Trying to get a grip! - Nautical Institute seminar

In the sea of maritime conferences and seminars taking place in Mumbai city the one organised by the Nautical Institute India (West Branch) on March 21, 2009 to focus on the challenges faced by the trade brought together an unexpectedly large gathering of players and veteran - as if expressing solidarity to their committed goal.

The unobtrusive venue of the Mayfair Rooms, Worli, which could hardly contain the enthusiasm and zeal of the delegates, became a practical and well conceived setting for yet another serious deliberation on such contentious issues as the burdensome conventions and unfair treatment being meted out to seafarers by some countries purely because they have been shouldering the responsibility of keeping the international trade alive and kicking. But at the end of the day it was clear that it is the seafarers who will continue to end up getting kicked into subservient submission and become alienated from freedom through the whims and vagaries of regulators and regulations prevailing in various ports bordering the seven seas.

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To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.eshippingtoday.com

Ships that feed the world

Ships have been described as the great "enablers" of international trade and now here is this better illustrated than with the grain trades, which link the places on earth where the climate facilitates efficient grain production, with the populations which wish to eat this product. And because grain tends to be mostly grown where populations are sparse, the element of transport is essential if the product is to acquire value in a world governed by supply and demand.

But sea transport also enables man to overcome the constraints of the seasons, as modern and efficient ships are able to transport produce to those countries which, were it not for this ability to import seasonal foodstuffs, would have to store their food, as they did before modern sea transport was available.

There is thus a seasonal pattern to worldwide food distribution, while the flow can be adjusted to cope with the problems of poor harvests caused by drought and other difficulties.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit:
http://www.eshippingtoday.com/ST/ST/2008/12/01/index.shtml