2008 All Yearl- Our Feature Page -- Current - See Pictures Below On This Page

"Singapore Sling" - M/V MSC Kalina- Nov. 12 2009

"Road Warrior" - Nov. 2009

"World's Most Stupid Pirates - Part Deux" - Oct. 2009

"This Is My Way To Work?!" - Washington State Ferries - Oct. 2009

"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" - M/V Waker - Sept. 2009

"Just Out of Reach" - Sept. 2009

"Not My Job 2" - Why We Pay For Public Employees? - August 2009

"Pee Wee's Big Adventure" - Oh Noooo, Mr. Autopilot! - August 2009

"Holy Ship!" - M/V Marti Princess & M/V Renate Schulte - June 2009

"Not My Job" - June 2009

"Just Visiting" - M/V Livarden - June 2009

"What Cruise Ship?" - June 2009

"Taichung Tumble" - May 2009

"World's Most Stupid Pirates" - May 2009

"LAX Lunch Deja Vu" - 13 April 2009

"Lucy .....I'm Home" - April 2009

"MV Maersk Alabama - 2006 Year Deja Vu" - April 2009

"FedEx Disaster At Narita" - March 2009

"The Russians Never Disappoint" - M/V New Star - Feb. 2009

"Collision At Dubai"- M/T Kashmir - Feb. 2009

"Loving The Parking Brake" - M/V HSS Stena Voyager - Jan. 2009

"Bull Riding In The Med" - M/V Balmoral - Jan. 2009

"Ruba-Dub-Dub" - Jan. 2009

"Transport History?" - all pirates are not on the high seas - Jan. 2009

2008 All Year-- Our Feature Page For 2008 Page #13

"Boob Job" - A Cargo Law Mystery - Dec. 2008

"M/V Ciudad de Ushuaia Stuck At The Pole" - Dec.. 2008

"High & Dry In THe Cocktail Lounge" - M/V Spirit of Glacier Bay - Nov. 2008

"Death On K-152" - Nov. 2008

"The Transport of Political Rhetoric" - Oct. 2008

"Gridlock" - Venezuela - Oct. 2008

"Tank You, From The Somali Pirates" - Somalia - M/V Faina - Sept. 2008

THE Most Spectacular Act of Piracy In The 21st Century

"The Jambi Slide" - Indonesia - Aug. 2008

"The Pirates of Peleliu" - the Gulf of Aden - Aug. 2008

"Not Just Another Day At The Office" - Incidents At LAX - Aug. 2008

"Airport 2008" - Hull Explosin At 30,000 Feet - July 2008

"Drug Sub" - Mexican Navy Intercept At Sea - July 2008

"Fallen Stars" - M/V Princess of The Stars - July 2008

"Italian Down" - June 2008

"A Bow To The Queen" - May 2008

"Kalitta Crash At Brussels" - May 2008

"Broken In Half" - May 2008

"4-3-2-1-Launch Piston!" - CN Railway - April 2008

"Caught At Three Rivers" - M/V MSC Sabrina - March 2008

"Do Not Tumble Dry" - M/V Courage - Jan. 2008

"Lumber Shift" - M/V Ice Prince - Jan. 2008

"Dr. Beach's Mystery Beer Tank" - Jan. 2008 - Mystery Solved!

2007 Second Half-- Our Feature Page For July. To Dec. 2007 Page #12

"Full Power Run Up" - Etihad Airways - Nov. 2007

"Just Scraping By" - M/V Cosco Busan - Nov. 2007

Somali Pirate SmackDown - USS Porter - Oct. 2007

Please Do Not Park On The Fuel Truck - Nov. 2007 - Østfold County, Norway

Irony - Oct. 2007 - Katowice, Poland

Oil Rig Vs. Drilling Platform - Oct. 2007 - Gulf of Mexico

Another Step For Mankind - Sept. 2007 - Panama Canal

Another Day At The Beach? - M/V Maersk Diaddema - Sept. 2007

Extinguishing The Flame? - 12 August 2007

Beach Detour - 17 July 2007

Shanghai Cutoff - 9 July 2007

2007 First Half- Our Feature Page For Jan. To June 2007 Page #11

M/V Empress of The North - Goes South - Again - 14 May 2004

IL-76 DOWN - the Congo - 10 MAY 2007

Did Pepito Need To Die? - M/V Astoria -5 April 2007

An Investigative Report

What's In A Name? - 22 March 2007

Rock Hunting Mine Hunter- M106 Grömitz -Feb. 2007

Out of Service - M/V Server- Feb. 2007

Ripped Reefer - M/V Sierra Neva - Jan. 2007

Family Feud - M/V APL Dubai - Jan. 2007

2006 Second Half- Our Feature Page for June to Dec. 2006 Page #10

Chips Ahoy! - A Cargo Law Mystery For You To Solve - Dec. 2006

Mystery Solved! "Legend of The The Great White Dorito"

Emirates Goes To Pieces - Nov. 2006

Fate of The Finnbirch - Nov. 2006

Brazil Mid-Air - Oct. 2006

Ultimate Transport Crisis - Sept. 2006

M/V Cougar Ace - Laying down on the job - July 2006

M/T Front Sunda - Exploded And Abandoned - July 2006

Powers of A Kansas Hoe - July 2006

Flying Fire Truck - June 2006

Loading Submarines - M/V RORO Star - June 2006

Indian Split - M/V Ocean Seraya - June 2006

2006 First Half Our Feature Page for Jan. to June.2006 - Page #9

B1 Wheels Up - May 2006

Resting The Mighty "O" -- May 2006

Quick Passing of M/V Alexandros T -- May 2006

The Reefer List - M/V Ivory Tirupati -- April 2006

Co-Loading -- human smuggling on the gamma -ray -- April 2006

Somali Pirate Patrol -- pirate miscalculation --March 2006

Water Bridge - EU engineering magic - March 2006

Alabama Crane Disaster - tragic loss - March 2006

New Feeder Service? - a new mystery - Feb. 2006

Loss of Pride - M/V Seabulk Pride -- Feb. 2006

M/T Ece -- to the bottom -- Feb. 2006

Split Personality For M/V Twin Star(s) -- Jan. 2006

DHL Meets JAL Over LHR -- Jan. 2006

Pirate Payback - USS Winstn Churchill - Jan. 2006

M/V APL Panama - Day At The Beach -- Jan. 2006

 

