Burden on world trade Freighters back up off southern China

As of: 21.06.2021 8:59 a.m.

The container ships are stowed in the fourth largest port in the world. The reason is a corona outbreak in Shenzhen-Yantian. The international movement of goods is impaired – possibly until the end of the year.

From Steffen Wurzel, ARD studio Shanghai

The congestion of the container ships off southern China is worse than that Blockade of the Suez Canal in March This is how Vincent Clerc, manager of the Danish shipping company Maersk, summed it up in a conversation with journalists in mid-June. At times, around 130 container ships from all over the world were anchored off the port of Shenzhen-Yantian, as reported by the Bloomberg news agency.

Weeks-long consequences for world trade

The reason for the traffic jam is a new – albeit small – corona outbreak in the southern Chinese part of Guangdong, where Shenzhen is located. Because the local authorities ordered the port of Shenzhen to be partially closed due to the corona, ships could not dock and cast off. Supply chains worldwide are out of step. German companies in the Guangdong region are also reporting that department stores are sometimes overcrowded. In the meantime, the situation in Guangdong has normalized, but weeks will pass before the backlog has completely cleared, estimates Nick Marro, an analyst for world trade at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in Hong Kong. The backlog will therefore continue for weeks through the global supply chains.

Traffic jam in the fourth largest port in the world

Shenzhen-Yantian is the fourth largest container port in the world; Last year more than 27 million standard containers (TEU) were handled there. For comparison: In Hamburg there were fewer than nine million containers in 2020, i.e. around a third of them.

The logistics delays are a problem especially for the tech and electronics industry: around 90 percent of all electronics exports from China go through the port of Shenzhen-Yantian. Analyst Nick Marro expects the situation to remain tense, given the global openings after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Relaxation probably only towards the end of the year

“There is no sign of an end to global consumer demand for goods and products. In many western countries, stocks are usually replenished in the third quarter of the year, which continues to ensure high trading activity,” says Marro. “This suggests that the tensions in global logistics and at the ports will not ease until the fourth quarter of the year.” In China, almost no reports are made of the container ship congestion in front of the port of Shenzhen-Yantian

report

Tourism crisis Later restart the River cruises

Status: 19.06.2021 3:29 p.m.

River cruise ships are back in Bavaria – because of the infection protection with fewer guests on board. The long absence of the ships has left deep marks along the routes.

By Sebastian Grosser and Martin Gruber, BR

A melody sounds on deck of the river ship “NickoSpirit” before cruise director Ferdinand Selig starts his speech. “Welcome to Regensburg, dear passengers.” In front of Selig is a piece of paper with several names, which are in turn marked with different colors. “Please remember your grouping and don’t forget your mask when you leave the ship,” he says. At this point, several passengers have already gathered at the entrance of the ship to go ashore for a tour of the city. A maximum of 14 people are allowed in a group. This is part of infection protection.

Million revenues before Corona

The “NickoSpirit” is the first river cruise ship to be moored in Regensburg this year. Usually the season starts in spring. But Corona put the once booming tourism industry on the back burner in 2021. The Regensburger Stadtwerk, which manages the pier, is expecting around 100 landings this year. Similar to 2020, in the first Corona year, the city is expected to turn over only 100,000 euros with the ships. For comparison: in 2019, more than 1000 ships moored in Regensburg, with which the city was able to bring in a turnover of 1.3 million euros.

Hard times for tour guides

Michaela Ederer is already waiting for the guests at the Donaulände, where the “NickoSpirit” moored. The tour guide has longingly awaited the first ship and its passengers. “The last few months have been really tough,” she says. “The majority of the tour guides work as freelancers and rely on the tour guides and the sales they generate with them.”

In the peak of the pandemic, around 7500 tour guides nationwide were unemployed, says Ederer, who is also on the board of the Federal Association of Tour Guides in Germany. Many of her colleagues should have tapped their retirement reserves. “We are therefore very happy,” she says, referring to the arrival of the first passengers.

Passengers: No problem with infection protection

While the guests with audio guides in their ears follow the tour operator’s blue tablet to explore the historic old town of Regensburg, cruise director Selig talks to the passengers who have stayed on the ship. Unless they are sitting in the restaurant or on the summer deck, they all wear mouth and nose protection. Many of the mostly older passengers do not mind the infection control measures. “The guests are used to it,” says Selig. For the provider of cruise travel, however, creating a suitable hygiene concept was a bit of a challenge: In order to maintain the distance, only 143 of the otherwise 170 passengers are currently allowed on board. There is even a certified test center on the “NickoSpirit” so that everyone on the ship can be tested every 48 hours.

End of the cruise boom

While the provider Nicko had previously relied mainly on a German-speaking audience, other shipping companies, such as the largest industry association IG Rivercruise, have a harder time BR demand notifies. In particular, sales of shipping companies that specialize exclusively in guests from overseas such as the USA or Australia fell by 100 percent last year. But also those ships that were able to sail between July and October 2020 recorded losses of between 60 and 70 percent.

“The Queen would declare the year 2020 to be an ‘annus horribilis’. The IG Rivercruise joins this,” said the Industry association. The forecast for 2021 is no better. “The season is short,” said IG Rivercruise. Individual providers have therefore filed for bankruptcy, but had already got into financial difficulties before the pandemic.

Souvenir shops before the end

The lack of cruise business also brought Gabriele Winklmeier into existential difficulties. The 58-year-old has a souvenir shop in the old town of Passau. The ship tourists from the USA and France would actually be their main business. Due to the pandemic, hardly anything happened last year, according to Winklmeier. “This year, too, things have been bad so far: no buses, no ships, no customers. Now the first cruise ships are arriving, but they all dock outside.” She will probably give up her souvenir shop – after 17 years.

