The biggest and most secretive gathering of ships in maritime history lies at anchor east of Singapore. Never before photographed, it is bigger than the U.S. and British navies combined but has no crew, no cargo and no destination – and is why your Christmas stocking may be on the light side this year
The tropical waters that lap the jungle shores of southern Malaysia could not be described as a paradisaical shimmering turquoise. They are more of a dark, soupy green. They also carry a suspicious smell. Not that this is of any concern to the lone Indian face that has just peeped anxiously down at me from the rusting deck of a towering container ship; he is more disturbed by the fact that I may be a pirate, which, right now, on top of everything else, is the last thing he needs.
His appearance, in a peaked cap and uniform, seems rather odd; an officer without a crew. But there is something slightly odder about the vast distance between my jolly boat and his lofty position, which I can’t immediately put my finger on.
Then I have it – his 750ft-long merchant vessel is standing absurdly high in the water. The low waves don’t even bother the lowest mark on its Plimsoll line. It’s the same with all the ships parked here, and there are a lot of them. Close to 500. An armada of freighters with no cargo, no crew, and without a destination between them.
My ramshackle wooden fishing boat has floated perilously close to this giant sheet of steel. But the face is clearly more scared of me than I am of him. He shoos me away and scurries back into the vastness of his ship. His footsteps leave an echo behind them.
Who knew? RTFA.
Found by oz4me.
This is (for me) frakking amazing!
But they do this with planes, why not ships?…
Amazing!
Another Sign of the times…… sad day mates……. but dont worry boys the bankers will still get their bonuses!!!
WTF is this story about? Is this a fishing fleet?
The quoted portion of the article says nothing of a recession. It reads as if this dipshit is out there trick or treating for candy or something.
Looking for that on google earth.
So–the same thing should be happening with trucks/cargo containers here in the USA. Stock yards filled with empty cars etc.
Then, during a boom, there won’t be enough.
Ebb and Flow. Is the boom/bust cycle of capitalism better or worse than an evened out “regulated” market? Pro’s and Con’s unless you are a zealot.
Far from a big secret, they’re sitting in plain sight in Singapore Harbour. AIS Live data from Vesseltracker.com is a free plugin for Google Earth, and clearly shows hundreds of anchored vessels just offshore. Like everything masquerading as news in the UK, the article is 80% hype with a pinch of fact to make it look like a journalist wrote it.
#1, Alphie,
Running the kiddie land Boat Ride on the carnival does count as the Merchant Marine.
Its a truck stop for ships … so what?
Reads like they’re having a market correction. When it was 0.7% surplus they could charge god summons of money. But now with only 12% surplus they may be charging at or below operating cost. Hopefully this will keep prices down in the future.
@Jetfire
I hear that South Korea is still cranking out ships that are already under contract. That is going to make the shipping glut worse. Time to scrap those old rusty boats guys.
I haven’t been to Sing in a couple of years. But seeing an enormous fleet of cargo ships anchored off the east and southern coasts by the airport is normal.
It is an amazing sight when you fly into SIN, there are so many ships that they appear to bigger than the whole island. And they are so close to each other that you can almost walk from one to the other.
Sing is an amazing little place. A true crossroads thanks to a quirk of geography and a visionary Brit named Sir Stamford Raffles.
Depressing photograph in depressing times.
#1 Afred, “How’s that hope and change working out for ya, matey!”
Remember it was Bush and the GOP who got everyone into the mess to begin with, a mess so big no one can clean it up…
#7 bobbo
The company I work for has at least 150 brand-new trucks sitting in a field across from our maintenance shop. They have been there since they were delivered in March. Just before Christmas of last year the company announced they wouldn’t be putting them into the fleet this year as planned but would let them sit until 2010. Maybe 200 brand new trailers are also sitting there, same deal.
And we’ve got between 80 to 100 older trucks sitting because the company laid off the drivers in February. These are being used to replace our current trucks that are wrecked or need major maintenance.
