Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️
@mercoglianos • 97,442 subscribers
Chair Dept of History, Crim Justice & Pol Science, Faculty Athletic Rep @campbelledu, Maritime Historian, Mariner, Firefighter & What's Going On With Shipping?
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The ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge was the Mexican sail training ship ARM Cuauhtémoc. She was built in Spain in 1982 and has three sisterships. It appears the ship lost power after casting off. The tug Charles D McAllister was on hand to assist her departure from South Street Seaport. The ship lost her topmasts, and parts of her crew were stationed in them when she hit the Brooklyn Bridge. The Police and FDNY arrived on the scene to assist in the rescue. The ship was stopped and anchored before hitting the Manhattan Bridge.
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️8,496,695 views • 1 year ago
To everyone wondering why ships are holding up outside the Strait of #Hormuz right now, the reason is WAR RISK INSURANCE! Right now, every major Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Club is notifying their clients of the need for additional protection (AP). You see, the shipping companies are not worried about incurring damage from the Iranians. They are worried about incurring damage that is not INSURED! The ships will sail once they garner the additional protection or they will seek out another port to load, but 20% of global crude comes out of the Persian Gulf and through the Strait of Hormuz. Welcome to the world of Global Shipping!
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️1,654,359 views • 8 months ago
The statement from U.S. Central Command is very enlightening. Instead of conducting a boarding, USS Spruance warned Touska for 6 hours it was in violation of the blockade. It is not clear if the ship was suppose to divert or stop to be boarded. The ship continued toward Iran and crossed the blockade line from the Arabian Sea to the Gulf of Oman. When Touska refused to comply, Spruance moved off from the ship, sent a warning to abandon the engine room and then proceeded to fire with its 5 inch/Mk 45. The gunfire either disabled the machinery or the crew brought the ship to a stop. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit then conducted a boarding and seized the ship. It is surprising to see that the ship was fired upon and not boarded via helicopters as was done against Venezuelan tankers earlier this year. It is unclear what damage was inflicted to the ship, but it is showing Not Under Command on its AIS. More to follow.
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️693,862 views • 6 months ago
Video released by the #Houthis seems to show the setting of explosive charges on the deck of the tanker #Sounion off the coast of Yemen in the #RedSea. At 150k tons, this tanker is almost twice the size of Exxon Valdez and the environmental damage to the region will be massive.
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️2,558,426 views • 2 years ago
The Malta-flagged 50k ton Greek-owned tanker and Marshall Is-flagged 74k ton American-owned tanker is on fire in the anchorage off Iraq. It is suspected the ships were hit by Iranian unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The ships were involved in a ship-to-ship transfer when hit and rescue craft are on scene. These two tankers carry approximately 400,000 barrels of oil.
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️442,249 views • 7 months ago
Mein Schiff 3 Collision in Bremerhaven: What Happened? 🚢Incident Overview: What occurred as Mein Schiff 3 departed Bremerhaven with over 2,700 passengers and 1,000 crew aboard. 🚢Damage Assessment: An analysis of the starboard side impact, destruction of key lifeboats, and regulatory reasons why the voyage was immediately canceled. 🚢Vessel Tracking & Route: A step-by-step look at the AIS data showing the cruise ship's maneuvers and proximity to MSC Victorine and MSC Ane. 🚢Tug Operations & Environmental Factors: The role of the assisting tugs (Fairplay 82 and Fairplay 91), bollard pull capabilities, and river currents during departure. 🚢Maritime Regulations & Next Steps: Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) implications regarding lost lifesaving appliances and upcoming accident investigations. Video:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️18,012 views • 8 days ago
What The Hormuz: Did the U.S. Military Turn a Civilian Freighter into an Armed Escort? 🚢The Incident: Reports from NBC News detailing concussive injuries and smoke inhalation suffered by eight U.S. Marines (seven enlisted, one officer) aboard a non-U.S. Navy vessel. 🚢The Target: UKMTO and industry reporting on the projectile strike against St Helena—a former Royal Mail ship and floating armory owned by maritime security firm Ambrey. 🚢Naval Armed Guards & Zone Defense: The historical and modern context of deploying Marine detachments aboard commercial vessels to counter drone and piracy threats. 🚢Armed Merchant Cruisers & Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs): Why repurposing low-cost, off-the-shelf commercial vessels could be playing a key role in convoy escort operations. 🚢Oil Flows & Global Impact: The latest tanker tracking data from Kpler showing current Strait of Hormuz crude flows and what it means for global fuel reserves and refinery capacity. Video:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️61,051 views • 1 month ago
