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  FLASHLIGHT - August 2005           Edition No: 44

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

Quote of the month ...

We are, as men and experts, are tempted to acquiesce to the human need to explain the inexplicable, as people look to us constantly for our professional opinions. The Male Answer Syndrome (MAS).

Larry Montgomery CMS, CMI, PI, CFEI, CFFI, from his presentation at the London Survyeying Conference, April 2005.

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The 2005 Asian Marine Insurance and Surveying Forum will be held at the Shangri-la Hotel,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday/Friday 24/25 November.

CPD Certificates, accepted by all Marine Surveying Professional Institutes, will be issued upon request
Those interested in attending should contact Ms Astor Tsang at Asia Conferences: marine@asiaconference.biz
Those interested in giving a paper at the conference should contact Mike Wall at mikewall@pacific.net.hk

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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. 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:
Claire Wainwright, Marketing Manager at IMarEST, London, UK.
Alexander Evered, Melbourne, Australia.
Captain Ragnar S Elinbergsson, San Francisco, CA, USA.
John Riley, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Captain Peter Denny, Zakynthos, Greece.
James B McGruer, Weybridge, Surrey, UK.
Gudiker Jugo, Orinoco Surveying Group, Venezuala.
Capt Evan G Mackay, Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd,  Cyprus.
Mark Paternoster, Ince & Co, Pireaus.

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Spindrift

ID appeal: British seafarers should not have to carry the UK government's proposed national identity card,. MPs have been told that British Merchant Navy personnel should not be required to hold a national ID card because an intemational biometric ID system had been agreed for the world's 1.2m seafarers.  Some have commented that ff the documents are good enough to be used for visa_less travel around the world, they should be good enough for domesti purposes.  The Governernment should accept that UK seafarers should not have to carry and pay for two sets of ID cards.'

Ageism outlawed: govermnent plans to outlaw age discrimination in the workplace were announced last month. Due to come into force in October next year, the measures will ban age discrimination in recruitment, promotion and training, ban all retirement ages below 65 except where 'objectively justified' and remove the current upper age limit for unfair dismissal and redundancy rights.

Class change: the role ofclassification societies is set to diminish as a result of moves to introduce a 'goal-based' approach to ship safety, the head of the Barbados registry claimed last month. Principal registrar Chris Sawyer told a conference that the role of certifier will fall increasingly to flag states, with class societies taking on a more advisory status.

Tribunal decline: Concern has been expressed after a report revealed the number of workplace disputes taken to employment tribunals dropped by 25% last year. There are fears that the decline is the result of complex new rules deterring employees from bringing claims.

Ship hijacked: the United National World Food Programme threatened to suspend aid shipments to Somalia last month after a St Vincent_registered cargoship carrying 850 tonnes of food supplies was hijacked by pirates who demanded US$500,000 to release the 10 crew.

Liberian row: two leading Liberian maritime officials have been suspended following allegations that some US$ 800,000 of lnmarsat payments to a Liberia Maritime Office account in London were misappropriated.

Lights protest: shipping companies have presented a petition to the European Parliament urging Euro_MPs to put pressure on the UKto abolish the'archaic and unfair'light dues system.

Fatigue blamed: reports suggest a collision between two tankers off the coast of Japan, which killed six seafarers last month, was caused by a fatigued officer falling asleep.

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War zones shakeup

The Lloyd's and London insurance market is to declare the piracy-prone Malacca

Strait a war_risk area.

The status has been given following an overhaul of the way in which the Joint War Committee decides on the guidelines given to underwriters on 'war, strikes, terrorism and related perils'.

Under the new risk_based assessment procedures, danger zones are rated on a scale of one to ten, meaning that additional premiums can be charged for the areas defined as being of enhanced risk.

The criteria note the owners' obligation to ensure that their seafarers are not exposed to unnecessary risk, and also note the right of the master to refuse to enter an area or a port if he/she considers that the ship is likely to be exposed to warlike operations.

The new underwriters'policies have been criticised by Malaysia, which claimed the Malacca Strait is one of the safest shipping lanes in the world. The area covered by the new insurance guidelines covers the entire distance, north to south, of the Strait.

The 20 new listed areas also include several key Indonesia ports, including Dumai and Belawan ' as well as parts of Thailand and the Philippines, a.nd such countries as Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Pakistan and SaudiArabia.

Owners have to inform underwriters that they plan to operate ships in these waters and additional insurance ' costs may be levied for seven days'cover.

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Mission leader says abandoned crews damage the industry

Shipowners and operators are scoring a 'monumental own goal' by allowing the problem of abandoned seafarers to continue at such a high level, the head of the Mission to Seafarers warned last month.

