Nautilus Telegraph November 2015 by Redactive Media Group

Flying the flag Glasgow College cadet carries red ensign at St Paul’s 02

Meeting special Full reports and pictures from the General Meeting 19-26

NL nieuws Drie pagina’s met nieuws uit Nederland 34-36

Volume 48 | Number 11 | November 2015 | £3.50 €3.70

Thames trip for Discovery Discovery is pictured right F making a maiden call to London The Royal Research Ship

as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Natural Environment Research Council. The ship sailed from its usual base at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton to moor alongside HMS Belfast for five days, hosting a series of events to highlight the important and innovative scientific studies conducted by NERC. Hundreds of members of the public, industry professionals and politicians visited the vessel and saw a range of exhibitions onboard. Delivered to NERC last year, Discovery is now on a trans-Atlantic mission from Morocco to the Bahamas to support research into climate change. g Full report, see page 18.

EU urged to act on fair transport call Union campaign aims to secure 1m signatures to get policy measures put before Euro-MPs

Nautilus International has backed the launch of a new European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) campaign to put the concept of ‘fair transport’ at the heart of the agenda in Brussels. The ambitious campaign, which got under way last month, aims to collect more than 1m signatures from across Europe to ensure that measures to safeguard fair competition in transport and to protect workers’ terms and conditions are addressed by Euro-MPs. The ETF is using the Citizens’ Initiative machinery to seek changes or improvements to the EU’s laws and regulations. Under this scheme, if the signature threshold is reached, the European Commission must take concrete action — such as new legislation — to address the issues being raised. The campaign seeks to raise

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public and political awareness of work-related problems in the transport industries. It sets out seven key proposals for the Commission to take to measures to tackle unfair competition and social dumping. On shipping, it points out that the increasing use of low-cost foreign crews is undermining the employment and training of EU seafarers. It calls for a revamped directive to regulate pay and conditions onboard ships operating regular services between member states and to ‘prevent the downward spiral in salaries and discriminatory practices on grounds of nationality’. It also calls for loopholes to be closed to ensure that state aid for shipping is more closely tied to the employment and training of EU seafarers. The campaign also highlights the way in which the economic downturn has caused ‘havoc’

in the inland waterways sector, with huge over-capacity and severe pressures on crews’ working conditions. It calls for the Commission to harmonise the professional qualiﬁcations in the industry and to combat fatigue in the sector. ‘We hope that the Commission will see this initiative as a chance to engage with the European public and the trade unions to make real improvements in the working conditions for the millions of

European transport workers,’ said ETF president Lars Lindgren. ‘We want to turn around the race to the bottom,’ he added. ‘Most of our challenges can only be solved in cooperation between the different EU institutions and national levels and in cooperation between transport workers and responsible employers. With this initiative we want to contribute to a better and more constructive dialogue on how to resolve the challenges faced by transport workers across Europe.’ Mr Lindgren said many of the 11m transport workers in Europe have to endure ‘deplorable’ conditions because of insufﬁcient or poorly implemented EU legislation or unfair commercial operating methods. ‘Practices of social dumping have real and dire consequences, not only for the workers themselves, but also for companies that want to compete on quality

of services rather than on worsening working conditions,’ he added. ‘Fair transport is an issue for the European general public,’ he stressed. ‘As long as we cannot send an apple, a pair of shoes or ourselves by email, Europe needs qualiﬁed transport workers with proper working conditions, and as of today these transport workers need Europe’s support.’ Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson commented: ‘This is a very welcome and timely campaign which complements our own work on fair trade and shipping and seeks to take an important message right to the heart of the European policymaking process. ‘I hope members will support this initiative and sign the petition, so that these important issues are brought before MEPs.’ g To ﬁnd out more and to sign the petition, visit: www. FairTransportEurope.eu

Inside F Healthy option

The service that gives fast-track medical support for UK seafarers — page 27 F Monaco meet-up

Nautilus spreads the Union message at prestigious superyacht show — page 31

F The top trainee

Shipping minister presents member with UK Cadet of the Year Award — page 44

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02 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

NAUTILUS AT WORK

UN alarm at boxship mergers expressed concern about F the growing concentration of

A United Nations report has

containership owners — warning that mergers are leaving more and more countries served by too few lines. In its annual review of world shipping, the UN Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said it was worried about the reduction in competition on key routes — with the average number of companies that provide services to each country’s ports having dropped by 29% over the past decade. The report notes that the three biggest operators — Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and CMA CGM — now account for 35% of the world market, while the top 20 firms control 83% of global container shipping capacity. UNCTAD also expressed concern about the growing size of containerships. The average capacity of ships ordered by the top 15 operators is above 10,000TEU — double the current average size of vessels in their existing fleets — and the report warns that this not only raises worries about oversupply but also poses increasing technological challenges. UNCTAD is particularly concerned about the 32 nations with fewer than four companies calling at their ports — up from 22 in 2004. The list includes Iceland, Qatar, Iraq, Latvia, Eritrea, Montenegro and Cambodia.

Nautilus Federation is raising profile at IMO Expanding global network of unions considers plans to develop joint assistance for members

Maritime union officials from the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, Croatia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the USA came together for the fifth meeting of the Nautilus Federation following the Union’s General Meeting in Liverpool last month. The Federation is a growing coalition of a dozen like-minded unions representing maritime and inland waterways professionals in different parts of the world. Nautilus members attending the General Meeting approved a motion urging the Union to continue developing the membership and scope of the Federation and its associated international activities. General secretary Mark Dickinson told the Federation meeting that there is increasing interest in the organisation’s aims of providing practical support and mutual benefits to members around the world. He said the Federation is also working to improve the representation of seafarers at the Inter-

Nautilus Federation members from unions in eight different countries met in Liverpool last month

national Maritime Organisation — providing authoritative input into debates at the United Nations agency. ‘The work of the IMO is extremely important for our members, with lots of important issues such as training and certi-

ﬁcation, lifeboat safety, manning levels and fatigue, eNavigation and cruiseship safety,’ he pointed out, ‘but there is not a big platform for seafarers at the IMO and limited opportunities to inﬂuence the deliberations on new regulations.’

However, Mr Dickinson added, a new IMO secretary-general is due to take up his post in the new year and it is hoped that, as a former ship’s ofﬁcer, he will take a strong interest in seafarer issues. Mr Dickinson said he hoped there would be an opportunity to

engage with the new IMO leader at an early stage, adding that the Federation would be able to ensure a consistent representation of seafarers on issues such as the effective implementation of legislation, the publication of accident investigation reports and fair treatment following maritime incidents. The Federation meeting also discussed moves to develop a joint assistance and support network to ensure that seafarers’ human rights provided for in the ILO/IMO Fair Treatment Guidelines are adhered to. This will mean that members will be able to get on-the-spot help from other unions in the Federation if they are in trouble in their countries. The meeting also discussed the idea of cooperation on research into shore-based demand for maritime skills around the world, as well as proposals for a communications strategy including the production of an online newsletter. g General Meeting backs motion on Federation development — page 24.

£200,000 fine for Boat crew Thames ferry firm were not qualified A

Cadet carries the standard Gordon Brown is pictured F with Nautilus officials and Safe

Engineer officer trainee Ronald

Ship Training Group training officer Rachel Eberlein at this year’s annual national service for seafarers at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Ronald — whose cadetship at the City of Glasgow College is sponsored by Seatruck Ferries — carried the red ensign standard at the event on behalf of the Merchant Navy. ‘This felt like a once in a lifetime experience,’ he said. ‘It was a real honour to be chosen to carry the

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standard and it was fantastic getting to be inside St Paul’s and meet the Nautilus general secretary and the head of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency. ‘I must admit I was feeling a bit like a celebrity,’ he added. ‘But I won’t let it be going to my head — I am sure I will be getting a good down to earth reminder when I am cleaning bilges when I am back on ship!’ Ronald, who is now entering the fourth phase of his cadetship, decided to become a Merchant Navy officer trainee after he studied for

a degree in psychology at Dundee University. ‘Going to university was a brilliant experience and gives you a lot of skills, like report writing, but I wanted to go to sea because of the career opportunities that it offers,’ he said. ‘I’ve really enjoyed my seatime,’ Ronald added. ‘Working at sea gives you lots of responsibility and lots of variety, with a chance to get your hands dirty as well as doing the paperwork.’ Ms Eberlein described Ronald as ‘a very good cadet who has one of the best workbooks I have seen’.

A UK ferry operator has been fined £200,000 and ordered to pay a further £200,000 costs following an accident in which a teenage deckhand died after being dragged overboard by a mooring rope which had been caught in a propeller. After an eight-day trial at the Inner London Crown Court, Serco Ltd was found guilty of failing to ensure the health and safety of its crew, but was cleared of a second charge of failure to ensure the safe operation of its ferry Ernest Bevin. The court heard that Benjamin Woollacott — who was in the final year of an apprenticeship — died after sustaining severe head injuries and drowning when he was dragged overboard by a mooring rope while releasing lines from the Thames ferry to a mooring buoy in August 2011. He was recovered by his crewmates and a Port of London Authority launch but was declared dead at the scene.

Investigations revealed that Mr Woollacott had been caught in the bight of the sliprope, striking the buoy as he was pulled into the water. Prosecutors said the Maritime & Coastguard Agency had found that risk assessments and procedures in place at the time of the accident had not recently been updated and did not cover the work being carried out. Passing sentence, Judge Jeremy Donne said there had been a disconnect between theory and practice and there did not appear to be any monitoring of what was happening on the day. Following the hearing, MCA area operations manager Andrew Rudge commented: ‘This case serves as a reminder that owners and operators of ships should review their procedures and risk assessments regularly, ensure they are fit for purpose and check they are being used correctly by their employees.’

Can you help research? input from other members to F help his university studies.

A Nautilus member is seeking

Malcolm Mackellar is undertaking an MSc course at Middlesex University, and as part of his study programme he is conducting research which, he hopes, will provide conclusions that will give a better understanding of the role requirements for a marine consultant.

His research is examining strategic business planning within marine consultancies and he is seeking assistance from other members — specifically those employed by companies who engage the services of consultants, as well as from experienced seafarers who are employed as consultants. g To take part in the research, email MM2341@live.mdx.ac.uk.

military landing craft has been F fined £5,000 after pleading guilty to

The owner/operator of a former

allowing an unqualified crew to go to sea. Truro Magistrates Court heard that Maritime & Coastguard Agency surveyors had boarded the Arromanches in the Cornish port of Newlyn in June last year and found that the crew of four were not qualified to operate the vessel. The owner, Darren Larkham, of Westbury-on-Severn, was told by the surveyors not to go the sea with the unqualified crew — but the vessel was spotted five days later leaving Newlyn harbour with a load bound for the Isles of Scilly. Interviewed by MCA officers, Mr Larkham admitted that he and his crew were not qualified to undertake the passage. He was fined £5,000 with £800 costs and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120. Following the case, Chris Uglow, principal surveyor at Falmouth Marine Office, commented: ‘Mr Larkham showed complete disregard for his and his crew’s safety. ‘The Arromanches is a large landing craft and in order to operate, it requires crew with specific qualifications,’ he pointed out. ‘We must ensure properly qualified persons operate in the marine environment.’

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November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 03

NAUTILUS AT WORK

Award honours migrant rescues Seafarer of the Year is usually A reserved for individual seafarers who

The Lloyd’s List Global Award for

have shown bravery and leadership in the line of duty. But this year it was presented to all of the world’s seafarers (and their employers) in recognition of their collective efforts to rescue thousands of migrants from the Mediterranean. Presenting the award to representatives from the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), the European Community Shipowners Associations, and the International Chamber of Shipping, Lloyd’s List editor Richard Meade said the industry’s response to the human crisis should not be underestimated. Last year, merchant ships rescued more than 42,000 people in the area, while so far in 2015 more than 15,000 migrants and refugees have been brought ashore by merchant vessels. ETF political secretary Philippe Alfonso said: ‘Seafarers have played a crucial role in maintaining the safety and ensuring the human treatment of rescued migrants. I am therefore ETF political secretary Philippe Alfonso and ECSA secretary-general Patrick Verhoeven accept the Lloyd’s List grateful that their dedication and Seafarer of the Year award, flanked by Lloyd’s Register business manager Nigel Worsley, Lloyd’s List deputy editor commitment are acknowledged today.’ Craig Eason, and BBC TV presenter Huw Edwards, who compered the event at the UK National Maritime Museum

‘Time for action’, unions tell MEPs Brussels meeting told to end ‘ethnic cleansing’ of EU crews onboard EU ships

Nautilus officials joined seafaring unions from across Europe to make a top-level call for urgent action to protect the EU’s maritime skills base. A three-hour meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels was warned that ‘ethnic cleansing’ of EU seafarers from European ships is threatening the future of maritime industries and services that generate more than €150bn a year for the region’s economy. The seminar was organised by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) to give seafarer unions the opportunity to address Euro-MPs on the case for measures to reverse the decline in EU seafarer employment and training and to tackle problems of poor pay and conditions in the industry. Opening the meeting, MEP Isabelle Thomas pointed out that growth of the EU-controlled fleet, which now accounts for 40% of world tonnage, has not been matched by growth in jobs for European seafarers, with fewer than 50% of posts on EU ships being filled by EU nationals. She said a review of EU maritime policy will provide ‘a window of opportunity to get concrete proposals put through’. Henrik Berlau, from the Danish union 3F, said seafarers had been ‘laboratory rats’ for an experiment in social dumping

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Nautilus head of communications Andrew Linington and RMT national secretary Steve Todd spoke at the European Parliament meeting

which is now spreading to other transport sectors. Whilst pocketing state aid for their ﬂeets, shipowners ‘ethnically cleansed their ships of EU seafarers’ and have opened up training centres for foreign crews in countries such as India and China. Sebastien Crom, a French seafarer serving with Condor Ferries, told how the crews on his ships are employed on contracts outside the EU, with no social insurance or pension payments, because the vessels spend 45 minutes on their route between France and the Channel Islands in ‘international’ waters. ‘We have gone from Ryanair to Ryansea,’ he added. Mark Carden, from the RMT

union, said Ukrainian seafarers working for the company were being paid €35 for a 12-hour day. ‘EU seafarers cannot compete with that and we need protection, because otherwise we will not be here within a generation,’ he warned. Nautilus International head of communications Andrew Linington urged MEPs to consider the lessons offered by the US Jones Act as a model for measures to protect EU shipping against unfair foreign competition, and to examine how elements of the legislation could be adapted for Europe. ‘There is a sound economic, social and moral argument for

looking after your own back yard,’ he told the meeting. ‘It’s time for Europe to come onboard and join the US — and the many other countries around the world — which have policy packages that protect their waters from unfair and substandard competition and commit the community to quality ships, quality seafarers and quality operations.’ RMT national secretary Steve Todd said it was appalling that fewer than half the 470,000 seafaring jobs in the EU are filled by EU seafarers and that the numbers are declining even further. ‘It’s no longer time for talking, it’s time for action,’ he added. Philippe Alfonso, ETF political secretary, said EU policy-makers should be looking at ways to encourage owners to ‘race to the top rather than to the bottom’ — reconsidering the idea of a directive to regulate terms and conditions on ships operating services within EU waters and considering a new safety package to address problems such as fatigue. Fotis Karamitsos, deputy director-general of the European Commission’s DG Move transport directorate, agreed that EU seafarer numbers have not matched the increase in the size of the European fleet. But he cautioned unions to be ‘realistic’ in their demands — warning that ‘extreme measures’ could cause more operators to flag out.

shortreports CHINESE DEAL: the Carnival Corporation has announced a joint venture in China to launch the first major multi-ship domestic cruise brand in the country’s market. Carnival is partnering with China State Shipbuilding Corporation and China Investment Corporation on the new venture. In a separate announcement, Princess Cruises said its new ship Majestic Princess will be based year-round in China when it is introduced in summer 2017. CREW CUTS: shipowners’ crewing costs fell by an average of 0.1% last year, according to the annual survey of operating costs published by the accountancy firm Moore Stephens. The report says last year’s reduction followed a fall of 0.2% in 2013 — contrasting sharply with a 21% increase in 2008. The study reveals that owners’ overall costs fell by an average of 0.8% last year, with the biggest reduction in costs coming on stores — down by 2.4%. BULKER SAFETY: the classification society DNV GL has produced new guidelines on cargo liquefaction to help cut the number of bulker losses. It says at least six ships of 40,000dwt and over have been lost as a result of the problem since 2009 and it is probably now the most significant factor in lives lost at sea on bulk carriers. The guide covers testing, identification and documentation processes, as well as loading safety. MOORING ALERT: Australia’s Maritime Safety Agency has issued a special alert about mooring operations following two fatal accidents in the country’s waters. It warns that mooring is among the most dangerous tasks onboard, and it has received 227 mooring-related incident reports in the past five years — 22% of which resulted in injuries. Poor design and parted lines are common issues, it adds. FATIGUE WARNING: the Norwegian Maritime Authority has promised to clampdown on seafarers’ working hours next year, warning that breaches of the rest time rules account for too many accidents. It will be conducting special checks to see that ships have systems in place to ensure their crews are properly rested. SEAFARERS SEIZED: Nigerian pirates seized four seafarers from a Comoros Islands-flagged reefer off Port Harcourt last month. The Ukrainian master and first officer and two Lithuanian crew were taken from the 3,261gt ship, which was attacked 100 miles west of the port en route from Benin. ASIAN ATTACKS: the security firm Dryad Maritime has warned that piracy incidents in SE Asia rose by 38% in the first nine months of the year. It said there had been a total of 194 incidents since the start of the year and warned that gangs appear to operating with ‘apparent impunity’. FRENCH FEARS: French maritime unions are awaiting a commercial court ruling that should seal the fate of the Mediterranean ferry firm SNCM. The court is due to determine which of four bidders for the company will take over the operations under a new public service contract. CANADIAN GROUNDING: an investigation has been launched after a Norwegian-flagged chemical tanker ran aground in Canada’s St Lawrence Seaway last month. Initial reports suggested the 6,285dwt Jo Spirit, which was carrying a cargo of rum, had suffered engine failure. LIBYAN WELCOME: International Maritime Organisation secretary-general Koji Sekimizu has welcomed a UN Security Council resolution which authorises member states to intercept vessels suspected of smuggling migrants off the Libyan coast. STRESS ALERT: every two minutes, a worker somewhere in the UK is made ill as a result of stress at work, the TUC revealed last month. It has published new advice about managing the problem, which accounts for 39% of all work-related illnesses.

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04 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

NAUTILUS AT WORK

shortreports

More talks on HAL pay claim

BAS CONSULT: members employed by the British Antarctic Survey are being consulted on a revised pay and conditions offer. The board has approved the payment of a special bonus for the JCR Cruise to go through in the November payroll. Industrial organiser Lisa Carr confirmed that the content of the revised ES allowance would now be reviewed as part of the 2015 negotiations and therefore members should vote on whether to accept or reject a pay freeze in light of this new payment.

Carr and Maarten Keuss are A pictured top left meeting members

Nautilus industrial officials Lisa

onboard the Holland America Line vessel Maasdam in Boston, USA, last month ahead of a meeting with management , bottom left, to continue discussions on the pay and conditions claim. Issues discussed during the collective bargaining agreement negotiations included a pay increase, contract lengths, travel days, training days and the elimination of the three-year reconciliation. In addition, Nautilus asked the company to consider a number of non-CBA items, including internet access and issues with crew cabins. Ms Carr is now awaiting a formal response to the meeting in Boston, before conducting a consultation on the offer with UK members. Mr Keuss has organised a meeting for Dutch members on Tuesday 10 November in Rotterdam for a further update.

MINIMUM MEETING: Nautilus national ferry organiser Micky Smyth and head of legal services Charles Boyle have taken part in meetings with other trade unions and government departments on the National Minimum Wage (NMW). Nautilus officials want to see the NMW legislation extended to cover all seafarers working in UK waters. RFA DEBRIEF: national secretary Jonathan Havard is due to meet with outgoing Royal Fleet Auxiliary Commodore Rob Dorey for a debrief before he leaves his post at the end of the month. Mr Havard will be seeking a meeting with the new Commodore, Duncan Lamb, when he commences employment. CAR CLAIM: a pay and conditions claim has been submitted on behalf of members employed by UECC. The claim includes a substantial above-RPI increase, crew rotation and long service awards. The Union will be seeking a meeting with the company as soon as possible to discuss the claim. COASTEL OFFER: members employed by Bibby Ship Management on the coastels agreement are being consulted on the company’s pay and conditions offer which includes a move to one for one tours of duty and for salaries to cover travel time, handovers, annual leave and bank holidays. MAERSK MEETING: a partnership at work meeting for members employed by Maersk Tankers took place last month. Issues of concern raised by members were discussed at the meeting and national secretary Steve Doran is currently awaiting a formal response. STENA TALKS: national ferry organiser Micky Smyth was due to meet the new management at Stena Line as the Telegraph went to press. The meeting will be an introductory forum and members will be informed by bulletin about any discussions which take place. PG PAY: a pay and conditions claim has been submited on behalf of members employed by PG Tankers, seeking an above-RPI pay rise, an increase in bunkering bonus, and paid travel and waiting days. FORELAND MEETING: Nautilus is due to meet Foreland Shipping management and the partnership at work committee on 3 November.

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Consultations over future of MNOPF Forums around the country to discuss move to close officers’ pension fund

Nautilus officials will be taking part in a nationwide series of consultation forums following a move by the Trustee Board of the Merchant Navy Officers’ Pension Fund (MNOPF) to start the process of closing the scheme. The Board has written to contributing members and their employers to begin consultations about possible changes to the Fund after recent triennial valuations showed that the cost of providing future benefits has been steadily increasing. The 2015 valuation has been carried out and initial findings suggest that the cost has increased again, primarily due to long-term interest rates reaching new historic lows, and a continued rise in members’ life expectancy. The Board warns that to maintain members’ future benefits at the same level as now, a further significant increase in both member and employer contribution rates will be required. ‘Having canvassed the views of Nautilus and

the MN Pensions Employers Group, the MNOPF Trustee is of the opinion that it would be in the best interests of members to close the MNOPF to all further defined benefit (DB) accrual with effect from 31 March 2016,’ it stated. ‘Instead members will be offered the opportunity to join the new flagship maritime industry-wide DC scheme, the Ensign Retirement Plan on favourable terms. A version of The Ensign Retirement Plan has already been set up within the MNOPF to accommodate new members.’ A final decision on this will only be taken once members have been consulted and the Trustee and Nautilus will be hosting forums for current active members to discuss the proposals. It is also intended to produce a special video which will cover the key issues raised at the forums for those who are unable to attend in person. This will be available via the MNOPF website once all the forums have taken place. The following meetings have been arranged:

z Wednesday 4 November, Glasgow z Monday 9 November, Hull z Tuesday 10 November, Liverpool z Monday 23 November, Southampton z Thursday 26 November, Dover z Wednesday 2 December, Cardiff z Monday 14 December, Aberdeen Check the MNOPF website for speciﬁc venues and instructions on how to register. If you cannot attend a forum and have a speciﬁc question that you would like addressed through a post forum video, email it to enquiries@mymnopfpension.co.uk

gIf you are an MNOPF active member with

questions about this consultation, you can contact the Fund via dedicated helpline: 01372 200200, or email enquiries@mymnopfpension. co.uk. The MNOPF website, www.mnopf.co.uk, will include a list of Frequently Asked Questions which will be updated on a regular basis as questions emerge.

Nautilus/ITF inspectors at Panama seminar Molloy and Paul Keenan, F pictured right, joined 116 inspectors

Nautilus/ITF inspectors Tommy

from around the world at the International Transport Workers’ Federation worldwide inspectors’ seminar in Panama City last month. ITF seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel said the meeting was staged to strengthen the inspectorate through increased joint working and capacity-building. ‘We’re pursuing fairness and justice for seafarers everywhere and in that pursuit inspectors are our soldiers,’ he added.

‘They have unique access to seafarers and unique knowledge about the challenges involved in a life at sea.’ Mr Molloy said the conference had been very productive. ‘We share and learn from experiences, look at developments and trends and are provided with the tools to enable us to be an even more effective force in defending seafarers’ rights. ‘We’re all looking forward to getting back to our ports reinvigorated to continue the campaign against substandard shipping,’ he added.

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November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 05

NAUTILUS AT WORK

CalMac pioneers the living wage Nautilus urges other ferry firms to follow in Scottish operator’s footsteps

PACKET CLAIM: Nautilus has submited a pay claim on behalf of members employed by Manx Sea Transport and serving onboard Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessels. The claim includes a substantial pay increase and parking expenses. Members serving with the company have also been urged to take part in a government survey on the future of the island’s ferry services as it considers potential tendering options.

Pictured abive : Captain Norman MacDonald, master of the Clansman; Scottish youth and women’s employment minister Annabelle Ewing; CalMac MD Martin Dorchester; and David MacBrayne Group chairman David McGibbon

should follow.’ ‘It is absolutely right and proper that CalMac’s employees should earn a Living Wage,’ added company MD Martin Dorchester. ‘It is something we were already doing with our staff and gaining accreditation simply formalises our commitment to this.

‘In an ideal world companies should not have to wear a badge to let others know it is doing the right thing by its staff, but if by wearing this badge CalMac can persuade others to follow suit and reward their staff properly, then this can only be a good thing.’ Discussions between Nautilus

and CalMac on the pension fund are also continuing. Mr Smyth conﬁrmed that he has written to the company on a number of occasions to arrange a further meeting to consult on the reform of the scheme, but has so far been unsuccessful in conﬁrming a date.

Maersk de-flags from UK register with shipping minister Robert F Goodwill after Maersk Line announced Nautilus is seeking urgent talks

Nautilus talks on Virgin Cruises Jonathan Havard is pictured F above with delegates from unions Nautilus national secretary

affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation who represent members working in the cruise sector. The meeting was held to develop closer working relationships

between the unions to ensure that all members employed on cruiseships, from all countries, are fairly represented in negotiations. Among the items discussed was an agreement that Nautilus would approach the newly-formed Virgin Cruises to try and initiate an agreement for collective bargaining.

P&O Ferries pay negotiations organiser Micky Smyth and F P&O Irish Seas, P&O Ferries and Nautilus national ferry

P&O North Sea liaison officers have held more talks on the 2016 pay and conditions review. The Union is seeking a significant increase above RPI, a review of

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SERCO SCHEDULE: Nautilus members serving with Serco Ferries are soon to be consulted on proposed changes to the schedule of employment for officers. This is the last stage in negotiations which have seen the Union and the company agree a new collective bargaining and consultative procedure, an officers’ handbook and MLC-compliant Seafarers’ Employment Agreement. National ferry organiser Micky Smyth is due to meet management on 3 November to continue negotiations on the pay and conditions review. The Union is seeking a significant above-RPI increase, a further increase for chief officers, and a review of the current incremental service pay scales. PRINCESS PAY: a meeting has been arranged on behalf of members employed by Fleet Maritime Services and serving onboard Princess Cruise Line and P&O Cruises Australia vessels to discuss the pay and conditions claim. The Nautilus submission included a pay rise of 5%, with the possibility of a two-year deal; a meaningful loyalty bonus; the availability of a discounted share option scheme; airport priority passes and improvements to cadets’ terms and conditions.

