Category Archives: High Seas

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has told members that "an unauthorised party" may have pilfered a database containing personal information from 2015.

A statement issued by the boating organisation, which awards sailing qualifications and safety training to the Great British Public, said it had spotted the breach just over a week ago.

"On 17 January 2020 we became aware that an unauthorised party accessed and may have acquired a database created in 2015 containing personal data associated with a number of RYA user accounts," it said.

Stolen information included names, email addresses and "hashed passwords", including a "majority held with the salted hash function." No payment or financial information was said to have gone walkies.

The association statement, seen by The Reg this morning, continued: "Our investigation into this matter is ongoing and we have engaged leading data security firms, including forensic specialists, to assist in our investigation." The Information Commissioner's Office has been informed.

All boaty people with RYA online accounts have had their passwords reset, with account access being disabled until this is done. In an email sent to RYA members and seen by The Register, the association said: "We will provide more information to those users potentially impacted by this possible breach as soon as possible."

The standard post-breach advice is to change one's password, particularly on other sites or services where you've reused the same combination of email address/username and password. This helps prevent miscreants from using the same combination elsewhere to get into your online life.

Breaches of old credentials are a cause for concern. Many people simply keep using the same username and password until forced to change it, despite the best efforts of the infosec industry to convince them not to do that. It isn't plain sailing out on the cyber high seas.

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2015-member database floats off through breach in Royal Yachting Association's hull - The Register

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Okay, the best Pokmon by definition doesn't exist. The legendary pseudo captured by Ash Ketchum in episode 10 of Pokemon 2019 however, it really is one of the most loved and powerful of the entire saga, as well as one of those additions that served the young champion's team to be able to conquer other important trophies.

Feel free to pinch yourself if you have to because Ash Ketchum, 23 years after his first appearance, has finally managed to catch a Dragonite. At the bottom of the article you can take a look at the video of the capture, as well as some fantastic fan reactions.

Episode 10 opened with Ash and Go aboard a ship. Once you get off, Go manages to catch a Dewgong and rides him along with his companions to try to further expand his Pokdex. After losing control of his new Pokmon, engaged in the pursuit of a female Dewgong, the two end up on the high seas and find themselves beached on an island populated by Dragonite.

Here Ash manages to make friends with a Dragonair and helps him free one of his companions captured by Team Rocket. With the help of Pikachu the two emerge victorious from the confrontation and the Dragonair evolves in Dragonite. Ash prepares to resume his journey but the legendary pseudo seems to have become too fond of the protagonist and consequently asks to be captured.

Dragonite is currently the third Pokmon traveling with Ash, along with Pikachu and Mr. Mime.

And what do you think of it? Are you happy? Let us know by leaving a comment below! Meanwhile, we take this opportunity to remind you that the next episode of Pokmon will be dedicated to Koharu and that in the next one, the number 12, we will instead see a great battle.

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After 23 years, Ash Ketchum has finally caught the best Pokmon of all - Asap Land

Converted shipping containers are used as shops, storage facilities and workers' accommodation but there are still very few examples in Dunedin. Kim Dungey reports on one.

A Dunedin couple thought outside the box when building this property from shipping containers.

The shape and the cladding might give away its industrial roots but inside, it is difficult to believe you are in steel containers that carried goods on the high seas.

Former Otago rugby player Nick Moore said the project had taken longer than he thought, cost double what he expected and was something he would probably not do again, but once he and wife Nadene had committed to the project, there was no turning back.

As South Island manager for SEA Containers New Zealand, Mr Moore was already familiar with repurposed containers and keen to use them for their next rental property.

Designed to be stacked on top of one another, the units can also be placed side by side to provide multiple living areas and bedrooms.

On the bottom level, the containers serve as a kitchen-living area, a guest toilet, a bedroom and with five bedrooms the maximum permitted on site a large storage area.

There is also a carport, underneath the top level.

"Each container also has substantial structural support over and above what is required for housing as it had to be able to survive being transported and lifted by crane on to site."

Outside, landscaping is still to be completed. Inside, MDF offers a hardy wall lining and chipboard placed over the existing plywood floors provided a flat surface on which to lay carpet.

Closed-cell foam insulation, together with double glazing, keeps noise from the one-way road outside to a minimum.

