Don't inhale

What’s a nice publication like Lloyd’s Shipping Economist doing with a joint like this? A press release from the esteemed journal announces that it is to publish “reefer trades analysis”. “The 1997 Reefer Trades Directory will take an in-depth look at the current market situation of reefers in the late 1990s.” What might be called the “alternative tobacco” market is obviously big business. We always thought that Columbia and Morocco were key suppliers but apparently Australia and New Zealand are big in this market, too: “The two countries are crucial to reefer tonnage utilisation,” the press release says.

But we return to reality on discovering that “reefers” in this case refers to refrigerated ships carrying fresh fruit. Chill out, sailor man …