Maritime Monday 85

Welcome to this Weeks edition of Maritime Monday.

You can find Maritime Monday 35 here. (Published 27 November 2006)

You can find last week's edition here.

This Weeks Photos:
BC Ferries first 'Super C-Class' vessel, the COASTAL RENAISSANCE, is currently transiting from it's shipyard in Germany to its new home in Canada's Pacific Northwest.

In early 2008, we will welcome the Coastal Renaissance, the first of our three new Super C-class ships, to the Departure Bay - Horseshoe Bay route. By mid 2008, the Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration will have joined the fleet and will operate between Tsawwassen - Duke Point and Tsawwassen - Swartz Bay, respectively.

When completed, the three Super Cs will be the largest double-ended ferries in the world, featuring two passenger decks providing an unprecedented travel experience for BC Ferries customers. Passengers will find more space, more comfortable seating and better viewing areas onboard the Coastal Renaissance, Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration, as well as many enhanced food and retail services. - BC Ferries

BC Ferries Newest - the COASTAL RENAISSANCE

This was the vessel that first made international headlines over claims that the propeller markings were too similar to nazi swastikas. They were changed. See Canada.com for the story.

Here is the official BC Ferries page covering their newbuildings. At least two more are being constructed.

H/T to Bitter End who alerted me to this item via his post "New BC Ferry , "Coastal Renaissance"" So go read it and find a link to ever more photos including of the christening. Seems that everyone was in attendance at the ceremony in Germany, including Native Americans and Mounties!


This Weeks Items:

Eagle Speak has "J. Peter Pham: Responding to Piracy and Other African Maritime Security Challenges". Also be sure to check out his great weekly series "Sunday Ship History: The Original LCSs"

I cover Hawaii Superferry's reopening of it's ticket sales. Service is expected to restart on 1 December.

Ocean Navigator Online has some evidence on why solo sailing races are a bad idea in "Sailing Hallucinations". Nothing like yelling for your imaginary sailing partner to relieve you at the helm!

SAILORS, MARINERS & WARRIORS LEAGUE has the totally bizarre story "Russian Frogman Claims He Killed Real Life British 'James Bond' Placing Mine On Khruschev's Ship in UK Waters". Reading the story will only make you more confused. Than again, given the suspicious circumstances of the death of UK diver Commander Lionel 'Buster' Crabb, I guess the story is possible. This of course is what happens when Government's refuse to tell the story, others will just invent one to their liking.

Cargo Law has photos of a partial collapse of a container crane in Port Kwanyang, South Korea.

Maritime Accident Casebook has "Human Element sinks 23 ships"

Robin Storm has a great summary of recent storm action including photos of the Black Sea / Sea of Azov disasters.

gCaptain has "A Viking Ship Redesigned for Modern Use"

gCaptain also has "The Best Knives for the Pro-Mariner" just in case your wondering to get your favorite sailor. I prefer Myerchin knives as well as Gerber just to have something in my pocket. Then again, despite having a gazillion knives, I have never had a Spyderco which seems to be a favorite. Gerber also makes a great alternative to the 'Leatherman'. So go to gCaptain and add your two cents.

Aftenposten covers Norway's declaration of victory in its salmon war against the EU.

The Monitor has the story from Canada which mixes ships and politics in "Politics Warps CG Icebreakers’ Move"

The Astute Bloggers has "New finding: Arctic melting caused by change in ocean circulation"

Bitter End has "Editorial: It's time to revamp the Washington State DOT"

American Shipper has the story of possible imports to the mainland US of some fruit grown in Hawaii, provided it's irradiated.

Sea * Fever covers some ship design basics in "The 3 Dimensions of Cruise Ship Design"

Bellona has the conviction of Igor Senin, former deputy mayor of the closed military city of Zaozersk in Russia’s northern Murmansk Region, who confessed to planning to bomb an oil tanker. (Note: yes, Russia still has cities closed to outsiders. At least 42 of them.)

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KCSH covers an anti-Iraq war protest at the Port of Olympia "Police Use Riot Gear, Handcuffs On War Protesters In Washington State"

Michelle Malkin also covers the protest in "Seditious anti-war protesters use kids as human shields"

Gateway Pundit has "Peace Protesters Get Unruly-- Then Get Maced"

Protesting is one thing. Blockading roads is another. Here is a suggestion, stay away from the ports. There are no decision makers there. You just risk getting hurt. Not for anything, but eventually, one of those trucks is not going to stop and he just might get away with it using the defense "I was afraid that they were going to pull me from the truck and kill me."

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Cruise Bruise has "Libya Turns Away Tourists - Cruise Ship Passengers Denied Port Of Call - P & O Cruises M/V Artemis"

IMC Brokers has "Salvage Operation on ‘DenDen’ begins" and includes video of the original accident UPDATE: Link fixed

Marine Buzz has news of the US Navy sending the amphibious assault ships, USS ESSEX and USS KEARSARGEARE to Bangladesh as part of the cyclone relief effort.

Maritime Compass notes that yes, they used to flog sailors, and often.

Never Sea Land has "Japan might kill world’s only white whale". Japan is off to kill about a 1,000 whales, including 50 endangered humpbacks, all in the name of 'science'.

Alaska Report goes searching in "The wantering of the magnetic north pole" (Wandering, right?)

Tugster wonders if you can guess what was the 'first life' of the 127 year old workboat CHARLOTTE.

Many blogs announced the appearance of the HMS-SOMERSET-CO blog, but have you checked it out lately?

Engadget has "Welsh village under attack by GPS-blind drivers"

Marketplace.Org has an audio series asking "Is the Consumer Economy Sustainable?" which of course includes shipping and port productivity.

THE PRIVATE ISLANDS BLOG covers the always impressive "Bannerman's Island, New York" ruins, located in the Hudson River.

Marex Newsletter covers the recent patent award to Trailer Bridge and Malcom P. McLean (the father of container transport) for the truly imaginative and simplified loading and discharge of 53 foot containers.

Space War analyzes Russia's plans to build the world's second largest aircraft carrier fleet. (I say again, just why are we still giving the Russians almost a Billion dollars a year???)

