SEASIDE GIANTS!

There is one thing to do in Chittagong, and that's visit the ship-breaking yards north of the city. While 12 Flaggers went direct from the match, and 12 decided not to go at all, it was hard yards getting in this time, but a bit of smooth talking, happy smiles, and the promise of no photography allowed 12 of us the pleasure of strolling through one of the yards where 2 ships were beached, one a simple stern only. The REGINA was parked about 200m off shore, and with pathetic alarms bells wailing, three winches were activated, the cables pulled taught, and inch by inch the REGINA was pulled closer to shore for work to commence at scrapping the giant carrier. If our day got better, watching a ship in the distance drive at full speed up the beach alongside REGINA was astounding. The wave of mud and water driven into shore as the ship bottomed out, the propeller spinning wildly above the water surface, as it sliced a groove into the sea bed, and slowly but surely she ground to a complete, and final halt. One new ship a week parks itself on the beach of Chitttagong, and a unique industry provides one benefit to the city, when the cricket's over!

Luke Gillian 22/04/2006 07:27:50