Environment

As Tropical Storm Danielle dissipates in the North Atlantic, the East Coast of the U.S. is bracing for a brush with Hurricane Earl. Earl is now a powerful Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 135 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and a watch is in effect for the southeastern Bahamas.The center of Earl will continue to move away from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands this morning and move over the open Atlantic east of the Turks and Caicos. Tropical storm force winds extend as far as 200 miles. The hurricane center warns that interests from the Carolinas northward to New England should monitor the progress of Earl. Complete report in Trade Only Today.
Check out the NOAA's storm page to get a read on the predicted track of the season’s second major hurricane that looks like it will be rolling up the eastern seaboard from Florida to Newfoundland. You might find value in playing with the animations on the tracking page by Sailing Weather Service where you can zoom in over the Chesapeake or New England.

After 130 days and 8000 miles, Sailing News friend David de Rothschild, his 60-foot plastic-bottle cat ‘Plastiki’ and the intrepid crew have reached Sydney, Australia, the final destination of their cross-Pacific voyage from San Francisco, CA. Yesterday they arrived at Sydney’s Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, to the welcome of family, friends and supporters. The ‘Plastiki’ was officially greeted by Sydney’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Phillip Black and the US Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich. The pursuit of this ocean expedition that started in March in San Francisco was to alert the world to the effects of single-use plastics on the health of the oceans and its inhabitants. The boat will be on public display for the next month at the ANMM. Read their blog and see the gallery.

A couple who took a yacht for a quiet sailing trip were stunned when a 40-ton whale crash-landed on their boat off Cape Town RSA. The pair were enjoying calm seas off the South African coast when the animal flipped into the air and smashed into their mast. Ralph Mothes, 59, and Paloma Werner, 50, were helpless as the beast thrashed around on their 33ft vessel before slipping back into the water. The story and a slide show.

‘Plastiki,’ David de Rothschild’s plastic bottle catamaran, is on schedule to reach their final destination of Sydney by July 25. Boat and crew will be moored in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Originally they wanted to pit stop at Coffs Harbour and rendezvous with a pre-arranged charter escort vessel. But due to the “unpredictable nature of ‘Plastiki’s’ sailing capabilities and the prevailing weather conditions,” as a press release put it, the crew opted to get the escort vessel sooner to avoid being set north of their intended staging destination of Coffs Harbor. The 13 meter AVCG vessel, ‘The Mooloolaba Rescue’ rendezvoused with the ‘Plastiki’ on Sunday afternoon and is now in Mooloolaba. Read the phone log from a call by the Man, David de Rothschild, himself.

It’s a rough ride for Plastiki’, David de Rothschild’s plastic bottle cat that is on it’s way from Samoa to Sydney Australia. Gale force winds and 25-foot waves are their companions as the boat twists, yaws and lurches toward Oz. They will put in somewhere on the coast, probably Coffs Harbour, before rolling into Sydney, provided the boat holds up. No dates have been announced. Vern Moen blogged about the experience:
‘Mr. T, David, Max, and myself are wrestling 60 knots of wind as we perch off the bow and wrestle the headsail like we’ve never wrestled before. It’s like holding onto the cape of a giant, flying grizzly bear. All hands on deck. No cameras were rolling. It’s not documented anywhere. A moment that is just for the three of us to keep.We’re currently experiencing a different side of the ocean than what we’ve grown so accustomed to in the previous 6,700 miles. We seem to have ventured into the land of 60 knot winds and 25 foot waves.Being on the helm is the most dramatic view of the situation. Physically, you’re about a foot away from the edge of the boat, so as a wave builds, it seems to be building especially for you. Though waves hit the side every 3 seconds, the biggest waves come in sets; about every 1 minute, and there’s usually 3 per set. These are the monsters.” Read it all.

Last Wednesday, the "Whale Warrior“ Captain Pete Bethune, member of the Sea Shepherds was sentenced to two years and he will be deported back to New Zealand on July 9th with his sentence suspended. On January 6, 2010, Captain Hiroyuki Komura of the illegal Japanese whaling vessel the 'Shonan Maru #2' deliberately rammed and destroyed Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s vessel, the 'Ady Gil'. Es wurde schwer beschädigt und sank. (More ...). Captain Bethune’s mission was successful. His efforts helped save the lives of 528 whales. He was able to take one of the harpoon vessels off the hunt when it was forced to return him to Japan. Most importantly, he exposed the brutality and illegality of the Japanese whaling fleet to the world. The report.

In days, the International Whaling Commission will gather in Agadir, Morocco to vote on a proposal that would legalize commercial whale hunting for the first time since 1986. The global public is against this proposal, but pro-whaling countries are pushing for it hard. Let's make sure these voices are heard. Avaaz.org – an international platform for petitions and polls - has already collected over 750'000 votes. Avaaz has a team on the ground in Agadir setting up billboards, publishing front-page newspaper ads, and building a giant, constantly-updating petition counter to show that the world's people oppose whale slaughter. Let's give this campaign a massive boost! Help reach 1 million signatures -- sign the petition, and pass it along to everyone you know.

World Oceans Day was a day to celebrate our seas and a time to honor ocean heroes across the planet. But not in Japan, where two anti-whaling activists, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, known as the Tokyo Two, were arrested two years ago after exposing government corruption at the heart of Japan's whaling industry. They stood trial last week and the prosecution demanded a sentence of 18 months in jail. If imposed, this would be the longest jail term for any Greenpeace activist. Read the Greenpeace report.

