Welcome  aboard award winning "Nautical Talk Radio," the number one nautical radio program that takes you around the nautical world in 60 minutes. Every week, listeners get a smell of the salt air and a taste of the sea, as we feature the latest nautical news, sea stories, fish tales, marine environmental issues, Coast Guard activities, maritime history, and local waterfront events.

Captain Lou's Nautical News Headlines

Capt Lou's Nautical News June 9, 2019 FLESH EATING DISEASE IN GULF OF MEXICO Fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico are warning about "mycobacterium marinum” also known as the flesh eating disease. Alabama Health Officials said all it takes is to allow bad bacteria to enter into your body. A cut from a hook or knife or even from the scales of a fish is all that it takes. Officials advise anyone with compromised immune systems to be extra cautious. Patients with cancer, diabetes, or other immunocompromising conditions are more susceptible to harmful effects of bad bacteria. BOAT FIRE IN SCITUATE Last week, 13 people were transported to the hospital after a boat caught on fire at the Scituate Harbor Marina's gas dock. Fire Chief John Murphy said, "the call came in around 4 p.m. Tuesday. When we first arrived on scene, we had heavy black smoke. They fueled up, and I guess when they turned the key or the battery switch, something ignited in their boat. There were 5 people on the boat including three children. The father and one of the children had some burns. They threw everybody in the water and a nearby boat rescued them. The boat on fire was towed away from the marina by the Scituate Harbormaster department to prevent other boats from burning, but the gas pumps and the dock had already caught on fire. Foam was used to put out those flames and oil booms were set up to contain any spills. Mutual aid from Marshfield, Norwell, Hingham, and Cohasset responded to the scene. In addition to the family on the boat, eight others, including firefighters, police and bystanders who rushed in to help were treated for smoke inhalation. All of the injuries were fortunately non-life threatening. HYANNIS FERRY BOAT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMPLETED The Coast Guard announced that it has completed its investigation into the 2017 ferry that hit the jetty in Hyannis. Fifteen people were sent to the hospital. An earlier, preliminary investigation into the crash found that the captain mistook a metal pole and two sailboats as buoys, according to the head of Steamship Authority boat line. The final Coast Guard report determined factors that contributed to the incident included a loss of situational awareness by the bridge crew; the 1st officer's lack of familiarity training with the vessel; the master's distraction due to helping the 1st officer energize the spotlight at a critical time during transit; perceptual confusions by the master relating to the radar images; reduced visibility due to the weather conditions, the speed of the vessel; and the ship's operations manual not being in compliance. BOSTON GETS 2 MORE PERMITS FOR NEW LONG ISLAND BRIDGE In what City of Boston officials called an important development, the State Department of Environmental Protection has given the green light to two crucial permits that the city needs to build a new Long Island Bridge. Without these permits, the city could not build a new Long Island Bridge. The City of Boston has now received two of the three permits it needs from the Commonwealth to build a new Long Island Bridge so that it can house a substance abuse Treatment Center. The big hurdle though could be continued strong opposition from the City of Quincy. You see, the road leading to Long Island goes through Quincy, and that city has already filed one legal appeal in an attempt to stop the project. Quincy has also passed an ordinance that bans all trucks from using the road to access the new bridge. The old Long Island Bridge was demolished in 2015 because it was structurally unsound. EPA APPROVES YEAR ROUND SALE OF E15 GAS The Environmental Protection Agency formally approved the year-round sale of E15 ethanol despite protests from the National Marine Manufacturers Association and makers of small engines. They claimed E15 is a direct threat to consumer safety because of confusion and mislabeling at the gas pump. More than 60 percent of Americans mistakenly assume that any gas sold at their local gas station is safe for all products. STELLWAGEN SANCTUARY SEEKS ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for one primary and six alternate seats on its advisory council. Applicants accepted as members should expect to serve a three-year term. The council ensures public participation in sanctuary management and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent Peter DeCola. Applications