2005 All Year - Our Feature Page for Jan. to Dec. 2005 Page #8

M/V Oltenita - Danube Disaster -- Oct. 2005

Seven Mile Bridge - The Keys - Oct. 2005

Ghost Ship - Destruction at Biloxi - Sept. 2005

M/V Transmodal - Fire At Sea - July 2005

M/T Kyokuyo Maru -Collision& Fire At Sea - July 2005

Horsing Around - July 2005

Iwo Jim Fire - July 2005

The Queen Checkmates - June 2005

Coat Tails of The Queen - June 2005

Tip of The Iceberg - June 2005

Uplift To Down - March 2005

Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, M/V Milicoma - Mar. 2005

Bridge Vs. Bridge - Mar. 2005

Red Rudder Riders - Feb. 2005

USS San Francisco In The Mountains - Jan. 2005

Dr. Beach's Mystery Buoy - Jan. 2005

Drowned Fox - Jan. 2005 

2004 Last Half - Our Feature Page for Jan. to June 2004 Page #7

Aomori Prefecture Stranding - Dec. 2004

Tsunami - Dec. 2004

Light-OUTse - Oct. 2004

Yield For Merging Traffic - Sept. 2004

When Unexpected Guests Drop In ... - Sept. 2004

Hang'n Out At Key West - July 2004

High Tide - June 2004

United Air Lines - Union Pacific Merger - June 2004

2004 First Half - Our Feature Page for Jan. to June 2004 Page #6

"Sit Down STRIKE At LAX" - May 2004

"Why We Fight Terrorism" - May 2004

"Belly Flop" - May 2004

"M/V Sealand Pride" - May 2004

"Earth - Upside Down For Caterina" - April 2004

"Now Boarding" - April 2004

"The Death of Frigate HMS Scylla" - March 2004

"General Motors Ocean Lines" - Feb. 2004

"Injured Pride" - Jan. 2004

"Follow That Car!" - Jan. 2004

"Cavity Search?" - Jan. 2004

"Happy New Year?" - Jan. 2004

2003 Second Half- Our Feature Page for July. to Dec. 2003 Page #5

"Encounter With Physics" M/V Stellamare - Dec. 2003

"DHL Airlines - On Time - On Target" - Nov. 2003

"M/V Purr Seaverance - Rock Chaser?" - Oct. 2003

"Hurricane Isabel -The Looming Storm" - Sept. 2003

"Typhoon Maemi-Busan Cranes" - Sept 2003

2003 First Half - Our Feature Page for Jan. to July. 2003 Page #4

"F-22 Stealth Fighter Bomber" - first photo! - June 2003

"Safety Lift" - June 2003

"Sinking M/V Fu Shan Hai" - May 2003

"Sinking M/V Sigitika Biru" - May 2003

"Fishing For Rabbits" - May 2003

"Not So M/V Jolly Rubino" - April 2003

"Forward Observer" - April 2003

"FedRex Vs. UP-ooopS" - April 2003

"Half Measures" - March 2003

2002 Last Half - Our Feature Page for July to Dec. 2002 Page #3

"Open Door Policy" - Dec. 2002

"Northwest Climbing" - Dec. 2002

"Anchors Away" - Dec. 2002

'Full Speed Ahead" - Oct. 2002

"Typhoon Rusa" - Sept. 2002

"Don't Park Here" - Aug. 2002

"Things You Should Not Drop!" - July 2002

2002 First Half - Our Feature Page For 2002 to June 2002 Page #2

"Unstealthy" - April 2002

"Moment of Disaster At Dubai" - March 2002

"All Aboard !" - Feb. 2002

"Container Pool" - Jan. 2002

"U.S. Air Force Crippled C-141-B Starlifter" - Dec. 2001

"Suggested Al-Qaida Solution" - Sept. 2001

M/V MSC Kalina In Better Days -- Nov. 11 2009 Night Was A Bad Evening

M/T Aljalaa Seems To Have A Shorter Bow Than Normal

M/T Aljalaa: 2009 Built - 243 Meters - Lybian Gov't Owned

The Large Swath Across M/V MSC Kalina Was Not Made By Zorro.

M/T Aljalaa Has Collided with M/V MSC Kalina In The Singapore Straiits

The Cargo Letter - 12 Nov. 2009

243-m, 115,577-dwt crude tanker M/T Aljalaa, built 2007, was in collision with 366-m, 14,000-TEU container M/V MSC Kalina, built 2009, in the Singapore Strait on Nov. 12 at 0300LT. No injuries reported. Both vessels made it safely to port but reported significant damage, with MSC Kalina suffering hole / hull breach on it's port side amidships. [From our Correspondent Hilde E. Kraus, 12-11-09]

M/V MSC Kalina Has Sustained Major Damage At The Waterline -- But She Is Understood To Remain Serviceable. There Are No Injuries.

Both Vessels Navigated Safely To Port. This Was Not A Direct Hit Collision -- Just A Sinapore Sling.

Editor Note:

We will continue to follow this important incident, but due to travel schedules -- there will be no updates here before 16 Nov. 2009.

Meantime, follow any breaking developments for M/V MSC Kalina at our DAILY VESSEL CASUALTIES feature.

Contributor For This Feature:

Hilde Krause - Roanoke Trade Insurance Services, San Francisco

The Cargo Letter - 29 Oct. 2009

Transport Comfort Mayhem ..... as a Minnesota man has pleaded guilty to driving his motorized La-Z-Boy chair (recliner) while drunk. A criminal complaint says 62-year-old Dennis LeRoy Anderson told police he left a bar in the northern Minnesota town of Proctor on his chair after drinking 8 or 9 beers. Prosecutors say Anderson's blood alcohol content was 0.29, more than 3 times the legal limit, when he crashed into a parked vehicle in Aug. 2008. He was not seriously injured. Police said the chair was powered by a converted lawnmower and had a stereo & cup holders. Sixth Judicial District Judge Heather Sweetland stayed 180 days of jail time & ordered 2 years of probation for Anderson. His attorney did not immediately return calls for comment. Yea, he had to be named LeRoy.

See The La-Z-Boy

The Cargo Letter - Nov. 10 2009

The sainted, motorized recliner went up for auction by the Proctor Police Dept. on eBay -- with bids ranging as high as US$37,000!

But the natural forces governing Earth's rotation went slightly out of balance today! The eBay bid was not honored! Perhaps we should call out the National Guard.

The winning "real" eBay bidder, 24 year old Clayton Adler placed the final bid of US$10,099.99 on eBay for the retro-fitted Lazy-Boy recliner auctioned by the Minnesota's Proctor Police Dept. -- but he nown reneges.

Proctor Police Dept. Chief, Walter Wobig, says "Mr. Adler claims the bid was a mix-up." Mr. Adler may not realize it, but a bid placed at auction is a contract. The police chief has turned the matter over to the Proctor City Attorney.