Haight's Maritime Items has:

San Francisco – update on spill response - The US Coast Guard issued a press release updating the status of the response to the recent oil spill in San Francisco Bay. Now that the vast majority of recoverable oil has been removed from the water, efforts are being concentrated on the shorelines. A second press release links various photographs. A third press release provides background information on the Unified Command process. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release summarizing its efforts in support of the spill response in San Francisco Bay. The Office of the Governor of California issued a statement saying that the state has launched its own investigation into the causes of the oil spill. (11/15/07). - Dennis Bryant Holland & Knight homepage (Used with Permission)

Fairplay Daily News has:

International row over dead master - TAIPEI 14 November – Taiwan has questioned Indonesia's account of how the master of a Taiwanese fishing vessel died. Pi Chen Hsu, master of the Sheng Eng 168, died along with three of his crew after a fracas with Indonesian deckhands on 8 November. The Guam-bound vessel had reportedly left Tong Kang harbour when the Indonesian Navy received a report of piracy in its eastern province of West Papua. According to the Indonesians, a fight broke out over complaints of harassment of the Indonesian deckhands, which ended when the captain jumped overboard. Earlier reports that the deaths occurred after the Navy arrived have now been discounted. “The case is not that simple [and] it is strange,” declared Phoebe Yeh, a Taiwanese foreign affairs spokeswoman, speaking to Fairplay today. The story became more confused when the Taipei Times reported the recovery of the captain’s body on board the vessel, which is lying untouched in the Indonesian port of Jayapura to preserve evidence. The missing seamen, who were identified as Jou Hwang Jerlin, Sheu Ching Wen, Jou Hwang Ke Mong, are relatives. - Fairplay Homepage (Used with Permission)

AND:

Greens block palm oil shipments - JAKARTA 16 November – Greenpeace environmentalists are blocking a shipment of palm oil in protest at CO2 emissions from the crop’s cultivation and export. Indonesian farmers unwittingly release millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide by burning peat, which negates the environmental benefits of developing palm-based biodiesel fuel as a renewable source of energy. The stand-off is reportedly taking place at Dumai port in Sumatra where the 40,293dwt tanker Westama is being prevented from sailing out by Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior, the movement’s website says. Greenpeace officials were unavailable for comment, though the organisation claims that the Westama is carrying 30,000 tonnes of palm oil. It is believed the Rainbow Warrior is believed positioned in such a way as to prevent tugs from assisting the tanker. Palm oil, which is edible or used as cooking oil, is widely acknowledged to have acidic properties. Unlike Malaysia which buries its felled palm trees to act as fertiliser substitutes, Indonesia burns them. The smog causes health problems across Southeast Asia and is a hazard to navigation on one of the world's major shipping lanes. - Fairplay Homepage (Used with Permission)

Submissions for future editions:
Please submit articles for inclusion in next week' edition using the following submit form at Blog Carnival. You are also welcome to email photos for inclusion in future editions as well as suggest area of coverage.

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Previous Editions:
Here or click on the label below 'MaritimeMonday'.

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$20 billion in pork = $66 Each = AMT Fix

I am my favorite earmark. Unfortunately, nobody in Congress is interested in slipping an earmark into a spending bill for me. Maybe that is because I have no intention of donating money to any of them.

That doesn't mean that the process isn't costing me.

Citizens Against Government Waste, which closely monitors federal spending, is putting the finishing touches on its tally of pork projects in the pending spending bills — and the picture isn’t pretty. The group estimates that there will be at least 8,000 earmarks this year, costing U.S. taxpayers, $18 billion to $20 billion. - Politico

Figuring on 300 million Americans, that comes out to $66 each. Since I am the only wage earner in a family of four, my share comes out to $266. According to the story, the previous year's total was $29 billion. My share of that was $386. That's over $650 of my money wasted in just two years. Wasted by politicians who pip themselves out for political donations.

Just imagine what the total for next year will be if Congress passes a mortgage bailout. (Although that is not technically an earmark, it will be 'earmarked' for people who don't deserve it, just like earmarks.)

Now to put this all in perspective, take the Alternative Minimum Tax. This is a tax that each year negates tax deductions for more taxpayers, forcing them to pay a higher alternative rate instead. Congress has given us their worthless assurances that they are working on the problem, but as of yet, they have not come up with anything promising.

Congress is considering a patch that would temporarily increase income exemption levels and allow for certain personal exemptions normally disallowed in computing AMT liability.

The patch is expected cost roughly $50 billion in projected federal tax revenue over 10 years. The cost of the other 32 breaks under consideration is $21 billion. That means Congress will have to come up with a total of $71 billion in revenue raisers if they observe pay-go rules, which require lawmakers to raise as much in tax revenue as they cut, or to cut spending as much as they cut taxes. - CNN

You see, they need to figure out how to replace the revenue they would have collected by not fixing the AMT. What they are not planning on doing is cutting Government spending, which would eliminate the need to collect the money in the first place. That is unfortunate, as the amount needed to patch the AMT is only $5 billion a year according to the story above. For those not paying attention, that is only a quarter of what was wasted by Congress on earmarks this year. So, not only can Congress stop the creep of AMT onto ever-more taxpayers, but they can do it without raising anyone's taxes. There is even enough left over to cut some taxes. But our fine Congressmen are sure to need the money for earmarks. Maybe that is the secret in fixing the AMT, have someone earmark a fix.

Previous:
Murtha in My Pocket - FFI 14 Aug 07

No Bailout for Homeowners in Trouble - FFI 6 Sept 07

Hawaii Superferry to Sail - Tickets on Sale!

The Government of the State of Hawaii has passed legislation that will permit the Hawaii Superferry to sail while the (now required) environmental impact study is completed.

Hawaii Superferry Announces A New Beginning

On December 1, 2007 Hawaii Superferry’s grand catamaran, Alakai, begins daily crossings between Maui and O‘ahu.

Just in time for the holiday season, the December 1st service start date opens a whole new world of possibilities to celebrate, share and prepare for the holidays. Imagine being able to visit friends and family and not having to decide what to leave behind because it was too difficult to manage, or you were afraid it might get damaged in transit.

On Hawaii Superferry, you don’t have to be worried about packing too many gifts for the party or buying too much omiyagi to take back home; as long as it fits in (or on) your vehicle there’s no extra charge. From delivering presents to shopping for gifts, Hawaii Superferry allows you to explore new ways to celebrate the season. - Hawaii Superferry

So it seems that we will soon see if the anger of the Superferry protesters is still burning. If the recent protests at the Port of Olympia (Read the comment there from a worker at the port) are a guide, then the first sailing will probably end in massive arrests. At least we will see if the Coast Guard is prepared to enforce rules set to defend shipping. We'll also get to see if the State is going to tolerate parents who continue to endanger their children by using them as human shields.

Updated on 25 November here.

Previous:
Coast Guard Threatens Hawaii Superferry Protesters with Serious Fines and Jailtime - 5 Sept 07
Econuts and Moonbats Stop Hawaii Superferry (For Now) - 31 Aug 07

Stockbrokers Caught Abusing Client's Money - Oct 2007

Here are some excerpts from the FINRA (formerly known as NASD) October, 2007 Disciplinary Actions Report where stockbrokers were caught either taking liberties with their client's accounts without permission or borrowing/stealing their client's money.

