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  FLASHLIGHT - May 2006            Edition No: 53

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

Quote of the day

Be more splendid, more extraordinary. Use every moment to fill yourself up.
Oprah Winfrey

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The 2006 Asian Marine Insurance and Surveying Forum

'Marine Surveyors - Guardians of Quality Shipping'

will be held on 12 & 13 October 2006
at the J W Marriott Hotel, Mumbai, India,

Early bird rates available.

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

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
(Speakers earn three IIMS CPD points.)

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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:

Captain Bev Dyke - Vessel Support, Sercvices & Consultants, Brazil.
Mark Huber, Professor, Department of Marine Transportation, US Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York, 11024, USA

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Spindrift

CNAN directors sentenced to 15 years

ALI Koudil, former president of Algerian state-owned shipping company CNAN, has been sentenced with four of his senior executives to 15 years in jail for their part in the sinking of the general cargo vessel Bechar on 13 November 2004. The lives of 16 crew members were lost in the incident. The verdict, on the grounds of negligence, was delivered by Algiers Criminal Court late on Tuesday night in an atmosphere described as “near riot”. The families of Koudil, Mohand Amokrane Amour, Kamel Ikhadadene, Salah Zaoui and Mustapha Debah protested the defendants’ innocence, accusing the judge of failing to condemn those who were really responsible. Clashes with security forces forced the court session to be suspended, and the tribunal was said to resemble a battlefield for more than an hour. Lawyers acting for the defendants claimed the coast guards and the ministry of defence-run national safety centre had failed to respond to the many SOS messages sent. Algiers port authority was also accused of ordering the disabled vessel to remain at anchor instead of finding a safe berth within port limits during heavy weather.

MCA spoils Acciona Trasmed party

SURVEYORS from the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency spoiled the Acciona Trasmediterranea party today by preventing the five-year-old cruise ferry Fortuny Sorolla from leaving port after finding several safety deficiencies. The 26,916-ft vessel was due to run between Bilbao and Portsmouth twice a week off-peak and three times a week in peak season, but four MCA surveyors who boarded this morning found poorly presented fire and boat drill, emergency fire fighting equipment not ready for immediate use, search and rescue plan not lodged with HM Coastguard as required, and stability compliance with SOLAS and the Stockholm Agreement not yet confirmed. “It is very unfortunate that this vessel simply turned up on our doorstep virtually unannounced,” said surveyor in charge Amir Esmiley. “Safety on board such vessels is of crucial importance to us and a major inspection of the vessel by the UK authorities was required before entering service from a UK port. We have therefore no choice but to issue a prevention of operation notice preventing this vessel which does not meet the requirements of the EC Directive from operating.”

Cruise ends as MCA finds deficiencies

SURVEYORS from the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency today detained the Maltese- flagged cruise ship Vistamar at Tilbury Docks, London, after numerous deficiencies were found. These included inoperative fire dampers, damaged life boats, missing escape signs and poorly marked means of escape. MCA surveyor Bryan Hopkins said other issues were out-of-date publications and life-saving signals and uncorrected charts. The Vistamar has 178 passengers on board who will stay while the ship is moved to a mooring near the Tower of London tomorrow, when they will be disembarked. Hopkins apologized to passengers who had been inconvenienced but stressed that the MCA takes passenger safety extremely seriously. “We will not allow vessels to traverse our waters where clearly international standards of safety are being breached,” he added. The 7,478-gt Vistamar was built in 1989. According to the MCA, it is owned by Niteroi Shipping of Almeria, Spain and classed by Bureau Veritas.

OSG turns in polluting engineer

A second Overseas Shipholding Group engineer has been indicted on oil dumping charges after being turned in to federal authorities by his employer. Kun Yun Jho, chief engineer of the Aframax Pacific Ruby, was indicted yesterday in Beaumont, Texas, on charges that he used fresh water to trick the oily water separator and oil content meter, which are intended to prevent oil discharge, in order to carry out deliberate spills into US waters. The Korean national now faces charges of conspiracy, making false statements and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for his alleged role in maintaining false Oil Record Books that concealed tampering with required pollution prevention equipment and could face up to five years in prison on each count if convicted. The alleged offences reportedly occurred between October 2004 and September 2005, according to a statement from US Attorney Matthew D Orwig, who said the matter was brought to light under a “self reporting” policy that OSG adopted when the Department of Justice began investigating the shipping giant in 2003. This indictment follows less than a month after the chief engineer aboard OSG's 69,000-dwt Cabo Hellas was indicted in California by federal authorities for instigating a cover-up of illegal oil dumping. He, too, was reported by the company.

Drunken cruise master fired

THE captain of Celebrity Cruises’ Mercury has been fired and faces up to a year in prison after the US Coast Guard found him under the influence of alcohol while in port in Seattle. A USCG officer smelled alcohol on the unnamed captain’s breath during a safety inspection on Friday when the Mercury was moored at Seattle’s Terminal 66. The captain, who subsequently failed his breath alcohol test, “has been stripped of his command and ordered off the ship”, said Celebrity president Dan Hanrahan in a statement, calling the incident “totally unacceptable” and asserting that “any shipboard employee, from the captain down, will be dealt with swiftly and severely” if found violating the company’s alcohol policy. Celebrity policy forbids any officer from consuming alcohol within eight hours of duty and the Mercury has now been placed under the command of a qualified staff captain. Under Title 46 Section 2302 of the US Code, an operator of a commercial vessel with blood alcohol content in excess of 0.04 is considered legally intoxicated and guilty of a Class A misdemeanour, punishable by up to 12 months in jail.

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

In brief:

SAR alert: Opposition MPs have expressed concern at reports that the search and rescue service traditionally carried out by the RAF, Royal Navy and Coastguard could be privatised. Press reports suggested that a new unified SAR service using civilian helicopters and crew maybe established in place of the existing arrangements. The MoD said it was considering 'the best way of continuing to provide a topclass service and will be making an announcement shortly'.

QE2 alert: the Cunard liner QE2 was given a police escort in the Suez Canal and in the Egyptian port of Alexandria last month in response to a security alert. Cunard said it did not believe there was any cause for alarm, but added that the ship had been put on a higher security level during and after its northbound transit of the canal.

Stowaways rescued: four Liberian stowaways were saved by dockets in Tilbury last month after spending three weeks in a container carried from Nigeria. The four, who were suffering from exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition, were rescued after dock workers heard their cries for help.

