Clay Maitland

On a quest for quality in shipping

Will “gigantism” work?

What’s the attraction in building “mega-containerships” , with these monsters being extruded out of far eastern shipyards in increasing numbers, at a time when demand is flatlining if not actually in decline? Who does it benefit? Continue reading

Piracy – time to recognise reality

Around the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, various clever people were trotted out on the media to criticise President George W Bush for his “war on terror” phrase. Continue reading

Dangerous deck cargo?

In the frenetic rush to get a big containership through a terminal, is there enough time to consider exactly what nasties might be in the boxes that are classified as dangerous deck cargo? Continue reading

Turn left – now!

The SatNav, with its dulcet tones urging you to “take the first exit from the roundabout” and “turn around, you have made a mistake!” has , we are told, spawned a generation unable to read a map and with only a passing knowledge of geography. Continue reading

Ageism returns to shipping

As one who is dwelling in life’s twilight years, it is difficult not to be sensitive to all the angry articles about irresponsible baby-boomers who have spent their childrens’ legacies, and how the younger generation will be working their fingers to the bone to pay the pensions of these non-productive members of society. Continue reading

When times get tough…

Clay’s latest blog is a stark reminder that as an industry, shipping really seems to be in denial about the reality of recession... Continue reading

Even tougher tugs

My recent blog on weak walled ships seemed to have struck a chord with people who spend their time handling them. Continue reading

Weak walls and tough tugs

“T” is for Tug. It is the generally accepted painted mark on the side of a ship where it is safe for a tug to put its nose against the larger vessel and gently push it alongside, assist in turning the vessel short round and generally help in close manoeuvring. Continue reading

Putting the spotlight on dangerous shippers

Now here’s a good idea, possibly overdue in its conception, that might make the carriage of containers aboard ship rather safer. Continue reading

When wrongs don’t make a right

This is the age of “rights”, and a good thing too, except that it can become something of a religion, as people rather go over the top as to their entitlements, and every man and his dog needs an accompanying lawyer. Continue reading
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