The Coast Guard has given BP engineers to the end of the weekend to increase the containment of the oil spilling from the ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico. The order came in a letter sent to the company on Friday by Rear Adm. James A. Watson, who is the federal government’s on-scene coordinator for the cleanup effort. The letter, which was released to the media on Saturday, was sent to Doug Suttles, BP’s chief operating officer. Read the New York Times report and view the shocking gallery.

No matter how you parse it, the Gulf oil spill looks like a catastrophe that will have far-reaching implications on energy policy, on seafood prices and on recreational boating. Just how much has spilled since the explosion of the drilling rig a month ago, is a wild guess, because neither government nor BP seem to be eager to measure it. The New York Times reported that two ocean scientists of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, “who have routinely made such measurements, spoke extensively to BP last week … and were poised to fly to the gulf to conduct volume measurements,” but were told “not to come.” The Times published estimates that range from 6.2 million gallons (NOAA) to 83 million (worst case scenario by BP). By comparison the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 was 10.8 million gallons. Now that the slick is connecting to the circular current in the Gulf it looks like it is only going to be a matter of time before it reaches the Florida Keys. Check the NYT oil tracker map and join the discussion on our Facebook page.

Tomorrow Friday, the City of Hamburg starts the festivities for the 821st (!) anniversary of its harbour with a number of attractions along the Elb shore. A special attention goes to the (Swiss company owned) solar catamaran Planet Solar which will moor in Hamburg. The communiqué (PDF).
The video of the last year's celebrations gives a extensive overview on the event. See also the program in detail.

After 39 days and 3617 nautical miles at sea the Plastiki crew have reached Christmas Island within the Republic of Kiribati and the Line Islands. Having now completed nearly half of the distance as the crow flies to Sydney, and sailed the longest, most remote leg of the journey they arrived at Christmas Island on Wednesday 28th April. Upon their arrival they were greeted by 100 locals aboard a rusty boat that guided the plastic bottle catamaran into a mooring where the crew quickly disembarked to set foot on dry land after 39 days at se. Later the crew talked to 1,000 high school students on the topic of recycling and the need to raise awareness for this issue. Once they are prepared for the next leg, photographer Luca Babini and Graham Hill, founder of Treehugger.com will replace Vern Moen and Olav Heyerdahl. Follow the expedition.

After 39 days and 3617 nautical miles at sea the Plastiki crew have reached Christmas Island within the Republic of Kiribati and the Line Islands. Having now completed nearly half of the distance as the crow flies to Sydney, and sailed the longest, most remote leg of the journey they arrived at Christmas Island on Wednesday 28th April. Upon their arrival they were greeted by 100 locals aboard a rusty boat that guided the plastic bottle catamaran into a mooring where the crew quickly disembarked to set foot on dry land after 39 days at se. Later the crew talked to 1,000 high school students on the topic of recycling and the need to raise awareness for this issue. Once they are prepared for the next leg, photographer Luca Babini and Graham Hill, founder of Treehugger.com will replace Vern Moen and Olav Heyerdahl. Follow the expedition.

According to the journal 'Nature Geoscience', a deep ocean current with a volume equivalent to 40 Amazon Rivers has been discovered by Japanese and Australian scientists near the Kerguelen plateau, in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean, 4,200 kilometres south-west of Perth. Read the artcicle in CSIRO.

The Chinese Shen Neng 1 has run aground on Douglas Shoals, close to the Great Keppel Island tourist resort. The shoals, which lie off the coast of Queensland state in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, are in a protected part of the reef where shipping is restricted by environmental law. Authorities fear an oil spill will damage the world's largest coral reef, which lies off northeast Australia and listed as a World Heritage site for its environmental value. A small slick of oil stretching about two miles into the ocean has already escaped from the vessel. The ship, loaded with 65,000 tonnes of coal and about 975 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, hit the reef at full speed and was nine miles outside the shipping lane when the accident took place. Efforts are now underway to prevent the ship breaking up. Anna Bligh, the Queensland state premier, said a salvage team had reached the 755 foot ship and were attempting to stabilise it. Read the initial report and watch the BBC video.

With yesterday’s launch and christening, a new phase has started for the Swiss-based PlanetSolar, mainly financed by the German solar energy pioneer Immo Ströher, the spiffy all-solar vessel that is set to motor around the world to highlight the possibilities of renewable energy. A 330-foot crane lifted her out of the hangar at the Knierim yard in Kiel, Germany and placed her into the waters of the frigid Baltic Sea. The coming months are dedicated to testing to get ready for that circumnavigation, which is due to start in 2011 and will lead the boat on a 27,000-mile trip, following the sun on an East-to-West equatorial route. It will start in the Med, cross the Atlantic, pass through the Panama Canal, cross the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean and return to the Med through the Suez Canal, hoping to elude the pirates off East Africa. Estimated trip time is 160 days, the average speed is calculated to be 7.5 knots. There will be multiple stopovers to educate the public about renewable energy systems. Read the press release (PDF)and follow the project.

