Harry Valentine

Author and Researcher

Mr. Valentine has a degree in mechanical engineering from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada specializing in thermodynamics (energy conversion) and transportation technology. He has worked as a technical journalist for the past 10-years and has more than 2 decades of research in the transportation industry.

On May 8, 2018, President Donald Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum ordering the reinstatement of harsher sanctions against Iran.

On-Going Middle East Tensions Affecting Asian – European Trade

By Harry Valentine 2019-05-14 02:28:35

The alleged damage sustained by Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf is escalating political tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran, also between the U.S. and Iran. These tensions have the potential to adversely affect regional trade as well as future maritime transportation. Introduction For the past several years, political – religious tension has prevailed between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia and Iran are also competing oil producing nations. Political tension between Israel and Iran is the result...

Ongoing Advances in the China – European Container Trade

By Harry Valentine 2019-05-12 02:12:33

Today, the largest container ships afloat carry international trade between several Chinese ports to several European ports, sailing at comparatively low speeds. While super-size ships incur very low transportation costs per container, the extended time-durations-in-transit between Eastern Asian and Western European ports has prompted a segment of the market to seek faster delivery of containers. Railway lines extend across Russia between borders with China and with Europe, but Russian trains operate on a different railway gauge to China and Europe...

Brazil’s Maritime Industrial Transportation Opportunity

By Harry Valentine 2019-04-18 17:45:48

Brazil’s coastline of some 3,000 nautical miles includes several large cities in a layout that makes Brazil the ideal location to develop, manufacture and operate maritime transportation technology that could also have international market potential. Introduction While Russia is internationally recognized in high-speed maritime transportation technology courtesy of their construction and demonstration of the Caspian Sea Monster ground-effect plane, Russia is also at a disadvantage in terms of testing, demonstrating, domestically operating and improving a commercial version of such technology....

Credit: Maple Leaf Adventures / Jeff Reynolds

Small Cruise Ships Sailing Pacific Coastal Channels

By Harry Valentine 2019-04-04 17:38:03

While the cruise ship industry builds larger and more attractive ocean going cruise ships, owners of small cruise vessels have discovered and are developing a market for travelers who seek an alternative maritime cruising experience. Introduction While a great multitude of travelers enjoy the amenities and attractions offered aboard the mega-size cruise ships, a market has emerged for the owners of small vessels that offer a very different kind of maritime cruising experience. One coastal region of the world offers...

Examining Ship Engine Failures on Stormy Seas

By Harry Valentine 2019-03-25 00:39:31

When the Viking Sky encountered difficulty and an engine shut down in the storm off the Norwegian coast on Saturday, the freight ship that sailed to its assistance through identical wave conditions also experienced an engine shutdown, raising the possibility of common factors having caused engines to shut down aboard both ships. Could excess seawater have entered the engine air intakes of both ships and caused both engines to have shut down? Would there be a future need for air/water...

International Ports Capable of Serving Mega-Sized Winged Ships

By Harry Valentine 2019-03-14 18:38:24

Large-scale wing-in-ground effect vehicles that carry priority freight internationally will require arrival terminals and special water runways along which to accelerate in order to transfer into ground effect mode. The coastal world offers numerous suitable locations. Introduction There are possible market applications for large-scale ground effect transportation technology capable of carrying containers internationally on both overnight transportation service as well as extended-distance trans-oceanic service. A market niche is emerging for overnight freight transportation service between many pairs of coastal cities...

South Africa’s Evolving Case to Increase Coastal Shipping

By Harry Valentine 2019-03-09 19:52:33

In recent years, South Africa has downsized its domestic railway freight network with the closure of many branch lines, and now long line-ups of big trucks carry coal to some of South Africa’s coal-fired power stations. So, like many other African nations, South Africa’s economy depends on truck transportation. The increasing number of heavy trucks carrying freight over long distances has taken a toll on South Africa’s deteriorating road network while the crime rate has escalated in response to high...

Magnetic North Relocation and Future Maritime Navigation

By Harry Valentine 2019-02-23 19:05:12

Recent scientific reports have advised about magnetic north drifting toward Siberia, and steps are being undertaken to assist international transportation in regard to directional accuracy. The combination of relocation of magnetic north, carbon induced global warming and a possible cyclical reduction in solar energy output has numerous implications that can affect future shipping and even future trade. Introduction Scientific studies undertaken into the earth’s history have revealed several extraordinary occurrences of long ago. During an earlier time of perhaps 10,000-years...

Current Economic Opportunities at the Strait of Gibraltar

By Harry Valentine 2019-02-16 18:40:07

The combination of weather driven, climate driven and oceanic dynamics has caused a continually flowing water current at the Strait of Gibraltar. It has been revealed in data pertaining to rainfall and evaporation in the region and offers future ocean-based economic development opportunity in the region. Introduction A televised nature documentary has revealed that evaporation across the Mediterranean Sea removes three times the volume of water as the combined volume of rainfall over the sea and rivers flowing into the...

Ports Competing for ULCVs Along North America’s East Coast

By Harry Valentine 2019-02-14 17:33:05

When ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) of 18,000-TEU capacity first entered service, very few major ports could berth and provide service to them. At present, several East Coast ports that include Jacksonville, Savannah, Ports of Virginia, Baltimore and Philadelphia have been developed to berth and provide service to neo-Panamax size of ships. While South Carolina Ports Authority has authorized the deepening of the navigation channel to Leatherman terminal to 52 feet (16 meters), the authority would be wise to recognize the...