Topic: Containment

An estimated 20,000 shipping containers have been lost at sea over the last 15 years, often due to rough weather. Retired ecologist Russ Lewis describes finding items like Crocs and tennis balls washed up on Washington State beaches following a 2020 spill. The World Shipping Council reports that 250 million containers are shipped annually, but enforcement of reporting lost cargo remains difficult.

The hosts share personal stories about dreaming of their work, leading to an anecdote about a former job at Trailmobile inspecting cargo containers for ships. They discuss the superstition that dreaming about a job is a sign it is time to quit.

Francisco Scaramanga is congratulated for winning the art contest for Episode 1700 with a piece featuring automated shipping containers. The artwork is described as having a "pastelian" and "grungy" aesthetic typical of the artist's style. The hosts encourage listeners to participate in the twice-weekly competition via the No Agenda Art Generator website.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey agrees to dismantle a makeshift border wall made of shipping containers following a federal lawsuit. Simultaneously, the Biden administration opens bids for $400 million contracts to close gaps in the official border wall. The hosts characterize this as a "scop" where one wall is removed to make way for a more expensive, politically connected version.

Observations of massive freight trains in California, some exceeding 130 cars in length, spark a discussion on global logistics and the "Belt and Road" initiative. The sheer volume of cargo containers moving through the state highlights the scale of international trade and the potential for illicit trafficking within the global supply chain.

Ottawa Police implement a "surge and contain" strategy, deploying concrete barricades to manage the trucker occupation. Officials and media warn that the demonstration is becoming a volatile occupation that threatens access to local hospitals.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the program from Texas Hill Country and Northern Silicon Valley. They discuss local logistics, including a massive train carrying cargo containers east from California ports. The conversation shifts to the availability of fresh seafood in landlocked Texas, specifically a martini and oyster bar in Hill Country that receives its stock via truck.

The global supply chain is facing a "logistics nightmare" due to labor shortages and shipping container delays, affecting products from back-to-school supplies to Lunchables. The Financial Times reports that new energy efficiency rules for 2023 have led shipping companies to take older vessels out of service. This reduction in fleet capacity has exacerbated the current logjam at international ports.

A report from Huntington Beach, California, notes 29 container ships waiting outside the Long Beach port. The hosts mock Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for using the terms "she-session" and "she-covery" during a speech, labeling the wordplay as nonsensical and embarrassing.

The global supply chain continues to face "container dislocation" and glitches in freight load boards. While lumber prices have dropped 40% from their peak, other sectors like microchips and Wi-Fi modules are seeing massive price hikes due to hoarding. The situation is compared to the 2011 Thailand floods that caused a similar spike in hard drive prices.

Union Pacific suspended inbound international container shipments to Chicago for one week starting in July 2021 to clear a massive backlog at the Global 4 terminal. The railroad cited labor shortages and pandemic-related restrictions at customer facilities as the primary drivers of the congestion. These delays have resulted in a critical shortage of chassis and drayage capacity during a period of high shipping demand.

The cost of 40-foot shipping containers has reportedly spiked from $1,000 to over $20,000 in some regions, a 33% increase in the last six months alone. The South China Morning Post reports that "quasi-military commanders" are now overseeing supply chains in China, leading the hosts to suspect intentional disruption of global trade.

Residents of Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound are complaining about the noise and visual obstruction caused by massive container ships anchored offshore. While NPR reports suggest these ships are servicing companies like Apple and Costco, it is noted that the "COSCO" branding on containers refers to the China Ocean Shipping Company, not the American retailer.

A truck driver in the Chicago area reports that Amazon is hoarding shipping containers at its distribution facilities, paying $1,000 daily fees rather than releasing them. This practice is creating a bottleneck for smaller companies that cannot afford to maintain their own pools of containers. Mechanics are reportedly resorting to welding and taping old scrap containers to keep them in service.

A major COVID-19 outbreak in China has led to the shutdown of the Yantian shipping port, causing a massive backlog of cargo vessels. This disruption threatens global supply chains, as the port handles a significant percentage of exports to the U.S. and Europe. The crisis is exacerbated by a global shortage of empty shipping containers, which has driven up freight rates significantly.

A report from Northern Silicon Valley notes a significant increase in cargo containers arriving from China, with 144 cars observed daily. Despite this high supply, consumer prices remain elevated, leading to a discussion on "shrinkflation." This phenomenon involves manufacturers reducing product sizes, such as crab cakes at Whole Foods, while maintaining or increasing prices to offset pandemic-related production costs.

A report on the California Zephyr train reveals an unusual increase in car count, reaching up to 140 cars with five engines. Observations of container cars show a high volume of shipping activity from companies like Maersk and various Chinese entities. This surge in rail traffic suggests a massive movement of goods or materials across the United States.

Dame Carol Ann is promoted to Baronetess of Hatchet Ranch and promotes her son's website, firearmstrainingcentral.com. Michael Bernstein of Mutual Wind discusses his business selling turnkey shipping container houses for the Airbnb market. The hosts praise the architectural design of the container homes but decline to put renderings in the show notes.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the program discussing the smoke conditions in Northern Silicon Valley caused by regional wildfires. Dvorak reports that the three major fires are approximately 80% contained, crediting firefighters and favorable wind conditions for preventing further damage.

The State of New York established a one-mile containment zone in New Rochelle to curb a high concentration of COVID-19 cases linked to a local synagogue. The National Guard was deployed to the area, though officials clarified their role is limited to logistical support, such as delivering meals to students and cleaning facilities, rather than military policing. New York State also reported its first death, an 82-year-old woman with pre-existing emphysema.