Here’s a trip update from the Plastiki, David de Rothschild's eco catamaran, which is under way from San Frandisco, Calif., to Sydney, Australia. The ditty was filed by Vern Moen, Plastiki’s filmmaker, director and owner of the most magnificent moustache. Read the entire report, track their progress and listen to Dave's account about mal de mer.

On Monday, March 22, the Croatian ferry Tin Ujevic crashed into the pier during a docking maneuver inside the harbor of Split, CRO. The impact tore open a 10-foot by 10-foot section of the hull at the waterline and caused 33 tons of diesel fuel to leak into the environment. Nobody was injured in the incident. Environmental response teams were dispatched to prevent the fuel from reaching open waters and to alleviate the smell that is bothering residents. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The 300-foot vessel can carry up to 200 cars and 1,000 passengers. It was built in 2002 in Greece. Check the photo gallery, and the video.

After a collision of a huge iceberg with an Antarctic glacier, an ice surface of the size of Luxemburg has separated and is floating independently. This incident could have an impact on the global climate. A report.

After a long delay it finally is happening: Today at 9:30 a.m. PDT at the Maritime Center, 420 West Harbor Drive, Sausalito, Calif., the Plastiki is set to cut her lines to sail across the Pacific from San Francisco, Calif. to Sydney, Australia. Trying to raise awareness about the sad state of ocean health and the millions of tons of plastic pollution, adventurer and environmentalist David de Rothschild, along with his crew including skipper Jo Royle, co-skipper David Thomson, Olav Heyerdahl, National Geographic filmmaker Max Jourdan and Myoo Media’s Vern Moen, are embarking on this 11,000-mile trip aboard their 60-foot catamaran that was built from 12,500 reclaimed bottles and srPET, a fully recyclable plastic. An “off-the-grid” vessel relying primarily on 'green' systems, the Plastiki and her crew will also demonstrate how to use waste as a resource and showcase real-world solutions like electricity generation from renewable energy sources, composting toilet, rainwater catchment system and a small garden. The crew expects to make the trip in 100 days with two stopovers along the way. Follow the trip.

The world's largest, non-lethal whale research expedition has returned from Antarctic waters with a range of new information that will help inform future marine mammal conservation. Environment Protection Minister Peter Garrett said that the joint Australia-New Zealand Antarctic Whale Expedition – with scientists from Australia, New Zealand and France – had achieved significant milestones during the six-week voyage in the Southern Ocean aboard the New Zealand National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) vessel R.V Tangaroa. "The research undertaken on this expedition indicates that there are effective and achievable ways to collect a whole range of important whale data without the need to kill these mammals," Mr Garrett said. Read the whole story

A pioneering deep-sea exploration robot—one of the first successful submersible vehicles that was both unmanned and untethered to surface ships—was lost at sea two weeks ago, on March 5, while on a research expedition off the coast of Chile. The 15-year-old Autonomous Benthic Explorer, affectionately nicknamed ABE, had reached the seafloor to begin its 222nd research dive when the radio connection with the surface vessel was interrupted and efforts to reestablish contact failed. Researchers on board the research vessel 'Melville' believe the vehicle may have suffered a catastrophic implosion of one of the glass spheres used to keep ABE buoyant. ABE, designed and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, was unretired to explore the Chile Triple Junction, the only place on Earth where a mid-ocean ridge is being subducted (or pushed beneath) a continent (South America) in a deep ocean trench. Full report.

With the release of several early seasonal hurricane forecasts for this year, boaters and marina operators may face a much different scenario than last year's relatively mild storm season. Accuweather, a nationwide weather service, recently reported it expects 2010 to be an "extreme season" with as many as 18 named storms, a 100-percent increase over 2009. BoatU.S., a national boat owners group says that most boaters and marinas can survive by being better prepared. The Web site offers storm planning materials including a hurricane preparation worksheet, an in-depth 'Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes,' and checklists for what to do before and after a hurricane strikes. Sample hurricane plans for boat and yacht clubs as well as up-to-the-minute storm tracking tools with live satellite images are also available.

One of the most remote island countries on earth, Niue lies in the South Pacific Ocean, a lone Polynesian coral island between Samoa to the north, the Cook Islands to the east and Tonga to the west. Niue is thought to be a possible area where humpback whales from the eastern and western Pacific meet and mix. OceansWatch has been approached by Olive Andrews from the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium (SPWRC) for assistance. Together with the Niue Government and a local NGO, Oma Tafua, Olive aims to conduct sighting surveys during the late winter south-bound migration of humpback whales. Due to the lack of an appropriate boat and financial constraints this project could not be carried out last year. OceansWatch has been approached by the 'South Pacific Whale Research Consortium' SPWRC for assistance. Together with the Niue Government and a local NGO, Oma Tafua, Olive aims to conduct sighting surveys during the late winter south-bound migration of humpback whales. More details in an article by Sail World.

Plastic trash clogs the oceans, kills wildlife and snags keels and rudders. In an attempt to raise awareness about the millions of tons of plastic sloshing around on the high seas, Save Our Oceans and Australian sailor Ian Thomson have teamed up. Thomson will set off in late April to break the record for a non-stop solo circumnavigation of Australia. The current record is owned by David Beard AUS in 68 days 8 hours and 30 minutes. Thomson wants to do it in less than 50 days. Read the report.

