Letters to the province, October 27, 2021: rough seas for container ships

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Container losses, ship fires, and the general trend of increasing ship sizes, making ships more difficult to control and salvage along with more cargo and ships to lose or damage, have conspired to create a increased exposure to disasters.

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Efforts to deal with containers lost overboard is a relatively new area, but should be given a higher priority. Clearly, there is a need to strengthen the regulatory review of lashing equipment used to secure containers to ships.

While regulations may take time to implement, these things always happen, immediate actions can occur, such as improving container controls and systems for placing dangerous goods to prevent fires. Interestingly, until a year ago, there was, on average, a container ship fire every two weeks, even though the numbers have dropped slightly in the last year. Still, affirmative action alone will help keep the industry afloat, as close calls have become all too common.

William Perry, Victoria

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Re: Safety fears follow Dr. Bonnie Henry, even during Royal Victoria’s run

I read in The Province that Dr. Bonnie Henry participated in one of the races that took place in Victoria. She had to have two bodyguards behind her, because they have received death threats and her house is under 24-hour security. That angers me. Henry deserves a break from his thankless job as a medical director.

If you were in a career like that and met a politician or some other celebrity, you would act respecting their right to privacy. I congratulate Henry for finishing first in his age group.

Vaughan Evans, Vancouver

Re: Vancouver Mayor Proposes Again Allowing Six Homes On Single Family Lots

Mayor Kennedy Stewart has revised his proposal for up to 2,000 city lots to create sustainable neighborhoods and affordable options. After seeing a picture of such a house in the newspaper, it reminds me of a Malvina Reynolds song, “Ticky Tacky Little Boxes”, which refers to the row upon row of those houses that look the same and all the residents look like go to school, work and socialize in the same way.

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Is this what we really want for our beautiful city? Give us some credit for wanting to express ourselves in a more varied and creative way.

Ruth Enns, Vancouver

Re: COVID-19: Hope Restaurant Closes Its Doors As Fraser Health Seeks Court Order

If a restaurant chooses not to comply with health protocols, doesn’t it make you wonder what other rules and laws they are not obeying?

Customers have the option of entering a non-compliant business or not, but workers do not.

Jerry Steinberg, Surrey

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