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  FLASHLIGHT - April & May 2008           Edition No: 73

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

The 2008 Asian Marine Insurance and Surveying Forum
13 & 14 November 2008
Novotel Century Hong Kong Hotel

Theme 'The carriage and care of steel cargoes'

Early bird rates available.

CPD Certificates, accepted by all Marine Surveying Professional Institutes, will be issued upon request.  (Delegates earn 1 IIMS CPD point.)

Those interested in attending should contact Mrs Lulu Zuniga-Carmine at Asia Conference Ltd: marine@asiaconference.biz

Those interested in giving a paper at the conference should contact Mike Wall at mikewall@pacific.net.hk
(Speakers earn 3 IIMS CPD points.)

******

Quote of the month ...

To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three men,
two of whom are absent.

    Robert Copeland

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CONTENTS (for full stories, select a headline)

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:

Bill Rosie, Marine Services, Chesterfield, UK.
Brian Keating, Marine Power Surveys, Jersey, UK.
Brian Livingstone, Builder, Barcelona, Spain.
Capt. Ashok Jain, Marine Operations, Consultant & Surveyors, Virginia beach, VA, USA.
Capt. R. Lakhotia, Senior Marine Superintendent, “K” Lin Pte Ltd, Singapore.
Captain C Kelly, Marine Consultant, Surveyor & Cargo Superintendent, Scunthorpe, UK.
Captain Demos Kabanakis, Independent Shipping Research, Oxford, UK.
Captain Evagelos L Taliatoudas, Colonial Navigation Co Inc, New York, USA.
Captain Greg Spencer, London Offshore Consultants, London.
Captain John Nixon, John Nixon & Associates Ltd, Southampton, UK.
Captain Nicholas Cooper, Nautical Institute, UK.
Captain Richard Sheridan, Steamship  Mutual P&I Club, London.
Captain Zhivko Zhekov, Henderson International, Bulgaria.
Denzil Stuart, London, UK.
Diana Roberts & Associates, Southampton, UK.
Eng. Javier Bru R.International Marine Experts, Balboa, Panama.
Eugene J Turbridy, Marine Surveyor, Kinsale, Co Cork, Eire.
Fiona Dando, Small Craft Surveyor, UK.
Gennadiy Mazanko, Inter Tech Services (ITS) Ukraine.
James Renn, Marine Forensic Technicians, Stevensville, MD, USA.
Jeremy Snelling, Marine Surveyor, Colchester, UK.
John Murkett, Director, Britannia P&I Club, London.
Lt Cdr Ian Munday, Ashley House Marine, Falmouth, Cornwall, UK.
Mike Proudlove, MITEC Marine Technology Centre, Milford Haven, UK.
Paul Williams, Woods World Wide by Williams, UK.
Perrin Towler, AP Yacht Services, Portsmouth, UK.
Peter  Broad, Lloyd's Register of Shipping, Southampton, UK.
Richard Postles, Inserve, London, UK.
Roger P Daniells, International Surveyors & Adjusters, Sidcup, Kent, UK.
Roger Pimm, Marine Surveyor, Netley Abbey, Hants, UK.
Sean Murphy, Eurosurv International.
Sergey I Batmanov, Baltic Kontor Ltd, Riga, Latvia.
Stuart Carruthers, RYA, Southampton, UK.
T G Reynolds, Marine Solicitor, Havant, Hants, UK.
Ted Neame, Fast Boat Surveys Ltd, UK.
Trevor Blakeley, RINA, London, UK.
William Wyatt, Marine Surveyor.


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Spindrift

MAIB reveals Napoli structural flaw

THE Marine Accident Investigation Branch has published its report into the MSC Napoli incident, criticising the structural strength of the 1991-built container ship.

THE long-awaited MAIB report into the MSC Napoli incident in January last year has found that the ship suffered structural failure mainly because the hull did not have sufficient buckling strength in way of the engine room.

Classification rules applicable at the time of construction (1991 at Samsung HI, South Korea) did not require buckling strength calculations to be undertaken beyond the amidships area. Detailed investigation of the incident, using load and strength assessments from Bureau Veritas (which classed the vessel from 1991-2002) and Det Norske Veritas (from 2002 to the incident) found there was little if any safety margin between the hull’s design loading and its ultimate strength. Other factors that contributed to the cracking were the ‘whipping effect’ – caused by slamming in heavy seas – and the overloading of containers.

As in its earlier report into the Annabella incident (see Fairplay Daily News, 13 September 2007), the MAIB observed that the container shipping industry is driven by speed and quick turnarounds, as a consequence of which, “the safety of ships, crews and the environment is being compromised by the overriding desire to maintain established schedules…”

US proposes biometric exit procedures

SEAFARERS, together with cruise ship and airline passengers, will have to pass biometric screening under a rule proposed yesterday by the US Department of Homeland Security. “The majority of non-US citizens are already required to submit digital fingerprints and a digital photograph for admission into the country,” reads a statement from DHS. “The US-VISIT Exit proposal would require non-US citizens who provide biometric identifiers for admission to also provide digital fingerprints when departing the country from any air or sea ports of departure.”
In proposing the rule, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff says: “The 9/11 Commission called for biometric entry and exit records, because biometrics confirm that travellers are who they say they are and the purpose of their travel is as they claim it to be . . . We’ve built an effective entry system, and combined with the proposed exit system, we’ll have made a quantum leap in America’s border security. Air and sea carriers would actively participate in the proposed exit system. . . .”
The proposed rule would require cruise line owners and operators and commercial air carriers to collect and transmit international visitors’ biometric information to DHS within 24 hours of leaving the US. Carriers are already required to transmit biographic information to DHS for all passengers before they leave the country.


