The Island Victory is probably the most impressive ‘AHTS’ around just now, although it is a multi-purpose vessel not strictly an AHTS.
It is 477 tons bollard pull, 40% more than the ALP Guard’s 285 tons.
It also has massive chain locker capacity, last year it loaded 24.5 kilometers of 84mm chain and 16 anchors, enough chain and anchors for 2 complete 8 line mooring spreads.
The FCPA only applies to publicly traded companies; the vulture capitalists of private equity are exempt.
I was around when FCPA was passed. The big corporations (like the one I worked for) invented a cool workaround fairly shortly thereafter:
What they did was put their marketeers on pure commission (no salary) and raised the commission level. Then they instituted a practice called the “draw,” which allowed the marketeer to borrow against future commissions. So the guy selling a big Honeywell computer would have a total potential commission of several million dollars to draw against. There were then three possible outcomes:
The marketeer gets caught “doing business the international way.” Honeywell tosses him under the bus, say it was his money and not Honeywell’s that was used in the bribe. Nothing to see here folks, rogue employee, violation of corporate policy, yada yada.
Honeywell wins the job. The amount of the “draw” is deducted from the marketeer’s commission. (There was also as system of “overrides” which sent part of the award to people like branch managers and area managers. Not techies though, we were on straight salary)
Honeywell loses the job. The amount of the “draw” is written off and deducted from taxes as a bad loan.
For all I know it still works that way.
Cheers,
Earl
Going through the canal in the early 60’s before it shut in a Frigate with a WWII veteran commanding officer was entertaining. The Commander used to take tea at 1600 every afternoon at 1600 and because the frigate had been built as a flotilla leader he was very proud of the tea set. Crockery and silverware being a different issue for one star and above.
The captain’s tiger laid out the tea set and club sandwiches on the shelf by the commanding officers chair and before anyone could say a word the Egyptian pilot scuttled in and helped himself. Seconds later the Commander appeared at the bridge wing door and bridge staff assumed the brace position. We were not disappointed. The pilot stayed out on the bridge wing for the remainder of the transit and didn’t speak to anyone.
On one class of tanker we had a canal light and a door in the forecastle at the bow. The searchlight was mounted on rails and was moved into position when the door was opened. I was fortunate enough to never have to use it.
I understand that most all pilots are only technically advisors but from the pilots I know or we have taken (not often on a tug) the pilot would give helm and engine commands. On the tug they would sometimes even get behind the wheel themselves and steer (Federal pilots).
Do the Suez pilots not give helm or engine commands during the transit? They just hang out?
Federal Pilots of Louisiana best pilot group I’ve ever worked with. Would embarass Suez pilots and many others to no end with their skill. Nothing but praise for that group. They never asked for “Stuff”. Actually gave us stuff appreciating the business. Class frigging outfit.
I haven’t seen them getting behind the wheel themselves. I doubt that they can actually steer the ship. As far as I know they haven’t had sea time on real ocean going ships. They can give helm commands but as long the ship is in the middle of the canal you don’t hear them. You cannot compare them to the harbor pilots as we know them, seasoned professionals.
Yes. I know the vessel. It’s been a while, but I was in Ulstienvik and was shown around by Havard @ IO. I met Morten as well and seen the plans for this vessel. It would be nice to actually see the vessel in person. Very impressive. I did see the Island Well Server, Constructor, and Vanguard. I eventually took delivery of the Island Enforcer.
Although, 477tons is overkill for towing. I broke enough with 360tons. You only need that power when dealing with large weights at depth. Catenary becomes your friend.
The pharaohs that have just been paraded out of Cairo would have been livid with the way the country is being managed.
Having said this, I think there’s enough blame to go around with the blocking of the Suez canal.
Ever Given should not have been allowed to pass, it’s perhaps overfilled with containers(?), the pilot should have refused to pass, the company should have realized it was a bad idea to pass, the canal authority is not equipped to deal with this sort of situation, and if they expanded the Suez canal up stream, why didn’t they just do it all the way down? Penny-pinching, are we?
The engineers created a bottleneck within a bottleneck. I also blame the insurance companies involved for not having given stern warning about this ship using the canal.
A post was split to a new topic: I was blamed for blocking the Suez Canal
Well at least you admit you know nothing about the maritime industry.
I’m glad somebody said it.
They probably get paid properly whereas in the Suez the Marlboros are probably factored into the pilots’ pay, may even be the majority of their pay.
The Island Victory will be in Mobile Al. 13.04.20.
That is pretty interesting. I live in Mobile, and do a lot of surveys for a multitude of clients. Recently, I did an acceptance for the North Sea Atlantic, another very nice vessel. I’m sure you know that vessel as well. I may get a call for this one. Thanks for this information.
In the Internet? Then it must be true!
67% more?
Due to the blockade of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal, the port of Rotterdam will have to work hard in the coming weeks to catch up on the backlog in the container sector. It is said that this will take a few weeks, but it is feared it may not be ready until May, there is no time to relax. Recently the harbor has also been very busy due to corona. It will be a tough job, it is hoped that everyone stays upright.
The first delayed ships from the Suez Canal will arrive in the port of Rotterdam at the end of the week. It is the start of a weeks-long ‘tsunami’ of containers, which is a cause for concern. It is a huge puzzle to be able to handle all those extra containers quickly. Carriers, shippers, terminals, shipping companies and port companies are feverishly discussing how to approach this.
A lot of information is exchanged among themselves. Terminals are now emptying all their sites as much as possible or stacking the racks extra high. Storage yards in the hinterland are being asked for help. And shipping companies and shipping agents keep a close eye on the arrival of the ships via digital applications.
The canal was only blocked for 6 days 7 hours, they should be able to handle that.
This story is only a few hours old. Just blame a woman Captain for it.
This was already published: