#13 1 August 2023
MEA CULPA
I apologize to many of my loyal readers who suddenly could not get my blog. Due to a technical error (read that: I messed up), the rantings and ravings were unavailable on many browsers. Exactly how this happened is a good question, but I think it is solved. Thanks to Tom Romaine for bringing this to my attention.
INLAND WATERWAYS
Incredibly, the Army Corps of Engineers, local officials, and river pilots are cooperating on the design of a new lock and dam #25 (near St. Louis) that sees between 200-250 commercial boats per day. As mentioned often, new locks need to be twice as long and twice as deep, and this is no exception. The necessary length is 1,200’. The pilots are providing information on the angle of approach, currents, and other issues not thought of by engineers. Common Sense?? Since when??
In man vs nature, the Federal District Court found that man trumps nature. In 2004, a series of lawsuits against the Corps for not protecting nature, the Army Corps of Engineers altered the Missouri River to protect endangered species, the latest Court found that the alteration created potential flooding to 372 landowners, and ordered the Corps to change their management program. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) awarded “Significance in Safety” to Cascade General (Portland, OR), Metal Shark Boats (Jeanerette, LA), Philadelphia Ship Repair, and Vigor Fabrication (Portland, OR). Others who received awards for safety were BAE, Bollinger Shipyard (LA), Fincantieri Marinette Marine (WI), and Vigor Alaska.
Year-to-date data indicate that appreciably less wheat, corn, soybeans, and other grains have traveled the Mississippi. For example, the week ending 6-24-203 found 77,000 bushels of corn hauled versus 137,000 bushels last year. Soybeans were down about 50%. One element of the problem is the low water levels of the river causing barges to be less filled.
Oh buoy, the Republican-dominated Congress and the Democrat President have locked horns, again, over budgetary issues. The House voted out a bill that cut $6.19 billion from the Department of Transportation’s grant programs. $7.61 billion was erased in the discretionary grant funds, the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) was unexpectedly not increased, and Biden’s request for the Maritime Administration was trimmed by $226 million.
On the other hand, $5.3 million was granted to assist shippers launch a program to better track cargo and eliminate bottlenecks. 16 House members pushed hard for a $69 million fund to improve port facilities. Republicans also forwarded $1.212 billion for infrastructure projects (unfortunately, it cut half the projects under consideration).
Low water levels wreaked havoc on water transportation worldwide. The Panama Canal experienced operational uncertainty due to low water in Gaten and Alajuela Lakes. Parts of the Yangtze River dried up creating huge problems with China’s delivery systems and further strained an already shaky economy and high unemployment. Barges on the Rhine River are using light loads due to low water.
GRAY FLEET
The Navy found itself with about $40 million in the hole due to problems with Austal Steel used in Towing, Salvage, and Rescue (T-ATS) ships such as the USS NAVAHO (T-ATS-6). Austal, an Australian-based company, was an aluminum-only production firm until the Pentagon gave them $50 million to retool to make steel for the ill-fated LCS ships.
In other news, supposedly unrelated, a chief executive of Austal was indicted for fraud.
USS NAVAHO
In an unusual show of solidarity, the new USS CANBERRA (LCS-30) was commissioned in Sydney Australia instead of the U.S. The Defense Department named the ship after the gallant Australian ship lost during WWII while trying to protect Marines at Guadalcanal. The Biden administration also wanted to show a close alliance between Australia and the U.S. The former has been a constant harassment target from the Chinese.
Yes, you did read this correctly, USS CANBERRA, is another LCS ship that already has been on the list of ships to be eliminated by the Navy because of chronic mechanical and technological failures. Its only money.
USS CANBERRA
Some, within the ranks of the Navy, question the need for large nuclear carriers such as the GERALD FORD (CVN-78) that cost about $13 billion to construct. Smaller carriers may be able to provide mission-capable coverage at a lower cost. The LHA AMERICA (LHA-6) is cited as an example.
While the argument contains merit, Huntington Ingalls and other shipbuilders shudder at the thought of less expensive ships. They have purchased enough Congressmen and Senators to avoid that.
USS AMERICA (LHA-6)
Admiral Lisa Franchetti is in line for Chief of Naval Operations. She would be the first woman to be CNO in the Navy, although a woman is head of the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, Tommy Tubberville (R-AL), senator best known as a football coach, has put a hold on military promotions because military health programs pay for abortions. His senatorial hold has fouled up many Navy operations as several admirals are up for retirement or have already retired and advancement to those positions is locked.
ENVIRONMENT
The monumental heat dome that sits over a goodly portion of the U.S. is posting record highs from sea to shining sea. The high 90s to triple digits are common, especially in the desert areas of Nevada and Arizona. Whether this is a symptom of global warming or not is a hotly contentious debate, especially between political entities.
Some aspects are apparent. July was the hottest month on record for the Northern Hemisphere. The power grid has been taxed at previously unknown levels. Cyber security has made the power grid its top priority. All I know is that it is too hot to sail.
SMALL BOATS
Photo compliments of Joe Ownbey
Attempting to get away from the dock, I managed to hook a railing with my mainsail, and, I tore a nice rip that aroused a modest “aw shucks” from me. Sailors help sailors, and a fellow boater’s wife provided a splendid solution while I continued to mutter about the cost of a new sail. Under Wonder, a fusion adhesive and a little sail cloth will mend the hole nicely. $4.50 worth of the miracle glue, and the sail is better than before.
The only incident I experienced was that some of the adhesive “stuff” ended up on the Admiral’s iron which caused a minor discussion about my linage, capabilities, and intellect. Well-versed in the knowledge that all things can be repaired by duct tape, baling wire, and WD-40. I sprayed the iron, wiped it clean, pressed some old rags, and everything is wonderful.
Seriously, Wonder Under is marvelous. Oh, do both sides of the tear!
The definition of “small boat” is certainly open to question. Some sailing magazines think that any boat under 27 feet is small. For those of us who sail 8-foot dinghies or West Wight Potter 15s, a 24’ boat is huge! To each their own, I guess, possibly.
Anyway, SAIL magazine and others try to educate us dolts with lots of mathematical data that will make us all Magellan or Cook. Personally, ratios are only interesting in the ratio of gin to tonic. Nevertheless, here are two ratios sailors believe we all should know.
Displacement/ Length Ratio: the displacement of the boat divided by 1/100 of the boat’s length at the waterline. The lighter the ratio, the greater the speed. (Well, hull shape is to be considered also but we won’t go there right now).
Less than 90 = ultralight
90-180. = light
180-270 = moderate
270-360 = heavy
360 + = ultraheavy
Sail Area/ Displacement Ratio: (sail area in square feet/ displacement that is divided by 64—the weight of I cubic feet of seawater.
Under 15 = under powered
18-20 = high performance
Like I give a hoot about higher mathematics (I enjoyed it both times I took it in college). Just give me some water and a sail without holes.