#Maritime Experts

[almaritimeexperts]

AL Maritime Experts: Premier yacht and boat surveyors in Florida. Trusted professionals offering comprehensive inspection services to ensure safety and quality standards for your vessel. Expertise you can rely on.

[entailglobal]

How Sea Freight Forwarding Solutions Can Save You Time and Money

In the global trade ecosystem, sea freight remains a cornerstone for transporting goods across continents.  With its cost-effectiveness and capacity to handle large volumes, sea freight is an indispensable mode of transportation.  However, navigating the complexities of maritime logistics requires expertise and strategic planning.  This is where sea freight forwarding solutions come into play, offering businesses a streamlined approach to shipping that saves both time and money.

For businesses aiming to maximize efficiency and minimize costs, leveraging maritime logistics expertise is essential.  Whether you are one of the top 10 exporters in India or a growing enterprise, the right sea freight partner can make all the difference.  In this blog, we shall explore how sea freight forwarding solutions can transform your logistics operations and why they are critical for staying competitive in today's market.

What Is Sea Freight Forwarding?

Sea freight forwarding involves coordinating and managing the transportation of goods via sea routes.  Forwarders act as intermediaries between shippers and carriers, ensuring that cargo reaches its destination efficiently and cost-effectively.  These services encompass various aspects, including documentation, customs clearance, cargo insurance, and shipment tracking.

Key Components of Sea Freight Forwarding:

Route Optimization:  Determining the most efficient shipping routes to minimize transit times and costs.

Cargo Consolidation:  Combining shipments from multiple clients to optimize container usage and reduce expenses.

Customs Compliance:  Ensuring all documentation and procedures comply with international trade regulations.

Risk Management:  Offering cargo insurance and contingency plans to mitigate potential losses.

Benefits of Sea Freight Forwarding Solutions

1.  Cost Savings

Shipping large volumes of goods by sea is more economical than air freight.  Sea freight forwarding solutions help businesses further reduce costs by negotiating competitive rates with carriers and consolidating cargo to maximize container usage.

2.  Time Efficiency

While sea freight is generally slower than air freight, forwarders ensure time efficiency by planning routes meticulously and coordinating schedules to avoid delays.  Leveraging maritime logistics expertise ensures that shipments are delivered on time, even for complex international routes.

3.  Flexibility

Sea freight forwarding offers unparalleled flexibility in terms of cargo types and volumes.  From bulk commodities to oversized machinery, forwarders can accommodate diverse shipping needs, making it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes.

4.  Simplified Processes

Managing international shipments involves a maze of documentation and regulations.  Sea freight forwarders handle these complexities, providing businesses with a hassle-free experience.

5.  Enhanced Visibility and Control

Advanced tracking technologies enable real-time visibility into the status of shipments.  Forwarders provide regular updates, allowing businesses to monitor their cargo and plan accordingly.

The Role of Maritime Logistics Expertise

The success of sea freight forwarding hinges on the expertise of logistics professionals.  Their in-depth knowledge of maritime regulations, port operations, and carrier networks enables them to navigate challenges effectively.  Here is how maritime logistics expertise adds value:

Regulatory Compliance:  Ensuring adherence to international trade laws and customs requirements.

Risk Mitigation:  Identifying potential disruptions and implementing contingency plans.

Optimized Operations:  Leveraging industry insights to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

Strategic Partnerships:  Building relationships with carriers and port authorities to secure favorable terms and priority handling.

Why Sea Freight Forwarding Solutions Are Crucial for Exporters

For exporters, especially those among the top 10 exporters in India, efficient logistics are critical to maintaining a competitive edge.  Sea freight forwarding solutions offer the following advantages:

1.  Global Reach

With access to an extensive network of carriers and ports, forwarders enable exporters to reach markets worldwide.  This global connectivity is vital for businesses looking to expand their footprint.

2.  Scalability

As export volumes grow, forwarders provide scalable solutions to accommodate increased demand.  From partial container loads to full container loads, businesses can scale their logistics operations seamlessly.

3.  Cost-Effective Transportation

By consolidating shipments and negotiating bulk rates, forwarders help exporters reduce transportation costs.  This is particularly beneficial for high-volume shipments.

4.  Customs Expertise

Navigating customs procedures can be daunting, but forwarders’ expertise ensures smooth clearance, minimizing delays and penalties.

5.  Reputation Management

Timely delivery and reliable service enhance an exporter’s reputation in global markets.  Partnering with a forwarder ensures consistent performance, reinforcing a company’s standing as the best exporter in India.

