A sea captain , ship's captain , captain , master , or shipmaster , is a high-grade licensed mariner who holds ultimate command and responsibility of a merchant vessel. The captain is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the ship, including its seaworthiness, safety and security, cargo operations, navigation, crew management, and legal compliance, and for the persons and cargo on board.
156-756: Benjamin Morrell (July 5, 1795 – c. 1839 ) was an American sea captain , explorer and trader who made a number of voyages, mainly to the Atlantic , the Southern Ocean and the Pacific Islands . In a ghost-written memoir, A Narrative of Four Voyages , which describes his sea-going life between 1823 and 1832, Morrell included numerous claims of discovery and achievement, many of which have been disputed by geographers and historians, and in some cases have been proven false. He ended his career as
312-560: A British overseas territory , the Falklands have internal self-governance , but the United Kingdom takes responsibility for their defence and foreign affairs. The capital and largest settlement is Stanley on East Falkland. The islands are believed to have been uninhabited prior to European discovery in the 17th century . Controversy exists over the Falklands' discovery and subsequent colonisation by Europeans. At various times,
468-448: A self-governing British Overseas Territory . Under the 2009 Constitution , the islands have full internal self-government; the UK is responsible for foreign affairs, retaining the power "to protect UK interests and to ensure the overall good governance of the territory". The Monarch of the United Kingdom is the head of state, and executive authority is exercised on the monarch's behalf by
624-907: A "considerable increase" in the job market over the next few years. As of 2013, captains of U.S.-flagged deep sea vessels make up to US$ 1,500 per day, or US$ 80,000 to US$ 300,000 per year. Captains of smaller vessels in the inland and coastal trade earn between US$ 350 and US$ 700 per day, or US$ 65,000 to $ 180,000 per year. Captains of large ferries average US$ 56,794 annually. In 2005, 3,393 mariners held active unlimited master's licenses. 87 held near-coastal licenses with unlimited tonnage, 291 held unlimited tonnage master's licenses on inland and Great Lakes waters, while 1,044 held unlimited licenses upon inland waters only. Some 47,163 active masters licenses that year had tonnage restrictions, well over half of those being for near-coastal vessels of up to 100 tons gross tonnage . As of 2006, some 34,000 people were employed as captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in
780-655: A UK expeditionary force retook the territories in June. After the war the UK expanded its military presence, building RAF Mount Pleasant and increasing the size of its garrison. The war also left some 117 minefields containing nearly 20,000 mines of various types, including anti-vehicle and anti-personnel mines. Due to the large number of deminer casualties, initial attempts to clear the mines ceased in 1983. Demining operations recommenced in 2009 and were completed in October 2020. Based on Lord Shackleton 's recommendations,
936-486: A UK overseas territory. The territory's sovereignty status is part of an ongoing dispute between Argentina and the UK . The population (3,662 inhabitants in 2021) is primarily native-born Falkland Islanders , the majority of British descent. Other ethnicities include French, Gibraltarians , and Scandinavians. Immigration from the United Kingdom, the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena , and Chile has reversed
1092-402: A braggart as any hero of autobiographical romance", but still found the narrative itself "most entertaining". Rupert Gould, writing in 1928, thought that Morrell may have been boastful and self-aggrandizing, but that did not make him a deliberate liar. Gould points to the accurate information provided by Morrell on the discovery of the guano deposits on Ichaboe Island, which laid the foundations of
1248-587: A converted brigantine, Margaret Oakley , in which he set sail from New York on March 9, 1834. Among the crew was Samuel Woodworth's 18-year-old son Selim Woodworth , whose journals and letters provided a record of the voyage. Monday was not with them; he had died a year previously. Margaret Oakley took the westerly route to the Pacific, across the Atlantic to the Cape Verde Islands , then south to
1404-807: A dispute related to fishing and hunting rights led to a raid by the American warship USS Lexington in 1831, when United States Navy commander Silas Duncan declared the dissolution of the island's government. Buenos Aires attempted to gain influence over the settlement by installing a garrison in October 1832, which mutinied within a month and was followed the next year by the arrival of British forces, who reasserted Britain's rule . The Argentine Confederation (headed by Buenos Aires Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas ) protested against Britain's actions, and Argentine governments have continued since then to register official protests against Britain. The British troops departed after completing their mission, leaving
1560-628: A fascinated public. The only maritime opportunity available was to take a cargo to Cádiz , which he was obliged to accept. He left Manila on January 13, 1831, taking his captives with him. When Antarctic reached Cádiz five months later the port was under quarantine and closed. He was forced to discharge the cargo in Bordeaux , where Dako and Monday, rumored in the town to be cannibals, again attracted great curiosity. Antarctic finally reached New York on August 27, 1831; despite his lack of commercial success, Morrell remained upbeat about future prospects in
1716-463: A few countries, such as UK, USA and Italy, some captains with particular experience in navigation and command at sea , may be named commodore or senior captain or captain senior grade . The term master is descended from the Latin magister navis , used during the imperial Roman age to designate the nobleman ( patrician ) who was in ultimate authority on board a vessel. The magister navis had
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#17327767702031872-464: A flourishing industry. William Mills, a much more recent commentator, echoes the view that "something may be salvaged from Morrell's account, although much of it must be discarded". In regard to the Antarctic discoveries, which are Mills's particular concern, he points out that these are given no special emphasis. Morrell does not seem to regard the Antarctic expedition as particularly remarkable, and
2028-637: A fraud following the Margaret Oakley debacle, his contemporaries did not uniformly denounce him. To some, he was "the biggest liar in the Pacific", and d'Urville, who had earlier warmly praised Morrell's Four Voyages account, turned on the American and accused him of fabricating many of his supposed discoveries. However, Jeremiah Reynolds, who had expressed scepticism over the narrative, included Morrell's Pacific discoveries in his report to Congress A Report in relation to islands, reefs, and shoals in
2184-758: A fraud in France as well as in Britain and America. It is not known how Morrell supported himself during his months in London; it is possible that Abby sent him funds from America. Somehow, in the autumn of 1837, he made his way to Havana in Cuba, after which his movements are unclear. It appears that he eventually obtained command of a vessel, possibly the Christine , and that he sailed in September 1838, probably planning
2340-742: A fugitive, having wrecked his ship and misappropriated parts of the salvaged cargo. Morrell had an eventful early career, running away to sea at the age of 17 and being twice captured and imprisoned by the British during the War of 1812 . He subsequently sailed before the mast for several years before being appointed as chief mate , and later as captain, of the New York sealer Wasp . In 1823, he took Wasp for an extended voyage into subantarctic waters, and on his return made unsubstantiated claims to have travelled beyond 70°S and to have sighted new coastlines in
2496-416: A leased floating production, storage and offloading unit". A final investment decision had been targeted for early 2024, though it was somewhat delayed. A public consultation on the project took place in the summer of 2024 and was reported to have garnered widespread support from Falkland Islanders. Since Britain's newly elected Labour Government banned similar oil projects in the United Kingdom, this created
2652-535: A low population density . According to the 2012 census, the average daily population of the Falklands was 2,932, excluding military personnel serving in the archipelago and their dependents. A 2012 report counted 1,300 uniformed personnel and 50 British Ministry of Defence civil servants present in the Falklands. Stanley (with 2,121 residents) is the most-populous location on the archipelago, followed by Mount Pleasant (369 residents, primarily air-base contractors) and Camp (351 residents). The islands' age distribution
