did I miss something, Elaine? like perhaps Tyneside is known for seaman who cant walk a straight line?
It almost certainly is, cheng!
But the reference to Tyneside is about accent. Assuming that WEI HAI WEI is pronounced WAY HAY WAY, then it sounds very much like the Tyneside accent in "Haway the lads!", a term of encouragement on the sports field. (If it doesn't sound like that, then the joke falls flat!
)