The Ghost Fleet of the Recession - Singapore

[Endojoe]

Although many of them are shrinkwrapped and sealed in order to preserve them in the event they ever should be need to be restored to flight status, you're right, it is very unlikely they'll ever end up being used for anything more than spare parts, target drones or, ultimately, beer cans.

[c_a_otoole]

I havent been over to Singapore for a few year but used to go in there all the time to load (oil tanker) and there are always a ton of ships there anchored even when things are booming.

Chris

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Endojoe

Although many of them are shrinkwrapped and sealed in order to preserve them in the event they ever should be need to be restored to flight status, you're right, it is very unlikely they'll ever end up being used for anything more than spare parts, target drones or, ultimately, beer cans.

Historically there are about 1200 aircraft parked in various deserts at any one time. The numbers are currently up a few hundred which is significant. Older aircraft with older technology and lower efficiency often do not come out of storage and there is a thriving parting out industry. Newer aircraft will come out of storage as the economy picks up.

I have friends in shipping. There are lots of boats parked. I don't really notice more or fewer on anchorage but the observation that many of them are not moving is accurate.

Just eyeballing waterlines, in previous years it was about half and half loaded (waiting to unload) and unloaded (waiting to load) now it seems they are predominantly high in the water (unloaded and waiting)

A friend told me that one of the vagaries of shipping is that they do longer range planning - i.e. what routes and where will capacity be needed "next" year. They got it quite a bit wrong for 2009 which is why in some ares there is overcapacity (lower costs) and other areas where freight is still at a premium because they got the mix wrong. They are loathe to ferry empty ships around to meet capacity needs.

Interesting stuff.