2808-725: A military base aiding control of the South Atlantic. In the First World War Battle of the Falkland Islands in December 1914, a Royal Navy fleet defeated an Imperial German squadron. In the Second World War , following the December 1939 Battle of the River Plate , the battle-damaged HMS Exeter steamed to the Falklands for repairs. In 1942, a battalion en route to India was redeployed to
2964-485: A month earlier, which reached 74°15'S before retreating. The words used by Weddell to express his belief that the South Pole lay in open water are replicated by Morrell, whose account was written nine years after the event. Thus it is suggested by geographer Paul Simpson-Housley that Morrell may have plagiarised Weddell's experiences, since Weddell's account had been published in 1827. Morrell's account describes how on
3120-423: A negative reputation due to cargo-shipping losses; only in emergencies would ships rounding Cape Horn stop at the port. Nevertheless, the Falklands' geographic location proved ideal for ship repairs and the "Wrecking Trade", the business of selling and buying shipwrecks and their cargoes. Aside from this trade, commercial interest in the archipelago was minimal due to the low-value hides of the feral cattle roaming
3276-494: A population decline. The predominant (and official) language is English. Under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 , Falkland Islanders are British citizens . The islands lie at the boundary of the subantarctic oceanic and tundra climate zones, and both major islands have mountain ranges reaching 2,300 ft (700 m). They are home to large bird populations, although many no longer breed on
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#17327767702033432-485: A return to the Pacific. He got no further than Mozambique on the East African coast; his ship was wrecked, and Morrell was stranded ashore. He is reported to have died, either of fever or during an insurrection, in late 1838 or early 1839. This story is complicated by an alternative account indicating that Christine was wrecked a year later, early in 1840, although whether Morrell was alive and in command by that date
3588-401: A skirmish with the locals which turned into a full-scale battle ending, he says, with seventeen natives dead and seven of Tartar ' s men wounded. Morrell claims that he was among the casualties, with an arrow in his thigh. Of a visit to San Francisco Morrell writes: "The inhabitants are principally Mexicans and Spaniards who are very indolent and consequently very filthy." After revisiting
3744-490: A small boat during a gale that swept him 50 nautical miles (58 mi; 93 km) from the ship, and leading efforts to extricate Wasp when she became trapped in the ice. On the day following his return to New York, Morrell was appointed captain of Wasp , while Johnson took over the schooner Henry . The two ships were jointly commissioned to return to the South Seas for sealing, trading and exploration, and "to ascertain
3900-604: A state or the United States Coast Guard . If the vessel carries over six paying passengers, it must be an "inspected vessel" and a higher class license must be obtained by the skipper/master depending on the vessel's gross tons. In the Royal Navy , Royal Marines , U.S. Navy , U.S. Marine Corps , U.S. Coast Guard , and merchant naval slang, it is a term used in reference to the commanding officer of any ship, base, or other command regardless of rank. It
4056-566: A very social place, and stopping for a chat is a way of life". The islands have one weekly newspaper, The Penguin News , and television and radio broadcasts generally feature programming from the United Kingdom. Wagstaff describes the local cuisine as "very British in character with much use made of the home-grown vegetables, local lamb, mutton, beef, and fish". Common between meals are "homemade cakes and biscuits with tea or coffee". Social activities are, according to Wagstaff, "typical of that of
4212-446: Is pegged to the British pound sterling . Economic development was advanced by ship resupplying and sheep farming for high-quality wool. The main sheep breeds in the Falkland Islands are Polwarth and Corriedale . During the 1980s, although ranch under-investment and the use of synthetic fibres damaged the sheep-farming sector, the government secured a major revenue stream by the establishment of an exclusive economic zone and
4368-653: Is a wedding on a ship in port, under the authority of an official from that port. In works of fiction, ship captains have performed marriages in various media, including the 1951 film The African Queen , and episodes of The Love Boat , How I Met Your Mother , The Office and various Star Trek series. Master Mariner certification is regulated internationally under the STCW Convention , specifically Regulation II/2 sets out requirements for Master Mariners. Master mariners can possess either an unlimited certification/licence or one restricted based on tonnage of
4524-410: Is also more frequently used than captain with privately owned noncommercial or semi-commercial vessels, such as small yachts and other recreational boats, mostly in cases where the person in command of the boat may not be a licensed or professional captain, suggesting the term is less formal. In the U.S., a "skipper" who is in command of a charter vessel that carries paying passengers must be licensed by
4680-677: Is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf . The principal islands are about 300 mi (480 km) east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about 752 mi (1,210 km) from Cape Dubouzet at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula , at a latitude of about 52°S. The archipelago, with an area of 4,700 sq mi (12,000 km ), comprises East Falkland , West Falkland , and 776 smaller islands. As
4836-511: Is debated by historians. In 1766, France surrendered its claim on the Falklands to Spain , which renamed the French colony Puerto Soledad the following year. Problems began when Spain detected and captured Port Egmont in 1770. War was narrowly avoided by its restitution to Britain in 1771. The British and Spanish settlements coexisted in the archipelago until 1774, when Britain's new economic and strategic considerations led it to withdraw
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4992-756: Is generally only applied to someone who has earned the speaker's respect, and only used with the permission of the commander/commanding officer in question. Skipper RNR was an actual rank used in the British Royal Naval Reserve for skippers of fishing boats who were members of the service. It was equivalent to Warrant Officer . Skippers could also be promoted to Chief Skipper RNR (equivalent to Commissioned Warrant Officer ) and Skipper Lieutenant RNR. Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands ( / ˈ f ɔː ( l ) k l ə n d , ˈ f ɒ l k -/ FAW(L)K -lənd, FOLK - ; Spanish: Islas Malvinas [ˈislas malˈβinas] )
5148-518: Is latitude 51°40′ – 53°00′ S and longitude 57°40′ – 62°00′ W . The archipelago's two main islands are separated by the Falkland Sound , and its deep coastal indentations form natural harbours . East Falkland houses Stanley (the capital and largest settlement), the UK military base at RAF Mount Pleasant, and the archipelago's highest point: Mount Usborne , at 2,313 ft (705 m). Outside of these significant settlements
5304-462: Is outside the territory of the United States." However, there may be exceptions "in accordance with local laws and the laws of the state, territory, or district in which the parties are domiciled" and "in the presence of a diplomatic or consular official of the United States, who has consented to issue the certificates and make the returns required by the consular regulations." Furthermore, in
5460-532: Is silent until February 23, when he records crossing the Greenwich (0°) meridian. Historians have doubted that such a long passage from 118°E, about 3,500 nautical miles (4,000 mi; 6,500 km), could have been made so quickly in ice-strewn waters and against the prevailing winds. Although some writers, including former Royal Navy navigator Rupert Gould , have argued that Morrell's claims as to speed and distance are plausible, Morrell's undated interim latitude
5616-660: Is skewed towards working age (20–60) . Males outnumber females (53 to 47 per cent), and this discrepancy is most prominent in the 20–60 age group. In the 2012 census, most islanders identified themselves as Christian (66 per cent), followed by those with no religious affiliation (32 per cent). The remaining 2 per cent identified as adherents of other religions, including the Baháʼí Faith , Buddhism , and Islam . The main Christian denominations are Anglicanism and other Protestantism , and Roman Catholicism . Education in
5772-732: Is the UK Honourable Company of Master Mariners . The international parent and representative body is the International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations which has consultative status at the International Maritime Organization . As of 2008, the U.K. Learning and Skills Council lists annual salaries for senior deck officers as ranging from £22,000 to over £50,000 per year. The Council characterizes job opportunities for senior deck officers as "generally good" and expects
