(Past editions can be viewed on http://www.asiaconference.biz)
Quote of the month ...
Wrinkles merely show where smiles have been ......
Anon
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The 2005 Asian Marine Insurance and Surveying Forum will be held at the Shangri-la Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
on Thursday/Friday 24/25 November.
Those interested in attending should contact Ms Astor Tsang at Asia Conferences: marine@asiaconference.biz
Those interested in giving a paper at the conference should contact Mike Wall at mikewall@pacific.net.hk
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After Office Hours
After Office Hours is a new way of listing your availability to clients all over the world.
People looking for help in an emergency can look up your contact details in the small relational database using the After Office Hours search engine.
Subscribers may choose how much or how little contact information they wish to publish. They can update their pages whenever they like.
There is a free trial period. Rates are very reasonable.
You can register by using the link below:-
http://www.afterofficehours.com/registration.php?i=21
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Marine Surveyor wanted
Individual will preferably have:
- At least 10 years international sea-going experience
- Minimum five years experience as chief or second engineer on ocean going ships
- Degree or certification in nautical studies, marine or mechanical engineering.
- Diploma in marine surveying or enrolment in same.
- Must be able to conduct Hull & Machinery, Condition and Evaluation Surveys and other Technical Investigations and Surveys on many types of vessels.
- Familiar with International Maritime Organisation codes and standards and procedures/ International Shipping regulations.
- Experience in implementation of ISO/ISM Standards.
- Computer Literacy in word processing and spreadsheets.
- Good communication skills in English.
- Should be self motivated with some managerial skills and a hands-on attitude.
This is an opportunity for a committed marine surveyor to grow within a well established company in the far east with the ultimate objective of taking over the company operations when the current principals retire in 4-5 years.
Candidates who do not fufil all of the above requirements will be considered as training will be provided. Reply to the Editor's email address.
CONTENTS (for full stories, select a headline)
- At the bow - Registration is free! New members.
- Spindrift - Paris MoU Survey Findings. New wave of attacks on shipping. Time for tougher M-Notice. Singapore to set up onboard security. Fake job warning. US expected to seek stricter tank cleaning procedures. Survey safety bid. Masters urged to query pilots' manoeuvres. Bosporus closure. Spill fine doubled.
- Contributions - Report on 'How accident investigations can improve safety at sea' Lecture given by Stephen Meyer, Head of the United Kingdom Marine Accident Investigation Branch, at IMarEST, 12 April 2005.
- Midships - Ellen MacArthur. How to handle a stroke.
- Scuttlebutt - ISPS.
- Insurance News - None this month.
- Wig & Gown - None this month.
- Education & Training - Diploma in Yacht and Small Craft Surveying
- Epistles - Loss of the Gaul.
- People - Ian Lennox.
- Books & Videos - The Captain's Table. RMS St Helena. Mary Celeste.
- Useful web sites for marine surveyors.
- Conference reports - The London Surveying Conference 2005, jointly sponsored by IIMS and NAMS, held on 11 & 12 April 2005, at IMarEST headquarters, 80 Coleman Street, London, United Kingdom.
- IMO Conventions - IMO updates.
- Future events - Some upcoming events which might be of interest to marine surveyors.
- From the Poop Deck - Marriage and the wife ..... Duck hunting. There is some good in everyone.
FLASHLIGHT is a free monthly emailed newsletter circulated to more than 4,000 people involved in marine surveying around the world. It is circulated anybody who wishes to receive a copy, eg, Marine Surveyors, P&I Clubs, their correspondents, Underwriters, Professional Institutes, Admiralty Lawyers, etc.
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 Members:
Alan Jarvis, Alan Jarvis Marine Surveys Limited, Peterborough, UK
Alexander Sitnikov, Vladivostok, Russia
Bjarne Ludvigsen, Norway.
