(Past editions can be viewed on http://www.asiaconference.biz)

Kung Hei Fat Choy to all our readers for the year of the Dog .....

Dog is a giving, compassionate personality. He offers kind words, support and advice to friends and family. He is a listener, always available to lend an ear or a shoulder to a friend in need. Often Dogs know more about their friends than their friends know about them or even themselves! Dogs are incredibly attentive.  Sometimes though, Dogs should pay more attention to their own needs.  In private, many Dog people worry a lot.

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• At the bow - Registration is free! New members this month.
• Spindrift - Stowaways thrown into Durban harbour.  Norwegian Spirit hit by rogue wave.  'Pirates' captured after chase.  Captain blamed for APL grounding.  Shortage of Skilled seafarers is set to worsen.  P&I Club guidance aims to prevent oily water fines.  News in brief.  Fresh challenge to French spill fines.
• Contributions - Opinion and the Surveyor.
• Midships - Stranded in Tahiti.
• Scuttlebutt - ISPS.
• Insurance News - None this month.
• Wig & Gown - None this month.
• Education & Training - University Challenge.  Italian College.  Philippines Quality.
• Epistles - None this month.
• People - Graeme N Temple.  Vice Admiral Thad Allen.
• Books & Videos - Reeds Professional Yacht Log Book.  The Master.  Shipping Company Colours.
• Conference reports - None this month.
• IMO Conventions - Convention updates.  Annex V of MARPOL amended to include cargo residues.
• Future events - Some upcoming events which might be of interest to marine surveyors.
• Useful web sites for marine surveyors.
• From the Poop Deck - Sexual urges of men and women.  Understanding Engineers.  Marriage Counselling.

At the Bow

FLASHLIGHT is a free monthly emailed newsletter circulated to more than 5,000 people involved in marine surveying around the world.  It is circulated to anybody who wishes to receive a copy, eg, Marine Surveyors, P&I Clubs, their correspondents, Underwriters, Professional Institutes, Admiralty Lawyers, etc.  It is a collation of articles relevant to our profession taken from various publications together with contributions from readers.  Please pass it on to any of your contacts who you feel might be interested in receiving it.  If you do not wish to be included in the circulation list, please contact the Editor at the email address below.  Letters, opinions and articles relating to our profession are welcomed for the newsletter.

New readers this month:

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Spindrift

Stowaways thrown into Durban harbour

TWO stowaways drowned after being tossed overboard from the 27,600-dwt bulker African Kalahari while it was alongside Durban's Maydon Wharf today. The victims, who are believed to be from Tanzania, were among a group of seven discovered by the crew shortly before the ship was due to sail. For reasons as yet unrevealed, several of the Ukrainian crew threw the seven men overboard into Durban harbour on the opposite side to the wharf. Five were able to swim to safety but two disappeared under the ship and are feared drowned. This afternoon police divers were still looking for their bodies. Durban’s Maydon Wharf is notorious for its ease of access to pedestrians despite the ISPS-sponsored security measures installed 18 months ago. Large numbers of stowaways mainly from East Africa find their way to Durban on board ships in the mistaken belief they were heading for Europe. They go ashore and try to find work and most end up trying to stow away once again. At this stage it is not known if the seven men had arrived on the ship, which has been working cargo for several days, or had joined the ship shortly before it was due to sail. African Kalahari is owned by Hector Maritime of Athens and managed by Enterprises Shipping and is under charter to Metall und Rohstoff, which is a joint venture between Mittal Steel South Africa and international trading company. Macsteel Hector/Enterprises have at least 14 ships on charter to MUR.

Norwegian Spirit hit by rogue wave

NCL cruise ship Norwegian Spirit is reported by passengers to have been hit by waves estimated at 15m high as the vessel made its way from the British Virgin Islands to New York. A spokesman for the operator commented that heavy sea conditions are common at this time of year, and praised the captain and crew for remaining calm. Most of the 2,000 passengers said the trip was good overall, although a bit 'rocky' at times. Passengers in cabins most affected have been offered a free cruise. Another NCL ship, Norwegian Dawn, was also hit by a rogue wave last April. A report released last month by the National Transportation Safety Board praised the crew on the Dawn for the way the incident was handled. The board determined that the Miami-based cruise line acted appropriately during the severe weather and tried to accommodate and comfort its passengers.

'Pirates' captured after chase

US Navy vessel USS Winston S Churchill captured a band of suspected pirates off Somalia on Saturday. Pentagon sources told Fairplay that 26 men, including 16 Indians and 10 Somalis, were being questioned to sort out pirates from victims. The group was aboard a dhow that was pursued by the Churchill after a report from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on Friday 20 January 2006. The report said that the 24,550-gt Bahamas-flagged bulker Delta Ranger had been fired on as it passed about 320km off the Somali coast. The Churchill began chasing the dhow on Saturday and twice fired warning shots before the craft finally stopped, about 87km off the coast. It took another round of shots before those aboard answered radio calls and complied with orders to shuttle the crew and passengers to the destroyer for questioning. A cache of arms was found aboard. The vessel’s crew told investigators that pirates hijacked the vessel six days ago near Mogadishu and had since used it to launch attacks on passing merchant ships.