(With thanks for Fairplay Daily News: news@fairplay.co.uk)

Arms ship still lurking off Africa

ACCORDING to the International Transport Workers' Federation and ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) the Cosco-owned general cargo ship "An Yue Jiang", which  has containers of arms for Zimbabwe onboard has rounded the Cape after leaving Luanda, Angola, without landing  the weapons.

The ITF says ship and was south of Port Elizabeth, outside South African territorial waters. The ship is on an ENE'ly course at a speed of around 9 knots. Last month Cosco  officials had indicated the ship would return to China with its shipment of arms for Zimbabwe's armed forces but the vessels continued presence in the area at low speed is likely to fuel suspicions that it is still intended to deliver the arms consignment.

Source : Maritime Global Net

In brief

Safety warning: new figures show a disturbing decline in the safety record of world shipping, marine insurers have warned. Statistics released by the International Union of Marine Insurers last month showed a marked increase in total and partial losses last year with signs of a 37% rise from 2006. IUMI said its analysis showed that serious shipping incidents have risen by a 'staggering' 270% over the past decade prompting concerns that 'ships and crews are being driven harder than anyone can remember'.

Emission control: the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has urged the International Maritime Organisation to adopt new emissions standards for ships in the coming months. It said stricter global standards are urgently needed for nitrogen oxides emissions and for assessing technology to curb sulphur oxide and particulates. ICC said further measures to address greenhouse gas emissions from ships particularly carbon dioxide are also necessary.

Yard alarm: the shipping industry is facing a dangerous shortage of ship repair facilities, the classification society DNV warned last month. It said that expansion in the size oft world fleet, combined with the dry docking demands oft increasingly high average age of merchant ships, is generating an alarming bottleneck that needs to be resolved with an increase in yard capacity over the next two years.

Spill pay out: the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund has agreed to pay out 60% oft damages claims submitted by victims oft Hebei Spirit tanker accident in South Korea in December. Claims totalling as much as US $ 229m have so far been submitted following the incident, in which some 10,500 tonnes offered was spilled when the VLCC collided with a crane barge.

Pilot charged: the pilot oaf containership that spilt some 58,000 of gallons off oil n San Francisco Bay last year has been charged with criminal negligence. John Cota, who was piloting the 5,447 FEU containership Cosco Busan when it hit the Bay Bridge, faces 18 months in jail and up to $100,000 in fines if convicted.

Windy deal: the energy company Centrica has secured a long-term contract for the wind turbine installing vessel Resolution, presently operating off the Lincolnshire coast. Centrieds contract for the vessel will run to 2011, with additional one year options to extend to 2016.

Hull Post: former NUMAST Council member Russ Garbutt has been appointed chairman oft shipping committee and director to the board oft Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, industry and shipping.

Dover boom: the port of Dover said it is expecting a record number of cruise ship visits this year- up to 10% from 2007.

Dunkirk record: the French port of Dunkirk last year increased its traffic by 1% to reach a new record of 57.1m tonnes. While none off its major industrial steel, oil and petrochemical clients made great strides ahead, Norfolkline increased its freight traffic to Dover by 5.8% and the transport of vehicles by 33%. The company's three vessels carried one million passengers in 2007 and it now has 11% of Dunkirk's car traffic and 14.6% oft freight market.

QM2 appeal: a court appeal has been launched on behalf of the families of 16 people who died and 29 who suffered injuries when a gangway to the Queen Mary 2 collapsed during a French shipyard's open day in November 2003. The move follows the acquittal of four gangway company employees, four Chanters de I'Atlantique managers and a £110,000 fine on each company. The £6m awarded in damages is not contested.

Congestion concern.. Jacques Saad, chairman of CMA CGM the world's third largest container shipping fleet has voiced concern at continuing port congestion problems. Speaking at the same conference, Michael Moore, VP of the terminal operator Dubai Ports World, warned that whilst global container traffic is expected to increase 9.8 % annually until 2012, terminal capacity will grow by just 3.9% a year in the same period.

Carriers deal : the Scandinavian shipping firms  Wilhelmsen and Wallenius Lines have ordered four 'new generation ro ros from the Japanese Mitsubishi yard. Due for delivery in 2011 and 2012, the vessels will be the world's largest ro ros each with a capacity of 138,000 cu m and will carry high and heavy and non containerised cargoes, and cars.

Greek rescue: more than 300 people were rescued last month after an ageing cruise ship grounded off the Greek p' island of Poros. It took three hours to remove the 278 passengers and 35 crew from the 49 year old Giorgis, which was on a day cruise from Piraeus when it came into contact  with a reef some three nautical miles from the port of Poros.

Chinese boom: the Chinese maritime industry including shipping, shipbuilding and fishing grew by 15% last year, according to the national press agency Xinhua. The sector grew at a faster rate than the overall economy and now accounts for 100/o of China's economic activity, creating 1.9m new jobs last year.

Wrong number: the French maritime union CFDT is challenging a ruling that could jeopardise tax breaks for seafarers working onboard France Telecom cable layers. French rules stipulate that French seafarers can get income tax concessions for working at least 183 days in 12 months. But FT Marine and the French finance ministry now Seth time in a French port on a cable layer flying the RIF second flag does not count as part oft 183 days.