Winklmeier looks back with sadness: “Three years ago all hell was going on here. 300 guests as early as eight in the morning. You could still do business there. Today it can happen to me that I don’t have a turnover of 30 euros.” The guests of “NickoSpirit” will probably no longer buy souvenirs in Winklmeier’s shop. The cruise on the river ends in Passau. Several buses are waiting along the landing stage where the suitcases are already lined up. Cruise manager Selig, who has to say goodbye to his guests after nine days, draws a positive balance: “It was a relaxed trip, even if it seems unrelaxed. We were well prepared with the tests on board. Many guests were vaccinated or recovered. That is natural also a great relief for us. “

Cruises start again The return of the dream ships

As of: 06/17/2021 3:52 p.m.

The cruise industry is trying to start over in small steps. Successful vaccinations and falling infection numbers are fueling hopes, but the way out of the crisis should not be an easy one.

By Thomas Spinnler, tagesschau.de

The cruise industry, along with the entire tourism sector, was one of the biggest losers in the pandemic. The entire business came to a standstill at times. The 7-day incidence values, which have recently fallen across Europe, and the vaccination campaign, the progress of which is becoming increasingly noticeable, are awakening hopes for a successful restart in 2021, both in the industry and among those interested in cruises. It is not excluded. Just yesterday, a cruise ship with guests left Hamburg for the first time in seven months . This morning went for the first time since the outbreak of the corona pandemic in front of Palma in Mallorca a cruise ship at anchor, the “Mein Schiff 2” of the German shipping company TUI Cruises. It is said to be the first of more than 20 who will be calling this port by the end of August.

“Time was used”

“The chances of a real fresh start for the cruise industry are very good due to the measures that have been taken,” said Helge Grammerstorf, National Director of the Cruise Lines International Association Germany (Clia) tagesschau.de firmly. The providers used the time to expand the security measures against Corona, to keep the ships ready for the incoming operation and to strengthen the sustainability measures.

However, the memory of what happened during the start of the pandemic last year is likely to be fresh for many. Hundreds of vacationers were stuck on board, some for weeks, ports refused entry – the sometimes dramatic images are not so easy to forget.

“Safer than in the supermarket”

That is why protection against corona remains the determining issue on cruise ships. Grammerstorf is certain that health protection on the ships is guaranteed. Individual corona cases cannot be completely ruled out. But both staff and passengers would be tested before boarding, during the trip and also at the end of the trip.

“In principle, it is safer on the ship than when shopping in the supermarket, since the ships are completely sealed off from the outside,” says the Clia director. This also applies to shore excursions, which take place in closed groups that are not allowed to be left. “In the very rare event that a person should test positive during the voyage, it is provided that all affected persons and their contacts are taken off board to protect everyone else,” says Grammerstorf.

The shipyards are also suffering

The industry is an important economic factor. In Germany alone, the ocean cruise business is worth billions. According to the association’s data, the area with around 48,000 employees generated around 6.6 billion euros in 2019. Above all, however, it represents 80 percent of orders from German shipyards.

The German shipbuilders were therefore hit hard by the crisis. Because many shipyards have specialized in the construction and maintenance of cruise ships. Jobs have also been cut, both at the shipyards and among the cruise lines.

“Offers are accepted”

According to Clia, according to the latest available figures from September 2020, around 28,000 jobs have been lost, more than half. If the industry returns to a reasonably normal and predictable course of business, many will return. No wonder, then, when the hope of a new start becomes more and more urgent.

According to Grammerstorf, the customers are very enthusiastic about the offers, there is a great demand for cruises: “Demand pressure has built up while it was not possible to travel. The pre-bookings for 2022 are also very encouraging.” A more precise forecast is currently not possible, as the countries are only gradually opening up and therefore many departures are scheduled at short notice.

High costs, hardly any income

The business will hardly be profitable at first. No income, or at best low income, is offset by high running costs. After all, the ships cannot simply be completely decommissioned when they are in ports or in roadsteads. Some of the crew must remain on board, the ships must be kept functional, which requires regular and intensive maintenance. In addition, the huge passenger capacities of the ships cannot be used to their full capacity despite the start of travel activity due to the corona-related distance rules. Higher costs, also because of the various protective measures, are offset by lower income, which would have to be offset with higher prices. “At the moment, the main thing is to show that cruises can also take place safely under Corona conditions,” emphasizes Grammerstorf. The cruise operators have to accept that it is likely to be a losing business, at least initially

Transporting anchovies from the boat to the truck at the back yard of Mui Ne, Binh Thuan province Fisherman Tran Van Dat, who specializes in anchovies, is with his boatmates moving nearly 1 ton of anchovies to shore. Inside, traders and transport vehicles are waiting. Mr. Dat said that in the past 10 days, anchovies were abundant throughout the sea of ​​Mui Ne, so not only he but also many friends’ boats had a good harvest. “This is the 3rd trip in the men’s season. The previous two trips, each trip was 7-8 quintals. In general, the fish this year caught very well, the fish was big, the traders liked it” – Mr. Dat shared his joy. Dat fisherman moves anchovies from the basket to the shore This year, the anchovy season at Phan Thiet – Binh Thuan fishing grounds and the southern sea area started to flourish from the beginning of June, with a fairly high yield. The production of anchovies so far by fishermen in Mui Ne ward and Phan Thiet city has generally increased sharply compared to previous years. Anchovies are picked up by traders as soon as they come ashore Bustling scene at the back beach of Mui Ne After the fish is purchased, the truck is transported directly to the steamer, salt and fish sauce establishment The output is high, the purchase price of anchovies this year is quite stable. In Mui Ne ward, each basket of anchovies (25 kg) is purchased by traders for around 250,000 VND. Particularly for delicious, large, fresh fish used for drying, there are places to buy nearly 300,000 VND / basket. Grade 1 anchovies are sold for 300,000 VND/basket for drying Phan Thiet waters have up to 3 popular types of anchovies, including: white striped anchovies, black striped anchovies and mouth anchovies. In which, anchovies after drying are priced at over 200,000 VND/kg. In the photo: White striped anchovy has just been caught in Mui Ne Not only being dried for export, anchovies in Binh Thuan are also the main raw materials for salting fish sauce. The profession of making fish sauce anchovies in Binh Thuan has a history of development for more than 2 centuries and the product has been present in almost all regions of the country. After being transported from the sea, anchovies are mixed in a certain ratio with grain salt and put in a jar (Khanh) to salt them. In addition to salted fish sauce, grade 1 anchovies are steamed, then dried and dried for export With the fishing season, the stable selling price helps fishermen to be excited and push to go out to sea to exploit in the next trip. Mui Ne fishermen load rocks from the shore onto a basket to transport to the boat, preparing for the next sea trip