While the couple planned to demolish the existing house in 2017 and have the new one ready to let at the start of 2018, the project took more than three years.

One big expense was moving the containers three times firstly from the container depot in Christchurch to an engineer in Southland, then to storage in Dunedin while foundations were completed, and finally to Ethel Benjamin Pl.

In hindsight, it would also have been better to remove complete walls as leaving part walls where the containers met meant framing them up on both sides, Mr Moore said.

Both, though, are happy with what they have created and delighted with feedback on the project.

"People have said that they didnt expect it to be this big inside, that it doesnt look like containers and that its very quiet," Mr Moore said.

"Im happy to see the end of it but Im really proud of the way its turned out."

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Outside the box - Otago Daily Times

Cruise of Thrones - inspired by the game-changing book series and HBO show - will take to the high seas in 2021, and bring to life the epic story that has inspired a generation and amassed a legion of followers.

This exclusive luxury cruise will visit various Game of Thrones filming locations throughout Europe, offering two unique itineraries which will travel through Iceland, Northern Ireland, Spain, Malta and Croatia.

The brainchild of Lynette Durovic, owner of Dalmatian Travel & Events, the inspiration for the cruise came from her die-hard appreciation for the George R.R Martin books.

It started with a day in Dubrovnik. I had just made the rounds of the city on a Game of Thrones tour and was sitting on a wall looking at the Red Keep, recalls Ms Durovic.

My heart was still pounding with the excitement of the experience. I wanted more. I wanted to see it all, from North of the Wall, to the Free cities, and everything in between. I also knew exactly how I wanted to do it ... from the decks of a luxury cruise ship, surrounded by thousands of fans like me.

Ms Durovic tells Express.co.uk that the cruise is for fans, from a fan, and will feature key elements which will be recognisable to GoT lovers everywhere, with extensive planning and innovation going into the entire experience.

READ MORE: Cruise secrets: Ex crew worker reveals what he wishes he could tell guests about the food

The creative process of conceiving, planning and orchestrating logistics on an international scale has been daunting but exciting, she says.

Ive done weddings, conventions, a humanitarian relief project to Syrian refugees in Croatia, coordinated a community women's conference and reunion cruises but nothing compared to the scope of Cruise of Thrones.

In the midst of developing the concept of Cruise of Thrones, the entrepreneur underwent some difficulty at a pivotal time.

About a year after I started developing the Cruise of Thrones project, I became ill and had to put my business on the back burner.

That was tough, says Ms Durovic. I don't enjoy letting people down and that's exactly what I felt I was doing."

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"It took me about two years to bounce back from that. It is pure joy to see this cruise come back together and to surpass where I was before.

Cruise of Thrones will set sail September 2021 and offers cruisers the chance to take the Northern Cruise of the Southern Cruise.

The Northern Cruise will take passengers to The Wall and beyond visiting Iceland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, while the Southern Cruise will sail to warmer climates in Spain, Malta and Croatia - otherwise known as Dorne, Essos and Kings Landing.

We wanted to make the cruise available to as many people as possible. One aspect that can be difficult for a traveller is to get time off of work. The amount of time they spend on vacation sometimes means being away from family and their job, states Ms Durovic.

We approached the idea of breaking the cruise into two 8-night cruises in an effort to address this issue. If you look at a map of the filming locations, amazingly there is a distinct dividing point between the North and the South. And if you do happen to have that extra time, we invite you to take both the Northern and Southern cruises, which qualifies you for a bonus two-day side trip to see the steps of Dragonstone.

Beyond the iconic locations, passengers on the ship will also have the chance to engage in some cosplay and fully embody the Game of Thrones spirit.

Passengers should expect innovation, energy, surprises and endless activities, said Ms Durovic.

On this one of a kind luxury cruise, they can expect to have all their senses indulged.

"We'll have celebrities, panels, lectures, musicians, dance performances, storytelling, top-notch dining experiences, cosplay, fan art, specialty drinks, games, casino, spa, wine tasting, ice carving -- I could go on, and on.

They will also get exquisite service, indulgences and some fun treats along the way. What they will not get is boredom. I guarantee that one.

More information can be found at cruiseofthrones.com.