Captain blamed for APL grounding

THE chief officer of the APL Panama, which ran aground on Christmas night off the port of Ensenada, Mexico, has blamed the ship's captain, according to transcripts of sworn testimony taken by the harbour master and obtained by the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper. Even as salvors prepare a second round of efforts to free the boxship this weekend, Polish first officer Teo Motusic is quoted as testifying: “My opinion is that the captain did not come to the bridge on time." The ship was approaching the harbour too fast and was navigating too close to shore with no pilot aboard, according to testimony. Carrying 900 containers, the ship was approaching from the north on a routine stop en route to Asia when the mishap occurred just after sunset. The ship’s captain, Zupan Branko of Croatia, testified that a change in arrival times resulted in no pilot being aboard during the initial entry into the harbour and he added that the pilots did not respond to repeated radio calls from the ship. Motusic added in his testimony that Branko was slow to respond when channel buoys were pointed out and that by the time the captain gave the “hard to port” order, the ship was already headed into the sand. The probe into the accident is being led by Mexico’s Communications and Transportation Ministry and is being treated as an accident. Both officers and other crew members have reported that weather and sea conditions were fair when the incident occurred and that no mechanical faults contributed to the grounding.

(With thanks to Fairplay Daily News, news@fairplay.co.uk)

Shortage of Skilled seafarers is set to worsen

With a new report predicting that the world could be short of 27,000 officers within a decade, NUMAST has urged the shipping industry to wake up to the growing seafarer skills crisis.

A new study published by the shipowner bodies BIMCO and the International Shipping Federation suggests demand for officers presently outstrips supply by around 10,000 and warns that some sectors of the industry are facing severe problems.

The research forecasts continued growth in demand for officers, and stresses that this 'will only be met if the increase in levels of recruitment and training is maintained and wastage rates are reduced'.

Dr Rob Wilson, who led the research team, suggested companies should be aiming for a target of one cadet for every ship in the world fleet. Issues such as wastage and retention also need to be addressed, he added.

Captain Mike Marchant, who chaired the working group behind the study, said the shortage was less than predicted in previous research, as the numbers had been boosted by the availability of eastern European seafarers and increased training in some parts of the world.

But NUMAST general secretary Brian Orrell said the owners would be unwise to draw any comfort from the findings. 'It is clear that the situation is critical,' he warned. 'The overwhelming majority of the officers from traditional maritime nations are due to retire in the next 10 to 20 years, and it is clear that the new sources of supply are simply not providing a long?]term answer to the crisis:  

P&I Club guidance aims to prevent oily water fines

A leading P&I club has issued special advice on oily water separators following a spate of investigations in the US involving alleged irregularities in the set?]up and use of the equipment.

The UK 12M Club said the costs of investigating 17 incidents in the past three years and defending the crew involved amounts to more than US$1.6m ?] even though only four of the cases resulted in a fine and none in a criminal conviction.

In a new technical bulletin, the club urges its members to ensure that OWS units and associated piping are inspected and cleaned at least every six months, and that filters should be cleaned monthly, where possible.

The club points to the need for clear operating instructions to be posted on the OWS unit and warns that it is illegal to sail without a functioning OWS. Sufficient spares must be maintained onboard, and all work performed on or around the equipment must be logged.

The bulletin stresses the need for seafarers to give honest answers to port state control inspectors, and warns that crew members should never be instructed to withhold information from investigators. However, it adds, seafarers are entitled to the presence of a lawyer when questioned in the USA.

News in brief

Timber call: the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has called for tougher controls over the carriage of packaged timber cargoes on deck. The latest MAIB safety digest reports on a series of incidents involving the shifting of timber deck cargoes in adverse weather conditions and suggests that it is time for the code of safe practice to be reviewed. The report also recommends that the Maritime & Coastguard Agency conducts research into the problems.

Maltese row: the Italian shipping group Grimaldi is planning to establish a new service linking Malta with other Mediterranean countries following the collapse of a takeover deal for the island's state?]owned operation Sea Malta. Grimaldi says it will launch the Malta Motorway of the Sea after failure to secure agreement with Sea Malta seafarers on proposed new working arrangements for the services.

Water fall: the volume of UK freight carried on water in 2004 fell by 7% from the previous year, according to new government statistics. The report revealed that UK?]registered ships carried 18% of coastwise and offshore oil traffic, and water transport accounted for 6% of goods lifted and 24% of goods moved by all modes of transport in the UK in 2004.