Port approved: The UK transport minister has given the goahead to plans for a new deep sea container port at Bathside Bay, Harwich. Due to begin operating in 2008, the new facility will handle around 1.5m TEU a year.

Celtic expansion: Celtic Link Ferries has revealed plans to expand livestock carrying capacity on its ferry service between Rosslare and Cherbourg in a bid to meet growing demand from Irish farmers moving livestock to Europe.

Break point. the UK government has unveiled a new strategy for greener and more socially responsible ship recycling. The plans, which are being put out for consultation, cover issues including health, safety and environmental standards.

Blyth spirit.. a regular roro ferry link between the NE England port of Blyth and the Finnish port of Hamina has been launched by UPM Kymmene Seaways.

Manpower shortage: a dearth of qualified personnel in the Nigerian maritime sector is threatening safety, the country's shipmasters have warned. Captain Adewale Ishola, president of the Master Mariner Association of Nigeria, warned that poorly qualified seafarers are being used in place of the large numbers of Nigerian officers now working with foreign companies. He urged the Nigerian government not to leave training to the private sector and to 'seize the opportunity' presented by the growing global shortage of skilled seafarers.

Ukraine warning: Ukraine has put increased pressure on ships polluting above permissible levels during scheduled deballasting and several P&I clubs have warned owners that they could face fines of GBP15,000 or more for pollution in the already contaminated Black Sea. The most affected ports are Odessa, Yuzhny and Ilyichevsk.

MSC order: Italy's MSC Cruises has ordered a GBP270 m cruise liner from France's Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard following its previous £600 m plus order in November for the 133,500 gt vessels MSC Fantasia and MSC Serenata. The new 1,275 cabin vessel is due for delivery in 2008.

Lithuanian aid: the European Commission has approved a £4.63m support scheme for Lithuanian shipping through the refund of social insurance contributions for EU seafarers working on Lithuanianflagged ships.

Spill tender: the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is inviting shipping companies to tender for a contract to supply vessels to help respond to a major oil spill in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Tendering will be done on the basis that ships will trade as normal in EU waters but be ready to take on oil recovery equipment and go to an accident scene at short notice, as well as to take part in annual spill response exercises.

Butt out: strict rules restricting smoking onboard passenger and cargo ships operating on domestic services in the Philippines are being introduced in response to a blaze onboard a ferry    Investigators said the fire onboard the Superferry 12, which caused damage estimated at around £230,000, was the result of a passenger smoking in a cabin.

Whale way: a total of 46 passengers onboard a highspeed Japanese ferry were taken to hospital after the vessel hit a submerged object, thought to be a whale. The hydrofoil Toppy4 was carrying 103 passengers and five crew and was sailing off the southern island of Kyushu at more than 40 knots when the incident occurred.

Ferry held: the Bahamasflagged ferry Scotia Prince was detained in the Italian port of Genoa after an inspection revealed more than 30 safety deficiencies on the vessel, which had been chartered by Moroccan operator Comanav for the TangierGenoa route.

Danish plan: Denmark's government has published plans to turn the country into Europe's biggest maritime nation. Maritime unions have reacted coolly to the Blue Denmark action plan, pointing out that it does not contain much new thinking and says little about seafarers.

Finnish fines: Finland's government has announced that ships found to have spilled oil in the country's waters will be liable to fines from this month. The size of the penalty will be related to the amount of oil spilled, and the gross tonnage of the vessel.
 

Attackers defy naval forces off the coast of Somalia

THERE has been no letup in the rate of pirate attacks on ships off Somalia and in the Red Sea despite the presence in the area of naval forces from a number of countries.

The International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre said last month that 41 incidents have been reported in the area over the past year, and warned that heavily armed pirates are now attacking ships further away from the coast.

Recent incidents have included a case where eight pirates armed with knives boarded a Korean trawler off the coast of Somalia and held the 25 crew for a US$400,000 ransom.

In another incident, a Panamanianflagged tanker was hijacked off the coast of Somalia and two ships reported

having to take evasive action after being approached by two pirate vessels in the southern end of the Red Sea.

Another general cargoship sailing in the Arabian Sea off the east coast of Somalia was pursued by a speedboat for more than 30 minutes. The attackers gave up after the ship took evasive maneuvers and increased speed.

The IMB has also warned shipping after a series of attempted attacks on vessels at Chittagong anchorage, in Bangladesh. Some of the attacks were averted after crew members managed to repel attackers trying to board their vessels from boats, but in one case they managed to steal stores and safety equipment from a general cargoship.

An attempted attack on a bulk carrier at Callao anchorage, Peru, was averted after an alarm was sounded by the duty officer when ship's security staff were threatened by three robbers armed. with knives.

in another reported incident four pirates boarded a containership while it was anchored at Santos Roads, Brazil. The pirates climbed up the ship's anchor chain but fled empty handed in an unlit speedboat after an officer raised the alarm and the crew gathered on the deck.

Details also emerged last month of an attack on a Panamanianflagged bulk carrier in the Gelasa Strait, near Sumatra, in which pirates armed with swords tied up the Japanese master and other crew before stealing cash and personal effects.
 

New rules set down for sandwich plates

LLOYD'S Register has produced a set of provisional rules to cover a new ship repair and construction technique, first pioneered on the P&O ferry Pride of Cherbourg, left.

Working in conjunction with the firm Intelligent Engineering, the classification

society has developed a set of class notations relating to the application of the sandwich plate system (SPS) in ship structures.

SPS involves the bonding of two metal plates to a solid elastomer core. The elastomer provides continuous support to the plates and stops local plate buckling, eliminating the need for stiffeners.

The system also offers advantages including a high strengthtoweight ratio, high energyabsorption capacity, good thermal and acoustic insulation properties and inherent fire resistance.

LR said the material is now well proven for deck and tank top reinstatement, and its breadth of applications is continually expanding.

The rules cover construction procedures, scantling determination for primary supporting structures, framing arrangements and methods of scantling determination for steel sandwich panels.

LR marine director Alan Gavin commented: 'We have enjoyed a long and fruitful collaboration with Intelligent Engineering since the first application of SPS onboard the Pride of Cherbourg.

'To date we have been involved in over 20 projects involving SPS, comprising 20,000 square metres of repair and reinstatement projects. The steel sandwich concept has now become a viable option for large scale commercial applications, and the development of these new rules will allow designers to consider this material alongside traditional shipbuilding materials such as steel.'

Intelligent Engineering MD Michael Kennedy described the rules as 'a major milestone' in the application of SPS.
 

IMO paper urges mixed approach to safety rules

THE UK government is seeking a conciliatory approach in an International Maritime Organisation debate that has split the industry over safety standards in ship design and construction.

The industry's concerns relate to the IMO's determination to introduce what it calls 'goalbased' standards to govern new ship construction.

The debate hinges on whether these design and construction standards should be very specific the socalled 'prescriptive approach' or whether shipbuilders should simply be set broadbased goals they would be expected to comply with. This latter, the 'riskbased approach', is the IMO's preferred position.

The UK government, in a submission to this month's IMO safety committee meeting, argues that these positions need not be mutually exclusive.

Goalbased standards entered the industry's vernacular two years ago when the IMO signalled its intention to play a larger role in determining the 'fundamental standards to which new ships should be built.

All new ships, the IMO said, should be 'designed and constructed for a specified design life and to be safe and environmentally friendly, when properly operated and maintained'.

The IMO was at pains to point out that it had no intention to tie the industry down. It would state what had to be achieved leaving classification societies, ship designers, naval architects marine engineers and shipbuilders 'the freedom to decide on how best to employ their professional skills to meet the required standards'.

However, advocates of a 'prescriptive approach contend that minimum specific standards should be laid down for shipbuilders to adhere to.

The UK's submission reflects what has happened in the industry since the IMO unveiled its proposals in December 2004: 'Over the past two years the debate with respect to goalbased standards has tended to involve a somewhat polarised discussion between the socalled riskbased approach and the socalled prescriptive approach.'

But, the government maintains, 'the UK is of the view that the apparent split between risk based and not riskbased is essentially a false dichotomy. In reality these supposedly different approaches are simply elements of the same overall process of technical risk management.'

For the debate to be carried forward, the government concludes in its submission 'we must employ all of the tools which are available to us to both identify the risks themselves and to respond to them by introducing effective risk control measures.

We believe that in order to do this correctly in the 21st century we will need all of the probabilistic, deterministic, analytical and experiential based tools to be deployed to their full potential within the rule development process'.
 

Chief Engineer in court after whistle blowers report dumping

A BURMESE chief engineer officer is facing up to five years in prison after a US court heard that 'whistleblowing' crew on his ship had reported illicit oily waste dumping to the authorities.

Coast Guard authorities launched an investigation in November last year after

seafarers on the 41,891 gt car carrier Atlantic Breeze sent a fax to a maritime union alleging that they were being ordered to dump the oil and waste.

Inspectors checked the vessel at Port Newark in November last year and found that it had a concealed piping system used to dump contaminants overboard.  Wallenius later acknowledged that the dumping had taken place since 2002.

The court heard that the investigation showed false entries had been made in the ship's oil record book. The chief engineer was proved to have lied to inspectors and 'taken steps to obstruct the investigation'.

Singaporebased Wallenius Ship Management pleaded guilty to seven felony charges and, under the plea agreement, must pay a $5m criminal fine and $1.5m for community service environmental programmes.

Chief engineer Nyi Nyi, 52, of Myanmar, pleaded guilty to false statements for submitting a false oil record book and faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in July.
 

Record fine imposed for French spillage

Maersk Barcelona master has to pay £55,000

A record fine totalling Cim800,000 (£552,000) has been imposed by a French court on the master and operator of a containership caught discharging oily waste off the Brittany coast last year.

The 2,32S TEU vessel, owned by a German company and on time charter for Maersk Sealand, was spotted by a French Customs aircraft trailing a 60 km slick itself almost a record off the tip of Brittany on 20 September last year.

The Bahamasflagged vessel was sailing from Antwerp to Italy when it was spotted and ordered into the port of Brest for inspection. It was allowed to leave only on payment of a record £500,000 (£345,000) bond.

At a preliminary hearing on 1 February the prosecutor had demanded a fine of E600,000 (£414,000) itself a record. The maximum fine provided by the law for this kind of crime is Cim (£690,000).

The fine imposed by the Brest court last month was £200,000 higher than recommended by the

public prosecutor. Viktor Mykhaylov, captain of the ship, will have to pay 10% of the fine and the rest will be paid by the Hamburgbased company V Ships GmbH. V Ships said that it would appeal against the judgement.

Defence lawyers said the incident had been caused by a 'sudden and unexpected' breakdown of the vessel's oily waste separator. They said the ship had undergone a full flag state inspection, including an examination of its oily water separator, on the day before the incident and no deficiencies had been found.

When the vessel was detained in France, the master told inspectors that he had shut off the system after an alarm sounded as the vessel began the legal discharge of water from the bilge tanks.

However, prosecutors said the slick was not an accident but rather the result of negligence and lack of maintenance of the oily water separator.

The 33,400 gt Maersk Barcelona is on longterm charter to Maersk Line, on a service linking northern Europe to the Eastern Mediterranean.
 

Authorities pin blame for ferry disaster on master

THE Master of the Egyptian ferry AI Salam Boceaccio which sank in the Red Sea in February with the loss of more than 1,000 lives has taken the blame for the disaster.

The Panamanianflagged ferry capsized and sank several hours after a fire broke out on the car deck about an hour out of the Saudi port of Daba en route for Safaga, in Egypt.

A report released by the Egyptian government last month said the master, Captain Sayed Omar, had failed to report problems when fire broke out onboard the ship, had failed to send a distress signal or order emergency procedures, or to attempt to return to port.

The accusations were made following analysis of the voyage data records of the conversation on the bridge. Investigations into the incident are continuing, but details of the recordings have gone to the public prosecutor.

Capt Omar is missing, presumed drowned.
 

Jail for captain four times over the limit

A Romanian shipmaster who was found to be four times over the 'drinkdrive' limit after his ship ran aground off Kent has been jailed for seven months.

Grimsby Crown Court sentenced Captain Adrian Fericel to four months for the grounding of his ship, the Swissflagged Kathrin, and seven months for the drink offence. These sentences are to run concurrently.

Capt Fericel was arrested after failing a police breath test when his ship arrived at the Humber port of New Holland in February this year. Maritime & Coastguard Agency inspectors had gone to the vessel after it ran aground on the Goodwin Sands and narrowly missed the East Goodwin Light Vessel on the previous day.

The breath test showed 140 microgrammes per microlitre of breath the highest recorded alcohol level in incidents dealt with by the MCA.

