http://www.vny.com/cf/News/upidetail.cfm?QID=120505

Y2K stockpiling boosts LA port traffic

Friday, 15 October 1999 20:16 (GMT)

(UPI Focus) Y2K stockpiling boosts LA port traffic LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15 (UPI) - Cargo containers continued to flow through the Port of Los Angeles at a record pace, in part because of importers beefing up their inventories ahead of potential Y2K problems, port officials said Friday. "Imports are arriving in particularly high volumes, reflecting the port's busiest-ever holiday shipping season and inventory buildup by some companies as a defensive strategy in case of Y2K-related problems," Al Fierstine, director of business development for the port, said in a news release. The port handled 336,936 20-foot cargo containers, known as 20-foot- equivalent units (TEUs), in September. It was the fifth consecutive month above 300,000 containers. The September figure was up 16.2 percent, or 46,957 TEUs, over September 1998. "The consistent improved performance by exports this year compared to 1998 also indicates that the economic recovery in most of Asia is proceeding well," Fierstine said. The marine industry relies on computers for nearly all phases of operation, including the handling of ships, communications, navigation and the handling of cargo at ports. The U.S. Coast Guard requires vessels leaving and arriving in U.S. ports to undergo Y2K testing of vital systems, and to have crewmembers standing by during the transfers of oil and chemicals. "Any system with embedded microchips could produce erroneous data," The coast guard said in a recent Y2K release. "This could lead to marine casualties; traffic control problems; and loading and unloading problems." -- Copyright 1999 by United Press International. All rights reserved. --

Copyright 1999 by United Press International

-- Helium (Heliumavid@yahoo.com), October 15, 1999

Answers

I knew they was selling a lot of China Diesel gennys, but this is rediculous.

MFU

-- Man From Uncle 1999 (mfu1999@hotmail.com), October 15, 1999.

Good.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), October 15, 1999.

Paula,

You always say the right thing!

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), October 15, 1999.

And the downside of all this is... The US trade deficit for the next announced month is going to be MONSTROUS.

As if we didn't need any more bad news to help the stock market, like the 30-year bond yields (which show that Greedspin is seriously BEHIND the curve...must be true about that article on Gold-Eagle questioning his being senile).

For a measly few bucks, you too can get the scoop on where the DJIA will fall to, at least in the short-term.

Go to www.wavechart.com and sign up.

He's been nailing the turns for over the past year to within a fraction of a %!!!!

Talk about synchronicity. The site's chartist's name is ELLIOT (one T).

-- profit_of_doom (doom@helltopay.ca), October 15, 1999.