Nautilus International has welcomed news that Caledonian MacBrayne has become the first ferry operator in the UK and the first major transport company in Scotland to achieve Living Wage accreditation. The accreditation ensures that a company’s employees and any contracted workers are paid a basic wage higher than the national minimum wage. All employers have to comply with National Living Wage legislation from 2020, but CalMac has agreed to go above this and pay the higher rates set by the Living Wage Foundation. Working with the Poverty Alliance, the accreditation process involved Caledonian MacBrayne proving that it pays its own employees the Living Wage or above and is committed to ensure regular company contractors also comply. National ferry organiser Micky Smyth congratulated CalMac on being the first ferry operator to make the commitment and called on other companies to follow suit. ‘The idea of applying Living Wage Foundation rates to all CalMac employees was first raised by the joint unions — which includes Nautilus — last year,’ he explained. ‘I am delighted that the company took this ambition on and have made this commitment. They have set the standard that all other ferry companies in the UK

shortreports

the current salary scales, travel allowances, and a fatigue study. A presentation on the company’s finances included confirmation of record freight carryings, alongside a 10% reduction in the passenger market. Further talks will be held on 20 November.

last month that it is switching its six UK-flagged ships out of the register. The company said it had reviewed the registration of its fleet and had decided to ‘reshuffle’ vessels in line with its current ‘strategic flag nations’ — Denmark, Singapore and Hong Kong. Maersk said a review of its options had concluded that it would be beneficial to move the six UK-flagged vessels to the main flags. The company said it had also determined that it would be beneficial to maintain the six vessels under the Dutch flag. The company assured Nautilus that the reflagging and change of ownership will not have any impact on the employment of its UK seafarers. Its British officer numbers have increased by around 10%, to a total of around 170, and it has promised to continue to recruit cadets over and above the minimum expected.

‘With our large newbuilding programme in the pipeline we will need all our skilled people going forward,’ management said. Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson commented: ‘This is extremely disappointing news, even though we welcome the company’s continued commitment to the training and employment of UK officers. ‘The decision to leave the UK flag and to remain with the Dutch register confirms what we have been saying for some time — that the UK shipping minister needs to take a long, hard look at what the UK maritime policy offers owners,’ he added. The Union is requesting urgent talks with the minister on the recommendations made by the Maritime Growth Study, published in September. The government says it will respond formally to the report by the end of 2015, but is taking immediate action in response to specific recommendations.

FLEET CONDITIONS: a Nautilus members’ pay sub-group has begun discussing the 2016 pay and conditions claim on behalf of members employed by Fleet Maritime Services and serving as deck and technical officers on P&O Cruises and Cunard vessels. Industrial organiser Paul Schroder met the company on 14 October and further meetings were planned for 28 October and 11 November. STENA SUBMISSION: a pay and conditions claim has been submitted on behalf of members employed by Stena Marine Management onboard ro-ro and ro-pax vessels. The claim includes a substantial above-RPI pay increase and industrial organiser Derek Byrne is currently seeking a meeting with the company. GLOBAL REVIEW: a pay and conditions claim has been submitted on behalf of members employed by Global Marine. The Union is seeking a substantial increase in pay above RPI, duty time off in lieu, MSA payments, and a review of tours of duty and workloads. CARISBROOKE OFFER: members employed by Carisbrooke Shipping are being consulted on the company’s pay and conditions offer, which includes either a one-year or a two-year deal.

The Tube, 86 North Street Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 8RA

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22/10/2015 19:01

06 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

OFFSHORE NEWS

shortreports

Ultra-long distance towing vessel for Dutch owner Maritime says its first newbuild A long-distance AHTS, Alp Striker, The Dutch operator Alp

BIBBY TECHS: members employed by Bibby Ship Management as onboard catering crew on the DSV agreement have been outsourced to a new employer. Entier Ltd won the contract to provide catering services and has agreed that all members will be transferred in accordance with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. Industrial organiser Derek Byrne has had informal discussions with the company and is currently seeking a formal meeting to discuss continued collective bargaining for members. GULFMARK DEAL: members employed by GulfMark Guernsey have voted to reluctantly accept the company’s pay and conditions offer which reduces salaries and removes bonuses. Industrial organiser Gary Leech has confirmed that the Union has consistently expressed disappointment over the proposals made by the company and will continue to work towards reversing the cuts. Mr Leech has also advised members to sign to accept changes to their contracts in order to protect their continued employment. TECHNIP CANCELLATION: national secretary Steve Doran is seeking a meeting with Technip following the company’s late notice cancellation of a previous meeting. The company stated that it wanted to be able to provide accurate information which they needed more time to review before passing to members. Mr Doran did confirm that Technip is working hard to win new business in the hope of avoiding redundancies at the organisation. FARSTAD MEETING: Nautilus industrial organiser Gary Leech and liaison officer Peter Tipping met management at Farstad Singapore last month. Mr Leech raised a number of issues which had been put forward by members; the company response to these will be circulated to members when written confirmation has been received.

is approaching completion at the Niigata shipyard in Japan and is on track for delivery early next year. The 4,250dwt Dutch-flagged vessel is the first in a series of four state-of-the-art SX-157 Ulstein Design ultra-long distance towing and anchor handling vessels. With a fuel capacity of 3,500 tonnes, the Alp Future Class ships will be capable of non-stop trans-Atlantic, Indian or Pacific Ocean towing operations.

The 89m loa DP II vessels are also designed for salvage work, positioning, anchoring and hook-up of offshore installations, and decommissioning duties. They are equipped with four MAK engines, producing 24,400bhp, and have a 306 tonne bollard pull. The ships have a cargo deck area of 550 sq m, a deck load capacity of 2,400 tonnes, are built to Ice Class 1B and have a service speed of 13 knots. Alp says the bollard pull and safety redundancy will avoid the need for a third towing vessel on the heaviest jobs.

Study warns over safety shortfalls Research project warns of communication problems among mixed crews

Under-reporting of safety incidents is ‘endemic and systemic’ in the offshore support vessel and workboat sectors, a new research study has concluded. The report, produced by Dr Kate Pike and Emma Broadhurst of Southampton Solent University, also warns that communication problems among multinational crews pose one of the biggest threats to safe operations. Commissioned by the operations and maintenance management software specialist Helm Operations, the six-month study is claimed to be the ﬁrst safety research speciﬁc to workboats and OSVs and draws on analysis of port state control records, feedback from 50 seafarers and managers from key offshore companies, as well as incident case studies.

Researchers found that while OSVs and workboats have generally good port state control records, the majority of deficiencies found relate to safety culture and crew wellbeing — suggesting that measures to improve safety management in both sectors would be particularly beneficial. Half of those surveyed said they had experienced specific issues arising from safety culture problems whilst working offshore. The most common safety challenge working offshore was the weather — and particularly in the North Sea. Concerns were raised over the variation of standards in different countries and regions — such as a lack of clarity over the requirements when taking a UK-flagged vessel to work in the waters of another European nation, as well

as the mixed approaches taken to enforcement by flag and coastal states. Language and communication difficulties were described as ‘a recurring challenge’. One respondent reported 18 different nationalities on his ship and 12% complained that they have problems making themselves understood in the workplace — with high noise levels often compounding the problems. While more than three-quarters considered that they were supported by the management on safety issues and 92% felt confident to stop work on safety grounds, 44% had left a job as a result of a bad safety culture or an accident and two-thirds believed that some accidents go unreported. Concerns over poor hand-

over procedures, time pressures, administrative burdens and fear or reprisals were cited as reasons for under-reporting. The report suggests that the scale of under-reporting could be reduced by the appointment of more independent safety ofﬁcers by companies. The study proposes a package of measures to improve safety management and safety culture, including better communications, greater empowerment of employees, more effective feedback systems and means to identify safety hazards and problems. Researchers also suggested that more work should be done to investigate how the ‘gold standard’ safety standards of the North Sea could be applied in other parts of the world — most notably off West Africa.

Unions raise alarm as lay-ups increase concerns about the growing F volume of laid-up tonnage in the

Seafaring unions have raised

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06_offshore.indd 6

Medical course for wind sector with the turbine manufacturer F MHI Vestas Offshore Wind to launch

Maersk Training has teamed up

a new advanced first aid course tailored to the needs of personnel working in the wind energy sector. The three-day course has been designed as a response to the increasing distance from shore to turbines — meaning that it takes longer for medical professionals to reach a casualty in an emergency.

The course covers an extensive range of practical skills, including advanced airway management techniques, control of catastrophic bleeding, CPR protocols including the use of AEDs and administration of gases in medical emergencies. The training has been developed in parallel with a specially designed wind turbine emergency trauma pack containing all of the life-saving equipment used during the course.

North Sea — with warnings that the number of idle vessels could rise to 100 by the end of the year. Nautilus was among offshore unions who held talks on the crisis with Scotland’s energy minister Fergus Ewing, at a meeting convened by the Scottish TUC last month. ‘We have seen thousands of jobs being lost in the last few months and savage attacks on terms and conditions,’ said Nautilus national secretary Steve Doran. ‘There is a lot of anger at the situation and a pressing need to find ways to reduce the impact on members.’ The number of North Sea offshore support vessels in lay-up rose to 70 last month — 54 platform supply vessels and 23 anchor handling tug supply vessels — and brokers warned that

the total could top 100 by the end of the year, with no prospects of an upturn in sight. Companies who have announced that ships will be put into lay-up in recent weeks have included GulfMark, Vroon, Sealion Shipping, Farstad, Havila, Viking Supply, Olympic Shipping, Simon Mokster and Siem. In a meeting at the European Parliament last month, unions warned that the problems are being made worse by the volume of flag of convenience tonnage in the sector, as well as by ships being bumped out of Brazilian waters by the country’s protectionist policies. With the situation described as being the worst in more than 25 years, unions have also urged politicians to look at ways to offset the effects of the oil price slump, such as improved tax measures and fast-tracking decommissioning projects.

22/10/2015 18:14

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 07

NEWS

BYOD wi-fi trials on RFA vessels Union backs pilot project to improve personal internet access for members

Nautilus has welcomed a pilot project to provide shipboard wi-ﬁ access for seafarers serving with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The satellite communications provider NSSL Global has announced trials of a BYOD (bring your own device) system onboard selected RFA and Royal Navy ships, allowing internet access via employees’ own smartphones, tablets and laptops. The service is described by the company as ‘secure, available, supported and legally and morally compliant’. It will have coverage across the main recreational areas of the vessel, and will allow seafarers to access websites and apps for facilities such as

social media, news and personal banking. NSSL Global managing director Sally-Anne Ray commented: ‘Whilst Navy vessels are ofﬁcially exempt from the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, the Navy recognises the importance to morale and productivity of enabling personnel to stay in contact with friends and family whilst at sea. However, they also appreciate that this must not compromise the Navy’s strict security and safety standards in any way. Our service has enabled them to ﬁnd a perfect compromise.’ Nautilus national secretary Jonathan Havard welcomed the announcement. ‘As we dis-

cussed at our General Meeting, the Union is keen to see all vessels providing shipboard wi-ﬁ for crews,’ he noted. ‘We are therefore pleased to hear that our RFA members will soon be part of the worldwide movement to give seafarers personal internet access.’ z Inmarsat has announced that Maersk Tankers is to equip 30 of its product tankers with the Fleet Media maritime entertainment service as part of a 12-month trial. Fleet Media gives crew the ability to download the latest movies, sports and TV shows anywhere in the world, with access to hundreds of hours of on-demand content that can be watched on a laptop smart device. Henning Madsen, head of

vessel IT with Maersk Tankers, commented: ‘We have chosen to install the new Fleet Media service as we wish to provide our employees with an entertainment system which is up-to-date, with the most recent content and frequently refreshed. We expect that our crew will welcome this new service and it will increase their level of satisfaction onboard.’ Maersk says it will evaluate the system at the end of the pilot to decide whether to continue with Fleet Media and extend the service to cover the entire fleet. Inmarsat Maritime president Ronald Spithout said he was confident the service will boost crew motivation and increase onboard efficiency.

North Sea trials of ‘broadband’ radio system Successful trials have been

(MBR) system described as ‘a true game-changer’ for communications between ships. Developed by Konsberg Maritime, the system creates a high-speed, high-capacity ‘information highway’ between vessels, with free data transfer once an MBR network has been established. Trials using emergency response vessels and a surveillance aircraft were described as ‘very promising’ — with live images transmitted at a distance of up to 100nm.

Pictured above is the first

programme set up by the offshore energy support vessel operator Seacat Services. More than 200 young people applied for the first places on the year-long Level 2 Diploma in Maritime Studies training scheme, which was launched by the company in response to the skills shortage in the offshore renewables sector. Delivered by Red Ensign on the Isle of Wight and supported by the specialist firm HTP Training, the programme trains seafarers for service on the company’s expanding fleet of 21m to 26m support vessels

US Navy brings back sextant training F

group of seafarers to graduate A from a maritime apprenticeship

working mainly between the east coast of the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. Seacat Services MD Ian Baylis commented: ‘Addressing the skills shortage in our constantly expanding sector is something everyone in the industry is responsible for. We’re delighted that these young people have performed so well and we are very pleased to be able to discuss further opportunities with them.’ A fresh intake of apprentices is being taken on this year and the company is also planning to launch a cadetship scheme in January 2016, to run in conjunction with the apprenticeship programme, with a route to Master’s Licence.