5928-1048: Is the area colloquially known as "Camp", which is derived from the Spanish term for countryside ( Campo ). The climate of the islands is cold, windy, and humid maritime . Variability of daily weather is typical throughout the archipelago. Rainfall is common over half of the year, averaging 610 mm (24 in) in Stanley, and sporadic light snowfall occurs nearly all year. The temperature has historically stayed between 21.1 and −11.1 °C (70.0 and 12.0 °F) in Stanley, with mean monthly temperatures varying from 9 °C (48 °F) in January and February (summer) to −1 °C (30 °F) in July (winter). Strong westerly winds and cloudy skies are common. Although numerous storms are recorded each month, conditions are normally calm. The Falkland Islands are biogeographically part of
6084-462: Is unrecorded. Christine was known as a slave ship, which raises the possibility that in his final years Morrell was engaged with the slave trade. Fairhead suggests an alternative hypothesis: that Morrell staged his death in Mozambique, to evade Margaret Oakley ' s insurers. In this scenario, he may have escaped to South America and lived out his days there. A letter dated August 11, 1843, to
6240-421: Is useful for those unfamiliar with the vessel to be able to identify members of the crew and their function. Some companies and some countries use an executive curl similar to that of the Royal Navy . In the United States, and in numerous other maritime countries, captains and officers of shipping companies may wear a merchant navy or merchant marine regular uniform in conjunction with their employment. In
6396-549: The Robinson Crusoe story. Wasp returned to New York in May 1824. There, he found that his wife whom he had married in 1819, not named in any accounts of Morrell's life or career, and his two small children, likewise unnamed, had all died. He quickly married his 15-year-old cousin, Abigail Jane Wood ("Abby"). For his second voyage, Morrell took charge of a new ship, Tartar , which sailed from New York on July 19, 1824, for
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6552-462: The Antarctic zone , with strong connections to the flora and fauna of Patagonia in mainland South America. Land birds make up most of the Falklands' avifauna . The only endemic bird species on the Falkland Islands are the flightless Falkland steamer duck and Cobb's wren . 63 species breed on the islands, including 14 endemic subspecies . There is also abundant arthropod diversity on
6708-784: The Bahamas permit captains of ships registered in their jurisdictions to perform marriages at sea. Princess Cruises , whose ships are registered in Bermuda, has used this as a selling point for their cruises, while Cunard moved the registration of its ships Queen Mary 2 , Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth from Southampton to Bermuda in 2011 to allow marriages to be conducted on their ships. Some captains obtain other credentials (such as ordination as ministers of religion or accreditation as notaries public), which allow them to perform marriages in some jurisdictions where they would otherwise not be permitted to do so. Another possibility
6864-688: The Cape of Good Hope and across the Indian Ocean, arriving in the vicinity of Dako's home islands in November 1834. Dako was received rapturously by his people, as one who had returned from the dead. Morrell remained in the area for several months, exploring and collecting artefacts, before departing in April 1835 for Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) in Australia for repairs and repainting. By June, Morrell
7020-555: The Carteret Islands , a small atoll which now forms part of Papua New Guinea and found sea cucumbers in abundance. Morrell set up camp on one of the islands, where he faced a hostile reception from the population, who were nevertheless intrigued by their first sight of metal. There were thefts of tools; Morrell responded by holding several chiefs as hostages, at which the islanders mounted a full-scale attack on Morrell's shore base. Fourteen crew members were killed; Antarctic
7176-740: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office , is largely based on English law , and the constitution binds the territory to the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights . Residents have the right of appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and the Privy Council . Law enforcement is the responsibility of the Royal Falkland Islands Police (RFIP). Defence of the islands is provided by
7332-669: The United Nations General Assembly , the Fourth Committee determined that, in all languages other than Spanish, all UN documentation would designate the territory as Falkland Islands (Malvinas) . In Spanish, the territory was designated as Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) . The nomenclature used by the United Nations for statistical processing purposes is Falkland Islands (Malvinas) . Although Fuegians from Patagonia may have visited
7488-601: The United States , there have been a few contradictory legal precedents: courts did not recognize a shipboard marriage in California 's 1898 Norman v. Norman but did in New York 's 1929 Fisher v. Fisher (notwithstanding the absence of municipal laws so carried) and in 1933's Johnson v. Baker , an Oregon court ordered the payment of death benefits to a widow because she had established that her marriage at sea
7644-511: The governor , who appoints the islands' chief executive on the advice of members of the Legislative Assembly . Both the governor and the chief executive serve as the head of government . Governor Alison Blake was appointed in July 2022 and Chief Executive Andy Keeling was appointed in April 2021. The UK minister responsible for the Falkland Islands since 2024, Stephen Doughty , administers British foreign policy regarding
7800-467: The 1842 expedition of Sir James Clark Ross , have likewise proved imaginary. In 1917, the British explorer William Speirs Bruce wrote that the existence of land in this area "should not be rejected until absolutely disproved." By this time both Wilhelm Filchner and Ernest Shackleton , in their respective ice-bound ships, had drifted close to the plotted positions of New South Greenland and reported no sign of it. It has been suggested that what Morrell saw
7956-469: The 221st largest out of 229 in the world by GDP ( PPP ), but ranks 10th worldwide by GDP (PPP) per capita . The unemployment rate was 1% in 2016, and inflation was calculated at 1.4% in 2014. Based on 2010 data, the islands have a high Human Development Index of 0.874 and a moderate Gini coefficient for income inequality of 34.17. The local currency is the Falkland Islands pound , which
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#17327767702038112-675: The American coast and tracked slowly southwards back to the Straits of Magellan. Among the events witnessed and recorded in Morrell's journal were the siege of Callao , the main port of Peru, by Simón Bolívar 's liberators, and a spectacular volcanic eruption on Fernandina Island in the Galápagos archipelago , which Tartar visited during February 1825. Fernandina, then known as Narborough Island, exploded on February 14. In Morrell's words "The heavens appeared to be one blaze of fire, intermingling with millions of falling stars and meteors; while
8268-562: The Anglo-Saxon term "folkland" (land held by folk-right ). The name "Falklands" was not applied to the islands until 1765, when British captain John Byron of the Royal Navy claimed them for King George III as "Falkland's Islands". The term "Falklands" is a standard abbreviation used to refer to the islands. The common Spanish name for the archipelago, Islas Malvinas , derives from the French Îles Malouines —the name given to
8424-512: The British sealing captains James Lindsay and Thomas Hopper reached it and recorded its correct position, although they were unable to land. Morrell, by his own account, found the island without difficulty—with "improbable ease", in the words of historian William Mills— before landing and hunting seals there. In his subsequent lengthy description, Morrell does not mention the island's most obvious physical feature, its permanent ice cover. This has caused some commentators to doubt that he actually visited
8580-594: The EEZ of Argentina. The UK and Argentina both assert sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. The UK bases its position on its continuous administration of the islands since 1833 and the islanders' "right to self-determination as set out in the UN Charter ". Argentina claims that, when it achieved independence in 1816, it acquired the Falklands from Spain. The incident of 1833 is particularly contentious; Argentina considers it proof of "Britain's usurpation" whereas
8736-574: The Environmental Impact Statement required "further discussion" and that any development and production program would need to be considered separately by the Executive Council. Development projects in education and sports have been funded by the Falklands government, without aid from the United Kingdom. The primary sector of the economy accounts for most of the Falkland Islands' gross domestic product, with