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Game of Thrones-inspired cruise is coming to travellers in 2021 - Express

In this July 1973 column, published in The Norwester, Bodden Towns Justice of the Peace William J. Wood relates some of his memories from the Prohibition Era, when Americas Great Experiment in banning the manufacture or sale of liquor put a special value on liquor that could be imported despite the Customs mens close watch. Wood was among the Caymanians who sailed aboard boats which took part in the lucrative trade of getting foreign liquors to US buyers on the high seas.

In the 1920s, Prohibition was in full swing in the United States and the country was dry. All the distilleries were closed and the importation of liquor was banned. Millions of dollars were spent guarding the Canadian and Mexican borders and the long sea coastlines. Of course, this was almost impossible, as there were no planes in those days to patrol the boundaries of sea or land.

And so arose the profession of bootlegging, or rum-running as it was called, in order to make a quick dollar. What actually happened on the land borders is unknown to this writer, so my story is based on the sea boundaries.

Captain Ben Granger, from Texas, was the first to come here and spread the news. He bought an island-built schooner by the name of Island Home and shipped a full crew of Caymanian seamen. He also installed in his vessel an engine which was essential in this kind of work. Large cargo ships brought loads of the finest liquors from the Continent and placed them in bonded warehouses in Havana. Captain Ben, in the initial stages, loaded his boat in Havana and then came to Cayman and had the liquor taken ashore and removed from the cases into sacks, which would stow better and be less conspicuous when landed in the US. This was done on several trips and helped the island greatly as our economy was very low during that period. Shortly afterwards, this practice was discontinued and all boats in that trade loaded at Havana and went to their pre-arranged sites off the American coast.

It was a common sight to see eight or nine boats anchored in Havana harbour awaiting their turn to load. These boats were manned by seamen from the Cayman Islands and British and Spanish Honduras. It was at that time that I joined the gang at Havana. We would leave by sail or motor vessels for the Isle of Pines, take a ferry to Batabano and a train from there to Havana.

When $1,000 bills were used, I worked as a seaman on several boats during over two years there the schooner Cayman, the yacht Narkeeto, and the auxilliary boat Carson, just to name a few. We were well paid and well treated. In fact, there was the first and last time that I ever saw $1,000 bills. We would load at Havana with the best whiskies, gin, cordials and Champagne and would go to a pre-arranged rendezvous off the American coast. This was necessary so that our associates from the American side would know where to locate us.

When their boats came in sight, they would have to give us the correct signals, otherwise we would not allow them to come alongside. We always kept outside the 12-mile limit, so that Coast Guard boats would not interfere with us. Some boats had a purser aboard and sold direct to the smaller boats, while others were unloaded by their owners.

All boats had to be armed with high-powered .303 rifles, in case hijackers wanted to come aboard and help themselves. This happened on several occasions although the crew were armed, because the hijackers came as friends and bought some liquor, and then with pistols caught the crew off guard and compelled them to load their boats, besides carrying off any money or valuables they could find.

One schooner named the Emerald left Havana and has never been heard of since. It is believed that hijackers took the cargo, killed the crew and sank the boat. All boats would have several blank manifests; if some of the liquor was sold, a new manifest would be made showing a different amount and kind, in case they were boarded by the Coast Guard.

It was all very nicely planned and many millions of gallons of good liquor got into the United States. Only the rich could buy this kind of liquor, as it was priced at $35 to $40 a bottle on shore. It was all very thrilling and lucrative, but dangerous, as well. Besides hijackers, when bad weather came, we had to take up anchor and get underway. With our contraband cargo we could not go into port, but had to stay out there and take it.

I remember one time when a heavy northwest storm came up. We had to leave our anchorage and go out to sea for many days and nights, battling the high seas and winds, before we could return. With the exception of Captain Ben Granger and Thomas Jackson, both now deceased, no one seemed to save their money. They spent it all in Havana on women, wine and a jolly good time.

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Archive: 'My two years with the bootleggers' - Cayman Compass

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will send a warship and patrol planes to protect Japanese ships in the Middle East as the situation in the region, from which it sources nearly 90% of its crude oil imports, remains volatile, Japans top government spokesman said on Friday.