Owners urged to prepare for rules on cyber-threats

carried out in the North Sea of F a new Maritime Broadband Radio

Nautilus International has welcomed a decision by the US Navy to bring back courses in celestial navigation for its new recruits in response to concerns about the vulnerability of satellite navigation systems. The US Navy discontinued celestial navigation courses in 1998 as a result of the widespread adoption of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the accuracy and time savings it offered. But it is now reintroducing courses for its cadets because of growing worries about the way in which GPS could be hacked, jammed or disrupted. ‘We went away from celestial navigation because computers are great,’ Lt Cdr Ryan Rogers, deputy

Seacat’s apprentices get their certificates

chairman of the Naval Academy’s department of seamanship and navigation, told the US Capital Gazette. ‘The problem is there’s no back-up. We know there are cyber vulnerabilities. In the event that we had to go into a national emergency, we would probably have to shut the GPS down because it can be used by potential enemies.’ Nautilus senior national secretary Allan Graveson commented: ‘It is understandable that the US Navy has reverted to teaching celestial navigation given the vulnerability of satellite systems to solar flares, meteor showers and jamming. ‘eLoran, developed by Trinity House, provides a limited alternative, but future funding from UK

We are able to offer competitive, specially negotiated fares for all types of air travel, be it UK Domestic, European or Worldwide.

government is in question,’ he pointed out. ‘Nautilus, through the Merchant Navy Training Board, and directly with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, continues to argue for celestial navigation to be taught as a “back-up” method of navigation and for investment in alternative terrestrial-based systems.’ And Captain Timothy Tisch, of the US Merchant Marine Academy, commented: ‘Knowledge of celestial navigation in the GPS era provides a solid back-up form of navigation in the event GPS becomes unreliable for whatever reason. It is also good professional practice to use one navigational system to verify the accuracy of another.’

Ship owners and operators should start gearing up for a new raft of regulations governing the cyber security of their vessels, marine insurers and lawyers have warned. In an article co-authored with Clyde & Co partner Joe Walsh, the North Club said there is a real prospect that shipping companies may soon be exposed to heavy fines and penalties if they have not set up firewalls and other security measures to protect onboard systems. North’s deputy director of loss prevention Colin Gillespie noted: ‘The safe operation of ships is increasingly dependent on sophisticated electronic systems, so it is vital these systems are properly secured and protected from external risks.’ He pointed out that the US Coast Guard (USCG) views the issues as one of the most serious threats to economic and national security interests and the subject is high on the

agenda at the International Maritime Organisation, which is expected to review industry guidelines at its maritime safety committee in May next year The USCG’s new cyber strategy seems set to act as a catalyst for new national and international regulations on maritime cyber security, Mr Gillespie suggested. The strategy makes it clear that cyber risk prevention and response — including continuous risk assessment, planning and training — should be an integral part of a ship operator’s responsibilities. The article points out that while there is currently no requirement to adopt the USCG’s strategy, it is likely US authorities will soon require cyber risks and security to be managed on ships trading to the US in much the same way as oil spill risks have to be managed under the US Oil Pollution Act 1990 (OPA90).

Staff employed in the marine industry, from crew and shore-based staff to spouses travelling to and from vessels, can make use of our extensive marine fare programme, while those seeking flights for other types of travel will benefit from our efficient and personal service.

07_news.indd 7

22/10/2015 18:52

08 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

LARGE YACHT NEWS

Polar class vessels take yachting to the extreme Owners’ the Monaco Yacht Show to A unveil the world’s first purpose-built, The Dutch builder Amels used

Polar Code compliant expedition yachts, pictured right. The company says its range of 65m to 100m SeaXplorer yachts will have true global capability — from extreme polar to remote tropical areas. The design builds on the success of the SeaAxe fast support vessels, designed by parent company Damen, with an optimised hull design that has become popular in the offshore oil industry. ‘A number of experienced yachting clients approached us about adapting Damen’s professional vessels, so

leader in unity call

we knew from them that there were simply no globally capable luxury explorer yachts out there,’ said Amels Rob Luijendijk. The three models in the range are built to Polar Class 6 at Lloyds and will be capable of spending up to 40 days at sea between port calls. Each will carry an array of tenders — including a dive support tender — expedition equipment, submersibles, and dive equipment (including a recompression chamber), with the larger craft capable of carrying two helicopters. Damen said it had invested thousands of hours in research and development and ice tank testing of the design.

become part of ‘one maritime A family’ in the UK and to work with

The superyacht sector needs to

Crews warned on STCW rules Monaco seminar hears concerns over training updates

Nautilus International officials took part in events at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show — including one where crew members were warned of the urgent need to undertake refresher training. All sorts of records were shattered at this show — organisers reported that a total of 121 superyachts and 582 exhibitors and partners had taken part in the four-day event, with visitor numbers increasing to 34,500 from 33,000 last year. Officials from the Union attended the Warsash Superyacht Academy seminar during the show, to discuss the new STCW refresher training requirements and how they will affect superyacht crew. Like maritime professionals in other sectors, officers working onboard superyachts will now have to undertake refresher training for basic courses every five years. Staff from the academy were on hand at the show to explain the new requirements, ahead of the 1 January 2017 enforcement date. ‘Updating is done by very short refresher courses — half a day for personal survival and one day each for all other safety training certificates,’ explained

Warsash Superyacht Academy staff advised about updating training

Lars Lippuner, business development manager for the academy. ‘In other words, crew will need to do one and a half days and officers three and half days in total, every five years.’ Mr Lippuner also reminded crew that if they completed the original courses more than five years ago they will require evidence of having completed the updated training. ‘These may need to be provided when the port state control inspector comes up the passarelle; when applying for a certificate of competency (CoC); and when revalidating an existing CoC,’ he added.

‘It’s worth noting that the new MCA M-Notices say that “companies must ensure that seafarers assigned to any of their ships have received updated training as required by the Convention”, assigning an obligation to management companies and owners too,’ he explained. ‘While updating training won’t be required for another year or so, yacht crew are well advised to start planning ahead as mariners worldwide will be wanting to complete their updating training by that date,’ Mr Lippuner pointed out. g Full report, see page 31.

Nautilus joins new yacht app service the makers of a new app to help F yacht sector members access the Nautilus has teamed up with

Union’s services, wherever they are. Described as a ‘concierge app’, YachtNeeds provides crews with easy access to listings and other information in the various ports they visit. It was released just a couple of weeks before the Monaco Yacht Show, where Nautilus representatives met with the YachtNeeds team to cement their partnership. YachtNeeds already has over 7,000 businesses listed in the Mediterranean alone, with 161 ports and anchorages covered. Services are listed under the categories of Bridge, Deck, Engineering, Chef, and Interior, and Nautilus features under the Crew Advice and Assistance section in all categories, reflecting the Union’s involvement in every aspect of the yachting world.

Solent Refit puts classic motor yacht on the market for £2m Cruise firm by Michael Howorth

Refit has put the classic vessel F Lady K II (formerly Princess Tanya) up The UK superyacht yard Solent

for sale at a knock-down price. Originally built by Austin & Pickersgill in 1961, the 62m classically-styled motor yacht has been undergoing work at Solent Refit for the past three years, but now the British owner has asked the yard to dispose of her for just £2m. First owned by a Greek shipping

HOTLINE FOR YACHT CREW Nautilus has established a dedicated phoneline in Antibes to offer advice and assistance:

+33 (0)9 62 61 61 40 Nautilus International, in strategic partnership with D&B Services, 3 Bd. D’Aguillon, 06600 Antibes, France.

08_yachts.indd 8

More than just a directory, the app has a number of valuable functions that can get crew the information they need efficiently, all at the touch of three buttons. It lists local restaurants and other businesses, entertainment providers and services ranging from chandlers to DJ hires, florists and carpet cleaners. It also carries up-to-date jet-ski rules and regulations. YachtNeeds co-founder Tony Stout commented: ‘The response to the app from captains, crew and even the businesses listed has been overwhelming. We know that YachtNeeds will become the next big tool for all crew.’ For more information about YachtNeeds, visit www.yachtneeds. net. You can download the app from the Apple App Store now, and an Android platform will be released shortly.

shipping companies and shore-based firms to campaign on common issues, the head of the UK Chamber of Shipping said last month. Speaking at the Monaco Yacht Show, Chamber CEO Guy Platten argued that the gaps between the shipping and superyacht sectors have narrowed and both share many of the same challenges — from crewing to onboard systems. ‘As yachts have grown larger, as demand has risen, the need for professional standards, first class seamanship and legitimate certification structures have become more urgent,’ he pointed out. Larger yachts are subject to many of the regulations that apply to merchant ships, Mr Platten added, and the Chamber had successfully campaigned to allow special arrangements for yacht crews under the Maritime Labour Convention to prevent the sector from ‘being stuck tackling the minefield of global regulation’. The Chamber leader said the UK is seen as a natural home for the yachting industry and UK standards are the benchmark for international standards. ‘Nowhere is that seen more than in our work on maritime training,’ he added. ‘Contrary to popular belief, there is no shortage of young people wanting to work at sea. Maritime colleges are over-subscribed many times over — with dedicated, talented people wanting to develop their skills in every corner of the world, and in every field of shipping.’ The superyacht sector offers ‘profound opportunities’, Mr Platten said, and the UK Chamber is working to ensure that ‘world-class seafarers are provided to the industry for generations to come’.

tycoon, Lady K II can accommodate 18 guests and 18 crew and was rebuilt by Malta Drydocks in 1991. Solent Refit MD Allan Foot said the vessel was ‘a great value proposition’. He added: ‘We started on a major engineroom overhaul some time back and we have been associated with the yacht for seven years. We brought her back from Monaco, but due to business circumstances, not financial, the owner has now asked us to sell her.’

French yard to set up in Cuba and repair company Nautech F has announced its first international

French Riviera-based yacht refit

expansion to include a facility in Cuba, the world’s most hotly anticipated new superyacht cruising destination. The facility is located to the east of the Bay Havana and will offer fullservice refit and repair for yachts up to 140m in length, with six dockside berths with a combined length of 1,100m and a dry dock of 151m in length and 24m in width.

moves into yachting

by Michael Howorth

a well-known luxury line A operating two ships, Crystal

Crystal Cruises has become

Symphony and Crystal Serenity. But now the company is set on creaming off some of the yachting market. The company was purchased earlier this year by Genting Hong Kong, a gaming and leisure travel mega-corporation. It has announced plans to expand beyond the luxury cruise niche with the launch of Crystal Esprit, a new yacht product. The debut of Crystal Yacht Cruises will be in December, when the 3,300gt Crystal Esprit comes into service following a complete refurbishment. The vessel can accommodate up to 62 guests and will offer seven-day itineraries with initial destinations including the Adriatic Coast, Dubai and the Seychelles Crystal Esprit has four 10-passenger Zodiacs for excursions, along with a two-passenger submarine. It will also carry a 12-passenger tender built by Wider Yachts that guests can use for boating adventures.

22/10/2015 17:37

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 09

NEWS

UK yard to build new BAS ship announced that the Birkenhead F shipyard Cammell Laird has won the The UK government has

contract to build a state-of-the-art new research ship for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Following a year-long competitive tender process that also involved bids from companies in Europe and the Far East, Cammell Laird was chosen as the preferred bidder for the ‘next generation’ vessel which is due to come into service in 2019.

West African piracy alarm Nautilus member calls for action on Gulf of Guinea risks

The international community must act urgently to combat the problem of piracy off West Africa if it is to prevent ‘a second Somalia situation’, a Nautilus member warned a conference last month. Captain Nick Cooper told the Economic & Social Research Council (ERSC) seminar on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea that countries need to cooperate to tackle the increasing threat to merchant shipping — using the successful campaign to reduce Indian Ocean attacks as a model. ‘I strongly believe that a major international effort is required off the West African coast to reach the same level of success that they did off Somalia, because the coastal states of West Africa affected by armed robbery cannot manage to police this long coastline on their own,’ he told the meeting. ‘The resources required are too large for any of those countries, which is why the major powers should step in, and never mind any niceties about sovereign seas or territories,’ he added. ‘Shipping is an international business, which is why an international response is required in the Gulf of Guinea. If the situation down

there escalates, and the lid is not put on it very ﬁrmly, we could end up with a Somali situation, with demoralised and reluctant crews facing their ships being boarded by armed gangs, violent treatment, being taken hostage and even killed.’ The seminar sought to gather the experiences of merchant seafarers and their representative organisations, and was held as part of a series being staged by ERSC to examine the challenges posed by maritime insecurity around the world. Nautilus head of communications Andrew Linington also spoke at the meeting, describing the very real risks that seafarers face in the region and telling of some recent incidents in which members had been taken hostage and held for ransom. Stress and fatigue in high-risk areas is fuelled by all the additional security duties that seafarers have to undertake, he pointed out. Research shows the psychological damage that is created by such pressures, and the problems may also add to recruitment and retention difﬁculties. Lt Sam Wicks, from the Royal Navy’s maritime intelligence

fusion cell, warned that attacks off West Africa are more violent than those off East Africa, with an increasing emphasis on kidnaps and ransoms. He said there have been attempts to deploy naval patrols, create safe anchorages and coordinate awareness of risks, but stressed that the area is ‘a difficult and complex operating environment’ that presents significant security challenges. Andrew Varney, of Port2Port, explained that it is hard to accurately assess statistics and trends because of the considerable under-reporting in the region. But, he added, there were 39 confirmed incidents in the first nine months of 2015 — the majority off Nigeria — in which at least 30 seafarers had been kidnapped. Jon Huggins, director of the Oceans Beyond Piracy organisation, said under-reporting was a consequence of commercial concerns and fears that vessels could be delayed while investigations take place. But, he added, firmer action needs to be taken against those who attack merchant ships — as no pirates have been jailed in the region over the last two years.