While it's unlikely that Mr. Adler will face serious consequences for the entering a bid he does not intend to honor,  perhaps eBay will choose to pursue prosecution in this case to make an example of him. It would certainly be within their rights, and after a spate of reneging at some recent high profile eBay auctions, perhaps they should consider it.

The police chief said "Everyone loses when this kind of foolishness prevails. Not only is there lost revenue on the fees for the chair, but there's reputation damage to consider as well."

Editor Note

Before we all get carried away on the moral indignity of some likely spirited or drunken guy placing a late night Internet auction bid on a motorized La-Z-Boy chair -- let's review the original premise.

That technological giant -- Dennis LeRoy Anderson -- tied a lawnmower engine to his recliner -- got all liquored up -- drove down the highway -- and hit a car.

While historians may debate the worth of this great innovation in "Transportation History" -- perhaps we should just put this recliner chair back in the double-wide and make peace.

McD

Behold : The Motorized La-Z-Boy

Note The Cup Holders, TV Remote & National Hot Rod Association Insignia.

We'd All Be Proud To Drive This Baby Away From Our Local Bar & Back To The The Trailer Park

Along With Newton For Modern Physics, Bell For The Telephone & Edison For The Lightbulb

Where Modern Transportation History Is Concerned ......

....... There Will Always Be Dennis LeRoy Anderson For The Motorized NHRA Branded La-Z-Boy Recliner Chair

They Look So Focused. So Directed With Razor Sharpe Intent & Tactical Superiority. Right?

Wrong! These Idiot Thugs Have Done It Again!

World's Most Stupid Pirates -- Part 1 - 22 April 2009

Some 6 months ago we all marveled at the absolute stupidity of Somali Pirates who could confuse their target of a passing tramp steamer --- with an armed frigate of the French Navy .......

The Cargo Letter - April 22 2009

In a move that may well earn them a spot in the "World's Most Stupid Pirates" Somali pirates tracked what they took as an innocent merchant frieghter --- and massed for the attack with three "attack craft" -- large fiberglass boats.

In their clever attack fury -- the hapless Somali pirates had mistaken French Navy Light Surveillance Frigate Nivose for a helpless commercial vessel on April 22, and tried to attack her, according to a Reuters report.

The Somali pirates carefully cornered their prey -- then attacked -- and then Whoops!

It didn't take long for the French Navy to correct this case of mistaken identity: They seized 11 suspected pirates 600 miles off the coast of Somalia.

They confused the Nivose with a commercial ship and rushed toward it, to intercept it," [a French defense spokesperson] said Reuters.

The Nivose then put her own craft in the water with her commandos and sent out a helicopter and stopped these 11 pirates who were on these three boats.

The pirates, who had a mother ship as well as the two assault boats, were held for questioning on the Nivose. The vessels were carrying AK-47 rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, but the pirates did not fire -- a flash of brilliance for them under the circumstances. Actually, a French Navy helicopter intervened before the attackers had time to fire.

The incident took place about 1,000 km (620 miles) east of Mombasa, Kenya, at 8:30 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) .

In the prior three weeks, the Nivose has intercepted 24 suspected pirates as part of a European Union anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia, which has become THE piracy hotspot.

Please Visit Our Feature: World's Most Stupid Pirates (The Orginal)

 

IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN! The Studidity Continues........

World's Most Stupid Pirates - Part Deux - 6 October 2009

Back in April 2009, we had reason to belive the word of the judgment disaster must have gone forward to the Smalia pirate community -- and down to all members of the general Somali public down to the level of house wife & mentaly challenged want-to-be pirates -- that those large gray colored ships with the guns on them might not be the first choice for attempted capture. The 22 April 2009 "attack" on French Navy Light Surveillance Frigate Nivose had not gone all that well for the befuddled pirates.

The events of 6 October 2009 make very cleary that the Marx Brothers could not have been a proper warm-up act for these Somali Pirates. Naval fleets of the U.S., NATO, the EU, China, Japan & others have assembled to counter the Somali Pirate threat. This marshaling of force is all directed toward the control of teen-age, thug, idiots.

The Cargo Letter - Oct. 6 2009

As if the Somali Pirates had not learned their vessel identification lessons from the April 2009 "attack" on the French frigate -- on 6 October these genius tacticians leveled their cunning & skill upon a new target vessel.

After due consideration & proper planning -- the Somali Pirates - MADE A NEW ATTACK UPON -- the 18,000-ton flagship of the French naval operation - La Somme.

With dreams of ransom riches dancing in their heads, they grabbed their AK-47s, jumped into small skiffs, and tried to take on a passing ship -- the French flagship!

Geeeez -- exacly how stupid do you need to be?

Command & Replenishment Ship Somme

Editor Note:

These unfair tactics of the French must be stopped! It is outrageous for the French Navy to disguise their vessels in order to lure poor, unsuspecting Somali Pirates into an attack.

You be the judge. First the French cleverly paint their huge vessels in international naval gray and then take great care to festoon the ship with massive radar arrays. Shameless!

What we really object to is these French masters of disguise having taken the sly route to place -- right there on deck for all to see -- a Bofors 40 mm gun -- plus 2 Oerlikon 20 mm cannons, plus 2 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns -- plus 3 Simbad Mistral missile launchers.

What nerve these French have!

How the Hell is any self respecting Somali Pirate to know that he is not about to safely sit in his little skiff & "capture" a passing tramp steamer? How Unfair!

McD

French Commandos From Command & Replenishment Ship Somme Great The "Genius Competition" Finalists

Late Comers Are Given Stretching Exercises By The French Navy

One of The Mensa Candidates Is Welcomed Aboard

Single Feature Index:

The French Navy

Command & Replenishment Ship Somme

Special Note To Readers:

This posting was delayed two weeks while our internet system battled a viral infection.

McD

 

This Is The Daily Manner of Transit To Seattle For Workers Living In The San Juan Islands of Puget Sound

Can We Get Off Now?

Photo Credit: Peter Doetch

Living On The San Juan Islands of Puget Sound Presents Unique Challenges For Commuters To Seattle

Photo Credit: Peter Doetch

M/V Cathlamet Proves Her Daily Metal. Geeez -- Just Imagine If This Was Winter!

I'm Glad My Car Was Not On The Bow!

Photo Credit: Peter Doetch

The Story of M/V Cathlamet

The name of this vessel -- M/V Cathlamet -- is from the local Kathlamet tribe.

