Category Archives: transport

A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes: The factory at sea

Posted on 26 February 2015 by

9 February 2015 20.00 “Going forward and glancing over the weather bow, [… the] prospect was unlimited, but exceedingly monotonous and forbidding; not the slightest variety that I could see.” Herman Melville, Moby Dick For the next few days, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Allan Sekula, capital accumulation, labour, literature, Melville, Middle East, political economy, readings, seafaring, shipping conditions, transport, Travels | Leave a comment

Reading Capital 2 on a containership

Posted on 25 February 2015 by

8 February 2015 You begin to realise how much Marx actually crafted his writing when you compare Capital I to Capital II.  The former is beautifully edited, funny, extensively footnoted, erudite, and with a gorgeous narrative structure that inexorably push … Continue reading →

Posted in capital accumulation, empire, imperialism & colonialism, labour, political economy, readings, transport, Travels | Leave a comment

Shim El-Yasmine: Suez Canal

Posted on 24 February 2015 by

8 February 2015 “the great current of human inclination is to enjoyment.”  Karl Marx, Capital Vol. II I want to be more jaded.  After all, my nautical venture is an all-expenses-paid research trip – the best of both worlds: doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Allan Sekula, Middle East, militaries, readings, transport, Travels | Leave a comment

Grace: Departing Marsaxlokk

Posted on 20 February 2015 by

Marsaxlokk-Jabal Ali:  At last at sea 5 February 2015 11.00 Occasionally in the night, the ship bumps against the berth and that is when one remembers that one is not on solid ground. I can’t wait for our ship to … Continue reading →

Posted in labour, political economy, ports, readings, shipping conditions, transport, Travels | Leave a comment

Es Mejor Vivir Asir: Still in Marsaxlokk

Posted on 19 February 2015 by

Marsaxlokk-Jabal Ali; First impressions 4 February 2015; 10.00 Malta time After what seemed like an interminable wait for the transport to take us (myself and three Croatian officers) from the hotel to the port, I am onboard the ship.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in logistics, shipping conditions, transport, Travels | Leave a comment

Marsaxlokk-Jabal Ali: Surmises

Posted on 18 February 2015 by

How will I ever be able to return to life, “circumspect life” in Melville’s words, after that, the “delirious throb” of this research adventure? In his gorgeous opening to Moby Dick, Melville writes, “whenever it is a damp, drizzly November … Continue reading →

Posted in Allan Sekula, logistics, Melville, political economy, the sea, transport, Travels | Leave a comment

Here and there and now and then, a stance.

Posted on 3 February 2015 by

The Aerodrome By Seamus Heaney First it went back to grass, then after that To warehouses and brickfields (designated The Creagh Meadows Industrial Estate), Its wartime grey control tower blanched and glazed Into a hard-edged CEO style villa: Toome Aerodrome … Continue reading →

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