The 125m loa ship will be one of the most sophisticated oceanographic research vessels in the world. It will have a scientific cargo volume of approximately 900 cu metres, will be equipped with a heli-deck, and will have the ability to launch and recover aerial and ocean robotic systems. The ship will operate with a crew of around 30 seafarers, and will be able to accommodate up to 60 scientists and support staff. It will be

able to operate for up to 60 days in polar regions, with an ice-breaking capability of up to 1m at 3 knots, and a range of 19,000nm at 13 knots. BAS director Professor Jane Francis said the new vessel would be ‘a tremendous asset’ for scientists, enabling the capture of new ocean and ice data from places that would otherwise be inaccessible. Cammell Laird chief executive John Syvret said the contract should secure 400 jobs at the yard.

RFA to the rescue as hurricane hits islands Lyme Bay played a major role A in relief operations last month after

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel

a hurricane hit the Bahamas. The landing ship was diverted from its duties to combat drug smuggling in the Caribbean after Hurricane Joaquin devastated Crooked Island and Acklins Island in the Bahamas, with 130mph winds flattening homes, bringing down power lines and cutting off water supplies. On the way, the ship’s Lynx

Disaster relief planning on the bridge of the RFA Lyme Bay last month Picture: Adam McCarthy

helicopter joined search and rescue efforts for the missing US-flagged containership El Faro. A specialist disaster relief team, which had previously provided support following a tropical storm

in Dominica, helped evacuate people from a remote community on the island and delivered emergency supplies, stores, and vehicles including a JCB and plant equipment.

Industry agrees to halve Indian Ocean risk area industry organisations has F agreed to scale back the size of the

The ‘round table’ of shipping

official high-risk area (HRA) for piracy in the Indian Ocean and to issue new advice to seafarers in the region. The revision of the BMP4 (Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy) — announced last month — is due to come into effect on 1 December and will halve the HRA following a huge reduction in successful attacks on merchant vessels in the area. Introduced following consultations of governments and naval forces, including NATO and EU Navfor, the

revised HRA will cover the Bab Al Mandab strait, Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea from the coast of Oman and down to Kenya in Africa, but no longer the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman or Indian coastline. The shipowner organisations BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping, Intercargo, Intertanko and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum said that while the HRA is being reduced because there have been no hijacks in the area for two years, a serious threat remains. Correct reporting and vigilance remains crucial. Under the new agreement, the

area previously classified as ‘high risk’ now forms only a part of the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA). Ships entering the VRA must still register with the Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) and report to the UK Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) to be monitored during transit. Owners also advise that pre-transit risk assessments should take into account the latest information from both the VRA and the HRA. Vessels should continue to maintain full compliance with the BMP and be vigilant in their voluntary reporting on piracy incidents, sighting of potential pirates, and any suspicious activity.

STCW Updating Training Don’t leave it too late! One of the most signiﬁcant amendments of STCW2010 is the requirement for all seafarers to update the key elements of the mandatory STCW safety training. To see how this affects you visit our website.

To book your courses please contact: Admissions and Recruitment Email: wma.training@solent.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)23 8201 5004

Find out more: warsashacademy.co.uk/updating

09_news.indd 9

22/10/2015 18:52

10 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

NEWS

French operator installs first ‘smart’ container system on its latest newbuild CGM has claimed an industry A first by using ‘smart’ containers

French shipping company CMA

onboard its newest ship, the 18,000TEU CMA CGM Bougainville, pictured making its first call to the UK port of Southampton last month. The company said the 175,688gt vessel has been equipped with new technology that turns its containers into ‘smart connected objects’ which can be remotely monitored in real time.

The shipboard system, which is linked to the company’s headquarters in Marseilles, uses relay antennas to collect a wide range of data from individual containers, including location, internal temperature and humidity levels, impacts or break-in attempts, and customs and administrative status. Developed with the Marseillesbased firm Traxens, the system also enables interaction with individual containers onboard the

Lashing ruling sparks alarm expressed concern over a A court ruling against a dock workers’ Nautilus International has

campaign over lashing work onboard visiting vessels. The labour court in Finland upheld a case brought by the country’s port operators’ association (FPOA) following industrial action by the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union (AKT) in protest at feedership crews lashing and unlashing container stacks. AKT argued that the work should be done by dockers and, over the past two years, its members had staged a variety of protests — including boycotting ships whose crews were undertaking lashing work. In 2013, the FPOA took the union to court, claiming that it had been taking illegal industrial action — an argument upheld by the court, which imposed a fine on AKT. Last year, AKT started directly boycotting selected shipping companies, claiming that their crews were not entitled to perform the lashing and unlashing work onboard the vessels. This dispute also came before the Labour Court, which has now ruled against the union again. Nautilus says it is concerned by the judgement. ‘We believe that lashing

should be done by dock workers and seafarers should not do it, or supervise crew doing it,’ said general secretary Mark Dickinson. And senior national secretary Allan Graveson added: ‘Given crew sizes today, I fail to understand how this sort of work is achievable within the requirements for hours of rest. Tired crews are not safe crews.’ Earlier this year, the International Transport Workers’ Federation Congress agreed to develop a fresh campaign on lashing to address occupational health and safety issues, the legal and regulatory implications, and find better ways to enforce collective agreements covering dock work. ‘Lashing and unlashing are an integral part of dock work, and this is because these are extremely dangerous operations which have to be performed by trained dockers,’ said European Transport Workers’ Federation dockers’ section chair Terje Samuelsen. ‘We see a growing number of cases, especially on feederships and ferries, where seafarers lash and unlash cargo,’ he continued. ‘This is not acceptable, as by doing operations for which they are not trained, they put their safety at serious risk.’

Lairdside Maritime Centre

vessel, whatever their position in a row or stack, as well as allowing communications between the containers themselves. CMA CGM says the system is particularly valuable for the transportation of perishable goods, as it can remotely control and adjust the temperature of refrigerated containers, as well as reducing the time it takes to inspect them. Picture: Gary Davies/Maritime Photographic

UK pressed on funds for ETV Concern over future of Northern Isles emergency tug

Nautilus International is backing fresh calls for UK ministers to safeguard the provision of the one remaining government-funded emergency towing vessel (ETV). The £2m-a-year contract for the Northern Isles ETV is due to come to an end in March 2016 and there are growing concerns that the government is unlikely to agree to further ﬁnancial support for the service after that point. Questioned by the House of Commons transport committee, shipping minister Robert Goodwill told MPs: ‘The government have no statutory duty to provide an emergency towing capability — that is the responsibility of the shipping industry.’ The minister said the decision to withdraw support for the three other ETVs around the UK has already saved the government more than £32m, and continued

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10-11_news.indd 10

a year to the local economy,’ he warned. ‘It’s simply unacceptable that we should be left without such essential protection in an area which can have such hostile weather conditions. ‘It took years of lobbying to get an emergency tug based here following the loss of the Braer, and it is unthinkable that that cover could now be removed,’ he added. Nautilus senior national secretary Allan Graveson added: ‘When the market fails, it is the duty of the government to intervene in order to fulﬁl its prime responsibility, namely, protection of its people and the country. ‘This was recognised in 1865 with the passing of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act that sought to protect the citizens and businesses of London when the insurance companies (market) could not,’ he pointed out.

operators to act quickly F to prepare for the introduction

Marine insurers have urged

next year of new rules requiring containers to be weighed before being loaded onto ships. Amendments to the SOLAS Convention which come into effect on 1 July 2016 will mean that all containers will have to have a verified gross mass before being loaded, and the UK P&I Club and the TT Club warned last month that operators who fail to comply will be fined or penalised. According to the new amendment, the shipper is responsible for obtaining the verified gross mass of a packed container and communicating it to the ocean carrier. In a special briefing, the two clubs stress the need for early action to clarify who the shipper is and how the verified gross mass of containers will be obtained, recorded and used in ship stow planning. They point out that additional costs will be incurred if containers are found to fall foul of the rules and cargo has to be re-packed, with administration fees for amending documents and container demurrage charges.

Newhaven training centre opens establishment has been F opened in the UK. Based in

ECDIS COURSES

support for the Northern Isles vessel, currently stationed in Orkney, is now under scrutiny as part of the spending review. Mr Goodwill said the government is looking at factors such as the way the vessel has been deployed and the cost-effectiveness of the service. ‘In very many cases where emergency service was required, it has been available from another vessel in the area or from the RNLI,’ he added. ‘On only three occasions in three years has that ETV needed to be deployed.’ Shetland Islands Council leader Gary Robinson said he was very concerned about the threat to the vessel. ‘There’s been a marked increase in shipping around our shores in recent years due to the presence of the oil and gas industry — and Shetland now has a seafood industry worth £300m

Box weight rules ‘need acting on’

Newhaven Docks, in East Sussex. Seahaven Maritime Academy is a privately-owned business that aims to fill a gap in the market for professional courses. Steve Brand, company CEO and chief instructor, said that he had launched the firm — which concentrates on courses for those in the superyacht and workboat sectors — after a long maritime career because he saw a need for more student-focused training. ‘I frequently meet students who comment on the fact that they are required to attend more and more courses to obtain certificates,’ he explained. ‘Those that aren’t sponsored by their employer complain about the notinconsiderable costs involved to themselves, and feel they are often treated like commodities rather than individuals. ‘We specialise in focusing on the individual. We have a maximum

of eight students to a course and our prices are kept to a minimum, making us highly competitive.’ The academy has Maritime & Coastguard Agency recognition to run STCW courses, and is also the first IYT-accredited training establishment running commercial courses in the UK. International Yacht Training offers an MCA-recognised alternative Master of Yachts less than 200gt qualification — described as a commercial ticket in its own right and equally valid for all vessels under 200gt. Other courses delivered at the centre include STCW basic training, MCA oral exam prep for Master 200, 500 and 3,000 certificates, VHF, celestial navigation and GWO training specific for windfarm vessels. The academy is currently in the process of getting accreditation to run courses for the National Workboat Association training scheme and can also offer training in rope access and manual handling. g More information: www. seahavenmaritimeacademy.co.uk

Seahaven Training offers courses including rope access

www.irishseafarerstax.ie

22/10/2015 18:26

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 11

NEWS

Shipping faces calls to cut its emissions US Coast Guard officers check one of El Faro’s lifeboats Picture: USCG

Owners defend industry’s record as action to cut CO2 output is demanded

Shock as 33 crew die in US ro-ro sinking P of sympathy to US seafaring F unions following the country’s

Nautilus has sent a message

worst shipping loss in more than 30 years — in which 33 crew died after a US-flagged ro-ro sank in a hurricane off the Bahamas last month. The US Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have both launched investigations into the loss of the 31,515gt El Faro during a voyage from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a cargo of containers and vehicles. The NTSB said that minutes before the vessel sent out distress calls, the master had reported that the ship was experiencing some flooding. He said the crew had controlled the ingress of water but the ship was listing 15 degrees and had lost propulsion. El Faro sank some 36nm NE of

Acklins & Crooked Islands, Bahamas, close to the eye of Hurricane Joaquin, and investigators are planning to recover the ship’s voyage data recorder. The NTSB said investigations are looking at operational, engineering, human and survival factors — including the condition and maintenance of the 40-year-old ship and the voyage plan it was following at the time of the hurricane. Meanwhile, the family of one of the 33 crew members who died in the incident has launched a US$100m lawsuit against the ship’s owners, TOTE Maritime, accusing the company of negligence in allowing the vessel to sail ‘despite being in an unseaworthy condition to handle the conditions of a violent storm’. Lawyers said they were planning to file more lawsuits on behalf of other family members.

Shipowners are ﬁghting growing political pressures for the industry to introduce new measures to cut its contribution to climate change. Ahead of top-level UN talks in December, the European Parliament raised the stakes for shipping by calling for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to adopt measures before the end of 2016 to ensure the industry comes into line with the target for a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, The European Parliament’s call was echoed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s research arm, the International Transport Forum, which said the UN talks should set an ‘absolute emissions target’ for shipping — arguing that the industry must have targets if countries have them. The International Chamber of Shipping hit back at the proposals. ‘While shipping may currently have CO2 emissions comparable to a major OECD economy, it is inappropriate for the ITF to propose that the industry should be treated like an OECD economy,’ said ICS secretary-general Peter Hinchliffe. He said the industry has reduced its CO2 emissions by

Sefarina is pictured left becoming A the first ship to be bunkered with LNG in The 3,150gt Dutch-flagged tanker

the port of Antwerp. The dual-fuel Chemgas Shipping vessel also became the first ship visiting the Belgian port to be granted a discount for using technology to reduce emissions of particulate matter. LNG bunkering from road tankers has been available in the port since 2012, but until Sefarina’s visit last month it had only been used on barges. The port authority is now planning to build a permanent LNG bunkering and filling station by the beginning of 2019. more than 10% between 2007 and 2012 and cut its CO2 output per tonne-mile by around 20% over the past decade. The European Community Shipowners’ Associations said it was concerned by the 2016 deadline proposed by the European Parliament — warning that it was unrealistic and potentially counter-productive to set such a target for the IMO. ‘The 2016 deadline is not consistent with the steps already taken at EU level,’ ECSA safety and environment director Benoit Loicq claimed. ‘By pushing for an extremely tight deadline, the EU

would essentially undermine the IMO procedure. If the EU would then focus on regional measures, it would be backtracking on its own policy.’ The owners argue that international shipping is the only industrial sector already covered by mandatory and binding global measures, and that a global CO2 monitoring and reporting instrument is already being developed in IMO. But in a speech to the Interferry annual conference in Copenhagen last month, the chair of the European Parliament’s transport committee said the industry had to do

better. ‘Most vessels are like hazardous waste incinerators because they burn heavy fuel oil which should be processed as toxic waste but is usually exhaled without sufﬁcient ﬁltering,’ Michael Cramer argued. Some 70% of global maritime emissions come within 400km of coastlines, Mr Cramer said, and vessels operating within the EU account for up to 30% of worldwide shipping emissions. Recent studies suggest that this is causing around 50,000 premature deaths per year within the EU, with an annual cost to society of €58bn, he added.

