USS Little Rock & the Geopolitics of Asia Pacific

A Fast & Lethal Vessel Named Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

Launch of the USS Little Rock (LCS-9)

(Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/18/politics/new-navy-ship/)

“LCS is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore (littoral) environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat asymmetric ‘anti access’ threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines, and fast surface craft”. So says a U.S. Navy fact file on LCS.

Just recently, LCS made news when USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) sailed in the South China Sea where the Chinese are building facilities on the Spratly Islands, a group of islands claimed by China, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei. Apparently, U.S. and Chinese interests are not completely aligned in Asia-Pacific.

 

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Maritime Oil Spills: A Disaster in Decline

Oil Tankers: An Essential Commodity

For a world used to doomsday theories, here is a whiff of fresh, green air. Maritime oil spills have rapidly decimated in the past quarter century despite the steady increase in oil trading since the mid-1980s. 2014 recorded the lowest number of spills in the last 25 years.

Firefighting @ Oil Spill Fire

(Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/8812598/10-largest-oil-spills-in-history.html)

Since 1970, the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) records statistics on accidental oil spills from tankers, barges, and combined carriers. The ITOPF however does not maintain a database of spills caused by acts of war.

Maritime oil spills are an environmental disaster with the effects lingering on for decades. Plus they are bad for the economy and wreck havoc on the tourism industry. Regulators, government, and the industry deserve accolades for creating and maintaining high operational standards for maritime oil transport.

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