FILE PHOTO: A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's P3-C Orion surveillance aircraft flies over an oil tanker as the plane takes part in an anti-piracy operation at the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia, in this photo taken by Kyodo August 1, 2015. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Under the plan approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abes cabinet, a helicopter-equipped destroyer and two P-3C patrol planes will be dispatched for information-gathering aimed at ensuring safe passage for Japanese vessels through the region.

If there are any emergencies, a special order would be issued by the Japanese defense minister to allow the forces to use weapons to protect ships in danger.

Peace and stability in the Middle East is extremely important for the peace and prosperity of the international community including Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference.

Also, it is very important to make sure Japan-related ships can sail safely in the Middle East, the worlds major source of energy.

Friction between Iran and the United States has increased since last year, when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran and re-imposed sanctions on it, crippling its economy.

In May and June, there were several attacks on international merchant vessels in the region, including the Japanese-owned tanker Kokuka Courageous, which the United States blamed on Iran. Tehran denies the accusations.

Oil importers and refiners welcomed the government decision.

The Middle East situation remains unpredictable ... We believe the decision, made against this backdrop, will benefit the safe passage of ships in the region, Petroleum Association of Japan President Takashi Tsukioka said in a statement.

Japan, a U.S. ally that has maintained friendly ties with Iran, has opted to launch its own operation rather than join a U.S.-led mission to protect shipping in the region.

Abe last week briefed visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tokyos plan to send naval forces to the Gulf.

The planned operation is set to cover high seas in the Gulf of Oman, the northern Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but not the Strait of Hormuz.

The Japanese government aims to start the operation of the patrol planes next month, while the destroyer will likely begin activities in the region in February, a defense ministry official said.

The government decision is effective for one year through December 26, 2020. A fresh cabinet approval is necessary to extend the armed forces activities in the Middle East.

A European operation to ensure safe shipping in the Gulf will also get underway next month, when a French warship starts patrolling there.

Additional reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Michael Perry

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Japan to send warship, aircraft to Middle East to protect vessels - Reuters

Emma Critchley and Douglas McCauleyDec 27, 2019 10:14:48 IST

In 2019, we saw a mixed bag of news stories from oceans, high seas and marine conservation.A fair bit of progress was made toward an international treaty to protect biodiversity on the high seas.An incrediblerebound was witnessed in the western South Atlantic humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) to nearly its pre-whaling population size. Meanwhile, research documenting rapidly unfurling effects of climate change in the ocean painted a dire picture of the present and future ocean. These include accelerating sea level rise, more severe marine heatwaves and more frequent coral bleaching events.

A pair of marine scientists from the University of California, Santa Barbara, have shared their list of the topten ocean news stories from 2019 that are still worth celebrating.

A glimpse of marine life just beneath the ocean surface.

Climate change impacts on land made almost daily headlines this year: fires, floods, more extreme storms. Equally intense effects are being realized in our seas. This year, more than 100 scientists from 30 countries brought these impacts on the ocean into sharp focus with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)special report on the ocean and cryosphere.

The findings were bleak: Sea level rise is accelerating, marine heatwaves are more extensive and intense and coral bleaching events are occurring with increasing frequency. The reports predictions up the ante on action. Even if we meet the Paris Agreement mandate to keep warming to below a 2-degree Celsius rise over pre-industrial levels, the report suggests thatby 2100 sea levels will rise by 0.3 to 0.6 meters (1 to 2 feet), there will be 20 times more marine heatwaves and the ocean will be 40% more acidic.

Icebergs and melting ice in the Vatnajkull National Park in Iceland.

The urgency for ocean/climate action was happily mirrored at the close of this year with an all-time bump in importance for oceans at the recent UN climate negotiations (COP25) in Madrid, with the event even being billed by some as theBlue COP.

While detailed scientific reports and formal international negotiations are making slow progress, 2019 was the year thatyouth climate activistsstood up to demand a much more rapid response. This includedyouth from the Pacific islandswho are already dealing with the impacts of sea-level rise.

Greta Thunberg inspired millions of students to participate in school strikes, and Fridays for Future marches became a common occurrence in towns and cities across the globe. More than4 million people in over 163 countriesare estimated to have participated in the global climate strike in September. 2019 could be called the year when youth undeniably spoke their mind about climate change, but it remains to be seen how well the world listened.