The Chinook word calamet meaning "stone," was given to the tribe because its members lived along the rocky stretch of the Columbia River. A city also bears its name.

Editor Note:

I have likely covered a thouand miles & more on the Washington State Ferries -- surely some in M/V Cathlamet.

This is not some sunshine shipping line, but an all weather service for the people of Puget Sound & the San Juan Islands which operates in all conditions except the most extreme -- to move cargo & passengers back & forth from Seattle & the islands.

It is the nature of Puget Sound for conditions to be extreme & unpredictable -- so Washington State Ferries plans for this for their many vessels which ply the hundreds of miles of routes each day.

My family has numbered among the thousands who live on the many islands of Puget Sound and who commute daily to Seattle for their office work.

This sea service of the Washington State Ferries is known to be scary at times of the year -- but not once in my lifetime has there been a greater mishap than a mechanical breakdown or a grounding.

The Washington State Ferries stand alone in the world for their hundreds of daily runs throughout the angry seas of the Puget Sound's -- covering thousands of square miles without a major mishap.

These photos were taken by our contributor about two years ago -- but this fact is of no matter. The daily risks & challenges of navigating the Puget Sound are constant & legendary.

McD

Single Feature Index:

Washington State Ferry Routes

M/V Cathlamet

Contributor For This Feature:

Barry Campbel - Burnaby, B.C., Canada - 5 Oct. 2009

On Aug. 30 2009 M/V Waker (Left) Was one of The Hero Ships - Saving Container Vessel M/V MSC Nikita Off Rotterdam

A Dramatic Rescue of Vessel & Crew -- Clearly A Good Deed!

From The Cargo Letter -

Aug. 30 2009 -- 32,629-gt, 2,816-TEU Panama-flagged container M/V MSC Nikita (IMO 7820942), Lithuania for Antwerp with crew of 25, collided with 8,861-gt, 903-TEU Isle-of-Man-registered container M/V Nirint Pride (IMO 9214575), Rotterdam for Bilbao with crew of 17, off the coast of the Netherlands, 20 miles away from the Hook of Holland, on Aug. 30. The collision caused a breach in the Nikita's stern near the engine room, causing the Nikita's stern to submerge. Nikita's crew was evacuated and rescued without report of injury. The Nirint Pride suffered severe bow damage, lost two containers overboard and suffered a brief fire as a result of the collision, causing 1 inhalation injury. The vessels were taken under tow to Rotterdam. [From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 2-9-09] UPDATE>> MSC Nikita determined a constructive total loss. The ship will be towed to Keppel Verolme shipyard on Sep 9 and after some basic welding probably be sold to breakers.[From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen, 9-9-09] VISIT OUR PHOTO FEATURE PAGE ON THIS AMAZING CASUALTY

M/V Waker On Her Triumphant Return To Rotterdam On Sept. 2 2009 -- But The Good Deed Was Not To Go Unpunished

Photographed By Our Reader Marcel van IJperen

Five Days Later, While on Sept. 7 2009 North Sea Patrol, M/V Waker Suffers Engine Room Fire In The North Sea

Her 33 Year Service Life Devoted To Save Others -- M/V Waker Must Now Fight To Save Herself

The Public Must Come To Understand That For These Brave Ships -- It Is Very Dangerous Out There

When It Comes To Your Cargo -- Only A Fool Has No Marine Cargo Insurance. Tomorrow It Will Be Worse

From The Cargo Letter -

M/V Waker suffered engine room fire which was extinguished Sept. 7 2009 night by a cooperative action of the Royal Dutch Navy and a specialist fire brigade.

Sept. 9 2009 M/V Waker was towed to the naval base of Den Helder and arrived at 17:00.

Background For M/V Walker -

Built in 1976 as M/V Smit Houston, this 16.000 hp class tug has been chartered in 1990 to Greenpeace by the owners SmitWijs. The crane of the foredeck has been removed to make place for the extension of the top of the forecastle into a helicopter deck was capable of carrying a total weight of 4 tons.

Renamed M/V Walker in 1995 by the next owner SWI, the ship, stationed at Den Helder, will remain at least until 2010 with the Netherlands Coastguard. The ship, chartered by its present owner Svitzer, has a length of 67.50 m with 6.23 m of draught. Propelled by two 6-cylinder Stork Werkspoor diesel engines with a capacity of 2 x 4.600 HP (2 x 3.380 kW), it reaches the operational speed of 14 knots.

Single Feature Index:

Nethlands Coast Guard -- Currently Underway

Netherlands Emergency Towing Veseel Walker

Construction

M/V Waker

Model Kit of M/V Walker

Revell Plastic Ship Kits 

Contributor For This Feature:

Marcel van IJperen

Here At The Finnsteve Oy Terminal In Finland-Helsinki-West Harbour - Something Seems Just Out of Reach

The New Driver Had Only Been Working A Few Days When Taking This Container Down From A 7 High Stack.

He Just Kept Driving With Boom The Extended. Add A Little Little Braking & OOPS!

Love Your Center of Gravity -- Keep It Close.

Editor Note:

Following our Straddle Carrier mishap feature this month --see "Auckward Straddle" -- we decided to continue the container yard equipment theme with a previously unpublished item from March 2006.

A Reach Stacker is one of the most flexible handling solutions with which to operate either a small terminal or a medium sized terminal. Reach stackers are able to transport ocean containers over short distances very quickly and stack them in rows for efficient use of container yard space.

Reach stackers have gained favor in container handling in most markets because of their flexibility and higher stacking capacity when compared to lift trucks.

We can't resist the opportunity to remind that this under-trained Reach Stacker has your valuable cargo in his sights! Make sure you arrange high quality marine cargo insurance to protect your valuable goods.

McD

Single Feature Index:

Reach Stacker

Reach Stacker Database

You Tube - Reach Stacker Operations

U.S. Patent For Reach Stacker

Finland

Finnsteve Oy

Finland-Helsinki-West Harbour

Contributor For This Feature:

Kosti - Finland

Not My Job?

Editor Note:

Our Contributor Beth Silverman points out -- another "Not My Job" incident. I don't think my boss would look kindly on this work.

There was a time when working to improve public transportation was a goal -- perhaps even an honor.

To perfectly understand our current "Not My Job" campaign -- you must see "Not My Job" from June 2009 -- our first review of this subject.

Take a look at -- "Not My Job" -- then you will understand.

McD

Contributor For This Feature:

Beth Silverman

Oh Noooo, Mr. Auropilot!

