Let’s remember that we import more stuff than anyone else.

The ONLY beneficiary to larger, deeper-draft vessels are vessel owners. No one else. The cost to us in dredging and maintenance comes nowhere near close to the diminished cost to consumers of product delivered. Larger vessels allow shipowners to run less vessels, thus diminished fuel and operation and crew costs

And let’s not forget that absolutely none of these monster ships are US flag. The cost to the owner thus is even less. Cheaper crew, cheaper safety compliance, cheaper regulation. And what happens when something goes wrong on these behemoths? Reduced crew could not even think to do what crews used to be able to do to save a ship — remember stories of crews lashing ships together and pouring cement into deck cracks? Effectively fighting massive fires? Not happening today, folks. Not enough people. Not enough training. And at the wages they are paid, no personal investment in much of anything. They’ll just get the hell off.

So they want to go to Halifax, instead? Let ‘em. Look at a map. There are no decent rail or road links from there to anywhere… what’ll they do then?

Lest you think I’m some sort of frothing fool, no less folks than those who write for the Clay Maitland blog — maritime establishment personified — are saying the same sort of thing (though conservatively, of course). Here’s just one:
http://www.claymaitland.com/2011/12/09/salvage-where-the-unthinkable-often-becomes-a-reality/

And don’t even get me started on cruise ships:
http://www.claymaitland.com/2012/01/27/balancing-size-and-safety/

I’d be very happy to see a national limit on dredging of bluewater ports, to 40-45 ft or so. That’ll handle our aircraft carriers. Want more? Tough. Run more ships.

It’s past time to just say no.

(Oh, I forgot the raise-the-bridge thing. Screw that, too.)

http://www.oocl.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/OOCL/eServices/Sailing%20Schedule%20by%20Service/NCE%20_LT.pdf

Vessel Name NYK METEOR
Vessel/Voyage NMT 024

Port Arr–Dep
———————————————-
Busan 01–02 Jan
Qingdao 04–04 Jan
Ningbo 06–07 Jan
Shanghai 07–08 Jan
Balboa 28–28 Jan
New York 02–03 Feb
Norfolk 04–04 Feb
Savannah 06–07 Feb
Manzanillo(Panama) 11–11 Feb
Busan 04–05 Mar
Ningbo 06–07 Mar
Shanghai 07– Mar

A little creative work at marine traffic.com (time sensitive links) starting here:
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=354212000
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/datasheet.aspx?datasource=ITINERARIES&MMSI=354212000

NYK METEOR (MMSI:354212000)
Arrived New York Container Terminal, Elisabethport Reach at about 1100 EST on 2/2
Departed New York Container Terminal, Elisabethport Reach at about 1000 EST on 2/3
Enteried KVK at about 1105 EST on 2/3 (5.0 kn)
Departed KVK at about 1129 EST on 2/3 (7.1 kn)

Without providing details, she also apparently stopped in Norfolk on 2/4 and Savannah 2/6-7 before arriving at Colon on 2/10 in the evening, local time, transiting the Canal on 2/11 to Balboa, and then departing for Pusan.

Panama: Home of great surfing and great dental work. Not as cheap as it used to be, unfortunately.