BEYOND THE HORIZON

February 2026

Stephen D. (Doc) Regan, Ed.D.

GRAY FLEET

            I can’t make this up. President Trump has decided that he wants a series of Trump-class battleships to be built that will project our image and provide significant warfare capabilities. Unfortunately, this ship will never sail.

            The cost of building this mega-ship for the Golden Fleet (Mr. Trump’s words, not mine) would be prohibitive- about $15 billion per ship. We can build 8 destroyers with similar firepower for the same cost. Secondly, the last real use of a battleship was in World War II; although, the Iowa-class battleships did modest service in Korea and Viet Nam without much effect.  In other words, the technology is far, far beyond the need for a battleship. It makes about as much sense as building a trireme to be rowed into battle with soldiers wielding swords. Thirdly, while battleships are incredibly weather resistant, they require a huge crew of upward to 3,000. During WWII the Iowa-class often had crews of 5,000 sailors.

            Mr. Trump also said he would be a significant element in the design of the ship because “he is a very aesthetic person.” Admiral Caudle, the Chief of Naval Operations, agreed with his boss in toto. Evidently, the good admiral has figured out how to stay in his command.

            The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has come under fire from sundry sources of late, and the leadership has been changed (much like the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy). RADM (select) Tony Ceraolo was designated as the new Superintendent of the Kings Point, NY campus, and Dr. Jonathon Gajdos is the new Provost.

            The Superintendent had a 34-year career in the Coast Guard after graduating with honors from the Coast Guard Academy and receiving a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School at Harvard and a Master’s degree with distinction in National Security and Strategic Studies at the U.S. Naval War College.

            Dr. Gajdos was an administrator and professor at the Defense Language Institute (one of my Alma Maters). His B.A. was in German from Georgetown University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. were in Germanic linguists from the University of Iowa. He also possesses a graduate  certificate in public administration from the University of North Dakota.  He was Provost of the Persian Farsi department at the DLI in Washington, D.C.

The Navy made its first transit of the Taiwan Straits of the year, as it does periodically as a message to the Chinese that we are allied to Taiwan, we ensure Freedom of Navigation in the region, and to keep an eye on the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The destroyer, JOHN FINN (DDG-113) was followed by the USNS MARY SEARS (T-AGS-65), and oceanographic survey ship. The Chinese followed the passage closely with 25 fighters and drones. The MARY SEARSlooks nothing like an ocean survey ship, and it looks strikingly similar to ….oh…..the PUEBLO ….or the LIBERTY spy ships. I would bet the farm that the MARY SEARS carried a bunch of Cryptologist Technicians, Chinese linguists, and NSA civilians.

ENVIRONMENT

            The American Legion, hardly a leftist/socialist organization, hammered the isolationists in Congress for their failure to ratify (for several years) the Law of the Sea Treaty. During the Reagan administration, the U.S. led the world “ negotiating one of the most important conventions in history, the Convention of the Law of the Sea.” This treaty, signed by over 160 countries, established “exclusive economic zones”, protection of navigational freedom, and maritime commerce. It established four specific deep-seabed mining sites. President Reagan insisted that the U.S. would have the only permanent seat on the International Seabed Authority. This treaty was easily accepted by NATO, all of Europe, Russia, and China. The only nations who opposed this were Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and the U.S. Congress!

            In 2024 a group consisting of 3 Defense Department Secretaries; 10 Secretaries of Army, Navy, and Air Force; 3 former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 3 former Assistants to the President on Foreign Affairs; 51 Admirals; 23 Army Generals;  36 Air Force Generals; 14 Marine Corps generals, and 189 U.S. Ambassadors wrote the Republican chair of the Senate Foreign Relations committee requesting the treaty be brought to the Congress and passed. Unfortunately, the isolationist group stifled that idea. Meanwhile, China has used this to establish greater seabed mining of rare-earth metals by creating islands on minor atolls, and militarize a greater portion of Southeast Asia. 

            The PROCEDINGS of the U.S. Naval Institute was even more adamant about America’s need to participate in the U.N. Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) treaty in order to belong to the International Seabed Authority  (ISA) which China is creating  de facto sovereignty in areas currently considered global commons. China already possesses 80% of available rare earth elements, 60% of the lithium supply, 80% of the cobalt, and leads the world in nickel and aluminum.

            One region under the greedy eyes of the Chinese and ignored by the U.S. is the Clarion-Clipperton Zone southeast of Hawaii. This 1.7-million-mile region has significant abundance of cobalt, manganese, and REEs.

            The Magellanic Mining Zone, between the Marianna’s and Wake Island is a target for China even though Japan, the U.S., and the Northern Marianna Islands claim authority. The Chinese have mining rights to this area under the ISA. The Navy is vehemently arguing that the U.S. ratify UNCLOS immediately. 

            A Navy Officer’s career will die early without studying for an MA in an appropriate discipline; however, for a plethora of individuals, the path to high rank goes through the Navy War College. One must be an O-3 (Lieutenant) or above or federal civilian employee above G-11 to enter. The U.S. has several seats for allied nation’s officers.