Pee Wee's Big Adventure

While Dry Docking Is Certainly An Option, Most To Prefer To Simply Drop Anchor

From Our Contributorof These Photos:

"Saw this at San Clemente island this last weekend [Aug, 8 7009]. Owners wre running at 18 to 20 knots on autopilot and missed the end of Pyramid Head on mainland by China Point. Nobody on board injuredbut hope they have good insurance."

Robert Bents

Thanks Richard -- And For Your Photos From The Deck of RMS Queen Mary 2 -- of M/V APL Panama -- During Our Day At The Beach Feature.

Editor Note:

San Clemente Island or SCI is the southernmost of the Channel Islands of California. It is owned and operated by the United States Navy, and is a part of Los Angeles County. he U.S. Navy acquired the island in 1934. It is the Navy's only remaining ship-to-shore live firing range and is the center of the integrated air/land/sea San Clemente Island Range Complex covering 2,620 nm2 (8,990 km2). It is an active sonar base and has a US$21M simulated embassy for special operations training. The U.S. Navy also uses the island as an auxiliary naval airfield: Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island. The main runway 23/05 is used for carrier training by the Navy. Other branches also use this airfield, including the United States Coast Guard. Pilots that use this airfield find it to be one of the most demanding airbases in the United States; it is known for its high winds and dangerous terrain that surrounds the runway. The airfield is also home to the United States Navy SEALs training facilities located north of the runways.

Wile visiting San Clemente island by boat is a great California experience -- doing so with an unattended helm at high speed by autopilot -- is a very good way to become dead.

 

Single Feature Index:

Mapr of San Clemente Island & The Channel Islands

San Clemente Island

San Clements Island

Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island

Contributor For This Feature:

Robert Bents - Newport Beach, CA

M/V Marti Princess On The Job With M/V Renate Schulte

Not Photoshop -- No Injuries

The Cargo Letter - June 27 2009

6,019-gt Malta-registered cargo M/V Marti Princess, Turkey to France with cement, collided with 14,619-gt German-flagged M/V Renate Schulte, Morocco to Istanbul, in the Aegean Sea of Turkey's northwestern coast on June 28. M/V Marti Princess sustained damage and reported water ingress, and evacuated 11 of 18 crew despite not being in danger of sinking. No injury or pollution reported. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Wed. July 1 2009).

Video of The Incident

The Malta Maritime Authority with the assistance of its appointed inspector in Turkey is investigating the collision involving Malta registered M/V Marti Princess & German-flagged M/V Renate Schulte that happened in the Aegean Sea on June 27 night.

No casualties were reported, however, as a precautionary measure, 13 crew members of the Marti Princess were evacuated upon request from the master of the ship.

The 2008-built 6,019 gross tonnage general cargo M/V Marti Princess was involved in a collision close to the Dardanelles Straits in the early night of June, 27 with the 1994-built 14,619 GT German flagged containership M/V Renate Schulte.

The Merchant Shipping Directorate is informed that following the collision water flooded the 2 cargo holds of the MV Marti Princess. M/V Marti Princess is reported to have been carrying 8,000 tons of bulk cement. By June 30 evening, a salvage team was already on board the Maltese ship to assess the situation and carry out the necessary stability calculations.

No pollution has so far been reported and operations are underway to pump out the Maltese ship's bunkers to a special barge in order to minimise the potential of any leakages. At around 10.20h, July 1, morning, both vessels were successfully separated, with no serious repercussions and the current situation being reported as stable. The salvage team is now deliberating the next task of towing the Maltese vessel to a safe area.

Since June 27, officials from MMA's Merchant Shipping Directorate have been in constant contact with the International Safety Managers of the Maltese general cargo ship and the appointed inspector in Turkey.

The Maltese authorities will liaise with both the local authorities and the German marine accident investigators in their investigation of the accident.

Our Other "90 Degree" Features

"For The "L" of It" - - M/V Action Alpha - August 2007

"T-Boned" - historic collision at sea - May 2003

Contributor For This Feature:

Kris Fantasia -- Vessel Planner, Hapag Lloyd Operations, Tampa, Fla

The International Transportation of Any Product Requires Many Companies & Innumerable Hands.

The "Bad Thing" Can Happen At Any Stage -- Including Infrastructure Failure.

This Picture Is A Symbol of The Little Things Which Can Make The Big Bite To Your Cargo.

This Guy's Brother Loaded Your Perishable Cargo Today. What Required Precautions "Were Not His Job?"

Here Is Just Another Example of The Many Reasons Why Shippers Need High Quality Marine Cargo Insurance.

The Cargo Letter - June 23 2009 -

Once in a while a reader of ours clearly surpsasses our own effort. Here, Marc Onrust of Onrust Yacht Charters in The Netherlands has us all laughing -- big time -- with some "not my job" commercials from the Centraal Beheer insurance company. These are in the Dutch language -- but the words are not important for these.

Not My Job #1

Not My Job #2

In any language -- cutting corners is seen in all industries -- including transport -- when they have you valuable cargo. Quality marine cargo insurance is available from qualified brokers around the world.

McD

Contributor For This Feature:

Marc Onrust - Onrust Yacht Charters, The Netherlands

Stephanie Warren - former President - Calabasass Chamber of Commerce, CA

M/V Livarden In Better Days

M/V Livarden "Visiting" - Aground

The Navigation Was Flawless -- Except For This Island In The Way. Was It moved recently?

Homeowners Happy For The Shoals.

The Cargo Letter - Jan. 24 2009

80-m Nørre Sundby-registered cargo M/V Livarden (IMO 7310818), built 1973, ran aground at Sørfolda in Nordland, Norway, on Jan. 21. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Correspondent Petter Häusler (Sat. Jan. 24 2009).

Contributor For This Feature:

P. Hausler

What Cruise Ship Is This? Well, We Actually Knew The Answer.

Reader Comment - 2 June 2009

This cruise ship is the SS America, sister ship of the "Big U" -- SS United States. She broke from tow and went aground on the Canary Islands.

Christoph Wahner, Esq. - Countryman & McDaniel - LAX

Editor Note:

This is a preview to our exciting new Photo Feature by Christoph Wahner, Esq. about the lives & strange current circumstances of America's pride -- SS Uninted States & SS America. Coming Soon!

SS United States is one of our The Cargo Law Charities -- check them out! Our other charity, The Los Angeles Maritime Institute's TopSail Youth Program, which hepls at-risk youth. When you donate to save lives -- please mention Cargo Law.

