Here’s an animated map showing Bramble’s month long voyage to the Epic Shipyard in Mobile Alabama. A journey of over 3,000 miles!
Features and updates about the Bramble, the crew, plans, and more.
Here’s an animated map showing Bramble’s month long voyage to the Epic Shipyard in Mobile Alabama. A journey of over 3,000 miles!
We have acquired an amazing ROV (remotely operated vehicle) for Bramble Reborn’s underwater sequences. This compact unit is called “Deep Trekker DTX2.“. It works like an underwater drone. We chose this model because of the short boot-up time, compact size, and because it’s self powered and can operate for 6-8 hours on one charge. We named it “Brambot”.
We’ll be using Brambot to explore the wreck of USCGC Spar, the Bramble’s sister ship, which was sunk off the coast of North Carolina as an artificial reef. We’ll also be using it to inspect the ship’s hull as we proceed through the Northwest Passage.
This video sequence shows us testing the unit out in an Olympic sized pool. It performed flawlessly. We can’t wait to test it out in open water in Lake Erie next week!
USCGC Bramble was assigned to “Operation Crossroads” in 1947. This was a series of atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific. Bramble was responsible for laying out the buoys that marked the test area.
Our documentary will recreate this historic event with computer generated special effects. Here are some test shots from the sequence that show the B29 bomber “Dave’s Dream” approaching the target zone.
Master Chief James Hiller recalls how he volunteered (with help from his father) to serve in the United States Coast Guard.
Tom Clarke, the new owner of the Bramble, discusses why he bought the ship and its new mission.
The Bramble is owned by Orinoco Natural Resources, LLC., which is owned by Tom & Ana Clarke.
This is Chief Ginter. He is a veteran of USCGC Bramble including the trip through the Northwest Passage in 1957. We’re going to interview him tomorrow, Thursday, June 20th. It should be very interesting!
We had the great pleasure of doing a video interview with Master Chief James Hiller on Wednesday. Master Chief Hiller is 81 years old and sailed on the USCGC Storis when it made the historic circumnavigation of the continent along with USCGC Bramble and USCGC Spar in 1957. He had many fascinating stories to tell us. We were spellbound.
He wore his uniform for the interview and looked amazingly fit. This is really incredible when you learn that he had had open heart surgery only four days before! His wife told us that he doesn’t even take pain killers. Now that’s tough.
We’re looking forward to editing Jim’s interview into the documentary. It will add an amazing first person perspective.
We can’t thank him enough for making time for us and sharing his special stories for all to enjoy.
Here he is getting ready for the interview…
Finally, as part of the major overhaul underway on Bramble in Mobile, Alabama, work is being done on the Cranes & Mooring Gear:
When all of the work is complete, we expect to leave for the Caribbean in early June. Once we feel the vessel is expedition ready, we’ll be heading for the tropical paradises of Belize, Roatan, and Utilla, then onwards to the Panama Canal. Stay tuned for updates!
Work on the exterior of the ship is extensive:
It’s 2019 and it’s time for Bramble to get an update to the Electronics Suite.
Also: Removal of older non-heritage equipment, antennas,and outdated wiring, replaced with up to code wiring, junction boxes connectors, etc.