Jetski ruling.. the Maritime & Coastguard Agency is to appeal against a court ruling that personal water craft such as jetskis' cannot be classed as 'ships' The MCA said the judgement last month 'would appear to limit the abilities of enforcement agencies to deal with irresponsible and dangerous activity by some riders of these craft'.

Recycling rule: plans for new regulations governing 'ship recycling' have been agreed by the International Maritime Organisation. The IMO Assembly wants the legally?]binding instrument to make ship recycling safer and more environment?] friendly adopted within the next three years.

Grave decision: thousands of merchant ships lost during the two world wars could receive the same protection as Royal Naval vessels following a High Court ruling last month that the MoD should rethink a decision not to class the cargoship Storaa, torpedoed in the Channel in 1943, as a war grave.

Cruise probe: a public investigation into a series of mysterious cruise ship passenger disappearances has been launched in the US. The Congressional inquiry is to take evidence about the loss of 14 cruise ship passengers at sea over the past two years.

Ports pledge: shipping minister Dr Stephen Ladyman has confirmed the government's opposition to the privatisation of trust ports. Dover MP Gwyn Prosser has welcomed the minister's statement in the House of Commons last month.

CP takeover. the German group TUI has secured approval from CP Ships' shareholders for its takeover bid and was due to complete the deal shortly before Christmas.

South African aid: South Africa is planning to become the latest country to introduce a tonnage tax scheme to boost the number of merchant ships on its register. Transport minister Jeff Radebe said maritime transport contributes some R44 bn (£3.8bn) to the South African economy and was vital to the economic goals set by the government. Ministers are also considering proposals to create a fleet of small container ships to carry trade around the country's coast.

Prestige payouts: three years after the tanker Prestige spilled some 64,000 tonnes of fuel oil, causing serious environmental damage to France's Atlantic coast, more than 420 applications for compensation totalling over £98m (£67.6m) have been lodged in France. Agreement has been reached in 118 cases, while 35 claims have been rejected. A further 13,000 demands for compensation have been registered in Spain totalling more than, E1 bn (£670m).

Gib expulsions: the Gibraltar ship register has expelled 10 ships as a result of port state control detentions. Cliff Brand, of the Gibraltar Maritime Department, said the register is seeking a place on the Paris Memorandum's white list and problematic vessels would not be tolerated. Gibraltar ?] which presently has 182 ships on its books ?] aims to reduce detentions to five a year.

Free ferries: Norway's new government is looking at introducing free ferry services on some coastal routes as part of a move to improve transport links. The bulk of the country's population lives on or near the coast and the red?] green coalition government is increasing discounts for motorists using ferries. There will also be free travel on certain routes.

Indonesian move: French bulker operator Louis Dreyfus Annateurs is to establish a company in Indonesia to operate ships under that country's flag. The decision follows the Indonesian government's plans to develop its merchant fleet. All its bulk transport at present is carried out by foreign flagged tonnage in the absence of a local bulker fleet.

Korean change: South Korean seafaring unions have signed an agreement with the country's owners and the government that will relax officer and rating nationality requirements under the national flag. As part of the deal, the government is to increase the support it gives to reduce the cost of employing Korean seafarers.

German support: German owners have welcomed the new coalition government's pledge of continued support for shipping ?] including the tonnage tax and certain subsidies. The measures are said to have resulted in average annual growth of 16% in the German?]controlled fleet over the last five years.

Shortsea aid: Spanish and French transport ministers have agreed to examine the scope for new shortsea shipping links. A special committee is to set out the basic conditions necessary for any route before putting services out to tender. It is hoped that an operator can be selected to start a service in 2007.

Gas deal: a Japanese consortium has secured an eight?]ship LNG deal to transport gas for Qatar's huge Ras Laffan 3 project. Under the agreement, NYK, MOL, K?]Line, Mitsui and Iino Kaiun have signed what is believed to be the biggest single order for LNG carriers, valued at some US$1.8 bn.

Crew killed: 13 seafarers died last month after the Chinese cargoship An Jin sank in stormy conditions some 135 nm off the coast of  Vietnam. Nine of the crew were rescued by passing ships.  

Fresh challenge to French spill fines

Malta follows Norway in claiming right to judge pollution case.

FRANCE is facing a second challenge to its hard?]line anti?]pollution policies, with Malta following Norway in claiming the right to try the case of a master accused of dumping waste in French waters.

The special maritime anti?]pollution court in Brest was last month compelled to suspend at short notice the hearing of alleged pollution by a Maltese?]flagged vessel after Malta claimed that the UN Law of the Sea Convention gives it the right to try the captain of the 9,983 gt Fast Independence.

The cargo vessel was spotted by a French navy aircraft trailing a 20 km oil slick off the Brittany coast on 22 May 2005.

The Brest court will now decide in May which country should try the case.

The case follows a row between Norway and France as to which country should judge a case of illicit maritime pollution: the flag state or the country considering itself a victim.

The Brest court was forced to suspend a hearing of suspected pollution in French territorial waters by the 6,810 gt Norwegian flagged chemical tanker Trans Arctic.

The court will decide who is competent to try the case in April following Norway's move to invoke the Montego Bay Convention stipulating that 'a victim state' must suspend proceedings as long as the flag state had itself begun them within six months of the incident.

France has maintained its crackdown, with increased fines imposed on vessels polluting the country's Channel and Atlantic coast.

Marnavi, the Italian owner of the chemical tanker Enrico levoli, was fined C370,000 (£255,000) for pollution last March after it was spotted by a French navy aircraft trailing a 27 km slick off La Rochelle. Agostini Musumeci, the vessel's Italian master, has to pay £37,000 (£25,500) of this sum, plus £40,000 (£27,500) in damages.

The case of another Italian flagged chemical tanker has been put off until early 2006. The master of the Chiara DP was compelled to drop anchor in the port of Ambes near Bordeaux after being spotted by a customs aircraft trailing 22 km of oil products. The ship was allowed to leave after paying a £300,000 (£200,000) bond.

The Brest court fined the Panama?]flagged containership MSC Rhone f350,000 for pollution after being spotted by a French navy aircraft trailing a 30 km slick 150 miles SW of Pemnarc'h, Brittany. Technomar Shipping, the operator, pays 90% of the sum and German Shirokov, the vessel's Russian captain, 10%.

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Contributions

OPINION AND THE SURVEYOR

ED:  During our marine surveying forum in Kuala Lumpur in November last year the question was raised as to whether a marine surveyor should offer an opinion.  The question came from the floor on a couple of occasions.  During the open forum with industry experts, particulary P&I and H&M underwriting representatives on the platform, the general feeling was that marine surveyors should stick to reporting the facts and only offer an opinion when asked to.  Many in our profession believe that this is what separates the marine surveyor from the marine consultant, ie, the marine surveyor attends and reports his findings, ie, reports nature and extent of the damage.  The marine consultant may carry out the same function but will later be asked to offer an opinion as to the cause, nature and extent of the damage.

Very often, the service of offering an opinion is in the form of an expert opinion.  I personally believe that this is the only type of opinion which should be offered and only when asked for.  I also believe that, as such,  the marine surveyor/consultant should be rewarded appropriately for his opinion which may be based on his knowledge and wealth of experience formed over many years.

However, having worked with other organisations I am aware that there may be other practices.  For example, in the former Salvage Association (I'm not sure if they continue the practice today) the marine surveyor or accident investigator was only allowed to agree or disagree with the Owners' representative's allegation.  They could offer an opinion later if and when asked by the Underwriters.

However, during a recent stopover in Auckland, New Zealand, I broached the subject with Barry Thompson, much respected marine consultant and author.  He has responded with the following:

A couple of paragraphs in Lloyd’s Cargo Report Form (Schedule ‘C’) support my contention that at least Lloyd’s see expression of opinion as being a surveyor role when asked for. See para. 1(c) where the words surveyor’s opinion clearly appear concerning packing. See also 12(b) with the words 'cause attributed by surveyor to: ' Although the word 'opinion' is not used in the latter case I do not think one can dispute that when a surveyor 'attributes' loss or damage to some cause he is expressing an opinion. (My Oxford dictionary defines ‘attribute’ as ‘ascribe; regard as the effect of a stated cause’.)

The Schedule C question is clear in that it asks the surveyor to what he attributes cause, i.e. what is his opinion on cause? (I do recall and agree your valid point that the SA expects a surveyor only to agree or disagree a claimant’s opinion as to cause in hull claims. But in Schedule C the surveyor is asked to state to what he ascribes the cause.

In the corresponding paragraph of Lloyd’s manual for its Certificate of Cargo Surveying Proficiency were the words  'In evaluating the protection afforded by the packaging the surveyor must ...'  This evaluation is, to me, the basis of opinion.  The same manual makes further reference to a surveyor’s 'opinion' in the words, 'Sometimes under a surveyor’s instructions from his principal, he may be required to give an opinion ... .'  Two or three years ago I put the question straight to the Inspector of Agencies at Lloyd’s, and he was quite clear that 'opinion', when called for, was a surveyor’s role.

I also agree that a surveyor should only state opinions when asked to do so by his principal, although I think in many cases it is implied, if not deliberately stated. I know that in most of my NZ underwriters’ instructions, which were from regular principals, it was a standing requirement.

I had a discussion with Ian Wilkins of IIMS about five years ago on the subject and I  am interested that you too commented that consultants could express opinions but not surveyors. That is exactly what Ian Wilkins had argued with me.  He even told me that there was an EU directive on the point but after extensive enquiries I have satisfied myself that this is not so. There is no such directive.