Summer is considered the “business season” of Ly Son tourism (Quang Ngai). This year, however, everything turned upside down. These days, the pace of life on Ly Son island seems to slow down. There is no longer a busy scene of tourists as usual, instead it is a lonely, cold scene. That is because to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from entering the area, Quang Ngai province banned all foreign tourists and international visitors to the island district. Therefore, industries related to tourism such as boats, canoes, trams, motels, hotels, homestays, restaurants, eateries, … all fall into a state of “hibernation”. The center of the island district at night is deserted Almost all accommodation establishments in the area are closed due to lack of guests Anchor ships wait for their turn to run alternately, operating frequency is only 20% of normal There are a total of 92 rooms of 4-star standard accommodation, nearly a month ago, Muong Thanh Ly Son hotel was still open for operation. Said to be active, but almost no guests came to rent the room. Mr. Bui Xuan Nghia – Director of Muong Thanh Ly Son Hotel, said that the unit has a total of 66 employees, currently only 5% are arranged to rotate activities. However, people who come only do cleaning and maintenance of equipment, but there are no guests to receive. Although there is no revenue, the unit still pays 40% of the monthly salary for employees to cover their lives and overcome difficulties. “Just got up after several consecutive epidemics, then storm No. 9, if this situation persists, I am afraid that people who live by tourism in Ly Son will find it difficult to sustain themselves” – Mr. Nghia worried. Opposite Muong Thanh Ly Son is Ngoc Island Resort – one of the large accommodation units on the island – which has been closed for more than three weeks now because there are no guests. Nearly all hotels, motels and homestays in Ly Son district are in a similar situation, “doors closed and bolted”. Many hotel and motel owners admit that they are facing a lot of difficulties because they have no revenue, while maintenance costs and bank loan interest are putting great pressure on. There were no tourists, so for nearly a month, the parking lot of the Ly Son District Labor Union was always in a state of no space. All cars are gathered here to “wait” for tourists, most tram drivers have found other jobs to make a living. The fleet of trams transporting tourists is gathered to the parking lot… lying down and waiting All shops and souvenir stalls serving tourists at scenic spots on the island are “covered”. If about a month ago, they were busy from early morning to late evening to take guests in and out of the port, visit, eat, … now, Vung – a 7-seat driver transports tourists on island – free again. Sighing, the young man sadly shared: “In the past, I ran a lot, now it takes a long time to get people on the island to get here and there. I don’t know when the situation will improve again.” Sharing the same fate at the wharf with the car is a fleet of ships and canoes. Normally, at the lowest point, every day the Sa Ky – Ly Son route also has at least three trains to connect the island to the mainland. But now there is only one turn left to serve the travel needs of people and officials working on the island, absolutely no tourists. Being able to run seems to be better if you look at the scene of dozens of canoes on the big island – the small island that have to be lined up close to each other, sunbathing in the rain for more than a month now in the boat anchorage because the route is completely paralyzed. . Fuck it, go find a job “fire fighting” Experiencing three consecutive epidemics, plus the impact of natural disasters, most of the restaurants in the area have been “hit”. Along the mobile route around the island, there are dozens of shops specializing in serving tourists, which have almost closed over the past month. The shop lingered open, but only a few local guests. Anh An – Manager of Ly Son Basket Seafood Restaurant, said that since the day there was a ban on visitors to the island, his restaurant had temporarily stopped operating, all staff were laid off. This time, he focuses on repairing the restaurant and upgrading the facilities so that when the epidemic is under control, the ban is lifted and it reopens. All major restaurants on the island are closed “There are many difficulties, but united and fighting the epidemic is the prerequisite task of each person. I believe that we will come back to life when the epidemic is under control,” said An. Without tourists, the source of income is therefore completely cut off, so tourism workers in Ly Son are facing the challenge of “survival” when their work will never return to normal. . Taking advantage of the availability, many guides have chosen to post the seafood sale on their personal facebook page; most drivers of ships, canoes and cars get off the boat to go to the sea; hotel owners selling onions, garlic, soft drinks, etc. Everyone tries to find a job “fire fighting” to make ends meet. Nhung – the receptionist of a large hotel – has been out of work for more than a month due to the closure of the hotel, and has managed to find a temporary job at a cafe near her house. “Like I was lucky, because many people now just stay at home, now have a job, have an income to cover expenses is what many people want, but the specificity of the island district is not easy.” , Nhung shared. Mr. Le Van Ninh – Vice Chairman of Ly Son District People’s Committee, said that due to the influence of the epidemic, the island district is not currently welcoming tourists. This is a move to protect people against complicated developments of the disease in some localities. “We do not know when the tourism activities in the locality will be restored, currently the impact of the epidemic is very large, seriously affecting the income and life of people,” said Ninh. to speak.