Australia alarm: a federal government decision to hold a parliamentary review oft shipping industry has been welcomed by the Maritime Union of Australia. National secretary Paddy Crumlin said the inquiry could be the last chance to safeguard Australia's maritime future, and the union would be pressing for action on training, safety and flags of convenience.

Philippines praise: the Philippines president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has praised the country's seafarers for their ,major contribution to the national economy. She described Filipino seafarers as the 'new heroes oft millennium` now accounting for 28% oft global maritime workforce and contributing some US$14.4 bn to the national economy last year.

Indian increase :seafaring unions in India have secured a two year 15% pay deal for some 20,000 members on Indian ships in deep sea and domestic trades. The deal also gives a backdated 24% rise in arrears for 2006 8, and improves various allowances, onboard messing, and death and disability benefits.

Maritime motorway:  Spain has backed plans to create a bilateral commission with Italy to develop 'sea motorway' links between the two countries. The commission will seek tenders from shipping companies to operate new services to shift freight from the roads to the sea.

Expansion:  Channel Islands operator HD Ferries is considering the launch low cost cost routes from Jersey and Guernsey to the English coast as an alternative to its services to Saint Malo and Cherbourg.

Dublin connection: Irish operator Eucon reports that its new container route between Dublin and Dunkirk, launched last July is now doing well after difficulties experienced during the first few months.


SS Robin Trust appeals for maritime expertise

Trustees of the SS Robin have called on Nautilus UK members to help save the historic vessel, whose urgently needed repairs could be scupper London Crossrail project.

The 1890 built Robin is the last remaining steam coaster in the world, and is listed in the core collection oft National Historic Ships Register. Considered one of London's 'hidden gems', she is moored in West India Dock for use as a museum and arts centre.

However, the Robin has had to be closed to the public for the time being, after a recent survey showed that the vessel is in grave danger of sinking unless major repairs are carried out. The SS Robin Trust is putting together a plan to transport the vessel by barge to a dry dock for specialist maintenance work, but time is very tight.

'The problem is that the new West India Crossrail station will landlock West India Dock, cutting off our access to the River Thames, 'explained Trust director David Kampfner. We don't have a problem with this in the longer term, but we absolutely must get the vessel out to dry dock and back before the construction work starts. We were initially told this would be next year, but they've now brought the project forward so the work will start this December.'

According to Mr Kampfner, the Crossrail management are sympathetic to the Robin's plight, and have offered some financial support (probably in the form of a loan) to help pay for the transport and repair costs. But the SS Robin Trust is desperate for some maritime expertise to get the repair project under way.

Mr Kampfner and his colleagues are therefore appealing to Nautilus UK members for some practical help. 'We would love to hear from anyone with maritime restoration skills, or who can
advise on barge transportation or drydocking' he said.

'The Robin has been a good, hard working ship a real symbol of the Merchant Navy,' he added.

'Maybe she doesn't look as romantic as sailing ships like the Cutty Sark, but the whole reason she looks more modern is that, unlike the old tea clippers, she used the most cutting edge technology offer time. This makes her extremely valuable to our maritime heritage.'

The Trust is now hoping for a ground swell of support from the public, and a petition to save the vessel can be signed via the SS Robin website: www.ssrobin.org

Nautilus UK members with skills to offer the transportation and repair project can contact David Kampfner on +44 (0)20 7548 0653 or at info@ssrobin.org Potential volunteers can also find out more from the volunteering pages on www.nautifusuk.org


Casualty chances have doubled

The shortage of skilled and experienced officers is fuelling a marked rise in shipping accidents with the chances of a vessel being involved in a serious casualty having doubled in the past five years.

That's the stark warning from the classification society Det Norske Veritas following research into navigational accident trends within the shipping industry.

'DNV'S statistics show that a ship is twice as likely to be involved in a serious grounding, collision or contact accident today compared to only five years ago. In addition, estimates show that also the costs of these accidents have doubled ' ' said DNV Maritime principal safety consultant Dr Torkel Soma.

'Since this is the general trend for the intentional commercial fleet, the maritime industry needs to act on this immediately', he warned.

The classification society says the boom in global shipping markets and the increase in deliveries of newbuildings have resulted in growing pressure on crews.

And it warns that the rising international shortage of officers has resulted in lower retention and faster promotion. As a result, the general level of experience is decreasing onboard,' DNV stresses.

At the same  time, it adds, 'new technical solutions have been introduced which might have increased the complexity of operations.'

Dr Soma warned: 'Reliable technology and complying manuals are no assurance against making errors. Collisions, groundings and contact accidents almost always involve human acts.'

Helge Kjeoj, regional manager for DNV Maritime South East Asia, told a seminar in Singapore: The main factor explaining the negative development over the past few years are that the under supply of crew worldwide results in the reduced experience and the high workload. 'adding new and more complex equipment does not only help the situation. Avoiding accidents under such situations requires a good safety culture, something which the maritime industry evidently needs to focus more on. DNV said the problem is not just one of an increasing frequency of accidents, but also that the coast of such accidents are raising.

The yards are overbooked, making it hard to find a repair slot resulting in increased prices', it explains. Collisions, groundings and contacts now account for 60% off the most costly accidents'. The classification society say that the ship insurance premiums may have to increase by au much as 30% in 2008, and it is urging owners to invest in recruitment, retention and a' structured approach addressing behaviour and culture'.