Fossil corals, up to half a million years old, are providing fresh hope that coral reefs may be able to withstand the huge stresses imposed on them by today’s human activity. Reef ecosystems were able to persist through massive environmental changes imposed by sharply falling sea levels during previous ice ages, an international scientific team has found. This provides new hope for their capacity to endure the increasing human impacts forecast for the 21st century. That's the result of this world's first study at eight fossile coral reefs in the Huon-Gulf region of Papua Neuguinea. An article in Powerboat World.

Serious fun at shoreside parties often has a dirty secret: The serious amount of trash that’s left behind. And the folks at the upcoming the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta want to do something about it. Like last year, they participate in the Clean Regatta Program by non-profit Sailors for the Sea to create environmental awareness and to reduce their impact on oceans and coastal waters. Here’s how they’ll do it: Issuing reusable bow numbers, enabling paperless registration, using biodegradable office products, using absorbing pads to prevent oil and fuel spills, passing out biodegradable drinking cups and straws at the parties, and selling bracelets to raise money for marine parks on the island. Read more about the eco-conscious attitude in St. Maarten.

Despite the famous name, David de Rothschild is an adventurer in his own right. He was the youngest Brit to reach the North and South Pole and he crossed the Arctic and Greenland’s ice cap, all of which puts him into illustrious company and netted him a slew of accolades. But the adventure goes on. Supported by sponsors like Swiss watch company IWC Schaffhausen, Hewlett Packard and Inmarsat, he now wants to sail 11,000 miles across the Pacific ocean, from California to Australia on Plastiki, a 60-foot catamaran made out of recycled PET plastic bottles.
His mission, which recently was introduced to an international Press Corps in San Francisco: Creating awareness for the millions of tons of plastic garbage that should have been recycled, but went into landfills or the ocean instead. It may sound a little crazy, but de Rothschild is a man who’s not just endowed with considerable means but also confidence and many believe he can pull this off successfully. For part of the voyage he and his sailing crew will be accompanied Olav and Josian Heyerdahl, two grandchildren of the famous Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl. Read the Sailing News-Interview (PDF) with David de Rothschild.

Weather and preparations permitting, Plastiki, David de Rothschild's 60-foot catamaran made from recycled plastic bottles, might shove off for its 11,000-mile trip across the Pacific from San Francisco, Calif., to Sydney, Australia. However, space on board will be limited to six or seven. Four will be the primary sailing crew, the rest (i.e. a camera team from National Geographic) will document the trip for posterity. See also the Sailing News Interview with de Rothschild. Therefore, a report about Elizabeth Jagger, the oldest daughter of Rolling Stones front man Mick joining the trip sounded a little peculiar. Lizzie is a famous model and an actress, not an ocean sailor. Maybe we're missing something here, so we checked with the Plastiki Camp and were told: 'Lizzie Jagger was at their christening party Saturday night and someone must have started a rumor.'

There has been much publicity about the Northern Pacific Garbage Patch, and with the 'Plastiki', a catamaran constructed with PET-bottles, the adventurer David de Rothschild is actually drawing the attention to this phenomena: Polystyrene, thongs, bottle tops, and shotgun caps. But now scientists have confirmed the existence of a giant garbage patch in the Atlantic Ocean as well. The large floating patch of discarded plastic is north of the Caribbean and is a similar in volume to the 'great Pacific garbage patch' that lies in the middle of the North Pacific Gyre, a giant whirlpool caused by the currents of the ocean that collects floating objects into its centre. An article in Sail World.

Yesterday, the 30-meter Solar-trimaran 'Planet Solar' was unveiled for the first time at the HDW-shipyard in Kiel GER. In a few weeks already, she shall be launched. The round-the-world rounding project with solar energy only will start in 2011. The report (PDF) in french.

It’s over twenty years since the discovery of the ozone hole drew world attention to the impact of human activity on the global environment. No reason to celebrate, but it might be of interest to repeat again the facts as done in an article in Powerboat World.

Dieter Loibner, an Austrian yachting journalist living in the US recently published a book with the title 'Sustainable Sailing' about the increasing impact of sailing on the environment. He explains how sailors can be a positive force for change. An interview with the author.

Carol Kent Yacht Charters in Marblehead (USA) arranges yachting vacations is finding their water sampling vs. carbon offset project - an attempt to 'do their bit' in the battle against climate change - is a hit with their customers. They, and the researchers they sponsor, are hoping that other companies will follow suit. The project is coordinated by One Healthy Ocean. An article in Sail World.

OceansWatch is looking for yachts for projects in Vanuatu for the coming season, and volunteers to assist in exciting projects in the South Pacific. For several years now, this international organisation of sailors devoted to working with divers and scientists has helped coastal communities conserve their marine environment and develop livelihoods sustainable into the future. ceansWatch will be giving ReefCheck training to snorkellers and divers early in the season (April to October), possibly again mid-season if there is enough demand. With this training, those interested, who also become members of the organisation, will be able to assist with follow-up reef surveys in the communities that were visited last year such as Vanuatu. An article in Sail World.

Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, known as the “Tokyo Two”, are due to stand trial on February 15th - charged for theft and trespass. But over the past two years it has become clear that much more is now under the legal spotlight. Corrupt government practices, censoring public information, Japan’s adherence to international law, freedom of speech and the right of individual protest together with the commercial killing of thousands of whales are all under the spotlight. (more...). And before the verdict has even been rendered, a working group of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has already ruled that, in the defendants' attempts to expose a scandal in the public interest, their human rights have been breached by the Japanese justice system. The Working Group’s opinion is the first of its kind for Japan. The details

One proposed strategy to offset rising levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil-fuel-burning power plants and pump them into the ocean depths. Under the pressure of the deep sea, the CO2 would remain sequestered, proponents say—out of the atmosphere, out of sight, and out of mind. But some tiny but critical denizens of the seafloor might be out of luck. In experiments they conducted on the seafloor of Monterey Bay off California (MBARI), they found that some organisms survived exposure to high concentrations of CO2, but others were killed. The researchers published their results in the November 2009 issue of the journal Global Change Biology. An article in Powerboat World.

She's finally afloat and test sailing. For well over a year now, Sail-World.has been reporting the progress of the construction of a very strange vessel at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. The appropriately named Plastiki, made of 12,000 reclaimed plastic soda bottles, was originally meant to cross the Pacific a year ago, but the project proved more difficult than originally thought. But soon, David de Rothschild can set sails from San Francisco to Sydney. An article in Sail World.

'Ocean Watch', the 64-foot steel cutter on its Around the Americas Expedition with the mission to draw attention to the fragility of our oceans, has rounded the Cap Horn. The 'Ocean Watch' started in May 2009 in Seattle and is one of only 100 boats in 100 years to have traveled through the Northwest Passage (more...) and now proudly announces the sail around Cape Horn. '... two simply remarkable feats on its 25,000 mile journey,' said founder David Rockefeller, Jr. 'Around the Americas' has been launched by the Sailors for the Sea. An article in Sail World.

Dieter Loibner, an Austrian yachting journalist living in the US recently published a book with the title 'Sustainable Sailing' about the increasing impact of sailing on the environment. He explains how sailors can be a positive force for change. An interview with the author.

Dieter Loibner, an Austrian yachting journalist living in the US recently published a book with the title 'Sustainable Sailing' about the increasing impact of sailing on the environment. He explains how sailors can be a positive force for change. An interview with the author.

The Carbon fibre 24 metre (78 foot) bio-diesel powered 'Ady Gil' of the Animal Protection Organisation Sea Shepherd, formerly the 'Earthrace', the round the world powerboat record holder, tangled with the 'Shonan Mauru 2', a Japanese whale fisherboat, approx. 2'500 miles south of Tasmania. Both the Japanese whalers and the Sea Shepherd crew blame each other for the incident, A report in Power Boat World with the video.

Whereas the probability of a fast down-wind race is more and more confirmed by the weather forecast, other environmental unknowns could play a role in the outcome of the Race: Sunfishs, weighting up to 2,5 tons, are very numerous in this region, swimming mostly close to the surface of the sea. Already in previous races, collisions have happened causing damages at the keels and rudders, forcing yachts to abandon the Race. A report.

OceansWatch members on the Ha'apai group of islands in Tonga contributed to the success of an enormous cleanup event in October organized by the New Zealand charity Sustainable Coastlines. Over 3000 people turned out from a total population of around 4500, with young and old joining forces to pick up rubbish from every corner of Foa and Lifuka Islands. In this major effort to clean their coastlines, Ha'apai Islands have provided a blue print for other like communities around the World. An article in Sail World.

The first comprehensive review of the state of Antarctica’s climate and its relationship to the global climate system was published Tuesday 1 December by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The report concentrates the influence and the consequences from the warming of the Antarctica, the melting ice, the effects on animals and plants, the increase of CO2 and the role of men in this process. Surprising is the statement that the hole in the ozon layer is supposed to protect the Antarctica from warming. The report.

A UK proposal for the designation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) covering a large area of the Southern Ocean in the British Antarctic Territory, south of the South Orkney Islands was successful at the recent annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The new South Orkney Islands southern shelf MPA encompasses an area just under 94,000 square kilometres (which is more than four times the size of Wales), and will come into force in May 2010. The new MPA will prohibit all fishing activities, as well as waste disposal and discharge from fishing vessels within its boundaries, and will allow for improved coordination of scientific research activities. The South Orkneys MPA will be the world’s first entirely ‘High Seas’ marine protected area. A report.

Now the summer season is over, the numbers are out. A record number of vessels, mostly sailing boats, but everything from from rowboats to cargo ships, travelled through the Northwest Passage this year, according to the Canadian Coast Guard, to a total of 23, up from 17 last year. An article in Sail-World.

Joining a growing chorus of world-wide scientists and marine biologists, Australian Alistair McIlgorm of the National Marine Science Center in Coffs Harbor on the New South Wales coast says 6.4 million tons of debris reaches the world's oceans each year. Of that, 80 percent is thought to come from land based sources, more than half of the rubbish is believed to be plastic, A report of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). An article in Sail World.

An international programme combining an eco responsible initiative and a sailing competition, including ocean races, a World Tour, a European Tour and “city races », attracting the best skippers in the world. One-design 70’ multihulls – all equal on the ocean! – will carry the message of the eco responsible initiative called the “Multi One Attitude” defending a vital cause: the preservation of Water. A rich and exciting programme that starts today! The Press Release and the official website.

