BEYOND THE HORIZON
November 2025
CRUISE NEWS
Pacific Princess aka LOVE BOAT
The PACIFIC PRINCESS that served as the stage for the TV hit THE LOVE BOAT has been junked for scrap. A lovely cruise ship that, perhaps, became the most beloved cruise vessel simply died of old age.
CARNIVAL LEGEND made an unexpected stop at Acapulco Mexico when storms prevented the scheduled stop at Cabo San Lucas. The ship was on a 16-day cruise from San Francisco to Galveston, TX.
The Algerian Naval Forces were called on for emergency medical evacuation from SKY PRINCESSsailing 35 miles off Cap de Fer when a 77-year-old British man required immediate and critical health care.
One would think that an impermissible act on a cruise ship should not be posted on social media complete with photos; however, a young woman did just that. The rules state that you cannot bring quantities of liquor on board. She stashed many bottles in her suitcases, took photos of this, and then proceeded to post them on Tik Tok, if CARNIVAL and other companies look at such things. She was invited to go ashore by CARNIVAL security. Since this brilliant specimen of adult stupidity had done this particular activity once before, she is now permanently barred from all CARNIVAL ship.
CARNIVAL has ten different classes of ships, each with a different appeal.
CLASS # of SHIPS PASSENGERS BUILT DISTINCTION
FANTASY 2 2,100 passengers 1998 compact, 3 pools
SPIRIT 4 2,134 passengers 2001-04 long voyages
CONQUEST 5 2,134 passengers 2002-07 pleasure and entertainment
SPLENDOR 1 3,000 passengers 2008 largest theater
DREAM 3 3,600 passengers 2009-11 family, games, fun for kids
SUNSHINE 3 3,000 passengers 2013-20 balcony suites and casino
VISTA 3 4,000 passengers 2016-19 waterpark, putt-putt course
EXCEL 4 5,300 passengers 2021-23 theme zones, roller coaster
VENICE 2 4,000 passengers 2023-24 Italian theme
ADVENTURE 2 2,600 passengers. 2025. small and goes to shallow ports
NAVY
Master Chief Information Systems Angela Koogler was named the Navy’s first female Chief of the Boat on the USS LOUISIANA (SSBN-742). Women have been serving on submarines since 2015 with the USS IOWA (SSN-797) the only sub specifically prepared for women sailors.
MCIS Koogler is the senior enlisted person on a submarine and is responsible for all systems on the boat from torpedo room readiness to nuclear propulsion. Next to the Captain, the Chief of the Boat is in overall authority of the enlisted personnel and their assigned tasks.
President Trump signed an agreement with Finland to supply the U.S. with a series of icebreakers for Arctic missions. With Finnish President, Alexander Stugg, Mr. Trump ordered the ships to be built by Rauma Marine, Seaspan Shipyards, and Aker Arctic Technology. The Finns have built icebreakers for their own use in Northern Finland, for Canada, and for other NATO nations.
RAUMA MARINE FINLAND
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The Philippines and China have increased tensions in recent days. After constant harassment by China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships against the Philiipino fishing ships near Scarborough Shoals that included a collision between two Chinese warships, the Filippino Navy sent 15 Coast Guard Cutters and Frigates to provide supplies to their citizens on the Shoal islands. China countered by saying they would be using live ammunition in drills where the Philippine ships would be headed. Both nations claim the shoals as their territory.
Rather than bring in ships from their missions after lengthy duration, the Navy simply changes crews. Most ships have a Gold Crew and a Blue Crew so that while one is on duty, the other is in shore training. At some point they simply switch places.
The Commanding Officer of the Blue Crew of the USS WYOMING (SSBN-742), CDR Robert Moreno, has been removed from command due to “loss of confidence” by RADM Robert Wirth, Commander of Sub Group 10. He has been skipper of the WYOMING since 2024. As usual, the Navy said no more than that. Typically, this can mean anything from bad decision making while on assignment or failure to pass inspections. As Harry Truman’s desk sign said, “The buck stops here.” The Captain of a Navy ship is ultimately responsible for any failures on board his vessel.
Admiral Alvin Hosley is retiring after a single year as U.S. Southern Command announced Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Typically, this level of command is held for at least three years. DOD did not answer questions as to why the 4-Star is retiring; but the current administration has been extremely active in riding itself of Black and female high-ranking officers including CNO Lisa Franchetti and Army Chief of Staff General C.Q. Brown.
