Smooth Sailing

REMOVING THE EYESORE
SMOOTH Sailing is not one to deliver bad news to like-minded shipping purists. But, unfathomable as it may seem, there is evidence to suggest that floating docks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.  Such people are, of course, to be avoided.
To the untrained eye, floating docks appear to merely occupy space, creating a symphony of sound that only Smooth Sailing could fall asleep to.
The Forgacs facility at the port of Newcastle is a fine example of such a hub of maritime activity.
When the floating dock arrived in what was a much more industrialised city in the 1970s, the neighbours were a lot more welcoming of the two big chunks of blue metal sitting in the channel.
Fast forward a few decades, to an ever-gentrifying harbour with new apartments and townhouses popping up along the waterfront, and the reception is different. On moving into the area, some residents have been known to enquire as to how long “that big blue thing” will be there.
The floating docks have mysteriously disappeared from property brochures.

MISPLACED SHIP
Shipping was given a mention in the UK’s House of Lords last week.
Lloyd’s List reports that during a debate on UK light dues, the position and status of Emma Maersk, or the Christmas Ship as she is known to the British tabloid newspapers, was the subject of some intense speculation.
According to the Hansard official record of the debate, Lord Tony Berkeley made the following statement: “There is some debate about whether ships are being diverted away from ports and, if they are, why that should be so.
“The noble Lord, Lord Greenway, mentioned extra ships coming in from the Maersk company. My information is that Emma Maersk, one of the biggest containerships in the world, if not the biggest, came in to Felixstowe. I have several photographs of it. I am told that it is now going around the Atlantic loaded with empty containers because it is cheaper for it to steam in a small circle than go into port.”
A quick scan of AIS data last week revealed the laden Emma Maersk to be on her way from Hong Kong and not disappearing up her own funnel.
When told, Lord Berkeley replied: “Well, I got it wrong or actually I was misinformed!”

LIFTING THE BENCHMARK
IT SEEMS there is a competition for everything these days. Even forklifts.
Heats for the annual National Forklift Championship have begun in workplaces around the country as momentum builds to the national final in Sydney in October.
But if you thought it was all about speed and skids, organisers suggest you think again.
As any forklift driver will tell you, moving goods around with one of these highly-manoeuvrable and robust machines is much more than a case of speed; it takes accuracy and skill to do it all safely, with no damage to goods or colleagues.
Competition organisers say it is an excellent opportunity to showcase how efficiency and safety are equally important.
Anyone with a valid fork licence is invited to compete. For more information, call the competition’s national coordinator, Bill Henman
02 9689 3780.