This is a fairly large privately-owned company that prides itself on being debt free. And says it is conserving cash to jump on opportunities when (I say IF) the economy improves.
The shrinkage in global shipping is apparent on the docks. I would deliver to Mid Atlantic Terminal in Baltimore which is one of the major Roll On/Roll Off terminals in the nation. During spring and summer of last year, I would have trouble finding a parking space for the equipment I was delivering. Acres and acres of Cat, John Deere, Case, Komatsu etc. farm and construction equipment being shipped out or imported.
Starting in the fall the equipment thinned out quickly. By January the terminal looked more like the parking lots around an empty football stadium. I have not been back into the MAT in Baltimore since March.
Well, it looks like a slow Christmas, retail wise. Sargasso, you are right, Vesseltracker is pretty cool.
Analysts are always complaining about the US’s shortfall in sealift capability. This sounds like an opportunity to buy some at clearance prices.
The biggest and most secretive gathering of ships in maritime history…
So, the 5000 ships who sneaked up on the Germans on D-day doesn’t count? Don’t they teach history in school anymore?
#7, bobbo, economically ignorant.
The boom and bust cycle is not caused by capitalism, rather it’s caused by the monetary policies of the federal reserve. The federal reserve is not a free market institution.
Granted, booms and busts still happen with free market banking. However, they are small and insignificant, especially when compared to our current mixed/centrally planned economy.
Inquiring minds should take a look at the “Austrian theory of the business cycle” for more information.
#22, Alfred1
The republicans are equally to blame. Stop with the partisan crap, Both the republicans and democrats are to blame.
Unfortunately, capitalism is often being used as the scapegoat, despite the fact that we don’t have capitalism in this country.
#21, DA,
The boom and bust cycle is not caused by capitalism, rather it’s caused by the monetary policies of the federal reserve. The federal reserve is not a free market institution.
I guess you never heard of the Dutch Tulip bubble, or the South Sea scandal. Since those, there have been countless American bust cycles. All before the Federal Reserve came into being.
One of the worst, which lasted several years, was right after Andrew Jackson canceled the Back of the United States, thus removing the central bank of the US and any hope the Federal Government could even out that depression.
If you are going to lecture someone, learn a bit about the subject first.
A Boom and Bust cycle is the artificial value placed upon goods. When demand outstrips supply, the price rises (the Boom). If that demand suddenly quits, through a new supply, newer technology, or changed consumer preference, the price will drop, often very dramatically (the Bust).
When the demand for Dutch Tulips, dot com sites, Beanie Babies, or houses gets to the point that they are too artificially high, the market collapses. Outside philosophers call it a market correction, insiders call it a catastrophe.
Alfred1,
If you want republicans to do a good job, you MUST repudiate them for their mistakes. Hold them to the same standard you hold democrats or anyone else.
Republicans fucked up, vote them out if they continue the same old bullshit.
Republicans/conservative are supposed to support smaller government. Thats what the platform says anyway…unfortunately that platform was almost completely ignored for 8 years. Government expanded dramatically, despite the fact the we had every opportunity to shrink government. Instead, we spent 8 years warmongering and expanding government intervention.
Granted, what Obama and most of the democrats are doing is absolutely horrific by comparison, that doesn’t excuse the republicans.
/rant
/bleh
#26 Mr. Fusion
Study history. Yes there were bubbles all of them have an explanation none of the explanations have to do with capitalism “failing”.
Your statement about one of the worst “panics” (as they were called) happening after Jackson abolished the central bank is entirely incorrect.
If you are going to lecture someone learn a little bit about the subject first.
I’ve studied read and reread history SEVERAL times. You are wrong. If you don’t believe me and/or refuse to look up all the pertinent facts then I can and will point them out to you in detail.
Just one question…
Why is speculation on various goods/services allowed to continue as long as it does?
