SHIP MODELS From our own workshop: finest quality wood ship kits- clippers, schooners. frigates . tankers, freighters- 30 in all. Beautiful fittings ; no lead or plastic. Also plans, books, tools. materials, fit· tings and marine prints. At better dealers or send S1 .00 (refundable) for big illustrated catalog .
The Letitia Lykes enters Shanghai on her historic China voyage in the spring of 1979. Photo: Lykes Bros. Steamship Co.
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Trade Winds
145·1Water St. So Norwalk . Ct . 06854
By Michael Gillen
It was March 1979. The 14,660-ton US merchant ship Letitia Lykes was on the homeward-bound leg of a two-month voyage to the Far East, a seemingly routine run except for one thing: she would call on Shanghai, China before setting off for home across the Pacific, thus becoming the first American merchant vessel to visit Mainland China in 30 years. That first voyage of the Letitia Lykes, brought about after the signing of an agreement between the Lykes Bros. Steamship Co. and the China Ocean Shipping Co., was, in fact, far from routine. And by the time she had loaded some 4,000 tons of cargo in Shanghai (tea, fans, salted sausage casings, goose feathers, canned jellyfish, nails, rubber boots, textiles, earthenware, furniture, and various other goods), she had opened up a new era in Sino-US relations. United States Transportation Secretary Brock Adams said: "After 30 years of both hostility and isolation, transportation is being used to bring people together.'' Within weeks of the Letitia Lykes' visit to the People's Republic of China a merchant ship from that country-the Liu Lin Hai-was making another historic voyage, becoming the first Chinese Communist ship to visit a US port (Seattle) in 30 years. Liner service between the two countries is now routine. By the mid-1980s total US-China trade-the vast majority of which will move by ship-is expected to reach the $5 billion mark. The voyage of the Letitia Lykes to China in 1979 is reminiscent of another voyage made 195 years before. It was in 1784 that the Empress of China sailed out of New York harbor to become the first
Yankee merchant ship to visit the " Middle Kingdom ." She carried some 30 tons of Hudson Valley ginseng root, 2,600 fur pelts, pepper, and woolen garments. By way of comparison, American ships calling on Chinese ports in recent months have delivered such things as blast hole drills, truck parts, diesel engine parts, mechanical hand tools, as well as large quantities of resin and thousands of bales of cotton. Future shipments will include diesel locomotives, helicopters and offshore drilling rigs and equipment. And, if the world political situation continues on its present precarious course, we might be shipping increasingly large amounts of "strategic" goods to China as well. Though the voyages of the Letitia Lykes and the Empress of China were separated by many years, they were equally important as first steps in opening trade relations between the US and China. They also show the need for ocean transportation capability. The Chinese have recognized this need and have invested heavily in their own merchant marine; its growth rate now surpasses all others. China presently hauls an amazing 70 percent of her own oceanborne commerce, and this figure shows definite signs of increasing. Both the US and China will continue to benefit from our newly established trade relations. Our own nation's security and economic interests could benefit even more if we learned from the Chinese (and many others), and invested half as much in our merchant marine as they do in theirs.
CAPTAIN VAN'S SCHOOLS Box 53, Port Arthur, TX 77640 Serving Mariners for Over 50 years.
EXPLORE THE MAINE COAST WEEKLY
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WINDJAMMER ''MARY DAY'' For Folder Write :
Capt. H. S. Hawkins Camden, Maine 04843 Tel. 1-207-236-2750
World famous SERGAL and MANTUA kits : large magnificent replicas (up to 51" long) with beautiful walnut planking and components and cast-brass details. Virtually museum pieces when completed . Large -scale plans, En· glish instructions, all materials in· eluded. Also , hundreds of other superb Italian kits, .·blans and accessories .
.t .t .t Mr. Gillen, assistant editor of the Seafarers International Union Log, is also editor of the National Society's Liberty
Send for 68-page full-color catalog, only SJ, refunded with first order.
Log.
SHIP MODELS Just acquired another substantial collection to add to our present inventory of over 300 ship models. Ranging from 6" cased Admiralities to 8 foot fully rigged clippers. Many of museum quality-obtained from estates and private collections. Write for a free brochure.
LANNAN NAUTIQUES 259 Harvard Street, Wollaston, Mass. 02170 Tel: 617-479-5091 SEA HISTORY, WINTER 1980
You can be a CG Licensed Officer Mail order Deck and ~ .Engine courses, all · . . grades. Write for brochure.
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MODEL EXPO, INC.
Dept SH- 2
23 Just Road , Fairfield , NJ 07006 Please send full-color catalog. $3. check enclosed. Name Address Ci t State
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