“the reason the ships aren’t unloaded is because the containers are empty,”
Why would that happen? Couldn’t we tell that because the ships would be higher in the water?
“Why would that happen? Couldn’t we tell that because the ships would be higher in the water?”
I was thinking that. They still have to carry containers, since there’s literally nowhere to store them (just as there’s only dock space for 10%, at most, of the ships).
As to waterline levels, certainly higher if empty, but how much higher. The containers aren’t exactly feather-weights, but I can envision a lot of cargo being lightweight (and some cargo being very heavy). It might not be that much difference in displacement.
The things that gets me suspicious are the following:
1. Huge blackouts across China
2. The virus on the downswing in the US and most of the world.
3. No real reason for shortages now, where shortages would have made much more sense 6 months ago when the US opened up, back when many thought the vaccines were real.
It just doesn’t add up to me...why now?
“the reason the ships aren’t unloaded is because the containers are empty,”
That would explain the global effort to adjust and falsify their plimsoll line markers so authorities and casual observers would have no idea if they were full or empty - Which is not unheard of, especially shipping going to Africa.
Operators have been known to repaint their depth markers to avoid corrupt charges, taxes, snd other fees in just about every port on that continent.
Call the local Marine Safety Offices and ask...
Empty Intermodal Containers are shipped back to China.