It cost money to move them. But obviously, little or nothing to park them off shore. The Malaysian government has no law to prevent this. So they’ll just sit out there, rusting away, and polluting the waters, waiting for a call to come pick up a cargo of tennis shoes. I can’t imagine that they’ll stay there forever. Insurance costs and such, will eventually force them to move on.
This article is complete nonsense.. why?
1. i live in Singapore, I see that exact fleet of ships every time i go to Siloso Beach at Sentosa; these anchored vessels are always there and have been so for the last 5 years – i also have registered boating license for Singaporean waters and know what islands are prohibited, restricted as well as, what waters are “parking spaces”.
2. So why are they anchored there, well it is simple really, if you do some research: Singapore is the world’s busiest port with a new freighter/container ship unloading and loading their goods every 5 minutes. Yes, you heard that right, every 5 minutes (fact). It is slightly north of the location of this picture where all of the containers are unloaded/loaded from/on to – it is called Pulau Brani and is a prohibited area for all recreational boaters. PSA has the most advanced shipping system in the world that is fully automated and can stack containers 8 in the height. All of those container ships are actually parked for several reasons:
1. due to quarantine in the case of illness (location is a bit west of this pic)
2. unloading/loading goods
3. they are having a rest before their next long journey; lots of U.S army personnel drop by Singapore for a week of rest. So do merchants and Singapore has always had this – they are often gone for 2 weeks holiday then come back; Singapore is a great place to birth/anchor due to still waters, safety etc.. and as Singapore has one of the busiest airport hubs in the world.
What you are seeing is a dedicated area for container ships, tankers etc.. to park their vessels. It is a parking lot right outside southern island of Sentosa, slightly off to the right and left of Sisters Islands in Sisters Fairway and span the entire length of East Coast Park, up to Changi Naval Base. Singapore also has the world’s 5th largest Oil Refinery just south of that parking lot of ships – for Exxon Mobil on Jurong Island. They refine 605,000 barrels a day.. all transported by ships.. 14th largest oil refinery for Shell at 458,000 barrells per day on Pulau Bukum (island – also prohibited) – all done by ships as well (Singapore has no natural resources). Wow right? Yes, these ships parked outside Singapore is nothing new if you do slightly more investigation than a tourist.
Actually all my tourist friends who come visit me.. always ask why there are so many ships anchored out “there”, when we are at the beach. It is one hell of an ugly sight. Nothing new though.. and certainly not an economic indicator in the context as the article wants it to be.
Have a look at the map (to understand the constraints and locations that I am talking about): http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/images/singapore-map1.jpg
Then calculate the amount of ships unloading/loading their goods per day. it is a 24 hr operation. 24hr x 60min = 1440 / 5min = 288 ships going in and out of Pulau Brani everyday. That does not include Tuas Naval Base, Changi Naval Base as well as a shipping port at Sembawang in Selat Johor nor the refineries of Exxon and Shell. You should also know that Singapore is surrounded by islands and have a very small amount of space between itself and Malaysia.. so a high density of ships is nothing new. It has so high density that no international shipping captain is permitted without special certification to drive their boats in Singapore waters – they need a pilot to come aboard and drive it for them, due to the high density. Similarly all pleasure boat crafts have to go through the most rigorous certification program in the world for pleasure boat crafts in order to be permitted to drive in Singapore waters.. they also have to have a transponder on at all times to indicate their presence due to security reasons and monitoring.
From Wikipedia:
“Currently the world’s busiest port in terms of total shipping tonnage, it also tranships a fifth[1] of the world’s shipping tainers as the world’s busiest container port, half of the world’s annual supply of crude oil, and is the world’s busiest transshipment port. It was also the busiest port in terms of total cargo tonnage handled until 2005, when it was surpassed by the Port of Shanghai. Thousands of ships drop anchor in the harbour, connecting the port to over 600 other ports in 123 countries and spread over six continents.”