Canon Bill Christianson, secretary_general of the Mission, said the charity deals with around 25% of all recorded abandonments each year, and there is no sign of the problem abating _ even though measures were being taken as far back as 1926 to combat the phenomenon.

Statistics 'cannot convey the distress and the degree of human suffering that such incidents cause', he added. 'Chaplains are often presented with crews who do not have sufficient food or water and lack generator fuel for heating or air-conditioning, and, in an incident which confronted me in 1984, no fuel for cooking.'

And he added: 'Twenty one years later our chaplain in Dubai is still dealing with abandoned crews. His ministry there, and the impact he has had, resulted in him receiving death threats. But it has also resulted in his work being recognised and later this year he will be presented the Marine Society Thomas Gray Silver Medal for this very thing _ his dedication to the care of ships' crews, who may otherwise, have been abandoned.'

Speaking at a symposium staged by the Seafarers' International Research Centre at Cardiff University, Canon Christianson described the failure to end the problem of abandonment as 'an indictment on the industry' that brought shipping into disrepute for allowing it to continue.

'It says nothing for the empowerment and affirmation of seafarers; he went on. 'It is a denial of civilised behaviour, for it shows that certain owners, who are prepared to abandon their crew, hold them in contempt. Any responsible owner recognises that the crew are the most valued part of their operation and are not, and never can be, discarded as an inconvenience.'

The situation is clearly counter-productive to the recruitment and retention of well-qualifled and motivated people, he stressed. 'If seafaring is to be seen as a "worthy profession" with career development and prospects, then to impose such an unacceptable risk is a monumental own goal for the industry.'

'No intelligent potential seafarer is going to submit to such conditions of employment he added, 'In this case recruitment will be from the ranks of the desperate rather than the motivated. It is the classic case of the few irresponsible and substandard operators bringing the conscientious and decent majority into disrepute'

Canon Christianson said the problem was compounded by the lack of legislation preventing a defaulting owner from buying back an abandoned vessel when it is put up for sale. 'The owner is back in business having walked away from his debts with no thought as to the devastation and havoc wreaked on the lives of seafarers,'he pointed out.

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Coroner moves to ban burials at sea

A Coroner is seeking to ban burials at sea _ because too many corpses have been washed ashore after coffins have broken up.

Isle of Wight coroner John Matthews is consulting colleagues around the country on the extent of the problem before approaching the government with the case to support a sea burials ban.

The move comes after an inquest into a corpse that was found on a beach on the island earlier this year. The coroner's court concluded that the body had been legitimately buried at sea, but Mr Matthews said many undertakers are failing to follow agreed procedures to ensure that people buried at sea are not washed ashore.

The resulting investigations into such cases wasted valuable court and police time and resources, the coroner said. The incidents also had a huge emotional impact on relatives, he added.

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Royal alarm at ISPS

Mission to Seafarers president says security rules have made it harder for crews to go ashore.

Concern about the way in which new security regulations have made it harder for ships' crews to go ashore was expressed by The Princess Royal at the annual meeting of the Mission to Seafarers.

The princess, who is president of the society, said that one year after the introduction ofthe Intemational Ship and Port Facility Security Code it was clear that 'there is no doubt it is often harder for seafarers to get ashore'.

She said there had been 'a number of cases of seafarers being denied shore leave, and chaplains being denied access to ships'  However,'through quiet work in the background and liaison with port authorities, chaplains have in many instances managed to set things right.

The princess said ship visits by Mission chaplains were becoming increasingly important because of the problems faced by seafarers in going ashore. All of them find it more difficult as time gets shorter in port,'she stressed.

'There is less and less time to make choices about what to do in port. '

According to the charity's annual report, such trends have also had 'serious implications' for some of its seafarer centres around the world.  In some places, visitor numbers have dropped significantly and 'radical thinking' is being applied to respond to changed crewing and shipping patterns.

Mission secretary general Canon Bill Christianson told the meeting that the society is planning further innovation in telecommunications to meet the needs of seafarers: 'Based on the success of our prepaid telephone card, we are seeking to develop a comprehensive package that wffi include telephone calls, voice md messaging services, and the use of intemet _ all designed to keep seafarers in touch with their famflies and friends.'

The Mission is also working on the development of an 'internet church' to offer seafarers pastoral care on the web and to provide'an extra dimension to the society's spiritual support for ships' crews.

As well as delivering care and counselling to those whose lives were, and are still devastated by the Asian tsunami, the Mission faced a busy time in the last 12 months - with chaplains maldng 64,000 ship visits and some 500,000 seafarers visiting its centres.

The Mission also provided help to 3,500 seafarers in a total of 550 welfare cases and 540 justice cases.

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IMO to make an annual award for seamanship and bravery

A special annual award for courage at sea is to be presented by the International Maritime Organisation.  The award aims to recognise 'those who, at the risk of losing their own life, commit acts of extreme bravery to rescue persons in distress at sea or to prevent catastrophic pollution of the environment, amidst extreme conditions'.

The IMO says it wants to honour those who 'exhibit virtues of self_sacrifice in line with the highest traditions at sea.  The exact criteria for the award are being developed and are expected to include the demonstration of exceptional courage, leadership, seamanship and skill.

Established in response to a proposal put forward by IMO secretary_general Efthimios Ifitropoulos, the award scheme wifi be international in scope and aims to tie in with eidsting awards, without duplicating them.

Nominations will be sought annually and winners will receive a suitable medal, plaque or trophy. Awards may also be made posthumously.

Mr Mitropoulos welcomed the 'enthusiastic reception' or the award and said he hoped it would do much to boost public awareness of the positive aspects of the worldwide shippingindustry.

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Certificate database call

Research proposes new ways to combat fraudulent officers' documentation

FLAG states need to create a centralised database of seafarers to combat the continued problem of certificate fraud, a new study says.

Produced by the Cardiff University based Seafarers' International Research Centre, the report wams that some countries are checking as few as 10% of the officers' certificates presented to them.

Presenting the results at a syinposium last month, Dr Nik Winchester wamed that the safe and efficient operation of ships depended upon the professional qualities of their crews.

But, he said, there is evidence of a variety of problems, including forged certificates and bribery of maritime officials in some countries.  Dr Winchester noted the challenges in policing a complex system in which seafarers serving in a global labour market and under awide range of different jurisdictions have to possess 'a plethora of certificates'.

As part of his research into an effective regime of global governance for seafarer certification, he has studied the verification practices followed by five flags of convenience.

Procedures used in granting endorsements varied from claims that anything from 15% to 100% of applications were checked with issuing authorities. In reality, Dr Winchester said, the figures were as low as 10%, and overall the evidence shows that barely one quarter of certificates are verified.

Researchers found similarly wide variations in the certificate verification practices followed by employers and colleges, he added.  Calling for a shift towards a systematic approach, Dr Winchester highlighted the study's recommendations:

- Certificates should be presented in a harmonised format _ especially ancillary certificates _ with common security features to improve the efFee_tiveness ofvisual cheeks 0 Authorities and institutions issuing certificates must be more ciTective in conununicating between themselves.

- Copies and details of certificates should be held on a centralised database of certificates to make cheeks'an everyday and simple process'

- Training in certification types and basic security features should be given to those with verification responsibilities

- A 'culture of verification' of certificates should be developed, rather than checking them only if there are grounds for suspicion

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New moves to cut out the paper on ships

HOPES of reducing the size of onboard paperwork mountains have been raised by an International Maritime Organisation decision to consider the introduction of electronic ship's documents.

At present, the IMO requires ships to carry more than 60 original paper certificates and documents, in addition to crew certification.

But its facilitation committee has agreed to consider an International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) proposal that ship's documents shouldbe held on eleamnic databases.  ICS spokesman Brian Parkinson said port state control officers would be able to cheek electronic documents in advance of a ship's arrival in the knowledge that the data was accurate and up to date.  He said the system would reduce the paperwork burden on ship's personnel which, in view of concems about fatigue, will have advantages for safety and would also help to fight fraud as 'it is easier to tamper with a paper document than a distant database

The proposed system could give considerable cost savings for owners but it is questionable whether an electronic system would combat fraudulently obtained, fraudulently issued and counterfeit certificates. Security would be increased by retaining the paper documentation.

Ed:  This could be the single most important development in improving ship safety!

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Row over EU'S IMO takeover bid

International shipowners are fighting European Commission plans to establish direct EU membership of the International Maritime Organisation in place of the individual representation of the 25 member states.

The EC is expected to consider the proposal as part of its forthcoming maritime policy review, led by Commissioner Joe Borg, and International Chamber of Shipping secretary general Chris Horrocks has urged European govemments to resist it.

In a strongly worded call to action, he warned that direct EU membership of IMO 'will weaken the quality of IMO decision making and threaten the long term authority of IMO as a global regulator addressing safety, security and environmental protection.

Mr Horrocks also claimed that the Commission would try to change the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea which could alter the balance between the rights of flag states and coastal states, 'permitting the introduction of measures within Exclusive Economic Zones that might interfere with rights to freedom of navigation that have been enshrined in maritime law for decades'.

However, he conceded that the Borg review may have some positive consequences for European shipping, such as promoting tonnage tax regimes.

The general feeling is that there is clearly no benefit in changing the current arrangements, and ministers of national governments agree.  Many have already objected to the idea of replacing 25 votes at the IMO with one vote. It is therefore unlikely that the proposed change will go ahead.

