More than 100 major cargo ships are currently sitting idle in Singapore .......

..... waiting for something to do and somewhere to go.

Port Of Baltimore Getting Rid Of Less Cargo
Reporting: Mike Schuh, BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―

Last year, the Port of Baltimore broke records for the amount of cargo to pass through its docks. This year, though, those numbers are in decline. The weak world economy has fewer shipments coming or going. Mike Schuh has more.

The effect of the world economic slowdown is easy to see hovering over the bay aboard Sky Eye Chopper 13. Heavy chains keep massive cargo ships secured to the floorbed of the bay. Seven ships are here Monday.

"This is very unusual to have this many ships, up to 10 ships anchored in the Annapolis channel right now," said Richard Sher.

A year ago, this channel would be empty or would have one or two ships at most waiting for orders, waiting to steam somewhere to pick up cargo, waiting for the economy to need them again.

For instance, one ship was turning away business a year ago. Now, it's floating off Annapolis for three weeks, waiting for its next load coming out of Baltimore.

"To have a ship that's left the Port of Baltimore and not have a next destination for it is pretty unusual," Sher said.

Business is still happening. Nearly a dozen large ships were berthed in Baltimore. With the sales of autos plummeting, dealers are ordering fewer cars and more are piling up on the docks.

Before the recession, there would be an average of 47,000 cars parked. Now that's swelled to 57,000. They're looking for space to park even more.

"And it's certainly a direct reflection of the economy. Demand is certainly not what it was pre-recession for a number of different cargo communities," Sher said.

Why anchor here? It's more sheltered than open ocean and, more importantly, berthing at a pier costs money and takes up valuable bulkhead. These parking spaces are free of charge.

Industry observers feel even more of these ships will land in limbo before things get better.

As unusual as it seems to have all those ships moored here, the problem is much worse in Singapore. There, over 100 ships are floating idle, waiting for orders.




http://wjz.com/local/port.of.baltimore.2.971658.html

What we are seeing is the result of last years gas prices. The number one killer of the economy was those inflated prices that scared people and took all their extra money.

Electrical generation numbers are down, too, it's just the slower economy.

So, with fewer things to ship and truck and manufacture, we're spewing less CO2 and other G.H. gasses.

Ahhhhhhhhhh. :P