At 13:49 10/26/2000, David Marshall wrote:
>I guess this could be true - but there is there fair share of storms on the
>Pacific and crossing the Atlantic as well.  The sea container ships that I
>have seen look pretty sturdy to me!  Who knows what reason it might be -
>this is all speculation as we aren't there! :)

Ships are sturdy indeed, mostly anyway.  But the amount of free energy
floating around at the air/water interface is potentially so enormous that
no vessel can withstand it.  Completely aside from mechanical troubles,
shipping companies pay good money to outfits who attempt to predict weather
and sea conditions and generate routes for a given trip that finds the best
or avoids the worst.  When a hurricane or typhoon comes, the prudent ship
runs away, early and often.  Many ships have survived hurricanes; many have
not.  On average over the last 50 years or so, one ship of 100 tons or
greater has been lost at sea from all cause *about every day and a half.*

david

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"