The total amount of money misused/stolen from investors listed below is $242,000. (Some entries do not list the amount taken.)

Individuals Barred or Suspended

Ramona Marie Bianchi (CRD #3126133, Registered Representative, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which she was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Without admitting or denying the findings, Bianchi consented to the described sanction and to the entry of findings that she obtained possession of an automatic teller machine (ATM) card for a public customer’s account and, without the customer’s knowledge or authorization, used the ATM card to make unauthorized cash withdrawals from the customer’s bank account, and unauthorized purchases totaling $68,000 for her own benefit. (FINRA Case #2007008767001)

Brandon W. Cade (CRD #5062931, Registered Representative, Chicago, Illinois) was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. The sanction was based on findings that Cade withdrew $1,300 from his teller cash drawer at a bank affiliate of his member firm without permission and used the funds for his own purposes. The findings stated that Cade failed to respond to FINRA requests for information. (FINRA Case #2006006367801)

Wayne Kenneth Campbell Jr. (CRD #4676905, Registered Representative, Dover, New Hampshire) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for 90 days. The fine must be paid before Campbell re associates with a FINRA member following the suspension, or prior to any application or request for relief from statutory disqualification is filed. Without admitting or denying the findings, Campbell consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that he signed public customers’ names to account transfer forms and to documents used in connection with the purchase of variable annuities without the customers’ knowledge, authorization or consent. The suspension in any capacity is in effect from September 17, 2007, through December 15, 2007. (FINRA Case #2006006481301)

Dale Lewis Cash (CRD #4909387, Registered Representative, Oxford, Alabama) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Without admitting or denying the findings, Cash consented to the described sanction and to the entry of findings that he affixed a bank financial specialist’s signature to an instrument without the specialist’s authorization, knowledge or consent in order to withdraw $5,100 from the bank for a public customer’s benefit, but failed to assign the funds to any customer account. The findings stated that Cash’s failure to assign the funds to a customer account prevented the bank from identifying the customer, thereby incurring a loss for the bank. (FINRA Case #2006006319201)

James Richard Clayborn (CRD #4844986, Registered Representative, Bristol, Indiana) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was barred from association with any FINRA member firm in any capacity and required to pay $118,287.39, plus interest, in restitution to public customers. The restitution must be paid before Clayborn re associates with a FINRA member following the suspension, or prior to the filing of any application or request for relief from statutory disqualification.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Clayborn consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that he misused approximately $150,000 from public customers, for his personal expenses. The findings stated that Clayborn, in an effort to conceal his misappropriation of funds from the customers, created and distributed a false account statement that purportedly verified that $80,000 was invested with his member firm for the customers. (FINRA Case #2006005927801)

Thomas Anthony DeMarco (CRD #4608717, Registered Representative, Springfield, Illinois) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was barred from association with any FINRA member firm in any capacity. Without admitting or denying the findings, DeMarco consented to the described sanction and to the entry of findings that he directed that $5,000 were withdrawn from a public customer’s savings account to purchase additional shares in mutual funds, but the funds were not used as directed. The findings stated that DeMarco discovered the funds in his desk drawer six weeks later, at which time he forwarded the funds to his member firm. The findings also stated that DeMarco failed to timely respond to FINRA requests for information. (FINRA Case #2006004803301)

Carolyn Sue Everhard (CRD #2344119, Registered Representative, Cincinnati, Ohio) was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. The sanction was based on findings that Everhard received $6,400 from a public customer for investment purposes and converted the funds to her own use and benefit without the customer’s knowledge, authorization or consent. The findings stated that Everhard failed to fully respond in a timely manner to FINRA requests for information. (FINRA Case #20050025930)

Norman R. Flemens (CRD #3212865, Registered Representative, Las Vegas, Nevada) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for 18 months. The fine must be paid immediately upon re association with a FINRA member firm following the suspension, or prior to the filing of any application or request for relief from statutory disqualification. Without admitting or denying the findings, Flemens consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that he received checks and/or letters of application from public customers to transfer funds to effect the purchase of mutual fund company shares, and delayed entering the checks on his member firm’s checks-received blotter and delayed forwarding the checks and processing applications to effect the purchases, thereby failing to execute customer orders.

The suspension in any capacity is in effect from September 4, 2007, through March 3, 2009. (FINRA Case #2006005294301)

Daniel Stephan Flitt (CRD #2965169, Registered Representative, Buffalo, NewYork) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Without admitting or denying the findings, Flitt consented to the described sanction and to the entry of findings that he borrowed $2,660 from a public customer without his member firm’s approval and contrary to his firm’s written procedures prohibiting representatives from borrowing money from customers. The findings stated that Flitt failed to respond to FINRA requests for information. (FINRA Case #2006005734401)

Michael J. Menendez (CRD #4895632, Registered Representative, Chandler, Arizona) was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. The sanction was based on findings that Menendez misappropriated approximately $3,000 that belonged to his member firm’s affiliated bank and failed to respond to FINRA requests for information. (FINRA Case #2006005688201)

David Anthony Nagler (CRD #1190128, Registered Supervisor, Santa Fe, New Mexico) submitted an Offer of Settlement in which he was fined $10,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for 20 business days. The fine is due and payable either immediately upon re association with any FINRA member firm following the suspension, or prior to the filing of any application or request for relief from statutory disqualification. Without admitting or denying the allegations, Nagler consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that he borrowed $3,000 from a public customer contrary to his member firm’s written procedures prohibiting its registered representatives from borrowing or lending money from or to a client under any circumstances. The findings stated that Nagler failed to request or obtain his firm’s permission to borrow money from a public customer. The findings also stated that Nagler misled another member firm during the hiring process when he failed to advise the firm that he had been permitted to resign from a previous firm for violating its policy prohibiting borrowing funds from customers.

The suspension in any capacity was in effect from September 4, 2007, through October 1, 2007. (FINRA Case 2005003406001)

Claudia Reyes (CRD #4815334, Registered Representative, Los Lunas, New Mexico) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which she was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Without admitting or denying the findings, Reyes consented to the described sanction and to the entry of findings that she received more than $3,000 from customers of an insurance company affiliate of her member firm. Reyes either failed to forward the full amount of the customers’ payments or did not forward any of the payments to the insurance company affiliated with her member firm. The findings stated that Reyes acted without the customers’ knowledge and consent, thereby improperly using customer funds. (FINRA Case #2006006912001)

Decisions Issued

Their Note: "The Office of Hearing Officers (OHO) issued the following decision, which has been appealed to or called for review by the NAC as of August 31, 2007. The NAC may increase, decrease, modify or reverse the findings and sanctions imposed in the decision. Initial decisions which time for appeal has not yet expired will be reported in subsequent FINRA Notices."