Reporting this week in the journal 'Nature researchers', the 'British Antarctic Survey' (BAS) and the University of Bristol describe how analysis of millions of NASA satellite measurements from both the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets shows that the most profound ice loss is a result of glaciers speeding up where they flow into the sea. This kind of ice loss is so poorly understood that it remains the most unpredictable part of future sea level rise. The report.

Over three months ago, the 'Silent Sound' with a crew of four scientists started an expedition to cross North-West on the 'Inside Passage'. (More...). During their Open Passage Expedition, they set out to use the written word, video and photos to tell the story of how climate change is affecting Arctic communities. A report with the personal impressions of the skipper Cameron Dueck (Kanada) in Sail World.

Scientists gathered in Iceland for a conference are urging government leaders headed to Copenhagen for climate talks later this year to pursue carbon capture and sequestration as a way of addressing global warming. As levels of planet-warming carbon dioxide continue to rise, this technique for removing excess carbon dioxide from the air and storing it safely underground must be part of the solution for solving climate change. We are in a mess with CO2," says Wallace Broecker, a climate scientist at Columbia University, "a mess that is cheaper to clean up now, than meeting the consequences of global warming later." An article in the BYM Marine Environment News .

The 'Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology' (IMarEST) recognises that climate change is the most important issue facing humanity, in that its effects will be global and may locally be severe. Working to this strongly held belief, the Institute will publish its powerful Position Statement on Climate Change on Tuesday 13 October at the highly relevant ‘Marine Environmental Briefing – Practical implications of new technology’ event being staged to celebrate IMarEST President’s Day. The report.

A new 2,000-year-long reconstruction of sea surface temperatures (SST) from the Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP) suggests that temperatures in the region may have been as warm during the Medieval Warm Period as they are today. The IPWP is the largest body of warm water in the world, and, as a result, it is the largest source of heat and moisture to the global atmosphere, and an important component of the planet’s climate. Climate models suggest that global mean temperatures are particularly sensitive to sea surface temperatures in the IPWP. Understanding the past history of the region is of great importance for placing current warming trends in a global context. The reconstruction has been executed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). An article in Powerboat World.

Wissenschaftler des Scripps Scientists of the [url=wxw.scripps.edu/e_index.html]Scripps Research Institute have just completed an unprecedented journey into the vast and little-explored "Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch." On the Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition (SEAPLEX), researchers got the first detailed view of plastic debris floating in a remote ocean region and its influence on the biology of the Gyre. The report.

An independent assessment of the impact of an oil and gas development in the Russian Far East on endangered grey whales must dictate the fate of current Shell operations, a proposed offshore platform and undersea pipeline, according to WWF. On the eve of the publication of the independent review WWF is calling on Royal Dutch Shell and Japan’s Mitsui and Mitsubishi to act immediately on any scientific findings concerning development activities in the sole feeding grounds of the critically endangered western grey whale. Reports by WWF UK and WWF Switzerland.

In the wake of Charles Darwin, who sailed from Plymouth on the HMS Beagle, on 1 September his great-great-granddaughter Sarah Darwin will embark on the same trip. While Charles Darwin's observations during his journey around the world led to his publication of the Origin of Species that changed the way we view the world, 150 years later Sarah Darwin will sail the entire voyage again "on the Future of Species." [url=beagle.vpro.nl/#page/item/12/english/]

Migaloo, the white albino whale that has been appearing off Australia's east coast since 1991, is here again! The now famous albino whale was sighted between Hardy Reef and Shute Harbour in the Whitsunday Islands on Tuesday, on his way to tropical waters. An article in Sail World.

After the ice thawing in 2007 and 2008 several sailing yachts and motor yachts are attempting the daunting 7,000 mile journey through North West passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans above Canada in 2009. However, the ice conditions have reversed this year making it a tougher passage. Seven yachts - one of them the expedition boat 'Ocean Watch' of the Sailors for the Sea - are on the way on different routes. An article in Sail World.

There are several vessels, both power and sail-driven, who are trying to make it through the North West Passage without ice in summer since two years. Many of them for economical reasons saving time and fuel. While it's been documented that ships are big generators of greenhouse gases as it is, half of a cargo ship's particulate emissions are soot — and soot (aka black carbon) emitted by ships sailing in the polar region will further blacken the remaining ice. The dark ice in turn will lose more of its former solar reflectivity, absorbing sunlight and emitting solar heat instead. The Earth will then warm even faster. An article in Sail World.

The ongoing trial against Greenpeace activists Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki - we did inform some weeks ago - has seen the prosecution work to conceal as much evidence as possible. This strategy appears to be running out of steam, however, as the Aomori court this week directed the prosecutor to disclose all evidence relating to the case to the judges, so they can decide if it is relevant for inclusion in the case. An article in BYM.

While the 'Around the Americas' project sloop Ocean Watch waits for the ice to clear in Tuktoyaktuk on the north eastern coast of Canada, the news is not good for them, or the other yachts that are trying to transit the North West Passage this year - the ice is not clearing as expected. An article in Sail World.