Capt Fericel pleaded guilty to breaches of the alcohol provisions of the Railway and Transport Safety Act 2003 and section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, as amended.

In awarding the sentence and summing up, Judge Simian Jackson QC told the master: 'It is a serious dereliction of your duty to fall asleep whilst on the bridge of your ship, and you have pleaded guilty to failing to discharge your responsibilities. This is so serious only a custodial sentence is suitable. '

The judge added: 'The safety of seafarers and shipping is of paramount consideration.  Your rank of Captain commands respect. Asleep on the bridge of your ship, you could have collided with other vessels causing untold damage'

Speaking after the case, MCA principal marine surveyor Captain Mike Paine added: 'This sentence reflects the seriousness of this type of offence, It should send a clear message to those in the shipping industry that drinking alcohol and being in charge of a ship are incompatible. The MCA will take a robust and positive approach in enforcing this legislation.'
 

Boxship blaze highlights fears  over container contents

CONCERNS over the contents and stowage of containers have been highlighted once again by a devastating fire onboard a 5,500 TEU vessel.

Twentyseven crew members were evacuated after the fire onboard Panamanianflagged containership Hyundai Fortune spread from boxes in the stern area to the accommodation block.

Investigators are now trying to find the cause of the blaze, which broke out as the 68,363 gt vessel was heading towards the Red Sea, some 60 miles off the coast of Yemen.

The fire burned for more than a week and virtually destroyed the aft section of the vessel. Initial reports suggested it had been pre

ceded by an explosion, and there were also reports that it could have been caused by fireworks being carried in some of the containers.

Other sources suggested that the vessel may have been the victim of a terrorist attack or a mine, but Hyundai said it would not jump to any conclusions before investigations were completed.

The TT Club said the case reinforced industry concerns about the contents of containers and fears that some shippers deliberately fail to declare hazardous materials.

The club has held seminars around the world in a bid to increase awareness of the importance of the correct declaration, packing, labelling and stowage of such cargoes to avoid accidents both at sea and on land.

'The risk to personnel and property from leakage of toxic chemicals or fire and explosion of inflammable goods is enormous and has been demonstrated in a number of high profile marine casualties in recent years; said chief executive Paul Neagle.

* Firefighters battled for a week before extinguishing a blaze in the engine room of the 3,780 TEU containership MOL Initiative off the coast of Japan last month. The Panamaflagged ship was towed to a place of refuge to allow full scale firefighting efforts to take place after the crew were evacuated when the blaze spread to accommodation areas.
 

Study aims for safer container lashings

A TIMELY and wideranging investigation will be launched next month aimed at improving the safety of container shipments.

Headed by Marin, the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands, the investigation into container lashing at sea comes on the heels of a spate of recent incidents in which hundreds of containers were lost overboard from container ships in rough weather.

The joint industry project, Lashing@Sea, starts on 1 June and will involve eight shipowners, major lashing equipment manufacturers, surveying companies, classification societies and the Dutch Department of Transport.

Project leader Jos Koning of Marin said the recent container losses and stow collapses indicated a lack of understanding about loading and modern lashing equipment.

'It is clear this jeopardises the safety of property, people and the environment,' he added.

And he warned: 'These problems also apply to the shortsea/feeder ship and roro trades where, due to differing flag state rules, non transparent regulations result in a nonlevel playing field ' '

The project will identify the key parameters of lashingload mechanisms and review current practice and documented incidents.
 

Research into cargo sweepings

THE US Coast Guard is set to launch a scientific study to determine whether sweeping cargo residues overboard is harming the Great Lakes.

The research is being ordered in a bid to decide whether new laws should be brought in to prevent ships carrying iron ore, coal, cement and other cargoes from dumping the residues in the waters.

Although the practice is technically banned under the terms of federal laws and Annex V of the international MARPOL convention, the USCG has allowed it to continue under an interim exemption policy first granted in 1993.

Some scientists have warned that the cargo residues could be affecting fish habitats and causing environmental problems. But owners claim the practice is harmless and have warned that a ban would be catastrophic to the shipping industry'. The operators also say there are no viable disposal alternatives for cargo residues.

The USCG is now considering making the interim policy a permanent exemption, but will examine the results of the research before ruling on the issue.

(With thanks to the NUMAST Telegraph)

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Contributions


None this month.


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Midships

Pilot negligence

Your editor has just been involved in yet another case where the pilot was clearly negligent in causing a moderate oil spill.  As is the practice with some of our lazier and less diligent brothers in the pilot service, the pilot left the ship before the designated pilot station and in a less than safe position.  We wonder when the insurance fraternity are going to press for pilots to be held liable for their actions.

Charging for travel time

Survey companies have many and varied ways of operating, particularly in the way they charge for their services.  Fee rates and charging methods have been previously mentioned in these pages.  However, we have not, as yet, covered charging for travel time.  Some companies charge out at the full rate, some at half rate and some not at all, increasing the fee rate to take into account travel time.

Some clients take great offence when you charge for travel time.  However, it should be pointed out that travelling takes the surveyor away from other fee earning work.  If you a locally based surveyor with only 10-30 minutes to your jobs, charging for travel time could be considered irrelevant.  However, if like me you travel 27 hours to and from an appointment, there clearly has to be some consideration for this time.  If it takes the surveyor 8 hours to travel to and from a ship to carry out a condition survey taking only one day, the travel time makes up the lion's share of the time off base.  If you were to double your fee rate on site to allow for the travel time the client would be the first to shout!

Charging the same rate for travel time as time on site and reporting time appears to be the sensible answer to the problem.  We would be interested in hearing from our readers their views on this topic.

Mike Wall

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Scuttlebut

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

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 .....

Durban security lapses exposed

DURBAN police uncovered a nest of stowaways in a disused fish warehouse in the Maydon Wharf area of Durban Harbour yesterday when they chased a suspected thief. The incident again highlights poor security along Durban’s Maydon Wharf, where booms erected shortly after the imposition of the ISPS Code two years ago are now mostly broken or missing and the entrances remain unguarded. Durban has experienced a number of stowaway incidents in recent months. In yesterday's incident, police entered the building in pursuit of their suspect, but on entering came under fire from lighted missiles thrown from the rafters by at least 40 people who were using the building for shelter. In the process the former warehouse caught fire, and in the confusion a number of vagrants escaped. However, 28 men, all thought to be stowaways from East Africa were arrested and charged, and police and immigration officials are now investigating how they came to be in Durban. A quantity of stolen property was also recovered, some of which is thought to have come from ships in the harbour.