Mr. Pham Van Thuong (Nam Yet Lighthouse) cleans and maintains the “magic eye” The “divine eyes” During the voyage, every time the ship 571 anchored to the shore while it was still dark, the only thing for us to know the island’s location was from the light of the Lighthouse, also known as the “magic eye”. According to a sailor, currently on the islands and points of Truong Sa island, there are 9 lighthouses in Da Lat, An Bang, Da Tay, Tien Nu, Song Tu Tay, Truong Sa Lon, Sinh Ton, Son Ca and Nam Yet islands. . All 9 lighthouses are operated and maintained by engineers, officers and employees of the East Sea and Islands Maritime Safety Company. The construction of the lighthouse station on the islands was started when the international shipping route expanded at sea and to meet the requirements of protecting the Fatherland in the new situation. In particular, Song Tu Tay lighthouse was first built on the archipelago (1993), 17 nautical miles away from which ships can see bright white lights, single blinking every 15 seconds. The construction of the Lighthouse depends on the geology and coral background. On Song Tu Tay island, the lighthouse is built in the shape of a circular tower in the east of the island; The lighthouse on Da Lat island is built in the shape of an arrow on a coral background, has an iron and steel structure with flower slanting holes to reduce the acceleration of the wind, while the lighthouse on Son Ca island has a cylindrical shape… Son Ca island lighthouse stands tall like a fortress, standing tall in the middle of the ocean and is considered the most beautiful lighthouse in the 9 lighthouses in the Truong Sa archipelago. Tran Van Chien – Head of Son Ca Lighthouse said: “Son Ca lighthouse is 28m high, 25.5m bright center, group 2 white flash, 10 seconds period, 15 nautical miles effective range. During the day, in good weather, dozens of nautical miles away from passing ships can be seen. The lighthouse operates from 5:30 p.m. the previous day to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. On a day with thunderstorms, fog, or bad weather, the lights must be turned on earlier and turned off later. When there is a problem, the main light is damaged, the auxiliary light will be turned on for replacement and the main lamp must be repaired immediately. Under no circumstances shall the Lighthouse be turned off. Because the lighthouse is not only a landmark for ships operating in the area, but also a light of national sovereignty at sea. The “lighters” With the task of not letting the Lighthouse be turned off under any circumstances, engineers, officers and employees of the East Sea and Islands Maritime Safety Company must work day and night. The environment is harsh, often in contact with batteries, acids, mechanical equipment, and conductive objects, but they always fulfill their noble duties. They are considered to be diligent “lighters”, so that the flame of love for their homeland and country always shines. Their idyllic work is a silent sacrifice, the Lighthouse shines with time, which means that their hair is partly gray because of the sun and wind. Son Ca Lighthouse Station Mr. Pham Van Thuong (SN 1990, Nam Yet Lighthouse Station) worked for 4 years in the profession and went to 6 islands to do his duty. “Due to saltwater contamination, the lighthouses are often rusted, if not maintained continuously, the lights are easy to catch fire. Whether it’s scorching sun or howling wind and rain, we have to climb to the top of the lamp post for periodic cleaning and maintenance. At a height of tens of meters, it only takes a small mistake to have an accident. When the sea is rough, at the lighthouse stations on the island, the waves hit the ground floor. Every 15 minutes, the brothers have to take turns on duty to check the technical parameters. Now there is solar power, so it’s less difficult, but before, it was very tiring to use the generator to generate electricity. It was an opportunity for me to come to the profession,” said Pham Van Thuong. The “magic eye” is never allowed to turn off, because it is lit from the hearts of all officers and employees of the Stations and the naval soldiers guarding the rooster of the Fatherland on a remote island… As a senior in the profession of “lighting lighthouses” for more than 24 years, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tuan (SN 1976, Song Tu Tay Lighthouse Station) has celebrated Tet more than 15 times on the island. Mr. Tuan confided: “Working in harsh climates and poor conditions, although it is hard, it has trained me more will and bravery. I am proud to work in Truong Sa. Looking at the bright lights in the black sky, I feel that my country is too sacred. Each flash is the breath and life of the person lighting the fire. To do this job, you must love the job, love the sea and islands of the homeland to complete the task well.” Mr. Bui Van Son (Chief of Sinh Ton Lighthouse Station) is considered an ancient tree of lighthouse stations in Truong Sa. With a period of more than 25 years, Mr. Son has gone to all 9 stations, with the lighthouse he went to for the fifth time. “Each station has its own look, different facilities and conditions. As the station chief, I had to balance the food, calculate how it was reasonable, and then call the mainland to buy what’s urgent so that my brothers and sisters would be less needy. In addition to regulating the work in the station, I often capture the emotional feelings of the staff, timely motivate, help people overcome difficulties. Along with carrying out the task of training and practicing island defense plans, contributing to strengthening the island’s combat strength when situations arise, sports and cultural exchanges are also maintained. We all came together very naturally, the brothers on the station lived more together than with their families,” said Mr. Son. Lighthouse lights run on solar power and automatically turn on and off when it gets dark, but always ensure that the engine and generator operate normally in all conditions, especially prolonged rainstorms. Salt vapor and sea breeze easily damage machinery and technical equipment, so officers and employees must regularly check, preserve and maintain equipment on the station. The “magic eye” is never allowed to turn off, because it is lit from the hearts of every officer, station staff and the navy soldiers guarding the rooster of the Fatherland on a remote island…

