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Displaying items by tag: Pacific Ocean

A man survived 14 hours in the Pacific by clinging to a fishing buoy after he fell overboard from a cargo ship.

Marine Industry News rounds up the stories on Vidam Perevertilov, the chief engineer on board the Silver Supporter who entered the water between New Zealand and the remote Pitcarin Islands on Tuesday 16 February.

As his ship sailed away unaware of his predicament, Perevertilov swam to a “black dot” on the horizon which turned out to be an abandoned fishing buoy.

Six hours later the alarm was raised and the ship used its logs to pinpoint Perevertilov’s location in the open sea, where he was adrift without a lifejacket.

Marine Industry News has more on the story HERE.

Published in News Update
Tagged under

#Submarine - Could a supersonic submarine speed through the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Shanghai in less than two hours?

The Chinese engineers behind some remarkable new sub-sea technology seem to think so, as the South China Morning Post reports.

Their 'supercaptivating vehicle' design uses gas jets to envelope a vessel inside an air bubble that severely reduces the friction or drag experiences by objects moving through water.

In practice, the technology was developed by the Soviet military to send a torpedo rocketing through the water at an incredible 370km/h.

In theory, the same principles could be adapted to fit a much larger vessel such as a passenger submarine and send it zooming through the depths at a barely fathomable 5,800km/h – the speed of sound under water – and cut a transpacific trip to just 100 minutes.

The South China Morning Post has much more on the story HERE.

Published in News Update
Tagged under
The Velux 5 Oceans website has posted a video preview ahead of the third ocean sprint stage in the marathon round-the-world yacht race.
The third stage, which kicks off tomorrow, will take the four competing yachts across the Pacific Ocean from Wellington, New Zealand to Punta de Este in Uruguay.
Sail World reports that northerly gales are expected to buffet the boats from the off as they set out on the incredible 6,000-mile route, which will take them to Nemo Point - the most remote spot in the world - and the notorious challenge of Cape Horn.
American Brad Van Liew, skipper of Le Pingouin, is currently in the lead having won the previous two ocean sprints in the 30,000-mile race.

The Velux 5 Oceans website has posted a video preview ahead of the third ocean sprint stage in the marathon round-the-world yacht race.

The third stage, which kicks off tomorrow, will take the four competing yachts across the Pacific Ocean from Wellington, New Zealand to Punta de Este in Uruguay.

Sail World reports that northerly gales are expected to buffet the boats from the off as they set out on the incredible 6,000-mile route, which will take them to Nemo Point - the most remote spot in the world - and the notorious challenge of Cape Horn.

American Brad Van Liew, skipper of Le Pingouin, is currently in the lead having won the previous two ocean sprints in the 30,000-mile race.

Published in Offshore

Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of.   For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water.  The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.

The Forty-foot Christmas Day swim

A Dublin institution that brings people from across Dublin and beyond for a dip in the chilly winter sea. Bathers arrive in the dark from 6 am and by noon the entire forty foot is a sea of red Santa hats!