Brian Smith, British Marine Managers Ltd, UK
Bruce Pickard, Alexandria, VA, USA
Capt. Allan Brink, Durban, South Africa
Capt. Michael Tskitishvili, JLJ Marine, Greece
Capt. Nic Paines, London, UK
Capt. Nigel Hartley, A Bilbrough & Co Ltd, UK
Capt. Peter King, Felixstowe, UK
Capt. Sanjay Bhasin, Durban, South Africa
Capt. Tim Sears, London, UK
Catherin McLaughlin, CMS, AMS, Kennedyville, MD, USA
Charles Weller, Richards Butler, UK
David Falkner, London, UK
David Fletcher, A Bilbrough & Co Ltd, UK
David Green, Northwicch, UK
David J Howard, RNLI, Southampton, UK
David Smith, Waterlooville, UK
Fred Cousins, Havant, UK
Helen Yiacoumis, North of England P&I, Greece
Hugh Barry
Humphry Hill, AfterOfficerHours, UK
Ing Bruce Verweu, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ing Rob Voskamp, Amsterdam, Netherlands
John Nixon, Southampton, UK
John Spark, Saffron Walden, UK
John Tirel, Atlanta, GA, USA
Liam McKenna, RNLI, Poole, UK.
Mark Rawson, London, UK
Mike Berry, A Bilbrough & Co Ltd, UK
Nicolas Andrews, Royal & Sun Alliance, UK
Osy Okwuosa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Paul Andrew, North of England P&I, UK
Paul Bixley, A Bilbrough & Co Ltd, UK
Peter Morgan, Newport, Gwent, UK
Phiip Ramsey, North of England P&I, UK
Phil Hastings, Royal & Sun Alliance, UK
Rebekah Khew yen Lin, AXA, Hong Kong
Roby Scalvini, Plama de Mallorca, Spain
Roger Brockway, London, UK
Ruth Kelly, Christchurch, UK
Simon Beechinor, Lomar Shipping Ltd, UK
Terry Davey, Felixstowe, UK
Tim Parkins, Felixstowe, UK
William A Duval, Dufour Laskay & Strouse Inc, Houston, USA
William J Campbell, Harvey Cedars, NJ, USA
Wouter De Bruycker, Antwerp, Belgium
Paris MoU Survey Findings
The shipping industry was shocked last week by the Paris MoU's findings from its three month 'Concentrated Inpsection Campaign on Working and Living Conditions'. The campaign, carried out late last year as a consequence of the coming into force of ILO 180, focused on areas coverd by the ILO Conventions and found that 40% of ships inpsected had deficiencies up from just 25% in 1997. Most of the ILO deficiencies were found in work area arrangements, food storage, sanitary facilities and the condition of gally and hospital accommodation. Working and living conditions turned up as seriously neglected areas.
Inspection findings:
Ships inspected 4,555
Ships detained 285 (6.25%)
Ships detained for ILO matters 21 (0.46%
Ships found to have deficiencies 40%
Working arrangement deficiencies 50%
ILO 180 related deficiencies 64%
General cargo ships with deficiencies 57%
Bulk carriers with deficiencies 21%
Almost half of all inspection deficiencies were found to be related to working arrangments.
(With thanks to Fairplay magazine, the international shipping weekly)
New wave of attacks on shipping
Following the quiet period after the Asian tsunami, fresh outbreaks of violent attacks on merchant ships are taking place in the Malacca Straits. New initiatives are being called for to combat the problem after a series recent incidents.
The most serious incident last month saw a fully laden product tanker attacked by 35 pirates armed with machine guns and rocket launchers. The pirates ordered the vessel to change course and kidnapped the captain and chief engineer, demanding a US$214,000 ransom for their release. Earlier last month, the master and chief officer of a Malaysian tug were freed after the owners paid a ransom to the gang who had kidnapped them. The vessel's chief engineer was shot in the leg during the incident. In a third case, a Japanese tug was attacked some 70 miles SW of Penang and armed pirates abducted three crew members, released a week later.
Time for tougher M-Notice
The Department of Transport has been urged to beef up its advice to the shipping industry on preventing piracy and armed attacks on shipping. The Dept has begun work on revising Marine Guidance Note 241, which was first issued over a decade ago and last revised in 2002, the need being for it to be significantly strengthened. It is suggested that the guidelines should uphold the master's professional judgement in deciding on routeing and the selection of anchorage. Stress also needs to be placed on owners and operators that there are circumstances where vessels should not be ordered into areas of greatest risk.
