Author: Martin Leduc

Transport Canada and Australian Marine Safety certified Marine Engineer, over 25 years experience sailing professionally on commercial ships all over the world. Creator and editor of www.dieselduck.net. Father of three, based in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

June 1, 2009

A Star under the Lions’ Gate

The MV Norwegian Star will be a floating hotel in the Port of Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics, to held in Vancouver, Canada, local media reports. The ship will be based at Kinder Morgan Terminal’s Vancouver Wharves for twenty days, from February 16th to March 2, 2010. The berth is situated opposite picturesque Stanley Park and just inside the...

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May 28, 2009

Swine flu goes to sea

The business boon that coastal Western Canada has been enjoying of late, is coming to an end. Since the end of April, major cruise operators, RCCL and Carnival, have diverted several ships from Mexican ports to BC ports amid the H1N1 (Swine Flu) outbreak, centered in the Mexico City region. Mariner of the Seas, (the bridge pictured to the right)...

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May 24, 2009

Aooopps, Huh, I meant AOPS

I just came across some pictures of the new Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship being designed by STX Canada, for the Canadian Navy. I made a small blurb about it in a post last month. I forgot I had these pictures, and though some of you may be interested. The design is nearly finalize, but Dan Greer, of STX, mentions that...

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May 14, 2009

No lack of vision or enthusiasm at WMI

I am not a betting man, usually, but I would venture a bet to say that a 25 year old would have a tough time keeping up with Capt. Bob Kitching, pushing 70 years young. I finally caught up to him at his office at the Western Maritime Institute, outside Nanaimo, BC in March 2009. I did a piece on...

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April 28, 2009

Joint CIMarE – SNAME all day event

It only happens once a year or so, but it is always well worth it and well attended. What is it ? Its the joint meeting of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineer (SNAME)- Northwest Branch and the Vancouver Island Branch of the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineers (CIMarE). The full day of interesting discussion held this past...

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April 24, 2009

A time for farewell

A friend of mine sent me this picture this morning, the only time this will ever happen. The retiring Queen of Prince Rupert makes her final farewells to the city of Prince Rupert on BC Northern Coast. Accompanied by the MV Northern Adventure, middle and the new and much bigger MV Northern Expedition at the top of the picture. That...

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April 15, 2009

Spotlight on piracy

Well I must say, what an exciting week it has been on the international maritime scene. Aside from being on the ship and as sick as a dog, I was spellbound with all the latest news on the Maersk Alabama. It was bit hard to decipher facts from fiction and over dramatization, but for the most part I think the...

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April 5, 2009

Canadian Government upgrades its simulators

Government of Canada delivers marine simulator to Nova Scotia Ottawa March 10, 2009 – A Government of Canada initiative will allow mariners-in-training to have a better opportunity to sharpen their seafaring skills without leaving dry land. The Honorable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today announced the transfer of a world-class marine training simulator...

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Martin Leduc on Escape from the Engine RoomFebruary 28, 2024
actually... after my watch rounds, i don't. I, and many active seafarers sailing at sea, thank you for the pity.…
Another foogle user on Escape from the Engine RoomFebruary 26, 2024
It's a fictitious film not real life what does it matter if it's heavily modified or international sea regulations blah…
Another foogle user on Escape from the Engine RoomFebruary 26, 2024
What's next the Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean wouldn't float or it wasn't made from the correct timber
Another foogle user on Escape from the Engine RoomFebruary 26, 2024
Have you nothing better to do with your life than start pulling a fictional film apart you're quite sad I…
Falling through the cracks on Canada – Marine Personnel Regulation Proposed ChangesJanuary 28, 2024
I took the first Electro-technical Officer RO course in Canada in 2019. Between the training Institute and Transport Canada, we…