2019 was a big year for progress on protecting biodiversity on the high seas, the two-thirds of the ocean that lie outside of national waters. The U.N. hosted two rounds of negotiations on a possible new global treaty to better manage and protect biodiversity on the high seas life that too often has slipped through international regulatory cracks. This protection is critical for pelagic populations that have already suffered huge losses due tooverfishingorbycatch.

Two young dolphins heading towards the high seas just as the sun breaks through the horizon in Avalon Beach, New South Wales.

Marine scientists from around the world presented results to the UN this year as towhich parts and how much of the high seas should be protected. Considerations include hotspots for migratory marine top predators such as seabirds and sharks, important fish spawning and feeding grounds and areas that may provide a buffer to climate change impacts. Adraft treaty textwas released in November.

With only one more planned negotiating session left this spring in New York, all eyes in 2020 will be on whether the treaty indeed becomes something that matters for ocean life on the high seas.

More than 3 billion people globally rely on healthy marine ecosystems for their livelihoods. However, fish stocks are overexploited, marine pollution is rife and ocean acidification is on the rise. A key target ofUN Sustainable Development Goal 14is to protect 10 percent of marine areas by 2020, a goal also encapsulated inAichi Target 11of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

With several large new protected areas announced in recent years andcurrent ocean protection at around 7.5 percentwe are now close to reaching the 10 percent target, but it remains to be seen if this can be achieved before the next CBD Conference of the Parties in October 2020. Even so, meeting the target does not ensure conservation success.

Hard work remains to be done to ensure that all marine protected areas are effective. This year also saw increasing calls from scientists, conservationists and governments toraise global ambitions and aim to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, part of which would include high seas waters.

Grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) in the waters of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Image: Kydd Pollock/USFWS-Pacific Region via Flickr

An oil spill detected off the coast of Brazil in late August of this year is estimated at over 7,000 tons of crude oil, covering a 2,700-kilometer (1,680-mile) stretch of coastline. The spill hascontaminated hundreds of beaches, estuaries, reefs and mangrovesand is threatening important biodiversity hotspots and at least 48 marine protected areas.

One of these is Abrolhos Bank, the largest coral reef area in the South Atlantic Ocean. The source of the spill has yet to be identified, but it seems likely to have comefrom a dark ship that had switched off its location transponder. Analysis of satellite data has helped to identify ships that were in the area at the time of the spill, and the Brazilian authorities are currently reviewing the information. Brazils National Contingency Plan was activated late, and citizens whose livelihoods depend on coastal resources were those most impacted by the spill.

Oil tanker at sea. Image: Flickr

An improved response requires a crisis emergency fund and trained personnel to help citizens respond safely to environmental disasters. Further investment is also needed to improve both the science of spills and the technology that will enable a modern satellite monitoring system of ship activity.

Every year it seems we learn more and more about the severity of the plastic pollution crisis. Actions to address the crisis kicked off at the start of the year when the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a group of household-name companies (think Procter & Gamble, Shell and Dow),committed $1 billion to reduce plastic waste and improve recycling. Other recent commitments include theSea the Future initiative from the Minderoo Foundation, which hinges on businesses pledging a voluntary contribution that will make fossil fuel-based plastics more expensive to produce and more valuable to collect.

At the country level, Vietnam released itsNational Action Planon Ocean Plastic Waste Management,Panamabecame the first Central American nation to ban plastic bags, andKenyacommitted to banning single-use plastics in 2020. Awareness has also increased about therole that rivers playin the flow of plastic into the ocean, and innovative solutions are being developed to tackle the problem, such as Baltimore HarborsMr Trash Wheeland The Ocean CleanupsInterceptor.

A special ship designed to clean the oceans harvested its first plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in October 2019, after setting sail from San Francisco in a month prior. Image: The Ocean Cleanup/YouTube

The world moved closer this year to answering a landmark question for oceans:Should we legalize mining of the seafloor?

The International Seabed Authority hopes to finalize the answer to that question next year by completing international regulations on commercial ocean mining in the high seas, but it faces significant political opposition.In 2019 a host of countries, including Fiji, formally called for bans on ocean mining,citing concerns about the possible negative impacts that mining may have on fisheries, carbon storage in the oceans and fragile deep-ocean ecosystems.