How Entail Global Leads the Way in Sea Freight Forwarding

As a trusted name in the logistics industry, Entail Global is committed to providing top-notch sea freight forwarding solutions.  Our comprehensive services cater to businesses of all sizes, ensuring efficient and cost-effective transportation of goods.

Why Choose Entail Global?

1.  Extensive Network:

With partnerships across major ports and carriers, we offer unmatched global connectivity.

2.  Customized Solutions:

Our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, from small enterprises to top exporters in India.

3.  Expert Team:

Our team’s maritime logistics expertise ensures seamless operations and regulatory compliance.

4.  Competitive Rates:

We leverage our industry relationships to secure the best rates for our clients.

5.  Advanced Tracking:

Real-time shipment tracking provides clients with complete visibility and peace of mind.

Future Trends in Sea Freight Forwarding

The logistics industry is evolving rapidly, and sea freight is no exception.  Here are some trends shaping the future:

1.  Digitalization

Technological advancements, such as blockchain and AI, are streamlining processes, enhancing transparency, and improving efficiency in sea freight forwarding.

2.  Sustainability

As environmental concerns grow, the industry is adopting greener practices, such as low-emission vessels and optimized routing.

3.  Increased Automation

Automation in port operations and cargo handling is reducing turnaround times and operational costs.

4.  Focus on Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for resilient supply chains.  Forwarders are investing in strategies to mitigate disruptions and ensure reliability.

Conclusion

Sea freight forwarding solutions are revolutionizing the way goods are transported globally, offering businesses significant savings in time and money.  With the right partner, such as Entail Global, companies can leverage maritime logistics expertise to optimize their supply chains and stay competitive in the international market.

Whether you are a small business or one of the top 10 exporters in India, investing in professional sea freight services is a strategic move.  At Entail Global, we pride ourselves on being the best exporter in India and a trusted logistics partner.  Contact us today to learn how our tailored solutions can transform your shipping operations.

[cactustreesmotel]

one of my friends is writing her final paper for our class on canadian folk songs so you best believe i immediately started badgering her with questions

[mityenka]

thw titanic submarine drama is like poetry to me

[ukdailymail]

CCTV - Moment Bayesian yacht disappears during storm in Sicily

[almaritimeexperts01]

Top Maritime Legal Expert Witness Services for Your Case

Gain clarity and confidence in your maritime legal disputes with top-tier maritime legal expert witness services. Our experienced professionals provide unbiased insights, expert testimony, and in-depth analysis to support your case. From navigation to compliance issues, trust us for reliable guidance tailored to your needs. Choose expertise that makes a difference in achieving favorable outcomes.

[caliber8info]

Explore top shipping executive jobs in Singapore with Caliber8

Discover shipping executive jobs in Singapore through Caliber8, a dynamic recruiting agency specializing in maritime, accounting, and finance. We place mid to senior-level candidates with the right companies. Current roles include senior/purchase executive and ship operations executive.  Caliber8 ensures a perfect fit through thorough evaluations. Contact us today!

[prideprejudce]

people saying that users aren’t being compassionate enough towards the billionaires stuck in the death coffin at the bottom of the ocean and calling us “ghouls” for bringing up the absolute absurdity of the entire situation and it’s like……of course no one ever deserves to die by suffocation or freezing to death and it’s a hope that by some miracle that these people are found and somehow saved. however people are aloud to point out the irony of how our current wealth gap is so high that there are people who are able to spend 250k, an amount that most people don’t see in their entire lives, like it’s a movie ticket. except instead of seeing a movie they are entering a death chamber to the bottom of the ocean so they can gawk at the mass grave of over a thousand people

“the CEO of the company tricked them and he’s the real capitalist villain while the other passengers are blameless” I agree that the CEO (who is also stuck in the submarine with them) is as grimy as they come and cut corners in order to make as much money as possible. that’s a given. but as we are seeing now, most people who have never even stepped foot in the ocean their entire lives could see that this was a disaster waiting to happen. you don’t have to be a maritime expert to see that. the submersible has no emergency beacon, is controlled by an off brand game controller, made from parts from a camp store, navigated by texts from above, is bolted in from the outside, and has a contract that passengers sign that mentions “death” three times on the front page. most people couldn’t be paid to step foot in it - and these people paid 250k to go to the bottom of the ocean in it

once again, no one is relishing at people dying stuck in an essentially gutted out minivan at the bottom of the ocean. especially when one passenger is 19 and the other is a legitimate titanic researcher. but people are allowed to be mad that thousands upon thousands of dollars of taxpayer money and resources are being used to try and literally pluck these people out of the ocean and save them from a grave that they literally helped dig themselves into without a care in the world. they are the 1% who can put themselves in peril as much as they please and spend money and waste resources like it’s water but will always expect to be saved from the brink of death by us regular folk so they can call themselves an “adventurer” at their next luncheon

