Comments by "whya2ndaccount" (@whya2ndaccount) on "What's Going on With Shipping?" channel.

  1. Despite the pun overload, the underlying issue seems pretty important.
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  2. A bit unfortunate that the incumbent MINDEF, Judith Collins, has been in the job for a year and is still struggling with the acronyms (or was poorly briefed). Glad though that our mates "across the ditch" are OK.
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  3. To lose one ship, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.
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  4. The US is learning what its like to be outside the tent and being a customer, as opposed to being inside the tent and helping to support the canal. "Neutral" does not mean "US Friendly", it means neutral - just talk to the Kapitan of the Admiral Graf Spee.
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  5. Sal, yes its a FN, well known to UK, Australians, New Zealanders and others as the "SLR" (Self Loading Rifle). 7.62mm has more stopping power at range compared to 5.56mm.
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  6. Sal, three episodes in one day (two on this, one with Mooch) - great coverage.
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  7. Thanks Sal. Now we'll have two sets of maps I guess - One for the entire world and one for you lot, at least for the next few years and then we can go back to normal.
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  8. From those of us who aren't from Ireland or the USA - Thank you for not publishing some bonkers Halloween centric video.
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  9. If you think the RNZN is under resourced, take a look at the RNZAF. The NZDF has to run on the smell of an oily rag.
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  10. Perhaps they shut the bridge to avoid traffic / safety issues as people stopped to look / take photos?
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  11. Sal, Thanks for the update. I suspect those questions weren't asked in the press conference as most media outlets these days don't have a dedicated "Defence Correspondent" let alone a dedicated "Defence - Maritime Domain Correspondent". In a small country like NZ the reporters were probably covering Rugby yesterday and were then told to attend the press conference.
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  12. Sal we observed Remembrance Day yesterday (same date, just the joys of time zones). I hope your USMC mates had a good time.
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  13. Of course Mr. Stossel pitches a provocative broadcast, that's his job. For all we know he and his producer just cherry picked the interview with the Economist to get the "highlight" snippets from maybe a 20 min interview. Thank you for providing the context to this "ambulance chasing" broadcast.
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  14. These are the same guys who crewed the Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram in the Falklands, so they certainly go into harm's way when required. But they weren't crewed by Gen whatever.
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  15. Sal a bit of a surprise when I started the video.
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  16. Looks like we'll be watching some fireworks on Tuesday. I can post you some loo paper if it comes to that.
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  17. Just a note on the CO (and as with you this applies regardless of the person's, gender, orientation, skin colour, or whatever). Usually people serve in the UK (RN, Army, or RAF) for 20 years. Quite often other members of the Commonwealth offer "lateral" transfers - in this case from RN to RNZN, based on shortfalls in staffing (in this case RNZN). If, as seems the case, RNZN had a shortfall in qualified Captains (role not rank), they may well have offered her, and indeed others coming up to retirement from the RN, a position.
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  18. Right so the Houthi spokesman hasn't a clue, up there with "Baghdad Bob". If the insurance is too high and the ships aren't manned, I guess via South Africa will be the norm for a while.
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  19. Not to minimise the issue, but I think there were 4 rescued and 1 missing / died.
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  20. Two in one day - Great. Thanks for the update!
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  21. Let me guess - we'll discover that the maritime insurers are paying the Houthi to lob missiles at random?
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  22. Great stuff to watch while having my Saturday morning breakfast. Spent yesterday further refining our "Trump contingency plan" and shelving the "Harris contingency plan".
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  23. What better thing to wake up to on a Sunday but a mass of tables and graphs.
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  24. Sal, great to see the momentum with people now watching your broader topics, not just the crisis ones.
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  25. Never a dull day with you, is there Sal?
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  26. Sal, There are two main port operators in Australia, DP World and Patricks (who were infamous a few years ago for trying to break the union). DP World currently pays less than Patricks for the same work and in fact is expecting their workers to take a pay cut as opposed to the proposed "pay rise" to bring them up to the rates paid by Patricks.
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  27. Sal, but passenger luggage only matters if the airline gets it to the ship. ;)
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  28.  @jesseayers7933  Except of course that a country can change its name (its theirs and they own it). This marketing exercise seeks to rename International waters.
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  29. Maybe he's an AI generated character.
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  30. Apart from convoys, closing the air gap was also important.
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  31. A Sal "double header" today! People also need to remember that Chinese vessels are built to support the PLA - e.g. the "'car ferries" can be use as RORO ships for amoured vehicles through deck strengthening and being designed for that purpose from the keel up (why does a "car ferry' need a helipad?).
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  32. New adventure sport - barge white water rafting? Fresh water: 1 kg per litre.
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  33. Increasing platforms is all well and good (if achievable) but you also, in a non conscription navy, need to crew them (recruiting, retention, etc.).
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  34. Amphib logistics - love it!
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  35. Maybe if they cruise in the Gulf of Mexico they wont be liable for US taxes (since apparently it no longer exists)?
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  36. Intsead of partying, maybe check the weather report?
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  37. 11:28: I'd suggest that your DoD is an arm of Government specialising in kinetic and non kinetic responses. Once the direction arrives, they have limited options. If you want a broader conversation about insurance and other matters, then I suspect the Depts of State and Commerce need to lead this. Otherwise you are asking a person with a hammer to do something a hammer may not be suited to, but its the only tool they have.
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  38.  @andrewmcalister3462  It just shows that Sal's audience is a pretty "broad church".
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  39. Ah so no "US boots on the shore", eh? Or is the LCM crew just sitting there in their vessel chomping on MREs?
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  40.  @Syndr1  Except of course the FN / SLR is a semi automatic - there is no "spray and pray" option.
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  41. I suspect its a question of priorities. The USN only has so many Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and they are spread thin. Building more platforms and recruiting several thousand more US sailors to crew them (say a net increase of 3 CSG) is an expensive and long term undertaking. The National Command Authority and the Joint Chiefs need to determine where these limited resources are best put to use and perhaps the Red Sea is now a second order priority, given that an alternative route via South Africa exists.
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  42. Also for Normandy, don't forget PLUTO and the fuel line across the channel. Your commentary doesn't include UTAH (for the US) did they only push supplies across the one US beach? For those unaware the "British / Canadian" beaches were GOLD, JUNO and SWORD.
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  43. Pretty sure the frigate “Baden-Württemberg” and replenishment ship “Frankfurt am Main” are doing that post RIMPAC '24. Similarly, I think the Italian group centred on the "Cavour" were there for RIMPAC '24 and for F-35B work up.
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  44. I guess going forward we'll see Sal's shirt size in the description?
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  45.  @wgowshipping  Is that the Sal "optimistic" size or the Mrs Sal realistic size (bordering on XL)?
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  46. The latest iteration of the "Belt and Road Initiative". Lots of smaller countries in the South Pacific have been stung by this and we had to kick them out of some projects locally.
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  47.  @wgowshipping  Yes my mistake. I hit "save" and of course you then said it. I need to make a list and post at the end, rather than during. :)
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  48. Happy Anniversary! Is there a similar photo from the Alaska cruise? I've been a MSC customer in the past (as well as RAN and RFA platforms) and its always been a good experience.
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  49. Sal - even better, others doing all the production, etc. and you free to focus on getting your information across.
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  50. More and more Black Swans out there.
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