INLAND WATERWAYS
Do they listen to themselves? Congressman Mike Collins (R-GA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said, “Unfortunately, the Corps (of Engineers) often falls short of where it should be.” He stated there was no excuse for the delays, dredging backlog, and repairs to locks and dams. He was quietly reminded that the Trump administration lowered the budget for the Corps by 24%.
An article in the WATERWAYS JOURNAL reminded us how big the tug and barge industry really is and how open trade is essential for freight movement. The mv ASHLEY ANN was christened at New Orleans. This tug was built under a contract with FMT Shipyard for Maritime Partners as part of a 12-boat series designed by ENTECH. The boat is powered by a 1,600 ho Mitsubishi S6R2Y3MPTAW Tier 3 marine diesel turning 74-inch x 63-inch D Style CF-3 props through REINJTJES WWAF 563-L gearboxes. Caterpillar C4.4 75kw generators provided electricity while Thorndon Bearings tend to the bearings and shaft seals. R.W Fernstrum Co. provided grid cooling controlled by Eagle Systems that also supplied the 1,600 hp dual pump steering system. The tug boats a pair of Patterson 40-ton deck winches, carpentry and paneling from National Marine Carpentry, fendering by Schuyler Maritime, and is painted compliments of Coating Services.
It takes no genius to grasp the number of jobs created by building a tug boat. Think of the money turning around in those industrial areas. Not too many within the Beltway seem to comprehend this.
mv ASHLEY ANN
PRESIDENTIAL BOATS
Abraham Lincoln is the only U.S. President to hold a patent. He designed chambers filled with air to increase buoyancy on boats and barges to get over shoals and shallow water. Abe was must one of a myriad of Presidents holding interest in waterways.
A listing of top Presidents who loved water included Teddy Roosevelt, raised along the Hudson River, who turned the USS MAYFLOWER into his administration’s yacht. Franklin Roosevelt, despite being disliked and snubbed often by the Oyster Bay Roosevelts, loved boats, and he sailed often on a plethora of different sailboats of sundry length and style. But it is John F. Kennedy that one associates with sailboats. His father ensured that his children were all well trained in sailing at very early ages, and JFK had his own little boat by age 7. He often raced his Star boat FLASH II in regattas as a teenager; but his heart was with VICTURA.
Ironically, Jimmy Carter, the only Naval Academy graduate to become President, was known for battling the Navy’s desire for more ships, and he cut the Navy budget. Trying to look frugal, Carter sold the Presidential Yacht SEQUOIA. He was a submariner (“Bubble Heads” to the rest of the Navy).
Recent GOP Presidents have tended to go for speed. Both George H.W. and George W. Bush loved speed boats, and they had little use for sailboats. As would be expected, Mr. Trump owns a multimillion-dollar luxury yacht.
USS MAYFLOWER (Teddy Roosevelt)
FDR teasing a cousin
FDR’s birchbark canoe built by Native Americans in Maine
Paralyzed but still able to sail
Kennedy’s teenage boat
Kennedy’s favorite boat
Bush’s Presidential boat
SEQUOIA
President Trump’s boat.
ALLISIONS AND COLLISIONS
Among the multitude of ship failures in October a few conspicuous examples are the South Korean fishing boat that collided with another unknown South Korean fishing boat, and promptly sank, or the Spanish tour boat that simply exploded injuring 8 with 3 in very serious condition.
ELEMES, a rare St. Kitts and Nevis flagged ro-ro capsized in a Turkish ship yard killing 2 and injuring several others.
EL ATLTACADERIA, a popular Mexican floating restaurant, was torn loose from her moorings during hurricane Priscilla. Her kitchen and bathroom were found 200 miles away. Her dining room was eventually discovered 500 miles away. Evidently, she is closed for repairs, ya think?
MARIGALANTE, a replica of the galleon SANTA MARIA, sank off Puerto Vallarta.
Most disheartening for wooden boat lovers who made a hard attempt to salvage some beloved sailing vessels, lost their battle to preserve the FALLS OF CLYDE. The cost of such conservation is titanic (pun intended). Readers of WOODEN BOAT have known for several years that this ship required significant fiscal assistance. Having lost the battle, the tall ship was scuttled in deep waters off Honolulu.
FALLS OF CLYDE
