Cheetahs on a Plane

A Delta baggage worker got a bit of a fright before Halloween when she opened a jetliner's cargo door and found a cheetah running loose amid the luggage. Two cheetahs were being flown in the cargo area of a Boeing 757 passenger flight from Portland, Ore., to Atlanta on Thursday when one escaped from its cage, Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton said Friday.

"They told us a large animal had gotten out of a container in the cargo hold and they were having to send someone to tranquilize it," said one passenger, Lee Sentell of Montgomery, Ala.

He said luggage was delayed, but baggage handlers promised to send his bags to him in Alabama.
The good news for passengers: The escaped cheetah didn't damage any of their luggage.

The airline summoned help from Zoo Atlanta, and experts rushed to a closed airport hangar and tranquilized the escaped animal and took both big cats to the zoo.

Both 1-year-old female cheetahs were on their way from the Wildlife Safari Park in Winston, Ore., to the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, Memphis Zoo spokesman Drew Smith said in an e-mail. He said the two cheetahs will stay a few days at the zoo in Atlanta until the Memphis Zoo gets a team together to fetch them.

The cheetahs are on loan to the Memphis Zoo, but Smith said he wasn't sure how long they would stay there.

The Associated Press Copyright 2009 (October 31st 2008). Cheetahs on a plane: Animal gets loose in cargo hold during flight, gives baggage worker a scare. ABC News [online] abcnews.go.com. Available from: SOURCE [Accessed 24 July 2009].

Australian B-Triple Baseline dimensions and loads

As im attempting to cover the local B-triple debate regularly, for any curious international reader please find this quick snap shot I've taken of the diagram from the Smart "Blueprint B-Triple specifications sheet" a document by the National Transport Commission Australia. The document provides specifications for a B-Triple that is deemed to satisfy Level 3 Performance Based Standard Requirements.

For the full version pdf document download please click here

Author unknown (July 2007). Blueprint B-Triple specifications sheet. National Transport Commission [online] ntc.gov.au. Available from: SOURCE [Accessed 23 July 2009].

Air conditioning will not be fixed in time for this summer

(July21st, 2009). Air conditioning will not be fixed in time for this summer. Channel 10 News [online] Youtube; courtesy of user: VictorianTrainDebacle. Available from: SOURCE [Accessed 22 July 2009].

Brumby promises 'cool' summer trains

Victorian Premier John Brumby has boldly ruled out any heat-related disruptions to trains this summer, even though the train operators say there is no point fixing the problematic air conditioning.

In January and February, 3,830 metropolitan trains were cancelled and thousands more delayed as a record heatwave gripped the state.

Air conditioning breakdowns were blamed for many of the cancellations and the government now admits it is responsible for upgrading cooling.

But doing so would cost tens of millions of dollars and require cancellations, so passengers will instead be forced to sweat it out in stifling carriages, an upper house inquiry into last summer's disastrous meltdown heard on Tuesday.

Asked by reporters if more heat-related train disruptions were likely this summer, Mr Brumby simply said "no".

More than half of Melbourne's metropolitan trains, run by private operator Connex, have air conditioners that "trip" when the temperature hits 34.5 degrees.

The government's top transport bureaucrats told the inquiry upgraded air conditioners would be trialled this summer but not across the entire troubled Comeng fleet.

Connex boss Jonathon Metcalf said it would cost tens of millions of dollars to take the trains out of service and replace their air conditioners and wiring.

"Recognising that these trains are sort of heading towards 30 years old ... is that a really good, sensible use of limited investment? And the answer ... is almost certainly no," he told the inquiry.
"Given the choice of cancelling a train or keeping a train in operation to the end of that morning peak to avoid cancellations and disruption - that seems to make a lot of sense."

Connex will not have to deal with the fall-out of packed, hot trains, anyway. Its contract to run the trains expires in December and has not been renewed.

Hong Kong-based Metro Trains will take over the network in December.

Secretary of the Department of Transport Jim Betts said the air conditioning glitch in the Comeng trains, which represent 92 of the 165 strong fleet, had been known since the trains were commissioned in the 1970s.

But it only became a major problem in the recent heatwave.

Mr Betts admitted upgrading the system was the responsibility of the government, not Connex.
"It's entirely appropriate that the government should fund the capital works on the rail system because it owns it, it regulates it and ... it is accountable for the performance of the system."
Mr Brumby said the entire public transport system is being upgraded.

"We're building a system to cope with more extreme conditions," he said.
"I'm confident that you'll see continuing improvements as we move through the year."

