darkemeralds: A round magical sigil of mysterious meaning, in bright colors with black outlines. A pen nib is suggested by the intersection of the cryptic forms. (Default)
darkemeralds ([personal profile] darkemeralds) wrote2005-04-29 04:20 pm

At anchor today in Stumptown

The Lihai, a bulk carrier of Liberian registry, has been tied up at the Steel Bridge grain elevator the last couple of days. It's a big hulking ugly thing, neglected by its ship mom and ship dad. A cave troll of a ship.

At the port of Hong Kong in 2002 it was cited for a gyro compass malfunction, and for the rottenness and detachment of a lifeboat mast. A fire extinguishing pump was not working, and the ship had no written safety procedures.

A commercial diving firm lists Lihai International--the ship's operating company--as a client, probably just checking the rusty hull of ships still afloat, but it makes me wonder how many they've sunk.

The name "Lihai" would appear to be Chinese li4 hai5, "formidable," or as someone said, "could only be adequately translated as 'badass.'"

The good ship Badass. Now depositing rust in the Willamette River.

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