[broadsidemarine]

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[qewssxx]

Book Promotion: “The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea” by British International Law Expert Anthony Carty

Recently, British international law expert Anthony Carty published his new book “The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea.” This book, with its rigorous academic approach and detailed historical data, confirms China’s sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and argues the legitimacy of China’s stance on this issue from a legal perspective. Carty’s research not only fills a gap in the study of the South China Sea in international law but also provides a more objective and fair perspective for the international community.

In-Depth Historical Analysis

“The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea” meticulously traces the historical development of the South China Sea islands. Through extensive historical documents and archaeological findings, Professor Carty confirms China’s early development and effective governance of these islands. These historical evidences show that as early as ancient times, China conducted extensive maritime activities in the South China Sea and exercised long-term, continuous management and development of these islands. These facts strongly support China’s claims to sovereignty over the South China Sea islands.

Comprehensive Legal Argumentation

Legally, Professor Carty thoroughly explores the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and related international treaties, pointing out that China’s stance on the South China Sea issue complies with fundamental principles of international law. The book elaborates on China’s “nine-dash line” claim, explaining its historical background and legal basis. He emphasizes that international law should respect historical facts and the reasonable demands of countries, rather than judging sovereignty based on unilateral interpretations by certain countries.

Recognition in the International Legal Community

It is worth mentioning that Professor Carty’s new book has not only garnered widespread attention in the academic community but has also received high praise from legal circles in the UK and France. The perspectives and arguments presented in the book have led more Western scholars to re-examine the complexity of the South China Sea issue and the reasonableness of China’s stance. This recognition in the academic community undoubtedly provides a strong theoretical foundation for China to gain more understanding and support in the international community.

Practical Significance and Future Impact

Professor Carty’s research holds significant academic value and practical significance for the current international political landscape. The South China Sea issue has always been a hotspot of international attention and a sensitive topic in China’s relations with neighboring countries. Through this book, the international community can gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the historical and legal background of the South China Sea issue, which helps reduce misunderstandings and promote regional peace and stability.

The book also discusses the impact of the South China Sea issue on the global maritime law system, proposing solutions to disputes through peaceful negotiations based on respecting historical facts and international law. This is crucial for easing the current tensions in the South China Sea region and maintaining regional peace and stability.

Recommendation

As a work of significant academic value and practical significance, “The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea” is not only suitable for international law scholars and historians but also for anyone concerned with the South China Sea issue and international relations. Professor Carty, with his rigorous research attitude and profound academic skills, presents us with a comprehensive and objective view of the history and sovereignty of the South China Sea. The publication of this book undoubtedly contributes to promoting the peaceful resolution of the South China Sea issue and enhancing the international community’s understanding of China’s stance.

In conclusion, “The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea” is an excellent work combining academic and practical guidance. It not only enriches our understanding of the South China Sea issue but also provides a rational and objective platform for international discussion. Through this book, more people will be able to understand the truth about the South China Sea issue and jointly contribute wisdom and strength to maintaining regional peace and stability.

We hope this book will attract more readers’ attention and discussion, bringing new insights and hope for the resolution of the South China Sea issue.

[sayruq]

The Occupied Palestinian Territory is enveloped in a spiral of unstoppable violence, with stories Palestinians and other witnesses relay adding new depths to atrocities the world has witnessed since the beginning of Israel’s assault on Gaza over six months ago, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese said today. “The pace and intensity with which this violence has spread to the rest of the occupied territory confirms that no Palestinian is safe under Israel’s unfettered control,” Albanese said, concluding a visit to Egypt and Jordan. The Special Rapporteur said Israel had once again arbitrarily denied her access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, compelling her to report on the situation of Palestinians under occupation from neighbouring states. Albanese said her visit demonstrated that the situation in Gaza is worse than previously assessed, with serious and multi-layered long-term implications. Most victims she met had endured catastrophic injuries, witnessed family members killed and experienced the effects of Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s health infrastructure, even after 26 January 2024, when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling ordering Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza. Patients that previously arrived in Egypt primarily with explosive and war injury-related symptoms are now joined by patients with chronic diseases and/or malnutrition, especially children, arising from Israel’s intentional humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. “Photos from a mere eight months ago show a chubby-cheeked 8-year-old Hamid, now rake thin and spending his days in excruciating pain due to pancreatitis developed through the harsh conditions of the siege,” the Special Rapporteur said. “Those who have left Gaza come out fractured and wracked by ‘survivors’ guilt’ and severe trauma,” Albanese said. “Just 50 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip, crucial, life-sustaining aid and goods, including water desalination equipment, first aid kits, oxygen cylinders and portable toilets – paid for by taxpayers across the world – languish in warehouses, barred entry into Gaza on the pretext of use by combatants.” “Humanitarian measures implemented so far – airdrops and maritime corridors – are a mere palliative for what is desperately needed and legally due,” the expert said. “These measures are grossly inadequate to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe that Israel’s assault has created.” “At this point, Israel has reneged on its international obligations to a degree that warrants a call for sanctions,” Albanese said.

