Hope for a MN

[Ivan Cloherty]

It is reported today that the global count of merchant vessels over 100 grt now stands at 100,001 with an average DWT of 23,355 tonnes, this shows a growth in the merchant fleet of 57% since 2006. Asian owners account for 46% of ownership followed by Europe with 30%

All aboard

[John Gill]

Perhaps amongst the remaining 24% there might be a vacancy for a mature tourist waiter- still agile, knees not gone, think I could still handle two sixteens plus scrubouts. Anything considered.
Gilly

[Captain Kong]

And UK used to have 52% of all the worlds merchant fleets.

[happy daze john in oz]

Does that include some of the ' very old ships in poor condition' sitting in the roads outside Singapore and Indonesian ports.
Some look as if they have been there for some time.
A tanker that had seen better days sat at anchor outside Singapore for three years to my knowledge.

[Keith at Tregenna]

There will probably always be shipping but,
replicating the MN is doubtful.

K.

[j.sabourn]

Ref. The ones lying in Singapore at anchorages and alongside in Loyang. When we flew out here in 1991 we had a good aerial view of the many hundred lying there, and remember saying to the wife that’s probably where I’ll finish up. Sure enough I was occassionly up there bringing them down to Australia or taking them back . Many I had seen offshore in the North Sea 20 years prior , they were made redundant there as the oil company’s demanded bigger and bigger horse power vessels. Australia took them on the spot market bare boat charter for fixed periods of time. When you think back to how choosy the unions were 50 years ago it’s hard to believe how values change , but if that’s all there is that’s what you have to work with. I was used to it ,so was no big life change for me. At least a proper wage was paid for the job. JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

Does that include some of the ' very old ships in poor condition' sitting in the roads outside Singapore and Indonesian ports.

If they still remain on a Classification Register, then they are counted if over 100grt. Lets face it if you have over 100k vessels registered there are going to be a few suspect ones, that's true of any walk of life.

No one expects 'our' MN to reach its former glory, but perhaps the animosity from the EU in the vaccination situation may make our politicians realise that we cannot rely on so-called allies if we ever need to; but then again being politicians (of all hues) they may only be interested in their pension rights, the only subject where they don't wear blinkers

[j.sabourn]

#7. That’s very true Ivan but I have seen posts on here where some seem to think every vessel is up to modern standards , double hulled , sewage tanks ,with all the modern aids , the modern ships of today’s classification , no one comes out with the amount of Shipping not up to such standard , and doubt if a modern day seaman brain washed into thinking that the ship he is on with all the aids to navigation is the same as every other. He still has a lot to learn in the ways of the world . Let’s hope they can have an open mind and be able to cope if ever land on one. Especially as today with the present crewing arrangements they are really going to be short handed . JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

Still a lot of ships still sailing around with Union Purchase rig, some modern reefers still have it. Wonder how many dockers these days (except perhaps Far East/China) would know how to handle the winches for that. There must be a logical reason for ships being built with the UP system, but it eludes me.

[Lewis McColl]

Certainly will not be to many single hulled tankers sailing around or ships without a sewage treatment plant trading for that matter either.

https://www.maritime-executive.com/a...ll-oil-tankers