Celebrating Piracy and Criminalisation of seafarer

For seafarers who turned up for the National Maritime week celebrations seminar at the auditorium of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Mumbai on 1st April, 2009 their hope of finding some solution to the heart-wrenching problems of piracy and criminalisation of seafarers turned out to be a hoax. The deliberations did not give the slightest hope of the threat abating nor any promise being extended by the government as if signifying what the day April 01,09 was meant to be. No one could fathom what F or seafarers who turned up for the National Maritime week celebrations seminar at the auditorium of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Mumbai on 1st April, 2009 their hope of finding some solution to the heart-wrenching problems of piracy and criminalisation of seafarers turned out to be a hoax. The deliberations did not give the slightest hope of the threat abating nor any promise being extended by the government as if signifying what the day April 01,09 was meant to be. No one could fathom what further relevance these two issues had for the celebration week besides a number of events that had already taken place focusing on the same issues including the one conducted by the Directorate and graced by the union shipping secretary, A. P. V. N. Sarma.

More appalling still was the moderator of the two panels, the Lloyd Lists' correspondent Shirish Nadkarni making a surprise announcement,

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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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Mediterranean Shipping Company conference holds an edge

The two-day conference of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) held at the J. W Marriott, Mumbai on 30th and 31st January 2009 was akin to a home coming for the officers of the ship board staff where opportunities abounded for exchanging notes and sharing experiences both with fellow colleagues, ship owners and the management. The occasion coincided with the inauguration of the Training Institute held earlier on the 3rd floor of MSC House, on the Andheri-Kurla Road, Andheri (East), Mumbai.

At the outset Mr N Petroyannis, the chief guest representing MSC Geneva, Mr Ashok Jha, Managing Director of MSC Ship Management, Capt Nitin S Hardi, Director, MSC Ship Mgmt India and Capt M P Basin, General Manager, MSC Ship Mgmt India and other top dignitaries lit the traditional lamp.

Thereafter, an enthusiastic welcome was extended by Capt Hardi who was moved by the warm response from the dignitaries, guests and all seafarers who had made it convenient to attend the programme from various parts of India and Hong Kong.

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Improved Medical treatment on board

Seafarers are among the most isolated demographic working groups in the world in relation to access to medical care, both in emergency situations and for primary health care. On a large, slow vessel in the middle of the Pacific, a seafarer may be several days away from quality medical services. But this is set to change soon.

Seafarers can now look forward to maintaining better health while at sea. In this regard the International Maritime Health Association (IMHA) has taken up the cause of Indian seafarers by helping to form the Maritime Health Assn of India which is now headed by Dr. Suresh Idnani, the incumbent president.

Recently, the Chief Medical Advisor to the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Mr Tim Carter visited India to coordinate and inspect the facilities available in India.

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Proud Indians pledge to boycott Korean Products

On December 23, 2008 in the massive Rally held at Azad Maidan more than 2500 (Two Thousand Five Hundred) proud Indians including of seafarers assembled to protest against the unfair judgement against Capt. Jasprit Chawla and Chief Officer Syam Chetan of the ship “Hebei Spirit”. Despite being proven innocent in June, 2008 the two seafarers were sentenced on December 10, 2008 and are presently in Korean jail, under inhuman conditions, serving a sentence of 18 months and 8 months respectively. There is national and international outrage and protest against the unfair judgement. This is yet another example of criminalization of seafarers for discharging their professional duties.

The Indian shipping fraternity comprising of National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), The Maritime Union of India (MUI) alongwith the Transport & Dock Workers Union (TDWU), All Indian Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF), Aviation Industry Employees Guild, Bombay Port Trust Employees Union and Shipowners Association i.e. Foreign Owners Representatives and Shipmanagers Association (FOSMA), Maritime Association of Shipowners, Shipmanagers and Agents (MASSA), the Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA), Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI), Nautical Institutes and others had appealed to boycott Korean products especially Samsung. The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) has also strongly demanded justice for Capt. Jasprit Chawla and Chief Officer Syam Chetan.

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Anglo-Eastern focuses on ‘Teamwork the Human Element'

For the benefit of their seafarers, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Ltd.chose their recent conference held from November 18 to 20, 2005 at the J W Marriott, Mumbai to focus on the ageold adage 'the human element is at its best when all work as a well knit team'.

The massive hall which was packed to capacity saw an unprecedented turnout of captains, master mariners, chief engineers and other marine officers of the company's floating staff all looking toward getting abreast of the latest developments and to resolve the difficulties that they have been facing in their day-to-day operations at sea.

At the outset Peter Cremers, chief executive officer of Anglo Eastern Group gave a perspective of the company's operations and how they could be consolidated and developed for meeting the challenges of the times through 'Teamwork the Human Element', the theme of the conference.

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Why is shipping such a mystery industry?

Unless you work in the shipping industry , or perhaps have a relalive who does, the chances are you will know very little about the shipping industry.

Ships don't tend to come into the centres of big cities any more, being banished to the deeper terminals out in the estuary on account of their great size. With very few exceptions such as Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 , ships have also become anonymous.

As this series has pointed out, there are more ships and shipping in the world than there ever has been , the industry growing coincidentally and proportionately with world trade, but it has also become some what depopulated.

A single large containership with fewer than 20 people aboard could be replacing, on account of her size and extraordinary productivity up to twenty general cargo ships of thirty years ago , and the thousand seafarers that manned them.

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Awareness on safety and training

Important issues came up for consideration at the recent meetings of the various committees of the International Maritime Organisation. India made a strong bid to bring in several constructive changes especially with regard to STCW convention and the maritime safety. In order to bring people of the trade up to date on the decisions taken an Awareness Seminar was organised at the MTI auditorium of the Shipping Corporation of India, Powai, Mumbai, on June 2 1, 2008.

Mr. Dilip Mehrotra, Deputy Chief Surveyor with the Government of India head of the delegation presented a broad outline about the amendments that were made and other issues that came up for discussion. He explained why the STCW needed to be updated and what was the final outcome.

The amendments on training were presented by Capt M. C. Yaday, Director (Training) of FOSMA. He informed that the major concern of the member countries was with regard some seafarers who were possessing fraudulent certificates. The 27 countries representing the European Union insisted that the certificates be endorsed and attested by the flag states. India desired that in the event of any detection of fraudulent certificates the flag state should be informed. This proposal was accepted.

Capt Yaday informed that a review of the principles for establishing the safe manning levels of ships would be undertaken but there was no likelihood of any major change being effected. On the offshore side the certification of tugs, dredgers, work boat, etc. was proposed and it has been agreed that competency standards would be fixed for electrical, electronic, electro technical officers and taken up at the next meeting. He also mentioned that Model Training courses with regard LNG, ship ballast water, communication & leadership skills, fatigue prevention, mitigation and management, ship sanitation, marme environment awareness and on security matter were on the anvil.

A major issue that came up for discussion was consumption of alcohol and drugs. Since the ship was not only a work place but also a home for the seafarers, countries insisted that alcohol consumption not be banned however, drugs have been banned.

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