For many people around the world, the sea or oceans are not far away for very good reasons. People first settled around where there was food – the sea and then learnt to grow things in the ground. From the seas we travelled, moved goods and then later developed trains, cars, roads and airplanes, but we still move remarkable amount of goods by the sea. Daniel Sekulich wanted to learn more about the ships and wrote a book called Ocean Titans published by Penguin, Toronto, Ontario, 2006. He writes about the building of the ships in South Korea to the recycling of the ships in India. In between are stories about the designers, the owners, the ship captains and the people who work on the ships.  It is an interesting story for much of the work is done where no one sees for they are in the middle of no where in the oceans. Most of the time the ocean is easily passable until storms happen and then if nature is not respected, cargos do not make it on time.

Much of the business of cargo ships is moving goods quickly and when demand increases the pressures to deliver consistently and quickly increase. When demand falls, there are too many ships and to achieve the proper balance ships have to be taken out of service. There is no doubt the ships are better over time, but the essential business aspects remain the same. Move large amounts of material for relatively less cost in order to mark up the finished goods.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, no matter what industry there is today, chances pages have been written to help you guide through the industry. In the book Ocean Titans, there were different perspectives of people depending on their job from the captain to fill up the ship and sail smoothly to the next destination; the workers to quickly and efficiently load and unload the ship; and the owners who are trying to ensure the cycle repeats itself. There should be little reason why your would not understand what the company does.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.