I looked up "Shanghai rooster" and found this explanation:

"a type of long-legged chicken believed to be of Asian origin."

(at www.infoplease.com) I wonder if they have a reputation for being very aggressive or something like that, why else would someone be called a "Shanghai rooster"?

As for the "Vandedecken crew", wasn't Vandedecken supposed to be the name of the Flying Dutchman?