McD

Contributor For This Feature:

Bill Greulich

1,000- N.M. West of San Francisco - U.S. Coast Guard Photo

April 8, San Pedro -- Reader Photo To The Cargo Letter

Due to The Conditions & Delicate Situation -- 24 Total Crane Hours To Discharge This Bay

Material Reported Falling All Over The Dock As Operations Continued

The Cargo Letter - April 8 2009

261-m, 40,300-gt container vessel YM Taichung (IMO 9280811) lost 14 containers overboard and suffered 26 damaged containers in reportedly heavy weather 1,000-nm west of San Francisco on Apr. 5. The vessel arrived at the Port of Los Angeles where inspections will take place. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Wed. Apr. 8 2009).

From Our Reader

M/V YM Taichung suffered container losss in unexpected "crazy seas" about 1,000 miles of San Francisco on April 5. According to our crew source:

"Ship hit some crazy seas about 1000 miles off of San Fran. They lost I believe 14 boxes off of the starboard aft end, with 21 more damaged. Bad times for them. It took us about 24 total crane hours to discharge that bay. There was stuff falling out all over the dock from them. It was very interesting to watch as well."

M/V YM Taichung called on Port of Long Beach about April 14, 2009. Yang Ming Line will soon begin to receive the claims.

Captain Mike Linbeck

Editor Note: The loss of cargo due to imporper stowage or Perils of The Sea -- are commonplace. These incidents are seldom photographed, but daily reminders of why 99% of savy shippers secure quality marine cargo insurance.

McD

Single Feature Index:

U.S. Coast Guard Report

Contributor For This Feature:

Captain Mike Linbeck - Regional Manager, Ewig International Marine Corporation

The Dreaded Skull & Crossbones -- Striking Fear Into The Hearts of Mariners For Hundreds of Years

Modern, Mortorized, Machinegun Marauders! Who Can Be Safe From Their Bold Attack?

The Cargo Letter - April 22 2009

In a move that may well earn them a spot in the "World's Most Stupid Pirates" Somali pirates tracked what they took as an innocent merchant frieghter --- and massed for the attack with three "attack craft" -- large fiberglass boats.

In their clever attack fury -- the hapless Somali pirates had mistaken French Navy Light Surveillance Frigate Nivose for a helpless commercial vessel on April 22, and tried to attack her, according to a Reuters report.

The Somali pirates carefully cornered their prey -- then attacked -- and then Whoops!

It didn't take long for the French Navy to correct this case of mistaken identity: They seized 11 suspected pirates 600 miles off the coast of Somalia.

They confused the Nivose with a commercial ship and rushed toward it, to intercept it," [a French defense spokesperson] said Reuters.

The Nivose then put her own craft in the water with her commandos and sent out a helicopter and stopped these 11 pirates who were on these three boats.

The pirates, who had a mother ship as well as the two assault boats, were held for questioning on the Nivose. The vessels were carrying AK-47 rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, but the pirates did not fire -- a flash of brilliance for them under the circumstances. Actually, a French Navy helicopter intervened before the attackers had time to fire.

The incident took place about 1,000 km (620 miles) east of Mombasa, Kenya, at 8:30 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) .

In the prior three weeks, the Nivose has intercepted 24 suspected pirates as part of a European Union anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia, which has become THE piracy hotspot.

The Shame of "Disguised" French Navy Light Surveillance Frigate Nivose -- Here Making Herself Look Like A Freighter -- Especially The Large Bow Gun. Dah!

Editor Note: It is difficult to comprehend how even the the most challenged of us could possibly have made this mistake in the broad daylight of 8:30 am. So what does this tell us about the "enemy" we are fighting in these waters. These are stupid thugs. No more ransom payments to these guys, please. These guys get a Darwin Award for sure.

McD

Frigate Nivose Arrives At Mombassa, Kenya With The Somalia Scholars

DAH!

Single Feature Index:

French Navy Light Surveillance Frigate Nivose

 

LAX Airport Officials Say The Vacuum Created By A Port Engine On Japan Airlines Flight # 61 Pulled The Container Off A Baggage Trolley. The Boeing 747 Engines Were Operated With Material Within "The Cone of Danger"

This Guy Gets A Picture of LD3 For Lunch #2

All Pilots Know There Is A Cone of Danger In Front of The Engines -- Engines Will Ingest Everything In The Area

The Cargo Letter - May 12 2009  

A metal cargo container was sucked into the engine of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 today as the giant jetliner prepared to depart with 245 passengers from Los Angeles International Airport.

The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. when Flight 61 to Narita, Japan, pulled back from Gate 101 at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The vacuum created by the air intake of the left outboard engine was so strong it pulled the empty container off a baggage cart that was either parked or driven too close to the aircraft.

The LD3 model air cargo container, which is used by airline baggage handlers to haul luggage to and from aircraft, measures approximately 5 feet by 5 feet by 4 feet.

The LD3 container became lodged in the engine's housing.

Japan Airlines took the crippled 747-400 out of service and made other flight arrangements for the passengers and 18 crew members, who were returned to the Bradley Terminal. The airplane, which has four engines, was towed to a hangar for inspection.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.

This Happened Before - Feb. 1999

In the early years of The Cargo Law website we published internal photos from Delta Airlines of an LD3 air cargo container -- taken for lunch.

We firgured at the time that the LD3 was too large to reach the fans of the Boeing 767 involved in the incident.

Empty cargo containers remain an obvious danger.

VISIT OUR VINTAGE 1999 FEATURE: LD3 For Lunch -- the Boeing 767 that ate the cago container for lunch!

 

Sorry Lucy -- It Wasn't Ricky Ricardo At The Door.

It was A BAE-146-RJ85A. Better Call Fred & Ethyl

Because We are At O.R. Tambo Int'll Airport, Gauteng, South Africa

The Cargo Letter - April 8 2009  

At O.R. Tambo International Airport, Gauteng, South Africa, an BAE-146-RJ85A aircraft operated by South African company SA Airlink Investments (Pty) Ltd rolled -- the aircraft continued to roll without control -- then crossed a grassy area on the runway perimeter -- then jammed through a slump stone wall. The nosegear then crashed down the embankment and the plane came to rest on the wall debris.

There is damage to the nose-cone, wrinkling of the fuselage skin below the cockpit and damge to the underside of the aircraft.

Editor Nore -

In the spirit of "Lucy" -- the ground crew of this plane has some "SPLAINING" to do! 

