Ships come untied at port just ahead of union showdown

[demopublican]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...tory?track=rss

Stange things going on just before the port contract dispute comes to a head.

Scher said initial reports from the port indicated that the lines keeping the ships in place somehow "parted" sometime before 7:30 p.m., and they began shifting away from their berth. Only one of the ships came in contact with the crane, he said.

"I was told that when the lines parted, and the ship began to shift away from the pier, the ramp was obviously down because the ship was being worked and the ramp made contact with one of our cranes," Scher said.

He said he did not know how extensively the crane was damaged.

Scher said no one was injured. It took about an hour for the ships to be brought back under control and retied to their berths, he said.

[octoburn]

That sounds like possible criminal activity and quite dangerous as well. Will that angle be pursued and investigated?

[demopublican]

Doubt it.

[octoburn]

Surely they have security cameras in this post~911 era that would be monitored and that would record activity around ships at port. I would hate to think that authorities would ignore possible criminal behavior, especially involving port security.

[demopublican]

Surely they have security cameras in this post~911 era that would be monitored and that would record activity around ships at port. I would hate to think that authorities would ignore possible criminal behavior, especially involving port security.

Good point. And it was extremely windy so it might very well be a coincidence. But I just do not remember any of these gigantic freighters ever coming loose before.

[octoburn]

Good point. And it was extremely windy so it might very well be a coincidence. But I just do not remember any of these gigantic freighters ever coming loose before.

Not even during periods of much~higher sustained winds. It could be due to something wholly unintentional and accidental, but that too should be investigated to try and help prevent a recurrence of such a dangerous thing happening.

[Sprightly]

"Scher said initial reports from the port indicated that the lines keeping the ships in place somehow "parted" sometime before 7:30 p.m., and they began shifting away from their berth. Only one of the ships came in contact with the crane, he said."

Just like that? "Somehow parted." Two ships. Same location. Hmmm.

[Omaha Beach]

Somebody like Lee J. Cobb's character in " On the Waterfront" is probably responsible. Dont look for any investigation in this State. Unions big backers of the Dems.

[Tristan]

But I just do not remember any of these gigantic freighters ever coming loose before.

Then you have not been around the waterfront long enough. Longshoreman had nothing to with these lines parting.

Look up the term "sail area" and get back to me.

[demopublican]

Then you have not been around the waterfront long enough. Longshoreman had nothing to with these lines parting.

Look up the term "sail area" and get back to me.

I am at the port a few times a week over the last 15 years. I have been on every major port on the eastern seaboard.
I am not sure how you could be so sure that "Longshoreman had nothing to with" this event.
Who is responsible for securing the lines in the first place?

[Tristan]

I am not sure how you could be so sure that "Longshoreman had nothing to with" this event.

The fifth issue of my USCG issued Master's ticket makes me "so sure".

The largest of vehicle carriers coming into Baltimore now approach 800 feet in length. Sail areas extend from the waterline to deck line. On ships of this size, like the 2 that parted their mooring lines last night, you combine this sail area with high winds and the pressure exerted on these slab sided ships in addition to not being moored with your leeside to the dock, you end up with ships coming adrift.

Who is responsible for securing the lines in the first place?

Line handlers handle mooring lines but the ship's Master is ultimately responsible for the ship being moored adequately.

[demopublican]

Are the line handlers union?

[SailorJohn]

Lines parting in high winds happens all the time .. when in doubt - put more out ..

[Tristan]

Are the line handlers union?

Depends on the agent, ship operator or terminal to be used.

With a Wilhemsen ship, yes.

Why?

[Tristan]

Lines parting in high winds happens all the time .. when in doubt - put more out ..

Exactly.

Or knowing high winds are forecasted and you're in a high profile vessel, arrange for tugs to stand by and have a docking pilot aboard beforehand.

[pepper]

Then you have not been around the waterfront long enough. Longshoreman had nothing to with these lines parting.

Look up the term "sail area" and get back to me.

Hi Tristan

I know nothing about how the lines work, but are you saying it's physically impossible for people to intentionally cause this?

With no explanations beyond your own, how can you be so sure?

[demopublican]

Depends on the agent, ship operator or terminal to be used.

With a Wilhemsen ship, yes.

Why?

Because if there are union I am still suspicious.

[ybnormal]

Sounds about as coincidental as Hilary Clinton sustaining a concussion days before she's scheduled to testify at the hearing about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya.

[pepper]

Because if there are union I am still suspicious.

It's a goofy question anyway. These guys have a history, which Tristan obviously is aware of..

Police in Washington say hundreds of Longshoremen stormed the Port of Longview early Thursday, overpowered security guards and damaged railroad cars and dumped grain that is the center of a labor dispute.

Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha says six guards were held hostage for a couple of hours after 500 or more Longshoremen broke down gates about 4:30 a.m. and smashed windows in the guard shack.
He says no one was hurt and nobody has been arrested. Most of the protesters have returned to their union hall.

leaders of Local 21 of the International Warehouse and Longshore Union urged members not to retaliate by walking off other jobs or damaging the grain terminal, located at the Port of Longview.


Why would the leaders think these union guys would damage the terminals? My guess is that they know union history, and how such disputes are often handled.

Who knows what happened in Baltimore, but "Longshoreman had nothing to with these lines parting." is a confident statement that ignores the reality. Some of these guys will clearly break laws to make their point.



http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-no..._railroad.html

[Bloomin Onion]

I also believe that these union thugs had something to do with this. Maybe this had to do with why the port was forced to negotiate with them. This is the the Obama attitude and method of holding the economy and commerce hostage, just as with the shameless Walmart workers who went on strike on Black Friday.

I wish the shipping companies would all just go to rigth to work sttes like Virginia and South Carolina and teach these union thugs a lesson. And I believe that the unions are probably still linked to the Mafia.