San Francisco curbs on ship movement

CURBS on ship movements in the San Francisco Bay area are set to be introduced in response to the Cosco Busan oil spill last November.

Restrictions on ship operations when visibility is less than 0.5 nm have been drawn up as part of a package of measures following the collision between the Hyundai containership and the Bay Bridge.

It is thought that other US ports may adopt the proposals developed by San Francisco's harbour safety committee to prevent similar casualties in the future.

The committee has drawn up guidelines establishing 'critical manoeuvring areas' including the approaches to the ports of Oakland and San Francisco, as well as those traversed by tankers calling at the Bay Area oil refineries.

When visibility is less than 0.5 nm, large vessels will be advised not to transit through the critical manoeuvring areas, not to leave dock, and to drop anchor when proceeding to a dock until conditions improve at the berth.


US officers complain about ID Card delays

US MARITIME unions say a disturbing number of deck officers have encountered real difficulties getting their Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) from the movement.

More than 200,000 mariners need to be enrolled in the scheme by the 25 September deadline, out of some 750,000 ship and port workers covered by the security related rules. However, the authorities admit that only about 6,000 mariners have enrolled to date.

A Masters Mates & Pilots

Union call for 'war stories' produced some tales that questioned the Transportation Security Administration's assurances that the process is simple and super efficient. Key problems included the fingerprinting process and making contact with the right person to provide assistance.

Many MMP members said they had been forced to make repeated trips to enrolment centres because the wait time between registration and card receipt is now running at six weeks.

(With thanks to the Shipping Telegraph, journal of NAUTILUS)

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Contributions

The Future of Surveying – is there one?

By
       
John M M Noble
Noble Marine Services Limited, UK

Introduction

The primary aim of this paper is to look forward and try to see where the marine surveying industry is heading.  To do this properly I believe it is necessary to look at the history of the surveying business in the marine world.  The role of bodies like the International Institute of Marine Surveying is bound to play a significant part in the future.

The title also poses a question in asking if there is a role for marine surveying in the future.

History

I will look at some definitions shortly, but before looking forward it is necessary to look back.  We are all aware that the concept of General average goes back over 2,500 years, almost to the beginning of commercial seafaring. In recent years the process of adjudicating General Average has been formalised in the York Antwerp rules.  The concept that owners of cargo saved are expected to contribute to the efforts and sacrifices that others made to save the whole venture, is unusual in the commercial world.  However in the marine world it is generally recognised.

I imagine that even 2,500 years ago someone with expertise was required to assist in the post incident events.  I suggest therefore that marine surveying has been around for at least two and a half millennium!

Whilst the idea that surveying has been around that long may have some merit, I think we need only go back to 1856 when the industry was formalised.  I have no doubt that there has always been a need for surveyors to become involved when things go wrong.  Underwriters would have needed some sort of confirmation that damage claimed resulted from an insured peril.  In July 1856 a Committee of Lloyds formed “The Association for the Protection of Commercial Interests as respects Wrecked and Damaged Property”.  This cumbersome title was reduced to “The Salvage Association” for everyday use.  When a party was employed to act on behalf of the Association he was given a certificate as his authorisation to act.

The Register Society at Lloyd’s coffee house can trace its history back to 1760 and Lloyds Register was formed as a Classification Society in 1834

The Lloyds Agency network goes back to 1811 and almost certainly surveying activities took place out of the individual Agency offices then, as it does today.

All this goes to show that while surveying may have been around for 2,500 years it has only been organised for about 150 to 200 years.

With the advent of steam and mechanical propulsion the surveying role required specialist expertise to provide the information required by underwriters when facing a claim.  I can imagine the scenario in Leadenhall Street where merchants and ship owners plied their trade; there would be plenty of cargo expertise around, a lot of shipwright and navigation expertise, but not much engineering!  It is no surprise that in the early days of modern surveying marine engineers formed an important sector in the industry.

It is important to look at the historical development of an industry before projecting what may happen in the future so I will leap to the post war years as a final paragraph in the history.

I will turn to the industry as it currently manifests itself.  Marine Surveying became a career of opportunity after the Second World War.  Many seafarers had bad memories of the awful conditions and circumstances of the 1930s.  After the Second World War they found themselves back in demand, but working under some pretty terrible conditions.  Career choices ashore were somewhat limited.  One career that did offer opportunity was marine surveying.  Some formalised surveying companies did exist; Brookes Bell started in 1903, but for many coming ashore, the small one and two man band was the path ashore.  The qualifications required were usually a Masters or Chief Engineers certificate.  There was a general view until recently that, if you had been at sea and held some seagoing qualification, you could be a marine surveyor.  I make this point, because I see a very different situation developing in the future,

The Present day Surveyor

Having looked at the history, I will now look at the present day situation in the commercial world.  I have no experience of small boat and yacht surveying, but I will add some thoughts later.

What is a surveyor?