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For those of you that survey commercial vessels:

United States Coast Guard Headquarters
Washington, DC
May 3, 2006

Safety Alert 3-06

Emergency Escape Hood Recall

Recently the U.S. Coast Guard has learned that Brookdale International Systems, Inc. is voluntarily recalling all EVAC-U8 and EVAC+ emergency escape smoke hoods currently in the marketplace worldwide that have not reached their expiration date.  Additionally, a recall is in effect for several Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) emergency escape respirator models.

All Brookdale products are not U.S. Coast Guard approved.  However, these products may be found onboard various types of vessels worldwide.  The company reports that recent tests have confirmed that the emergency smoke hoods could fail to work properly and expose the user to harmful carbon monoxide compromising the wearer's ability to escape the fire threat.

The U.S. Coast Guard strongly recommends that all vessel owners and operators who have this equipment onboard their vessels follow the recommendations on the attached recall poster and at the company website http://www.evacsafety.com

Questions or comments regarding this safety alert may be addressed to Mr. Ken Olsen of the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Office of Investigations  and Analysis at 202.267.1417 or kolsen@comdt.uscg.mil.

This safety alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international, safety, operational or material requirement.

Distributed by the Office of Investigations and Analysis:
http://marineinvestigations.us
Additional Safety Alerts:  http://marinesafetyalerts.us
To subscribe: kolsen@comdt.uscg.mil

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Insurance News

Club alert over pilot ladders

Too many pilots are continuing to sufrer death or injury as a result of defective or improperly rigged ladders, a P&I club has warned.  The latest North of England Club newsletter higiffights two recent cases in which ladders fhfied onecausingthe deathof a crew member and the other causing a pilot to fall into the sea.  The club urges owners to make their crews aware of IMO guidance on the position, construction and testing of pilot ladders.

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Wig & Gown

This case note is based on an Article in the February 2006 Edition of the ‘Marine Bulletin’, published by the Marine team at the international firm of lawyers, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary. DLA Piper is an International Contributor to this website

Background

In March 1996, AIC purchased from Mobil Sales and Supply Corporation a mixed cargo of regular and premium unleaded gasoline on terms FOB Coryton Mobil Refinery Installation. The contract provided that the cargo was to comply with Colonial Pipeline Specifications ("CPS"). Quantity and quality were to be determined at load port by mutually acceptable independent inspectors appointed by Mobil and costs of the inspection were to be shared 50/50. The results of the inspection would be "final and binding for both parties save for fraud or manifest error".

Mobil appointed ITS to inspect the cargo prior to loading. Mobil's instructions to ITS included a description of what was to be tested and a copy of CPS, which prescribed a maximum RVP ("Reid Vapour Pressure") of 9.0 psi as arrived at by test method ASTM D5191.

The regular unleaded gasoline was loaded in four parcels. ITS tested samples from shore tanks and issued certificates of quality on 30 March and 2 April 1996, each stating "tested by ASTM D323". In its final report to AIC, ITS stated that the final tank for the regular parcel was found to be outside the required specifications but that, after re-testing with a volumetric composite of all four tanks, the results were acceptable.

By contract dated 2 April 1996, AIC sold the cargo to Galaxy Energy ex ship New York. The quality clause in the AIC/Galaxy sub sale provided: "Quality: (A) M 2 meeting statutory baseline [i.e. CPS] with the following guarantees … RVP 9.0 psi … determination of quality: As ascertained at a load port and confirmed by Caleb Brett".

The vessel arrived at New York on 14 April 1996 and began discharging the following day. But discharge was suspended because, Galaxy claimed, the cargo was off-specification. In particular, the vapour pressure of the regular unleaded gasoline was higher that the 9.0 psi permitted under CPS. AIC maintained Galaxy was bound by ITS' certification that the cargo met specification but Galaxy refused to take delivery or pay.

The issue went to court in Switzerland, where, on appeal, AIC was ordered to pay Galaxy over USD1.16 m plus interest.

In May 2002, AIC issued these proceedings against ITS, claiming damages for breach of contract, deceit, breach of duty and, alternatively, contribution under the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 in respect of its liability to Galaxy.

The re-tests

The instructions ITS received from Mobil included a copy of CPS. CPS specified a maximum RVP of 9.0 psi to be arrived at by test method ASTM D5191. ITS had, however used a different method - ASTM D393.

On 16 April, following Galaxy's complaints, ITS arranged for residues of the load port shore tank samples to be sent for re-testing, this time using the ASTM D5191 method. The results of the re-tests showed higher RVP in three of the four samples and an overall average for the four tanks of 9.33 psi. Neither Mobil nor AIC were informed of the re-tests, nor of the results.

On 17 April, during a telephone conversation with AIC, when AIC referred to the certificate of quality ITS had issued, a representative of ITS stated, "we will be standing by that certificate". ITS by this time knew the results of the re-tests but said nothing about them.

AIC now alleged ITS was in breach of its contractual duties, which included a duty to use reasonable skill and care, a duty to seek permission before using samples and a duty to inform its client of the results of any tests. In addition, ITS owed duties in tort to correct or qualify representations it had made in certificates and/or to inform AIC of the re-tests and the results. By continuing to represent that the results of the original tests were reliable, ITS misrepresented the true situation and by deliberately choosing not to reveal anything about the re-tests, it was guilty of deceit.

Judgment

Duties of an inspection company

Inspection companies are trusted to exercise independent judgment. It is inherent in the nature of their task that they assume responsibility to the buyer and/or sub-buyer for what is stated in the certificate (Niru Battery Manufacturing Co v Milestone Trading Ltd [2003] EWCA Civ 1446).

In this case, ITS was jointly instructed by Mobil and AIC. The contract between Mobil/AIC and ITS required ITS to take reasonable care to ensure any certificate it issued was accurate. In accepting those instructions, ITS assumed responsibility to anyone it should have had in contemplation as most likely to be affected by any error, and this included Galaxy as sub-buyer.