The North Atlantic Oscillation is described by the NAO index, calculated as a weighted difference between the polar low and the subtropical high during the winter season. In a positive phase, both the low-pressure zone over Iceland and high pressure over the Azores are intensified, resulting in changes in the strength, incidence, and pathway of winter storms crossing the Atlantic. In a negative phase, a weak subtropical high and a weak Icelandic low results in fewer and weaker winter storms crossing on a more west-east pathway. The NAO index varies from year to year, but also exhibits a tendency to remain in one phase for intervals lasting more than a decade. An unusually long period of positive phase between 1970-2000 led to the suggestion that global warming was affecting the behavior of the NAO. An article in Powerboat World.

The expedition, which left Seattle on May 31, and whose mission is conducting scientific research as well as building local awareness of global warming, cannot proceed because of ' fast ice ', blocking their way. Nome, they say though, is not a bad place to be stuck. An article in Sail World.

According to scientific reports, 20% of all coral reefs are already distroyed. Another 24% will die in the next 50 years, if the negative influence will not be reduced. In reaction on these alerting facts, a coalition of 44 coral reef conservation groups and stakeholders, and one hundred and seventeen marine scientists and professionals has been formed requesting action by the White House and Congress. Among these organisations are The Ocean Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity, WWF International, Reef Check Foundation, NAUI and PADI Worldwide, Fugro Earth Data, Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club. The recommendations.

The Australian ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies has its Headquarters at the James Cook University at Townsville. In partnership with the James Cook University (JCU), the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), the Australian National University (ANU), the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the University of Queensland (UQ), the center is leading world-wide concerning the research of coral reefs. Read the latest report concerning the global warming and the frequent hurricanes and storms, causing increased disruption to coral reef's ability to breed and recover from damage.

The first ever visit to the UK of an international travelling exhibition about the mysterious, amazing and fascinating world of the deep sea is officially opened to the general public at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum. The exhibition is a visual interaction between art, science and technology and reveals the wonders inherent in the unusual organisms living deeper than light. Deeper than Light presents unique discoveries and impressions from deep sea expeditions along the mid-Atlantic Ridge. The BYM News and the tour dates of the exhibition «Deeper than Light», actually on show at Aberdeen.

Just in time at the beginning of summer, the algae that threatened the Olympic Games sailing venue last year has reappeared in the Yellow Sea off the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, local authorities said Monday. At the peak of the outbreak, the algae covered 32 percent of the sailing venue. More than 1 million tonnes of algae were cleared by 10,000 troops and volunteers, before the sailing events were held smoothly. This year, three ships have been dispatched since this February to research algae, provide data for clean-up and monitor its spread. An article in Sail World.

The ISAF has now also added a microsite environment to their website. Actually, there is an article concerning the ecological engagement of the Vendée Globe participants and a list of organisations concerned about the Oceans posted on the ISAF website.
Since three months, www.sailing-news.ch published all news found during our searching in the special section Environment.

Blue Sky Network (BSN) and Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) announced that they have agreed to supply the Open Passage Expedition with voice communications and GPS mapping technology for its upcoming four month-long Arctic journey. The 40 ft yacht 'Silent Sound" will travel through the North-West passage with the objective to change the public’s perception of climate change. The report.

New research led by the CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship and University of Queensland scientist Dr Anthony Richardson presents convincing evidence that the ’jellyfish joyride’ is associated with over-fishing and excess nutrients from fertilisers and sewage. Jelly fish aggregations can be a natural feature of healthy ocean ecosystems, but a clear picture is now emerging of more severe and frequent jellyfish outbreaks worldwide. An article in Powerboat World.

On all Oceans, there are large garbage patches, the biggest one by far is the North-Pacific-Garbage-Patch, trash on a surface ot 1.400.000 km2, caught by the circular current. "Plastiki", built by David de Rothschild and his team out of 12,500 plastic bottles, is on target for a departure in August to cross the 12,000 miles from San Francisco to Sydney right through the North-Pacific-Garbage-Patch. The website with an extraordinary video.

«Ocean Watch», Bruce Robert's yacht of «Sailors for the Sea», has started the circumnavigation of the Americas after a long preparation phase. The 64 ft-steel cutter is on a unique mission to awake the awareness for the seas and promote the environmental activities locally. The «Ocean Watch» did leave Seattle on time and plans to cross the 24'000 miles in 13 months. The report.

On June 8, Robert Murray's gripping documentary film «The End of the Line» has its debute. The elaborate film show the actual situation and the dark future regarding the overfishing of the seas and its consequences for mankind in breathtaking views. The distribution of thie production in other countries would be worthwhile.

Yesterday, the 'Silent Sound' departed from Victoria in British Columbia CAN to transit the North West Passage and bear witness to the signs of climate change. The Expedition wants to use written word, video and photos to tell the story of how climate change is affecting Arctic communities. The journey over the top of Canada is about 7,000 nautical miles long and will take some four months to complete. In each port they will hear the stories of the Inuit and others living in the Canadian Arctic who are most impacted by the changes, and they will then retell these stories to the world. An article in Sail World.

«Oceans Watch» is an organisation for the protection of the the South Pacific biosphere. If you are a diver/sailor and have some background in marine biology or similar, a dream experience awaits you in Vanuatu in the South Pacific, and you'll be helping the survival and health of coral reefs and the coastal communities that depend on them. The inscription contact and an article in Sail World.

