Exploring the Secrets of Shipping: From Unsinkable Cats to Loading Containers

Have you ever wondered how containers on a cargo ship remain intact throughout the whole journey? Let us answer this question and tell you about other cool ship facts.

Unsinkable Sand Sam was a cat who survived three ship sinkings. Originally named Oscar, he earned the nickname "Unsinkable Sam" after the first ship he was on sank and he was found floating on a board by the crew of another ship. He survived another ship sinking in 1941 and was then saved by yet another ship. The animal's marine journey ended when he was sent back to the UK. The story of Unsinkable Sam may be a hoax, but it is clear that sailors loved cats and welcomed them on their ships because they were not only cute but also effective at hunting rodents.

Did you ever wonder how ships get internet in the middle of the ocean? It's actually made possible through satellites, as there are no towers or cables around. To have a direct internet connection, ships install specific hardware which is quite expensive. The installation charges for the entire ship's internet are around six hundred dollars, and the hardware price varies depending on the ship's size and internet usage. Although wireless devices are also available, they can only access the internet when they're close to ports or other places where networks are available.

The Titanic was known for its luxurious amenities, even having its own newspaper called the Atlantic Daily Bulletin. This newspaper had news articles, advertisements, the latest stock prices, daily menus, horse racing results, and society gossip, making it a giant floating hotel for its passengers.

Fueling a ship is not as simple as filling up at a gas station. Ships use different types of oil for different purposes and the process of loading fuel onto a ship is called bunkering which happens at ports. Tankers are utilized for the storage and provision of the ship's fuels. Currently, Singapore is the world's largest bunkering port.

When you're on a cruise ship and need to use the toilet, it's important to know what happens next. The sewage is sent to an onboard treatment plant where it's filtered and cleaned. Once it's sterilized, the waste is then released into the ocean. Any substances that don't go through the filter are kept on the ship until it reaches a port for disposal.

To reduce the amount of wastewater produced on a cruise ship, solutions have been developed over the years. Each person on a cruise ship uses 40 to 50 gallons of water per day, which can add up quickly. To make it easier, wastewater is color-coded. Black water comes from toilets, while gray water comes from laundry, showers, kitchens, and other sources. Gray water is generally considered to be cleaner than black water.

Ships move slowly due to the drag force of the water. This drag force increases with the size of the ship, which means that larger ships require more power to move forward. When a ship moves forward, it displaces water, creating a bow wave that carries away some of its kinetic energy. This is why huge cruise and cargo ships need a lot of power to move.

However, some solo travelers have managed to sail around the world on their own. For example, Laura Decker became the youngest person to sail around the world solo in 518 days using a 40-foot-long catch named Guppy. She was only 14 years old when she started her journey.

Loading containers onto a cargo ship is like playing Tetris, but you can't start over once you're done. It's a costly process. The first layer must be strong enough to support the rest. The bottom containers, also known as the first tier, are secured with twist locks. These locks automatically secure the upper-level containers, just like Lego pins. All containers have these lock systems, and you stack them on top of each other. Cargo ships have vertical slots made of long metal rails, which are like cells that hold containers.

The world of shipping is fascinating. From the stories of Unsinkable Sand Sam to the logistics of bunkering and loading containers, we hope you found these ship facts interesting.