It was described as a great grey ghost coming out of the mist by the Fire Island coast guard on duty as the RMS Queen Elizabeth came into view. It was March 7, 1940, and no one in New York was expecting the arrival of the world’s largest ocean liner, which meant everything had gone... Continue Reading →
Australia’s Antarctic Ships
On October 16, 2021, the Australian Antarctic Division’s (AAD) brand-new icebreaker RSV Nuyina arrived in its homeport of Hobart for the very first time. The ship will carry expeditioners to and from the bottom of the world, resupply Australia’s sub-Antarctic and polar stations and will be crucial in future scientific discoveries. Nuyina builds upon a... Continue Reading →
The Polly Woodside and Its Restoration
The Polly Woodside has been a Melbourne icon for many years. The ship has a rich history that dates back to 1885 but it had been left to rot by the mid-1960s. Sold to the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) for one cent in 1968, Polly was painstakingly restored to its former glory by a... Continue Reading →
Why the Titanic Was thought to be Unsinkable
The RMS Titanic is the most famous ship in history due to its tragic fate of sinking on its maiden voyage. On April 14, 1912, and close to midnight, the ship collided with an iceberg and with over 2200 people aboard almost 70% would perish. Ironically, too, the Titanic was also described as being unsinkable.... Continue Reading →
Five Years of the RV Investigator
Australia’s scientific research flagship, the RV Investigator, celebrates five years of service this month. The vessel is maintained by the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and studies a wide variety of Earth sciences—including oceanology, meteorology and biology. It’s nearly 100 m long, is designed to spend up to 300 days a year on... Continue Reading →