The review begins this summer, and is expected to publish its proposals as a Green Paper in early 2006. Environmental, economic exploitation and fisheries issues will be covered as well as shipping.

Operators warned - Managers criticised for eight_hour hold_up in alerting rescue centre

Accident investigators have urged owners and operators to contact rescue centres as soon as a ship is disabled, following an incident in which the crew of a containership were 'unnecessarily imperilled' off the coast ofAustralia.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report on an engine breakdown suffered by the Hong Kong flagged Maersk Tacoma highlights 'significant deficiencies' in emergency planning by the ship's manager, Denholm.

Investigators said it had taken more than eight hours for the local rescue coordination centre to be alerted after the vessel's main engine had to be shut down during a voyage from Melbourne to Brisbane.

They said engineers onboard the vessel had 'placed themselves in significant danger' by running the main engine to save the ship on two occasions after it was at risk of grounding in force seven to eight winds.

The report said the breakdown was caused by failure of a main engine bottom end bearing _ probably as a result of a pre_existing condition combined with reduced lubricating oil flow.

Australian authorities had no knowledge ofthe 2,886TEU shipIs predicament until contacted by the charterers almost eight hours after the master first alerted the managers.

Under Denholm procedures, the ship was meant to contact the UK MRCC, which had a standing arrangement to notify the company's emergency team in Glasgow.

'Given the speed and reliability of modern communication systems, emergency management arrangements such as Denholm's are common,' the report stated. 'However, in this instance, their effectiveness with respect to ensuring the safety of the crew, as distinct from organising the salvage of the vessel, is questionable:

Pointing out that the ship twice narrowly avoided grounding, the ATSB said the failure to alert the Australian authorities meant the crew 'would have been in real peril if they had abandoned ship.

Maersk Tacoma was finally towed to a safe anchorage by the Swire Pacific salvage vessel Pacific Conqueror, which, reached the containership some 15 hours after the master had first requested assistance.

The report said that the Maersk Tacoma's engineers had placed themselves in considerable danager by running the damaged engine twice to prevent a grounding.

The remote control system had failed and an engineer had to operate the engine from a stand on the side of the engine, despite the significant risk of a crankcase explosion.

The incident occurred in August 2001 and it is still the subject of legal action between the owners and various other parties. The ATSB said it had taken repeated requests over 34 months before it was provided with the engineering report from the owner's representatives on the main engine fafiure.

The report recornmends that owners and operators should ensure that they have safety management system procedures for promptly notifying local rescue coordination centres if a ship becomes disabled.

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Double hull design 'not a panacea' for Spills

DOUBLE_hulled tankers will not provide a total solution to oil spills, the European Maritime Safety Agency has warned.

A report produced for the agency by a panel of industry experts has concluded that more regulations will he required to improve the safety of the tanker sector.

Arguing that 'the introduction of the double hull tanker would not be the panacea for prevention of pollution from tankers at sea, the report highlights a number of potential problems, including accelerated structural corrosion in cargo and ballast tanks, tank coating performance, and hukk inspection and maintenance practices.

The panel of experts recommended the introduction of mandatory performance standards for ballast and cargo tank coating systems, new requirements for the maintenance of double hull tanker structures, conunon procedures for dealing with significant fatigue failures, hannonised standards of workmanship for new buildings and repairs, and the fitting of fixed hydrocarbon gas detector systems in spaces adjacent to cargo oil tanks.

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Alert over AIS

New research high lights 'serious issues'over improper use

NUMAST has voiced concern at new research raising 'serious issues' around the navigational safety of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) for shipping.

Results of a study carried out by the Lloyd's Register Research Unit show worrying problems including incorrect data, 'target swaps', equipment design and inadequate training.

Presenting the findings at Cardiff University's Seafarers International Research Centre last month, Dr Nicholas Bailey said there were concems that the failure to use AIS properly could actually reduce safety at sea.

He pointed out that the introdueflon of AIS was speeded up in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, while the authorities concentrated on the technical issues of implementation and equipment design, 'less attention appeus to have been given to the issue of operator training in the rush towards implementation'

With the help of Dover Coastguard, researchers examined AIS data from 806 ships transiting the SW lane of the Channel TSS over a seven day period. Differences in the data transmitted by AIS and conveyed by VHF were detected in more than 10% of all vessels.

The most common discrepancies affected information on destination, closely

followed by draught. Other errors afected data on call sign, name, course and

MMSI number.

Dr Bailey pointed out that incorrect course and speed information could present serious implications for situational awareness and collision avoidance. 'The fact that there are ships transmitting incorrect data brings into question the levels of confidence that can be placed in the inforination received by both those ashore and those onboard ship,he stressed.