            Like the U.S. Naval Academy, the War College did not offer degrees. Virtually all Flag Officers of World War II had graduated from the “Tech School” before degrees were offered, and they simply were granted their degrees many years later. The debate about degrees went on for many years at the War College until they decided to grant an M.A. fairly recently when students could obtain a Master’s in Defense and Strategic Studies.

            While the overall curriculum is not germane to this blog, I would give anything to take one course in the program. The class contents contain lectures on Masters of War,  the Peloponnesian War, the U.S. War of Independence, the Russo-Japanese War, World War I, World War II- Europe, World War II-Pacific, the Korean War, the Viet Nam War, the War in Iraq, War on Terrorism, and the China Challenge. 

            As a modest historian, I have studied several topics but I know little about the Russo-Japanese War, and I would love to know about the War College’s perspective on the rest of the material. My interest is familial. My 4X Great Grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, a pair of 2X Great Grandparents fought in the Civil War, My Great Grandfather (Preston Sargood) was in the Spanish-American War, my grandfather and dad (Dr. Wheat in the Army Medical Corps and Dan Regan with the 9^th Marines 3^rd Marine Division) were in World War II, and I served during the Viet Nam war. Gee, I was surrounded by military history! (Of course, my first book was “In Bitter Tempest: the biography of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher” Iowa State University Press).

INLAND WATERWAYS

            The wonderful old Blackhawk Bridge between Lansing, IA and Wisconsin was destroyed by the Army Corps of Engineers to build a new bridge beside the old one. The 94-year-old bridge, originally built by local entrepreneurs as a toll bridge, lasted until 1945 when the riveted cantilever through truss design structure’s wooden needed replacement. It remained closed until 1957 when a grated deck was built.

            The running joke for new county workers was that they were told to go sand the bridge at Lansing. Typically, the poor creature failed to understand that with a grated deck, all the sand fell immediately to the river.

            Unfortunately, the placement of the crossing was poor. Both ends of the bridge ended in T-intersections facing limestone bluffs. Failing to stop, when crossing the bridge, meant smacking into 400’ of rock. Worse, it was built on a sharp bend in the Mississippi making navigation very difficult and barges hitting it frequently enough to force the construction of huge concrete dolphins to protect the pillars.

            Until the new bridge is complete, a car ferry will handle traffic. The navigation lane will be increased by 100’, the intersection on both sides are better designed, and the deck will be widened by 20 feet. It will be completed in two years. 

Black Hawk Bridge after demolition

ALLISIONS AND COLLISIONS

In December 2023, a Fleeting Boat, STEEL SKIPPER, was repositioning several barges for the tow WILLIAM STRAIT during a rainy and totally foggy day. The latter did not have her engines engaged but a mate felt the tow moving backwards toward the Shell Norco Refining Dock. Once the barge arrangement was completed the tow started upriver as per assignment unaware of colliding with something.  Later, significant damage to the dock and  unlit CAJUN COURAGE, a 192’ crane barge, and the 195’ deck barge, CBD02, was discovered. NTSB reviewed radar and decided that the WILLIAM STRAIT was the culprit.

            The NTSB investigation noted that the mate was unaware of the proximity of the dock and boats because of the fog and rain. Damage was assessed at $500,000.

CHANT du LOUP fouled her prop and was to be towed, but the towline broke and the ship was driven into rocks. The crew was rescued by helicopter. 

CSE PROSPERITY EXPRESS contradicted her name by having engine failure during severe weather and went aground near Taiwan. TAIGANG 13205, a tug, tried to tow the ship before she hit the sand, but the towline got entangled and had to be severed. So much for that express prosperity stuff. 

And yet again, a Gambian immigrant boat full of poor people trying to escape to a better life sank. 7 died, 96 were rescued, and 97 were missing. 

TV’s Deadliest Catch demonstrates just how difficult and dangerous fishing in the Bering Sea can be. ARTIC SEA, a 285-ton fishing vessel off St. George’s Island, went aground in 30’ seas and a 65-knot gale. The crew was rescued by Coast Guard helicopter.

NORWEGIAN PRIMA started wandering around in the ocean at Cape Canaveral when she broke free of her mooring lines in heavy winds. There were no injuries.

CRUISE NEWS

Recently, a passenger on a cruise ship had his laser pen and his Leatherman multitool confiscated as he boarded the ship. Then he discovered one of his three pieces of luggage was missing. Other people also noted missing bags, hair curlers, electric tooth brushes, and small fans. Evidently, these items are considered problematic. In the past, fans and electrical items have been barred from ships. 

The constant complaints aboard cruise ships have been unaltered for several years. The invariable Top of the List is unruly children allowed to run all over the ship. They are not only running around older folks but the tend to splash in the pool, take over the hot tubs, and push all the buttons on elevators. Personally, I find an easy remedy to this problem: see how well they can dive from the weather deck and swim for lengthy distances.

The next biggest complaint are rude people, people cutting in lines, and people making  excessive noise. This too can be remedied. See the above paragraph.

Food poisoning seems to be chronic issue among the seafaring folk on expensive voyages. It could be seasickness, but no one wants to admit that when it is so much easier to blame someone else. See the above paragraph about rude people.