WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE THOSE PESKY CABLESHIPS? BY REBECCA SPENCE
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are no longer active, it is important to note that Figure 4 he last two months have certainly been a roller coaster indicates nearly 50% of the vessels tracked were intended to of change around the globe and the submarine telereach their destinations by the beginning of March based coms community has not been immune. With the on their estimated arrival dates. The actual number of vesneed to maintain and repair cables still an ongoing sels that returned in that short time rose when regulations necessity, some vessels have been able to continand restrictions were put in place by various governments ue working, but many others have shut down operation, around the word. This immediate need to choosing to return to port to ride out the return to safety, created a logistical nightCoronavirus storm. mare for the resource and project manWhen the data set for the first edition agers who were tasked with getting their of Where in the World Are Those Pesky employees onto flights home as countries Cableships was pulled in late February, were shutting down their borders to work was chugging along, business as travelers. usual. Less than two weeks later, the Currently 10 vessels remain in transit number of vessels still in transit had represented in Figure 4. Half are expected dropped significantly. Figure 1 is the to reach their destination in the coming breakdown of vessels in transit in Febweek, leaving only 5 vessels actively workruary, with Figure 2 showing a signifiing to complete their assignments over cant 71% drop in traffic from February the next several months. As the pandemic through April. continues to wane, the number of vessels While the pandemic has surely had a back in transit will begin to increase sigrole to play in the volume of vessels that Figure 1: Arrived at Destination – May 2020
Figure 2: Arrived at Destination Comparison
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Figure 3: Weeks Left Estimated in Transit – May 2020