This is an update on a January 2026 blog, where I presumed AI could help in solving the model year of a car in this picture. Having become more familiar with Gemini, I uploaded the picture of the reflected car in Gemini to have it identify the car. I asked: What make model and year… Read more »

As late as 2022 MARAD was still considering the conversion of the SL7/FSS vessels. In particular MARAD wanted to replace the steam plants with more modern internal combustion plants.   MARAD was pretty much the only ship operator that was still running steam plants and saw a manning problem where it would become ever more… Read more »

James Leo Dolan (1942-2026) Past President of Martin & Ottaway While recovering from cancer surgery, Martin & Ottaway President Emeritus and Senior Consultant James L. Dolan passed away at his home in Rumson, NJ, on August 29, 2026. Jim Dolan was born in Rhode Island and raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, where he met and married… Read more »

In 2013 I ruminated on a solar powered RV that could cross the United States using natural resources not unlike the way settlers did it with their oxen drawn Conestoga covered wagons. Although in a little more comfort. Now 13 years later, technology has improved and my desire to some day build one of these… Read more »

  As a semi-tradition, one of our summer intern assignments is to do a little project that summarizes issues that run through Rik’s head. In this case, Christian Percy, a rising senior at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, was asked to get organized on sustainable energy in Europe. This is his summary:   … Read more »