8892-479: The Falkland Islanders as a partner in negotiations. However, in May, 2024, newly elected Argentine president Javier Milei , expressed general acceptance and tolerance for British rule, for the time being, noting it could take decades for Argentina to gain control of the islands. Though asserting “We [will not] relinquish our sovereignty" over the islands, Milei said they would not "seek conflict with
9048-703: The Falkland Islands , which follows England's system , is free and compulsory for residents aged between 5 and 16 years. Primary education is available at Stanley, RAF Mount Pleasant (for children of service personnel) and a number of rural settlements. Secondary education is only available in Stanley, which offers boarding facilities and 12 subjects to General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) level. Students aged 16 or older may study at colleges in England for their GCE Advanced Level or vocational qualifications. The Falkland Islands government pays for older students to attend institutions of higher education, usually in
9204-596: The Falkland Islands are independent ; no political parties exist on the islands. Since the 2013 general election , members of the Legislative Assembly have received a salary and are expected to work full-time and give up all previously held jobs or business interests. As a territory of the United Kingdom, the Falklands were part of the overseas countries and territories of the European Union until 2020 . The islands' judicial system, overseen by
9360-501: The Falkland Islands in prehistoric times, the islands were uninhabited when Europeans first explored them. European claims of discovery date back to the 16th century, but no consensus exists on whether early explorers sighted the Falklands or other islands in the South Atlantic. The first undisputed landing on the islands is attributed to English captain John Strong, who, en route to Peru and Chile 's littoral in 1690, explored
9516-639: The Falkland Sound and noted the islands' water and game. The Falklands remained uninhabited until the 1764 establishment of Port Louis on East Falkland by French captain Louis Antoine de Bougainville and the 1765 foundation of Port Egmont on Saunders Island by Captain John Byron ; the latter settlement being expanded by British captain John MacBride a year later. Whether or not the settlements were aware of each other's existence
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#17327767702039672-445: The Falklands as a garrison amid fears of a Japanese seizure of the archipelago. After the war ended, the Falklands economy was affected by declining wool prices and the political uncertainty resulting from the revived sovereignty dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina. Simmering tensions between the UK and Argentina increased during the second half of the century, when Argentine President Juan Perón asserted sovereignty over
9828-499: The Falklands basin. Landmine clearance work restarted in 2009, in accordance with the UK's obligations under the Ottawa Treaty , and Sapper Hill Corral was cleared of mines in 2012, allowing access to an important historical landmark for the first time in 30 years. Argentina and the UK re-established diplomatic relations in 1990, but neither has agreed on the terms of future sovereignty discussions. The Falkland Islands are
9984-440: The Falklands became a Crown colony and Scottish settlers subsequently established an official pastoral community. Four years later, nearly everyone relocated to Port Jackson, considered a better location for the government, and merchant Samuel Lafone began a venture to encourage British colonisation. Stanley , as Port Jackson was soon renamed, officially became the seat of government in 1845. Early in its history, Stanley had
10140-409: The Falklands diversified from a sheep-based monoculture into an economy of tourism and, with the establishment of the Falklands exclusive economic zone , fisheries. The road network was also made more extensive, and the construction of RAF Mount Pleasant allowed access to long haul flights. Oil exploration also began in the 2010s, with indications of possible commercially exploitable deposits in
10296-489: The Galapagos Islands and gathering a harvest of fur seal and terrapin , Tartar began a slow journey home on October 13, 1825. As they left the Pacific Morrell claimed to have personally inspected and identified every danger existing along the American Pacific coast. Tartar finally reached New York Harbor on May 8, 1826, with a main cargo of 6,000 fur seals. This haul did not please Morrell's employers, who had evidently expected rather more. "The reception I met from my owners
10452-408: The Pacific Ocean . This, says Simpson-Housley, was surely a compliment to the otherwise disgraced navigator. Later commentators and historians have tended to assess his career with a degree of sympathy. Hugh Robert Mill of the Royal Geographical Society , writing in 1905, considered that a man may be ignorant and boastful, yet still do solid work. Mill thought Morrell "intolerably vain, and as great
10608-442: The Pacific Ocean. In the next two years, Tartar first explored the American coastline from the Straits of Magellan to Cape Blanco (now in Oregon ). He then sailed westward to the islands of Hawaii , known at that time as the Sandwich Islands , where Captain James Cook had met his death nearly 40 years earlier. He claims to have discovered two new islands, Byers's Island and Morrell's Island . Thereafter Tartar returned to
10764-535: The Pacific. "I could, with only a modest share of patronage ... open a new avenue of trade more lucrative than any that our country has ever yet enjoyed, and further, it would be in my power, and mine alone, to secure the monopoly for any term I pleased." In the final paragraph of his account of the Morrell records that his wife's father, her aunt and her aunt's child had all died during his absence, as had one of Morrell's cousins and her husband. When he returned to New York after his profitless fourth voyage, Morrell
10920-663: The Philippines, hoping to find a commercial cargo there, and arrived in March 1830. No such cargo was available, but Morrell was persuaded by the American consul, George Hubbell, that a potentially profitable enterprise would be to collect sea cucumbers (otherwise known as "Bêche-de-mer"), plentifully available in the islands now known as Micronesia . These could then be taken to China where they were much prized. Hubbell would not permit Antarctic to sail with Abby on board; possibly he had designs on her. Morrell sailed from Manila without her, and initially had little luck in finding sea cucumbers in any quantity. Eventually Antarctic reached
11076-399: The UK and mainland South America. Port Stanley Airport provides internal flights. Despite COVID-19 pandemic restrictions causing suspensions of flights from Santiago and São Paulo and prohibited cruise ship tourism, the economy of the islands remains stable and healthy. The Falkland Islands population is homogeneous, mostly descended from Scottish and Welsh immigrants who settled in
11232-514: The UK discounts it as a mere reassertion of its claim. In 2009, the British prime minister, Gordon Brown , had a meeting with the Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner , and said that there would be no further talks over the sovereignty of the Falklands. In March 2013, the Falkland Islands held a referendum on its political status: 99.8% of votes cast favoured remaining a British overseas territory. Argentina does not recognise
11388-404: The United Kingdom" over them, preferring to resolve the dispute "within the framework of peace." The Falkland Islands have a land area of 4,700 sq mi (12,000 km ) and a coastline estimated at 800 mi (1,300 km). The archipelago consists of two main islands, West Falkland and East Falkland, and 776 smaller islands. The islands are predominantly mountainous and hilly, with
11544-477: The United Kingdom. Falklands culture is based on the cultural traditions of its British settlers but has also been influenced by Hispanic South America . Falklanders still use some terms and place names from the former Gaucho inhabitants. The Falklands' predominant and official language is English, with the foremost dialect being British English ; nonetheless, some inhabitants also speak Spanish. According to naturalist Will Wagstaff , "the Falkland Islands are
11700-598: The United Kingdom. A British military garrison is stationed on the islands, and the Falkland Islands government funds an additional platoon to company -sized light infantry Falkland Islands Defence Force . The Falklands claim an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extending 200 nmi (370 km) from its coastal baselines, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ; this zone overlaps with
