Brilliant writing as ever. My friend was a fire man ( sorry outdated term but he was a fire service worker and male). He died of cancer relatively young I suspect because of constant occupational exposure to carcinogens. These men and women are outstanding and they put their lives on the line for us. So grateful
The 'hazard' warnings writ large on the ship's superstructure are in response to the regular occurrence of fires in bulk cargoes (not, as Angus correctly identifies, containers, which are usually very safe, as they are sealed). Bulk can be any manner of materials, but is often powdery chemicals, which can easily self-combust due to "hot spots" in the cargo. Powders and their vapour like dust can often be very inflammable. Fires in scrap meanwhile are even more dangeous, as the materials are often mixed - rubber tyres are one of the most noxious.
But even more obnoxious is the lack of real journalism any longer. Commercial radio has all but dropped it, the BBC have whittled it down and I don't think the press hs been serious about real local journalism for any years, preferring to copy from social media. Such a shame, its part of the culture of local life.
Brilliant writing as ever. My friend was a fire man ( sorry outdated term but he was a fire service worker and male). He died of cancer relatively young I suspect because of constant occupational exposure to carcinogens. These men and women are outstanding and they put their lives on the line for us. So grateful
Brilliant Angus, If you're ever interested in the late Alderman Laurie Johnson, hit me up.
I follow you on X, though it depresses me every time I go on there.
The 'hazard' warnings writ large on the ship's superstructure are in response to the regular occurrence of fires in bulk cargoes (not, as Angus correctly identifies, containers, which are usually very safe, as they are sealed). Bulk can be any manner of materials, but is often powdery chemicals, which can easily self-combust due to "hot spots" in the cargo. Powders and their vapour like dust can often be very inflammable. Fires in scrap meanwhile are even more dangeous, as the materials are often mixed - rubber tyres are one of the most noxious.
But even more obnoxious is the lack of real journalism any longer. Commercial radio has all but dropped it, the BBC have whittled it down and I don't think the press hs been serious about real local journalism for any years, preferring to copy from social media. Such a shame, its part of the culture of local life.