Since the last revision the ISPS Code such that the M Notice needs to make specific reference to key elements of the code, including the provision of security alarms and additional security personnel in areas of high risk. It has also been suggested that masters should not be discouraged from using distress signals in the event of an attack.
Singapore to set up onboard security
The Singapore Navy is starting to provide armed security teams to support some of the 1,000 merchant ships that transit the country's waters every day. The plans form part of a series of measures revealed by the defence ministry last month in an effort to prevent terrorist or pirate attacks on ships deemed to be particularly security sensitive. Starting this month, 'accompanying sea security teams' from the Singapore navy will be deployed on selected merchant vessels, including cruiseships, entering and leaving Singaporean waters. The uniformed teams will wear bullet proof vests and carry guns. Singapore has also established a special maritime assault division within the police force's special tactics and rescue unit. The new team has been created to deal with vessel hijackings, piracy and other maritime security incidents.
Fake job warning
Fraudsters are using Nigeria as their base for scams offering non-existent jobs on board ships and oil rigs the ITWF has warned and the problem appears to be continuing to grow. The usual trick is to ask for 10% of an applicant's first month's wages for a job on a fictional ship that just happens to be stopping at Port Harcourt, Nigeria, near to where the money should be paid. Those looking for such jobs are warned that if they have to pay for a job in advance it probably does not exist. If the offer comes from Nigeria then it definitely does not exist. Charging seafarers for jobs is outlawed by ILO Convention 179, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
US expected to seek stricter tank cleaning procedures
Investigations in to a fatal blast on board a chemical tanker off the US east coast last year are expected to result in recommendations to tighten up tank cleaning procedures. A total of 21 seafarers died when the Bow Mariner, carrying a cargo of ethanol, fuel oil and diesel oil from New York to Florida, exploded and sank some 50 miles off the coast of Virginia. Accident investigators said the incident was one of two cases within the space of three months involving explosions on board tankers owned by the Norwegian company Odfjell. In both cases, tank cleaning operations were being performed and steps have now been taken by the company to prevent ignition in gas dangerous areas and to reduce or eliminate explosive atmospheres in tanks and on deck.
Survey safety bid
Three leading Classification Societies have launched a joint initiative to improve the safety of surveyors on assignment. LR, DnV and ABS are trying to ensure safe working conditions for surveyors working on board ships, offshore platforms and in shipyards and other third party sites. The initiative concentrates on five key safety concerns faced by surveyors; entry into confined spaces; access to/from/within the workspace; safe plant and equipment; working
at height and transferring between vessels at sea. The principal risk to the health and safety of surveyors, who often have to work alone, occurs on third party sites and despite their experience, are heavily reliant on ship's crew or the site controller their for safety. Even experienced surveyors can be put under pressure to carry out their work in a potentially unsafe location with commercial pressure being applied.
Masters urged to query pilots' manoeuvres
The London P&I Club has urged masters to be more interventionist when their vessels are under pilotage, following a series of fixed and floating object damage cases in recent months involving ships with pilots on board. The Club says these cases have underlined previous concerns about the contributory role of pilot error in collision claims. Consequently, masters should be prepared to question pilots in cases where the manoeuvres being undertaken appear not to be progressing as planned or expected, or if they appear to be creating risk of an accident.
Bosporus closure
A back log of nearly 90 ships built up after the Bosporus was closed for two days last month when a roro ship carrying seven tanks of LPG sank near the entrance of the waterway. The unnamed Turkish vessel went down near the southern entrance to the channel in bad weather and eight crew were rescued.
Spill fine doubled
France has intensified its tough court clamp down on marine polluters with fresh fines being slapped on a number of shipmasters and shipping companies. In the first case of an appeal against fines on ships caught polluting within the French 200 mile special economic zone, a court in Rennes, Brittany, has doubled a fine imposed in December to Euros200,000
(With thanks to the NUMAST Shipping Telegraph)
'How accident investigations can improve safety at sea' Lecture given by Stephen Meyer, Head of the United Kingdom Marine Accident Investigation Branch, at IMarEST, 12 April 2005.
