The Wavy Line
Friday
10 Sep 10
Home BowWave: current issue archive AfterOfficeHours Jobs Reader Offers Legal Classified ads

"I advise you to go on living solely to enrage those who are paying your annuities. It is the only pleasure I have left."

Voltaire

BOW WAVE 536

Bow Wa ve Issue 536--Chile Earthquake Edition


news and views on trade, insurance and risk

Bow Wave homepage
Previous issue (535) / Current issue / Next issue (537)

Wavy Linesam@wavyline.com
(c)2010 WavyLine.com Issue No 536 01 Mar 10
Published free of charge to Readers
Editor: Sam Ignarski
SubscribeUnsubscribe

In this issue:

1. Welcome
2. Chile Earthquake--How the World Heard
3. A Wikipedia of the Waves: SKEMA database project surfs ahead
4. Tonga Shipping Saga
5. Recent Tweet
6. And Finally...


1. Welcome

Thought for the Week

"Having been brought up in a serf-owners family, I entered active life, like all young men of my time, with a great deal of confidence in the necessity of commanding, ordering, scolding, punishing and the like. But when at an early stage, I had to manage serious enterprise and to deal with [free] men, and when each mistake would lead at once to heavy consequences, I began to appreciate the difference between acting on the principle of command and discipline and acting on the principle of common understanding. The former works admirably in a military parade, but is worth nothing where real life is concerned and the aim can be achieved only through the severe effort of many converging wills."

Pyotr Alexevich Kropotkin--Memoirs of a Revolutionist (1899)


AfterOfficeHours News

The latest entries in the directory for out of hours emergency service providers are:-

The Lloyd's Agency Department
http://www.afterofficehours.com/d_page.php?id=133

The China Marine Surveyors and Sworn Measurers in Taiwan http://www.afterofficehours.com/d_page.php?id=132

The Directory is accessed by 150 people each week looking for help: Some of the largest names in the industry are listed and also many smaller firms Do you offer emergency services to the shipping, transport or insurance industry? Would you like your company to be listed? Contact us for terms. A basic entry is free.

mailto:Contactus@AfterOfficeHours.com


Note from the Editor

A mixed bag this weekend dominated by the news from Chile.

Enjoy!


2. Chile Earthquake--How the World Heard

The following item appears in the Mashable website which reports on modern trends in social networking

Yesterday video streaming site Ustream ran live video of local news broadcasts covering the earthquake in Chile and the ensuing Hawaii tsunami warning. Today Ustream announced that it has delivered 4.35 million streams related to the events.

Some streams were news station broadcasts, but some were live streams from cell phones on the ground.

The 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit Chile just south of Santiago at 3:34 local time yesterday. As a result, buildings collapsed and power went out in parts of Santiago -- the airport was so badly damaged that it ceased operation, and the city’s Fine Arts Museum suffered serious damage. 500,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, and at least 300 deaths have been recorded so far. More numbers are still coming in.

Tsunami warnings were announced all around the Pacific, including in Hawaii, but in most cases the waves turned out not to be severe. However, the Chile town of Talcahuano was badly damaged by tsunami waves yesterday.

http://mashable.com/2010/02/28/chile-hawaii-video/


3. A Wikipedia of the Waves: SKEMA database project surfs ahead


James Brewer writes:

To become the Wikipedia of the maritime transport domain: that is the ambition of the European Commission-supported website project SKEMA, which was at the centre of a maritime and logistics presentation day in Copenhagen on February 18. The project to date has had little publicity for its initial stages, but the Danish rendezvous marked a departure point for the intended involvement of vast swathes of shipping brainpower, or stakeholders as participants in wide-ranging ventures are known these days.

Certainly the maritime sector like many others has a plethora of reference sites, but SKEMA will be free to all, without any of those members-only barriers that can frustrate anyone trawling through industry association or academic networks. And the site is intended to harvest much "information that falls between the cracks" of expertise collations, said one of its proponents, Heather McLaughlin, maritime consultant at Inlecom, who presented a joint paper to the meeting with Ioannis Koliousis of Athens University of Economics and Business. Mr Koliousis said: "We cannot have sustainable logistics if we do not have knowledge."

SKEMA will facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge to raise awareness of relevant research, technologies and best practice. It is a three year project, which aims to see the site much more prolifically populated in the coming months, so that by June 2011 it should be really buzzing and of great value to both business and academia. It should support every researcher or business person that needs quality reliable data and information, fast. It will develop an interactive facility and take successful sites such as BBC News and Amazon Books as an inspiration. Mr Koliousis said that the site will seek to combine with different players so that the business sector can come up with ways of analysing the viability of, say, a proposed hub or a new line. It is seen as important for academia to be there, otherwise the sector will not improve itself. And we need the EU, he insisted: if the EU does not have meaningful data, its policies will be meaningless. This public digital library for maritime transport and logistics, if it realises its purpose, should shed new light on what both industry and the European Union is doing. Even projects financed by the EU sometimes have little detail available for users.