This is the Mermaid cruise ship. Along with dozens of other yachts, it was once splendid and lavish, with lights on every night to welcome guests at the corner of West Lake, at the intersection of Thanh Nien – Nguyen Dinh Thi streets. Scenes from many years ago Now the ship lies dormant in the area close to Nhat Chieu Street, rusty and deserted. The once carpeted entrance to welcome the footsteps of diners, now stands a cold broken leg chair. Even the canoe tied to the ship was broken. Stairs at the rear of the ship lead to the rooftop – in the past, diners often went up to this area to see the whole view of West Lake, while the train moved slowly… Going back in time, after many years of operating yachts, welcoming guests along Thanh Nien road, to a time when the restaurant business on West Lake was no longer suitable… …In 2016, Hanoi People’s Committee issued a decision to stop this type of business, so as not to disrupt the landscape and environment of West Lake. A year later, the yachts were towed across the lake and gathered in the present area. At first the yachts were also guarded, then the doors were bolted and abandoned. After half a decade of rain and wind, the yachts rusted and turned into scrap metal, greatly affecting the environment and beauty of West Lake. Billionaire silver ships are now deserted and deserted A corner of West Lake is now a “ghost ship graveyard” From once colorful colors, now all of them are… rusty There are at least two yachts located next to the lotus lagoon Potomac Cruise is the furthest one, located a bit from the shore, on the right is West Lake Water Park Potomac Cruise while welcoming guests In May 2019, the Hai Dang ship caught fire. Fortunately, the Fire and Rescue Police were present in time, extinguishing the big fire within 10 minutes, not letting the fire spread to neighboring yachts. Yacht owners install iron fences to prevent strangers from entering the ship. But in fact, fishermen get in and out easily, many of the ship’s iron and steel are ploughed and stolen by bad actors Six yachts are located next to the West Lake Flower Valley, which attracts women, ladies and girls to take photos all year round From this angle, it is clear that a ship has sunk, the water is full of compartments Along the winding road, where a lot of people (and foreigners) come to enjoy the wind and exercise every morning-afternoon are “ghost” trains. There are times when this yacht is flooded with water, lying on its side. Even the swan boats that trampled their feet sank These yachts, after no longer polluting and disrupting the landscape of the West Lake on the side of Thanh Nien Street, “caused harm” to the corner of the lake next to Nhat Chieu Street. Aerial photo of a yacht that was flooded. Perhaps because West Lake was not deep enough and lying on the shore, the new ship did not sink completely. A sign prohibits entry, but in fact this place has become a favorite fishing spot for many anglers specializing in poaching West Lake fish. Recently, a few small ships have been towed to the area for dismantling. This corner of West Lake really turns into a “ship graveyard”. The workers used torches to gradually cut the iron of the train compartment. Photo taken on the afternoon of May 13, 2021. However, these are small ships, and more than a dozen “ghost” yachts are still lying dormant and faltering. It is unknown when these giant iron and steel blocks will be dismantled and expelled… … to return to West Lake the clean environment and inherent beauty.

During the war against the US, the existence of the numberless trains and the Ho Chi Minh route at sea, classified as top secret, very few people really know the existence of these legends. Ho Chi Minh Road on the sea – as its name implies – is the sea way we used to support the South, starting to be established on October 23, 1961. During the course of its existence, the Ho Chi Minh road on the sea with the air trains, carried out 2000 transports, supported weapons to the South, as well as sent our high-ranking officials to the South or the North. . The origin of the name “Zero Ships” comes in part from the secrecy of these transport ships, as they are not numbered, unnamed, and often disguised as fishing boats. To bypass the enemy’s eyes, the officers and soldiers on the airship are also trained to become professional fishermen, with all the skills of seafaring such as fishermen, speaking like fishermen and especially drying. sunny to have black skin like a real fisherman. And yet, the numberless ships at that time were also meticulously disguised with two bottoms, one bottom for storing weapons, the other for storing fish, like real ships. When out at sea, digital ships are not allowed to transmit home communications, but only to receive encrypted communications from the North, which is a mandatory requirement to ensure the confidentiality of the location of the the train has no numbers. The only cases where the trains without numbers were allowed to contact home was when they encountered the enemy and had to fight. At this time, the communication channel will be opened for the brave soldiers on the ship to say goodbye to their homeland. Unlike the Ho Chi Minh road through the Truong Son range, the Ho Chi Minh road on the sea can be considered “high productivity” when carrying many tens of tons of goods at the same time as close to Saigon. The General Military Commission allowed 50% of the cargo for the Ho Chi Minh route at sea to be lost. Which means that our goal, just to get 50% of the goods to the destination, is also considered to be successful. Exceeding this expectation, our digital trains have delivered 93% of the cargo to their destination, many times transported high-ranking officers to the North to the South or vice versa, the level of safety is very high, but at times short, usually only a week for one way travel – much faster than the road. So, if you consider Ho Chi Minh Road on land as a legend, with Ho Chi Minh Road on the sea, it deserves to be considered a great symbol, not only in terms of scale, contribution to the war, but also. still great because of its utopian secrecy. Photo source: VNP. The miracle of Ho Chi Minh road at sea during the Resistance War against the US for national salvation. Source: VTC1.

Video: Nghe An fishermen excitedly earn hundreds of millions each trip from ‘freshly boiled’ squid on the boat After long days of reaching the sea, dozens of large-capacity boats of Quynh Luu fishermen are happy to return because they won large batch of ink. To ensure freshness, squid is steamed right on the boat, so it has high economic value, helping fishermen earn hundreds of million VND per trip. As soon as the ship was on the way to the port, traders left early to wait for the purchase. At 1:00 am, Lach Quen fishing port – one of the largest fishing ports in Nghe An, is crowded with buyers and sellers. Boats also docked in tandem. The joy of working when the boat comes back makes the atmosphere here more exciting. According to the fishermen’s share, on this occasion, although the catch is not too much, the boiled squid product has high economic value, so many boat owners are excited because of profit. The price of squid ranges from 100,000 VND – 140,000 VND / 1 kg depending on different sizes. In general, with small squid (45-50 fish / 1 kg), it costs 100,000 – 110,000 VND, medium-sized squid (30-35 fish / 1 kg) costs 140,000 VND, and larger squid, the price fluctuates up to 160,000 VND / 1 kg. Fisherman Pham Duy Hung in Quynh Thuan commune said: “Thanks to goodness, my boat caught more than 600 kg of boiled squid, not to mention tons of other seafood such as shrimp and other fish still on the boat. My boat sold at the port at the price of 110,000 VND / kg, was more than 60 million VND, the price was good, so the brothers were more excited and motivated. ”Trading at the port area. In just over 1 hour, squid, fish. Shrimp are sold to small traders for the market. Ms. Dinh Thu Hong (Quynh Tien commune) said: “I am a housewife so I pay attention to how to choose and recognize delicious watered seafood. Ready-to-hold steamed squid feels firm, dry and with blotchy film still on the skin is fresh and delicious. ” Steamed squid is available so it’s easy to process, can be re-steamed with soy sauce, sweet and sour roasted, fried with chili lemongrass. It is known that this occasion is the season of squid fishing for fishermen, so after selling all seafood, fishermen are busy preparing raw materials and necessities to go offshore.