Another point concerns underwriters instructions to the SA for a towage approval, (I forget the exact customary policy wording but I recall that it was something like: 'Subject to Tug, tow and all arrangements approved by the SA and all recommendations complied with'. To my mind, the issue of the Towage Approval Certificate is certainly another way of saying “In the surveyor’s opinion the proposed towage arrangements are satisfactory.”  This must surely be an opinion if ever there was one, although that word does not actually appear. Another example: In hull surveying it is usual for the surveyor to record damage in a column headed 'Found' and then to have an adjacent column headed 'Recommendations'. To my mind this is a further expression of opinion in that recommending a particular type of repair is an expression of opinion. However I acknowledge that I may be getting close to splitting hairs on this one.

I rest my case! (But I am always prepared to listen to counter argument.)

Barry Thompson, Auckland, New Zealand

Midships

Stranded in Tahiti

Yes, believe it or not I was recently stranded in Tahiti.  I had completed four condition surveys and had one more vessel to inspect.  The vessel had been delayed at one of the other islands and I had to wait four days for her to return to Papeete.  A charter flight was out of the question as the cost was far in excess of four days of my daily rate.  As flights out of Tahiti to Auckland were only three times a week, the stranding was further exacerbated.  To add insult to injury, 'Mutiny on the Bounty' was being repeated daily on TCM!

Whilst in Tahiti I met another surveyor who was providing the same function, but for the H&M Underwriters.  This surveyor has been based in Fiji for several years and like many of us is finding it difficult to find younger marine surveyors with seagoing experience.  Fortunately for him, he has two sons, one of whom who has taken up the baton and is learning the trade but not yet having any sea time.  His son is studying under the IIMS diploma in marine surveying distance learning scheme.  Young and a little cocky, we needed to impress him with the need to listen and this reminded me of some of my own previous experience.

When I arrived in New Zealand some twenty years ago at the age of forty, I initially worked for the Marine Department in Wellington.  Within a year I was transferred to the Government Audit Office to work as a Value for Money Auditor, something akin to a management consultant in the private sector.  My first VFM audit involved a review of the Maori Marae Subsidy Scheme.  This involved travelling around NZ for two weeks to all kinds of Marae with a mature lady permanent secretary from the Department of Maori Affairs.  Edie Tawhiwhirangi was a gem,.  A mine of information.  In two weeks of driving a hire car, I never got a word in edgeways!  She taught me all that was important to know about the Maori culture.

One sad fact I learned was that the Maori language was dying as the youngsters were not being taught the langauge in school.  The Pakeha education system did not include time for their culture.  To solve this problem, Edie and others had established the 'Te Kohanga Reo' scheme or 'Language nest' in play schools around the country.  This involved pensioners story telling in Maori to the children.  Sure enough, within a short time, there was a resurgence in the Maori language and an associated resurgence in national pride.

This also reminded me of the Kung Fu TV programme of the 70s starring David Carrodine.  The old monk would regularly remind him "Grasshopper.  To learn well, listen and learn from a Master."  Many others also advise that to learn a subject properly you should work for a master of the trade free for four years.

Whilst it is unlikely that we will find youngsters to work for free these days, we are progressing in the right direction.  It is not possible for newer entries to the surveying profession to each have their own Master.  This is why IIMS have asked the masters of their trade to write the modules for the Diploma in Marine Surveying.  Hopefully, the skills and experience of the elders of our profession will be passed on to those coming behind us and there will be a resurgence in our profession.

We are your past.  You are our future.  Listen and learn well grasshoppers .........

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Scuttlebut

ISPS (affectionately referred to by many as the ISSPISS Code!)

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Insurance News

None this  month.

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Wig & Gown

None this month.

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Education and Training

Why not attend a training course or a conference?  They could be beneficial!

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University challenge: politicians in Panama have backed plans to establish an international maritime university in the country Intended to become a regional' centre of excellence', the facilities aim to help the country meet its target of having 10,000 Panamanian seafarers working in the international fleets by the end of the decade and to reinforce its position as the world's largest ship register.

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Italian college: Italy has opened a new merchant marine academy in a bid to combat a growing shortage of Italian officers. Sited in the port town of Genoa, the centre has taken on more than 120 cadets, who will be trained in deck, engineering and hotel services. Built with public funds and support from shipowners and other maritime interests, the college aims to fill a major gap in the country's maritime training and education facilities.

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Epistles

None this month.

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People

Mr Graeme N Temple has joined Kiwi Marine Consultants Ltd, Hong Kong as a Senior Marine Consultant.  Graeme has also developed specific skills in performance monitoring, offering non-destructive and non-invasive inspection techniques and technical support to the maritime industry.  This has included services in borescopic, thermal imagery, ultrasonic checks, oil analysis and planned maintenance scheduling.