Paralleling the race to mine the seafloor is the race to reduce our dependence on these marine minerals, through both the transformation of battery chemistry away from the reliance on rare metals for example, with potential breakthrough moments in next-generation battery research from labs atMITandBerkeley and the improvement of methods to recycle metals from existing products.

A garden of coral on the Sibelius Seamount at a depth of 2,465 m (8,087 ft). Image: NOAA/Wikimedia Commons

Harmful fisheries subsidiesare contributing to the depletion of marine life globally, with one-third of the worlds fish stocks now harvested at unsustainable levels compared to just 10 percent some 40 years ago.Subsidies are payouts provided to fishers by governments to offset costs, such as fuel and fishing gear, and they can often encourage illegal catch or fishing beyond biologically sustainable limits.

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been in negotiations to end harmful fisheries subsidies since 2001, and with talks picking up momentum in 2019, it was hoped an agreement would finally be reached by the end of the year. Unfortunately, that opportunity has now passed, but in early December members agreed onan intensive program of negotiations for early 2020aiming to reach agreement by the next WTO ministerial meeting in June.

Fresh fish sorting from fisheries at sea, destined for a local market in Mui Ne, Vietnam. Image: Duangphorn Wiriya/Unsplash

The appointment of a new chair of the negotiations has injected fresh energy and hope into the talks process, and many voices of influence have joined the call for a swift conclusion to the negotiations, including the WTOs director-general, Roberto Azevdo, and famed British naturalistSir David Attenborough.

Its often quoted thatwe know more about the moons surface than the ocean floor, and even in 2019 the ocean still continues to surprise us. Though weve known about biofluorescence in the marine world for a while,the mechanism for why some shark species emit a green glow was only worked out this year.

Bioflourescent catfish under visible and infrared light. Image: Scientific Reports

Biofluorescence in female (a-d) and male (e-h) catsharks (Scyliorhinidae). Image: Scientific Reports

Researchers discovered a small family of molecules that produce the green glow, which is only visible to other sharks, and the compounds may even offer protection from microbial infection. It can be a challenge to keep up with the changes happening in the ocean, many of which are driven by climate change.The appearance of a go-kart-size hoodwinker sunfish (Mola tecta) washed upon Coal Oil Point Reserve in Santa Barbara, California, caused confusion for locals and scientists alike. This species, which was only discovered in 2014, is usually more at home in the waters of the Southern Hemisphere.

And finally, the so-called Blob,a patch of unusually warm ocean water that formed in the Gulf of Alaska in 2013and spread along the entire North American west coast, continues to leave its mark.

The emerging risks from marine heat waves on a world map. Image: Springer/Nature

While waters cooled in mid-2016, the previous warmer temperatures have been tied to a crash in cod stocks in the Gulf of Alaska, and this monthfisheries managers made the unprecedented decision to close the Pacific cod fishery. Worryingly,NOAA reported in September on the beginning of another marine heatwave covering the same region and extent as the blobwith the potential to further impact marine and coastal ecosystems.

The story has beenadapted from a commentary and edited for style from Mongabay. You can read the original story here.

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Oceans and marine life through 2019: 10 positive developments in sea life and global oceans - Firstpost

During the past half century, Mary Crowley has sailed nearly 115,000 miles of ocean, as both a crew member and a sea captain. Over the years, she has noticed that all the places she lovesGreece, Italy, Costa Rica, Palau, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Galpagos Islandshave been gradually filling up with plastic debris.

Through her nonprofit, Ocean Voyages Institute (OVI), which is located in Sausalito, California, Crowley organized a 2009 expedition to the North Pacific Gyre to study the problem. She determined that one of the biggest offenders is "ghost nets," which linger long after they are lost or discarded by commercial fishing operations and end up entrapping and killing marine life.

After consulting with marine architects, engineers, oceanographers, and other experts, Crowley began to think about ways that existing ships and maritime equipment could be used for ocean cleanup. Eventually, she developed a plan: to design special satellite trackers and enlist volunteers to attach them to ghost nets so they could be monitored and eventually retrieved. Once the soccer-ball-size devices were ready, OVI handed them out to seagoers, including participants in the Trans Pacific Yacht Race and crews of environmental vessels belonging to Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Ocean plastic kills 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million seabirds each year.