Dr Bailey also expressed concern over whether masters and officers are changing AIS information land, if so, to what extent are they knowledgeable about what they are doing'.

He warned that the ability to identify other ships using AIS appears to be have led to an increase in VHF calls between vessels. In some cases, these involved 'negotiations' over intended manoeuvres sometimes contrary to the collision prevention regulations which could also undermine situational awareness.

The research recommends that more attention is paid to the development of training and enhanced regulatory monitoring ofAIS.

Authorities have been alerted to the dangers of AIS in collision avoidance. This study demonstrates once again that the quality of marine professionals is an important issue, although training in the UK does concern itself with more than mere technical issues and button_pressing. However, such training comes at a cost.'

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French flag: the controversial French international ship register (RIF) is due to come into force 'around the end of September', government sources have confinned. The law will be promulgated through two decrees on the salary structure and the social security provisions for non_EU seafarers. It is expected that most ofthe 94 vessels presently registered under France's Kerguelen second register will transfer to RIF and that 'about 100' other vessels would join it within two years.

Prestige row: Spain's maritime administration has accused the BMA, its Bahamas counterpart, of ignoring the structural deficiencies of the Prestige before it sank in its report on the disaster. Spain now claims a BMA report, submitted to the IMO in March 2005, cannot be considered 'independent or impartial' and argues that a 'chain of errors, omissions and negligence' in inspections of the tanker were a major factor leading to the sinking in November 2002.

Takeover talks: Marseilles based CMA CGM, the world's fifth ranking container carrier, has entered into talks to take over the French operator Delmas including its UK based subsidiary OTAL. The deal would give CIIA CGM a fleet of more than 230 ships.

Swedish support: the Swedish officers'union SBF has welcomed news that the country's shipowners' association is to put up around GBP7m to promote maritime research, education and training. The money will be spent over 10 years and will help fund a new simulator in Gothenburg.

MOL dual: Japanese shipping company MOL has signed a deal to establish two joint venture companies with the government_owned Oman Shipping Company to operate a VLCC and a product tankerby 2008.

Jamaican target: authorities running the Jamaican ship register say they are aiming to expand the flag of convenience tenfold, to have more than 1 million gt on the books by the end of the decade.

Waste waming: the European Commission has sent written warnings to Belgium and Hungary for failing to fulfil port waste reception responsibilities.

EU appointmmt: former ships' officer Eduardo Chagas has been elected general secretary of the European Transport Workers' Federation.

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FOC ship caught after Australian pollution

Maritime unions in Australia have welcomed a A$180,000 (£77,000) fine imposed on the owners of a flag of convenience containership that was caught pumping oily waste in the Great Barrier Reef.  The Panama_based owners of the Pacific Quest, Mattrim Marine Inc, had pleaded guilty to pumping oily waste into Reef waters on Christmas Day 2002 _ creating a slick more than 7okm long.

The prosecution followed a joint investigation into the source of the spill by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the Australian Federal Police, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

An international search was launchedto find the vessel responsible for the spill after six ships were identified as having been in the vicinity at the time.

Chemical analysis of oil sainples from the slick and from the ships resulted in the identification of Pacific Quest. Satellite imagery of the spill also provided crucial evidence for the prosecution.

AMSA chief executive Clive Davidson said the increased use of technology had made it easier to identify, locate and prosecute ships that ignore Australia's tough ship pollution laws.

The International Transport Workers' Federation congratulated AMSA on its work. Yet again it is a FoC vessel that is to blaine for environmental vandalism,' said ITF Australia coordinator Dean Summers.

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Russian register: concem about the high proportion of flagged_out Russian merchant ships has sparked plans to set up a new register, offering owners a variety of tax incentives. Only 5% ofthe country's seaborne trade goes on Russian ships, and the proposed international register aims to attract the 90% of ships ordered by Russian owners over the past decade that have been put under foreign flags.

Fatigue fine: the chief officer of a St Vincent flagged cargoship was fined NKr5,000 (£425) last month after admitting that he was asleep when the vessel ran aground. The Norwegianowned Frohavet was refloated under its own power after grounding in the Rana Fjord. The ship usually operates coastal services with two Norwegian officers and four Estonian crew.

Dumping penalty. Italian shipping company Bottiglieri di Navigazione has been fined US$325,000 for dumping oil and falsifying records. Federal prosecutors accused one ofthe company's bulk carriers of dumping oily waste into international waters at least 18 times over a nine_month period in 2003. The company has also been placed on probation for three years.

Master guilty: the master of a Turkish roro has been fined Euro2,000 after a French court found him guilty of involuntary homicide and failing to come to the aid of a person in danger. The owners of the Marinara Princess were also ordered to pay Euro350,000 in damages to the families of two crew from a trawler which sank after a collision with the roro in 2001.