Dutch owner in marine bio-fuel study a consortium which has launched a twoF year pilot programme seeking to speed up the

Dutch shipping company Boskalis is part of

development of sustainable bio-fuels for ships. Together with the engine manufacturer Wärtsilä and the Dutch firm GoodFuels Marine, Boskalis will be working on ways to identify suitable marine biofuels, securing industry certification,

First Nigerian OOWs pass out at Tyneside F

Pictured above are Abdulkarim Abubakar and Masrur Adam, the first in a cohort of 500 Nigerian trainees to qualify as officers of the watch at South Shields Marine School (South Tyneside College). The pair are part of an initiative by the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration to train a new generation of seafarers to transport the country’s abundant supplies of oil and gas. Other trainees in the scheme have now started their four-year HND programmes in nautical science and marine engineering, for which they will study the first year at a partner college in India, before transferring to South Shields for their second year. A period of sea training is next, after which the students will undertake a number of mandatory

10-11_news.indd 11

training courses at the marine school and prepare for their MCA written and oral exams. On qualifying, Abdulkarim said: ‘It was a relief to finally achieve the goal I have been working towards for four years.’ Masrur added: ‘My advice to the other students is to listen to the lecturers, as they are really knowledgeable and excellent at what they do. Then they must work hard and stay focused, and success will follow.’ Simon Ashton of South Shields Marine School commented: ‘It is always a great feeling to see students achieve their goals. Masrur and Abdulkarim are exemplary students and deserve this. We look forward to seeing them come back for Chief Mates. I hope the students who follow in their footsteps will be inspired by the achievements of these two.’

and preparing the building blocks for large-scale production. The three companies believe that bio-fuels can offer the shipping industry a viable way to cut its carbon footprint by up to 90% and lower emissions to levels that no other fuel can currently achieve without a capital-intensive fleet renewal or retrofitting.

The consortium will initiate a global scalability study in an effort to find tangible ways of securing a bio-fuel supply to the world’s commercial shipping fleet. Tests of several ‘next generation’ bio-fuels made from industrial waste streams will be carried out at the Wärtsilä laboratory in Vaasa, Finland, before sea trials are undertaken on Boskalis vessels.

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22/10/2015 16:13

12 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

HEALTH & SAFETY

Engineers are urged to keep it clean... the need to tidy up after work in A the engineroom following a case in Seafarers have been warned of

which a containership had to return to port with tug assistance after 10,000 litres of oil ‘disappeared’ from the main engine lub-oil tank. In its latest Safety Digest, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) describes how crew members were baffled by the apparent loss of the lub-oil shortly after the ship left its berth and was heading out to sea with a pilot onboard. The engine was shut down to prevent damage and enable checks to be made after the low-level alarm sounded and the contents gauge showed the tank to be empty. But within half an hour of anchoring, the gauge showed the tank was full and the main engine was re-started. When the tank appeared to empty again, the master decided not to take any chances and shut down the engine, returning to port with tug assistance. The fuel then ‘reappeared’ after the engine was turned off. The contents of the drain tank were transferred to a holding tank and inspections showed that ‘a number of items, such as rags, plastic tape and plastic end caps were found in the tank, caught on a steel mesh protecting the oil pump suction well. ‘The tank’s contents sensor was located in the well and the debris had slowed the oil flow from the tank. Consequently, after the oil pump had drawn the lube-oil from the well, the contents gauge indicated that the tank was empty. Once the engine and lube-oil pump were stopped, the oil had seeped through the debris from the tank and filled the well.’ The MAIB said tanks and engine crankcases should not be left open after work has finished, and before being closed they should also be thoroughly inspected to ensure that no detritus or tools are left behind. The MAIB noted that anchoring and returning to port following mechanical problems leads to delays, but stressed that ‘it is better to be late than to not reach the intended destination’.

Officers died in enclosed space Isle of Man investigation reveals safety failings onboard Carisbrooke ship

Nautilus International has expressed concern at the findings of an investigation into the death of two senior officers in the hold of a Carisbrooke Shipping cargoship earlier this year. The chief officer and chief engineer onboard the 9,177gt Sally Ann C were asphyxiated after entering the enclosed space and the second officer almost died after he was overcome in an attempt to rescue them. A report from the Isle of Man Ship Registry (IMSR) says the men failed to follow ‘simple documented procedures’ covering entry into enclosed spaces. It calls for the industry to learn the lessons of the accident — including greater awareness of the inherent dangers in cargo holds, and the need for effective shipboard communication and familiarisation training. Investigators said the Ukrainian chief officer had most probably entered the space to investigate the cause of higher than expected readings from soundings of the cargo hold bilges while the ship was sailing from the Ivory Coast to Senegal in March with a cargo of timber. The report says the Russian

There were no warning notices at the entry point to the cargo hold access

chief engineer and the Filipino second officer both followed the ‘natural human instinct’ of wanting to save someone without any thought for their own personal safety. ‘It is of serious concern that despite the reaction of the crew on finding a person or persons in an enclosed space, two of the ship’s officers persisted on entering a space totally unprepared for the consequences of their actions,’ it states. ‘This incident needed just one member of the crew at the inci-

dent scene to stand up and just say “No!”,’ it adds. ‘However, the cultural behaviour of the crew was no doubt to accept the decision of someone more senior within the shipboard hierarchy.’ The report commends the remaining crew for safely recovering the three men from the conﬁned space within a period of 15 minutes. The accident left the master as the only navigator onboard the ship and another Carisbrooke vessel had to divert to the scene to transfer a second ofﬁcer across.

Investigators noted that the company had failed to include detailed enclosed space entry procedures into its safety management system, and that neither the existing SMS or shipboard operational procedures took into account the carriage of timber-related cargoes and the dangers posed by oxygen depletion. The report also points out that here were no warning notices at the point of entry to the cargo hold access — either on the outside of the access lid or on the inside. As well as urging the IMSR to take steps to raise awareness of the risks of enclosed spaces, the report recommends that Carisbrooke reviews its SMS and familiarisation training and enclosed space entry procedures, as well as ensuring all its ships carry at least one oxygen analyser/multimeter and three portable oxygen meters. Nautilus senior national secretary Allan Graveson commented: ‘It is disappointing that the Isle of Man does not have an independent investigation system like the UK — namely a Marine Accident Investigation Branch.’ g See readers’ letters on page 17.

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12-13_h+s.indd 12

in the straits of Malacca and A Singapore was launched last month

A major hydrographical survey

as part of a programme to improve navigational safety in the busy waterways. Work being conducted by three littoral states — Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore — will collect hydrographic data that will be used to produce large-scale electronic navigational charts (ENCs) covering the five areas in the Straits critical to navigation. The project was one of the key recommendations made by a study of real-time monitoring of underkeel clearance, commissioned by the three countries in 2013. It will produce high resolution bathymetry information about water depth. Authorities say surveys are being carried out around One Fathom Bank, Cape Rachado, Buffalo Rock, Pulau Seborak and Batu Berhanti, and the information will enable better voyage planning and greater navigational safety while sailing in these areas.

MCA warns on weighted lines Agency has issued a safety A alert after finding a number of cases

The UK Maritime & Coastguard

where ships have used dangerously weighted heaving lines — including monkeys’ fists with additional weights inserted into them. The MCA said that there have been incidents in which such weighted lines have caused serious injuries and it warned that vessels using dangerously weighted heaving lines in the UK may face prosecution.

Boxship break-up probe points to lifeboat and design problems for a radical review of design A and construction rules for large

Nautilus has repeated its call

MARINE TAX SERVICES (CARDIFF) LTD

Survey aims to make straits safer

containerships following a flag state investigation report on the break-up and loss of the 8,110TEU MOL Comfort in the Indian Ocean in June 2013. The Union says the findings of the report also demonstrate the need for urgent attention to be given to conditions for survivors in lifeboats. The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) investigation expresses concern about the ‘catastrophic loss of a relatively young and wellmaintained ship’ and says the reasons why the five-year-old vessel broke in two cannot be determined because vital evidence was lost when the two sections sank. ‘The total loss of the ship along with the opportunity to carry out close examination and testing of the structure in the region of the structural failure effectively prevents the establishment of the true cause(s) of the casualty,’ the report states. Crew members told the

MOL Comfort begins to break apart in the Indian Ocean in June 2013

investigators that the ship started hogging in an unusual way shortly after being struck by two large waves on the port bow some 430nm off Oman. There were 38-knot winds and 6m wave heights at the time, and officers noticed that the forward section of the hull had begun to react independently to wave movements. The master decided to abandon

ship after officers discovered a crack in the side shell plating that was increasing in size and a cargo hold and the pipe duct keel flooded. The report praises the ‘professional and calm’ response to the incident and notes that the 26 crew were rescued by the Hapag Lloyd containership Yantian Express in ‘difficult circumstances and challenging sea conditions’. But it expresses concern about

several aspects of the evacuation. Noting that the first choice of the crew was to use inflatable liferafts, it suggests this may have reflected ‘the lasting lack of confidence in the on-load release systems of lifeboats’. The sea conditions forced the crew to use an enclosed lifeboat, and the report points to evidence that the lack of ventilation and high temperatures inside caused severe discomfort to the

crew as they awaited rescue. Many of them were seasick, even though they were in the boat for barely 75 minutes, it adds. The report says the lack of specific provisions on thermal comfort and ventilation in enclosed lifeboats ‘may be a weakness’ and it recommends work to improve ‘the thermal loading of occupants in emergency situations’. Nautilus senior national secretary Allan Graveson said the report had admitted that MOL Comfort should have been capable of withstanding the weather conditions without undue concern. He said the findings highlight the Union’s long-standing concerns over the design of such ships. ‘Invariably extrapolation of accepted construction requirements fail at some point, hence a need for a total rethink for large vessels,’ he pointed out. ‘Urgent consideration also needs to be given with respect to ambient temperature of enclosed lifeboats,’ Mr Graveson added.

22/10/2015 17:37

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 13

HEALTH & SAFETY

Collision sinks Dutch ship launched after a Dutch-flagged F general cargoship sank following Investigations have been

a collision with a 122,000dwt LNG carrier off Belgium last month. The 11 crew members and the pilot from the 6,577gt Flinterstar, pictured left, were rescued after the ship — which was en route from Antwerp to Bilbao — ended up partially submerged on a sandbank. AIS records showed that the Dutch ship had collided nearly head-on with

the laden Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier Al-Oraiq, which was en route from Qatar to Zeebrugge. The Dutch master and a Filipino crew member from Flinterstar were taken to hospital for treatment to hypothermia and Nautilus offered support to members from the ship. Salvage operations were under way last month, but owner Flinter said inspections showed the damage to be worse than expected and its vessel had been declared a total loss.

Ferry fire report raises concerns Investigators highlight failure to coordinate response to blaze on DFDS ship

Accident investigators have criticised poor planning and communications between crew members and shore-based fire-fighting teams as they tackled a fierce blaze onboard a DFDS ferry in the port of Dover last year. The blaze broke out in the furnace of the port thermal oil heater on the 29,800gt Dieppe Seaways and spread into the boiler room. A total of 315 passengers were evacuated from the French-flagged vessel as nine fire engines — and 45 fire-fighters — were sent to the scene, along with a dozen ambulances. Two crew members and one fire-fighter were seriously injured during an initial entry into the boiler room, which resulted in a backdraught and an accompanying fireball. The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said the fire had started as a result of a fracture in the thermal oil heater coil, which allowed thermal oil to enter the furnace and ignite. The coil failed as a result of stress caused by the weld securing the refractory insulation support plate, it noted. Investigators said detailed maintenance records had not been transferred between vessel managers during changes of

Fire damage to the thermal heater control panel onboard Dieppe Seaways Picture: MAIB

ownership, which meant there were no records about previous repairs to the coil, no evidence of previous classiﬁcation society approval for repairs and poor documentation of earlier coil failures. The MAIB said that while crew members made an initial ‘timely and appropriate’ response to the ﬁre, the chief engineer had taken control of the efforts using his experience from a similar incident in 2009. The report notes that the chief engineer had failed to appreciate that he was facing a different situ-

ation and did not recognise the potential for the blaze to spread to the boiler room, leading to an ‘inappropriate entry procedure’ and an ‘unnecessary delay’ to the activation of fixed fire-fighting systems and boundary cooling. The lack of a comprehensive command review involving all of the ship’s key staff had compromised the fire-fighting strategy, it adds, and there had also been a failure to conduct a thorough situational risk assessment when Kent Fire & Rescue Service teams arrived. ‘Liaison between the team and

Lost anchor caused crash blamed for an incident in which F a flag of convenience ship collided Poor maintenance has been

with another vessel after its anchor cable broke in adverse weather conditions last year. The Panama-registered bulk carrier Royal Pescadores struck the tanker Da Heng Shen in the anchorage outside the Australian port of Freemantle last May, during squally conditions and winds gusting up to 56 knots. Investigators found that the securing pin had worked free from Royal Pescadores’ port anchor chain cable stopper bar. The bar then opened and the windlass brake took

12-13_h+s.indd 13

the cable load. The brake did not hold and the cable ran out to its bitter end, with the securing arrangement of the bitter end giving way and the entire anchor cable going overboard. At the time of the accident Royal Pescadores was under detention, after multiple deficiencies were found during a port state control inspection, and the Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) said the poor condition of the ship’s anchoring equipment was indicative of inadequate maintenance. Routine rounds to check the anchor cable had not been undertaken, it noted, so no one detected the cable stopper’s securing

pin as it worked free. The ship’s main engine was not in an appropriate state of readiness for the adverse weather conditions forecast and by the time it was started — about 15 minutes after the anchor cable was lost — the collision had already occurred. Although not contributing to the collision, Royal Pescadores’ anchor cable bitter end securing arrangement was not in accordance with the recommended design standards, the report adds. The ATSB also noted that Fremantle VTS has revised its weatherrelated procedures with the aim of ensuring that defined wind speed limits trigger precautionary measures.

ship’s staff, and the subsequent control of fire-fighting, were incomplete and not fully coordinated,’ the report states. ‘Had a thorough situational risk assessment been conducted by KFRS, the risk of backdraught conditions should have been identified and have resulted in a revised entry plan’. The MAIB said the lack of combined command and control in the incident highlighted the ‘overarching requirement for the command team to continually review actions taken by both ship’s crew and shore firefighters, ensuring that their actions are complementary and do not compromise each other’s safety’. While KFRS has routine maritime exercises, the report said the incident showed the need for more specific shipboard firefighting training. The report also recommends that DFDS reviews the suitability of dry powder as a fixed fire-extinguishing medium for use in thermal oil heater furnaces. Nautilus senior national secretary Allan Graveson commented: ‘Would the aviation industry have tolerated repetitive incidents on different aircraft — no! So why in shipping is it acceptable? Telegraph readers may wish to comment.’