The term marine surveyor is widely used to describe many different activities involving observation, experience and knowledge.  The marine surveyors I have experience of are usually associated with commercial shipping and I set down just a few main categories:

1)    Regulatory or Government surveyor.  Most maritime nations have a regulatory surveying branch; for example in the UK the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has the responsibility of inspection and enforcement of State and International regulation.  The role of these surveyors is to ensure the various regulations relating to the building and operating of ships are adhered to.  Some tasks are farmed out to sub-contract organisations, typically the Classification societies.  Port State Control surveys are usually conducted by the regulatory surveyors.
2)    Classification Society surveyors.  Lloyds Register, headquartered here in London, is one of the best known classification societies.  Class surveyors perform a variety of roles from ensuring adherence to the Societies’ rules for the construction of ships, undertaking some government surveys, to the implementation and auditing of ISM requirements.  Lloyds Register employs some 350 surveyors worldwide.
3)    Insurance Surveyors.  Globally there are probably more surveyors involved in assisting the insurance industry than in any other category.  The surveying companies providing service to Underwriters, Brokers and P & I Clubs range from one man bands, of which there are hundreds, to structured organisations on the other.  Most of these categories of surveyor are independent in that they have no commercial interest in the voyage or claim outcome.
4)    Inspectors.  There is a huge market for inspectors in the commodity and oil trades.  Sellers and buyers of commodities require confirmation of the quality of goods being traded and attestation that the goods have not suffered during a voyage.  Most liquid cargoes such as mineral oils are subject to checking on both loading and discharge to ensure the declared quantities on shipment are correct and that all the cargo is delivered.

So what is a marine surveyor?  This may seem an obvious question, but the answer may surprise you!  For example in the UK anybody can set up a business and call himself a “marine” surveyor.  This happens more often than you might think.  Clients would be forgiven for thinking that anyone using the term “marine” to describe their activities has some sort of maritime experience, usually as an engineer or deck officer.  Not so, your local postman can call himself a marine surveyor in the UK and there is no recourse.  Some states have regulations covering the nomenclature used by surveyors operating in the shipping world.
Some countries do have a system of “sworn” surveyors; this often applies to the cargo sector where a single survey report is accepted by all parties.  The IIMS has an ongoing and important role to play in bringing the Industry into line with other professions.


The role of the surveyor in the claims process

While many attendees at this conference will be only too aware of the respective roles of the marine surveyor in a claims context, I believe it is worthwhile explaining to a wider audience where the surveyor fits in.

When a set of circumstances is likely to lead to a claim, be it hull, machinery or liability, most underwriters will require some independent verification of the nature, extent and cause of damage.  A surveyor will be appointed to conduct the survey and prepare a report. Taking a couple of examples:

1)    Hull and Machinery.  If a piece of machinery breaks down the repair costs, above the excess, may be recoverable under a policy.  Similarly if the hull or appurtenances are damaged in an incident, their repair or replacement costs may be covered.  The surveyor will have the task of inspecting the damage to establish the likely repair costs and confirm that the damage was the result of an insured peril.  Thus, by using his experience and technical knowledge the surveyor can advise the underwriter.  Of necessity, most underwriters require rapid confirmation first that the claim is valid under the policy and second, an estimate for the likely costs.  Often there is more than a single interest in a claim.  Cargo interests are likely to require a survey, especially if General Average is declared or the ships seaworthiness is called into question.  This means that there may be several competing interests seeking to conduct surveys. 


2)    P & I surveys.  The scope of claims in the P & I world is considerable; cargo damage, personal injury, oil pollution and wreck removal liabilities are but a few.  Similarly, Clubs will require some verification that the claim is valid.  Most Clubs carry an internal list of approved surveyors.  Because many of the problems encountered fall outside the remit of “marine” surveyors, the Clubs’ lists will include metallurgical experts, food scientists, fire experts and the like.  These are not “marine” surveyors, but experts in specialist areas working in a marine environment!

Both Hull and P & I surveyors should be independent and more importantly have total integrity.  At the end of the day the client must have total trust in the report.  The surveyor must always be aware that if a claim cannot be settled on an amicable basis, his report may end up in Court, arbitration or mediation and he may be cross examined on the contents and conclusions drawn. 

I have tried to summarise how in the commercial world today the marine surveyor operates and over the past 30 years or so this has been borne out.

Is there a future?

I think the days of the unqualified marine surveyor are numbered.  There is a precedent that allows me to make the observation.

Go back 30 or 40 years there were many who offered services as cargo surveyors.  Some were mariners, but others were not.  Their job was to confirm that damage had occurred and report on the extent.  Causation was often left to a quick chemical test for seawater, if the cargo was wet!  If genuine expertise was required there were a few firms that provided expertise, usually with perishable cargoes.  Now a days there are very few “cargo” surveyors left.  Most cargo surveys are conducted by specialists or those in other fields who just happen to be available.

The ability to call oneself a marine surveyor in the UK without any qualification must be discouraged at all costs and the work of the IIMS is going a long way to achieving that.  It has taken a long time to get this far and there is a long road ahead.

The future of surveying in the commercial marine world is not in doubt.  Underwriters and other interests will always seek help.  Looking at the surveying industry today in the UK there are some possible developments:

1)    Recruitment.  Not so long ago if a surveying company advertised for a qualified mariner to join its staff there would be no shortage of applicants from seafarers; now often there are only a few applicants and some not sufficiently experienced.  Where can survey companies look?  Perhaps UK based companies will have to look east.
2)    Qualification.  Is seagoing experience essential to being a marine surveyor?  In future, if the pool of suitable applicants from sea is insufficient, what is wrong with training school leavers to become marine experts?  Space experts do not have to be spacemen!
3)    Training.  Many professions require on going training and the IIMS is again leading the marine field.  Only the biggest surveying organisations run their own formal training schemes.  Too many of the middle sized and smaller surveying companies rely on others to provide a capable surveyor.  Field training often as not means being thrown in at the deep end!
4)    Divergence.  The skills required on board a ship today are very different from even 10 or 15 years ago.  Are they really suited to the requirements of marine surveying?  Does the modern marine engineer get the opportunity of taking machinery apart?


