Y2K will make shipping suffer

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

http://www.silicon.com/public/door?REQUNIQ=939234334&6004REQEVENT=&REQINT1=33207&REQSTR1=newsnow

Wednesday 6 October 1999 5:26pm

P&O says Y2K will make shipping suffer

The shipping industry in the developed world could suffer a worse Y2K problem than developing nations, according to a report from Anglo-Dutch shipping group, P&O Nedlloyd.

The company claims the complexity of computer systems, power supplies and telecommunications systems could mean more modern vessels will be hit harder than the simpler systems in developing world countries.

P&O's research identifies ship propulsion systems and dockside cranes as two particularly vulnerable areas. The report also warns that consumer panic over the date change could induce a glut of pre-millennium transportation requests.

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@Y2KOK.ORG), October 06, 1999

Answers

And the developed nations won't be able to ship hybrid seed and fertilizer and pesticide to the less developed nations and their farmers, and the farmers won't be able to plant a crop in 2000. We taught them to buy hybrid seeds and stuff from us, as part of the Green Revolution in the 1960's.

Nations that think they don't depend on computers might still depend heavily on the computerized systems in OTHER countries. If Y2k glitches stop 3rd world countries from planting the crops, you have several billion people at risk of famine. That's the REAL danger of Y2k, which I've been hollering about since February 1997. That's why I've seen no reason to change my prediction of up to 300M dead of famine in 2000. Sure hope I'm wrong, but I don't see any evidence yet.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), October 06, 1999.


Hmm, no, I think that was February 1998. Gotta check my archive.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), October 06, 1999.

Aw, come on, bw, can't all of those third world countries just go "back to manual"???

Sorry, you are absolutely correct about the Green Revolution having been a VERY two edged sword. And Y2K is not the end of the problem, because a very large percentage of native species of food plants, as well as varieties of grains and vegetables that were extremely well adapted to local conditions have become extinct because of the shift to standardized, hybrid seeds.

-- mushroom (mushroom_bs_too_long@yahoo.com), October 06, 1999.


It is interesting that I just planted som cassava (manioc, or tapioca) yesterday and gave additional cuttings to several co-workers. These aren't green revolution plants...just old reliable sources of starches. We will have a stock (source) of rapidly growing food plants about the middle of next year...when it could be very helpful. Or else, we'll have a LOT of bodacious tapioca pudding!

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), October 06, 1999.

Mad Monk, I LOVE tapioca! Could I induce you to send some cuttings to Virginia?? Would it grow there?

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), October 07, 1999.


What is P&O so worried about? They can contact the Washington State Ferry System and find out how to do manual propulsion like the ferries said they were practising... Cruise anyone? The double rates that many cruise companies are charging must be to pay wages for the oarsmen...

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.xnet), October 07, 1999.

Old joke, from on-board a Roman galley:

"Slaves, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you all will be issued double rations of food and drink this morning."

[Everyone cheers!]

"The bad news is that the captain wants to go water skiing this afternoon..."

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), October 07, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