Ferry crash: Canadian accident investigators have blamed engine failure for an incident last month in which the 6,969gt passenger ferry Queen of Oak Bay ran aground near Vancouver. The ship's master was praised for preventing a major accident by manoeuvring the stricken vessel away from a ferry terminal.

DFDS boost: Danish shipping group DFDS is to boost capacity on its new Anglo Bridge South service between Gothenburg and Tilbury with the charter of two new Chinesebuilt roros, due to be delivered in late 2007 and early 2008.

Cadet agreement: the AP Moller Group has entered into an agreement to train up to 300 Indian deck and engineer cadets a year at the Academy of Maritime Education and Training in Chennai.

(With thanks to the NUMAST Shipping Telegraph)

Report reveals misuse of ISPS Code

TIGHTER maritime security is being used as an excuse to impede shore leave, to deny access to seafarers' welfare personnel and to discriminate against certain ethnicities, according to a follow-up report from 2001's Independent Commission on Shipping (ICONS). In the latest report, Peter Morris, who chaired the original ITF-sponsored study into ship safety, and commissioner James Bell say that although much has been done to address ship safety, security and seafarer welfare, "there is a worrying trend toward the criminalisation of mariners as a soft option for states that cannot or refuse to accept their responsibilities under the international maritime conventions". The security-related amendments to Solas have "reduced the status of the seafaring profession even further," Morris and Bell claim. "A worrying trend in this is the growing misuse of the ISPS Code provisions for setting security levels on board ships to deny access to welfare personnel." It continues: ?Owners are faced with substantially increased demands for ship security, often with no basis other than race or culture, with the result that seafarers from certain countries now face unemployment simply because they have non-Christian names or they come from countries with an Islamic culture. (?) Abuses and exploitation still exist and shady owners still hide behind layers of secrecy ? Unscrupulous manning agents and rogue employers still exist and the evidence seems to be that their methods are becoming more sophisticated and better concealed." Morris and Bell do agree, however, that tightening maritime security should help to eliminate fraudulent certification, questionable training establishments and dubious manning agents.

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

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Contributions

None this month.

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Midships

Catch 22

I was recently on board a bulker which had just arrived at a Chinese port with a cargo of scrap from New York.  The Chief Officer was careful to implement the ISPS security check at the head of the gangway and all were checked for their IDs, then entered into the gangway log and issued with a 'Visitor' tag.

Later, two Chinese gentlemen in civilian clothes arrived in the master's cabin without any 'visitor' tag.  When asked who they were they said that they were Government officials there to carry out a draft survey which was supposedly a Government requirement.  They were asked to produce their ID and refused, stating that they were not required to carry it.  The master, in accordance with ISPS procedures asked the gentlemen to leave the vessel, stating that they would be welcome to return to the vessel with the appropriate ID.

The master was later called by the agent asking him to issue a letter explaining why the two men had been refused access to the vessel.   The master obliged, correctly stating the reasons for the action.

The two men later returned to the vessel with their IDs but tore up the letter in front of the master, then retyped the letter on the master's PC in which the master apologised for inconveniencing the two men.  The incident caused a five hour delay in starting discharge of the cargo.

The incident throws up a number of points:

- They had clearly forced their way on to the vessel in the first instance, ignoring the gangway security.
- How was the master to know who they were without any ID?
- Why should Government officials, ie, public servants, be above the law?
- It raises the question as to who audits the auditors?
- What is IMO doing about such flagrant abuses of an internationally implemented convention?

A similar incident had recently occurred with US Coast Guard officers.  The People's Republic of China and the United States of America are signatories to the ISPS Convention and as such should ensure that the enacted law should be applied and enforced appropriately.  Not to do so makes a mockery of the Convention.

Worst of all, had the master allowed the two men to remain on board, PSC could have issued a deficiency for not conforming to the ISPS code, ie, damned if you, damned if you don't!

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Unsolicited advertising

Your editor is one of the fans of 'Maritime Advocate on Line'.  However, whilst one can accept advertising within the publication, the plethora of separte emails advertising other services is stretching our registration a little too far.  This may be considered by some as an unethical use of the MAL circulation list.

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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.

See above for our most recent transgression.

We would be pleased to hear from our readers similar incidents.

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Insurance News

None this month.

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Wig & Gown

None this month.

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Education and Training

MARINE SURVEYORS GET THEIR OWN BSc(Hons) DEGREE COURSE

The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) announce the first BSc(Hons) Degree specifically for Marine Surveyors.

In conjunction with the University of Portsmouth, the IIMS have developed the BSc (Hons) in Marine Surveying Practice.  Students taking the Institutes Diploma course by distance learning, will be able to continue their studies over a three-year period to complete the degree.