Illustration. It was the most famous pirate ship of the Caribbean and the Atlantic in the late 1600s. With large mooring beams, it was very flexible with different wind directions. The length of the vessel ranges from 10-20m and the maximum speed can reach 10 knots. The ship can accommodate 20-70 people and 15 cannons. The hull is also very easy to move when struck by lightning or when attacked by rival ships. Moreover, the vessel’s width of only 3m makes it possible to quickly shelter safely in narrow slots. Schooner This two-masted ship is also very popular with pirates of the Caribbean and the Atlantic. The train is fast, has good maneuverability and is equipped with up to 12 cannons. The capacity of the ship is up to 75-100 people and the width is only about 2m, making shelter quite convenient, although it cannot carry much wealth or treasure. Brigantine Mediterranean pirates often use this type of two-masted ship because it can fight in low wind conditions. The sails of the ship can maneuver in many positions suitable for maneuvering and combat. The Brigantine is longer and has a larger mass than other ships, so it is preferred for use in prolonged battles. The vessel is about 30-35m in length, 8-10m in width and 3-6m in height. Galley It was the favorite vehicle of the Barbary pirates of the Mediterranean in the 1500s. The power of the ship came from 30 oars operated by sailors. The sails serve only as extra thrust for the ship. There are only a number of cannons on board for combat with more than 100 pirates. Junk Junk has been used by Eastern pirates for centuries. With sturdy masts, adjustable rudders, the ship is 15-30m long and can hold a lot of cannonballs. This is said to be a preeminent ship “invincible” created by the Chinese who can overcome extreme weather conditions at sea while ensuring safety for people on board. Captain Blackbeard and huge treasure The treasure was unearthed off the coast of Beaufort Captain Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, captured a French slave ship called Concorde in 1717 and formed his own pirate squad. His pirate team became the most powerful team in American pirate history. In May 1718, Blackbeard attacked the port of Charleston and captured five cargo ships. After that, he unexpectedly killed nearly half of his crew to capture the wealth at Topsail. Due to the ship’s serious damage, Blackbeard eventually abandoned the Concorde and looked for another ship. By 1997, archaeologists found off the coast of Beaufort, Northern California the wreck of the ship and the entire giant treasure of Blackbeard on the deep sea floor. This treasure was then given to the state of North Carolina and was named the largest treasure of the 20th century. Captain Kidd and the ship Adventure Galley Adventure Galley ship model Captain William Kid, who was a Scottish sailor, was given command of the Adventure Galley by New York Admiral Robert Livingston to fight against British pirates along the East India Sea and collect property. and pirate treasure for the US government. The 287-ton Adventure Galley, containing 34 cannons and 23 oars, is a state-of-the-art ship that can fight in quiet conditions. The ship set sail with pride in the hope of being unbeaten, but Kidd realized that facing the pirates was harder than he thought, he decided to return all the investments of the US government and turn around … attack allied ships. In 1698, Kidd abandoned the Galley due to heavy damage at Madagasca. He still begged for forgiveness from Livingston but when he returned to London, Kidd was put on trial and charged with piracy. He was executed in 1701. Bartholomew Roberts and the Royal Fortune fleet The last famous captain mentioned is Captain Black Bart and the Royal Fortune fleet. The first ship captured by Bart was a French brigantine ship in 1720. He armed it with 26 cannons and brought it to the Caribbean. Shortly thereafter, he continued to capture a British warship for the Martinique government and renamed it the second Royal Fortune, choosing it as the pioneer ship for his fleet. Arriving in West Africa, Bart won the Onslow and continued to add to the 3rd member Royal Fortune. A total of more than 400 ships off West Africa, Canada and the Caribbean were captured by Bart between 1719 and five. 1722. It was not until February 10, 1722, that Bart’s last ship was sunk by the British warship HMS Swallow. Black Bart is known as the most pompous and successful pirate in the golden era of pirate “profession”.

Jellyfish season is sleepless nights of the coastal residents of Thinh Long. The time to start harvesting jellyfish of the fishermen here starts from 1am. Jellyfish are molluscs, living in seawater. The jellyfish are caught offshore from 6 to 12 nautical miles. Jellyfish harvest season lasts 3 months, from January to the end of March of lunar calendar. Depending on the weather that jellyfish are more or less. This year, up to 20 days a month, fishermen can exploit jellyfish. Every evening, ships often catch 3,000-4,000 jellyfish. Jellyfish exploitation brings high income but hard work, many people do not have the strength to do it. Those who are not healthy do other jobs, while those who are healthy do this profession with very high income. The people here are also from jellyfish to get rich and develop their economy. According to VTC16, the preliminary processing factory of Mr. Ninh Van Chinh is one of the largest jellyfish preliminary processing factories in Thinh Long. During the day when there are many jellyfish, Mr. Chinh’s workshop operates from late at night until 18:00 the next day. Jellyfish after being preliminarily processed will be put in a centrifuge to squeeze the water, leaving only the meat. The jellyfish meat is soaked in salty brine to be freshly cooked before deep processing. Soaking jellyfish is like pickling salt, soaking jellyfish in salt water reaches 24 degrees, within 1 week to 10 days to ensure the ripeness of the jellyfish, delicious, fishy, ​​and crispy. Working as a preliminary processing jellyfish in Thinh Long quite a lot of time, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan said that each time she made jellyfish preliminary, she was paid 500,000 VND. She also said that the work is quite hard, but because she depends on her family, she chose this job. “When I work at night, I can still take care of my children during the day. As for the day, many people are too busy to go.” Previously, jellyfish were only pickled to become salty jellyfish and then sold in domestic and foreign markets. However, in recent years, in order to increase the value of jellyfish, production establishments have upgraded and processed deeply into instant jellyfish. Jellyfish is rich in nutrients, rich in protein, newspaper, calcium, iron and other vitamins, cool, easy to eat. Currently, 1 year, 31 milk processing establishments across Nam Dinh can supply to domestic and foreign markets about 500 tons of jellyfish. (According to Business and Marketing)

The passenger ship of Harbin Shunhang Jiangshang Travel Co., Ltd. was fully loaded with passengers and left the pier.