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the government would have to shoulder the blame for more train disruptions this summer unless it wanted to "cook the people on board".
"There is no other avenue for the government or the operator to go other than to take this type of action," he said outside the inquiry.

Author not specified, G (21 Jul 2009).Brumby promises 'cool' summer trains. The Sydney Morning Herald [online] smh.com.au. Available from: SOURCE [Accessed 21 July 2009].

USS Cole Recovery

October 2000, the USS Cole was attacked by suspected terrorist group Al-Qaeda. A 40 foot by 40 foot hole was blasted into the portside, killing 17 U.S Sailors.

After a two year long operation, the five hundred and fifty foot long Aegis equipped destroyer returned to its fleet in April 2002.

From my perspective, the logistics involved in between were to say the least an amazing effort.

Owners at the time, Offshore Heavy Transport of Oslo, contracted the heavy lift ship to the Navy to quiet literally carry the wounded destroyer from Yemen back to the United States.

The Norwegian MV Blue Marlin was chosen because it was conveniently located close by in the Persian gulf after dropping a pair of specialized Mine hunting ships from Texas.

The Blue Marlin remains one of the world's largest heavy lift ships. Later on in 2004 it went on to move a 60,000 tonne Oil platform, followed by a massive sea-based X band Radar in 2005.

Once the Norwegian lift ship was selected and dispatched, the race was on for the Navy to work alongside the recovery team to design custom made mounting blocks and gigantic restraining straps to secure the load. When the drawings were complete construction was off sourced to a local Dubai Ship builder; whom installed the components on the Blue Marlin before it left for Yemen.

On Arrival, Blue Marlin opened its Ballast Tanks, submerging the entire deck so that the Aft towers and house were only visible above sea level. Tug boats then maneuvered the USS Cole in a position above the Marlins underwater deck.

Once everything was in place the Ballast tanks were emptied slowly so the deck would rise and meet the hull of the destroyer placing it gently in the custom built mounting blocks. The entire lift procedure took approximately 24 hours.

Like me if you were wondering why the USS Cole was stowed on an Angle, the purpose was to protect the Sonar Dome mounted on the very front of the destroyer’s bow, by letting it overhang the Marlins deck.

The contract cost the Navy US$4.5 Million dollars, a skeleton crew aboard the destroyer remained on board for the long voyage home to the United States.

One key issue that may draw attention, is the fact the world’s most advanced military force, does not have its own heavy lift ship of this size and capability, could having to outsource internationally pose a problem in the future ?

-Matt

Photo courtesy of US Navy (31 October 2000). NAVSEA [online] dcfp.navy.mil, Available from: SOURCE [Accessed 22 July 2009].

Bathtub V

Bathtub V from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

B-TRIPLE TRUCKS ON TRIAL

B-triple trucks could travel through Colac this year as part of a Victorian trial.

A spokesman for Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said the State Government expected a trial of B-triples to “begin in coming months.”

“VicRoads is still working on determining the routes for the trial,” the spokesman said.

The government announced its plan to consider introducing 36-metre long B-triples last August.

Information leaked from Mr Pallas’ office identified Colac as a possible route for the trucks.

Colac Roadsafe chairman Cliff McAliece and Member for Polwarth and opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder have raised concerns about the Princes Highway’s ability to carry the trucks safely.

Mr Pallas’ spokesman was unable to confirm yesterday whether Colac was in the current list of possible B-triple routes.

Howden-Chitty, G (22 May 2009). B-Triple Trucks on Trial. Colac Herald Page 2 [online] terrymulder.com.au. Available from: SOURCE [Accessed 19 July 2009].

Venice a Logistically Challenged City?

Just a few of the snaps I took when I visited Venice in June 2008.
Main railway that connects the mainland to the Venice archipelago of 118 connected islands.

Single drive Volvo Globetrotter pulling a tri-axle refrigerated semi waiting at the docks to board a Ferry to Greece.

This image was taken from the top deck on board the Minoan Ferry (cruise ship if you ask me)

As we were leaving Venice through the main canal; an Iveco Taught Liner with dog trailer being moved by some sort of barge with hydraulic ramps.

Rear shot of one of the loop ferrys to Greece; they have loading ramps at either end.

From the Middle deck of the Minoan Vessel looking down port side at the vehicles waiting to board.



Logistical Challenge Post (18 July 2009). Venice a Logistically Challenged City? No enforced Copyright as such, but I would much appreciate if permission was requested for use of the photos elsewhere -Matt