Conclusions

To answer the key question “is there a future?”  Yes, marine surveying does have a future.  However, as modern technology accounts for more and more activity in deck and engine room, so surveyors will need to have a grasp of IT issues.  The industry will invariably require the grunt engineer so long as engines are used, but as the control of these engines becomes more sophisticated, so the boffin will be required to complete diagnostics.  The same will apply in the chartroom where electronics is on the verge of making man obsolete!

I take as a supporting example experience in the serious super yacht category of surveys.  Many involved in conducting the surveys required for “super yachts” have not sailed on them but have been trained to perform the tasks; the commercial world will have to follow suite.

John Noble                            14th April 2008


[Top]

Midships

Terminology

At the April IIMS conference there was some debate over the division between 'big' ships and 'small' craft.  Apparently, the board have been trying to find names to represent the two and something to represent the engineering aspects.  A number of suggestions were made from the floor of the conference but none were acknowledged so I'm going to get my oar in here....... 

Why not 'Merchant Vessels' and 'Pleasure Craft' or 'Recreational Craft'?  As both disciplines have an engineering and technical element there is no need to make any reference to engineering or technology.  Otherwise, following the earlier logic, we would have to have 'big' engines and 'small' engines!

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The chickens have finally come home to roost .....

It is becoming clear that marine engineers are becoming as rare as hen's teeth, there having been a dearth of marine engineer training for 20 years in the developed countries.  This has translated into a shortage of marine engineers at sea, LNG, LPG and tanker engineers attaining relatively high salaries.  Also as a consequence, Classification Societies and other survey organisations are finding it more and more difficult to find qualified and experienced marine engineers to fill their ranks.  One major IACS Classification Society is currently short of 220 surveyors in China.

This sitiation is also spilling over to the independent surveying companies.  We have recently heard of a number of marine engineer surveyors having jumped ship and changed companies for significant increases in salary.  It is thus becoming clear that, due to supply and demand pressures, marine engineer surveyors can name their price.  The consequence is that the clients are going to have to pay more for their services.......

******

China's open door policy?

We all know that in about three months the biggest international quadrennial sporting event will be taking place in Beijing, PRC.  Yes, its the Olympics again.  During their bid China stated that there would be no restriction on movements of the press and businessmen.  Needless to say, as a consequence of the Tibet activist demonstrations during the torch relay the PRC authoriites have responded with their usual overkill kneejerk reactions.  Since the beginning of April the authorities have placed restrictions on visa applications in that everybody, without exception, is allowed a maximum of a three month double entry visa.  Foreigners are required to apply for their visas in the country of origin and can no longer apply in Hong Kong or receive a visa on entry.  The prcessing time for a visa is 3 days but , for an additional fee, can be reduced to one day.  For those of us who do business in the PRC on a daily basis this is a severe restriction which will add time and cost to our clients.

I believe that we should show the PRC authorities that those of us who have helped to build China into what it is today are not amused.  As we have been harmed commercially we should respond accordingly, ie, boycott all the Beijing Olympics sponsors goods and services and let them know why we are doing it.  I for one will  not be watching any Olympics this year!

Mike Wall

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Scuttlebut

ISPS

Conflicts continue to develop with respect to the implementation of the ISPS Code.  Each 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 .....

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Insurance News

Insurance Agent's message to marine surveyors relating to wooden boat surveys.

Teresa McCafferty of Anchor Marine Underwriters, Inc., Seattle, Washington writes as follows regarding condition surveys of wooden boats:  "Almost all of our markets, that will insure old wood boats, require a sampling of fasteners to be pulled and [the boat] to be hauled. Standard is a sampling of 10 fasteners.

Quite often we get surveys that [were done] in water or if they were out of water, fasteners were not pulled and our underwriters will not accept them. This severely limits our ability to find coverage and sometimes prohibits it all together.  We have six markets that will consider a wooden vessel and right now all but one requires the survey to report on pulled fasteners.

Mail to:teresa@anchormarinenet.com.

******

Stowaways cost $20 million a year

Vigilance essential, Club warns

The soaring costs to the industry of stowaway incidents prompted the world's largest ship operator and the largest P&I club to get together last month to debate the issues.

The conference' attended by representatives from the Japanese operator NYK and the UK P&I Club heard that the cost of stowaway incidents at sea has doubled over the last decade and totals more than US$20 m a year.

In a drive to cut the number of cases, NYK wants to raise awareness of stowaway problems among its shore based and terminal operators in China.

Peter Lau oft UK Club spoke at length about the impact on the industry. Between 1998 and 2007, South Africa topped the list of countries in which stowaway cases dealt with by the Club occurred a total of 190 incidents. Next came the Ivory Coast (169), followed by Senegal (165), Argentina (106) and the US (105). Between 50 and 80 cases arose in Italy, Cameroon Ghana,, Nigeria, Spain and Gabon.

The main regions for stowing away were China and west and east Africa, with most off the stowaways hoping to reach north America and northern Europe.