On the day of the maiden flight, Harbin Shunhang Jiangshang Travel Co., Ltd. took the lead in operation. It is understood that the company is currently preparing to operate four ships and three routes, namely the ferry route from Shunhang Wharf to Sanlian Wharf, the ferry route from Shunhang Wharf to Sun Island Wharf and one river cruise route. The fare of the ferry route is 2 yuan, and the bus card can be used. The Youjiang route has opened a smooth route to Laotou Bay at a fare of 10 yuan. From 8:00 to 17:00 in the morning, passengers will go with the full, no more than 30 minutes at the latest.

In order to ensure the safety of the citizens on board, the law enforcement officers of the Harbin Taiping Maritime Department have carried out in advance the deployment of ship certificate documents, crew qualifications and performance capabilities, ship power systems, electrical equipment, hull structure, life-saving, and firefighting for all ships in operation. , Anti-pollution emergency equipment and other strict safety inspections, put forward rectification requirements and rectification time limits for the defects found on the spot, and track, supervise and guide the ship to correct the deficiencies in time to ensure that the ship is in a state of seaworthiness and crew competence before the ship’s first voyage. .

Next, Harbin Taiping Maritime Department will initiate various dynamic supervision measures, using on-site supervision, cruise inspection, electronic monitoring, system verification and other methods to implement all-round supervision of the safety and standard navigation of passenger ships to ensure that citizens can board safe ships. , Ping Ferry.

Editor in charge: Calm

Songhua River|Passenger Ship

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The hundred-year-old ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’ in Malaysia is compared to the Leaning Tower in Italy The 19th-century brick and wood building, slightly to the west, is called Teluk Anson, located in Perek, Malaysia. The tower’s design was inspired by Chinese architecture as the majority of the people in the town at that time were Chinese. Leong Choon Chong, Chinese contractor started construction in 1885, late 19th century. At that time, local people contributed to buy watches from JW Benson in Ludgatehill, London, England. The clock on the tower is used to view the time. The tower was tilted after the flood, weakening the ground Although viewed from the outside, the 25.5 meter tall tower looks like an eight story building, but it is actually divided into three floors with a large steel water tank on the top floor. Each floor is about 5 meters high, with a total of about 110 curved steps leading from the ground to the highest floor. After the floods of 1889 and 1895, the tower began to tilt to the northwest due to the weak ground. Furthermore, the weight of the water in the tank contributes to the tower’s inclination. However, the tower will not completely fall over. The watch is donated by local people to buy money Meanwhile, the leaning tower of Pisa in the city of Pisa, Italy started construction in 1173. The tower is 55.86 meters high from the ground up to the lower roof and 56.70 meters to the high side. From the ground up there were 294 steps and the wall of the tower was 4.09 meters thick at the foot of the tower, then gradually reduced to only 2.48 meters at the top. The weight of the whole tower is about 14,500 tons. While under construction, the tower had begun to tilt due to subsidence. To stabilize the tower structure not to continue to tilt, experts have used a number of geotechnical measures to keep the tower in the status quo. Unlike Pisa tower, Teluk Intan Tower in Malaysia used to have the function of storing water for use on site during drought or in case of fire. With its outstanding height, the tower is also a lighthouse to guide ships into Teluk Intan port. After Malaysia won independence in 1957, the tower became a national monument and no longer holds water as before. Today, after so many years, the clock still rings after 15 minutes. The leaning tower is now a symbol of Teluk Intan, becoming even more attractive because of its inclined profile, becoming a popular tourist attraction.