One year ago, Greenpeace has put evidence on the biggest corruption scandal in the whaling industry. The two Greenpeace-activists J. Sato and T. Suzuki had taken a pack with whale meat out of a warehouse to prove illegal actions by the whale fisher «Nissin Maru». The report on the actual situation of the Court case.

The Coral Triangle is defined by marine zones containing at least 500 species of reef-building coral. The Coral Triangle supports livelihoods and provides income and food security, particularly for coastal communities. Resources from the area directly sustain more than 100 million people living there. From May 11-15 in Manado, Indonesia, the World Ocean Conference (WOC) 2009 discusses current issues facing the marine environment, specifically those relating to climate change. The Report.

In case of cruising plans on the Atlantic, Pacific or Indian Oceans, it might be of help for the researchers to pass over one of the five Garbage Patches. Observations and reports are urgently required to help to solve the enormous problem of waste floating around world-wide. As reported earlier, David de Rothschild with his catamaran 'Plastiki', built completely (except the mast) with recyled plastic bottles, plans to cross the Pacific to draw the attention to the Northern Pacific Garbage Patch. A report in Sail World.

The over-fishing of the European seas has come to an alerting extent. 88% of all fish supply are reduced to such a limit that its reproduction is in danger. See some statements of Greenpeace.

April 22 is Earth Day - Sailors save our planet. The Earth Day Network herefore published a list of facts about the global warming. The story.

The departure of the 'Plastiki', a 60 ft catamaran made entirely of used plastic bottles, planned for April 28th, has been delayed to the late summer. On a Pacific crossing), David de Rothschild wants to draw attention to the necessity to green our planet. The Garbage Patch, a huge area in the Northern Pacific had been discovered in 1999 by the oceanograph Charles Moore.

Frederick Cook claimed to be the first explorer to reach the North Pole, and Captain James Cook was maybe the greatest marine explorer of his time. And now, Capt. Tommy D. Cook with his 31-foot Corsair trimaran, the 'Lemuel R. Brigman III', will attempt to solo sail the Northwest Passage starting at Port Angeles, Washington, possible these days because of the global warming. A report in Sail-World.

The crew of the largest boat powered by solar energy, the 30-m-trimaran «PlanetSolar» equipped with 470m² photovoltaic solar modules, has a united goal: to be the first to circumnavigate the globe in a «solar» boat, i.e. one powered by a silent, pollution-free electrical engine, driven exclusively by solar energy. "PlanetSolar was dream and now it becomes reality. The first components will be finished by the end of this year" a statement of the Swiss adventurer Raphaël Domjan, who will be co-skipper of the trimaran together with the famous French adventurer Gérard d'Aboville. The first solar-driven circumnavigation from East to West following the equator is planned for 2010. A success would be a breakthrough for photovoltaics as a renewable energy resource.

The Wilkins Ice Shelf is at risk of partly breaking away from the Antarctic Peninsula as the ice bridge that connects it to Charcot and Latady Islands looks set to collapse. The beginning of what appears to be the demise of the ice bridge began this week when new rifts forming along its centre axis resulted in a large block of ice breaking away. The report from the European Space Agency (ESA) and from Greenpeace Austria.

In the past years, several tests have been made to equip big cargo ships with kites to considerably reduce the consumption of carburant. Now, there are plans to have a big cruise liner, the ecological 'Eoseas', propulsed by the wind, fitting it out with 5 masts and 12'000 m2 of sails in total. A article in Sail Surf.

The uncensored truth is that the Japanese public are paying for an ecologically and economically unsustainable whale hunt in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary that is neither needed or wanted by anyone outside the whaling industry and a handful of bureaucrats. The initial information regarding the whale meat scandal was brought to up by a whistleblower from within the industry. More ....

Climate change, rising sea levels, overfishing, pollution of seas and lakes - an increasing number of environmental issues also find an echo in the nautical media. Top sailors engage themselves in favor of these issues, such as Ellen MacArthur with her "albatross protection project". Also in Switzerland, sailors are committed for ecological questions. The Zurich Climate regatta organised by the 470-class will take place this May for the 2nd time. In the future, our information search early every morning will also concentrate on relevant news to be published in a new section 'Environment' of our website.

Sustainable fish consumption: Which fish and seafood are recommended? What should you avoid? The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) website informs on the fishery certification program and seafood eco-label recognising and rewarding sustainable fishing. Find out more about how to cook, eat and enjoy each of these different seafood species, certified sustainable when carrying the MSC ecolabel.

After 125 km, over half-way windsurfing across Bass Strait from Tasmania to Australia, Allison Shreeves AUS freezing and tired did abandon her attempt to cross this narrow as the first woman windsurfer. Initially, the 30-35 kn wind and waves of 3-4 meters facilitated a fast progress. But after 9 hours and a short interruption for an interview, the Australian, age 25, decided to abandon the race. Her objective to collect money for the 'Coast Care' project has been a success anyhow. The project website with a video.

Next Friday, four time Windsurfer World Champion Allison Shreeve will start to an attempt for a new world speed record across Bass Strait. The 27 year old plans to windsurf 250 km unassisted across the treacherous Strait to raise money for the 'Life on the Edge' campaign aiming to keep the coastlines clean. The necessary safety and communication facilities will be in place, and GPS-tracking and live video streaming on the Internet will allow to follow this challenge. An article in "Sail World" and Allison Shreeve's website.