Drawing on International Standards in place at the material time (NAMAS Accreditation M10) which were reflected in ITS' own quality control manual, the judge drew up a summary of what was comprised in ITS's duty to take reasonable care. ITS was under an implied obligation to Mobil and AIC:

* to determine whether Mobil had performed its contract with AIC in the relevant respects, applying the test methods specified in the instructions given;
* to exercise independent and impartial judgment and to act as an independent and impartial inspection company at all material times;
* to report the results of tests independently, accurately, clearly, unambiguously and objectively;
* to include in any certificate all information relevant to the validity and application of the test results and all information required by the test method and procedure used;
* to make it clear whether the results reported refer to tests carried out on a single item or a batch of items, including where relevant details of any sampling carried out;
* to include in any certificate:
* any departures from standard condition;
* reference to the test method and procedure used;
* any standard or other specification relevant to the test method or procedure; and
* deviations, additions to or exclusions from the specification concerned;
* to issue material amendments to any certificate in the form of a further document by way of a Supplement, with a statement to the effect that the same should be passed on to any person to whom the original certificate had been provided;
* where a complaint or other circumstance raised doubt concerning the quality of the tests, to ensure that the relevant work/tests were promptly audited and reviewed;
* where the audit/review findings cast doubt on the correctness of the test results so as to necessitate a supplemental certificate, to write to Mobil and AIC immediately, enclosing the Supplement with a statement to the effect it should be passed on to any person to whom the original certificate had been provided.

Departing from instructions

An inspector instructed to determine the quantity and quality of cargo must abide by his instructions. If he departs from those instructions in a material respect (such as by using a different test method), his determination will be rendered invalid on the grounds of manifest error, simply because the parties had not agreed to be bound by a determination carried out in any other way than that specified.

This is the case even if the different tests would have given similar results. Virtually any departure from instructions will be seen as material, unless it is so trivial that it would have been obvious to the parties that it could make no possible difference (Veba Oil Supply and Trading GmbH v Petrotrade Inc [2001] 1 Lloyd's Rep 259).

In this case, the original tests carried out by ITS were not in accordance with the stated test procedures. AIC was relatively inexperienced in the purchase and sale of gasoline and it would not have been easy for it to know whether any departure by ITS from instructions was trivial or not.

The judge was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the regular cargo would have been off-specification had it been tested in accordance with ASTM D5191. In addition, ITS was negligent in failing to have a proper system for checking certificates before they were issued.

Duty to correct a certificate

ITS argued that, once an inspection company has published its certificate, its task is complete. A statement of opinion carries with it a statement that the opinion is honestly held at the time when the statement is made. But, provided that is the case, any subsequent change of mind is irrelevant.

The judge did not agree. On or about 16 or 17 April, when complaints had raised doubts about the original tests, ITS should have sent Mobil and AIC a Supplement withdrawing all those certificates that stated "fuel meets specification". It should also have recognised that what remained of the samples represented important evidence which should have been held to the order of Mobil and AIC. The samples themselves were the joint property of Mobil and AIC and re-tests should not have been carried out unless pursuant to their joint instructions. It was also quite unacceptable, once further tests had been carried out, that the results were not disclosed.

Deceit

The tort of deceit involves a false representation by a person who knows it is untrue or who has no belief in its truth. If that person intends that the recipient should rely on that representation and the recipient in fact does so, he will be liable in deceit for the damage caused.

On the evidence, the judge was satisfied that during the telephone conversation on 17 April 1996, ITS had represented that the original certificate, which stated "fuel meets specification" was and remained good and valid, that it had no belief in the truth of that representation but that it intended AIC to rely on it. ITS had made a deliberate decision not to disclose the results of the re-tests to AIC and Mobil, even though it knew it was under a duty to do so.

AIC was relatively inexperienced in the purchase and sale of gasoline and, quite reasonably, looked to ITS as an independent inspection company for an answer one way or the other as to whether it was standing by its original certificate. AIC clearly relied on ITS' assurance that it was, and this played a real and substantial part in AIC's decision-making process.

Had a supplemental certificate been issued correcting the original certificate, it was much more likely that an early commercial solution would have been arrived at between AIC and Mobil/Galaxy.

Limitation

These proceedings were not issued until May 2002. ITS, therefore, argued that the claims were time-barred.

Under Section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980, a claim in contract must be brought within 6 years of the date the cause of action accrued (usually when the breach takes place). An action in negligence must be brought within 6 years of the date when the claimant first suffered loss. Under section 32, however, the limitation period is postponed in cases of fraud, concealment or mistake. Time does not begin to run until the plaintiff has discovered the fraud, concealment or mistake or could with reasonable diligence have discovered it.

The judge concluded that AIC could not have found out about the re-tests and their results before 17 May 1996. Consequently, the action was brought within the time limit and AIC was entitled to damages in respect of its liability to Galaxy, expenses arising from Galaxy's refusal to accept the cargo and legal fees and costs incurred in the Swiss proceedings.

(ED:  This should be an abject lesson for all independent marine surveyors.)

[Top]


Education and Training

The International Institute of Marine Surveying launched a Diploma in Marine Engineering Surveying on Monday 15th May 2006 at its Annual General Meeting held at the Strand Palace
Hotel, London.

The Diploma, available to students from the 1st October 2006, is the fourth in the portfolio of Diplomas organised by the Institute.

The Diplomas provide 1st and 2nd level qualifications towards a BSc(Hons) in Marine Surveying Practice through the University  of Portsmouth, the first degree qualification in the world for
marine surveyors

The Diplomas cover a wide range of surveying subjects including:
Yachts & Small Craft, Cargo Surveying, Industry Surveying and
now Marine Engineering Surveying

For more information on the new Diploma or on any of the Institute Diplomas, contact the Institute office.

Administration Office, 3 Stone Lane, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 2SS, UK
Tel: +44(0)23 9258 8000
Fax: +44(0)23 9258 8002
Email: iims@compuserve.com
Website:  www.iims.org.uk

******

Tonnage Measurements

Under the Certifying Authority jurisdiction those wishing to qualify to carry out tonnage measurements must attend a training course, be supplied with the relevant guidelines and be approved by a Certifying Authority committee.

There will be a Certifying Authority Seminar for all approved small craft examiners on Monday 30 October 2006 in Palma, Mallorca.  CPD points will be awarded.

------

Small Craft Group Meeting and Training Seminar, 1000 hrs, Wednesday 21 June 2006, The Marriott Hotel, Portsmouth, UK.  The training seminar will be entitled 'Tonnage Surveys' and be given by Mr Tony McGrail.  Cost GBP55.