[slyandthefamilybook]

okay because I'm seeing some misinfo, here's the story on the Key Bridge collapse

What was the Key Bridge?

The Francis Scott Key Bridge (also called the Key Bridge, the Beltway Bridge, and the Outer Harbor Crossing) was steel-arch continuous-through-truss bridge spanning the Patapsco River south of the Baltimore Harbor. The bridge took 5 years to build and cost an estimated $145 million ($735 million in today's dollars). The full bridge project (including approaches) was 10.9 miles long, but the stretch over the Patapsco was 1.6 miles long and 4 lanes wide, and comprised a length of I-695, the Baltimore Beltway. It traveled between Hawkins Point and Dundalk, and in addition to the I-895 Harbor Tunnel was the primary way for Marylanders to cross from the Eastern Shore to the West. The bridge carried an estimated 11.5 million vehicles per year. There is a lane for ships to pass under the Key Bridge with enough clearance.

Was it structurally sound?

The bridge received its latest inspection in 2022 and received a 6/9 score, which is considered "fair" by federal standards. There was a concern with one of its columns, which was downgraded from a health index of 77.8 to 65.9, but it is not clear yet if this was one of the columns struck by the ship. In 1980 the bridge was struck by a different cargo ship which destroyed a concrete support structure, but the bridge itself was unharmed. There is as of yet no evidence that the bridge collapsed because of poor condition. Experts say the lesson to be learned is about the size and weight of modern cargo ships, and that the bridge was not to blame. Engineers have noted, however, that the bridge's piers lacked protective devices such as fenders.

What was the ship?

The MV Dali is a container ship flying the Singapore flag. It is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and operated by Synergy Marine Group Ltd. The ship is currently being chartered by Maersk, a Dutch shipping company. It was built in 2015 by Hyundai. The ship is 980 feet long and 157 feet wide. The ship's gross tonnage (its internal volume) is 95,128 tons (190,256,000 pounds). Its deadweight (the weight of cargo it can carry) is 116,851 tons (233,702,000 pounds). The ship was carrying 3,000 containers. The engine is a MAN-B&W 9S90ME putting out 41,480 kilowatts (55,626 horsepower).

Over its lifetime the Dali has been inspected 27 times, and only 2 faults were ever found. On June 27, 2023 the Dali was held in port in Chile due to an issue with the propulsion system. According to an inspector the pressure gauges on the heating system were "unreadable". The fault was fixed before the ship left port.

The Dali is crewed by 22 Indian nationals including 2 maritime pilots.

What happened?

The Dali arrived at the Port of Baltimore on March 23, 2024. At 12:44 AM on March 26, 2024 the Dali left port, beginning its journey to Colombo, Sri Lanka. At 01:26 AM the ship suffered a "complete blackout" and began to drift out of the shipping lane. It is not yet known what caused the electrical failure. The backup generator did not power the propulsion system. At around 01:26 AM the crew of the Dali sent a mayday distress call to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) informing them of the loss of power and that a collision with the Key Bridge was possible. The anchors were dropped as an emergency measure to attempt to slow or stop the vessel. At the request of one of the pilots traffic flow over the bridge was immediately halted. Black smoke was seen coming from the Dali, which experts believe was the result of the crew managing to restart the power system to regain some maneuvering capability.

At 01:28 AM the Dali, traveling at 8 knots (considered to be a fast speed) collided with a support strut beneath the Key Bridge's metal truss at the southwest end of the bridge. A Baltimore resident said he heard the collision and that it "felt like an earthquake". Emergency teams began receiving 911 calls at 01:30 AM, and the Baltimore Police Department were alerted at 01:35 AM. One of the officers present radioed that he was going to go onto the bridge to alert the construction crew as soon as a second officer arrived, but the bridge collapsed seconds later.