Brian James Kelly (CRD #2270427, Registered Representative, Severna Park, Maryland) was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. The sanction was based on findings that Kelly churned a public customer’s account and engaged in trading in the account that was unsuitable due to the quantity of trades and excessive use of margin. The findings stated that Kelly exercised discretion in the customer’s account without his member firm’s prior written approval.

This decision has been appealed to the NAC and the sanction is not in effect pending consideration of the appeal. (FINRA Case #E9A2004048801)

Joseph Andrew Zaragoza Jr. (CRD #2417735, Registered Representative, Chicago, Illinois) was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. The sanction was based on findings that Zaragoza effected discretionary transactions in a public customer’s account without the customer’s prior written authorization and his firm’s prior written acceptance of the account as discretionary. The findings stated that Zaragoza recommended and effected excessive trading in the customer’s account despite the customer’s investment objectives and financial situation. The findings also stated that Zaragoza failed to submit email correspondence to his firm for review and approval before sending it to the customer. The findings also included that Zaragoza engaged in outside business activity for compensation and failed to give his member firm prompt written notice.

This decision has been appealed to the NAC and the sanction is not in effect pending consideration of the appeal. (FINRA Case #E8A2002109804)

Source: October FINRA Report (PDF Format)

Of course, you have to wonder about how much of this activity is going on without being noticed.

NASD Monthly Disciplinary Actions 2007


Previous:
Stockbrokers Caught Abusing Client's Money - Jan 2007
Stockbrokers Caught Abusing Their Client's Money - Dec 2006

Are Brokers 'Screwing' Stockholders through Short Selling? - 6 Apr 06

You should not be trading on Margin - 9 Jan 06
Do You Know If You Have A Margin Account? - 2 May 07

"the biggest global margin call in history" - 20 Aug 07

Herbie (the Love Bug) Spotted in Greece

While walking to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, I came across Herbie.

I was there for work in March and arrived a day early to do some sightseeing. I did not expect to see this. Oddly enough, this is not the first time I have run across him.

At least one Greek is a fan of VW Bugs.

Update: If Illegal Aliens can Afford Photo IDs, so can Voters

In my original post (here) I pointed out the idiocy of the 'left' when it comes to fighting tooth-and-nail against any form of voter ID on the basis that it will disenfranchise the poor who 'cannot afford' to get themselves a state-issued ID or driver's license while at the same time fighting equally hard to permit issuance of these IDs to illegal aliens who somehow can afford to obtain these IDs. The latest state to announce a plan to issue these IDs was New York.

However, it seems that some sanity has prevailed and the Governor of New York, Elliot Spitzer, has decided to abandon this plan, partly because everyone, including legal immigrants, hated it:

With his poll numbers collapsing, Gov. Spitzer pullled the plug today on his controversial plan to allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, his spokeswoman confirmed.

The embattled governor was expected to made the announcement after he met with the state's heavily Democratic congressional delegation, which had grown increasingly critical of the plan. - NY Post

The plan would have issued illegal aliens a different driver's license that would not have been valid for use as ID at airports, and I suspect that they would not have been of much use as a driver's license outside of NY State either.

As polls showed that more than 70 percent of New Yorkers opposed the proposal, Spitzer suddenly changed course several weeks ago, announcing a plan to offer New Yorkers three different driver's licenses, including two that would be federally recognized and a third that would be available to illegal immigrants. - NY Post

At the very least, these licenses would have been a huge red flag for police to check for additional ID, and there is no guarantee that police in other states would not detain them regardless of whatever policy New York has for illegals.

One other problem (of many) worth mentioning about this whole scheme is that it would have done nothing to stop those who failed to meet the requirements for obtaining an illegal alien's driver's license from driving.

See my original post for my initial comments here.

Previous:
- If Illegal Aliens can Afford Photo IDs, so can Voters - 28 Oct 07
- Georgia Voter ID Law a ‘Poll Tax’ Says U.S. District Court Judge Harold Murphy - 20 Oct 05
- Being Less Poor - 27 Oct 05

Maritime Monday 84

Welcome to this Veteran's Day edition of Maritime Monday.

You can find Maritime Monday 34 here. (Published 20 November 2006)

You can find last week's edition here.

*** Today is the last day of Soldier's Angels Project Valour-IT's annual fundraiser. So start the Christmas-giving season off early by giving them a couple bucks. ***

All funds received go directly to our wounded troops; 100% of your donation to Project Valour-IT will be used to purchase the laptops that will provide independence and freedom to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. - Website here.

Thank you.

This Weeks Photos:
Norway's Star Shipping:

Star Shipping provides high quality transportation and logistic services for a number of industries. The Star fleet includes more than 60-70 ships, totaling approx. 3 million deadweight tons.

Our vision is to be a world class industrial shipping company and the preferred carrier in our chosen business segments. - Star Shipping

Some cargo still doesn't get stuffed into containers, like the pallets above.

And ships are still built to carry it, along with containers

Photos found on various pages of their website.

This Weeks Items:

Marine Buzz has a list and description of the six ships that sank in a storm that struck the Azov and Black Seas on Sunday.

Eagle Speak has "Somalia: Pirates release yet another ship" and "Somali Pirates: Photos from the Pirate Fight". Also be sure to check out his weekly series "Sunday Ship History: USS Gudgeon (SS-211)". It's a great read.

Tugster has an old WWII Army tug built at Oyster Bay's Jokobson shipyard that happens to still be around in "Veteran Tug"

Robin Storm has "NOAA celebrates 200 years of science" and as a bonus includes photos of damage to the COSCO BUSAN after it allided with the San Francisco Bay Bridge. (FYI: Not the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge.)

gCaptain also covers the COSCO BUSAN incident in "Nautical Word of the Day - Allision" and even has animation of the vessel's movement in "Follow the path of the Cosco Busan"

Maritime Links Editor's Blog takes the accident as opportunity to lash out at the US system of ship pilots and it's culture that excludes many experienced seafarers from it's ranks.

San Francisco Chronicle has "Bar pilot on errant ship had several mishaps in past"

gCaptain also has an amazing heavylift in "FPSO Delivered on Heavy Lift Ship - Photos"

Robin Storm also has comments on the recent ship strike on the Ambrose Lighthouse.

The Opinion Journal has a good read on why the US should not sign the UN's Law of the Sea Treaty in "A Sinkable Treaty - Why America doesn't need the Law of the Sea."

