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Recent comments: The back-chat. What it’s all about really
- Jayla Hunsinger on Slice of cake at Maersk that leaves a sour taste
- John Miele on Channel ferry operators feel the pinch yet again
- John Miele on Crying foul when there is a whiff of natural gas
- don mitchel on Installation overload may compromise ballast rules
- John Miele on A rabbit on the highway needs to move fast
- Don Mitchel on Installation overload may compromise ballast rules
- Ryan Skinner on Censorship can’t beat the tweet, so why not join it?
- Ryan Skinner on It is time to give shipping the X Factor treatment
- Dr Ivica Tijardovic on No silver bullet in BAE anti-piracy laser
- don mitchel on Installation overload may compromise ballast rules
Author Archives: Bill Barratry
Who can handle IMO’s hot potatoes?
THE race is on for the man, or woman, to replace Efthimios Mitropoulos as secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization. The lucky successor will need to have their wits about them, as they could be handed a couple of hot potatoes.
There has been little doubt about Mr Mitropoulos’ capabilities — but during his eight-year tenure [...]
Middle East upheaval will change view of shipping
YOU would have to go a long way back in my career to find political events that are such a game-changer — as the Americans like to call it — as the recent upheaval in the Middle East.
It is normally tempting to think of shipping as somehow insulated from the outside world, as if the [...]
Where there are people there is scope for corruption
THE mob is still at it, or so one would believe judging by the recent spate of arrests going on at the New York and New Jersey docksides.
Late last year I turned my beady eye on the Waterfront Commission of New York, the corruption-busting body set up in the aftermath of a series of journalistic [...]
Putting shipping into a box is never going to work
THERE is the old adage that if you cannot measure it, you cannot control it. The saying is true apparently in shipping circles, as I see a plethora of indexes and indicators emerge.
Of course the International Maritime Organization has its formulas developed to show the world it can keep vessels’ CO2 emissions in check.
But [...]
US is wrong to treat seafarers as suspects
JOLLY good stuff yesterday from John AC Cartner, this paper’s guest columnist for the day, who spent the better part of 900 words detailing and castigating the unmitigated stupidity behind the US Transportation Worker Identification Credential programme.
To misquote an old salt, it is clearly the work of a bunch of complete twic-heads.
It won’t stop them, [...]
The changing climate for capital-raising exercises
THE number of listed shipping companies issuing extra shares to gain some purchasing leverage has become quite noticeable of late.
As we stumble, somewhat blindly, out of the economic woes of the last two years, there have been recurring announcements on various exchanges as companies look to raise capital, often for “acquisition, consolidation or general operating [...]
Owners on the radar for Sharpeye’s piracy pitch
THE recent unrest in Egypt threatened to close the Suez Canal and force shipping round the foot of Africa and so avoid the pirate infested waters off Somalia.
It also raised the profile of the Northern sea route as an alternative should the Suez Canal’s operations be threatened again. A Norwegian minister joked about the lack [...]
Battle for control of green rating schemes hots up
THERE is big business to be had in selling a service that can verify and formulate how efficient a ship is.
That is why many people seem to be coming out of the woodwork with a rating scheme. With so many now on offer, there needs to be consolidation.
Not unsurprisingly all of the ratings schemes [...]
Wikileaks, the Environment and the stories behind the scandals
WHAT have Wikileaks and the UK government’s expenses scandal got in common? There was simply so much news from the various sources that it all melded into one long list of accusations; some petty, some serious.
All one remembers in the UK is duck houses and moats, without having any strong recollection of who it [...]
Carriers and customers set for a Pacific punch-up