Bearing wartime camouflage , the Singapore flagged livestock carrier Ganado Express , 134.8m x 19.6m,one of a number of distinctive looking vessels seen bobbing about in Townsville tuther day . Instead of sending a photographer down to The Strand to take another snap of eye candy femmes for another trite report about the weather , the Townsville Bulletin could have visited the harbour and found a dramatic , pictorial story. It is suggested the new editor , whoever that person may be , take this tip aboard from the only barnacle encrusted S(h)ipping Reporter north of Woy Woy.
On a day when there is much news coverage about Toyota closing its Australian production line , what should sail into Townsville but the large, 180mx30m, vehicle carrier ,Positive Leader, flying the Panamanian flag . Basic reporter type questions the alert local media could have asked : what brand of cars onboard, how many, where were they made , comment from local Toyota dealer about the sad ending of Australian production , future supplies for North Queensland ( this is called getting the local angle ) , etc. , etc.
About to hit the road , only joking, the above asphalt carrier , owned by a company with the largest bulk asphalt fleet in Asia , departing port without a reporter or a tar baby in sight. In a previous post , our alert S(h)ipping Reporter broke the scoop news that the Red Baron seaplane , which has been missing for months without the local media noticing , is being converted into a nuclear powered and armed German underwaterboten at its moorings.
Our nautical roundsman snapped this exclusive shot of the deadly converted Red Baron , the top of its conning tower cunningly disguised as an over pickled cucumber.