🚨NAVY LOGISTICS 🚨 Everyone seems concerned that the U.S. Navy ships in the Arabian Sea - carrier Abraham Lincoln stike group, 3-ship amphibious group based on Tripoli, and a surface action group centered on approximately 8 destroyers - are running low on food, with some pictures showing the supposed meals on board. To understand how the Navy supplies ships you have to understand how U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, the fleet of civilian merchant mariner crewed ships work. There are three main considerations - fuel, food, and ammo. 1️⃣Fuel: There are two MSC oilers in the Indian Ocean. They provide alongside Underway Replenishment (UNREP) for diesel fuel for ship population and JP5 for aviation. The oilers can carry between 180 to 150k barrels of fuel. A Burke can carry about 12k bbls of fuel. When the oilers run low on fuel, they will either return to a forward base or meet up with commercial tankers from the US merchant marine, some in the Tanker Security Program. These tankers are equipped to receive rigs from the MSC oilers so that they can transfer fuel to the oilers. The oilers can maintain their forward presence as station oilers while the commercial tankers shuttle fuel. 2️⃣Food & Ammo: There are three MSC dry cargo/ammo ships in the region. To keep the ships supplied one of the T-AKEs will rotate through the ships providing either replenishment at sea or vertical replenishment via civilian embarked AS-332 helos. Another ship would be rotating out a forward base to reload and tag team with the station AKE. The third AKE, along with civilian commercial ships, many of the Maritime Security Program, would shuttle forward supplies from commercial ports or Defense Logisitics Agency depots. 3️⃣ The addition of the Bush Carrier Strike Group will allow the Lincoln to pull back for down time and resupply at a base. Bush has a fast combat support ship (T-AOE) that can carry a mix of food, fuel and ammo on a ship capable of 26 knots. This ship is a one-stop shop for a carrier strike group. The arrival of the Boxer amphibious group will also provide a relief for Tripoli or operate in SE Asia to intercept, divert or board Iranian ships. Now, does this mean every ship on the blockade is supplied to full capacity...probably not. But before everyone leaps to conclusions that sailors are not being provisioned, understand that the US Navy and U.S. Central Command has done this for a long time. At the same time, this logistic system can be more robust and represents a point of vulnerability for operations. MSC has experienced issues with crewing and availability of vessels.
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️264,516 views • 6 months ago
Space X's Starship 40: The Voyage Home 🚀The Recovery Fleet: An analysis of the three vessels on location—Go Australis, Normand Ranger, and Skimmer Tide—and their specific roles in the operation. 🚀Towing Logistics: Why towing a 300-foot stainless steel rocket over 850 nautical miles to Dampier, Australia, could take upwards of two weeks. 🚀Restricted Maneuverability: Examining AIS data that suggests a tow line may already be affixed, as the Normand Ranger signals limited ability to maneuver. 🚀Stability Issues: The physical challenges of towing a craft not designed for water, including the risk of rolling, yawing, and managing the submerged forward fins. 🚀Salvage vs. Recovery: A look at the potential goals of the mission—whether it's a full recovery or a critical material salvage of the heat shield before the craft potentially sinks. Video:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️127,659 views • 3 months ago
Salvaging Starship: The Challenges of an Open Ocean Tow ⚓SpaceX's Splashdown Success: A breakdown of the Starship V3 flight and its unexpected survival in the Indian Ocean. ⚓The "Difficult" Debate: Why towing a rocket isn't as simple as it looks on social media. Salvage Assets on Station: An analysis of the Go Australius, Norman Ranger, and Skimmer Tide currently heading to the site. ⚓Towing vs. Heavy Lift: Exploring why traditional recovery methods like cranes or semi-submersibles are near-impossible in open ocean swells. ⚓The Long Haul to Dampier: Calculating the 750+-nautical-mile journey back to Western Australia and the risks of sinking or structural failure. Video:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️124,833 views • 3 months ago
One of the problems of ship collision videos is you only get one persepctive. Singapore is one of the most complicated and busy traffic areas on the planet. First Margaux was in the correct traffic seperation scheme lane. She had a concern with Gas Iris entering the lane to starboard. First Margaux could have maneuvered to port and have taken the fishing vessel between her and Gas Iris. The Chinese fishing boat was also entering the lane and this placed First Margaux as the overtaking vessel. A slight turn to port could have avoided this situation but there was a turn to starboard coming up to enter Singapore.
