Pulitzer prize-winning author Eric Nalder originally wrote a Seattle Times article on the dangers within the shipping industry. That experience just whetted his appetite to learn more about it, which led to this book.
In Tankers Full of Trouble (387.245 NAL), Nalder takes us on board the Arco Anchorage, a huge vessel for hauling oil. It's so large that five stories of the tanker are below water. He's able to wander through the corridors and report his conversations with the crew.
We are given a brief history of the tanker. There is the conflict between the engineers who want to make the ship as safe as possible, yet as light as possible so that it can carry as much cargo as possible. Because of the different standards set up by a number of associations who cerify the ships, a company may go through another country which uses a more lenient inspection.
Considering all the flaws in the shipping industry, I am amazed that he was given permission to actually be a passenger on the Arco Anchorage.
c Waterloo Public Library 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment