A radical scheme to protect Europe from rising sea levels by walling in the North Sea is very light on detail about its effects on shipping.
Dutch government scientist Sjoerd Groeskamp, an oceanographer at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, has sketched out a multibillion plan to build dams across the English Channel and from Scotland to Norway to hold the waters at bay.
While acknowledging there would be increased costs for shipping, he does not reveal what kind of entry points there would be for vessels, or how many.
Imagine the queues at the gates or locks.
To be fair, the concept is intended more as a warning to the world about the potential consequences of climate change.
Groeskamp said: "I emphasise that this is the very last thing we actually want to do, due to its immense consequences for nature, the maritime industry, the weather and many other things.
"The best approach is to avoid sea levels rising as much as possible, as a whole, by reducing climate change to a minimum."
But he insisted the project is feasible despite involving a 475 km dam between Scotland's north coast and west Norway, and another 160 km one between France and England.
The cost has been estimated at between €250bn ($271bn) and €500bn over 20 years — just over 0.1% of GDP for each of the 14 countries protected.
The depth of the North Sea between France and England rarely exceeds 100 metres, while it averages about 127 metres between Scotland and Norway.
“We are currently able to build fixed platforms in depths exceeding 500 metres, so such a dam seems feasible,” Groeskamp said.
Getting creative
German container line Hapag-Lloyd has been getting very creative this week.
Karsten Fritzner-Naumann, the master of the 8,749-teu Osaka Express (built 2007), had the bright idea of using his crew to create an unusual human pyramid on its deck.
The resulting photo shows a keen appreciation of colour and form, and the empty suit in the top right is a surreal touch.
Not to be outdone, the company's staff in Poland celebrated the opening of their new knowledge centre with a magnificent container cake.
