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Juan Fernandez Archipelago revisited 300 years after Alexander Selkirk’s adventures For those of you with a spirit of adventure who long to travel to far flung places beyond the familiar hot spots, who want to get away from it all and experience the excitement of exploring those less familiar and remote destinations and who may

Klaipeda is the largest port town in Lithuania, one of the major harbours in the region and has in recent years become the largest port by turnover, and the northernmost ice-free port in the Baltics. The seaport handled 46.3 million tonnes of cargo in 2019 and is preparing for a major expansion during the next five years.

The shipping industry is in troubled waters, with sinking still surprisingly common. On average of 119 ships have been lost on the high seas each year over the past decade for a variety of reasons, according to insurance firm Allianz. Based on 2014 survey results the World Shipping Council estimates that there were approximately 733

The Lists of Lights publications of every maritime nation are issued by the nation’s Hydrographic Organisation and are updated up to the latest version of the Monthly Notices to Mariners. Typically, the UK Admiralty Lists of Lights and Fog Signals include a coverage of over 85,000 light structures: lighthouses, lit float marks, fog signals and

Since the incorporation of the Royal Charter in 1514, the seaman welfare has been placed at the forefront of the safety at sea. The correct depiction of Lighthouses, beacons and related aids to navigation, regulating initially the pilotage of the River Thames became the prime responsibility of Trinity House with its statutory duty as a

1864 – 1874 At the death of Rear Admiral Washington, the Hydrographer in 1863, the names of Captains Spratt and Richards were before the Board of Admiralty for the position of Hydrographer, the latter officer being the one selected. Due to bad health and having suffered very much from illness at Macao Captain Richards had

1855 – 1863 Captain John Washington succeeded Beaufort as Hydrographer. He had been actively employed in the hydrographic service since 1841. He had recently, just before the outbreak of the war, visited Denmark, Sweden and Russia ostensibly in connection with the Lifeboat Service, but had taken the opportunity to gather intelligence about the Russian Baltic

1829-1855 Francis Beaufort, Parry’s successor, was certainly the longest-serving, and probably the greatest, of all the Hydrographers to date. When he was appointed in May 1829 he already had twenty-five years of sea service behind him. Beaufort’s authority was increased by two moves early in his time as Hydrographer. In 1831 a Scientific Branch of

The modern, 21st century chart, known now as the ENC (Electronic Navigation Chart) is constantly visualized and updated during both, long sea voyages and port manoeuvres on the 19-inch monitor of the ship’s main computer. Oil tankers, container ships, naval vessels, passenger cruisers or luxurious super yachts – all by IMO’s (International Maritime Organisation) law

1823-1829 W. E. Parry was appointed Hydrographer on the 1st of December 1823, some months later after Hurd’s death. He was already a noted Arctic explorer. He pioneered the practice of wintering in ice, successfully keeping his crews’ morale and physique up during the long night of inactivity with entertainments and instructions. In October 1823