Being between the IIMS/NAMS conference, which had ended at 4 pm, and the IIMS Annual Dinner, starting at 7 pm, I took the opportunity to drop in to listen to a lecture given by Stephen Meyer, Head of the UK Marine Accident Branch (MAIB) entitled 'How accident investigations can improve safety at sea'. It was interesting to hear how the MAIB functions and how Mr Meyer sees his department affecting ship safety. Whether he represents the views of his lords and masters is unclear but he is of the opinion that accidents at sea are unpalatable.
Recent research has shown that seafarers are 26.4 times more likely to die in the workplace with some people at sea taking refuge in the defence that they would do more if there was more money available. Mr Meyer stated that it would be wrong to compare the UK accident rate with third world countries. However, UK standards should apply to all ships in UK waters. If you want to trade in UK waters you must be prepared to accept UK standards!
The main aim of the MAIB is prevention of future accidents through ascertainment of causes and circumstances as defined by the Merchant Shipping Regulations 2005 which state that the master of and operators of a ship must report accidents to the MAIB. The department currently has 12 inspectors which will soon be increased to 16. Inspectors undergo 2 years training on joining the MAIB and are expected to keep an open mind, ie, not be judgmental. One team is on call 24 hours a day for 365 days a year (hopefully not the same team all the time!).
There are a minimum of 2 inspectors to each team, which have wide powers under the 1995 Act with the right to enter any premises and to interview anyone. An advocate may be present by may be vetoed by the inspector if he feels it may hinder investigation. The interviewee must answer questions truthfully with notes being strictly protected.
After initial investigation MAIB may decide to take ahead to full investigation, based on future safety. The reports generate conclusions and recommendations, the department having consulted with other professionals to decide on most appropriate recommendations. Mr Meyer stated that the primary responsibility for ship operations lies with Flag States and Classification Societies. In his opinioin, if this role was effectively discharged by both the problem of maritime pollution would be substantially reduced, unfortunately they are not. All should read the Braer report in this respect.
A more recent player on the stage is the coastal state whose role is growing rapidly with ISPS requirements giving more power to coastal states. We have seen some coastal states taking action because some Flag States are not taking responsibility. There is a distinct danger that other countries apart from Australia and EC might impose stricter controls if the Flag States don't get their act together.
The question was also asked whether ISM is having any effect? The MAIB's investigations indicate that it is, where a company embraces it, but is not where it is seen as a bureaucratic paper chase. Hence the need for it to be embraced universally.
A couple of incidents were used to illustrate how accidents are generated. One in particular endorsed that our worst enemy is complacency. Mr Meyer then listed some of the common problems contributing to accidents, issues which must be addressed by all Flag States:
- Fatigue
- Work load, ie, using watches to catch up on paperwork
- Multinational crewing.
- Small number of ratings
- ColRegs not observed
- Design
- Attracting attention
- Use of names from AIS
Mr Meyer also suggested that trade organisations could help more. Some are cooperative whilst others act only as a post box to members. Some are offended that the MAIB suggests that it is their responsibility.
Interesting to note that only four flag states report their accidents to IMO, contributing to a database to record such accidents it currently only containing 110 reports, most of them from the UK. This means that the UK has the highest number of accidents on the register, purely because it is the largest contributor. The advantage of such a database is that the knowledge base is increased, but only if all flag states participate, no one flag state having the monopoly on all types of accidents.
Mr Meyer compared the airline industry with the shipping industry in safety terms. The Shipping industry is so fragmented and non-homogenous with the sole imperative of many at the IMO being commercial.
My Meyer confirmed that commercial interests still override safety requirements in all sectors of the industry and concluded by asking the question: "To whom should we address our recommendations?"
Mike Wall
(ED: As long as we have the eternal triangle of Owner, Class and Flag State without any independent auditing of the latter two, such initiatives as the MAIB and accident database are likley to have a limited success.)
