RILEY-SHERMAN SHIPPING AGENCY, INC.

Tell me how you really feel Social media is a problem for people like me. It is not The Good Lord’s fault, somebody forgot to give me a filter, and graced me with strong opinions even on topics for which I am not a subject matter expert. As a small business owner, I have avoided the Facebook, Twitter, TikTok craze, and only created an account in  Linkedin, so I could keep track of where my business colleagues and clients were. Managing the likes/dislikes, and comments requires intense scrutiny to ensure no controversial comments are made, or feelings offended that would affect our business or personal reputation. This leads to an avoidance of controversial subjects, which also means, we can no longer have an educated discourse, with the ability to resolve issues. The art of discussion, as well as the ability to take facial/body cues on how the subject matter is being received has been lost in this new way of communication (anybody ever have an IM taken the wrong way?).  How do you express your true opinion on your social media? Do you write something, and delete it several times before posting. Or do you contain yourself to just likes? Also do your daily face to face communications now reflect the way you communicate on Social Media?  Do you actually stop and think about how something will be received, and edit accordingly, prior to speaking? Look forward to your comments on this.

Great Books to know and grow your maritime history Am I the only one who pulls out a book while I am waiting for my ship to come in (tongue in cheek, LOL)? Much of my knowledge of the Mississippi River and navigation as a whole have come from a few fascinating reads. 1.      Rising Tides by John M. Barry – a history of the Mississippi Levy System and how it was shaped by the politics and natural disasters of that time. It is a riveting story, which does not shy away from the darker aspects of the Jim Crow laws, or the decisions to flood poorer districts to save commercial districts in New Orleans. It also includes descriptions of the incredible feats of engineering and manpower of building a levy system, during the dawn of the Industrial revolution. Highly recommend for anybody working the Mississippi River 2.      Blind man’s bluff by Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew – a riveting explanation of newly declassified material detailing the deadly game between the Soviets and the United States, all played out underwater 3.      The Terrible Hours: The Greatest Submarine Rescue in History by Peter Maas – details the safety innovations created and still in use by the maritime industry today 4.      Shoutout to the IMO history book titled “Safer Shipping, Cleaner Seas” -   A Celebration of 75 years of IMO. Have not read it yet, but hoping somebody gives it to me for Christmas (hint Hint) 5.      Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain - his numerous essays about navigating the river.  Best Book Ever

Dali Container Crash onto the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge. Some key points: 1. Very unfortunate for Britannia P&I Club and associate member owners, since the vessel entered the P&I almost two weeks ago. 2. Bridge Team Management and Pilot interaction prooved an important issue. 3. The fact that the bridge had no artifical islands arround the legs is an important factor that needs to be assessed in existing and future bridge constructions. Artificial Island technology, and know-how, has probably been a 40 year expereince, so far. This was part of my Ph.D. at the University of Glasgow, on the Forth Road Bridge Assessment, 30 years ago!!! 4. Any rumors about vessel lack of seaworthiness is doubtfull, considering the reputation of U.S. Coast Guard. 5. Lets wait first for the collection of evidence. Very curius to see the incident investigation output. #synergy #containercrash #Baltimore #USCG

Appreciate all my friends and co-Workers acknowledgement of RSSA's 24 years in business. I am fortunate to live and work in the United States, where a person may start a business, and with hard work and perseverance still be in business 24years later. Even with the tough Covid years and -42.00 usd/bbl oil, with the help of our employees, our clients, and the US administration at that time, we were able to keep our heads above water and come out the other end. I am well aware, having been born and raised in other countries, that the unique opportunity to own a business is not always available, regardless of work ethic - so I am always aware of how important it is to appreciate what we currently have. It may not be perfect, but for my personal experience, it is the most opportune. Please note my thanks to all that sent personal congratulations. If I have missed you, it was not by choice, but oversight only. I am just blessed to have so many acknowledge.

Gulf Stream Slowdown - For the last several years, the number one comment made by Mariners to our local industry, is about the changes in the currents when entering the Gulf of Mexico, making the estimated time of arrival to their destination ports more difficult. For a meteorological hobbyist, who as an industrial necessity, follows any changes in maritime weather closely - I am having difficulty discerning who is reporting the true science of this phenomenon and who is merely expounding their theories for clickbait. But I can say the direct reporting by mariners is enough to be warning of changes currently happening, even without scientific data being applied. The weakening of the Gulf Stream or AMOL "Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation" (https://lnkd.in/gX3VqWEq), if as imminent as the headlines state today, would have an immediate effect on trade/economic/geopolitical planning for the next century. For those not in the Maritime Industry, the Gulf Stream currents are utilized to facilitate economy of use of bunkers while transiting the Atlantic, and enabling a fast transit (much like an airport conveyor belt), if following a defined route as the same current. A longer voyage, with more bunkers consumed makes transportation of cargoes automatically more expensive, adding to the final cost of the delivered product. If indeed our conveyor belt is slowing down, trade projections need to be modified, economies redefined, and planning made to safely prepare our new transit lanes for the global marine trade, which I am sure the major trade partners have already started to organize. It would be interesting to hear from the Master Mariners readin in, on their opinions of same, and how they think this will affect the future of shipping.

Gulf Stream Slowdown - For the last several years, the number one comment made by Mariners to our local industry, is about the changes in the currents when entering the Gulf of Mexico, making the estimated time of arrival to their destination ports more difficult. For a meteorological hobbyist, who as an industrial necessity, follows any changes in maritime weather closely - I am having difficulty discerning who is reporting the true science of this phenomenon and who is merely expounding their theories for clickbait. But I can say the direct reporting by mariners is enough to be warning of changes currently happening, even without scientific data being applied. The weakening of the Gulf Stream or AMOL "Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation" (https://lnkd.in/gX3VqWEq), if as imminent as the headlines state today, would have an immediate effect on trade/economic/geopolitical planning for the next century. For those not in the Maritime Industry, the Gulf Stream currents are utilized to facilitate economy of use of bunkers while transiting the Atlantic, and enabling a fast transit (much like an airport conveyor belt), if following a defined route as the same current. A longer voyage, with more bunkers consumed makes transportation of cargoes automatically more expensive, adding to the final cost of the delivered product. If indeed our conveyor belt is slowing down, trade projections need to be modified, economies redefined, and planning made to safely prepare our new transit lanes for the global marine trade, which I am sure the major trade partners have already started to organize. It would be interesting to hear from the Master Mariners readin in, on their opinions of same, and how they think this will affect the future of shipping.