Tims Times has "Fishing boat accidents"

IMC Brokers has the Car Carrier video "Towing ‘Höegh Transporter’"

Marine Buzz also has the illustrated post: "Launching of Life Boat and Inflatable Liferaft in Ships Explained"

Cruise Bruise covers the poor situation of medical care onboard cruiseships. (I heard one story of a man having a heart attack on a dance floor. The ship's Cuban doctor declared that 'This man is dead!' right there on the dance floor. Luckily for the passenger, there were two other passengers who happened to be doctors and they saved his life.)

English Russia shows what might happen to your shipping container if it has to travel on the roads of Russia.

Never Sea Land has the story and photo of the beach in the Netherlands covered with bunches of bananas after the shipping container they were in was washed over the side of the ship they were on.

Speaking of bananas, Tax Research UK has a summary on Transfer Pricing using bananas as the example in "Tax is going bananas" and a response from the banana companies in "Banana companies say “what’s the problem?”". The Guardian (UK) also has an illustrated version here:

Some will remember the banana trade dispute between the US and EU from not too long ago.

Maritime Accident Casebook has the new presentation "The Case Of The Lethal Lampshade"

Helsingin Sanomat has "Åland-based shipping lines object ban on sales of smokeless tobacco". Oddly enough, ships might change flag to Sweden in order to continue selling 'snus'. How's that for a reason to choose a flag. (What's snus? See here.)

Sea * Fever has "The Ship Residence, Put-In-Bay, Ohio". I had seen a TV program that featured the house. The home was simply amazing.

Molten Eagle has "Better Options for Canada's "Lemon" Submarine Fleet"

KITV Honolulu has the story of a wild pig found swimming out at sea.

National Geographic has the photo: "Gull Island, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, 1998"

THE PRIVATE ISLANDS BLOG has news that the Point No Point Lighthouse located in the Chesapeake Bay is for sale by the Government.

Offshore 247 has the news of a three-year delay in the estimated opening of Russia's Shtokman offshore gas field. (If they are having problems here, just how do they plan to drill up farther north?)

Haight's Maritime Items has:

UK – drunken master sentenced to prison following allision - The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a press notice stating that the master of the small coastal freighter that allided with an unmanned gas platform in the North Sea on 3 August was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Evidence showed that, at the time of the incident, the master was on watch and that his blood alcohol level was far in excess of that allowed under the law. (11/2/07). - Dennis Bryant Holland & Knight homepage (Used with Permission)

Fairplay Daily News has:

Liner boss blasts US ignorance - PANAMA CITY 08 November – Fundamental infrastructure and ports problems in the US are caused by a “basic disconnect” between the American people and the things that support their lives. That was the conclusion drawn yesterday at the Terminal Operators Conference by William Rooney, Hanjin Shipping's Americas MD, who added that the chasm is exacerbated by the country’s “veracity-challenged politicians” who are not interested in solving problems but only in getting elected. “We have societal choices to make that require serious debate,” he opined, wondering if the US public is willing to pay more or wait longer for goods if that would translate into a cleaner environment. When it comes to pollution issues, he criticised politicians for "not leading the discussion; they only want to bring polluters to heel.” Regarding infrastructure, he pointed to the deadly Interstate 35 bridge collapse in Minnesota three months ago. “That discussion lasted one news cycle,” he commented. “Now it’s forgotten…but there’s a lot of ageing infrastructure out there that needs repair and modernisation 2E” He added that until politicians and the American public get serious about fixing roads, bridges and ports, the US will be stuck with congestion and gridlock. - Fairplay Homepage (Used with Permission)

AND:

Hostage ducks sharks in hijack slip - SEOUL 08 November – A Korean hostage held by Somali pirates who hijacked the chemical tanker Golden Nori on 28 October has arrived back in South Korea after escaping. The 53-year-old hostage, identified only as Han, jumped into the sea from the pirated ship and drifted for two days before being rescued by a Yemen-registered fishing vessel. The boat carried him to a fishing village in Somalia, where he phoned the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) as well as a Korean shipping company. According to the ministry Han returned to Korea safely on 5 November and has been reunited with his family. During his escape Han wore a life jacket and attempted to swim ashore but drifted out to sea because of strong tides. MOFAT said that his escape was astonishing given the number of pirates in the shark-infested waters. - Fairplay Homepage (Used with Permission)

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Please submit articles for inclusion in next week' edition using the following submit form at Blog Carnival. You are also welcome to email photos for inclusion in future editions as well as suggest area of coverage.

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The US Navy's 'Kobayashi Maru'

The US Navy is in the news as having gotten active off the coast of Somalia recently. However, according to the Captain of the DANICA WHITE, the US Navy also interfered in the hijacking of that vessel as well.

"The efficient US guns managed to hit all three boats (one large and two smaller ones), and one of the ABs was ordered to cut the towing line. This changed the whole situation", says Niels Nielsen. "The hi-jackers’ plan was that they would leave the ship at about 20 nautical miles from the shore with their loot, nothing more, according to their original plans and confirmed by their conversation during the days onboard."

The loss of three boats made the hi-jackers rather desperate as the boats were hired from somebody else, and now they had to cover the losses. So instead of leaving the Danica White they were forced to take the ship and claim a ransom to gain money to pay for the boats. - Scandinavian Shipping Gazette

Maybe it was wishful thinking on the part of the Captain to believe that his pirates were just after what they could grab and run away with. Lets just forget that there are no stories of attacks like that. If the pirates get onboard, they tend to hold the vessel until a ransom is paid for the ship and crew.

Then again, we can't be sure. Maybe the US Navy did turn a simple robbery into an 82-day hostage crisis. Kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don't choice for the Navy. As my friend Robin Storm commented:

"... they complain the navy's is not there and when it is and does its job they complain about that too.... Kobayashi Maru .. the no win scenario..." - Robin Storm

Ahh, the classic Kobayashi Maru scenario of Star Trek fame. The purposefully unwinnable scenario where Captain Kirk reprogrammed it (read: cheated) in order to win. But how could the US Navy get around this problem? Perhaps by sinking the pirate boats prior to their boarding the ship, but you know that the liberals here and in Europe are not going to like that either. Anyway killed and captured pirates are sure to turn into civilian victims faster than you can say GITMO.

Thanks to Robin Storm for his comment which was the inspiration for this post.

Worker's Paradise = Slave Labor

Ah, Finland. The worker's paradise. At least this is the BS that I was exposed to for years while living there. One advantage that Finns use as evidence is that employees are protected from their employers, especially when it comes to termination. It is not so easy to get fired in Finland, and in many cases, there is a union who will come to your defense. The lack of such 'protection' in America is something that my Finnish friends see as against the worker. This is a standard comment:

'In America you live under the constant threat of being fired.'