The Asia Pacific region, said Mr Lau posed its own challenges with illegal trafficking of people. He pointed out that shippers, lot slot character and some terminal personnel sometimes colluded in his crime.

Mr Lau said that over the last 10 years ro ro and multi cargo vessels had proved to be the most popular targets for stowaways, accounting for 31% of cases, followed by bulk carriers (23%), then container ships and general cargo vessels (both 16%).

But he also highlighted some encouraging recent trends. In 2007, the UK Club was involved in around 120 stowaway cases costing more than $2m but the numbers had fallen since 19982003 period, when there were consistently between 350 and 400 cases.

However, the average cost per case had climbed from $6,000 in 2000 to around $14,500 in 2007, and Mr Lau pointed out that the impact on individual shipowners was likely to be greater, given rising deductibles and the non reporting of small and quickly solved cases. .

He suggested that a marked decline in UK Club cases involving container vessels since 2004 could be the result of the ISPS international ship and port security code coming into force.

But he also stressed the need for vigilance, searches and close co-operation with authorities stowaway problem is never going to go away,' he warned. 'But if a security culture is pursued vigorously from the booking desk to the floodlit deck of the ship, potential stowaways and smugglers will never have it easy.'

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Wig & Gown

None this month.

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Education and Training

Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself! 
(Don Robertson)

You can find more short courses in the USA in the Marine Surveyor's Web Site at http://www.marinesurveyor.com/educate.html

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Epistles

None this month.

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People

IMO secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos was named as Seatrade Personality of the Year last night at the 20th annual Seatrade Awards dinner. Sadan Kaptanoglu, managing director of Turkey’s H I Kaptanoglu ship management company, became the first recipient of a new category of Young Personality of the Year. Other awards made were: IMC Maritime System development, which won the Safety award for its Safe Winch for tugs; Martek Marine, which won the Environment award for its MariNOx engine emission monitoring system; Beluga Shipping, which won the Innovation award for installing the SkySails kite arrangement.  Another new accolade, the Seatrade Global Performer, was awarded to DP World.

Congratulations to the Mission to Seamen

Congratulationis to The Mission to Seafarers, which was awarded the Investment in People award at the 20th annual Seatrade Awards dinner for its Flying Angel floating seafarers centre in the UAE.

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Books and Videos

Hatch Covers - Operation, Testing and Maintenance, by Mike Wall.(ISBN 13:  978 1 85609 344 6    ISBN 10: 1 85609 327 1)   Published by Witherby Seamanship International, 4  Dunlop Square, Deans Estate, Livingston  EH54 8SB, United Kingdom
Email:  info@emailws.com
www.witherbyseamanship.com


The correct operation, care and maintenance of hatch covers are critical to a vessel's safety and its ability to carry cargo without damage.  Whilst there are currently two small handbooks published by P&I Clubs, both of which can be found in many ship's technical libraries, a publication search revealed that there is no book which comprehensively covers this subject.  This book does so.  The book is intended for all those associated with the care, maintenance, operation and inspection of hatch covers, eg, deck officers, deck ratings, superintendents and surveyors.

******

'Diver' by  Tony Groom (ISBN 978 1 906266 06 6)  Cost GBP9.95.  Published by Seafarer Books of Suffolk.  www.seafarerbooks.com

Groom has written a vivid, unembellished, exciting and somteimtes witty account of his career as a Royal Navy and commercial diver.

******

'Chronometer Jack: The autobiography of the shipmaster John Miller of Edinburgh'. (ISBN 978 1 904445 33 3)  Cost GBP25.  PUblished by Whittles Publisheing, Dunbeath, Caithness KW6 6EY.  www.whittlespublishing.com

******

In Command  .... 200 things I wish I'd known before I was a Captain.  By Michael Lloyd, FNI.  (ISBN 978 1 85609 353 8)  Published by Witherby Seamanship International.  www.witherbyseamanship.com

Your editor was given this as a gift for giving a paper at the IIMS conference.  My associate John Pearsall, being an ex-Captain took it away to read it and later stated that he agreed with everything in the book.  It must therefore be essential reading for any prospective ship captains.

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Conference Reports

London Marine Surveying Conference April 2008, HQS Wellington, Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment, London.

The conference was chaired for most of the event by John Guy with his usual  dry and sarcastic wit.

The keynote speech was given by Peter Cardy, Chief Executive of the Maritime Coastguard Agency.  We hope to include this paper in a later edition.

Other papers given:

'The future of Surveying - Is there one?' by John Noble.  (included above)

'Surveying Small and Specialised Vessels' by David Heaselden of Shipowners P&I Club.

'Salvage work of the SCR' by John Nixon.

The conference then split into two workshop groups, ie, Marine, hulls & Cargo and Small Craft.

Marine, hulls & Cargo:

'Man's inhumanity fo Machines' by John Lillie.

'Cargo Loss and Fraud' by Royston Ford Cunninghan Lindsey.

'Speed and Angle of Blow Assessment' by Mike Wall

Cargo and Small Craft

'Innovations in Small Craft' by Ken Kershaw.

'Narrow Boats - Building from Scratch' by John Pinder.

'MCA - Representing the Flag Administration' by David Ralph.

'The Relationship between the Boatyard and the Surveyor' by Bryan Collins.

The folowing morning we were again divided into the two groups with the following papers:

Small Craft:

'Experience vs Qualifications - Where do we stand?' by Colin South.