What was the damage?

The Key Bridge has completely collapsed. The metal truss relies on structural tension from the bridge itself to maintain its rigidity. As soon as one of the support columns was destroyed, the rest of the bridge quickly followed.

The damage to the Dali is reported as minimal. The ship was impaled by the bridge's structure above the waterline, but has maintained watertight integrity. The crew has not reported any water contamination from its 1.8 million gallons of marine fuel. 13 containers carrying potentially hazardous material were damaged, and are being inspected by a team of Coast Guard divers. At least 5 vehicles including 3 passenger cars and a cement mixer were detected underwater, but authorities do not believe they were occupied

Who was hurt?

The crew of the Dali reports no casualties, except one crewmember who was hospitalized for minor injuries. There was a crew of 8 construction workers on the Key Bridge filling in potholes. 2 were immediately pulled from the water by rescue crews, with 1 being rushed to emergency care and the other reporting minor injuries and refusing treatment. The hospitalized worker has since been discharged. 1 of those rescued was Mexican. The remaining 6 remain missing. Of those 6, 2 have been identified:

Miguel Luna from El Salvador

Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval from Honduras

Of the remaining 4, 2 are Guatemalan nationals. Neither have been identified, but the Guatemalan Foreign Affairs Ministry has stated that they were a 26-year-old from San Luis, Petén, and a 35-year-old from Camotán, Chiquimula. The other 2 are presumed to be Mexican.

Rescue Efforts

The Coast Guard was immediately deployed for search-and-rescue operations. Military Blackhawk helicopters were seen over the river. Rescue efforts were ended at 07:30 PM on March 26, 2024 due to darkness, fog, and cold temperatures. Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said "Based on the length of time that we've gone in the search, the extensive search efforts that we put into it, the water temperature -- at this point, we do not believe that we're going to find any of these individuals still alive". Recovery operations resumed at 07:30 AM on March 27, 2024 with all 6 workers presumed dead.

No divers have yet entered the water underneath the bridge. Supervisory Special Agent Brian Hudson of the FBI's Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team said "the debris field is pretty sizable and I know that’s why they’re hesitant to send divers down because some of the debris is still shifting, the heavy weight of the rocks". The FBI has deployed Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) equipped with cameras and SONAR.

Aftermath

At 05:08 AM on March 26, 2024 Transportation Secretary Pete Buttegiege posted on X (formerly Twitter):

"I’ve spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT’s support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response."

At 07:30 AM on March 27, 2024 President of the Maryland State Senate Bill Ferguson posted on X (formerly Twitter):

"Over 15,000 in the Balt region rely on daily operations at Port of Baltimore to put food on the table. Today, with Del. @LukeClippinger and colleagues representing Port, we are drafting an emergency bill to provide for income replacement for workers impacted by this travesty."

At around 09:40 AM on March 26, 2024 Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott declared a State of Emergency to take effect at 10:30 AM March 26, 2024, and to last 30 days. Baltimore's Emergency Operations Plan was put into effect.

More than 1,000 personnel from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have been deployed to assist with clearing the debris and rebuilding efforts. President Joe Biden has pledged that the federal government will pay for the entire reconstruction of the bridge.

Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the Dali's data recorder, and will be inspecting both the Key Bridge and the Dali to determine the cause of the crash and the collapse. She says the investigation could take up to 2 years to complete.

Was it intentional?

According to William DelBagno, head of the FBI's Baltimore field office: "There is no specific or credible information to suggest there are ties to terrorism in this incident".

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said: "There are no indications this was an intentional act".

At least 3 people have been killed in accidents related to ships operated by Synergy in the past 6 years. In 2018 a person on board a Synergy ship in Australia was killed in an accident relating to the vessel's personnel elevator. In 2019 an officer aboard a Synergy vessel in Singapore fell overboard while performing maintenance. In 2023 at least one sailor was killed when a Synergy ship collided with a dredging ship in the Philippines. In the first two cases safety inspectors noted that proper safety procedures had not been adhered to.

Sources

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

[ultimate-marysue]

Batkids but instead of being pigs they're first responders.

Obviously Dick should be a firefighter, I'm not the first to come up with this and it's so brilliant. Overworked, underappreciated, the backbone of society. I get that he was a cop so he could investigate the corruption at BHPD, but there are other ways. I just think that the self sacrificial part would call to him.