Contributor For This Feature:

Our "Doc"

MV Maersk Alabama In Better Days

The Cargo Letter - April 9 2009  

17,000-ton U.S.-flagged M/V Maersk Alabama, sailing from Salalah in Oman to the Kenyan port of Mombassa via Djibouti and delivering humanitarian aid to Africa, was seized by Pirates 240-nm southeast of the Somali port city Eyl on Apr. 8 at 0730LT. The incident is the first pirate attack on a U.S.-flagged vessel in over 200 years. The vessel's crew of 20 managed to overpower the pirates and regain control, but the ship's captain is being held hostage on a lifeboat. A spokesman for World Food Program confirmed that part of the ship's cargo was being ferried on its behalf, including 4,000 metric tons of corn headed for Somalia and Uganda, and 1,000 metric tons of vegetable oil earmarked for refugees in Kenya. It was expected to dock in the Kenyan port of Mombasa on April 16. At the time of the attack, the closet U.S. warship was 300 miles away and unable to respond. U.S. officials say an American warship and a half dozen others are headed to the scene where pirates captured a vessel with a U.S. crew off Somalia's coast. (Wed. Apr. 8 2009).

The Cargo Letter World Exclusive -"206 Year DejaVu"

Here is the rest of the story you won't read in the press -- not yet -- until this article is circulated.

The first American warship to the rescue of MV Maersk Alabama was USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) which arrived on scene at approximately 10pm Eastern time on April 9 2009.

That last American-flagged vessel to be captured by pirates was the USS Philadelphia, when she ran aground off Tripoli on 31 October 1803 and was captured by the Tripoli pirates.

The captain of USS Philadelphia -- who was the last U.S. captain to lose his vessel to pirates was Captain William Bainbridge -- namesake of the current USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) -- the first warship now to the rescue of MV Maersk Alabama off Somalia.

What amazing irony -- as the spirit -- or ghost of Commodore William Bainbridge, USN now rises up -- again -- to take his vengence on the pirates after 206 years. Indeed, you can't make this stuff up!

We will contiune to follow this amazing story as USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) should address the situation at dawn, as few hours from now

The Cargo Letter is proud to be first in the world with this part of the story. It pays to study maritime history!

This is one of the greatest ironies in world maritime history. (Wed. Apr. 8 2009)

Michael McDaniel, your Editor

Commodore William Bainbridge, USN

Looking Down Tonight -- Perhaps Smiling

Editor Note:

We are very aware that Capt Richard Phillips of MV Maersk Alabama was taken hostage by the pirates and remains at risk in the lifeboat of MV Maersk Alabama under pirate control. We will continue to watch this situation.

Reader Letter:

Someone made a point yesterday on the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Alumni Network about the statement of the incident with MV Maersk Alabama being the first such attack in 200 years. The press has seemed to overlook the ambush and seizure of the Sea Land container ship SS Mayaguez, which occured off of Cambodia in May of 1975. 39 crew were taken hostage and removed from the ship by members of the Khmer Rouge.

An armed assault by U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps personnel secured the ship, and the crew was mysteriously released and set adrift in a fishing boat shortly thereafter.

Best Regards,

Jim McGowan - MMA '95 - April 10 2009

EditorResponse:

Jim - Your example of the SS Mayaguez incident was not "PIRACY." The Khmer Rouge were a political organization of Cambodia in 1975. Under,accepted insurance definitions -- PIRACY must be non-political to be PIRACY. Thus the attack on SS Mayaguez was not piracy. We are thus are back to the last pirate seizure of an American vessel in 1803. Our story stands -- and Captain William Bainbridge continues to smile.

McD

SPECIAL NOTE: Continue to follow this important story at our photo feature - "The Retaking of MV Mearsk Alabama"

Single Feature Index:

USS Bainbridge

Commodore William Bainbridge, USN

MV Maersk Alabama

0649 Local Time, Monday 23 March 2009

Japanese Meteorologists Warned of A Risk of Wind Shear

The Cargo Letter - March 23 2009  

A FedEx MD-11 freighter crash-landed in high winds at Japan's largest airport, killing both crew members on board.

The accident happened as the Federal Express Flight 80 arrived at Narita Airport, near Tokyo, from Guangzhou, north of Hong Kong in China.

The aircraft crashed on the longer of Narita's two runways. A video shown on television shows that the aircraft's main gears touched down first but the nose then dropped heavily. The aircraft bounced and flipped over as flames exploded from the wing.

Dozens of flights were cancelled as one runway at Narita remained closed.

The two pilots were taken to hospital but confirmed dead. The pilot, Kevin Kyle Mosley, was 54 years old and the co-pilot, Anthony Stephen Pino, was 49. Both were American.

It took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Footage of the crash shows the plane landing hard, tipping on to its left wing and bursting into flame as it then rolled over.

The plane landed in strong winds, of up to 72 km (45 miles) per hour, and Japan's meteorological agency had issued a gale warning for the area around Narita.

Japanese meteorologists warned of a risk of wind shear at Tokyo's Narita Airport the night before a FedEx MD-11 crashed on landing this morning, killing the two crew members aboard.

"We have information that strong winds caused the plane to divert from the runway," a Narita Airport spokeswoman told reporters. But officials said it was too soon to confirm if the winds caused the crash.

Airlines cancelled more than 30 flights and diverted others to nearby airports, because Narita's longest runway remains closed. Parts of the wreckage were still burning hours after the crash.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched a team of experts from Washington to help Japan with the investigation of the crash.

Japanese authorities will lead the investigation. The NTSB designated Senior Air Safety Investigator John Lovell as U.S. accredited representative. He is joined by two additional NTSB investigators, along with representatives from the FAA, Boeing and ALPA.

Kyodo News said it was the first fatal aircraft accident at Narita Airport since it opened in 1978.

Dramatic Video:

Video #1

Video #2

Videoo #3

Video #4

Video #5

Video #6

M/V New Star Showing Water Draining From Forepeak Tank

M/V New Star Has Just Been Fired Upon By The Russian Coast Guard

Unlike The U.S. Navy & Coast Guard -- "Shoot To Kill" Often Marks The Start of Discussions

The Cargo Letter - Feb.16 2009

15.8-m, 5,000-dwt vessel M/V New Star (IMO 9021904, built 2005 as M/V Xin Tong Yu 108), with 16 crew, sank during heavy weather near the far-eastern Russian port of Vladivostok on Feb. 15. The crew abandoned ship and boarded 2 inflatable life rafts. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Mon. Feb. 16 2009).

UPDATE>> Owners of the Chinese cargo vessel M/V New Star that sunk on Saturday in Russian waters issued a statement claiming the ship had been fired on by the Russian Navy. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. Feb. 19 2009).

