GHOST-SHIPS OF THE SOVIET UNION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22655, 4 June 1948, Page 5

GHOST-SHIPS OF THE SOVIET UNION

NEW YOR'k, May 13.

American shipping- men are intrigued by the vagaries of the Russian mercantile fleet and wonder why the movements of only 113 of the Soviet’s GOO ocean-going ships are listed in standard mercantile publications. A report bv the American Merchant Marine Institute, representing GO American steamship lines, says: "Following no schedule, maintaining no regular services, Russian ships whose movements can be traced appear to be engaged in long uneconomic voyages. “As an example a Russian ship will sail from the Black Sea with a cargo of manganese for Baltimore. After discharging it will call at several Atlantic and Gulf ports picking up cargo at each, but instead of returning to the Black Sea as would be normal steamship practice the vessel is apt to go to the Panama Canal, and call at several West Coast ports before sailing across the Pacific to Vladivostock—a total of 16,000 miles.” Suspicion The institute suggested such an operation raised a suspicion that the vessels serve chiefly as training ships for naval merchant marine personnel. Pointing out that only 23 of 87 American-built ships under the Russian flag through lend-lease or sale can at present be located, the report adds: “Presumably*- the bulk of the Soviet merchant fleet is occupied in traffic between Russian or Russian-controlled ports, where strict censorship hides their movements.”