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️59,162 views • 1 month ago
SpaceX Starship 40: The Process of Loading a Rocket at Sea 🚀Recovery and Rendezvous: How the recovery team met MV Forte in the open ocean to begin the transfer. 🚀The Heavy Lift Process: A look at the specific shipboard cranes and stabilization techniques required to lift Starship 40 from the water. 🚀Securing for Transport: The specialized cradles and fastening measures used to ensure the rocket remains stable during the long transit. 🚀The Logistical Timeline: Why this specific route was chosen and the estimated time for Starship's arrival back at the production facility. 🚀Future Implications: What this successful recovery and transport operation tells us about SpaceX's evolving sea-based logistics. Video:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️72,253 views • 2 months ago
Why the U.S. Military Just Activated the Training Ship Empire State VII to Sail to Diego Garcia 🚢The Activation Order: Empire State VII is being activated as of September 1st for a 170-day Department of Defense mission. 🚢Strategic Mission: The ship is likely headed to Diego Garcia to serve as a high-capacity "crewing facility" (housing up to 1,000 people) or to assist in potential personnel shuttling due to aerial threats in the region. 🚢Logistics & Route: Due to risks in the Red Sea, the ship will likely sail the long way around Africa, a 28-day journey at 15 knots. 🚢Impact on Training: The activation creates a significant hardship for SUNY Maritime, as the ship’s engines and labs are essential for cadet training during the academic year. 🚢The NSMV Program: A look at why the dual-role design of these ships is proving critical for national security and why building more than the planned five vessels might be necessary. Video:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️63,457 views • 2 months ago
48 Ships in 120 Hours: Ukraine’s Brutal Campaign to Cut Off Crimea ⚓Systematic Destruction: A breakdown of the 120-hour surge that saw 48 vessels hit, including 32 tankers, cargo ships, ferries, and tugboats. ⚓The "Mission Kill" Strategy: Analysis of why Ukrainian drones are targeting bridge structures and engine rooms to disable vessels rather than sinking them. ⚓Targeting the Lifeblood: How these strikes on the Sea of Azov directly impact the Don and Volga River systems—the essential "food, fuel, and fertilizer" corridors for the Russian economy. ⚓Logistical Siege of Crimea: Exploring the strategic goal of cutting off fuel supplies to Crimea as overland routes and the Kerch Strait Bridge remain under constant threat. ⚓The "Dark Fleet" Definition: Clarifying how Ukraine is identifying sanctioned Russian trade vessels and why even international-flagged tankers are being caught in the crossfire. Video:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️95,293 views • 3 months ago
W*T*H: US Strikes 3 IRGC Oil Tankers After Iran Targets 2 U.S. Navy Warships 🚢Retaliatory Strikes: Why the US targeted the Downey, Stark 1, and Kylo (Noxen) after failed attacks on a U.S. aircraft carrier and destroyer. 🚢Precision Mission Kills: Analysis of how the US used "disabling hits" on the Downey and Stark 1 to prevent environmental damage while rendering them inoperable. 🚢The Fate of the Kylo: Why this sanctioned "dark fleet" tanker was completely destroyed and what the warnings to the crew reveal about US tactics. 🚢Economic Warfare: Admiral Brad Cooper’s clear message to the IRGC regarding the high economic cost of targeting American forces. 🚢The New Tanker War: Comparing these events to the 1980s and the vulnerability of Iran's scattered oil fleet near Oman, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. Video:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️52,911 views • 1 month ago
What*The*Hormuz: Iron Bottom Strait – Container Ship Sunk in Hormuz ⚓Escalation in Hormuz: The dramatic rise in targeted attacks against commercial merchant shipping since late September. ⚓The Sinking of GFS Pride: Analysis of the attack, the damage sustained, and the safe evacuation of all 21 crew members. ⚓US Central Command: Responds to the IRGC's comments about attacking US warships and the comments on "control" of the Strait of Hormuz ⚓Method of Attack: Breaking down potential attack vectors, from unmanned surface vessels (USVs) striking the stern counter to drone or missile strikes. ⚓Global Shipping Repercussions: What widening attacks in this vital chokepoint mean for international trade, maritime security, and commercial transit routes. Video:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️19,787 views • 20 days ago