Well that is true to a degree. In Virginia, you can get fired on the spot.

Virginia is an employment-at-will state; this means the employer may terminate any employee at any time, for any reason, or for no reason. As a general rule, therefore, the employee has no right to challenge the termination. There are a few very limited exceptions. For example, an employee may not be discriminated against or terminated because he has filed a safety complaint or exercised his rights under OSHA law.Virginia Code § 40.1-51.2:1. Also, federal law protects employees from discrimination because of age, race, sex, religion, national origin or handicap. - VA DOLI

However, this also means that you can quit at any time for any reason. At my present company, for every person that has been fired, at least two have quit. In most cases this has been to take a higher-paying job elsewhere. I recently had an employee go out to lunch and not return. She did give notice that the following day would be her last, but apparently changed her mind. She was a great employee until the day she left. (I did get a reference request from her new employer as part of her security clearance application, but I just filed it in a drawer. So, while you can walk out, it is better to leave on good terms, if you ever need a reference.) At any rate, even though a company can fire you, it still needs to replace you. Fire too many people and the company will earn a bad reputation and nobody will want to work for you. A low unemployment rate also makes replacing employees a bit difficult. (There are other reasons why an employer wants to limit employee turnaround.)

So, back to the worker's paradise. Seems that thousands of nurses are learning that while there is little risk of getting fired, it is not so easy to quit either. The contract for specialized nurses who work in the southern part of the country is up for renegotiation. The nurses are looking to collect on past promises for better wages and so far don't like what they are being offered. In the past, when they went on strike, they were required to continue staffing the hospitals at a minimum level. This of course lessens the impact of striking (to the benefit of the employers) and surely must have burnt out the nurses who were forced to work. At least, they are still bitter about their past treatment.

This time around, many of the nurses had had enough. They decided that if their demands are not met that they don't want to continue working for unsatisfactory pay. Also, by resigning, they won't have to continue to work while on strike. Over twelve thousand nurses have submitted their resignations for November 19th. However, they might be wrong about being allowed to quit:

The Finnish government submitted a proposal to Parliament on Friday for legislation that would keep part of nurses at work, even if the intended industrial action threatened by the Union of Health and Social Care Professionals (Tehy) starts on November 19th.

Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko (National Coalition Party) calculates that the bill would exclude no more than approximately ten per cent of the 12,700 nurses who have signed up for the mass resignation campaign.

According to some parliamentary sources, the proposed bill states that the hospital districts could start already today - Friday - making lists of the units and numbers of nurses who would be excluded from the industrial action under penalty of fines. - Helsingin Sanomat

So the Government is planning to force the nurses to keep working (10% of them at least) even though they intend to resign. Just to keep them in line, they will threaten the workers with fines for failing to work, and for following through with their intentions to quit. This is kind of what the Soviet Union did. They had a 'Hooligan' Law which was kind of a catch-all to keep the workers in line. Sure, there was the promise of 'work for all'. But what you did not hear was that you could have ended up in the gulag just for being late to work. Nice eh...

Jailed Soviet Workers (PDF Link to source, page 6)
So maybe this legislation should be called Finland's Hooliganism law.

It will be interesting to see how this develops, especially considering that the nurses are employed by the local Governments who in turn get part of their funding from the State. The solution to this problem is money, but Finland has public health care, so at the end of the day it is tax money that funds the whole system. Worse, if they get the raise they are demanding, then other workers will also want to collect on previous promises.

Note: I did not address the issue of the risk to the population if the nurses quit the hospitals. It is a real risk that people might die. However, that is not a reason to infringe on their right to quit their job. And not for anything, I would expect that the nurses know exactly the implications of what they are planning. After all, they see patients in need every day. Also, there is another issue here in that nobody is going to want to become a nurse in Finland if they get bullied around, and there is already a shortage of them, partly because of the poor pay. Being part of the EU and Nordic countries, they can go find work elsewhere, like Sweden, where the pay is higher.

Government introduces legislation to limit planned mass resignations of nurses - Helsingin Sanomat

Hooliganism - Encyclopedia of Soviet Law

Chinese-Made 'Bindeez Beads' - Now With More Date-Rape Drugs

Just when you thought China was cornering the market on leadsicles, comes news that they are looking to corner the children's toy drug market as well:

A children's toy that turns into the deadly date-rape drug fantasy when swallowed has been removed from stores.

Bindeez Beads, a children's bead-picture craft set, was expected to be a big seller this Christmas after being voted Australia's most popular toy last year.

Instead, the beads have been withdrawn after children in Australia and New Zealand were admitted to hospital after eating the beads. - Stuff.co.nz

AND:

The Australian Poisons Information Centre said a chemical in the Chinese-made toys metabolised into gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, better known as fantasy or GHB.

GHB has been implicated in one New Zealand death and has been banned since 2002.

The drug is known as a date-rape drug because it reduces inhibitions and can cause short-term amnesia.

The company that makes Bindeez, Moose Enterprises, said tests revealed the Chinese manufacturer had substituted some of the materials used in the beads without approval. - Stuff.co.nz

The amount of drug produced was more than trivial, sending kids to the hospital. No word yet on whether the product available in the US is as equally tainted. A search on eBay revealed no listings, even though a Google search noted some. I had seen these while in Finland and the impression I got was that it was a horrible gift, partly because of all the small beads. Then again, I tend not to like consumable gifts like this where you have to keep buying supplies.

Update:
In the US, the product is called "Aqua Dots"

Children's bead set recalled - Stuff.Co.Nz

Now Why Did You Search For That?

It is interesting to look at how people find this blog. Sometimes the questions can be very bizarre. Other times, not so much. Take this recent visitor:

His Google search question was:

"how much gasoline in a tanker truck" - Google Link

Offhand, I would take that as a pretty innocent question. Then I saw where the person making the query was located; Minneapolis, Minnesota. With that in mind, I am not so sure how innocent the query really was. And I have to say, this has to do with knowing that there is a large Muslim population in that area. (It is there where the taxi drivers were refusing to carry passengers at the airport who had alcohol with them) Not that Muslims are terrorists, but because terrorists these days are most often muslims. Then again, it could just be someone (like a student) interested in how much gasoline a tanker truck holds. Or someone looking to score some cheap gas. Then again, only the person on the other end of the internet knows for sure.

Oh, the answer, try 4,000 to 9,000 gallons.

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EZPASS and Data Sharing - Update

In my original post, I pointed out that you are not protecting your privacy by not using EZ-PASS as the toll lanes have cameras that read and record your license plate numbers.

Now it is not only the areas that have EZ-PASS that use this technology. It can be used almost anywhere. Take the recent case of school teacher Kelsey Peterson who kidnapped/ran off with her 13 year old student to Mexico. Was her capture partly due to this technology?

