USCG to sink the Japanese "ghost ship"

[Christopher Cozad]

It reminds me of being on a sailing ship decades ago, and listening to an angry conversation between the captain and local authorities who were attempting to impose a fine for dumping a small bucket of "waste" within x number of miles from shore. The captain's response was priceless, "One whale swims into the harbor and takes a dump and accounts for more sh*t than all your yacht club members and your regulations combined!"

Reason actually prevailed and he didn't have to pay the fine.

We now return from our regularly scheduled veer...

Christopher

 

[CA-35]

It reminds me of being on a sailing ship decades ago, and listening to an angry conversation between the captain and local authorities who were attempting to impose a fine for dumping a small bucket of "waste" within x number of miles from shore. The captain's response was priceless, "One whale swims into the harbor and takes a dump and accounts for more sh*t than all your yacht club members and your regulations combined!"Reason actually prevailed and he didn't have to pay the fine. We now return from our regularly scheduled veer...Christopher

Great story!

However I beg to differ on the toxicity of what we (humans) dump in the ocean and what all the fish and mammals combined "dump" in it. The latter is ecologically safe and biodegradable, the former is, well who really knows?

 

[adorshki]

However I beg to differ on the toxicity of what we (humans) dump in the ocean and what all the fish and mammals combined "dump" in it. The latter is ecologically safe and biodegradable, the former is, well who really knows?

Right. We're pretty sure at least that all the fish doody is non-toxic. We could probably safely drink seawater if it wasn't so....salty.... :lol:

 

[CA-35]

However I beg to differ on the toxicity of what we (humans) dump in the ocean and what all the fish and mammals combined "dump" in it. The latter is ecologically safe and biodegradable, the former is, well who really knows?

Right. We're pretty sure at least that all the fish doody is non-toxic. We could probably safely drink seawater if it wasn't so....salty.... :lol:

What do you think ships at sea for 6 months do? Desalinization baby.

 

[Ross]

It reminds me of being on a sailing ship decades ago, and listening to an angry conversation between the captain and local authorities who were attempting to impose a fine for dumping a small bucket of "waste" within x number of miles from shore. The captain's response was priceless, "One whale swims into the harbor and takes a dump and accounts for more sh*t than all your yacht club members and your regulations combined!"

About 20 years ago, Ontario enacted legislation affecting water discharge from boats (all of the Canadian portion of the Great Lakes are in Ontario, so the law is far-reaching). The law requires that all boats retain “grey water” (from washing), as well as sewage, in a holding tank for later pump-out and treatment. Previously, grey water was simply discharged overboard. The result was that every Canadian boat with a sink (ferries, tour boats, etc etc) had to reroute their sink drains. Much complaining ensued.

Meanwhile, any and all ocean-going ships that enter the Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway are permitted to empty their ballast tanks (releasing invaders like Zebra Mussels, Round Gobies etc), as well as raw sewage, directly into the water.

 

[adorshki]

About 20 years ago, Ontario enacted legislation affecting water discharge from boats (all of the Canadian portion of the Great Lakes are in Ontario, so the law is far-reaching). The law requires that all boats retain “grey water” (from washing), as well as sewage, in a holding tank for later pump-out and treatment. Previously, grey water was simply discharged overboard. The result was that every Canadian boat with a sink (ferries, tour boats, etc etc) had to reroute their sink drains. Much complaining ensued.
Meanwhile, any and all ocean-going ships that enter the Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway are permitted to empty their ballast tanks (releasing invaders like Zebra Mussels, Round Gobies etc), as well as raw sewage, directly into the water.

Now that deserves the twisted evil emoticon.
I thought they fixed the discharge law though, because of the zebra mussels?
(Trying to prevent entry of yet more invasive species?)
Or maybe that's just US law? There's an interesting question: How is maritime law for the waterway "created"? Even if the border runs down the middle of it, there must be some pressure for co-operative legislation.

 

[Ross]

You may be right about discharge - I'm usually behind the times.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

How is maritime law for the waterway "created"? Even if the border runs down the middle of it, there must be some pressure for co-operative legislation.

Two MBA's are added to the team to calculate potential profits, an undergraduate is sold on the career advancement possibilities and draws a line on a map, the paralegals draft a 42-page document to be reviewed by senior staff, the media is contacted with an advance story, lobbyists are tasked with the next opportunity, and the marine animals are informed it will be necessary to be utterly compliant.

Were there any other questions? :lol:

Thanks to Ross for providing the official name of this veer, "discharge".

Christopher

 

[CA-35]

How is maritime law for the waterway "created"? Even if the border runs down the middle of it, there must be some pressure for co-operative legislation.

Two MBA's are added to the team to calculate potential profits, an undergraduate is sold on the career advancement possibilities and draws a line on a map, the paralegals draft a 42-page document to be reviewed by senior staff, the media is contacted with an advance story, lobbyists are tasked with the next opportunity, and the marine animals are informed it will be necessary to be utterly compliant.Were there any other questions? :lol:
Thanks to Ross for providing the official name of this veer, "discharge".
Christopher

Superb narrative Chris! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :shock:

It seems that the marine animals are a group that we regularly pound in the a$$. :shock: We just don't get it do we? We act like we own the place when we're really just guests.

 

[Ross]

Two MBA's are added to the team to calculate potential profits, an undergraduate is sold on the career advancement possibilities and draws a line on a map, the paralegals draft a 42-page document to be reviewed by senior staff, the media is contacted with an advance story, lobbyists are tasked with the next opportunity, and the marine animals are informed it will be necessary to be utterly compliant.

Were there any other questions? :lol:

none needed :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[adorshki]

It seems that the marine animals are a group that we regularly pound in the a$$. :shock: We just don't get it do we? We act like we own the place when we're really just guests.

Ever seen the first few minutes of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (the movie)?
Them dolphins was tryin' to warn us, baby, but did we even try to listen?
I used to think one of the things that set humans apart from other species was that we make pictures of ourselves.
A couple of years after I came up with that idea, the question occurred to me, "How do we know that dolphins don't draw pictures of themselves with their noses, in the sand, in caves we've never seen, to protect the pictures from currents...?"
Or maybe we've never seen the pictures because they do get obliterated all the time and they don't care 'cause they're Taoists and they can always make another one anyway?
Ever thought about that? Huh?