It took 15 hours to put out the blaze onboard Atlantic Cartier in Hamburg

Blaze sparks call for more space on ro-ro decks ensure that more space is left for F fire-fighting on ro-ro vehicle decks — Shipping companies should

with a new report warning that cars and trucks are often packed so tightly that they make huge and sometimes insurmountable obstacles to firefighting teams. The German casualty investigation board BSU has issued a report on the blaze onboard the Swedishflagged container ro-ro ship Atlantic Cartier in the port of Hamburg in 2013. This expresses concerns about various aspects of the fire-fighting arrangements. Almost 300 fire-fighters, two fireboats, three tugs and 93 emergency vehicles took part in a 15-hour operation to extinguish the blaze on the 58,358gt vessel after initial efforts by the crew had to be aborted because of the rapid spread of the fire and the huge build-up of smoke. The BSU said it had been unable to determine the cause of the blaze, but said it could have originated from a car onboard the ship, or have been the result of inadequate cabling arrangement, and that there were some signs that it could have been started maliciously. Investigators said activation of the CO2 extinguishing system had been delayed because of the difficulty in

doing an accurate headcount of all the fire-fighters onboard and because of concerns that a door on the car deck had been left open. Communication problems between the ship’s crew and the local fire-fighters also contributed significantly to the delay, the report adds. The BSU said the case showed the need for ships to be fitted with improved and ‘innovative’ firefighting systems, such as special high-pressure water lances. It also highlighted the difficulties in dealing with emergencies on densely-loaded vehicle decks. ‘Unless one wishes to rely on the use and effectiveness of fixed fire-extinguishing installations onboard such ships from the outset, the establishment of a sufficient number of access lanes that remain unobstructed is an essential prerequisite for the effective and, most importantly, safe operation of extinguishing teams,’ the report states. The BSU also appealed to shipping companies to ‘reflect seriously’ on the need for retro-fitting remote watertight bulkhead door closing equipment on older ships — stating that it was ‘highly questionable’ that the IMO did not make this a mandatory requirement when SOLAS rules were introduced for new tonnage.

Ro-pax safety demand not be permitted on ro-pax F newbuilds, an Italian safety expert

Semi-open cargo spaces should

has said. Fabio Croccolo, who is leading the investigation into last December’s fire onboard the ferry Norman Atlantic, in which 18 people died, told the Interferry annual conference last month that the spread of the fire had been assisted by the deck’s large side

windows and open stern, enabling the smoke plume to be diverted away from smoke detectors in winds of at least 40 knots. Mr Croccolo called for the development of an emergency system to seal open spaces on existing tonnage and the fitting of thermal detection systems, as well as action to prevent communication problems in multinational crews.

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22/10/2015 17:37

14 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

INTERNATIONAL

shortreports

Norway’s unions raise concerns at jobs crisis

PIRATES THWARTED: Malaysian authorities claimed last month to have thwarted the biggest attempted robbery onboard a ship off the country’s coast. They said pirates armed with machetes fled empty handed after crew members on the Liberian-flagged tanker Almi Spirit raised the alarm and a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency patrol vessel was sent to the scene, off Tanjung Piai. The 105,547dwt vessel carrying around 90,000 tonnes of marine fuel oil valued at US$23m. CANAL CONCERNS: fresh concerns have been raised over the US$50bn plan to build a Nicaraguan canal to rival the Panama Canal. Developers said work on the project has been delayed as a result of environmental concerns, with the country’s government ordering more research into ways of minimising the impact of the work to create the 173-mile long waterway. AFRICAN ADDITION: the 172,569dwt bulk carrier Cape Orchid has become the first merchant vessel added to the South African register since 1985. Owned by a joint venture between the local company Via Maritime Holdings and Japan’s K-Line, the ship is expected to be followed onto the register by a second bulker, Cape Enterprise, within a few weeks. DRUGS BUST: eight Syrian seafarers serving on a Cook Islands-flagged cargoship were arrested last month after Italian authorities found more than 20 tonnes of hashish onboard, Police said the drugs, which had a street value of some €200m, were found hidden inside a forward ballast tank onboard the 3,145gt vessel Jupiter in the port of Cagliari in Sardinia. TOWAGE APPEAL: the French officers’ unions FOMM-CGT and CFE CGC have urged the country’s government to ensure that towage operations are excluded from the European Union’s latest plans for a port services directive. The unions warn that any moves to deregulate towage will jeopardise jobs as well as security and safety. BRITTANY BOOST: French operator Brittany Ferries has reported ‘satisfactory’ results, with a 5.5% increase in passenger numbers over the past year. The summer season showed a 9% increase in traffic from its five French ports of Roscoff, Saint Malo, Cherbourg, Caen/Ouistreham and Le Havre, with freight figures up by 21%. PANAMA RECORD: a record volume of cargo passed through the Panama Canal over the past year, according to figures released by the waterway authority (ACP) last month. It said a 4.3% increase in traffic took freight shipments to an all-time high of 340.8m ‘Panama Canal tons’.

have called a crisis meeting F of officials to discuss the impact of

Norwegian seafaring unions

Pictured, left to right, are Johnny Hansen of the Norwegian seafarers’ union, Hans Sande of the NSOF officers’ union, and Hege-Merethe Bengtsson, from the DNMF engineers’ union

the downturn in the offshore sector, which has led to over 60 lay-ups and hundreds of lay-offs. The three maritime unions said they expect the number of ships laid-up to reach 100 before long, and 11 floating rigs are also idle. Thousands of seafarers’ jobs are in danger, they added. The unions expressed dismay that the government is not dealing with the crisis and have called for more to be done. While welcoming a move to adjust the upper limit of the net

Australia plans to cut coastal rules Opposition MPs and unions condemn moves to abandon aid measures

Seafarers in Australia staged protests last month after a Senate inquiry ruled in favour of government proposals to relax rules to protect the country’s coastal trades from unfair foreign competition. In a 43-page report on the Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill, the Senate backed the plans to roll back cabotage restrictions introduced by the previous Labour government in a bid to end long-term decline of the Australian merchant ﬂeet. The Senate argued that the package of measures introduced in 2012 — including the launch of an Australian international ship register and strict requirements

on the flag and crew nationality of ships operating coastal services — had failed to revive the industry. The report claimed that ‘the objective of a viable and sustainable Australian-flagged coastal shipping fleet is receding ever further into the distance’ and argued that relaxing the rules would ‘enable Australian producers to access cheaper, more flexible and more responsive options for transport’. Infrastructure minister Warren Truss said the report had concluded that the existing regulations were ‘clearly inadequate’ and had ‘perversely’ facilitated the continuing decline of Australian shipping, with fewer ships now on the national flag.

He claimed the rules often make it more economic to import goods than to ship them locally. But Labour and Green Party members issued dissenting reports, complaining that the Senate report had shown ‘a strong bias towards solely shipper interests and devotes scant detail to the national interest in strategic support for the shipping industry’. Former Labour shipping minister Anthony Albanese told the Federal Parliament that the Bill was obscene. ‘It will allow overseas ﬂagged and crewed ships, paying workers third world wages, to undercut Australian operators on domestic trade routes,’ he added.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) said that the Bill would open the door to ships paying workers as little as $2 an hour. ‘It will have the effect of removing the jobs of over 2,000 highly qualified Australian seafarers,’ the union warned. The government plans could serve as the nail in the coffin for Australian seafarers and there could be no national-flag vessels operating in the country’s waters within the space of two years, the MUA added. Assistant branch secretary Paul Gallagher said there were now just 15 Australian vessels working in Australian waters and they were going at the rate of one a month.

France urged to tighten oil cargo rules

LIVESTOCK LAUNCH: work has begun at the Cosco Guangdong Shipyard in China on the last in a series of seven ‘new generation’ livestock carriers for the Dutch operator Vroon. The 10,421gt Gudali Express will carry up to 4,000 cattle and is equipped in excess of Australian welfare regulations.

and shipowners have jointly F criticised the government’s plans French maritime unions

President pressed on shipping decline Hollande promised action A to protect the country’s shipping French president François

industry during an official visit to the port of Le Havre, where he officially opened a new officer training academy, pictured above, and helped to name one of the biggest French-flagged ships. Seafaring unions used the visit to the new Marine National School (ENSM) to send a joint letter to the French leader expressing concern

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salary scheme, they warned that ‘the flagging-out spectre has returned in full force’. With new employment statistics showing further decline in Norwegian seafarer numbers, the NSOF union has issued a document telling members about their rights and entitlements during lay-offs. In August more Norwegians were working on flag of convenience ships than vessels operating on the Norwegian International Ship register (NIS). The statistics showed 517 vessels under the NIS, compared with 515 a year earlier, and 749 Norwegians compared with 767.

over the country’s maritime policies and the continuing decline of the national-flagged fleet. In response, the president said he recognised the importance of the maritime sector to France. The country remains a major sea power, he added, with more than 1.3m jobs directly and indirectly related to the sector, which generates some €65m revenue each year. Mr Hollande promised investment in the maritime sector

in a plan to promote ‘blue growth’ in sectors such as marine energy, aquaculture, tourism, cruises, biotechnology, marine resources, fisheries, transport, port activities, and shipbuilding. Mr Hollande said ENSM had a ‘special role and should become a centre of excellence in education’. Built at a cost of €30m, the centre has seven simulators and will train up to 500 officers a year. Picture: Eric Houri

to reform the laws governing the carriage of domestic oil cargoes. They claim the proposed changes to the existing 1992 regulations, due to come into effect in July next year, are ‘unacceptable’ and will fail to safeguard jobs or the stem the decline of the French tanker fleet. The unions and operators argue that a strategic national fleet of 10 crude oil tankers and 20 refined product tankers of different sizes is the only way to maintain sufficient French seafaring jobs. They also want the reform of the legislation to introduce requirements for gas and coal imports to be carried on French-flagged ships. The unions want the new energy shipment rules to be more closely tied to employment and training for French seafarers.

22/10/2015 16:14

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 15

INTERNATIONAL

shortreports EXTENSION URGED: the Seine Maritime District Council in France has called for a public service contract for the Dieppe-Newhaven ferry service to be extended to enable further discussions over the future of the operation. Council chairman Pascal Martin said ‘several months’ were needed to formulate the legal conditions for a completely new way of operating the link, which is currently run by the Côte d’Albâtre and Seven Sisters ferries chartered to DFDS.

The 155,873gt Bahamas-flag cruiseship Norwegian Epic is pictured entering the Damen Shiprepair yard in the French port of Brest last month to begin a major refit and maintenance programme

Singapore steps up training aid Support measures aim to boost numbers of local seafarers and port officers

Singapore’s government has introduced further measures to boost maritime training and employment — with extra funding to attract more than 1,200 new seafarers and port operations ofﬁcers over the next ﬁve years. Deputy prime minister Teo Chee Hean said the packages were being introduced in response to taskforce reports which recommended new initiatives to plug gaps in Singapore’ seafaring and shore-based maritime sectors. Initial measures are aimed at encouraging more Singaporeans to take up key positions in seafaring and port operations, with further action promised to boost employment in sectors such as

shipowning/operating, shipbroking and shipmanagement. Under the scheme, the Singapore Maritime & Port Authority (MPA) has committed S$4m (€2.55m) over the next three years to subsidise three programmes that will cover training costs for employers and offer study aid to Singaporean seafarers. Awards worth S$5,000 (€3,182) will be given to individuals signing up for training courses, and employers in the programme will be eligible for a grant of up to S$15,000 per trainee. The authority will reimburse companies for up to half the monthly allowance that they pay Singaporean cadets studying for the certiﬁcates of competency. A further award of up to

S$2,000 will be offered to candidates who complete training to become junior deck and engineer officers. Other awards aim to encourage locals to take further training to achieve higher class CoCs. Singaporean officers with a CoC Class 2 and 1 will get a monetary award of up to S$3,000 when they reach each of these stages. Employers will also be able to offer junior officers a training allowance worth up to S$6,000 while they pursue full-time CoC 2/1 programmes. Mary Liew, general secretary of the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union, welcomed the package and said the measures recognised that seafarers were ‘the heartbeat of global ship-

ping’ and ‘critical for the sustainability and the future of the maritime industry as a core pillar of our Singapore economy.’ Esben Poulsson, president of the Singapore Shipping Association, added: ‘These initiatives are hugely important in assessing the current manpower situation, addressing the possible reasons of attrition, and understanding how shipping can attract and retain more youth into our industry.’ Nautilus has urged the UK government to take note of the action being taken in Singapore and to ensure that it develops appropriate support during work being undertaken in response to the recent Maritime Growth Study.

