The expansion of Ottoman naval power threatened Greek control of the Aegean; to counter the Ottoman dreadnought, Greece decided to order a ship as well: the Salamis.
"We used to order a shipping container of books every month or two," he recalled sadly.
On Monday night, the Kulluk, 266 feet in diameter, broke free from one tow ship and the Coast Guard ordered a second ship to disconnect, fearing for the safety of its crew.
But after Mr. Chavez said last week that he did not want the American soldiers in his country, United States officials ordered a Navy ship that was en route to Venezuela to reverse course.
The Nautilus mining company has ordered a dedicated ship from a German shipyard.
Cunard also ordered a new ship, Aquitania, capable of 24.0 kn, to complete the Liverpool mail fleet.
In Hong Kong, an entire hotel was quarantined with 240 guests; Australia ordered a cruise ship with 2,000 passengers to stay at sea because of a swine flu threat.
In March, two Chinese maritime surveillance ships ordered a Philippine survey ship away from an area called Reed Bank.
Nonetheless, in a Pentagon news conference with Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mr. Gates said he had ordered an amphibious assault ship, the Kearsarge, and an amphibious transport dock ship, the Ponce, to the Mediterranean.
Astorias captain, awakened to find his ship in action, rushed to the bridge and ordered a ceasefire, fearful that his ship might be firing on friendly forces.
