By Michael Grey* There can be few who were even remotely surprised at the guilty verdict and six-year jail sentence for the master of the container feeder Solong, which plunged like a misguided missile into the side of the anchored Stena Immaculate off the Humber last March. There seemed to have been no rational explanation […]
By Michael Grey* A nuclear reactor, I can recall my father, who was a naval engineer, explaining, was just “an advanced form of kettle” and nothing to be too excited about. I can remember him shaking his head at the decisions to fit warships with gas turbine propulsion, about the same time as I was
On our Forum: Questions aplenty on a nuclear propulsion option for merchant shipping… Read More »
By Michael Grey* “Is it legal?” This was a question asked by a friend when we learned of the news that President Trump’s agile forces had seized a large tanker off Venezuela and several of us, including a distinguished maritime lawyer, were rather stumped for an answer. But a week later when this is being
On our Forum: When the rules on ship seizures become redundant… Read More »
By Michael Grey* There is not a great deal to cheer about as we stumble, haltingly, into the uncertainty of 2026. True, the major carriers are cautiously resurrecting their Suez transits, although there are precious few guarantees that what faction currently runs Houthi High Command will not decide to indulge in some target practice, to
On our Forum: Growing lawlessness at sea and tariff war darken new year outlook Read More »
By Michael Grey* At a certain time in one’s life, you begin to appreciate a good obituary. Not necessarily of a life well lived, as there can be much interest in learning about the life of a thorough blackguard, or someone whose stars have never been altogether in the ascendant. The late author John Winton
On our Forum: Reminiscing on past naval lives and a training ship Read More »
By Michael Grey* As tens of thousands of weary delegates stagger off their righteously offset intercontinental flights, leaving the inhabitants of Belem to clear up the mess from a fortnight of COP30 (November 10-25) in the Brazilian jungle, there are just a few signs of hope. Not in any progress that might have emerged from
On our Forum: Candid thoughts on the COP30 climate change conference… Read More »
By John Gruetzner* Canada needs to act quickly to protect the viability of its commodity export industries. For the cost of one submarine, the Carney government can deliver a public/private sector partnership under what I would like to name Project Bluenose to address two maritime voids in Canada’s economic security. The first is the relatively
On our Forum: Canada must control its destiny at sea as part of trade diversification Read More »
By Yoan Marier* A threat without clear answers The numbers speak for themselves. In the past decade, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has received nearly 400 reports of vessel fires, and 10% of those fires resulted in the total loss of the vessel. While fatalities remain rare, the consequences of shipboard fires can
On our Forum-Sounding the alarm: The critical risk of vessel fires Read More »
By Michael Grey* When something goes badly wrong, it is human nature to attempt to deflect the blame and to cite extenuating circumstances to explain away everything from why you took up a life of crime, to the reasons for driving at 50mph in a 20mph zone. It has become quite scientific these days, with
On our Forum: The art of devolving responsibility Read More »
By Michael Grey* It must be summer, when there is the annual alarm in the UK about the potential catastrophe from the detonation of 1400 tonnes of high explosives sitting in the mouldering holds of the Liberty ship Richard Montgomery. They have rested there inoffensively since the ship dragged her anchor and grounded in the