tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post6866787270681817955..comments2024-03-29T04:54:50.435-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: Is there a maritime jobs crisis in the USA?Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-73526221504637942832017-07-24T10:53:31.751-05:002017-07-24T10:53:31.751-05:00Tell her to check out the Great Lakes. There is ha...Tell her to check out the Great Lakes. There is hardly any steel industry left, but there is some and there are 1000 foot ships like the American Republic.<br />Hope it helps,<br />iromtomflintAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-77196042133390256402017-07-22T19:54:11.085-05:002017-07-22T19:54:11.085-05:00Lykes Lines shut down around 2005 or so. Per a fri...Lykes Lines shut down around 2005 or so. Per a friend of mine in the Merchant Marine, maritime traffic around the world is actually down from previous decades. I haven't asked why -- but next time we get in touch I'll try to remember to ask.Timovnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-60983525885109980142017-07-22T16:22:04.898-05:002017-07-22T16:22:04.898-05:00Peter, you noted in previous posts on the shrinkin...Peter, you noted in previous posts on the shrinking number of container hulls in service... More of the same, it appears? JohninMd.(HELP?!??)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-8432524063226247112017-07-22T14:02:14.395-05:002017-07-22T14:02:14.395-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Chuck Pergielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14473338620167201696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-60646902201529529922017-07-22T12:58:51.106-05:002017-07-22T12:58:51.106-05:00One of the indicators I use for judging economic a...One of the indicators I use for judging economic activity is the Baltic Dry Index.<br /><br />While not directly related to US coastal traffic, it is nonetheless a good overall indicator of economic activity. See link from Wikipedia here-<br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Dry_Index.<br /><br />I also look at this site, which compares the BDI to a variety of indices from various organizations, as well as to the prices of various commodities.<br />http://investmenttools.com/futures/bdi_baltic_dry_index.htm#bdi_gold<br /><br />It is worth noting that the BDI presently is at less than 1/10 of its all time high, and hovers just above the cost of transport.<br /><br />This is an indicator that economic activity is low. I would not expect a resurgence of US economic activity for the foreseeable future. If anything, this is likely to get worse<br /><br />Historianhttp://www.libertyhollow.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-77490740054841291332017-07-22T12:07:11.188-05:002017-07-22T12:07:11.188-05:00Now that Trump has removed the EPA boot from the n...Now that Trump has removed the EPA boot from the necks of our energy producers there may be hope for the future for this situation as well as many others.<br />The US is now exporting petroleum products.<br />In his recent visit to Poland Trump brokered a deal to supply them with large shipments of LNG to alleviate the stranglehold Russia currently has on Polish energy. Now who owns and operates those massive LNG tankers is still an open question, but the work will be there for someone.Uncle Larhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04008207593205949098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-10267038381156570302017-07-22T10:28:25.344-05:002017-07-22T10:28:25.344-05:00Maersk, as I recall, is a Scandanavian Company. Da...Maersk, as I recall, is a Scandanavian Company. Danish, I think. Don't know of Lykes Lines is still sailing or not. I used to see their ships when I was in the Navy. Most of the US Merchant Marine is sailing under flags of convenience these days.Quartermasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-8597392586597414952017-07-22T10:22:48.287-05:002017-07-22T10:22:48.287-05:00Drudge has this headline on his page this very mom...Drudge has this headline on his page this very moment:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/norway-takes-lead-in-race-to-build-autonomous-cargo-ships-1500721202" rel="nofollow">"Norway Takes the Lead In Race To Build Autonomous Cargo Ships."</a>Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11402651457453813639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-11963170690666586592017-07-22T09:54:22.216-05:002017-07-22T09:54:22.216-05:00Old NFO, there are a few more. There's been 20...Old NFO, there are a few more. There's been 20 or so oil tankers built in the last 5 years for a few other companies, a handful of container ships and car carriers, and some indie companies have old rotten ships here and there. Total is still under 200. I think there are more tugboat mariners working in New York harbor alone than work in all the US-flagged ships left.<br /> For the most part, Articulated Tug and Barge units have replaced ships for offshore work for fuel and bulk trade. They're cheaper to insure, run, build, crew and maintain. People tend to judge things based on their experience. I tend to forget how extensive the shipping trade is on the inland rivers and Great Lakes, and know very little about Oil Patch work, which is why I like reading Jill's stuff so much. I'm used to coastwise work.Paul, Dammit!https://www.blogger.com/profile/02264872375942355609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-89909937800078272032017-07-22T08:53:57.878-05:002017-07-22T08:53:57.878-05:00Peter,
There is not really much of an internation...Peter,<br /><br />There is not really much of an international US Merchant Marine. We lost that battle many years ago. <br /><br />The freshwater sector (Mississippi and associated) was hurt by the war on coal. Agricultural traffic remains fairly high.<br /><br />The near collapse of offshore drilling has devastated the work boat business in the Gulf. There is a knock off effect on the Intercoastal Waterway, both in materials needed for drilling, and barge traffic of petroleum products. The current boom areas for oil production ship out by pipeline, truck and rail. <br /><br />I don't follow the Great Lakes traffic, though a quick looks at the numbers look fairly stable. The trend to larger container ships does mean less need for tugs for the same container count. <br /><br />So most of the problem can be blamed on federal energy policies: The war on coal, and the higher fees imposed on offshore oil post deepwater horizon spill.<br /><br /><br /><br />Glenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826464928376433382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-14064212145554772102017-07-22T08:12:34.896-05:002017-07-22T08:12:34.896-05:00The lack of US registered vessels is a big player....The lack of US registered vessels is a big player. All the tickets in the world are great, but if there are no ships, then you're stuck. Or you go work for one of the foreign entities that hires for pennies on the dollar. Maersk and APL are the ONLY two US flag carriers I can think of. Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.com