So i hope you understand that the article linked to is nothing but hot air.. probably the only correct thing in the article is the smell of the tankers and the filth they may dump into the water.
Secretive: No, it is common knowledge
Never photographed: I have photographed it every time i have gone to the beach at East Coast park and at Sentosa for the last 5 years. I have also taken pictures of it while flying in to Changi Airport – any tourist can.
Bigger than the Navy: Yes, it is because half of world’s crude goes through, plus any shipment that goes from east to west.. it is worlds largest trans-shipment hub.
Suspicious Smell: Yeah many of them easily use over 400 gallons of oil a mile – imagine 500 to 1000 of these; they smell and pollute like there was no tomorrow.
Rusting decks – wow, iron and salt water produces what? A lot of these ships come straight out of China. Go to a shipping port in Europe or the States you will see rusting ships there as well. Even rusting containers.
Pirate – in Singapore waters? Yes back in 1980 there were a lot of pirate attacks right outside Singapore waters.. but a push of the “transponder’s” button – the one i talked about earlier will have Singapore Naval fleet inside your boat in less than 7min. They patrol the waters 24/7 and there has not been a pirate attack in Singapore waters in a LONG time.. in fact if i was to cruise as this guy did up to a tanker, I am in violation of Singapore port rules and would end up in Changi Prison for the next 20 years as suspected terrorist. Transponder tells the port authority exactly where you are at all times. They even have CCTV monitoring of the ocean and have had this for the last 10 years. The reason why the person is telling them to go away is that what the reporter is doing is illegal by Singapore law and involves SUPER HEFTY fines and prison sentence because he is not allowed to be near these ships. Inside Singapore’s waters there is no threat of piracy.. if there is, it is staged. It is the most secure waters in the world.
I have many friends who work with shipping in Singapore and often their boats anchor and take a 2 week vacation before they start again. This is normal..
“You used to look Christmas from here straight over to Indonesia and see nothing but a few passing boats. Now you can no longer see the horizon.” – Yes just under 10 years ago, PSA developed their cutting edge IT system that makes their entire harbor automated; they struck gold and sold the system around the world. Just like how Dubai struck oil and became 5 star, super IT hub … same as Norway 40 years ago.. only that Singapore has transformed by a lot in 10 years. This quote is probably taken out of context.
“calls to prayer ring out from mosques further inland” – where the hell was this guy? There are only handful of mosques in Singapore and certainly none by the Sea! The only ones you’ll find calling out for prayer would be in Arab Street. Unless he was sitting in Malaysia? In Singapore 51% are buddhist or taoist, 15% christian and only 14% make up the muslims..
“We don’t understand why they are here. There are so many ships but no one seems to be on board” – yeah Ah Wat and his friends probably don’t know why as fishermen, but all the crew go ashore when their ship is Anchored, only Singapore shipping pilots are allowed to operate the ship in Singapore waters.. there is no need for the crew to be on board when they await their turn in the queue.
Sorry typed it in a hurry Jurong Island is to the west and Pulau Bukom West West South. Based upon the picture being taken flying in to Changi Airport. Check the map link 🙂
#33
Thanks! That was the end of that silly story.
There are many, MANY more idle ships than reported in the article mentioned:
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/thousands-rusting-ship-hulls-are-fitting-tribute-speculative-market-bubble
#28, DA,
If you don’t believe me and/or refuse to look up all the pertinent facts then I can and will point them out to you in detail.
Where? I don’t see anything other than you claiming I am wrong. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Rien. Zero.
Why is speculation on various goods/services allowed to continue as long as it does?
Because that is capitalism and we are a capitalist society.
#38, So, are you asking for his help or are you just running your mouth as usual?
Funny that you don’t feel like running it when asked why you would let 10 strangers die in place of your wife?
BTW . . . you are wrong on Jackson. If you want my help, I’ll be happy to assist, too.