A priority is to build a critical mass of stakeholders so that operation can be handed over to DGTREN, and fulfil expectations of a lifespan of at least 10 years. Some 15 stakeholders are already declared, including maritime universities, administrations, shipping and ports. As with any organisation, an early goal will be to drive traffic to the site.

The recent event, hosted by Copenhagen Business School and its renowned Blue MBA executive course under programme director Irene Rosberg, attracted some top range speakers from finance, shipping and logistics, and Bow Wave readers will in the next edition be treated to a flavour of their contributions.

For a taste of the site, please see:-

http://www.skematransport.eu


4. Tonga Shipping Saga

Courtesy of the Martitime Shipping News e-zine published by Maasmond Maritime, we have read this clipping which originally appeared in the Scotsman:-

Scottish QC held over ferry tragedy

A SCOTTISH QC has been arrested in Tonga after giving evidence to a royal commission into the nation's worst shipping disaster. Lord Ramsay Dalgety, who moved to Tonga in 1991, was the third person to be arrested this week during the investigation into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika ferry in August, when 74 people died.

Among the dead was Daniel MacMillan, 48, from Islay, who lived in New Zealand. The Matangi Tonga newspaper reported a "bit of a verbal exchange" between Lord Dalgety and the police before he was driven away in a patrol car. Last month, Lord Dalgety said he would not be made "the fall guy" for the disaster.

Lord Dalgety, an admiralty law specialist, moved to Tonga in 1991 and is secretary of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, which operated the ferry on behalf of the government. He is a former director of Scottish Opera.

In 2008, Oxford and Sandhurst-educated King George Tupou V made him a law lord and privy counsellor with the title "Lord Dalgety of Sikotilani Tonga" (Lord Dalgety of Scotland). Lord Dalgety wen t sick after one day of questioning last month. On his return yesterday, he was repeatedly questioned about his responsibility for the disaster, in particular failing to order an independent survey of the ferry which he last month admitted was a "rust bucket".

Manuel Varitimos, the assisting counsel, said: "I'm suggesting at no stage did you advise anyone associated with Shipping Corporation that they should conduct an independent survey or an independent valuation. Is that correct?"

Lord Dalgety replied: "Yes, in these bald -- in these bald, stark terms, that's right."

Mr Vartimos continued: "Well, Lord Dalgety, do you accept that you must take some responsibility for this disaster?" Lord Dalgety replied: "No."

Mr Vartimos repeated the question: "You consider you don't have to take any responsibility whatsoever for the disaster. Is that right?" Lord Dalgety replied: "No."

Next, Soane Foliaki, a lawyer acting on behalf of the family of Salesi Havli, one of the disaster victims, went on to question Lord Dalgety, who holds a number of posts in Tonga including chairman of the country's Electricity Commission.

He said: "You've accepted that you may have at the very least vicarious liability as a board member of the Shipping Corporation. "

Mr Foliaki asked that if the same tragedy had happened in Scotland, then "would you be removed from any and every board that you would sit on simply because you have been tainted with your conduct which resulted in the sinking of the Ashika and so many people died?" He went on: "If this had happened overseas and not Tonga, you'd be required to resign every official post that you would hold, even if you were a judge. That's what would happen in Scotland, wouldn't it?"

Lord Dalgety replied: "I couldn't answer that. I've been away from Scotland for 20 years." Questioning to establish the "character of the witness" also focused on the possible misuse of public funds in Lord Dalgety's overseas business trips for the Electricity Commission where he stayed in five-star hotels and travelled firstclass to Singapore and Vietnam, accompanied by a female secretary.

Reasons for Lord Dalgety's arrest will be revealed on Monday. Viliami Tuputu, the ferry's captain, arrested earlier this week, was told he could face 15 years' imprisonment. Last August, King Tupou provoked outrage by flying to Scotland hours after the disaster to take the salute at the Edinburgh Tattoo and for his three-month annual holiday in Scotland.

mailto:newsclippings@gmail.com


5. Recent Tweet

A blog for our times: Rust never Sleeps

http://thecorrosionblog.blogspot.com/


6. And Finally...

A retired Four-Star General ran into his former orderly, also retired, in a Manhattan bar and spent the rest of the evening persuading him to come to work for him as his valet.

"Your duties will be exactly the same as they were in the army," the General said. "Nothing to it - you'll catch on again fast."

The former orderly agreed to become the General's valet.

The next morning, promptly at six o'clock, the ex-orderly entered the ex-General's bedroom, pulled open the drapes, gave the General a gentle shake, strode around the other side of the bed, spanked his employer's wife on her bottom and said, "OK, sweetheart, it's back to the village for you."


P.S.

Brainy Britain (courtesy of Frazer Hunt)

This will keep you guessing!

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE (BBC2)

Jeremy Paxman: What is another name for 'cherrypickers' and 'cheesemongers'?

Contestant: Homosexuals.

Jeremy Paxman: No. They're regiments in the British Army who will be very upset with you.

BEG, BORROW OR STEAL (BBC2)

Jamie Theakston: Where do you think Cambridge University is?

Contestant: Geography isn't my strong point.