11856-415: The United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% growth in this occupation, expecting demand for 40,000 shipmasters in 2016. Uniforms are worn aboard many ships, or aboard any vessels of traditional and organized navigation companies, and are required by company regulation on passenger and cruise vessels. In the passenger-carrying trade a unified corporate image is often desired and it
12012-567: The account contained more poetry than truth. Abby's book attracted less attention. It purported to be written to promote "the amelioration of the condition of the American seaman", a subject in which she had not otherwise evinced interest. Woodworth exploited the public's curiosity by preparing a stage play, The Cannibals , which opened at the Bowery Theatre, New York, in March 1833 and had a lengthy and successful run. Morrell's ghosted account
12168-611: The archipelago was visited only by fishing ships; its political status was undisputed until 1820, when Colonel David Jewett , an American privateer working for the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata , informed anchored ships about Buenos Aires ' 1816 claim to Spain's territories in the South Atlantic. Since the islands had no permanent inhabitants, in 1823 Buenos Aires granted German-born merchant Luis Vernet permission to conduct fishing activities and exploit feral cattle in
12324-509: The archipelago. The sovereignty dispute intensified during the 1960s, shortly after the United Nations passed a resolution on decolonisation which Argentina interpreted as favourable to its position. In 1965, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2065 , calling for both states to conduct bilateral negotiations to reach a peaceful settlement of the dispute. From 1966 until 1968, the UK confidentially discussed with Argentina
12480-400: The archipelago. Vernet settled at the ruins of Puerto Soledad in 1826, and accumulated resources on the islands until the venture was secure enough to bring settlers and form a permanent colony. Buenos Aires named Vernet military and civil commander of the islands in 1829, and he attempted to regulate sealing to stop the activities of foreign whalers and sealers. Vernet's venture lasted until
12636-599: The area now known as the Weddell Sea . His subsequent voyages mainly centered on the Pacific, where he attempted to develop trading relations with the indigenous populations. Although Morrell wrote of the enormous potential wealth to be obtained from the Pacific trade, his endeavours were, in the main, commercially unprofitable. Despite his reputation among his contemporaries for untruth and fantasy, Morrell has been defended by some later commentators who, while questioning his general reliability, maintain that not all his life
12792-500: The area without formal government. Vernet's deputy, the Scotsman Matthew Brisbane , returned to the islands that year to restore the business, but his efforts ended after, amid unrest at Port Louis, gaucho Antonio Rivero led a group of dissatisfied individuals to murder Brisbane and the settlement's senior leaders; survivors hid in a cave on a nearby island until the British returned and restored order. In 1840,
12948-465: The case of injury or death of a crew member or passenger, the master is responsible to address any medical issues affecting the passengers and crew by providing medical care as possible, cooperating with onshore medical personnel, and, if necessary, evacuating those who need more assistance than can be provided on board the ship. There is a common belief that ship captains have historically been, and currently are, able to perform marriages. This depends on
13104-588: The cheerless shores of New South Greenland", and sailed away from the Antarctic never to return. The remaining stages of the voyage are uncontroversial, involving a year-long cruise in the Pacific Ocean. This took Wasp to the Galápagos Islands and also to the island of Más a Tierra where, a century earlier, the Scottish seaman Alexander Selkirk had been marooned, providing the inspiration for
13260-470: The coast of the island of Uneapa (in today's West New Britain Province ). A flotilla of native canoes approached the ship, full of apparently well-armed and aggressive islanders. After his experiences at Carteret Island, Morrell took no chances and ordered his crew to fire. The small craft were shattered; many died, while others manage to regain the shore. One man, who had clung to Antarctic ' s rudder,
13416-484: The country of registry, however, and most do not permit performance of a marriage by the master of a ship at sea. In the United States Navy , a captain's powers are defined by its 1913 Code of Regulations, specifically stating: "The commanding officer shall not perform a marriage ceremony on board his ship or aircraft. He shall not permit a marriage ceremony to be performed on board when the ship or aircraft
13572-407: The creation of direct air links with the United Kingdom and South America. Tourists, mostly cruise ship passengers, are attracted by the archipelago's wildlife and environment, as well as activities such as fishing and wreck diving ; the majority find accommodation in Stanley. The main international airport, located at RAF Mount Pleasant on East Falkland, provides flights to RAF Brize Norton in
13728-497: The day after turning north from his southernmost point, a large tract of land was sighted in the region of 67°52'S, 44°11'W. Morrell refers to this land as " New South Greenland ", and records that during the next few days Wasp explored more than 300 nautical miles (350 mi; 560 km) of coast. Morrell provided vivid descriptions of the land's features, with observations of its abundant wildlife. No such land exists; other appearances of land at or near this bearing, reported during
13884-467: The discovery of "New South Greenland" is not claimed by Morrell himself but is credited to Captain Johnson in 1821. In the preface to his Four Voyages book, Morrell admits that he incorporated the experiences of others into his account. Paul Simpson-Housley suggests that as well as adapting Weddell's narrative as his own experience, Morrell may have taken the details of his 1823 visit to Bouvet Island from
14040-618: The editor of The New York Commercial Advertiser and signed "Morrell" could have been written, Fairhead maintains, only by someone with intimate knowledge of the Oakley voyage. Fairhead offers no explanation why Morrell, if alive, should break his silence other than: "Perhaps, like many criminals, he could not resist flaunting himself". There is little documented history for Abby Morrell after 1838: two records, respectively dated 1841 and 1850, place her in New York, but details of her life and eventual death are unknown. Despite Morrell's exposure as
14196-461: The evil is the ignorance and superstition of the poor negroes themselves". On June 8, 1829, Morrell wrote in his journal: "The voyage had been prosperous beyond our expectations, and any further stay on the African coast would have been a waste of time and money". He arrived in New York on July 14. According to Morrell, Antarctic ' s owners were unanimous that he should make another voyage with
14352-512: The expense of maintaining the Falkland Islands in an era of budget cuts, the UK again considered transferring sovereignty to Argentina in the early Thatcher government . Substantive sovereignty talks again ended by 1981, and the dispute escalated with passing time. In April 1982 the Falklands War began when Argentine military forces invaded the Falklands and other British territories in the South Atlantic , briefly occupying them until
14508-484: The face of such opportunity he records his belief that a $ 30,000 investment would produce in two years a profit "from ten to fifteen hundred per cent." During the voyage, Morrell experienced several encounters with the slave trade, first at the Cape Verde Islands , then a centre for the trade because of its geographical position in relation to the Americas, Europe and Africa. He found the slaves' conditions wretched, but
14664-406: The fishing industry alone contributing between 50% and 60% of annual GDP; agriculture also contributes significantly to GDP and employs about a tenth of the population. A little over a quarter of the workforce serves the Falkland Islands government, making it the archipelago's largest employer. Tourism, part of the service economy, has been spurred by increased interest in Antarctic exploration and
14820-414: The flames shot upward from the peak of Narborough to the height of at least two thousand feet." Morrell reports that the air temperature reached 123 °F (51 °C), and as Tartar approached the river of lava flowing into the sea, the water temperature rose to 150 °F (66 °C). Some of the crew collapsed in the heat. Morrell also records how a hunting trip ashore in California led to
14976-471: The following months Morrell carried out an extensive survey of the African coast between the Cape of Good Hope and Benguela , and led several short excursions inland. He was impressed by the commercial potential of this coast, recording that "many kinds of skins may be procured about here, including those of the leopard, fox, bullock, together with ostrich feathers and valuable minerals". At Ichaboe Island he discovered huge deposits of guano , 25 feet thick. In
