Canal

Canal pilot: " Captain, you need to plot a course up the port side or the starboard side of the canal, but you can't do both."

Captain : "Hold my beer!"

Evergreen,

Ever Given, "bridging the gap between Asia and Africa since last Tuesday".

Gapping the bridge.

Ever Given, "Gapping the bridge between Asia and Africa since last Tuesday".

Fixed it for you

I don't known if it is that

I don't known if it is that black edge down in the right hand corner or what but I swear it looks like very well done models cut off at the water line and sitting on a piece of tinted ripple  glass. Is that just me or does anyone else see it? Last I read, they might have it free this weekend.

Michael: Yes I can see it.

Looking at it carefully as you describe, I can see that it could be a diorama, with the black hull/railing at the lower right looking sort of like a black fascia.

Weathering

Not a lot of weathering to the side of the hull.

Sand storms in that part of the world are horrific, and I'm not at all surprised this happened that one blew a ship sideways in the canal.

Both ship and containers look

Both ship and containers look pretty clean, yes....    one of the first articles about this said that the ship lost power due to the sandstorm...   at that point, controlling it would be hopeless.

I wonder if they can put a large crane on a barge and offload to either a barge or the side of the canal....    going to be a long, tough job if they have to do that!

I was going to criticize...

If this were a model, I'd offer the criticism that this is unrealistic. Only a Swift ship would be able to mess up this poorly.

stuck

I wonder if my Bowser Alcos are stuck on that ship

It’s just a metaphor

Scrape

Did you notice that big scrape down the side of the ship in the first picture?

Heading where

This ship was heading to European ports so has no impact on USA deliveries. I would think most of our model rail stuff comes in via the Western ports of the USA and Canada. The 200-300 ships stacked up behind it however may have an impact but read that other than oil the USA shouldn’t be impacted that much. However, the canal being blocked has a huge impact on the US Navy.

I read this morning the stern moved 2” and all the surrounding boats and nearby ships blew their horns in celebration. In these Covid times, it’s the little things that count!
 

Tom

TomO - Europe only?

Tom, the Suez canal is a shortcut from the far east to the east coast of the USA. Ships typically do not round trip between just 2 ports, they bounce between many ports. When I was servicing IT infrastructure on oil super tankers in the port of Rotterdam, the captain was explaining their routes and they literally would go all over. Rotterdam back to the UAE via Suez, to the USA east coast via Suez, back to UAE, to west coast USA, back to UAE, etc. And they would take the shortest routes avoiding rounding the Cape so they can due to the longer trip time, frequent bad seas and the risk of pirates off the coast of several African countries.

All those ships waiting for the canal to reopen are going to run behind on those multi hop schedules which will be a ripple effect on global shipping.

Yep

Europe for the ship that is struck. Supposedly per reports no USA stops.

I did write though that the 200-300 ships behind this May have an impact.

TomO

To Michael and Brian

Michael:  When I was employed at a window company I discovered tempered rippled glass intended for shower doors that would be perfect for water.  The only thing, there was a definite repetitive pattern in the glass.  This would not be so noticable if your details and structures on the waterfront drew most of your attention.  The waves in the photograph are way to random.  Keep on thinking "outside the box"

Brian:  I to have a Bowser RS-3 on order.  Did you see at the end of this month's MRH in the new release section where Bowser announces starting production with shipping this summer?  There's a short video punching out a cab.  It's been a long wait for sure.  I'm not sure where it's being made.  Possibly right here in the USA

Here is the real

Here is the real question.

How many model trains will be late to market because they are stuck in a container stuck in the Suez Canal?

Partially unstuck

You could use any method to make the water. I just saw that black rail in the bottom right corner and it looks like a table edge or fascia and now I can't "unsee" it as a diorama. Anyway, I just heard they have it partially unstuck.

Well, it’s under way now,

Well, it’s under way now, being towed for inspection. But a week delay in all that shipping will have a huge effect worldwide. 
 

Fairly certain

Bowser makes their models in China like most others.  I'm also quite certain that all North American (MR) manufacturers get their products over the Pacific from China so no immediate impact for us. However, the ripple effect of all those ships stuck at sea for a week will likely have some impact on products that were to come in the next few months.  

I'm not as sure

I'm not as sure. It is a question of transportation costs door to door. It is an easy comparisonbetween both coasts of ship transport to port and than land transportation to final destination. There is a good chance with todays cost structure that ScaleTrains in Tennesee, Bowser in Pennsylvania, and Atlas in New Jersey get their product via gulf or East Coast ports.

About 50% of containers from China to East Coast port go via Suez Canal.
Regards, Volker

North America

Will still be impacted somewhat, both due to those multi-hop trips, but also due to sub-components for things made in Europe, ships that are now behind schedule for other runs that may include the US, etc. Although our supply chains are so screwed up right now due to COVID that it probably won't be that much worse in most cases.

I thought more stuff went the Panama way to the US East Coast now that the new Panama Canal is a thing? It would be faster to unload everything in LA/Long Beach and run it by rail, but that's completely clogged up now too, so they can't handle it all.

Volker

All I know is that Rapido (based on Ontario) will post updates of their shipment and they generally land in Prince Rupert or Vancouver and go cross country on the train.  I'm sure I also saw a posting from ScaleTrains that their product came through LA and across.  I just assume Bowser would be the same, but I can't say with certainty.

success

One of the tug captains involved was quoted as saying "We pulled it off". 

Now I know the origin of that phrase.

AlexW: I thought more stuff

In normal times it would be the fastest way. Even with the delays at West Coast ports it still may be faster as the difference in transit times by sea alone can be 10 to 15 days depending on ports. But moder railroad items aren't perishables.

From a cost viewpoint it wouldn't make much sense. A report from 2017 statet container rail transport costs of $5200 for Long Beach to Chicago and $7500 for Long Beach to Newark/New York. https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/comparing-maritime-versus-railway-transportation-costs

In september 2020 it was even worse: Los Angeles to Atlanta, Dallas, and Chicago $7,500 on the spot market including a surcharge because of container shortage of $1500, for small shippers $10000: http://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/up-raises-surcharge-to-5-000-for-small-shippers-in-los-angeles

I don't know what the model railroad importers do, only what I would do.
Regards, Volker