Police were already alerted to their movements after Peterson's car was spotted crossing into Mexico on Tuesday, and arrived just after they left the hotel. - IHT

Now take a look at this border crossing into Mexico:


Notice, the lanes into Mexico are unmanned.

So, just how was the car spotted?

Go see my original post for video of license plate reading software in action.

Police: Arrested teacher, undocumented student had vague plan of life together in Mexico - IHT

*

1994 BMW - 190,000 Miles (and counting)

Here is our only car, a 1994 BMW 325i:


It recently reached the 190,000 mile milestone.

The car is in good shape and running condition. We take it as far as New York up I-95. It handles well, moving with the traffic.

That is not to say that all is perfect with the machine. We have two small ones, so when going away it can be a tight fit to get everything in, but we do manage. The windshield is so pitted that it should be changed. The trunk-mounted CD player died a year ago. I was going to get it repaired, but that never happened. The car has been hit twice in the last year while parked, leaving some small scars, but she does clean up well and still looks great with a fresh coat of wax. The last couple years brought a new radiator, condenser, ventilation fan, water pump, battery, and alternator to name a few items. While we lived in DC the car had a side window kicked in by thieves who looted the trunk through the back seat and a tree fell on it pushing in the roof and smashing the rear window.

We have been pretty good in getting the car attention when it needed it. However, I am not sure how much longer the car has as it is getting old in both age and mileage. It's next hurdle will be Virginia emissions inspection which is due at the end of the month. Even if it passes, we will start the search for a new (to us, hopefully second) car. There has been some discussion of moving to Finland. If that does happen then we will want to bring a relatively new car with us. To do that tax-free, we'll have to have owned it for at least a year.

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Maritime Monday 83

Welcome to this Weeks edition of Maritime Monday.

You can find Maritime Monday 33 here. (Published 13 November 2006)

You can find last week's edition here.

Update:
Please consider donating to the Soldier's Angels Project Valour-IT:

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled and adaptive laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries at major military medical centers. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field. The experience of MAJ Charles “Chuck” Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered serious hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important these laptops can be to a wounded service member's recovery. - website

and:

Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of laptops for severely wounded service members. As of October 2007, Valour-IT has distributed over 1500 laptops to severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines across the country. - website

Christmas Season is coming. Here is a great way to be a 'Secret Santa'!






This Weeks Photos:
Greenland's Royal Arctic Line:

The activities of Royal Arctic cover a number of subsidiaries and divisions. Approximately 650 people are employed in the organisation. The parent company is Royal Arctic Line Ltd, which is owned by the Home Rule Government of Greenland.

Royal Arctic Line offers a liner service (year around) all year round every week between Greenland and the rest of the world via Aalborg, Denmark, as well as shipments to Greenlandic towns.

Harbour Service handles all work in the Greenlandic harbours. Royal Arctic Tankers ships oil and other types of fuel to the Greenlandic towns and settlements.

Forwarding activities such as air transport, combined air–ship transport and consolidation are carried out by Royal Arctic Spedition. Royal Arctic Liner agency represents Royal Arctic Line in Denmark where in excess of 85,000 consignments are booked and co-ordinated per year. ACO (Arctic Container Operation) is responsible for the practical handling of the goods that are to be sent to or from Greenland via Aalborg in Denmark. - Website

Their photo gallery can be found here.

This Weeks Items:

Eagle Speak has pirates in his sights in "Update: Navy ships v Somali pirates" and "Somalia: More on release of S. Korean boats" with each linking to earlier reports on both issues.

Also, be sure to check out his weekly series "Sunday Ship History: Degaussing Ships"

Scandinavian Shipping Gazette has this week's must read, as they have the story of the hijacking of the DANICA WHITE in Somali waters as told by the ship's captain, Captain Bent Mikkelsen. (Oddly enough, this makes two Captains for this vessel who have been detained, the other being Captain Villy Larson, who was jailed by the US Coast Guard. This was covered in Maritime Monday 50)

Spiegel has "HOSTILE SHORES - Greece Casting off Asylum Seekers" which includes allegations of torture by the Greece Coast Guard. (Found at EU Referendum: "I thought only Americans did nasty things")

Hindustan Times covers the discovery of 8 Indians who paid to be smuggled from India to England, only to end up (after a long journey) in a container destined for Sweden. Their journey is not over as they were deported, but not to India. Go read the story to find out where. No, not England either.

Tims Times covers the sun's almost mythical 'Green Flash'

gCaptain asks "Was the titanic sunk by a small key?"

gCaptain also has "10 Things to remember if you’re shipwrecked"

Maritime Accident Casebook has the accident report for the lifeboat accident on the STENA BRITANNICA.

The Times Online covers the claim that Odyssey Marine Exploration exaggerated the value of their salvage claim.

The October issue of Marine Log is available online:

- Click to open the magazine -

Robin Storm has an update on the USUMACINTA rig accident which includes video of some offshore oil rig mishaps.

MarEx Newsletter has more reader feedback in "Mariners Weigh In Again: "Neglect of Mariners" Op-Ed Draws Reaction". Every once in a while I wonder if letting my license lapse was a good idea. Then it is reminders like this that confirm that it probably was.

MarEx Newsletter also has "Africa Command Gives High Priority to Maritime Security"

Steeljaw Scribe has Russia's plans to move Navy Headquarters from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

The Stupid Shall Be Punished has "Stopping Piracy The Old-Fashioned Way"

SAILORS, MARINERS & WARRIORS LEAGUE has an update on the Cruiseship SEA DIAMOND sinking in "Cruise Company Blames Map For Greece Ship Sinking" (By the way, they are called charts.) Apparently there is some dispute about the accusation, which I would think would be a simply matter of fact. Is the chart accurate, yes or no?

Gulf News has an update on the missing ship REEF AZANIA, which went missing in June, in "Cargo ship officially declared lost"

Sea * Fever covers the new movie Sharkwater.

Kiwi at Sea joins another ship and has a revelation: "I realise all my previous ships were crap". The previous post mentioned "James Cook" So I guess he has joined the RSS JAMES COOK which is less than a year old.

Tugster has photos of an assortment of tugs around New York Harbor.

Uber Review has and $8 million No Man’s Land Fort 'Island' for sale. Looks really cool. I want it. Just can't locate where I left those missing millions. It is much cooler than SEALAND, but this island falls under UK law which SEALAND does not.

Stranded on the Largest Island (in China) has New Zealand Navy's "HMNZS ‘Te Kaha’ visiting Shanghai."