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New USCG commandant named

VICE Admiral Thad Allen has been nominated by President Bush to succeed Admiral Thomas Collins as commandant of the US Coast Guard. If confirmed by the Senate, Allen would assume command of the USCG in May when Collins plans to retire. Allen, who is probably best known for his role in leading the federal response in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, was praised yesterday by Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff. “Thad has my complete confidence and full support, and if confirmed, he will play a major role in shaping the future of this department,” 
 Chertoff said. Allen’s service includes Chief of Staff and Commanding Officer at headquarters; Commander of the Atlantic Area, Fifth Coast Guard District; Commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District; Director of Resources; and Commander of the cutter Citrus. In response to 9/11, he led Coast Guard operations to re-position the Atlantic fleet in support of local port commanders and to establish critical command and control capability.

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Books and Videos

Reeds Professional Yacht Log Book (GBP25) and Bridge Procedures (GBP30) by Michael and Frances Howarth.  Published by Adlard Coles Nautical, 38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HB.

The authors have done much to help the 'professionalisation' of the superyacht workforce and has produced two new books that will consolidate his work.  The books contain essential material to assist with safe and efficient operations.  The authors should be congratulated for producing something that should become essential reading for superyacth owners, managers and crews.

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The Master by Ralph Potts (ISBN 1 41205558 X) Cost GBP14 from Trafford Publishing (UK) 9 Park End Street, Oxford OX1 1HH.  www.trafford.com

275 pages recalling the career from cadetship to running his own shipping operation and back to sea as a master with Stephenson Clarke.  Packed with good tales of shipboard life and the character he sailed with, the book makes a good job of capturing the often remarkable sighes and experiences of visiting foreign ports in the 50s and 60s.

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Shipping Company Colours by Edward Paget-Tomlinson.  Cost GBP14.99.  Published by Landmark Publishing, Ashbourne Hall, Cokayne Avenue, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 1 EJ, UK.

House flags and funnel colours provide one of the most evocative images of the 'golden ear' of the shipping industry.  These are celebrated in this new book which provides and A to Z of 26 firms and their liveries.

ED:  Provides some great nostalgia - which, like the shipping industry, ain't what it used to be!

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Conference Reports

None this month.

(ED: If you intend to attend a conference which you believe would be of interest to our readers, we would be grateful to receive a short synopsis.)

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IMO Conventions

IMO regularly updates its web page with new and amended conventions:  http://www.imo.org/

Here you can browse through the various publications that are available and buy those which interest you. To navigate the publications you can either select one of the categories or use the advanced search.

For those of you who might also be interested, UK M Notices are available at:  www.mcagency.org.uk

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Annex V of MARPOL has recently been amended to include 'cargo residues' as a garbage category.  Category 4 garbage is now defined as 'Cargo residues, paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles, crockery, etc.' and can only be disposed of outside special areas and at a distance greater than 12 nautical miles off shore.

More information is available about the amendment can be found on the North of England P&I's web page:  www.nepia.com/news/industrynews_lings.php

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Future Events

If you have a marine related conference coming up, let us know so that we can mention it below:

SCMS holds a series of Buffet Lectures each year. The lectures cover a wide range of subjects that are of interest to Members and their guests.  They are held in London usually starting at 18:00 hrs. The winter programme will be published on the SCMS website http://www.scmshq.org  Those interested should send an email to sec@scmshq.org to be included on the announcement list.  CPD certificates are available for those attending.

China Maritime, Exhibition and Conference, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, 28 Feb - 2 March 2006. 
Info:  Baird Publications, marinfo@baird.com.au

6-10 March 2006, World Maritime Technology Conference, IMarEST, London. 
More info:  www.imarest.org/events/

9-11 April 2006, 44th Annual NAMS National Marine Conference East, Loews Annapolis Hotel, 126 West Street, Annapolis, MD, USA.

11th & 12th April 2006.  Nautical Institute Command Seminar (Rescheduled) at the Doubletree Hotel, 400 Dallas Street, Houston, Texas 77002. www.niusgulf.com

15th/16th May  -  IIMS European Surveying Conference 2006 (Antwerp) 
15th May 2006  -  IIMS Annual Dinner (Antwerp) 
16th May 2006  -  IIMS Annual General Meeting (Antwerp)

15-16 May 2006.  IIMS European Conference, AGM & Dinner, Antwerp, Belgium.

16 - 18 May 2006.  Roro 2006.  Flanders Expo, Ghent, Belgium. 
Info:  www.roroex.com or email:  melissa.skinner@informa.com

13-15 June 2006.  Seawork International Commercial Marine Exhibition & Conference, Canary Islands Fruit Terminal, Berth 103-104, Herbart Walker Avenue, ABP Port of Southampton, Hants, UK SO15 1HJ, UK. 
Email: info@seawork.com   Also www.seawork.com

24, 25 and 26 September 2006. NAMS Annual Conference, Radisson Hotel Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. For additional information go to nams-cms.org.