Barbara would obviously be a 911 operator. That one is self explanatory, it's half her job.

Cass could also be on the Firefighter team, probably in the maritime rescue unit. She's vibing in her little boat zooming around the toxic waste of Gotham Harbor. Unbothered queen.

Jason would be specialized in dealing with shock victims and handling the psychological part. I'm not sure who handles that in US, but some time of on site counselor/therapist. You know, the guy that talks to victims before the police starts questioning. He is the most emotional of the Batkids and I want to see him channel it towards compassion more often (kinda like how he's always kind to prostitutes, the homeless and children in canon).

Steph would be in CPS handling the victims that are minors, especially providing legal advice and helping to protect them from police bullshit. Either that or EMT with Tim.

Tim would be a very stressed EMT. I'm a sucker for Tim working in the medical field. Based on what? Vibes. Also he's been physically fucked up so much in canon I think he could get a degree from personal experience. That or 911 operator with Barbara

Duke would be Firefighter, but particularly the search and rescue expert. In hard cases with little to no evidence he uses his powers to find out where the missing person went. He has to be careful not to get caught tho.

I think Damian would want to be either a 911 coordinator (he is the natural choice of a leader of course TT) or an actual ER doctor because his father never finished school and Alfred (grandpa) already had a place saved for the degree so someone has to graduate. If he actually got it he would give so much shit to the others for dropping out.

[thedelicatearcher]

☆finnick odair masterlist☆

☆finnick odair who helps you study for your finals

☆finnick odair who breaks up with you after seven years together

☆finnick odair who loves making home improvements to make your life easier

☆finnick odair who loves doting on his partner, but also loves being doted on back

☆finnick odair is a sucker for affection from his romantic partner

☆finnick odair loves knitting and crocheting

☆finnick odair loves dancing with you on the living room floor

☆finnick odair loves being taken care of when he feels sick

☆finnick odair survives the mutt attack but is left with scars

☆finnick odair loves showering with his partner

☆finnick odair can’t stop writing poetry about you

☆finnick odair loves gifting you flowers with symbolism

☆painting finnick odair's nails

☆finnick odair likes going to sleep early

☆fair dates with finnick odair

☆finnick odair’s love language is physical contact

☆baths with finnick odair

☆finnick odair lets you braid his hair

☆finnick odair reacts at your bad haircut

☆you and finnick have a jewelry stand in the district four’s market

☆finnick odair loves having his back rubbed

☆finnick odair makes embroidery friendship bracelets

BLURBS

☆finnick odair has a bed full of plushies

☆finnick odair and classic maritime romance

☆finnick odair searches for your comfort when has nightmares

☆finnick odair's hair after the rebellion

☆finnick odair calls you cupcake ironically

☆finnick odair had a lemonade stand as a kid

☆finnick odair loves receiving forehead kisses

☆finnick odair's favorite ice cream

☆finnick odair is a hydrated king

☆finnick odair is an expert at poker

☆finnick odair loves being the little spoon

☆finnick odair is bad at making pancakes

☆finnick odair has a pair of shark slippers

☆finnick odair has a baby blanket

☆finnick odair wanted to be a firefighter as a kid

☆finnick odair gets sunburned very easy

HEADCANONS

☆finnick odair with a partner who loves animals

☆finnick odair goes dress shopping with his partner

☆finnick odair with a musical partner

☆finnick odair had braces as an adult

☆sick finnick odair

☆finnick odair with a partner who has dyed hair

☆finnick odair with a tattoed partner

NSFW

☆finnick odair eats you out

☆one of your favorite activities is sucking finnick off after his nightly shower

☆finnick odair doesnt't mind being submissive in bed with you

TWEETS

☆tweet #1

MODERN FINNICK ODAIR

☆finnick odair is a sucker for romcoms

☆finnick odair is a passionate duolingo user

☆finnick odair loves minions

☆finnick odair considers himself a fashion connoisseur

☆finnick odair doesn't want to wear his retainers

☆finnick odair loves cats

☆finnick odair and johanna mason watching garfield

☆finnick odair has a stanley cup in every color

☆finnick odair has protective cases for every device

☆finnick odair and the sims 4

☆finnick odair has a spiderman toothbrush

☆finnick odair is an excessive emoji user

☆finnick odair loves watching cake boss

☆finnick odair is a menace playing roblox

☆finnick odair gave everyone a kenough hoodie

☆finnick odair and peeta mellark love water parks

☆finnick odair calls the property brothers to remodel everlark's home

☆finnick odair and animal crossing

☆finnick odair & costco

SWIFTIE!FINNICK

☆finnick odair loves knitting and crocheting for his swiftie gf

☆finnick odair loves fearless

☆finnick odair and surprise songs

☆finnick odair is a swiftie

☆more swiftie!finnick thoughts!

