Ton Mile Trader

Editor pictured with Investigative Analyist Boomer:

It has been the subject of speculation (by some critics) that after completing high school south of Chicago, I was obligated by an agreement with the court to serve in the USMC.  The way I remember things, I was elected student council president in my senior year and during my administration many politically charged allegations aroused the attention of some over zealous governmental regulatory agencies.  In the interest of progress many concessions were enacted for the good of the people.

During my 10 years in “Uncle Sam’s Maritime Club” I came to know and love the sea.  My duties required travel around the world maintaining Marine Corp aircraft including exotic destinations like the Philippines, Australia, and Japan.  Fortunately this occurred during peace time and I was able to enjoy all the many ports of call.  With the promise of more money, I separated from the Marines and began a career with the Airlines.  For Twenty more years the travels to strange lands fixing aircraft continued, and my desire to fly began to wash away like a sand castle when the tide rolls in.  Similar to John Madden, I would rather take a bus accross the country than fly.  It did not work well being in aircraft maintenance and developing a fear of flying, so I left the big city and moved back to the country in Illinois.

Now Boomer (my research assistant) and I have our fingers on shipping’s pulse, monitoring a key rail line that travels through our sleepy town.  Our diligent observation of container cars heading north to Chicago with imports from the US Gulf, and bulk corn and soy heading south to Louisiana for export yields valuable insight.  This may explain my self exclaimed perceived ability to “feel” the mechanics driving our beloved Baltic.  It is the intent of this editor to make a name for himself in the world of dry bulk shipping by providing readers with thoughtful commentary relating to investments in the sector.

Good Fortunes

David Chinski

aka "Ski"

Mike began his professional career as a lead singer in various southern rock bands in his early 20s. His hard driving, whiskey-soaked vocals made him quite popular on the live music circuit. He regularly wowed crowds at the legendary Fillmore East – and of course his home away from home, Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. After tiring of the constant touring and hardscrabble existence, he traded in his cowboy hats, black and white, for a sextant and began a career at sea. Though only a deck hand upon signing articles on his first voyage, he soon discovered now commonly used navigation methods such as great circle sailing and GPS. In 1992 he was credited as the first person to circumnavigate the globe wearing a Mookie Wilson jersey. In 1994, after reading Conrad’s “Lord Jim”, Mike lost his affinity for life at sea and began a shore side career working side by side with chemical tanker legends Jim Byrne, Brian Van Aken and John Bailey. The knowledge overload took its toll, however, and Mike moved to the Garden District in New Orleans, where he currently resides at 711 Fern St. When he is not marketing FFAs to unsuspecting widows and orphans, he fills his spare time writing shipping blogs, regularly bowling 10 perfect frames at Rock and Bowl, and playing honky-tonk piano at the Maple Leaf bar on Oak St.