear River channel. Since these dangers to navigation will remain…

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Hoax calls affect us all – A Bit of History

Posted on July 10, 2018 by captnmike

A rather sobering bit of information from the U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic on the impact of false MAYDAY calls. This is the fishing vessel SOL E MAR. This is a MAYDAY, were sinking, we need help now! were … Continue reading →

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Coast Guard locates vessel with 49 people after passenger calls 911 reporting operator lost in heavy fog off Navy Pier.

Posted on June 12, 2018 by captnmike

What was anyone not thinking?  In fog with no navigation system or marine radio. CHICAGO  —  The Coast Guard located a motor vessel with 49 people aboard after one of the passengers called 911 stating she was concerned that the operator … Continue reading →

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