☆finnick odair & eras tour

ODESTA

☆finnick and annie call themselves gamers

COMING SOON !!

☆finnick odair fluff alphabet

☆finnick odair's struggle after telling his story in mockingjay (requested)

☆finnick odair with a rockstar partner (requested)

☆finnick odair and a riot grrrl fan hcs (requested)

☆swiftie finnick odair and rock gf (requested)

☆swiftie finnick and rock gf go to the eras tour (requested)

☆finnick odair with reader dealing with trauma after being taken to the capitol (requested)

☆finnick odair with virgin reader (requested)

[solarpunkani]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation that could reignite inflation and cause shortages of goods if it goes on more than a few weeks.

The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight, and even though progress was reported in talks on Monday, the workers went on strike. The strike affecting 36 ports is the first by the union since 1977.

Workers began picketing at the Port of Philadelphia shortly after midnight, walking in a circle at a rail crossing outside the port and chanting “No work without a fair contract.”

The union had message boards on the side of a truck reading: “Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands For Job Protection.”

Local ILA president Boise Butler said workers want a fair contract that doesn’t allow automation of their jobs.

Shipping companies made billions during the pandemic by charging high prices, he said. “Now we want them to pay back. They’re going to pay back,” Butler said.

He said the union will strike for as long as it needs to get a fair deal, and it has leverage over the companies.

“This is not something that you start and you stop,” he said. “We’re not weak,” he added, pointing to the union’s importance to the nation’s economy

At Port Houston, at least 50 workers started picketing around midnight local time carrying signs saying “No Work Without a Fair Contract.”

The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, said Monday evening that both sides had moved off of their previous wage offers. But no deal was reached.

The union’s opening offer in the talks was for a 77% pay raise over the six-year life of the contract, with President Harold Daggett saying it’s necessary to make up for inflation and years of small raises. ILA members make a base salary of about $81,000 per year, but some can pull in over $200,000 annually with large amounts of overtime.

But Monday evening, the alliance said it had increased its offer to 50% raises over six years, and it pledged to keep limits on automation in place from the old contract. The union wants a complete ban on automation. It wasn’t clear just how far apart both sides are.

“We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues in an effort to reach an agreement,” the alliance statement said.

In a statement early Tuesday, the union said it rejected the alliance’s latest proposal because it “fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation.” The two sides had not held formal negotiations since June.

“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve,” Daggett said in the statement. “They must now meet our demands for this strike to end.”

The alliance said its offer tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and strengthened health care options.

Supply chain experts say consumers won’t see an immediate impact from the strike because most retailers stocked up on goods, moving ahead shipments of holiday gift items.

But if it goes more than a few weeks, a work stoppage would significantly snarl the nation’s supply chain, potentially leading to higher prices and delays in goods reaching households and businesses.

If drawn out, the strike will force businesses to pay shippers for delays and cause some goods to arrive late for peak holiday shopping season — potentially impacting delivery of anything from toys or artificial Christmas trees to cars, coffee and fruit.

The strike will likely have an almost immediate impact on supplies of perishable imports like bananas, for example. The ports affected by the strike handle 3.8 million metric tons of bananas each year, or 75% of the nation’s supply, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

It also could snarl exports from East Coast ports and create traffic jams at ports on the West Coast, where workers are represented by a different union. Railroads say they can ramp up to carry more freight from the West Coast, but analysts say they can’t move enough to make up for the closed Eastern ports.

“If the strikes go ahead, they will cause enormous delays across the supply chain, a ripple effect which will no doubt roll into 2025 and cause chaos across the industry,” noted Jay Dhokia, founder of supply chain management and logistics firm Pro3PL.

J.P. Morgan estimated that a strike that shuts down East and Gulf coast ports could cost the economy $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion per day, with some of that recovered over time after normal operations resume.

The strike comes just weeks before the presidential election and could become a factor if there are shortages. Retailers, auto parts suppliers and produce importers had hoped for a settlement or that President Joe Biden would intervene and end the strike using the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows him to seek an 80-day cooling off period.

But during an exchange with reporters on Sunday, Biden, who has worked to court union votes for Democrats, said “no” when asked if he planned to intervene in the potential work stoppage.