15132-721: The garrison from the islands, leaving a plaque claiming the Falklands for King George III. Spain's Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata became the only formal presence in the territory. West Falkland was left abandoned, and Puerto Soledad became a penal colony. Amid the British invasions of the Río de la Plata during the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, the islands' governor evacuated the archipelago in 1806; Spain's remaining colonial garrison followed suit in 1811, except for gauchos and fishermen who remained voluntarily. Thereafter,
15288-403: The government has tried to contain, remove or exterminate foxes, rabbits and rats. Endemic land animals have been the most affected by introduced species, and several bird species have been extirpated from the larger islands. The extent of human impact on the Falklands is unclear, since there is little long-term data on habitat change. As of 2023 , the economy of the Falkland Islands is ranked
15444-546: The island. After leaving Bouvet Island , Wasp continued eastward, reaching the Kerguelen Islands on December 31, 1822, where she remained for 11 days. The voyage then evidently continued to the south and east until February 1, 1823, when Morrell records his position as 65°52'S, 118°27'E. Here, Morrell says he took advantage of an eleven-knot breeze and turned the ship, to begin a passage westward. Apart from one undated position at 69°11'S, 48°15'E, Morrell's journal
15600-474: The islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville in 1764. Bougainville, who founded the islands' first settlement, named the area after the port of Saint-Malo (the point of departure for his ships and colonists). The port, located in the Brittany region of western France, was named after St. Malo (or Maclou), the Christian evangelist who founded the city. In 1965, at the 20th session of
15756-404: The islands have had French, British, Spanish, and Argentine settlements. Britain reasserted its rule in 1833 , but Argentina maintains its claim to the islands. In April 1982, Argentine military forces invaded the islands . British administration was restored two months later at the end of the Falklands War . In a 2013 sovereignty referendum , almost all Falklanders voted in favour of remaining
15912-417: The islands' economic focus, with an increase in population as workers migrate from Camp. Fear of dependence on fishing licences and threats from overfishing , illegal fishing and fish market price fluctuations led to increased interest in oil drilling as an alternative source of revenue. As of 2001 exploration efforts had yet to find "exploitable reserves". By 2023, oil exploration was still proceeding off
16068-409: The islands' population decline has reduced, thanks to immigrants from the United Kingdom, Saint Helena , and Chile. In the 2012 census, a majority of residents listed their nationality as Falkland Islander (59 per cent), followed by British (29 per cent), Saint Helenian (9.8 per cent), and Chilean (5.4 per cent). A small number of Argentines also live on the islands. The Falkland Islands have
16224-529: The islands. The governor acts on the advice of the islands' Executive Council , composed of the chief executive, the Director of Finance and three elected members of the Legislative Assembly (with the governor as chairman). The Legislative Assembly, a unicameral legislature , consists of the chief executive, the director of finance and eight members (five from Stanley and three from Camp ) elected to four-year terms by universal suffrage . All politicians in
16380-511: The islands. The Falklands' flora consists of 163 native vascular species . More than 400 species of lichens and lichen-dwelling fungi have been recorded. The islands' only native terrestrial mammal, the warrah , was hunted to extinction by European settlers. The islands are frequented by marine mammals , such as the southern elephant seal and the South American fur seal , and various types of cetaceans ; offshore islands house
16536-499: The isolated Bouvet Island , which lies approximately midway between Southern Africa and the Antarctic continent and is known as the world's remotest island. It had been discovered in 1739 by the French navigator Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier , but his plotting of its position was inaccurate; Captain James Cook , in 1772, had been unable to find it and had assumed its nonexistence. It had not been seen again until 1808, when
16692-481: The law, for aspects of operation such as the safe navigation of the ship, its cleanliness and seaworthiness, safe handling of all cargo, management of all personnel, inventory of ship's cash and stores, and maintaining the ship's certificates and documentation. One of a shipmaster's particularly important duties is to ensure compliance with the vessel's security plan, as required by the International Maritime Organization 's ISPS Code . The plan, customized to meet
16848-479: The main islands due to predation by introduced species . Major economic activities include fishing, tourism and sheep farming , with an emphasis on high-quality wool exports. Oil exploration, licensed by the Falkland Islands Government , remains controversial as a result of maritime disputes with Argentina. The name "Falkland Islands" comes from Falkland Sound , the strait that separates
17004-487: The major exception being the depressed plains of Lafonia (a peninsula forming the southern part of East Falkland). The Falklands consists of continental crust fragments resulting from the break-up of Gondwana and the opening of the South Atlantic that began 130 million years ago. The islands are located in the South Atlantic Ocean , on the Patagonian Shelf , about 300 mi (480 km) east of Patagonia in southern Argentina. The Falklands' approximate location
17160-495: The master providing a cargo declaration, a ship's stores declaration, a declaration of crew members' personal effects, crew lists and passenger lists. The captain has special responsibilities when the ship or its cargo are damaged or when the ship causes damage to other vessels or facilities. The master acts as a liaison to local investigators and is responsible for providing complete and accurate logbooks, reports, statements and evidence to document an incident. Specific examples of
17316-475: The needs of each individual ship, spells out duties including conducting searches and inspections, maintaining restricted spaces, and responding to threats from terrorists, hijackers, pirates, and stowaways. The security plan also covers topics such as refugees and asylum seekers , smuggling, and saboteurs. On ships without a purser , the captain is in charge of the ship's accounting . This includes ensuring an adequate amount of cash on board, coordinating
17472-483: The pastures. Economic growth began only after the Falkland Islands Company , which bought out Lafone's failing enterprise in 1851, successfully introduced Cheviot sheep for wool farming, spurring other farms to follow suit. The high cost of importing materials, combined with the shortage of labour and consequent high wages, meant the ship repair trade became uncompetitive. After 1870 it declined as
17628-460: The population sued for peace. This enabled Morrell to occupy one of the islands in exchange for cutlery, trinkets, tools and other metal artefacts. The peace was temporary; Morrell's shore camp was continually harassed by the population. Finally, Morrell decided to abandon the enterprise, citing the "unappeasable vindictiveness and incessant hostilities" of the native population. On November 13, 1830, while returning to Manila, Antarctica anchored off
17784-759: The practicality, under favourable circumstances, of penetrating to the South Pole." Wasp and Henry sailed from New York on June 21, 1822, and remained together as far as the Falkland Islands . They then separated, Wasp travelling east in search of sealing grounds. Morrell's account of the next few months of the voyage, in Antarctic and subantarctic waters, is controversial. His claims of distances he travelled, latitudes he reached, and discoveries he made have been challenged as inaccurate or impossible, giving substance to his reputation among his contemporaries for untruth, and leading to much criticism by later writers. Morrell's journal indicates that Wasp reached South Georgia on November 20, and then sailed eastwards towards
17940-541: The prospect for a potential conflict between the Falkland Island's government and the British government. Nevertheless, the authority to approve oil development around the islands was said to rest solely with the Falkland Island's government. In November 2024, the Falkland's government Executive Council indicated that, while the public consultation process had been successfully concluded, "some matters" related to
18096-526: The purloined cargo into cash, but word of his activities had spread, and the proceeds were immediately confiscated by agents acting for Margaret Oakley' s insurers. His reputation as a probable fraud prevented him from finding new employment; he sought work with the shipping firm of Enderby Brothers , but Charles Enderby said that "he had heard so much of [Morrell] that he did not think fit to enter into any engagement with him." Thwarted in London, Morrell turned his attention to France. He had heard that d'Urville