The comments below are intended to stimulate debate on a current matter:
Ellen MacArthur
Applying Rule 1 (Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas...), Rule 3 (vessel includes every description of water craft .....) and Rule 5 (Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing ...) of International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea it would appear that heroine Ellen MacArthur transgressed during her record breaking trip around the world. Nowhere in the rules is there a section allowing you to break them, even if you are on a solo trip around the world. Reports indicate that she was sleeping for four hours each day so that there was no chance that she could have been keeping an appropriate lookout during this time. If she had had the misfortune to have bumped into a fully laden tanker whilst asleep, who would have faced the greater charges? As she is has become a Dame of the British Empire for her accomplishments, does this mean that any seafarer found to have been keeping an improper lookout will have their case dismissed and be awarded a knighthood? Sorry no. a case of 'One rule for xxx and another for ........'?
Mike Wall
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With more of us getting older and into the danger zone for strokes, particularly those of us with high blood pressure, the following appears quite appropriate:
SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO KNOW, IS IT A STROKE?
Sometimes, symptoms of a stroke is difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.
The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now, doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
*Ask the individual to SMILE.
*Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
*Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE.
If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call emergency immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
After discovering that a group of non medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions.
They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting.
Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.
ISPS (affectionately referred to by many as the ISSPISS Code!)
Conflicts continue to develop with respect to the implementation of the ISPS Code. From this month, we will be listing some of the ways that the code interferes with normal ship operations which in some cases could be considered as hazardous together with transgressions of interest:
We recently heard of the following overkill:
"Aussie bulker access row
AUSTRALIA?S deputy prime minister John Anderson has stepped into an industrial dispute involving a bulk carrier docked at Wallaroo, South Australia.
Mr Anderson said that national security should not be used as a weapon in industrial disputes following reports that the master of the Maltese-flag Flecha imposed ISPS level 2 security on his vessel and refused to allow union officials onboard during a dispute over pay and conditions.
According to the International Transport Workers? Federation the23-year-old bulk carrier, chartered by AWB Ltd, is alongside the grain berth and ready to load while its crew continues its strike.
ITF representative Dean Summers said preventing access was an outrageous breach of maritime security which recognised the right of access for welfare and labour organisations.
A spokesman for Mr Anderson was quoted as saying that security seemed to be the card which players in the industrial scene were using for their goals."
Ed: It is suggested that should you find a port or ship which does not conform to the ISPS Code or oversteps the mark, you should let us know so that we can 'Name and Shame' them.
None this month.
None this month.
Diploma in Yacht and Small Craft Surveying ?
A year long modular course with a choice of specialist subjects, for example GRP/FRP Vessels, Engine Surveys and Rigs and Sails. The course offers a career path opportunity for new surveyors and an option for the seafarer coming ashore and seeking a new career.? The course gives current surveyors a way to extend and develop their knowledge base.? It is also a professional and internationally recognised qualification.? The International Institute of Marine Surveyors and the International Boat Building Training College award this course ?
Administration Office, IIMS, Stone Lane, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 1SS Tel: +44(0)23 9258 8000????????? Fax: +44(0)23 9258 8002 Further information: iims@compuserve.com
Mike,
John Prescott normally gets a bad press, but one good thing he did on becoming Deputy PM, was to have this loss (and DERBYSHIRE's) fully and thoroughly investigated.
At the time of GAUL's loss, I was Chief of the frigate HMS EXMOUTH. At 1,600 tons, we were 400 tons heavier than GAUL and bounced around in bad weather, having lost about a foot of GM in her conversion from steam to gas turbine, (We had the prototype Marine OLYMPUS). We were scheduled to carry out trials 3 weeks later off North Cape, on icing/de-icing of our engine intake filtration systems. GAUL's loss caused panic about our stability in the MOD(N)'s Warship Design Department. They first tried to stop them; then agreed with the engineers to our being relocated to Alta Fjord, (home of the TIRPITZ). The weather had eased considerably by then, apart from a nasty 24 hours on passage. Like most other ships deployed in that area, we only carried a couple of additonal telegraphists and tape recorders for listening in to Soviet radio traffic. With no satellite communications in those days, long distance RT propagation in Northern latitudes was always difficult.