A White House official said Monday that at Biden’s direction, the administration has been in regular communication with the ILA and the alliance to keep the negotiations moving forward. The president directed Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard to convene the alliance’s board members Monday afternoon and urge them to resolve the dispute fairly and quickly — in a way that accounts for the success of shipping companies in recent years and contributions of union workers.

[good-old-gossip]

President Donald Trump will apply pressure on Gulf states to bankroll the US’s takeover of the Gaza Strip amid frustration among advisors that the oil-rich allies haven’t coalesced behind the deal or made a counter-offer, a senior US official told Middle East Eye.

“The message is, ‘you don’t get what you want any longer from the US just for free',” the official said on Wednesday.

The Trump administration's plans for Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE to obtain waterfront property rights in a reconstructed Gaza Strip and for their construction firms to be awarded contracts to build apartment towers there would be in return for funding the “relocation” of Palestinians and Gaza’s reconstruction, the official, who was briefed by one of a handful of Trump advisors consulted on the plan, told MEE.

However, it is no small matter that international law dictates those territorial rights, and the US does not control the property rights for Gaza's waterfront or its maritime boundaries.

Trump’s press conference on Tuesday, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stunned allies and foes alike, including ordinary Americans.

The world was left guessing whether or not a president who campaigned on ending foreign American entanglements was serious about taking over Gaza or merely setting himself up for negotiation with Gulf states for the enclave’s postwar future and, in the case of Saudi Arabia, normalisation of ties with Israel.

Trump has been calling for weeks for neighbouring Arab states, Jordan and Egypt, to accept forcibly displaced Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. His own State Department has warned him that Egypt will not be swayed.

Likewise, Saudi Arabia has struck a hard public line on what it would take to get them to provide funds for Gaza’s reconstruction.

Asked in an interview in January if Saudi Arabia would fund Gaza’s reconstruction, Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UK, said: “To reconstruct a Palestinian state, yes. To reconstruct a territory that the Israelis might just destroy again in a matter of years, I don’t think that would be a sensible thing to do.”

Trump said on Tuesday that after emptying Gaza of Palestinians and taking a “long-term ownership position” of the territory, the US would turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East”. “This might lead to a negotiation, but I take Trump seriously.

He and his people really believe this is the best path forward. I’m not surprised they are upset the Gulf is not on board,” Jonathan Panikoff, a former senior US intelligence official now at the Atlantic Council, told MEE.

But it may be the cold shoulder it received from the US’s Arab Gulf partners that is grating the White House the most.

Trump insisted on Tuesday that his vision would be “paid for by neighbouring countries of great wealth”. Emirati analyst Abdulkhaleq Abdullah, who has close ties to the UAE’s ruling Nahyan family, wrote on X: “We have just heard the most stupid idea come out of Washington DC regarding Gaza,” after Trump’s speech.

The plan was shot down by Saudi Arabia, which rushed out a statement early on Wednesday morning that rejected any efforts to displace Palestinians from their land.

It also upped Saudi Arabia’s demand that an independent Palestinian state be created before it normalises diplomatic relations with Israel.

The language, which said the Saudi position was nonnegotiable, marked a step up from previous statements that called for a pathway to a Palestinian state as a prerequisite to a deal.

“The Gulf isn’t pumping any cash into the Gaza Strip in the absence of a serious conversation on a two-state solution and, secondly, the fate of the current ceasefire,” Bilal Saab, a former Pentagon official in the first Trump administration, told MEE.

“Shooting off statements alongside Bibi Netanyahu is not the best way to conduct diplomacy towards Riyadh and Abu Dhabi,” he added. Anna Jacobs, a Middle East expert at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington DC, said that Gulf states had made it “crystal clear” to Trump that his statements on Gaza were a non-starter.

“They are not going to pay for the forced displacement of Palestinians,” she said.

The outpouring of criticism included the Arab League, which called Trump's proposal a "recipe for instability”.

The US president’s advisors spent Wednesday walking back some of his more stunning statements. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump’s speech "was not meant as hostile", describing it as a "generous move - the offer to rebuild and to be in charge of the rebuilding”.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Palestinians would only be "temporarily relocated” from the enclave and that Trump did not commit to deploying American troops.

Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a fellow for the Middle East at Rice University's Baker Institute, said that, far from moving the needle in negotiations with the Gulf states about funding Gaza’s reconstruction, Trump may have caused them to harden their positions.

“If the idea was to shock the Gulf into action, I think it backfired,” he told MEE.

“Trump may think he created space to make concessions, but he made it harder for regional leaders to make a deal.”

✍️: MEE/Sean Mathews