Thanks to my good friend and Messing About In Ships podcasting partner, Captain John Konrad, the founder of gCaptain.com, I had the opportunity to interview Captain Alwin Landry, the master of Tidewater Marine’s OSV Damon Bankston, the first vessel to respond to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and fire. Captain Landry and his courageous crew rescued all 115 survivors of the fateful oil rig’s crew. Here’s his story from Weekly Leader podcast episode 68.
Here’s a video of an amazing rescue undertaken by a highly trained US Navy helicopter team lead by Lt. Brandon Sheets. Watch to the very end to get the leadership lesson.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Here’s the full story via King5.com: Whidbey crew talks about amazing Skokomish River bridge rescue
Huzzah to Admiral Robert Papp, former Commanding Officer of the USCG Barque EAGLE for becoming the 24th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.
Congratulations and thanks to Admiral Thad Allen who retired during today’s Change of Command Ceremony. But don’t expect Admiral Allen to be sunning himself on the beach somewhere in the Caribbean. President Obama had other plans when he appointed Allen to be the US government’s point person for the Deepwater Horizon sinking and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Allen does not shy away from tough assignments. (Remember Elián Gonzáles and Hurricane Katrina?)
One of the highlights of the first year of my Weekly Leader podcast was when Admiral Allen was our guest on episode 5.
Congratulations, good luck and great success to Admiral’s Allen and Papp. We’re counting on you both!
You probably remember Captain Richard Phillips, he was the master aboard the Maersk Alabama who sacrificed himself in order to protect his crew when Somali pirates tried to take over his ship. Jon Stewart does a great interview with him.
Vodpod videos no longer available.Captain Phillips has a new book out: A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea
Awesome indie web radio for a great, important cause. Only up for one week so tune in before it runs dry. And of course, donate!
Flag dip to brainpicker on Twitter
While he did not win the Best Director Oscar the other night for Avatar, James Cameron gives an interesting TED Talk about how he’s learned from and been inspired by the sea.
Here’s an amazing video of a tug capsizing in the Skookumchuck Narrows, a tidal rapid at the head of the Sechelt Inlet in British Columbia, and Kayaker Dave Fusilli of Team Demshitz paddling out to assist. You’ll have to put up with an annoying watermark but it’s still worth watching. Miraculously, no one was killed.
Thanks Dave!
Just over a month ago I wrote a post about the loss of an American sailing icon, Walter Cronkite, and tonight it’s sad to think about the loss of another, Senator Edward Kennedy.
The above photo was taken in 2004 aboard the schooner Aurora in Newport, RI when I was executive director of the American Sail Training Association. We arranged a morning sail for a youth group from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center and invited our local Congressman Patrick Kennedy to experience sail training first hand. Without advance notice Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy showed up at the dock too. He came aboard to meet the young people and share his enthusiasm and passion for sailing. As we departed the harbor, he sailed passed us at the helm of his beautiful schooner Mya.
Over the years I had several occasions to meet with the Senator and every time impressed me more. They say this about all great leaders, but when you were in his presence you really felt that he was totally focused on you and what you had to say. Of course, our brief meetings were always about tall ships and sailing, topics that were very important to him. As a student of leadership, I often reflect back on my very short, yet impactful experiences with the Senator and am grateful that I had the opportunity to spend time with him.
I’m a sucka for a good maritime metaphor so check out my Weekly Leader post about Bill Taylor’s post on his Practically Radical blog over at the HarvardBusiness blogs. Taylor was a founder of Fast Company magazine and author of business bestseller Mavericks at Work and always thoughtful writer and entertaining speaker on leadership. Instead of repeating it here, please check it out over at Weekly Leader.
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