In the summer of 2019, a cargo schooner left Honolulu on a mission to collect the tagged debris. Crowley suspected that ocean currents sort out plastic according to size, shape, and density and had a hunch that when the onboard drones located one fishing net, others would be nearby (she calls this her "one tracker, many nets" theory).

In fact, after picking up a tagged net weighing 600 pounds, the crew found two much-larger nets within a five-mile radius. After 25 days, the ship returned to port with 42 tons of nets. Two tons were given to environmental artists, and the rest of the nets were sent to a waste-to-energy power plant in Hawaii.

Now, Crowley is planning a longer 2020 expedition, and she hopes the crew will collect more than 400 tons of ghost nets. She'd like to see fishing boats tasked with picking up smaller "consumer debris," and her institute is developing methods for collecting shredded plastic and microplastics.

Crowley believes that cleaning up the high seas is only one solution to the plastic problem. Getting rid of single-use plastic is another. "We also have to change our habits and our manufacturing," she says. "We've been treating our oceans as our garbage pail for centuries. It's time we stop."

This article appeared in the January/February 2020 edition with the headline "Ghost Net Buster."

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Untangling the Problem of Ocean Plastic - Sierra Magazine

WHEN you are sitting down to your Christmas dinner today, spare a thought for those working or having to be away from home over the festive holidays.

The emergency services are on call, hospitals will sill be looking after patients, railway crews are out and about and council and utility company staff are among those also on duty making sure you can celebrate Christmas happily and safely.

And you can't get much more unlike the traditional image of a family round the groaning festive table than the pair of Idle rowers who are taking part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Chris Nicholl and James Tordoff have left family and friends behind to take part in the gruelling race which started on December 12 and has seen them cover more than 700 nautical miles in the two weeks to date.

Rather than a roast with all the trimmings, socialising or watching the Queen's Christmas message on TV the pair will be in the middle of the ocean eating a rehydrated meal.

Chris said: "We intend to stop the boat and have a hot rehydrated chicken tikka with rice meal for Christmas Day as most of our other meals will be cold.

"We have a Terrys chocolate orange each for dessert. We have some Santa hats to put on and will be playing a Christmas playlist on our Bluetooth speaker.

"We will also call our partners back home.

"It will be tough to be away from our loved ones at Christmas but each day we will be getting closer to seeing them again.

"We will miss our friends, family, and all the festive food and drink.

"Santa will deliver our presents at home and will be waiting for us when we get back. Although seeing our family when we get to Antigua with be the best Christmas present."

Back in Bradford, council staff will be doing their best to help people in need with dozens of workers on duty over the Christmas period.

Bradford Enablement and Support Team and home care staff will be working with vulnerable adults and children while in Extra Care housing schemes staff provide personal care for people in their own homes also including assisting with preparing meals, talking and having fun with service uses and supporting people with health and wellbeing.

There are also childrens homes and care leavers staff while the Safe and Sound service is a 24-hour response service for people if they have had falls or other incidents.

On call over the holidays are members of the Environmental Health department, the Emergency Planning Team, Highways for gritting, winter maintenance the emergency social care services for children and the building control team.

Terry Moore, care manager in Bradford Councils Extra Care Services, said: Christmas Day is no different to any other day. People still have their own care needs.

"We dont have extra staff to cover. Its just like any other day.

Among the locations where Council staff will be on duty is Mary Seacole Court, an Extra Care Housing scheme which has individual apartments for older people who receive personal care at the same time as being able to live as independently as possible.

Bradford Council provides personal care services to these people, but the scheme is run and managed by Housing 21.

Among the communal activities in the run-up to the festivities were a Christmas Party last Friday and a Christmas dinner held on Christmas Eve and staff will be helping entertain residents during the rest of the holiday period.

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Bradfordians celebrate Christmas at work and on the high seas - Bradford Telegraph and Argus

Nothing beats a vacation on a luxury cruise ship. These types of holidays are like no other ones in the world. They allow travelers to experience several parts of the world in one swoop, all while enjoying the luxuries and amenities that a ship has to offer. Many people swear by cruises, foregoing all other kinds of travel.

