gCaptain has an interesting article on the history and start of ship routing optimization. Looking at winds, currents and the like.

This is a larger scale of what many recreational boaters do themselves, but there are also companies that provide the service.

Rogue, or freak, waves are a phenomenon that is only recently becoming more understood. For any of us that might be out on the water, I know it has probably passed through your mind.

Scientists have made another advancement in their understanding of what causes these waves and where they might be expected.

An interesting effect where layer(s) of different density water (caused by runoff from a glacier, for instance) can drastically reduce a ships speed. They even theorize that it could effect swimmers. read more »

Think there's nothing new under (or over) the sea? Well, maybe it's not new, but we're certainly still learning about the sea (and probably will be for a LONG time to come). Even more special to me since Georgia Tech is my alma mater.