KeithMacdonald Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, jjb1970 said: Stuff you couldn't make up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-sees-giant-cargo-cranes-as-possible-chinese-spying-tools-887c4ade Someone wake me up when we've passed peak China paranoia...... When one reads what they said... Quote WASHINGTON—U.S. officials are growing concerned that giant Chinese-made cranes operating at American ports across the country, including at several used by the military, could give Beijing a possible spying tool hiding in plain sight. .. it certainly smells like paranoia, and some more FearPorn, with the usual lack of US forethought of what the consequences might be. Wouldn't surprise me if China turned round and said "Hey, old friend, if you are that concerned, we better turn them off ..." And then see what happens when US ports can't move anything. Get the popcorn. Edited March 6, 2023 by KeithMacdonald typo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted March 6, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 6, 2023 The crane story is bizarre. China probably knows more than the US FMC about commercial shipping and trade flows. Most of the worlds biggest container ports are in China, they're one of the worlds biggest shipbuilders and suppliers of marine equipment and systems and maritime studies now have a much higher profile in Chinese universities than in the US (or Europe). China has a huge footprint in the ship owner/operator segments too, COSCO is one of the world's biggest shipping companies. AIS tells you where ships are, and details of commercial ships are very easy to obtain. UNCTAD publishes more information than you can shake a stick at on trade volumes and such like, and IMO produces various statistical analyses. And the commercial intelligence services like Clarksons and IHS can tell you just about anything shipping related if you pay them (and the Chinese government has very deep pockets). When China makes or buys half the stuff being carried by sea, makes a big percentage of the ships, the systems that make ships work (including many ships not built in China), have access to UNCTAD, IMO, Clarksons, IHS etc research, data and analysis, have a massive spy satellite network and much more besides, why would they need to have magic eyes in container cranes? 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62613 Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 On 05/03/2023 at 20:48, MarkC said: Would have been my 39th anniversary next month - had wife V1.0 not walked out on me in 2008... whilst I was away at sea... and yes, these days, Dear Johns are done by email...😁 Mark Friend of mine's brother was a C/E in Houlders. He came back on leave one time, and once he'd put his bags down and unpacked, went to the garage where his car was supposed to be; only it wasn't. Went to his wife and asked "Where's my Aston Martin"? "I sold it" That was it; he went upstairs to the bedroom, packed his bags and left. Or the 4/E when I was on my first trip junior had done 5 trips, and allegedly had had a Dear John on every one. Very bitter, particularly as he eventually did 5 months on that one, when trip lengths were beginning to fall below that 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62613 Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 15 hours ago, MarkC said: Indeed so - better the devil you know. This was truly an example of, well, "Spanish practices"... As for Egypt - yes, monkey business a go-go, for sure. The Marlboro Canal might be interesting the first time, but after a while it becomes a pain in the... Pilfering is rife - if it's not welded down or locked up VERY securely then it'll 'grow legs'. Mind you, compared to West Africa, Nigeria & Cote d'Ivoire in particular, the Egyptians are amateurs... Mark The Suez Canal; the only time I ever locked my cabin door while in it! 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 12 hours ago, jjb1970 said: Someone wake me up when we've passed peak China paranoia Without being too cynical or political, I'll quietly suggest that any publication owned by News Corp is looking for distracting news stories right now that don't involve a particular lawsuit regarding one of the principal's other assets. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bon Accord Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 10 hours ago, billbedford said: It might be cheaper in the long run to ask the Faroese to come a build a few tunnels between the isles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tunnels_of_the_Faroe_Islands Certainly cheaper and in terms of accessibility would transform the islands concerned. Which is precisely why nearly all of them don't want fixed links; they look at what happened to Skye and recoil in horror. There is a very vocal lobby who want the island lifestyle but still demand mainland-style convenience, hence the sheer amount of fresh air carried on most ferries outside the peak summer season - all at the expense of the mainland taxpayer. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 7, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 7, 2023 On 06/03/2023 at 07:48, MarkC said: Would have been my 39th anniversary next month - had wife V1.0 not walked out on me in 2008... whilst I was away at sea... I was never a seafarer but working away on a weekly commute for two years in the late 1990s ended up with much the same result. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted March 7, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 7, 2023 Mine ran off with my best mate, and I don’t half miss him. Then again, what a mate! 1 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted March 7, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 7, 2023 Marriage is a funny old thing. Being away from home a lot will test a relationship, but I know many people who tell me (with no irony) that being apart so much is why their marriage survives as each side gets a regular space. I stayed at sea for two years after getting married, and we had been dating for several years before getting married, it wasn't why I left but my wife was quite happy I did come ashore. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 3 hours ago, St Enodoc said: I was never a seafarer but working away on a weekly commute for two years in the late 1990s ended up with much the same result. After 24 years & 3 children, it wasn't the job, especially after 1990 and both promotion and shorter trips, but, as I subsequently found, being manipulated by charlatans who persuaded her that "the grass was greener on the other side", having also first persuaded her that she had <the gift> of foreseeing the future - with training, natch - so I'm pretty sure that you can all work out what I'm inferring. Almost 3 grand of my money (we had a joint account - more fool me in hindsight, but there we go...) had gone to these shysters too... ...but that's another debate entirely. Some people believe that sort of thing, as is their perogative. Mark 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific231G Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 On 06/03/2023 at 06:24, MarkC said: Indeed so - better the devil you know. This was truly an example of, well, "Spanish practices"... As for Egypt - yes, monkey business a go-go, for sure. The Marlboro Canal might be interesting the first time, but after a while it becomes a pain in the... Pilfering is rife - if it's not welded down or locked up VERY securely then it'll 'grow legs'. Mind you, compared to West Africa, Nigeria & Cote d'Ivoire in particular, the Egyptians are amateurs... Mark Marlboro Canal? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62613 Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 10 minutes ago, Pacific231G said: Marlboro Canal? They 'fine' you 500 cigarettes, or multiples thereof, for various offences. The first time I went through in 1976, I think it was 1000 for not having the canal light working 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific231G Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 (edited) On 04/03/2023 at 12:05, Bon Accord said: Warsash was also the first college where I'd seen cadets wear seagoing uniform to classes. At Shields, Glasgow etc there was a college uniform but that was navy blazer (with company badge), shirt, tie, trousers shoes etc and seagoing rig was strictly prohibited, principally because we weren't at sea. If you didn't appear presentable with the correct rig (including blazer) the college would write to your company and complain. These days they all seem to follow the Warsash mould with woolly jumpers and epaulettes and if a tie is present the knot is normally dangling down somewhere near their belly button. Aye, changed days! We had to wear seagoing uniform at Plymouth too though not AFAIR for our Thursday evening workshop sessions in Plympton. We also used to also wear it when hitchhiking home for weekends - you got more lifts that way. Because Plymouth was also full of RN recruits and we used to get saluted by them till each intake cottoned on which was mildly amusing. At Shields it was blazer etc. and far more relaxed, we lived two to a room in local guesthouses (which I also did for my first years at Uni) rather than the regimented maritime school residences which were barrack like (4 to a "cabin" on bunks, unlike at sea of course where I got my own cabin and someone to bring me a cuppa in the moning) At Shields, I never heard of anyone being reported to their company but I think we all wanted to look a bit smarter than the local yobbery doing gas fitting etc. at the college. Edited March 7, 2023 by Pacific231G 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 40 minutes ago, Pacific231G said: Marlboro Canal? 'tis what we call the Sewage - sorry, Suez - Canal. They all demand that brand from choice, for some reason... 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium J. S. Bach Posted March 7, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 7, 2023 9 hours ago, Pacific231G said: ...snip... Because Plymouth was also full of RN recruits and we used to get saluted by them ...snip... Just on my way home from USN boot camp (Great Lakes, IL), I was walking through O'Hare airport to my flight home and saluted a United Airlines pilot! Whoops. He smiled and returned it. 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burgundy Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 23 minutes ago, J. S. Bach said: Just on my way home from USN boot camp (Great Lakes, IL), I was walking through O'Hare airport to my flight home and saluted a United Airlines pilot! Whoops. He smiled and returned it. Failsafe principle. If it moves, salute it. Best wishes Eric 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium J. S. Bach Posted March 7, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 7, 2023 And if it doesn't, paint it. 1 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted March 8, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 8, 2023 Warning, the below image is from Chinese State Media, so may be spying on you, but P&O's new double ended hybrid power system ferry has left Guangzhou for blighty. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted March 8, 2023 Share Posted March 8, 2023 3 hours ago, jjb1970 said: Warning, the below image is from Chinese State Media, so may be spying on you, but P&O's new double ended hybrid power system ferry has left Guangzhou for blighty. I'm so used to thinking of "bow and stern", I have to confess I've no idea what we should call each end. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbedford Posted March 8, 2023 Share Posted March 8, 2023 5 minutes ago, KeithMacdonald said: I'm so used to thinking of "bow and stern", I have to confess I've no idea what we should call each end. North/South, West/East or maybe even Up/Down? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific231G Posted March 8, 2023 Share Posted March 8, 2023 (edited) A and B 1 & 2 ends are what's used for diesel and electric locos with a cab at each end but double ended ferries are not exactly new. Woolwich, Staten Island and Hydro spring immediately to mind. Port and Starboard presumably reflect the direction it's travelling in. at least so far as nav lights are concerned. Edited March 8, 2023 by Pacific231G nomenclature of cabs 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 8, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 8, 2023 17 minutes ago, Pacific231G said: A and B ends are what's used for diesel and electric locos with a cab at each end but double ended ferries are not exactly new. Woolwich, Staten Island and Hydro spring immediately to mind. Port and Starboard presumably reflect the direction it's travelling in. at least so far as nav lights are concerned. I don't know the answer but here's another example. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted March 8, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 8, 2023 The ones I'm familiar numbered each end, 1 & 2. Whichever is leading is the bow, and port and starboard as as per the bow in use. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 8, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 8, 2023 19 minutes ago, jjb1970 said: The ones I'm familiar numbered each end, 1 & 2. Whichever is leading is the bow, and port and starboard as as per the bow in use. On the railways we use 1 and 2 end, and A and B side. Is it the same for ships? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific231G Posted March 8, 2023 Share Posted March 8, 2023 8 minutes ago, jjb1970 said: The ones I'm familiar numbered each end, 1 & 2. Whichever is leading is the bow, and port and starboard as as per the bow in use. That does seem to be the most common nomenclature from the N. American sources I've found. Double ended ferries are fairly common there to serve offshore islands in, for example, Washington State. On the Staten Island ferries with fairly traditional machinery they apparently lock off the rudders at the "stern" before changing ends but the P&O ferries will have four ABB "Azipod" propulsion units that can rotate through 360 degrees, one at each corner. An interesting design requirement is that a double ended ferry's passenger accommodation shouldn't be too symmetrical as this tends to lead to disorientation. There is more about the new P&O ferries here https://www.niferry.co.uk/first-new-po-ferries-dover-ship-floated-out-in-china/ 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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