Yesterday was unfortunately a heavy work day for me. When I explained to Basil that I would be working because the ships don’t stop moving on weekends he asked if he could come along.

With his enthusiastic, “I like ships!” I agreed to let him tag along.

So, with Basil in tow I headed out to Savannah’s container terminal just up river from downtown out in Garden City. As we were heading out there, Basil told me that he thought Garden City might have the wrong name. It didn’t look very much like a picturesque garden to him. “Industrial City would be more accurate.”

He’s got a point. Many of the areas largest employers are out that way including Gulfstream where they manufacture business and commuter jets.

The Savannah area is also a major import and distribution hub with many companies choosing to have large warehouse distribution centers here. The list of distribution centers includes companies such as Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Pier 1 Imports, IKEA, K-Mart, Best Buy, and Basil’s personal favorite, Bass Pro Shops.

To service all of these distribution centers and more, Savannah boasts the single largest container terminal in the US from Maine to Texas. (The West Coast has some larger terminals.) With 15 container cranes and space to dock 8 ships simultaneously, a whole lot of freight can move through the terminal managed by the Georgia Ports Authority.

Basil didn’t realize that something like 98% of all imports into the US coming via ocean transport on ships. I explained to him that everything he sees on the Wal-Mart shelves with a label saying something like “Made in China” came to us via ship, most likely a container ship just like the ones he saw yesterday.

Well after showing Basil around I had to go on board one of the ships to do some work. Basil didn’t want to wait in the car so he tagged along. (I was amazed how gracefully he managed to climb the ladder up the side of the ship after his refusal to use the stairs on River Street earlier in the week.)

Fortunately for us the ship’s captain was a jolly sort and was thrilled to have a celebrity such as Basil aboard. The Captain even offered to show Basil around the ship. I’m sure the tour included the bridge an the engine room. However when I finished my work aboard and went to collect Basil, he and the old man were swapping sea stories over beers. I listened in for a while (Basil claimed that his great-great-grandfather was a hero in the Battle of the Somme back in World War I) but eventually I had to head off to a job on another ship.

The captain assured me that Basil was welcome to hang around for a bit so I agreed to swing back by before the vessel was scheduled to sail, after taking care of my other business. Somehow, though the ship sailed earlier than planned.

And near as I can tell Basil was still on board.

Right now I’m trying to track down where the ship was heading, Ben. As soon as I know for sure I’ll pass it on to you. He was supposed to be leaving for Arizona today so you might want to see about canceling his flight reservations.

(Related Tags: savannah, georgia, tourism, travel, ships, chris cree)