Thank you, Rich. It's rare for me to wish an article here would provide more details, more follow-up, more words.

Thanks for that last paragraph. In past lives, I have worked driving a garbage truck and a tow truck, the latter contracted with the police and highway patrol as well as for AAA.

Neither job is paid particularly well (both jobs started out below $15 an hour). Both are absolutely essential to the functioning of modern civilization. What do you think happens to the flow of goods you depend on if no-one hauls away the trash? Or clears away a wreck on a highway? Cities would shut down very quickly without either of these (or a myriad of other) essential jobs being done.

Yet we treat these workers like crap. The towing job was particularly bad, being scheduled to work 10 hours a day, five days a week, being paid by the vehicle towed (and at the mercy of a dispatcher to get you work), with no overtime paid, thanks to a loophole.

This is the number one big reason why I am a leftist: I recognize that there are a lot of people performing absolutely essential functions that deserve far better than what "the market" says they should be paid for their time.

Very enjoyable read! Loadmaster must be a f*ck of a job! Sheesh.

90% of everything travels by ship (and barge) yet in spite of this most people no little of the shipping industry (there are even people who wonder why Seattle should even have a port!)

Consider the following

Recently departed Senator John McCain never missed a chance to bash the Jones Act

Most ships in the world are Flag of convenience (FOC) yet most people have no idea what that means or why it matters

Changing the ship U.S. Flag provision of the Food For Peace program would cost many U.S. Seafarers their jobs.

Sea shipping the the greenest mode of transport

Shipping is cheap.

U.S. Seafarers make good wages, even for entry level workers

There are 6 state Maritime colleges in the U.S. (California, Maine, Massachusetts, Texas, New York and Michigan) and one Federal School (Kings Point in NY)

You don't have to attend a maritime college to get into the industry

If you want jobs in the fishing industry or on tug boats or other types of work boats Seattle Central's school in Ballard is excellent.

You couldn't live the life you live without the shipping industry

Pretty sure that's a Top Pick, not a forklift.