Students awarded an IIMS Diploma may apply for accreditation towards the Degree by contacting the Institute Admin Team who will be able to advise on requirements to proceed to the second year of study.   Only IIMS Diplomas will provide the appropriate accreditation towards the Degree.

For more information or for accreditation contact the IIMS Admin Team on

Tel: +44 (0) 239 258 8000 Fax +44 239 258 8002 email: iims@compuseerve.com

For further information please contact: Mr Peter Morgan Director of Publicity and Media Promotion International Institute of Marine Surveying Stone Lane Gosport Hants PO12 1SS United Kingdom

( +44(0) 23 9258 8000? ( +44(0)23 9258 8002

Personal  Email : petergmorgan@lithgow.co.uk

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1030 hrs, Tuesday 27 September 2005.  'Introduction to Rigging and Fault Finding' by Mr Gordon bonney, Performance Rigging Ltd, IIMS Small Craft Group Meeting and Training Seminar, Three Swans Hotel, 112 High Street, Hungerford, UK.  More info at: iims@compuserve.com

1000 hrs, Thursday 13 October 2005.  'Small Craft Regulations by Mr Paul Jeffes, 'Aspects of PI Insurance by Mr Ian Nicholson.  'What is wrong with Modern Production boats?' by Mr Jim McIlraith.  'Ensuring your vessel is insured' by Mr Jayson Sibley.  IIMS Small Craft Training Seminar, Royal Northern Yacht Club, UK.  More info at: iims@compuserve.com

******

College offers diesel electric course

The increased use of dieselelectric propulsion has prompted the launch of a special new dedicated training course at South lyneside College.  The college, which has previously run tailored courses for companies including P&O Cruises and FT Everard, is now offering an 'open' training course to help marine engineers develop skills for managing diesel_electric systems, which will be available to groups or individuals from any organisation.

Gordon Boyd, the college's head of responsive provision, said: 'There are few institutions around the world which have the experience and expertise to offer this sort of course, and we felt it would be valuable to make wider use of the knowledge that we have of these systems'

The training will give students greater opportunities to work with technologies that are becoming increasingly common', he added, and the course was designed to give an accessible insight for engineers 'who might not previously have had much exposure to what is obviously a very technical topic, and which previously has been the sole domain of electro_technical specialists'.

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Epistles

None this month.

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People

Peter Mills, a specialist in shipping litigation, with particular emphasis on marine casualty work, has joined Healy & Baillie, Hong Kong.

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In line with the UK Governments policy, the UK Marine Accident and Investigation Branch (MAIB) is currently seeking to employ more inspectors.  There are currently vacancies for 3 Nautical and 2 engineer inspectors.

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Books and Videos

For those of you interested in wind farms ......

Report of helicopter SAR trials undertaken with Royal Air Force Valley 'C' Flight 22 Squadron on 22 March 2005 by Colin Brown, May 2005.  Published by UK MCA.

With the proliferation of windfarms and their detractors it was about time that somebody did some research on the implications for shipping and SAR activities. There having been no previous work on the subject, Colin carried out the project on behalf of the UK MCA.  The report consists of 32 pages including photographs, charts and comprehensive information on the equipment and operations.

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Commercial Management in Shipping by Don L Dykstra (ISBN 1 870077 69 5) GBP35.00 for NI members, GBP50 for non-members.  Published by the Nautical Institute, 202 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7LQ.  www.nautinst.org/

The book is intened to bridge the gap between ship and shore.

******

Command of the ocean by N A M Rodger (ISBN 0 140 28896 1)  Cost GBP14.99. Published by Penguin.

Mr Rodger is the professor of naval history at Exeter University.  The book is the second in a projected three part British naval history, totalling 900 pages.  It explores the way in which Britain's mastery of the sea has influenced and shaped national life, dong so in a way which is always informative, yet never turgid, truly bringing history to life and contempory relevance.

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Conference Reports

None this month.

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IMO Conventions

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

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

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

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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.

IMarEST have informed us of the following upcoming events:

7 Sept 2005 Confidential Reporting; Valuable Resource or Spy in the Camp?
9 Sept 2005 Luncheon Club
3 October 2005 Golf Day
11 Oct 2005 Presidents Day
26 Oct 2005 18th UK Harbour Masters Association Seminar
30 Nov 2005 Stanley Gray Lecture
09 Dec 2005 Luncheon Club
16 Dec 2005 Annual Conversazione Dinner & Dance

E-mail: jacqueline.smith@imarest.org

******

Friday 30 September 2005.  SCMS Annual Dinner.  HMS President (RNR Headquarters Building) 72 St Katherines Way, London E1 9UQ.  Information from: sec@scmshq.org

2-5 October 2005, 37th Annual NAMS National Marine Conference West, Red Lion Hotel, 1415 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA, USA.