18252-576: The rare striated caracara . There are also five different penguin species and a few of the largest albatross colonies on the planet. Endemic fish around the islands are primarily from the genus Galaxias . The Falklands are treeless and have a wind-resistant vegetation predominantly composed of a variety of dwarf shrubs . Virtually the entire land area of the islands is used as pasture for sheep. Introduced species include reindeer , hares, rabbits, Patagonian foxes , brown rats , and cats. Several of these species have harmed native flora and fauna, so
18408-693: The records of an 1825 visit by Captain George Norris, As a reminder of Morrell's brief Antarctic exploits, Morrell Island , at 59°27'S, 27°19'W, is an alternative name for Thule Island in the Southern Thule sub-group of the South Sandwich Islands. During his Pacific travels Morrell encountered groups of islands that were not on his charts, treated them as new discoveries and named them after various New York acquaintances – Westervelt, Bergh, Livingstone, Skiddy. One
18564-641: The replacement of sail ships by steamships was accelerated by the low cost of coal in South America; by 1914, with the opening of the Panama Canal , the trade effectively ended. In 1881, the Falkland Islands became financially independent of Britain. For more than a century, the Falkland Islands Company dominated the trade and employment of the archipelago; in addition, it owned most housing in Stanley, which greatly benefited from
18720-546: The rescuers and other of Morrell's debts. When representatives of the insurers arrived in Madagascar to assess the loss, they discovered that Morrell had departed, taking part of the remaining cargo with him. He found his way to South Africa, where he boarded a British ship, Rio Packet , bound for London. Outside US jurisdiction, he was beyond the reach of the American authorities, who equated his actions with piracy. In London early in 1837, Morrell attempted to convert some of
18876-483: The right to wear the laurus or corona laurèa and the corona navalis . Carrying on this tradition, the modern-day shipmaster of some nations wears golden laurel leaves or golden oak leaves on the visor of his cap. A skipper (sometimes also serving as the helmansperson , helmsman , or driver ) is a person who has command of a boat or watercraft or tug , more or less equivalent to "captain in charge aboard ship ." At sea, or upon lakes and rivers,
19032-566: The sale of fishing licences to "anybody wishing to fish within this zone". Since the end of the Falklands War in 1982, the islands' economic activity increasingly focused on oil field exploration and tourism. All large settlements are now connected by road and, since 2008, a ferry links West and East Falkland. The islands' major exports include wool, hides, venison, fish and squid; its main imports include fuel, building materials and clothing. The port settlement of Stanley has regained
19188-461: The shelf of the islands with a deepwater project led by Rockhopper Exploration . In 2023, Rockhopper (working with Tel Aviv-listed Navitas Petroleum) indicated that it had been presented with a new development plan for its Sea Lion project that aimed to cut costs and proceed in phases. It was stated that: "If realized, the new plan – with a total price tag of $ 2.2 billion – could lead to 80,000 barrels per day of production (up to 100,000 b/d at peak) via
19344-470: The ship causing external damage include collisions with other ships or with fixed objects, grounding the vessel, and dragging anchor. Some common causes of cargo damage include heavy weather, water damage, pilferage, and damage caused during loading/unloading by the stevedores . All persons on board including public authorities, crew, and passengers are under the captain's authority and are his or her ultimate responsibility, particularly during navigation. In
19500-483: The ship's log. A ship's master can, however, conduct a church service, regardless of any clergy aboard. Spanish and Filipino law, as narrow exceptions, recognise a marriage in articulo mortis (on the point of death) solemnized by the captain of a ship or chief of an aeroplane during a voyage, or by the commanding officer of a military unit. Japan allows ship captains to perform a marriage ceremony at sea, but only for Japanese citizens. Malta , Bermuda and
19656-476: The ship's payroll (including draws and advances), and managing the ship's slop chest . On international voyages, the captain is responsible for satisfying requirements of the local immigration and customs officials. Immigration issues can include situations such as embarking and disembarking passengers, handling crew members who desert the ship, making crew changes in port, and making accommodations for foreign crew members. Customs requirements can include
19812-481: The ship's stoves was running out. This journey, if Morrell's account is true, made him the first American sea-captain to penetrate the Antarctic Circle. He believed, he says, that but for this deficiency he could have "made a glorious advance directly to the South Pole, or to 85° without the least doubt". Some credence to his claimed southern latitude is provided by James Weddell 's voyage on a similar track,
19968-499: The ship, and in September 1829 Antarctic left New York, bound for the South Atlantic and Pacific in search of seals. At her own insistence, and against Morrell's and the owners' advice, his wife Abby Jane Morrell accompanied him. By January 1830, Antarctic had reached the Auckland Islands , south of New Zealand, where Morrell had hoped for a rich harvest of seal, but found the waters empty. He sailed north for Manila in
20124-452: The ship. Certification is given by national authorities, typically following completion of minimum necessary seatime and a course of approved training, based on the IMO model course. Many maritime countries have private or charitable organisations and associations for Master Mariners. These primarily include organisations to represent Masters in the industry. An example of a national organisation
20280-496: The show on a tour, which began in Albany on October 10. Among those who visited the show was the 12-year-old Herman Melville , the future author of Moby-Dick , who may have based the character of Queequeg on his memory of Dako. The tour proceeded to Philadelphia , Baltimore and finally Washington D.C. , before ending in January 1832, at which point Morrell returned the show to Peale's. Morrell's second projected source of funds
20436-459: The skipper as shipmaster or captain has command over the whole crew. The skipper may or may not be the owner of the boat. The word is derived from the Dutch word schipper ; schip is Dutch for "ship". In Dutch sch- is pronounced [sx] and English-speakers rendered this as [sk] . The word "skipper" is used more than "captain" for some types of craft, for example fishing boats . It
20592-506: The sponge." According to Morrell, Wasp reached the South Sandwich Islands on February 28. His presence there is corroborated by his descriptions of the harbour on Thule Island , confirmed by the early 20th century expeditions. In the next phase of the voyage Morrell records that he took Wasp southwards and, the sea being remarkably clear of ice, reached a latitude of 70°14'S before turning north on March 14 as fuel for
20748-409: The territory after 1833. The Falkland-born population are also descended from English and French people , Gibraltarians , Scandinavians, and South Americans. The 2016 census indicated that 43% of residents were born on the archipelago, with foreign-born residents assimilated into local culture. The legal term for the right of residence is "belonging to the islands". In 1983, full British citizenship
20904-526: The transfer of the Falklands, assuming its judgement would be accepted by the islanders. An agreement on trade ties between the archipelago and the mainland was reached in 1971 and, consequently, Argentina built a temporary airfield at Stanley in 1972. Nonetheless, Falklander dissent, as expressed by their strong lobby in the UK Parliament , and tensions between the UK and Argentina effectively limited sovereignty negotiations until 1977. Concerned at
21060-595: The two main islands. The name "Falkland" was applied to the channel by John Strong , captain of an English expedition that landed on the islands in 1690. Strong named the strait in honour of Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland , the Treasurer of the Navy who sponsored his journey. The Viscount's title originates from the town of Falkland , Scotland—the town's name probably comes from a Gaelic term referring to an "enclosure" ( lann ), but it could less plausibly be from
21216-491: The wool trade with the UK. In the first half of the 20th century, the Falklands served an important role in Britain's territorial claims to subantarctic islands and a section of Antarctica. The Falklands governed these territories as the Falkland Islands Dependencies starting in 1908 and retained them until their dissolution in 1985. The Falklands also played a minor role in the two world wars as