UPDATE>>Sierra Leone-flagged M/V New Star was fired upon by a Russian warship after the vessel reportedly illegally crossed its border, left Nakohdka without permission and reportedly failed to respond to warnings. With the vessel damaged, 8 crew died after taking to stormy waters in open raft. 5 crew were rescued by Russian border guards from another (closed) raft. The vessel's owner, Hong Kong-based J-Rui Lucky Shipping, has condemned the Russian authorities and called for a joint investigation panel. From our Correspondents Joe Kaszak and Kenneth Jacks (Mon. Feb. 23 2009).

UPDATE>> Three Chinese sailors who survived the sinking of cargo ship M/V New Star were permitted to leave Russia today. M/V New Star sank on Feb 15 in the Sea of Japan, after being fired on by the Russian coast guard. Three Chinese sailors & 5 Indonesian sailors escaped in a raft.

However, eight members of the 16-man crew - seven Chinese and one Indonesian - have not been seen since.

"The three coast guard vessels which were chasing M/V New Star should hold full responsibility for the losses as they kept on firing at the ship for hours, which caused her to spring a serious leak and eventually sink. They showed no concern for the lives of the 16 crew," a company statement said. (Tues. Feb. 24 2009).

Contributor For This Feature:

John Swanson

The Cargo Letter - Feb. 10 2009

At Port of Dubai -- Maltese-flagged M/T Kashmir was entering the port on Feb. 10, as the Singapore-flagged container feeder vessel M/V Sima Saba was on departure -- in collision.

Fire extended from the M/T Kashmir waterline to above the top of the tanker as thick black smoke billowed hundreds of feet in the air out of a gash in the ship's hull.

What looked like "viscous material" pouring from the ship also burned on top of the water, as did two other chunks of wreckage about a half mile away.

One of the 22 reservoirs on the Kashmir, all filled with liquefied gas, was damaged. Two injures thus far.

The Damage To M/T Kashmir Was Significant

Contributors For This Feature:

Stuart Midgley - Sydney, Australia

Sheridan & Leanne

A 400-Ton Crane Worked To Temove The Truck & Allow The Ferry To Dock.

This Was A Turners Ltd of Fordham, UK Vehicle, Carrying Non-Ferrous Sulphate Powder

M/V HSS Stena Voyager Only Went Back Into Service Jan. 26, After A US$1.4M Refit.

The Cargo Letter - Jan. 28 2009

Ferry M/V Stena Voyager, Stranraer for Belfast with 156 passengers and 33 crew, suffered incident where a tanker-trailer broke free and was discovered hanging off the stern of the vessel on Jan. 28. The vessel was quickly stabilized without report of injury, but one of the vessel's stern doors was seriously damaged. A mobile crane was to be used to remove the stricken vehicle, after which passengers would be able to safely drive their cars off the vessel. The damaged vessel is to be brought to Belfast for repairs, while a separate ferry will be arranged to take passengers on their scheduled journey. The tanker was laden with non-hazardous ferrous sulphate powder and was maintained fully intact. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen and our Correspondent A . L . Griffiths (Thurs. Jan. 29 2009).

Single Feature Index:

Stena Lines

M/V SStena Voyager

Presemt Location of M/V Strna Voyager

Contributors For This Feature:

A . L . Griffiths

Tim Schwabedissen

The Cargo Letter - Jan. 18 2009

43,537-gt cruise ship M/V Balmoral, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, was struck by 50-ft waves in force 8-9 gales in the Bay of Biscay on Jan. 18. Many passengers were injured, including two who suffered broken bones and were airlifted from the vessel to a hospital in Spain. The weather conditions were worse than forecast, and the ship was actually hit by much larger motions of the sea than had been anticipated before it left Dover. The cruise itinerary was altered as a result of the inclement conditions. The ship skipped scheduled calls at Tangier, Lisbon and La Rochelle. A call at Cherbourg and an overnight stay in Antwerp were added; the ship also spent one extra night in La Coruna and another in Bilbao. From our Sr. Correspondent Tim Schwabedissen (Thurs. Jan. 29 2009).

Cabins: 738 -- Fully Stablized Passenger: 1400 Standard Occupancy Crew; 500 Refitted: 2008

Tonnage: 43,537 grt Length: 218.18 m Beam (width): 28.2 m Speed: 20.0 knots

Comment From Orr Reader

Regarding your Singles Only item "Bull Riding In The Med" -- I should inform you about the fact that the Bay of Biscay (Gulf of Biscay as we call it), where this cruiseship was hitting those freak waves, is not in the Mediterranean but in the Atlantic Ocean. ;-)

Other than that: Keep up the good work!

Marc Onrust -- Onrust Yacht Charters

Single Feature Index:

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

M/V Balmoral

Presemt Location of M/V Balmoral

Contributors For This Feature:

Tim Schwabedissen

Marc Onrust -- Onrust Yacht Charters

Ruba - Dub Dub - Two Men In A Tub

The Cargo Letter - Jan. 20 2009

Two Myanmar fishermen have survived for almost a month in shark-infested waters by floating in a large ice box after their boat sank, rescue officials said.The men, both aged in their 20s, were on a 12-meter Thai fishing boat with 18 others when it sank in heavy seas off Australia's north coast on December 23, said Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Tracy Jiggins.

"They had no safety equipment, no beacons, no means of communication and they'd been drifting for 25 days," Jiggins told Reuters. The ice box is described as "desk sized."

"For them to have even been spotted in a huge body of water is amazing," she said.

The men were spotted by an Australian coastal patrol aircraft Jan. 17. The pair were winched onto a rescue helicopter and taken to hospital off Australia's far north. Hospital officials said the pair were hungry and dehydrated after drifting 25 days at sea during the monsoon season and recent cyclonic storms in the region, but they were recovering well and had already been released. The pair would now be questioned by immigration officials and police, who had not yet determined how the pair survived and what they did for food and water.

Jiggins said the others on board the boat would certainly have perished and no search for other survivors was planned.

"The information they provided to us was that they witnessed other crew members in the water, none of whom had any flotation device, so we've done an assessment and we don't believe anybody would be able to survive 25 days actually in the water," she said.

It was also unclear where the Thai- based fishing boat, crewed by Thais and a handful of people from Myanmar, sank and how far the pair had drifted before they were picked up 60 nautical miles northwest of Horn Island.

"It would be difficult to determine where that search should be. That's a huge amount of water they could have covered, and we have notified search and rescue officials in Indonesia," Jiggins said.

Australia has one of the longest coastlines in the world and the country's search-and-rescue patrol zone covers a tenth of the world's surface, or 53 million square kilometres (20 million square miles) of the Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans.

The men were found in the Torres Strait, between Australia and Papua New Guinea, an area infested by sharks and the area is regularly fished by both licensed and illegal fishing vessels, many from Asia.