5-6 October 2005 Seatrade London International Maritime Convention, ExCeL, London, UK.
More info: www.seatrade-london.com

13th October 2005  -  IIMS Scottish Small Craft Seminar at Royal Northern Yacht Club, UK.

26-29 October 2005.  SAMS Annual Conference and Educational Symposia, at the Wyndam Condado Hotel, 999 Ashford Ave, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Call SAMS for registration packet +1 800 344-9077

24/25 November 2005.  The 2005 Asian Marine Insurance and Surveying Forum. Shangri-la Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Information from: marine@asiaconference.biz

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

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

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

15th/16th May  -  IIMS European Surveying Conference 2006 (Antwerp)

15th May 2006  -  IIMS Annual Dinner (Antwerp)

16th May 2006  -  IIMS Annual General Meeting (Antwerp)

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

www.npl.co.uk/ncs/ National Physics Laboratory - National Corrosion Service

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

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

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


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


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


www.mastermarinesurveyor.com
Web site for Rob Scanlan, US Master Mariner Surveyor, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA
Email:  yacht1ship@aol.com


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


Tactical Defense Concepts (TDC) - a good section on security alerts and analysis: Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)

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

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

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

www.shiptalk.com/
-  Designed by seafarers for seafarers. Deck, engine, catering, hotel or concession, seafarers past and present, all are welcome. Seafaring is a global profession and we extend the hand of friendship to seafarers of all nationalities.
-  Ever wondered where your old shipmates are now? Why not leave your details and search for your old shipmates. Shipmates, will keep you in contact with seagoing friends new and old.
-  Money Matters is inspired by those conversations you have at sea, in the bar, on the VHF and ashore, on the subject of money. What you get paid and where the best opportunities are for time onboard versus leave versus salary versus benefits. Make "money matters" work for you.
-  Blow your whistle, and warn other seafarers of the way it is when signing on with certain manning agents or ship owners. By sharing our experiences we can improve the life at sea for you and your fellow shipmates. Ship talk is always straight, honest and direct, so say it the way it is.  Deep Sea, Short Sea, Offshore and Cruise, check out these links for issues which affect you.
-  Crew List become your own agent and advertise your professional services on crew list.

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

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

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

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

www.aimsurveyors.com.au
- Web site for the Australian Institute of Marine Surveyors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.femas.net/default.htm
- The Federation of European Maritime Associations of Surveyors and Consultants

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

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

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

www.marinesupportonline.com
- Marine Support On Line

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

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

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

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

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

[Top]

From the Poop Deck

"It's a guy thing." Really means...."There is no rational thought pattern connected with it, and you have no chance at all of making it logical."

"Can I help with dinner?" Really means...."Why isn't it already on the table?"

"Uh huh" "Sure, honey," or "Yes, dear."  Really means....Absolutely nothing. It's a conditioned response.

"It would take too long to explain." Really means..."I have no idea how it works."

"We're going to be late."  Really means...."Now I have a legitimate excuse to drive like a maniac."

"I was listening to you.  It's just that I have things on my mind."  Really means...."I was wondering if that red-head over there is wearing a bra."

"Take a break, honey, you're working too hard."  Really means...."I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner."

"That's interesting, dear."  Really means...."Are you still talking?"

"It's a really good movie."  Really means...."It's got guns, knives, fast cars, and beautiful women."

"That's women's work."  Really means...."It's difficult, dirty, and thankless."

"You know how bad my memory is."  Really means...."I remember the theme song to 'F Troop', the address of the first girl I ever kissed and the Vehicle Identification Numbers of every car I've ever owned, but I forgot your birthday."

"I was just thinking about you, and got you these roses."  Really means...."The girl selling them on the corner was a real babe."

"Oh, don't fuss. I just cut myself, it's no big deal."  Really means...."I have actually severed a limb, but will bleed to death before I admit I'm hurt."

"Hey, I've got my reasons for what I'm doing."  Really means...."And I sure hope I think of some pretty soon."

"I can't find it."  Really means...."It didn't fall into my outstretched hands, so I'm completely clueless."

"What did I do this time?"  Really means...."What did you catch me at?"

"I heard you."  Really means...."I haven't the foggiest clue what you just said, and am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you don't spend the next 3 days yelling at me."

"You know I could never love anyone else."  Really means...."I am used to the way you yell at me, and realize it could be worse."

"You look terrific."  Really means...."Oh, God, please don't try on one more outfit. I'm starving."

"I'm not lost. I know exactly where we are."  Really means...."No one will ever see us alive again."

"We share the housework."  Really means...."I make the mess, she cleans it up."

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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.

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******

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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