One has every seamans' deepest sympathy for the crew's relatives. However, I personally am as certain as I can be that there were no sinister events behind the loss of GAUL, and that the investigation's conclusion was probably correct: the underwater pictures of the open fish hatch said as much.
Bob Barnes, Director, Robert Barnes & Co, Consulting Engineers & Surveyors
(ED: If you also have any interesting tales to tell, please send them to mikewall@pacific.net.hk)
Ian Lennox retires from the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies this month after almost 30 years teaching marine engineering to generations of cadets and officers. Our best wishes go with him in his retirement.
The Captain's Table, by Sarah Edington (ISBN 0948065575), cost GBP16.99, published by the National Maritime Museum publishing, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF. A recipe book with a difference - meals from the heyday of passenger shipping. The menu cards included are held in the NMM ephemera collection which members of the public and apply to view free of charge.
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RMS St Helena - A South Atlantic Voyage. Available from Little Sparrow TV, 2 Connaught Mansions, 390 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8LE, UK, price GBP22.00 including postage and packing.. Email: RMS-St-Helena@little-sparrow.com or call +44-7702-507048.
The film crew joined the ship, part cruise vessel, part cargoship and mail carrier, from the very beginning of her voyage as she set off from Weymouth for Ascension Island, St Helena and Tristan de Cunha.
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Mary Celeste: The Greatest Mystery of the Sea by Paul Begg (ISBN 0582 4784220) Cost GBP19.99, published by Longman, Pearson Education, Edinburgh Gate, Harlow CM220 2JE, UK. A massive myth has built up around the case with all sorts of amazing theories as to the disappearance of the crew without trace.
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:
www.npl.co.uk/ncs/ National Physics Laboratory - National Corrosion Service
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
Houston Marine Insurance Seminars
www.houstonmarineseminar.com
Lots of papers and presentations to download
www.mastermarinesurveyor.com
Web site for Rob Scanlan, US Master Mariner Surveyor, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA
Email: yacht1ship@aol.com
International Bunker Industry Association
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.
- Ever wondered where your old shipmates are now? Why not leave your details and search for your old shipmates. Shipmates, will keep you in contact with seagoing friends new and old.
- Money Matters is inspired by those conversations you have at sea, in the bar, on the VHF and ashore, on the subject of money. What you get paid and where the best opportunities are for time onboard versus leave versus salary versus benefits. Make "money matters" work for you.
- Blow your whistle, and warn other seafarers of the way it is when signing on with certain manning agents or ship owners. By sharing our experiences we can improve the life at sea for you and your fellow shipmates. Ship talk is always straight, honest and direct, so say it the way it is. Deep Sea, Short Sea, Offshore and Cruise, check out these links for issues which affect you.
- Crew List become your own agent and advertise your professional services on crew list.
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.
www.femas.net/default.htm
- 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.
The London Surveying Conference 2005, jointly sponsored by IIMS and NAMS was held on 11 & 12 April 2005, at the IMarEST headquarters, 80 Coleman Street, London, United Kingdom and was attended by over 100 delegates from 16 countries, the majority of whom were from the UK and USA, the farthest travellers coming from Hong Kong, Korea and Vladivostok. Despite the many different nationalities, a highlight of the conference was the interaction between the speakers and delegates, some of the banter causing great amusement.
FIRST DAY
The first day's proceedings, which consisted of presentations to all delegates, were chaired by Mr. Lome Gould, President, NAMS, in his usual relaxed style. Any more laid back and he would be asleep!
A short welcome address was given by Mr. Maurice Storey _ Chairman, Hatsu Marine Ltd & current President of IMarEST.
- Capt. Andrew Cross, Lloyd's Agency Network,
Andrew enlightened us on the machinations of the Lloyd's Agency Network. As usual, the paper was informative and entertaining with some humerous slides thrown in for good measure.