Live Leak has the music video starring the "WOMEN of CVN 76 USS Ronald Reagan"

THE PRIVATE ISLANDS BLOG has Tobasco's Avery Island.

Maritime Compass has a job posting for the Maritime Center in Norfolk, VA: "Position:EDUCATION DIRECTOR/EDUCATION MANAGER"

Mr. Boat Blog has video of fire-fighting planes loading up at a lake. I then found this video of another plane shooting down a narrow channel. Talk about a hazard to navigation!

Alaska Report has "Satellite Tags on Humpback Whales Expose Unknown Migration Routes"

the horse's mouth recognizes the start of crab season.

Never Sea Land has video of a sailboat going up against a cruiseship.

Maritime Links Editor's Blog is looking for writers.

Haight's Maritime Items has:

Senate Foreign Relations Committee approves UNCLOS - The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations conducted a business meeting at which, among other things, consideration was given to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Committee Chair Joseph Biden (D-DE) commenced the meeting by expressing his strong support for adoption of the Convention. As noted in a press release by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), adoption of the Convention was recommended by a vote of 17 in favor with four opposed. The measure now goes to the floor for consideration by the entire Senate. The United States remains the only major maritime nation not party to this 25-year old treaty and thus has no seat at the table as important issues such as seabed claims more than 200 miles offshore are discussed. The treaty may have room for improvement, but it is difficult for the United States to effect change if it is not a party. (10/31/07). - Dennis Bryant Holland & Knight homepage (Used with Permission)

You can thank the Soviet Union for most of the disagreeable parts of the treaty. Funny enough, Russia would have to pay tax to the UN if they ever capitalize on their Artic land grab thanks to this treaty. Good luck collecting on that bill.

AND:

Hearing on implementation of the SAFE Port Act - The Subcommittee on Border, Maritime & Global Counterterrorism of the House Committee on Homeland Security conducted an oversight hearing on Implementation of the SAFE Port Act. In his prepared statement, Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) noted that the transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) program and the container security device regulations are far behind schedule. Subcommittee Chair Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) expressed her interest in the C-TPAT third party validator pilot program, the empty container security pilot program, long range vessel tracking, and the TWIC program. Ms. Maurine Fanguy, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), discussed recent progress in implementation of the TWIC program. Captain Francis Sturm, USCG, discussed Coast Guard efforts to implement the SAFE Port Act, including salvage response plans, unannounced inspections, port security training and exercises, and foreign port assessments. Mr. Thomas Winkowski, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), discussed the Container Security Initiative, the Secure Freight Initiative, and the Automated Targeting System, among other things. Mr. Vayl Oxford, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, discussed deployment of radiation portal monitors at US ports of entry. Mr. Stephen Caldwell, Government Accountability Office, explained that the various federal agencies have made progress in implementing the SAFE Port Act, but that numerous challenges remain. Mr. Lindsay McLaughlin, International Longshore & Warehouse Union, complained that maritime employees will be disqualified from obtaining TWIC cards due to poor government records and consideration of inappropriate factors. Mr. Robert Blanchet, Teamster Port Representative, expressed his concern about the challenges to security presented by truck driver turnover and the lack of card readers. Mr. Christopher Koch, World Shipping Council, discussed a variety of maritime security issues, but focused on problems raised by the legislative mandate that, within five years, 100% of the containers being shipping to the United States are to be scanned for radiation threats. Ms. Mary Alexander, Joint Industry Group, expressed the view that efforts to increase supply chain security must take into account the need for the continued free flow of commerce. Mr. Wade Battles, Port of Houston Authority, suggested some modifications to improve the port security grant program and discussed the innovative Ship Channel Security District. (10/30/07). - Dennis Bryant Holland & Knight homepage (Used with Permission)

Fairplay Daily News has:

'World war on talent' predicted - NEW ORLEANS 30 October – Labour shortages in the global shipping industry have spread to the engineering, procurement and construction sectors as a “World War for Talent” has erupted. That disquieting news was discussed yesterday at the Journal of Commerce’s annual BreakBulk conference in New Orleans. Grant Wattman, logistics director with CH2M Hill, told a packed session that by 2012 there will be a demand in the US job market for 18M college graduates and that need will fall 6M short. He added that the traditional US strategy of turning to immigrants to fill the void can no longer be counted on as India, China and other traditional sources for skilled workers are keeping most college graduates at home as economies there flourish. Former MarAd boss William Schubert, who is now president of International Trade & Transportation, warned that “our industry needs to do more to attract, train and retain skilled employees.” Thomas Cullins, materials management director at Fluor, pointed to the economic downturn of the early 1980s when many entry level college grads were fired as the beginning of the crisis. “Those people would have been today’s managers.” They noted that the first of the Baby Boom generation will begin retiring at 62 years of age in January. - Fairplay Homepage (Used with Permission)

AND:

APL debuts 53-footers on Pacific - SINGAPORE 31 October – APL will begin using specially designed 53-foot containers on its South China-to-LA run in a ‘major refinement’ to its transpacific service. APL said that the first reinforced ‘ocean capable’ 53-footers will be delivered next week. The 53-foot box size has become a mainstay of truck and rail transport in the US, requiring cargo to be transferred from 20, 40 and 45-foot containers at West Coast ports. According to APL, “53-foot boxes haven’t been strong enough to endure ocean transport”, so in the past, there have only been sporadic moves of such hardware on the transpacific (generally involving repositioning of new containers from Asia to the US). The new, specially built boxes have undergone pilot tests with retail customers and “successful trials led to the decision to order the big boxes for immediate use with select customers”. APL maintained that its plan “has the potential to make a significant difference to the economics of the transpacific trade”. Shippers will be offered better ‘cube economics’ and can eliminate transloading expenses; supply-chain congestion can be reduced by cutting moves (two 53-footers carry the same volume as three 40-footers), and emissions can be lowered via reductions in transloading and truck moves. “The 53-foot ocean container is a significant refinement,” asserted APL chief executive Ron Widdows. “It can’t come soon enough.” - Fairplay Homepage (Used with Permission)

Submissions for future editions:
Please submit articles for inclusion in next week' edition using the following submit form at Blog Carnival. You are also welcome to email photos for inclusion in future editions as well as suggest area of coverage.

** Sponsorship **
Send me an email (address in the sidebar) if you would like to sponsor an edition of Maritime Monday. I accept money and gear.

Previous Editions:
Here or click on the label below 'MaritimeMonday'.

.

2002 I-495 Beltway Truck Accident - Photos

Here are some photos from a truck accident that blocked traffic one morning on Washington, DC's Beltway.

As you can see below, the truck jumped over the concrete divider into oncoming traffic.

So I guess it is a good idea to keep an eye on traffic moving in the other direction as well.

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