21372-516: Was actually the eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, some 400 nautical miles (460 mi; 740 km) further west from his sighting. This would require a navigational error of at least 10°, and a complete revision of Morrell's timeline after leaving the South Sandwich Islands. Assuming that Morrell did not invent the experience, a possible explanation is that he witnessed a superior mirage . On March 19, Morrell "bade farewell to
21528-669: Was appointed chief mate on the sealer Wasp , under Captain Robert Johnson. Wasp was bound for the South Shetland Islands , which had been discovered three years earlier by the British Captain William Smith . Morrell, who had evidently heard stories of these islands, was keen to go there. On the ensuing voyage he was involved in a series of "remarkable adventures" which included a narrow escape from drowning, then being lost at sea in
21684-575: Was back among the Pacific islands, where he took his final leave of Dako. After a fruitless interval prospecting for gold on the New Guinea mainland, Morrell took the ship to Canton in China, where he found a valuable cargo for New York on which he anticipated a profit of $ 100,000. After leaving Canton on November 14, Margaret Oakley was delayed in Singapore by bad weather, where some of the cargo
21840-534: Was born at Rye , in Westchester County, New York , on July 5, 1795. He grew up in Stonington, Connecticut , where his father, also named Benjamin, was employed as a shipbuilder. Morrell, after minimal schooling, ran away to sea at the age of 17 "without taking leave of any member of my family, or intimating my purpose to a single soul". During the War of 1812 , which broke out while he was at sea, he
21996-411: Was cold and repulsive", he wrote. "The Tartar did not return home laden with silver and gold, and therefore my toils and dangers counted for nothing". In 1828, Morrell was engaged by Messrs. Christian Bergh & Co. to take command of the schooner Antarctic (named, he claims, in honour of his earlier Antarctic achievements). Antarctic left New York on June 25, 1828, bound for Western Africa. During
22152-504: Was forced to make a hasty withdrawal, leaving much equipment behind. Morrell retreated to Manila, planning retaliation. He hired a large number of Manilans to augment his crew, and with a help of a loan from the British consul, adapted Antarctica and fitted her with guns and cannons. The ship, with Abby now on board, returned to the Carteret Islands and attacked with gunfire. After a series of such assaults and heavy casualties,
22308-549: Was fraud and exaggeration. They believe that aside from the bombast and boastful tone of the account that carries his name, there is evidence that he carried out useful work, such as his discovery of large-scale guano deposits which led to the development of a full-scale industry. He is believed to have died in 1838 or 1839, in Mozambique ; there is, however, evidence to suggest that this death might have been staged, and that he lived on in exile, possibly in South America. Morrell
22464-418: Was given to Falkland Islanders under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 . A significant population decline affected the archipelago in the 20th century, with many young islanders moving overseas in search of education, a modern lifestyle, and better job opportunities, particularly to the British city of Southampton , which came to be known in the islands as "Stanley North". In recent years,
22620-656: Was hauled on board as a prisoner. The crew named him "Sunday"—his actual name was Dako. An account of this engagement was entered into the ship's log by John Keeler, the ship's young navigator. Just over a week later, on November 22, a skirmish in the Ninigo Islands brought Morrell another captive, whom the crew named "Monday" (his true name was never discovered). With two native prisoners, but little else to show from this venture, Antarctic returned to Manila in mid-December. By now desperate for some profitable activity, Morrell made some money by displaying Dako and Monday to
22776-583: Was heavily in debt and in urgent need of funds. Newspapers showed great interest in the story of the voyage, and Morrell was keen to cash in. Within a few days of his arrival he had organised a stage show, entitled "Two Cannibals of the Islands of the South Pacific". This spectacle, embellished with accounts of the massacre at Carteret Island and other dramatic inclusions, played to large crowds at New York's Rubens Peale museum. In October 1831 Morrell took
22932-448: Was his account of his voyages, which the firm of J. and J. Harper were willing to publish. They engaged an experienced writer and dramatist, Samuel Woodworth , to make sense of Morrell's notes and sea journals, although Woodworth's role as ghost writer was not made public. Abby Morrell's journals received similar treatment from another established author, Samuel Knapp . His book was published in December 1832, hers early in 1833. Morrell's
23088-412: Was impressed by their passion for music which, he thought, "can alleviate even the pangs caused by the galling fetters of slavery". Later in the voyage he witnessed what he describes as "horrid barbarity", including the spectacle of two women slaves in their death agonies as a result of floggings. A lengthy soliloquy in his journal on the evils of slavery concludes: "[T]he root, the source, the foundation of
23244-458: Was later shown to be well inside the Antarctic mainland territory of Enderby Land . Gould, writing in 1928 before the continental boundaries of this sector of Antarctica were known, based his support for Morrell on the premise that Enderby Land was an island with a sea channel south of it. He added: "If at some future date Enderby Land is found to form part of the Antarctic continent, Morrell's most inveterate champions will, perforce, have to throw up
23400-543: Was lawful. However, in Fisher v. Fisher the involvement of the ship's captain was irrelevant to the outcome. New Jersey 's 1919 Bolmer v. Edsall said a shipboard marriage ceremony is governed by the laws of the nation where ownership of the vessel lies. In the United Kingdom , the captain of a merchant ship has never been permitted to perform marriages, although from 1854 any which took place had to be reported in
23556-539: Was named "Young William Group" after Morrell's infant son. None of these names appear in modern maps, although the "Livingstone Group" has been identified with Namonuito Atoll , and "Bergh's Group" with the Chuuk Islands . Sea captain The captain ensures that the ship complies with local and international laws and complies also with company and flag state policies. The captain is ultimately responsible, under
23712-412: Was one of the sources used by Edgar Allan Poe in his novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym . With the restoration of his fortunes and his new-found fame, Morrell began plans for a further Pacific voyage, intending to return Dako and Monday to their islands and exploit further trading opportunities. Having lobbied unsuccessfully for Congressional funding, Morrell eventually found backers who secured
23868-662: Was organising an expedition to the Antarctic, and on June 20, 1837, wrote to the French Geographical Society in Paris to offer his services: "I will engage to place the Proud Banner of France ten degrees nearer the Pole than any other Banner has ever been planted, providing I can obtain the command of a Small schooner ... properly manned and equipped". His offer was declined; Morrell was by now regarded as
24024-460: Was sold to pay for repairs. The ship left Singapore on December 31, 1835, and was seen off Mauritius in early February 1836, but then disappeared. She was given up for lost with all her crew before, months later, news arrived in Mauritius that she had been wrecked on the coast of Madagascar. The crew was rescued, although much of the ship's cargo was lost in the wreck, and more was used to pay off
24180-596: Was twice captured by the British; on his first voyage, his ship, carrying a cargo of flour, was intercepted off St John's, Newfoundland , and Morrell was detained for eight months. His second voyage landed him in Dartmoor prison , England, for two years. After his release Morrell continued his seafaring career, sailing before the mast as an ordinary seaman since his lack of education prevented him advancing to officer rank. A sympathetic captain, Josiah Macy, taught him what he needed to know to qualify as an officer, and in 1821 he
24336-463: Was very successful and sold well; the New York Mirror found it "a highly interesting and instructive work", with "stirring adventures and much geographical and nautical information". France's leading explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville was complimentary, acknowledging Morrell as "courageous, skilled and dedicated"; the explorer and journalist Jeremiah Reynolds , on the other hand, observed that
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