Further information on both of the above items available from:  iims@compuserve.com

******

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

******

Indonesia invests in crew training

INDONESIA is spending $55M to set up two maritime academies in a bid to boost training standards. Dedi Darmawan, head of education and training at Indonesia’s transport ministry, said the schools at Pangkalan Brandan, Sumatra and in Sorong, Papua, will help to meet rising demand for trained seafarers. Domestic demand alone is estimated to reach 33,000 seafarers a year as Indonesian ship owners expand their fleets to take advantage of reservation of coastal shipping for national flag ships. The academies are expected to take new trainees in 2008. Funding will be provided through a soft loan from the Japan Bank for International Co-operation. Following clearance of the loan by the relevant ministries, construction is expected to start by the end of this year, Darmawan said. Indonesia is one of the world’s largest supplier of seafarers, but training standards lag behind regional competitors such as the Philippines

[Top]

Epistles

Ref: - PAINS WESSEX WHITE COLLISION WARNING (MK7) HAND FLARE Item No 52651

Pains Wessex has identified that there may be a risk that some of the above white flares will not fire as intended. All of these white flares are therefore being recalled as a safety precaution. Additionally, this total recall will allow us to bring these products into our continuing investigation. This follows an incident in which a member of the public was injured.  These hand flares are carried on leisure and commercial boats to be used as a white wqarning signal or for illumination.  No red flares are being recalled.

We will reimburse you for every white hand flare returned to us. PWSS Ltd are also discussing with Comet GmBH delivery of their White Handflare as a replacement.

If you receive a recall product or have existing stock please contact Keith Bradford at Pains Wessex on (+44) (0) 2392 623912 or email keithbradford@pwss.com for collection, replacement with Comet Handflare or reimbursement. We have informed the United Kingdom trading standards authorities of this recall. They in turn are notifying the relevant authorities in the EU Members states.

For the Distributors/ Customers outside the EU: We would ask you to satisfy yourselves that you have complied with any duty within your country, as importer of our products, to notify your regulating authority.

Yours sincerely
Steve Lucas
General Manager
Pains Wessex Safety Systems Ltd
4th May 2006

******

From Alex Johnson, retired marine surveyor in New Zealand:

Hello Mike.
 
I hope that all is well with you and you are keeping comfortably busy.
 
I dont know whether you have read the article but on page 33 of the April issue of The Naval Architect there was and article from Semco Maritime of Denmark regarding firefighting on car / truck carriers titled "CO2; a beneficial firefighting medium on car / truck carriers "
 
In the 2nd paragraph it states as follows:-
" Due to the advent of steadily more electronically sophisticated cars, Semco reports a dramatic increase in self-ingited car fires during voyages from factories to importers around the world. "
 
I have made enquiries locally from friends in the motor industry both  on the repair side and importers and could not obtain any information or knowledge about such fires.
 
SEMCO responded to Alex:

Thank you very much for your interest in our article. We must however point out that we are makers of fire extinguishing systems only, and as such we produce plants according to Solas,class rules as well as directives from local governments. Information concerning increasing amounts of self-ignited cars are purely coming from shipowners with many PCC's such as Wallenius of Sweden and Wilhelmsen of Norway. Other owners have also pointed out the need for easy and cost effective refitting of extinguishing media, which will cause as little damage as possible to surrounding cars. In local Scandinavian newspapers, we noticed quite a few un-explaineable fires in, eg, Peugeot 307 models last year. In fact this model was banned from some ferry operators, in the middle of the summer holiday season!!

I am sorry that we are not able to comment more deeply on your questions.
 
Best regards
Flemming Damsgaard
Semco Maritime.

ED:  If you have any information on this interesting subject please let us know.

[Top]

People

Herry Lawford, formerly of Thomas Miller retired on 19 May 06.  We offer our best wishes for his well earned retirement.  After so many years of globetrotting we'd love to hear what he intends to do with his time!

Contact him at:- herry@btinternet.com

******

Maurice Storey, formerly chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, has taken over as President of the UK Chamber of Shipping.

******

Nick von Dincklage is leaving Arntz van Helden and from 1st July 2006 I will team up with Coolegem, De Neef & Zeldenrust, a  Consulting/Surveying Company in Vlaardingen/Rotterdam.

[Top]

Books and Videos


'Figureheads and Ship Carving' by Michael Stammers.  Cost GBP17.99, published by Chatham Publishing.  www.chathampublishing.com

'.... of daring temper' A history of the Marine Society by Richard Woodman.  Cost GBP20 inclusive of P&P to UK addresses.  From Marine Society & Sea Cadets.  Email:  books@ms.sc.org

[Top]

Conference Reports

(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

[Top]

Future Events

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

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

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

17 & 18 July 2006, 'Engine & Machinery Failure Seminar - Understanding Roles and Requirements in Failure Detection and Analysis', Lloyds Maritime Academy, London.
Email:  suzanne.kaye@informa.com

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

20-23 Sept 2006.  The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, Inc® 2006 Annual Conference & Educational Training Symposia, The Holiday Inn by the Bay Hotel & Convention Center, 88 Spring Street, Portland, Maine, 04101-3924. Reservations:
1-800-345-5050

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

 ******

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/

[Top]

Web Sites

If your (marine surveying) company has a web site, let us know and we will try to mention it.  Below are some web pages we believe might be useful to marine surveyors:
http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/
The UK MAIB web page giving the reports on accident investigations - A must read page for all surveeyors!

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

www.nationlalcorrosionservice.org
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.marinesupportonline.com
- Marine Support On Line

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

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

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

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

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

[Top]

From the Poop Deck

In the year 2005, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in Auckland, New Zealand, and
said, "Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated and I see the end of all flesh before me.

Build another Ark  and save two of every living thing along with a few good humans."

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, "You have six months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights".

Noah was dubious about the project, because unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights is normal in New Zealand, but he knew he must bow to the will of  the Lord.

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his revered quarter acre section....but no ark. "Noah", He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?"

"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah. "But things have changed. I needed a building consent. I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbours claim that I've violated the zoning laws by building the Ark on my property and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to Arbitration for a decision.

Then the electricity companies demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I argued that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.

Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local timber in order to save the Kiwi. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the birds. But no go!

When I started gathering the animals, I got sued by an animal rights group. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. As well, they argued the accommodation was too restrictive and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.