are due by June 30, 2019. Applications can be downloaded from the sanctuary's website at https://stellwagen.noaa.gov. NOAA’S FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER TO MEET WITH FISHERMEN NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Cooperative Research Branch wants to hear from the region’s fisheries stakeholders. Your input is key to creating a strategic, forward-thinking plan that outlines clear and actionable steps for building community and developing effective cooperative research projects. Thus, we are hosting a series of engagement sessions in August and September to engage with fishing communities and fisheries stakeholders, identify and learn from the successes and shortfalls of previous research, discuss research ideas and priorities for future projects, and recognize and build upon the strengths of our partners. There will be two sessions in Massachusetts - one in Gloucester, August 14th, and one in New Bedford, August 20th. COAST GUARD SEIZED DRUGS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton was a part of operations targeting transnational criminal organizations. The Hamilton crew offloaded about 26,000 pounds of seized cocaine and 1,500 pounds of seized marijuana in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The drugs were interdicted in international waters the coasts of Mexico, Central, and South America. FLORIDA CHARTER BOAT CAPTAIN ARRESTED FOR DUI A charter Florida charter boat captain is accused of boating under the influence, opening fire with a handgun, and refusing to bring his passengers back to shore. The Sarasota Police Department and Coast Guard responded to a call about an intoxicated charter boat captain, and arrived just as the boat was backing into a dock space with his passengers. The 36 year old charter boat captain was immediately arrested by Sarasota police as soon as he got off the boat after allegations of a handgun being discharged in front of the passengers. Several witnesses told police the captain drank multiple beers on the boat. Police said the captain had watery bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and his breath smelled like alcoholic beverages, but the captain refused a breathalyzer test and insisted that he was not drunk. 27 YEARS ON RADIO STATION WATD 95.9 FM Listen to the live broadcast of "Nautical Talk Radio" with Capt Lou and crew Sunday mornings 11-noon (Boston time) on radio stations 95.9FM and 1460AM WATD, and soon to return on 1510AM WMEX. Also streamed around the world on www.959watd.com. Listen anytime to replay of recent shows at www.NauticalTalk.com. Recipient of 2018 Mass Boating & Yacht Clubs "Gannett Award" Winner of MASS/Rhode Island Associated Press "BEST TALK SHOW" Winner of Boston's Achievement in Radio "BEST INTERVIEW" award Recipient of American Lighthouse Foundation's "LEN HADLEY" award Recipient of Coast Guard's Joshua James Lifesaving Medal for public service Nominated Boston's A,I.R. "BEST PRODUCED PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM" Judge of IBEX Innovation Products Judge of NMMA's Progressive New England Boat Show's Exhibitors 25 Year Retired Status U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Member of Boston Harbor Islands National Park Advisory Council Member of South Shore Harbormasters Association Member of Mass Marine Trades Association Member of Quincy Bay Race Week Member of Mass Boating and Yacht Club Association Member of Stellwagen Bank Charterboat Association Member of Boat Writers International Member of Boat/US Life Member of Mass Striped Bass Association Life Member and Past Commodore of Metropolitan Yacht Club

 

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS ON RADIO STATION 95.9FM WATD"

Listen to the live broadcast of "Nautical Talk Radio" with Capt Lou and crew, Sunday mornings from 11 - 12 noon (Boston time) on radio station  95.9FM WATD, streaming around the world on www.959watd.com. You can also listen to a replay of recent shows anytime during the week a www.NauticalTalk.com.

* Winner of Mass/Rhode Island Associated Press "BEST TALK SHOW"
* Winner of Boston's Achievement In Radio "BEST INTERVIEW" AWARD
* Recipient of American Lighthouse Foundation's "LEN HADLEY AWARD"
* Recipient of Coast Guard's Joshua James Lifesaving Medal for public service
* Nominated Boston's A.I.R. "BEST PRODUCED PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM"
* Judge of IBEX Innovation Products
* Judge of New England Boat Show's Best Exhibitors
* Member of Boston Harbor Islands National Park Advisory Council
* Member of South Shore Harbormaster Association
* Member of Quincy Bay Race Week Association
* Member of Stellwagen Bank Charterboat Association
* Member of Boat Writers International
* Life Member of Mass Striped Bass Association
* Life Member and Past Commodore of Metropolitan Yacht Club