23-26 September 2006.  The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, Annual Meeting & Educational Symposia, will be held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay Hotel & Convention Center, 88 Spring Street, Portland, Maine.  Interested parties should contact the SAMS International HQ for registration packets, 1 800 344-9077 or check the Calendar at: 
www.marinesurvey.org

24-26 April 2007, Cruise & Ferry 2007, ExCeL London, London, UK 
Info:  www.cruiseferryex.com

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Some maritime conference web sites for you to keep up to date:

http://www.cconnection.org/
http://www.reedexpo.com/
http://www.grc.uri.edu/
http://www.wholelife.com/
http://www.ship-technology.com/exhibitions/
http://www.apmaritime.com/
http://www.lloydslistevents.com/
http://www.marineexpo.com/
http://www.seaworkexhibition.com
http://www.toc-events.com/

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Web Sites

If your (marine surveying) company has a web site, let us know and we will try to mention it.  Below are some web pages we believe might be useful to marine surveyors:

http://www.shiptalk.com/shiptalk_rss_feed.asp
RSS Feeds for the Shiptalk newsletter.

AIS information:
www.AISlive.com  (does not include SE Asian waters)

Canadian Coastguard:
http://www.cgc.gc.ca

International Bunker Industry Association
www.ibia.net
Good information and a good newsletter.

Admiralty and Maritime Law Guide
www.admiraltylawguide.com
Focus on US law, but still interesting

International Bunker Industry Association
www.ibia.net
Good information and a good newsletter.

Admiralty and Maritime Law Guide
www.admiraltylawguide.com
Focus on US law, but still interesting

Houston Marine Insurance Seminars
www.houstonmarineseminar.com
Lots of papers and presentations to download

IMO Country/Port/Terminal info and contact numbers:
http://www.tdconcepts.com/

Tactical Defense Concepts (TDC) - a good section on security alerts and analysis:
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
http://www.ds-osac.org/
(OSAC was established in 1985 by the US Department of State to foster the exchange of security related i nformation between the US Government and the Amercian private sector operating abroad.  Administered by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture for effective security cooperation.  Through OSAC, the American private sector, including colleges and universities, is provided timely information on which to make informed corporate decisions on how best to protect their investment, facilities,personnel and intellectual property abroad.)

Those of you who use Equasis may also be interested to hear of three other web pages with similar information:

www.parismou.org/
www.tokyo-mou.org/
www.uscg.com

www.shiptalk.com/
-  Designed by seafarers for seafarers. Deck, engine, catering, hotel or concession, seafarers past and present, all are welcome. Seafaring is a global profession and we extend the hand of friendship to seafarers of all nationalities.

www.shippingfacts.com
-  Provides basic information about the structure of the shipping industry, its contribution to the world economy and its safety/environmental performance.  The site also contains links with more detailed sourcdes of information about the industry.

www.imarest.org
-  Website of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology.

www.nepia.com
- A fully searchable,  and provides full details of the club and its ships. It also features a new service from  the club's risk management department, called , which summarises shipping industry developments and offers links to primary sources, including the Maritime Advocate. Newsnet is updated weekly, or sometimes more frequently.

www.numast.org
- Web site for the National Union of Marine Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers who publish the monthly NUMAST Telegraph.

www.aimsurveyors.com.au
- Web site for the Australian Institute of Marine Surveyors. www.friendsreunited.co.uk/).
- Here you can register some personal information, together with your school/college and the year you left to go on to greater things.  You can also enter your nickname in school, which class you were in, your mates' names and what you've done since leaving.  You may be one day surprised to receive a message out of the blue from an old school chum.

www.marine-society.org
- The Marine Society is a worthy marine charity offering many services to mariners.


www.imo.org/
- International Maritime Organisation web page.  Keep up to date with new conventions.

www.lrfairplay.com
- Scroll down the home page until you see the heading 'Free Access' appear on the left hand side. Clicking on the words 'shipping sites' takes you to a search function. You can then search either by company name or by category (there is a 'consultants and surveyors' category, for example) or by country. Or by a combination - so you could search for consultants/surveyors in Australia beginning with the letter 'D', for example.  That pulls up a list; if you then click on the word 'free' in the right hand column you are linked through to the relevant website.