Marine, hulls & Cargo:

'The Way Ahead - What do you need?' by Chris Spencer.

The two workshops mean that the delegate has to make a choice as to which group to attend.  Hopefully, the papers will be available later so that information can be obtained from both groups.

The conference was followed by the annual dinner at which we heard all about the Cutty Sark charity and their current problems.

The conference and dinner followed the next day by the IIMS Annual General Meeting.

Mike Wall

******

13 – 15 April 2008.  NAMS 46th Annual National Marine Conference East, The Monteleone Hotel, New Orleans, LA.  We are currently awaiting a report from NAMS>


(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.)

[Top]

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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Future Events

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

******

16 & 17 January 2008: Knox Marine Claims Conference, New Orleans at the Sheraton Metairie, Metairie, Louisiana. Both NAMS and SAMS have previously awarded 12 CEU's for attending the conference. For more details, and to register, go to the Knox Marine web site -
http://www.knoxmarine.com/conference/conference.html where topics and speakers are listed. Course tuition is $450. Groups of four or more receive a discount. For details contact Steve Knox at sknox@knoxmarine.com or 804.364.8738. We look forward to seeing you there.

[Top]

Web Sites

FOR OUR REGULAR READERS, NO NEW WEB SITES THIS MONTH:

We are no longer publishing our list of useful web sites for marine surveyors due to the eventual size of the email being sent out.  If you wish to receive the list, please contact the editor at the email address below.

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:
 

[Top]

From the Poop Deck

Steve was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was really angry.. She told him 'Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in less than 6 seconds, AND IT BETTER BE THERE!!'

The next morning Steve got up early and left for work. When his wife woke up she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway. Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, and brought the box back in the house.

She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.

Steve has been missing since Friday.

******

One day a father gets out of work and on his way home he suddenly remembers that it's his daughter's birthday. He pulls over to a Toy Shop and asks the sales person, "How much for one of those Barbie's in the display window?"

The salesperson answers, "Which one do you mean, Sir? We have: Work Out Barbie for $19.95, Shopping Barbie for $19.95, Beach Barbie for $19.95, Disco Barbie for $19.95, Ballerina Barbie for $19.95,Astronaut Barbie for $19.95, Skater Barbie for $19.95, and Divorced Barbie for $265.95".

The amazed father asks: "It's what?! Why is the Divorced Barbie $265.95 and the others only $19.95?"

The annoyed salesperson rolls her eyes, sighs, and answers: "Sir, Divorced Barbie comes with: Ken's Car, Ken's House, Ken's Boat, Ken's Furniture, Ken's Computer, one of Ken's Friends, and a key chain made with Ken's testicles."

(With thanks to Frazer Hunt)

Greenie revenge!

The chief woman 'Greenie Tree-Hugging Activist', who was responsible for getting horses banned from National parks and State forests, was climbing a tree to have a look out over the forest when a Tawny Frogmouth Owl attacked her for invading its nesting site.

In a panic to escape, she slid down the tree, getting a great number of splinters lodged in her crotch area. In considerable pain she hurried to the nearest doctor, and told him she was an environmentalist and how she got all the splinters.

The doctor, who was no environmentalist, listened with great patience and then told her to go into the examining room and he would see if he could help her. She waited for 3 hours before the doctor reappeared. Angry, the woman demanded, 'What took you so long?'

'Well...' replied the doctor, '...I had to get permits from the Environmental Protection Agency; the Forestry Service; the National Parks and Wildlife Service; the Wilderness Society and the Department of Conservation and Land Management before I could remove 'old growth timber' from a 'recreational area' . .... .

******

Best 'Out of Office' Automatic Email Replies

1. I am currently out of the office at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position. Please be prepared for my mood.

2. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at all.

3. Sorry to have missed you, but I'm at the doctor's having my brain and heart removed so I can be promoted to our management team.

4. I will be unable to delete all the emails you send me until I return from vacation. Please be patient, and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.

5. Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first 10 words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.

6. The email server is unable to verify your server connection. Your message has not been delivered. Please restart your computer and try sending again. (The beauty of this is that when you return, you can see who did this over and over and over...)

7. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.

8. Hi, I'm thinking about what you've just sent me. Please wait by your PC for my response.

9. I've run away to join a different circus.

10. I will be out of the office for the next two weeks for medical reasons. When I return, please refer to me as 'Lucille' instead of Steve.

******

Who's afraid of the Devil?

A few  minutes before the start of the church service, the congregation were  sitting in their pews talking  when, suddenly, Satan appeared at the  front of the church.  Everyone  started screaming and running for  the exit, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from  evil incarnate.

Soon  the church was empty except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his  pew without moving, seemingly oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy was in his presence.
 
So  Satan walked up to the man and said 'Do you know who I  am?'
 
The man  replied 'Yep, sure do'

'Aren't  you afraid of me?' Satan asked.

 'Nope,  sure ain't' said the man.
 
'Don't  you realise I can kill you with one word?' asked Satan
 
'Don't  doubt it for a minute' returned the old man in an even  tone.

'Did  you know that I can cause you profound, horrifying AGONY for all eternity?'  persisted Satan.

'Yep'  was the calm reply.
 
'And  you are still not afraid?' asked Satan.
 
'Nope'  said the old man
 
More  than a little perturbed, Satan asked 'Why aren't you afraid of  me?'

The man  calmly replied

'Been  married to your sister for 48 years!'

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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

 
     
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