There are only 30 or so excavators in the world.

This is a conspiracy I saw kicking around back when the Evergreen was trapped in that canal. Some brave, online whistleblower going by the pseudonym "Anon" posited it as an explanation for why it was taking them so damn long to free the ship. Why? Two explanations come to mind: A. Whoever, or whatever, owns them rents them out at their leisure for whatever price they want. OR maybe the technology and know-how to make them was somehow lost, and we can only attempt to maintain the few we have left. We've lost and found several technologies over human history for various reasons.

I mean, think about it: How many excavators have YOU seen in the same place? Have you ever actually seen where they're kept when not in use? Have you ever actually seen an excavator factory?

Things that make ya go *hmmmm...*