If your readers know of any companies with sites that we do not list (or that we have an out-of-date address for) we would like to have details to update the database.

http://www.acms-usa.com/
- The Association of Certified Marine Surveyors

www.equasis.org/
- Database containing safety-related information on the worlds merchant fleet from both public and private sources.  Gives ship's particulars, Class Soc, P&I Club and PSC inspection record.  Very useful for surveyors looking for vessel particulars before carrying out a survey.

http://www.femas.org
- The Federation of European Maritime Associations of Surveyors and Consultants

www.iims.org.uk/
- International Institute of Marine Surveyors

http://www.lloydsagency.com
- General access to the directory of the world network of Lloyd's Agents.

www.mariners-l.freeserve.co.uk
- Merchant Navy records on UK MN vessels and information merchant seamen, logs, agreements and crew lists, MN apprentices and deaths at sea

www.marinesupportonline.com
- Marine Support On Line

www.marinesurvey.org/
- Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors

www.nams-cms.org/
- National Association of Marine Surveyors

www.sas-intl.com
- Safety at Sea International

www.scmshq.org/
- Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors

www.sname.org/
- Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

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From the Poop Deck

I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing.  I have never figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart.

FOR EXAMPLE:

One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed.

Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me.".

I said "WHAT????!!! What was that?!"

So she says the words That every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear..."You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man."

She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?"

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep. The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take so I told her we'll just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said lets get a pair for each outfit. We went onto the jewellery department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings.

Let me tell you...she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis.

I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey." She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier." I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it."

Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled "WHAT???!!!" I then said, "Really honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman." And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?"

Apparently I'm not having sex tonight either.

******

Understanding Engineers (with thanks to Helen Walsh of Overseas Maritime, Piraeus)

Understanding Engineers - Take One 
---------------------------------- 
Two engineering students were walking across campus when one said, "Where did you get such a great bike?"

The second engineer replied, "Well, I was walking along yesterday minding my own business when beautiful woman rode up on this bike. She threw the bike to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, "Take what you want."

The second engineer nodded approvingly, "Good choice; the clothes probably wouldn't have fit you." 
 

Understanding Engineers - Take Two 
---------------------------------- 
To the optimist, the glass is half full. 
To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. 
To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be. 
 

Understanding Engineers - Take Three 
------------------------------------ 
A pastor, a doctor and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers.

The engineer fumed, "What's with these guys? We must have been waiting for 15 minutes!"

The doctor chimed in, "I don't know, but I've never seen such ineptitude! "

The pastor said, "Hey, here comes the greens keeper. Let's have a word with him." [dramatic pause]

"Hi George, say, what's with that group ahead of us? They're rather slow, aren't they?"

The greens keeper replied, "Oh, yes, that's a group of blind fire-fighters. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime.

"The group was silent for a moment.

The pastor said, "That's so sad. I think I will say a special prayer for them tonight."

The doctor said, "Good idea. And I'm going to contact my ophthalmologist buddy and see if there's anything he can do for them."

The engineer said, "Why can't these guys play at night?" 
 

Understanding Engineers - Take Four 
----------------------------------- 
What is the difference between Mechanical Engineers and Civil Engineers?

Mechanical Engineers build weapons. 
Civil Engineers build targets. 
 

Understanding Engineers - Take Five 
----------------------------------- 
Normal people ... believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. 
Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet." 
 

Understanding Engineers - Take Six 
---------------------------------- 
An architect, an artist and an engineer were discussing whether it was better to spend time with the wife or a mistress.

The architect said he enjoyed time with his wife, building a solid foundation for an enduring relationship.

The artist said he enjoyed time with his mistress, because of the passion and mystery he found there.

The engineer said, "I like both."

"Both?"

Engineer: "Yeah. If you have a wife and a mistress, they will each assume you are spending time with the other woman, and you can go to the office. 
 

Understanding Engineers - Take Seven 
------------------------------------ 
An engineer was crossing a road one day when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess".

He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket.

The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will stay with you for one week."

The engineer took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket.

The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you and do ANYTHING you want."

Again the engineer took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket.

Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess, that I'll stay with you for a week and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?"

The engineer said, "Look I'm an engineer. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that's cool."

******

The husband and wife go to a counselor after 25 years of marriage. The counselor asks them what the problem is, and the wife goes into a tirade, listing every problem they have ever had in the 25 years they've been married. She goes on and on and on. Finally, the counselor gets up, goes around the desk, embraces the woman and kisses her passionately. The woman shuts up and sits quietly in a daze. The counselor turns to the husband and says, "That is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do that?"

The husband thinks for a moment and replies, "Well, I can get her here Monday and Wednesday, but Friday I golf."

(With thanks to Fraser Hunt)

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Disclaimer:  Articles and reports reflect the views of the individuals who prepared them, and, unless indicated expressly in the text, do not necessarily represent the views of the editor.  Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate, the editor makes no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or correctness of such information.  The editor accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any loss, damage or other liability arising from any use of this publication or the information which it contains.  The contents of the publication are the responsibility of the editor alone.

News, views, enquiries, suggestions, articles and letters for inclusion in future editions of FLASHLIGHT may be sent to:

Mike Wall
Tel:  +852 2259 3150
Fax: +852 2259 3151
Email: mikewall@pacific.net.hk