Maori have forbidden the project to continue unless taniwha are permitted on the Ark and indigenous tribes own half the Ark after I have designed and built it. I also have to agree to pay $150 Billion for depriving Maori of traditional lands by means of inundation, which they allege, is simply a case of "holy colonization".

I am bogged down in further negotiations on multimillion payments for rights to sail the Ark on the seas of Aotearoa. Other Maori tribes have sued me because they allege the Ark is a Pakeha version of the Maori canoe and they have appealed to the Waitangi Tribunal to declare it tapu.

Then the Environmental Court ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood. I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many Maori I'm supposed to hire for my building crew and the requirement for separate female toilets in case I hire a woman. Also, the trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark building experience, but they are in short supply due to the Navy's frigates being built.

OSH has decreed each employee must be equipped with a life jacket and personal life raft even though we are building on the mountain. When I pointed this out, they made me provide ice axes and climbing boots for each employee and their families.  To make matters worse, the Inland Revenue seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.

At first the Labour government was in favour of my project because it created building jobs on our mountain. Then they were shocked by an opinion poll which revealed that 99% of all New Zealanders opposed a devastating flood, and after an emergency cabinet meeting, Helen Clark announced  that Labour had never favoured floods as a means of solving problems and was totally opposed to the project (unless future opinion polls revealed popular support for the Ark). She said "God should sit down and talk sensibly about the issues".

So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least ten years for me to finish this Ark."

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean, You're not going to destroy the world?".

"No," said the Lord. "The New Zealand government beat me to it."

******

Some Zen for people who take life seriously ....

1. SAVE THE WHALES. COLLECT THE WHOLE SET.
 
2. A DAY WITHOUT SUNSHINE IS LIKE, NIGHT.
 
3. ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT FINGERS.
 
4. I JUST GOT LOST IN THOUGHT. IT WASN'T FAMILIAR TERRITORY.
 
5. 42.7% OF ALL STATISTICS ARE MADE UP ON THE SPOT.
 
6. 99% OF LAWYERS GIVE THE REST A BAD NAME.
 
7. I FEEL LIKE I'M DIAGONALLY PARKED IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE.
 
8. HONK IF YOU LOVE PEACE AND QUIET.
 
9. REMEMBER, HALF THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW ARE BELOW AVERAGE.
 
10. HE WHO LAUGHS LAST, THINKS SLOWEST.
 
11. DEPRESSION IS MERELY ANGER WITHOUT ENTHUSIASM.
 
12. THE EARLY BIRD MAY GET THE WORM, BUT THE SECOND MOUSE GETS THE
CHEESE.
 
13. I DRIVE WAY TOO FAST TO WORRY ABOUT CHOLESTEROL.
 
14. SUPPORT BACTERIA. THEY'RE THE ONLY CULTURE SOME PEOPLE HAVE.
 
15. MONDAY IS AN AWFUL WAY TO SPEND 1/7 OF YOUR WEEK.
 
16. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE IS USUALLY THE SIGN OF A BAD MEMORY.
 
17. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, EXCEPT FROM VENDING MACHINES.
 
18. GET A NEW CAR FOR YOUR SPOUSE. IT'LL BE A GREAT TRADE!
 
19. PLAN TO BE SPONTANEOUS TOMORROW.
 
20. ALWAYS TRY TO BE MODEST, AND BE PROUD OF IT!
 
21. IF YOU THINK NOBODY CARES, TRY MISSING A COUPLE OF PAYMENTS.
 
22. HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE IN PSYCHOKINESIS? RAISE MY HAND.
 
23. OK, SO WHAT'S THE SPEED OF DARK?
 
24. HOW DO YOU TELL WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF INVISIBLE INK?
 
25. IF EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL, YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY OVERLOOKED SOMETHING.
 
26. WHEN EVERYTHING IS COMING YOUR WAY, YOU'RE IN THE WRONG LANE.
 
27 HARD WORK PAYS OFF IN THE FUTURE. LAZINESS PAYS OFF NOW.
 
28. EVERYONE HAS A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY. SOME JUST DO NOT HAVE FILM.
 
29. IF BARBIE IS SO POPULAR, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BUY HER FRIENDS?
 
30. HOW MUCH DEEPER WOULD THE OCEAN BE WITHOUT SPONGES?
 
31. EAGLES MAY SOAR, BUT WEASELS DO NOT GET SUCKED INTO JET ENGINES.
 
32. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET SCARED HALF TO DEATH TWICE?
 
33. I USED TO HAVE AN OPEN MIND , BUT MY BRAINS KEPT FALLING OUT.
 
34. I COULDN'T REPAIR YOUR BRAKES, SO I MADE YOUR HORN LOUDER.
 
35. WHY DO PSYCHICS HAVE TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR NAME?
 
36. INSIDE EVERY OLDER PERSON IS A YOUNGER PERSON WONDERING WHAT
HAPPENED.
 
37. JUST REMEMBER--IF THE WORLD DID NOT SUCK, WE WOULD ALL FALL OFF.
 
38. LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THAN SOUND, WHICH IS WHY SOME PEOPLE APPEAR
BRIGHT UNTIL YOU HEAR THEM SPEAK

******

Other goodies .....

Sex is like air - it's not important unless you're not getting any.

A man took a girl back to his flat. She pointed to ornament and said, "What's that?" He said, "It's a phallic symbol." She said,
"I'd hate to tell you what it looks like!"

I believe that sex between two people is a beautiful thing. Between five it's fantastic!

Men - age is no barrier to love. You can still be somebody's dreamboat even if your anchor is dragging and your cargo has shifted.

Digby and his wife were having an argument. She said, "I was a fool when I married you!" He said, "That's probably true, but I was so horny at the time I didn't notice."

An ugly horny man describes his sex-life as fist or famine.

Is it wrong to have sex before marriage? Only if it makes you late for the service.

(with thanks to Fraser Hunt)

Singing Boobs .....

A British company is developing computer chips that store music in women's breast implants.
This is a major breakthrough since women are always complaining about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them.

******

A driver is stuck in a traffic jam on the motorway.  Nothing is moving.

Suddenly a man knocks on the window.  The driver rolls down his window and asks, "What's going on?"

"Terrorists have kidnapped Tony Blair, John Prescott, Gordon Brown and Jack Straw.  They're asking for a £310 million ransom.  Otherwise they're going to douse them with petrol and set them on fire.  We're going from car to car, taking up a collection".

The driver asks, "How much is everyone giving, on average?"

"About a gallon".

[Top]

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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