- Mega Marketing by Mr. Larry Montgomery - Past National Secretary NAMS, Montgomery Maritime, Seattle.
A very interesting paper with some new slants on marketing but particularly on how to prepare yourself for carrying out an investigation. As usual, keeping an open mind was stressed.
- Professional Indemnity Insurance for the Marine Surveyor, Ms Victoria Hughes, Galatea Underwriting Agencies Ltd.
Once introduced at a marine surveyor's conference, "It is always nice to have a dumb blond at a conference to pretty the place up, but this blond is far from dumb!" Victoria again did not fail to enthral us with her take on the need for professional indemnity insurance, giving illustrations and quoting horrific figures for us to digest. Her examples would appear to suggest that those carrying out small craft surveys would have more need for her services.
- Present Day Ship Pirates, Mr. Peter Hinchliffe, International Chamber of Shipping.
Peter highlighted the problems ships are facing daily in parts of the world with respect to pirates and other reprobates around the world. Some interesting facts and figures kept the audience enthralled.
- Professional Ethics Among Surveying Groups, Mr. Mike Wall, Kiwi Marine, Hong Kong.
The paper detailed the codes of ethics or professional conduct for six of the larger marine surveyors' professional institutes, ie, SCMS, IIMS, NAMS, AIMS, SAMS and IMarEST. The presentation listed the aims of the codes and gave examples of how the marine surveyor might contravene such codes with the possible action which might be taken by the various institutes.
- The Difficulties of Surveying Modern Ships, Mr. Brian Purtle, Lloyd's Register.
How many of us have found it impossible to access some areas in a ship, possibly due to our shape? This paper outlined current initiatives being taken to ensure that ships are built in such a way that they are capable of being surveyed by all surveyors during the life of the vessel.
- Bugs, Beasties and Fouling! Mr. Peter Morgan, Lithgow Associates
Peter outlined some of the animal and vegetable life which can eat your boat, rot your hull and melts your deck. Clearly a man who loves and enjoys his work very much, being very enthusiastic about his subject.
The Biggest Ferris Wheel in the World. Mr Hank Arntz, Handling Consultant to the London Eye, Van Ameyde International, Netherlands.
Henk outlined the methods used and problems encountered during the building and surveying of the giant bike wheel, known as the London Eye.
SECOND DAY
The second day's proceedings were chaired by Capt. Chris Spencer, President, IIMS
Delegates had the opportunity to visit three workshops dedicated to small craft, cargo and hull & machinery. I took the opportunity to visit the small craft workshops so cannot comment on the papers given in the other two workshops:
Workshop One - Small Craft
- Mr. Terry Davey and Mr. Nigel Clegg, Hull Osmosis, Hot Vac Cure.
This joint paper from an expert in osmosis and the inventor of the Hot Vac Cure system was of paramount importance to any marine surveyor thinking of surveying GRP boats. The information was well presented and particularly invaluable, even to experienced surveyors.
- Mr. Fred Cousins _ IIMS, Surveying Engineering Installations in Small Craft.
At every conference there is always one person who has so much experience and information to impart and for me, this was the paper I had unknowingly been waiting for. Fred is 85 years old and retired from surveying but showed us photos of the many and various engine problems he had come up against during his
long surveying career. The information imparted was of paramount importance to any marine surveyor thinking of surveying small craft. The information was well presented and particularly invaluable, even to experienced surveyors. The other advantage of this paper was that the audience of around 50 surveyors also got involved, adding their experiences of the highlighted problems.
- Ms. Boiling Douglas, Past President American Boat & Yacht Council, Surveyor, Flowery Branch, Georgia, Rules for Surveying Small Craft in the U.S.
This paper revealed the many intracacies of surveying small craft in the USA.
Workshop Two - Hull & Machinery
- Mr. Rob Voskamp, Assistant Manager, Verwij & Horbee, Engine Registration Systems, Hull & Machinery.
- Mr. Peter Broad, IIMS Korea, New Construction Surveying Procedures for Modem Marine Water Tube Boilers, Hull& Machinery.