Jamie Theakston: There's a clue in the title.

Contestant: Leicester.

BBC NORFOLK

Stewart White: Who had a worldwide hit with What A Wonderful World?

Contestant: I don't know.

Stewart White: I'll give you some clues: what do you call the part between your hand and your elbow?

Contestant: Arm

Stewart White: Correct. And if you're not weak, you're...?

Contestant: Strong.

Stewart White: Correct - and what was Lord Mountbatten's first name?

Contestant: Louis

Stewart White: Well, there we are then. So who had a worldwide hit with the song What A Wonderful World?

Contestant: Frank Sinatra?

LATE SHOW (BBC MIDLANDS )

Alex Trelinski: What is the capital of Italy ?

Contestant: France.

Alex Trelinski: France is another country. Try again.

Contestant: Oh, um, Benidorm.

Alex Trelinski: Wrong, sorry, let's try another question. In which country is the Parthenon?

Contestant: Sorry, I don't know.

Alex Trelinski: Just guess a country then.

Contestant: Paris.

THE WEAKEST LINK (BBC2)

Anne Robinson: Oscar Wilde, Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Archer have all written books about their experiences in what: - Prison, or the Conservative Party?

Contestant: The Conservative Party.

BEACON RADIO ( WOLVERHAMPTON )

DJ Mark : For 10, what is the nationality of the Pope?

Ruth from Rowley Regis: I think I know that one. Is it Jewish?

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

Bamber Gascoyne: What was Gandhi's first name?

Contestant: Goosey?

GWR FM ( Bristol )

Presenter: What happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963?

Contestant: I don't know, I wasn't watching it then.

PHIL WOOD SHOW (BBC RADIO ( MANCHESTER )

Phil: What's 11 squared?

Contestant: I don't know.

Phil: I'll give you a clue. It's two ones with a two in the middle.

Contestant: Is it five?

RICHARD AND JUDY

Richard: Which American actor is married to Nicole Kidman?

Contestant: Forrest Gump.

RICHARD AND JUDY

Richard: On which street did Sherlock Holmes live?

Contestant: Er. ... ...

Richard: He makes bread . . ..

Contestant: Er .. ......

Richard: He makes cakes . . ..

Contestant: Kipling Street?

LINCS FM PHONE-IN

Presenter: Which is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world?

Contestant: Barcelona.

Presenter: I was really after the name of a country.

Contestant: I'm sorry, I don't know the names of any countries in Spain.

NATIONAL LOTTERY (BBC1)

Question: What is the world's largest continent?

Contestant: The Pacific.

ROCK FM ( PRESTON )

Presenter: Name a film starring Bob Hoskins that is also the name of a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci.

Contestant: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

THE BIGGEST GAME IN TOWN (ITV)

Steve Le Fevre: What was signed, to bring World War I to an end in 1918?

Contestant: Magna Carta?

JAMES O'BRIEN SHOW (LBC)

James O'Brien: How many kings of England have been called Henry?

Contestant: Er, well, I know there was a Henry the Eighth ... ER. ER ... Three?

CHRIS SEARLE SHOW (BBC RADIO BRISTOL )

Chris Searle: In which European country is Mount Etna ?

Caller: Japan.

Chris Searle: I did say which European country, so in case you didn't hear that, I can let you try again.

Caller: Er ........ Mexico ?

PAUL WAPPAT (BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE )

Paul Wappat: How long did the Six-Day War between Egypt and Israel last?

Contestant (long pause): Fourteen days.

DARYL DENHAM'S DRIVETIME (VIRGIN RADIO)

Daryl Denham: In which country would you spend shekels?

Contestant: Holland?

Daryl Denham: Try the next letter of the alphabet.

Contestant: Iceland? Ireland ?

Daryl Denham: (helpfully): It's a bad line. Did you say Israel ?

Contestant: No.

PHIL WOOD SHOW (BBC GMR)

Phil Wood: What 'K' could be described as the Islamic Bible?

Contestant: Er... .... ...

Phil Wood: It's got two syllables . . . Kor . .

Contestant: Blimey?

Phil Wood: Ha ha ha ha, no. The past participle of run . . .

Contestant: (Silence)

Phil Wood: OK, try it another way. Today I run, yesterday I . . .

Contestant: Walked?

THE VAULT

Melanie Sykes: What is the name given to the condition where the sufferer can fall asleep at any time?

Contestant: Nostalgia.

LUNCHTIME SHOW (BRMB)

Presenter: What religion was Guy Fawkes?

Contestant: Jewish.

Presenter: That's close enough.

STEVE WRIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON (BBC RADIO 2)

Wright: Johnny Weissmuller died on this day. Which jungle-swinging character clad only in a loin cloth did he play?

Contestant: Jesus.


BOW WAVE is published each week to over 15 000 Readers in the transport,insurance,shipping and finance industries.

Thanks for reading BOW WAVE



Contact WL:
Editor
Webmaster

The WavyLine, 76 Florin Court, 6-9 Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6EX; +44 7887 632503; sam@wavyline.com