Satellite images recorded by the US company Maxar Technologies on March 23 showed that about 220 Chinese ships anchored near Ba Dau rock in Sinh Ton cluster, infringing upon Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Spratly archipelago. (Source: Getty Images) “Prelude” smooth? The incident of hundreds of Chinese ships gathered in Ba Dau Stone has been attracting the attention of domestic and international public opinion today, especially on China’s intentional motives. Philippine officials and scholars warn, this is a sign that China may be taking on new attempts in the South China Sea, possibly leading to the occupation of this rocky beach as it did with Hoang Nham in 2012. Former judge Antonio De Carpio said that the hundreds of fishing vessels gathered at Ba Dau Stone is likely to be “prelude” for China to occupy this beach as what Beijing did with the Ring Stone in 1995. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Trieu Lap Kien affirmed that Chinese ships are only on this rocky beach to avoid bad weather, and this is a normal practice that has taken place for a long time. China. This spokesman also said that the Philippines calling the ships above as civilian fishing ships was not true. Meanwhile, scholars Andrew Erickson and Ryan Martinson of the US Naval War College analyzed AIS satellite data to prove that there are at least seven of the ships operating in the Sinh Ton island cluster, with the number the branding of each ship is clear, belonging to China’s “armed militia at sea” force. Besides, the group of ships here does not show that these are normal fishing vessels. Regarding the activities of Chinese fishing vessels in the South China Sea at Ba Dau Rock in the Spratly Islands of Vietnam, at a regular press conference on the afternoon of April 8, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said : It is necessary to reiterate that Vietnam has full historical evidence and legal basis asserting sovereignty over the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, in accordance with international law, as well as sovereignty, sovereignty right, jurisdiction over the relevant waters in the South China Sea, established in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982. All forms of propaganda and promotion of contents contrary to historical truth and international law is invalid, can not change the reality of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, as well as the reality of the South China Sea issue. China is against the law of nature Through analyzing satellite image data, observers said, there are at least 3 reasons to believe that the gathering of hundreds of Chinese ships in Ba Dau Stone is not the purpose of avoiding bad weather, and this is also not a long-standing custom of Chinese fishing vessels. first , satellite image data taken from Ba Dau Stone from 2016 up to now shows that hundreds of Chinese ships gathered at Da Ba Dau is a phenomenon that has only started to appear from February 2020. In previous years, Chinese fishing vessels had been anchored sporadically at Da Ba Dau but usually no more than 20 ships, and the ships had never been reassembled into such large structures. Monday According to satellite image data, the phenomenon of China massaging ships and boats mounted into structures at Ba Dau Stone since the beginning of 2020 has lasted for weeks or even months. Such a long gathering period was clearly not meant to avoid bad weather. Moreover, the mass gathering of ships only occurs at Da Ba Dau, while around the Sinh Ton island cluster there are many natural structures, also suitable for ships anchored to avoid weather. bad, but there were almost no ships anchored or sheltered there. Tuesday March and April each year is the quietest time of the year in the Trường Sa area of ​​the year. Vietnamese folk have a saying: “In March, the old woman goes to the sea”, this time is the calm sea season, even the old woman can go to the sea, so ships all choose this time to go fishing. The fact that China used the reasons for bad weather shelter is not only inconsistent with the satellite image data obtained, but also contrary to the natural laws of the area. New salami slicing strategy So what does China mean by gathering hundreds of fishing boats at Ba Dau Rock, with the number of years after the year being much higher than the previous year, as satellite image data shows? Maybe China’s goal is to establish a regular, large-scale presence in the Ba Dau Stone, turn this presence into a “normal” thing, gradually move towards fully taking control and possibly Illegally building and renovating this stone into a new military facility. This will be China’s new salami-sand tactic to effectively expand control of the South China Sea. It is likely that this tactic will use a large number of ships gathered in an area to obstruct the activities of countries, and at the same time, these ships can spread, encircle, harass or impede operations. of other countries in different structures. Professor Alexander L. Vuving of the Center for Asia-Pacific Security Research in Honolulu, USA, said that China may be using a tactic as used in Scarborough Shoal, to blatantly gain control. in the field at Ba Dau rock which has a strategic location. Beijing tried to take the stone in the 1990s, he warns, but with no success, but this time it may be different. Alexander reiterates that Vietnam was the first party to speak out about the Three Heads Stone, opposing China allowing troops to land on that entity in 1992, so China may have changed its tactics. It is also possible that another goal of China is to gather a large number of militia ships here to deter countries in the region during the sea season of fishermen, which is also the season when countries in the region deploy activities. oil and gas exploitation activities. Meanwhile, Grigory Lokshin, a Russian expert on the South China Sea, said that there is no doubt that this is a Chinese political action in response to the meeting of the new Quartet in Tokyo in March. by. And former director of the China Maritime Research Institute at the University of Maritime Warfare Peter Dutton said that Beijing is pressuring US allies in the South China Sea to send the implicit message: “China is strong and will do what Beijing wants, if needed, regardless of previous laws or commitments. Whatever the reason and the motive, China’s gathering of large numbers of ships in the Ba Dau Stone has once again raised concerns about China’s intentional goal in the region, undermining strategic confidence in when the region needs cooperation in economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. This action is also unlikely to be considered a goodwill act in the context of ASEAN and China working to revive the negotiation process of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). This behavior also violates the spirit of the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea (DOC), violates the principle of restraint not complicating the already increasingly complicated situation here, is the main cause of public opinion in the region. and international concerns and criticisms of China over the past time. (According to South China Sea Research)

“The Air Force had a step back in progress with its supersonic missile program when the first test with a propulsion failed. The B-52H bomber took off on April 5 to launch the prototype AGM-183A, but the test bullet could not complete the launch procedure and was safely hung on the plane until it reached the Edwards base ” . Missile AGM-183A onboard B-52H aircraft. The test was to test the performance of the propulsion engine, as well as the detachability of the supersonic surfacing vehicle after the rocket engine stopped working. The warhead is designed to self-crumble shortly after being separated from the engine, helping to minimize the no-fly zone for ships and aircraft. The US Air Force has conducted seven test flights with the missile model AGM-183A to collect positioning data and flight parameters, test the ability to integrate missiles onto the B-52H launch platform and build procedures. commissioned for the first test shot. The AGM-183A hypersonic missile is also known as the “Aircraft Launched Rapid Reaction Weapon” (ARRW). This is one of the supersonic missile programs being developed for the US Air Force to close the gap in this field with Russian opponents. Especially according to the US Air Force’s statement, the AGM-183A possesses many advantages over the hypersonic missile Kinzhal of the Russian Air Force. The US side said that the parameters on Kinzhal of Russia are equivalent to the AGM-48 Skybolt (developed 60 years ago) of the US and far behind the current AGM-183A. The AGM-183A is superior to the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal in that it does not require the launcher to climb to very high altitudes and maintain Mach 2 as the Kinzhal’s speed and still easily reach design specifications. In particular, according to the US Department of Defense procurement advisor Will Roper, the AGM-183A has an impressive speed when it can reach a maximum of nearly Mach 20. It can be seen that the AGM-183A has a much faster speed than the Kinzhal when the Russian missile reaches just above Mach 10. Although not yet launched, but with the aforementioned parameters, the AGM-183A deserves to be considered a rival to Russia’s supersonic weapons today. But for the AGM-183A to enter service, it may take the Americans a long time. Meanwhile, Russia is ready to equip Kinzhal after successive trials of the weapon.