- Capt. Berislav Vranic _ Seatrade Reefer Chartering, Belgium, General Cargo on Reefers, Hull & Machinery.
Workshop Three - Cargo
- Mr. Wouter De Bruycher, Van Ameyde Marine & Industry, Beigium, A Contingency Plan for Cargo Surveying, Cargo.
- Capt. P. Mukundan, ICC International Maritime Bureau, List of shipping documents for finance fraud _ container frauds, phantom ship frauds and piracy.
- Capt. Allen Brink _ A R Brink & Associates, Durban, South Africa, Conditioning Surveys, Cargo.
There then followed a Round Table Discussion within each of the specialization workshops lead by Sponsoring Organisations, giving an opportunity for delegates to ask quesbons of the speakers from the three workshops.
The conference was concluded with closing remarks by Capt. Chris Spencer, President, IIMS.
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
If you have a marine related conference coming up, let us know so that we can mention it below,
3 - 5 May 2005, Cruise+Ferry 2005 incorporating Superyacht V Design, Construction and Operation For Passenger Shipping, Earls Court Two, London, UK.Lloyds List Events. http://www.lloydslistevents.com/
7-10 June 2005, Norshipping, Oslo, Norway.
24/25 November 2005. The 2005 Asian Marine Insurance and Surveying Forum. Shangri-la Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Information from: marine@asiaconference.biz
6-10 March 2006, World Maritime Technology Conference, IMarEST, London.
******
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/
Marriage and the wife .......
My wife dresses to kill. She also cooks the same way.
My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.
A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.
I bought my wife a new car. She called and said," There was water in the carburetor." I asked her, "Where's the car?" She replied, "In the lake." _
The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.
When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.
I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don't like to interrupt her.
A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report it since the thief was spending much less than his wife did.
Man is incomplete until he is married. Then he is finished.
A little boy asked his father, "Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?" The father replied, "I don't know son, I'm still paying."
I never knew what real happiness was until I got married; then it was too late.
A man placed an ad in the classifieds: "Wife wanted." The next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same: "You can have mine." _
Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.
It's not true that married men live longer than single men. It only seems longer.
Losing a wife can be very hard. In my case, it was almost impossible.
A man meets a genie. The genie tells him he can ask for whatever he wants, but his mother_in_law gets double of what he gets. The man thinks for a moment and says," Okay, give me a million dollars and beat me till I'm half dead."
Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry.
The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once.
******
Duck hunting ....
A lawyer went duck hunting in rural Minnesota. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence. As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing.
The lawyer responded, "I shot a duck and it fell in this field, and now I'm going to retrieve it." The old farmer replied, "This is my property, and you are not coming over here."
The indignant lawyer said, "I'm one of the best trial attorneys in California and, if you don't let me get that duck, I'll sue you and take everything you own."
The old farmer smiled and said, "Apparently, you don't know how we settle disputes in Minnesota. We settle small disagreements like this with the Minnesota Three Kick Rule."
The lawyer asked, "What's that?"
The farmer replied, "Well, because the dispute occurs on my land, first I kick you three times and then you kick me three times and so on back and forth until someone gives up."
The attorney quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom.
The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the attorney. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy steel-toed work boot into the lawyer's groin and dropped him to his knees. His second kick to the midriff sent the lawyer's last meal gushing from his mouth.
The barrister was on all fours when the farmer's third kick to his rear-end sent him face-first into a fresh cow pie. The lawyer summoned every bit of his will and managed to get to his feet. Wiping his face with the arm of his jacket, he said, "Okay, you old coot. Now it's my turn."
The old farmer smiled and said, "Naw, I give up. You can have the duck."
******
There is some good in everyone ......
From Mark Goodman:
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well Not only was the money big, but also Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything: clothes, cars and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name and a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he would ever pay.
Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion and a poem clipped from a magazine.
The poem read:
The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time.
For the clock may soon be still.
STORY NUMBER TWO
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.
One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold, a squadron of Japanese aircraft were speeding their way toward the American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault.
He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had in fact destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
So the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.
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.
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