When packing for a cruise getaway, there are some essential items that moms need to make sure they jam into their suitcases. Other items ladies might consider should be left at home.

Here are ten things no mom should consider bringing along with them on their cruise and five more that need to make the cut.

People sometimes want to get jazzed up for a few fancy dinners while on their cruise vacations. That is fine and dandy, but travelers might want to consider leaving the four-inch heels at home. If the high seas get angry and storms arise, that boat will be rocking, and a high heeled-wearing woman might get tossed to the ground.

Fact: You are going to want to take pictures on your cruise vacation. The ocean and sky are mesmerizing, and the islands the boat docks at will be full of exciting things to capture on film. That said, leave your pricey cameras behind. Bring along a cheaper version for all those silly cruise ship selfies.

Sometimes an outfit doesn't seem complete without the bling, and many women will be tempted to bring their diamonds and pearls along on their cruise vacation. Expensive or heirloom jewelry should never be brought along on any vacation. Items are always at risk of getting stolen or lost.

Depending on what kind of cruise you are taking (and these days you can take some pretty wild cruises) and what time of year you are vacationing in, you may choose to pack a waterproof jacket of sorts. You are on the ocean after all, and spray is standard. Stormy weather can also pop up at any given time.

If you are anything like me, you are a vacation over-packer. Try to avoid bringing a pair of shoes and a different outfit for every day of your trip. Cruise cabins are not exactly known for being spacious, so the less baggage, the better. Try and pack articles of clothing that can be mixed and matched with other items for versatility.

You will definitely want to bring a couple of bathing suits along with you for your cruise. With that said, maybe leave the ones that resemble dental floss back at home. Cruise ships have plenty of places to sunbathe but are not precisely private spaces. You won't find a lot of secluded spots to let it all hang out.

While on vacation, people try and forget about the concept of time. Trips are breaks away from the hustle and bustle of life. Not on cruise ships! When the ship anchors at an island, it expects passengers to be on board at a particular time so that they can set sail for the next destination. Bring a watch so that you never miss your ship.

It might be tempting to wander down the cruise ship staircase to the buffet and eat breakfast in slippers and a robe. Don't do this. Leave the robe at home and pack comfy sweats instead. Don't be "that guy" who thinks that every surface of the cruise ship belongs to him and him alone.

Packing a good pair of walking shoes for any vacation, including cruises, is a good idea. Island excursions are typical on specific cruises, and you'll want to be able to trek around without pinched toes and blisters. Shoes with excellent traction are also a great thing to have on hand while strolling through ship corridors. Those floors can get slippery.

Caftans and billowing articles of clothing look amazing for pictures you plan to put up on the Gram, but they are not always practical on ships. You wouldn't want to catch a corner of your gown on a rail and rip the thing right off. Winds can pick up on the seas and are often unpredictable.

We don't care how much of a base tan you think you have, or how well you brown and not fry. While vacationing on a cruise ship, a good sunscreen is essential. No one wants to deal with the aftermath of too much Vitamin D on their vacation. When choosing a sunscreen, aim for one that is water-resistant.

Even when cruise ships host fancy dinners, relaxed hairstyles and updos might be the way to go. Intricate updos will hold their own in the dining rooms and indoor spaces, but should you head out for some fresh air, the wind and seawater might make that updo look like a total bird's nest.

For the most part, you'll want to pack mostly casual clothes and bathing suits for tropical cruises, and weather appropriate clothing for cruises to the north. Formal wear is not usually at the top of the list. That said, a few nice outfits to wear to dinner would probably be a good idea. Don't go overboard with dresses, but bring one or two.

Having fake eyelashes put on can make a woman feel glamorous. Once these guys start to go wonky and fall off, though, they need immediate attention. Cruise ships might not be equipt to handle eyelash emergencies, and this can leave women with fakes looking a mess. It's probably best to pack a solid mascara instead.

One good rule of thumb for cruise ship vacations is: If you can not live without it, don't bring it. Grandpa's antique watch might look dapper, but it isn't worth losing. One carat diamond earrings might make you the Belle of the Ball but will also make you beyond upset if one goes missing.

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10 Things No Mom Should Consider Wearing On Her Cruise (5 She'll Be Glad She Did) - TheTravel