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Graa Jakobsen commented: ‘We believe we are among the best ship managers and that our crews are among the best. But we want to verify and challenge this belief. We have therefore decided to contract thirdparty shipmanagers to take on the full shipmanagement of 12 of our vessels for a period of five years.’ Meanwhile, the head of Maersk has suggested that further consolidation of the container shipping fleet is needed as demand looks set to stay in the doldrums. ‘We are getting the expected benefits from vessel-sharing agreements, but more can come from consolidation,’ said chief executive officer Soren Skou told the Wall Street Journal. ‘This year, demand growth is extremely weak, around 1.5% to 2%.’

DANISH CHECKS: the Danish Environmental Protection Agency has reported an unnamed shipowner to the police for failing to meet the new sulphur emission rules. The agency says it has further oil samples from several ships that confirm too high a sulphur content, and they will form the basis for further legal cases. The EPA has installed ‘sniffers’ on the Great Belt bridge and on an aircraft that monitors passing traffic. WAGES BATTLE: crew members onboard a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier staged a protest last month in the French port of La Rochelle, claiming that they were owed more than £215,000 in unpaid wages. The ship’s Greek owners, Navigation Maritime, said the back pay had been blocked because of European rules restricting the transfer of cash from Greek banks. LIVESTOCK LOSS: crew members serving on a Lebanese-flagged livestock carrier were questioned by Brazilian police last month after the vessel sank in the Amazon port of Barcarena. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the incident, in which as many as 4,000 cows died when the 4,918dwt Haidar listed and partially submerged at its berth. GREEK PLEDGE: the newly-appointed Greek shipping minister has promised to boost seafarer training in the country. Thodoris Dritsas said that measures to increase the number of seafarers will support economic growth in Greece and ensure that the country remains a major maritime power. SCHELDT GROUNDING: emergency services were called out last month after the 4,998gt Malteseflagged general cargoship Kapitan Yakovlev ran aground close to the Dow chemical plant at Braakman, in the Netherlands, on the south bank of the West Scheldt Estuary. CREW POISONED: two Polish seafarers died as a result of food poisoning onboard a Maltese-flagged cargoship off the Ivory Coast last month. A further 13 crew members from the 6,030gt Nefryt had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

Maersk puts 12 vessels out to shipmanagers Maersk Line has decided to put a dozen of its containerships out to third party shipmanagers in a benchmarking exercise. It has lined up five-year contracts with the German companies Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) and E.R. Schiffahrt to manage six boxships each, all ranging between 2,500 and 11,000TEU. Each company will be given the responsibility for all aspects of management including crewing, technical operations, safety performance, environmental performance and energy efficiency in a move which Maersk described as an attempt to ‘create efficiency gains for the whole fleet by learning from industry best practice’. Head of technical operations Ole

INDIAN RULES: India’s central government has relaxed its cabotage rules for a period of five years to open up its coastal trades to foreign-flagged ro-ros and ro-pax vessels, car carriers, LNG vessels and project carriers. Ministers said that certain ship types are in short supply in the country and extra availability will make it possible to shift freight from congested road and rail to coastal shipping as the domestic fleet cannot meet the demand.

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Officers fined for grounding fined after it ran aground off the coast of Sweden last month. The A 47,000dwt Victoria, above, was stuck on a shoal off Fladen for a week and The master and chief officer of a Liberian-flagged bulker have been

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22/10/2015 16:14

16 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

YOUR LETTERS

What’s on onyour yourmind? mind? Tell your colleagues shipping. Keep yourTelegraph letter to ahave your name, address colleaguesin inNautilus NautilusInternational International— —and andthe thewider world of but you must let the maximum words if you canyour — though contributions will beand considered. Use number. a pen name or wider world300 of shipping. Keep letter tolonger a maximum membership just membership number you don’t want to be identifi in anyour accompanying — Telegraph, Nautilus 300your words if you can — thoughif longer contributions will ed — say soSend letter to thenote Editor, but you must let the Telegraph have your name, address and membership number. Send yourShrubberies, letter to the George Lane, be considered. International, 1&2 The Editor, International, 1&2number The Shrubberies, George Lane,Woodford, South Woodford, Use aTelegraph, pen nameNautilus or just your membership if you South London E18 1BD, or use head office fax London E18to 1BD, use head ceso faxin+44 (0)20 8530 1015, or— email+44 telegraph@nautilusint.org don’t want beor identifi ed —offi say an accompanying note (0)20 8530 1015, or email telegraph@nautilusint.org

Warsash move must be stopped the items in the June and P July Telegraphs on the subject

I would like to respond to

of Warsash Maritime Academy (WMA). I join the author of July’s letter in objecting to the suggestion that WMA should be moved from its inspired choice of estuarial location, to an inevitable loss of identity, within urban academia. I have been associated with Warsash since my pre-sea training days, beginning in January 1967. The experience for me was so full that it felt like three years had passed, instead of one. That was before I found out what the sea was really all about! Since then I have returned to Warsash at intervals — on mid-cadet release, a succession of short courses, as well as ‘Masters’ in 1980. In September this year, I attended and successfully completed a three and a half day STCW 2010 update and refresher course there. It is always a great pleasure for me to return and relive the memories of the longer stays. My interest extends further as an elected Nautilus Council and Warsash Association member and I wish to challenge those proposing this decision. This is necessary, as there was a time not so long ago when people in professional positions of authority could be trusted to

Survival craft training facilities at Warsash Maritime Academy’s pierhead Picture: Chris Clarke

make choices on behalf of others, for the right reasons. Is this so now? If it is, how otherwise can one account for those around me saying ‘this is a done deal’? Furthermore, after all my long association with Warsash, the ﬁrst notiﬁcation I received of possible eviction from the present site was last June, in this journal. How many others like myself would have liked to have known earlier and to have been consulted? Do those choosing to move the college have any more concern than for the increasing value of the existing Warsash estate? What is the nature of advice such executives may have received on the issue, from informed maritime sources? Through my long association with Warsash, I am concerned that a valuable part of Merchant

Navy heritage could be lost through moving the college, for reasons unlikely to serve the best interests of seafarers. During my STCW 2010 refresher course at Warsash last September, connections with the past are no longer apparent, such as the STS Moyana painting, within the North Ante Room, as well as the P&O sword that had also been displayed there for many years in a glass case. Where is the capstan now that was outside the Boat House? This was originally ﬁtted with capstan bars and used by cadets to haul the radar training vessel South Hill from the Hamble and into the Boat House for maintenance. Only the railway lines, leading out of the mud, remain as visual evidence today. In the South Ante Room that includes a bar for senior

students, there used to be plaques commemorating the lives of valued staff in the service of the old School of Navigation, as it was once called. Where have they gone? It is said the ashes of one of the college’s former Masters at Arms were sprinkled on the slope leading to the parade ground, known as ‘Blythe Approach,’ in his memory. How can those who share this knowledge remain silent, for speculators’ beneﬁts? Could there be a conscious strategy to conceal the proud role played by Warsash and obscure the memory of loyal staff, for some a lifetime’s dedication, who had been fundamental in contributing to the success of the college? The School of Navigation was established at its present Warsash site by the late Captain

Whalley Wakeford, one of the last masters to sail the Horn commercially, under both sail and steam. Apparently, as director, he put his finger on the chart to the east of the Hamble Estuary, declaring that was where his college would be built. Another example of his demonstrative, commanding and innovative nature was at the time of the Torrey Canyon disaster. No one knew what to do with the oil loaded onto trucks on the beaches. But Captain Wakeford said ‘bring it to Warsash!’ and used the bitumen to help build the former parade ground, now a car park, in conjunction with bamboo rafts. For me, a lasting image of the powerful rapport and relevance of Warsash to the shipping industry occurred during a Guest Night Dinner in 1967 when the Liner RMS Queen Mary passed the college, on one of her final entries to Southampton, and sounded her three steam whistles in a memorable salute. We all stood up and raised our glasses, in return. Such an extraordinary level of communication could never occur at the proposed new site of East Park Terrace, in Southampton City Centre! In January 1967, when I first joined Warsash, it was impressed upon me that the ratio between practical and academic work

was 50:50, for OND (Nautical Science) cadets. I would suggest this is still a valid concept today and crucial in distinguishing the training requirements of new Merchant Navy entrants from mainstream university students. The MN concept of vocational training, apprenticeships and the ‘sandwich course,’ with reasonable prospects of a good job at the end of it, strongly assert the need to maintain the autonomy of Warsash, at its admirably appropriate maritime location. I recall, when Captain Wakeford was ‘the director,’ Warsash was an autonomous college, within the University of Southampton. Although I am sure he considered the opportunity to obtain nationally recognised qualiﬁcations was desirable, in addition to those obtained vocationally, it is likely the present proposals by Southampton Solent University would have been seen as an almost inconceivable act of treachery. As a member of the Nautilus Council, who will stand with me to preserve Warsash Maritime Academy at its present site? Who cares enough about the tradition and heritage of our Merchant Navy to do so? Who will lobby their MP on the issue? MALCOLM GRAVES mem no 118081

We’re on Facebook. Replica ship would Have your say online Become a fan! Visit www.nautilusint.org be ﬁtting tribute to Last month we asked: Do you think the future of the shipping industry lies in the Far East? war service of MN What you’ll need when units preserved from both world F wars, but not one ocean-going British All three military services have

No 56% Yes 44%

This month’s poll asks: Do you think current maritime education and training programmes are meeting the industry’s needs, now and into the future? Give us your views online, at nautilusint.org

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merchant ship remains from either. Three Liberty cargo ships still exist: the two in the United States are active, the third is a museum ship in Greece. Several U-boats are conserved. Can the nation not afford to build a replica of one these merchant ships? It could be a mobile museum, with the tween decks fitted out with displays. She could spend a few weeks in each of the UK ports big enough to provide a berth for her; returning at, say, three-year intervals. She would be a memorial to the crews who sustained us during those dark times. There are all sorts of worthy candidates including: the Merchant Infantry Landing Ships, who played such an important part on D-Day; or the Merchant Aircraft Carriers, who were a comfort to crews as they crossed the black gap in the North Atlantic. But there is one tramp ship that was the parent of nearly three thousand ships in the Second World War, and the first cousin of hundreds more: the Empire Liberty. The plans of this ship were used for the hulls and engines

of the American-built Liberty ships: and those of her immediate predecessor, the Dorington Court, were used for the Canadian-built Forts Parks and the US-built Oceans. Given the sad state of our once thriving shipbuilding industry, the hull would probably have to be built overseas. For some years continental shipbuilders fitted out hulls that had been built for them in Poland, but with increasing costs there, the construction work has mostly moved to Romania. With the present downturn in the shipping and oil industries, building orders are being cancelled and berths must be freeing up — with a consequent downward pressure on costs. Some plans of the Empire Liberty and her family still exist. The Americans produced over 500 construction drawings for the Liberties, these probably could be located. One difficulty may be that the plans are mostly to a scale of 1/96, but there are several British universities who would be capable of modifying them to 1/100. ROY MARTIN Long retired — NEOU/MNAOA member

you ﬁrst go away to sea the Telegraph which gave hints and F tips about what to take onboard, I’d like to Following up on previous letters in

add my small bits of advice. I hope these are helpful.

A little first aid kit is handy. Medicine chests on vessels are very complex and are designed very well, but don’t cater very well for the everyday cough and cold — lemsips, throat pastilles, etc are not part of the requirements so the chances of them being onboard are slim, but the chances of you needing some over a four-month trip are quite high! The same goes for seasickness tablets: there’s a small stock as part of the medicine chest, but if you think you might be needing a few it’s a good idea to take your own. Take toiletries. Everything and enough for your whole trip, then a bit more. Very few vessels have a bonded store these days and you may not have many chances for getting ashore, so be prepared.

Don’t expect the internet. Not all companies or vessels have fast or reliable internet. Therefore, don’t assume you’ll have unlimited use or rely on it. Take money. If your trips are going to be global (deepsea) then always have some US dollars — probably around $50 in small bills — with you; it’s a currency that can be used anywhere in the world, while, sadly, sterling or euros aren’t recognised. Have documentation on you. Always carry your certificates and discharge book in your hand luggage. It’s also a good idea to keep a scanned copy of all your certificates. Also always make sure you get the agent’s contact details from your company before travelling out to the vessel. Most companies will issue a Letter of Guarantee for your travel, but if they don’t, at the very least get the agent’s details. mem no 182751

22/10/2015 18:54

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 17

YOUR LETTERS

MCA needs to clarify its routes to qualiﬁcation

THE VIEW FROM MUIRHEAD

concern raised after reading F about a meeting regarding training I am writing this based on a

Open registries are not all bad for the Republic of Vanuatu’s P international ship registry. We VMSL is the administrator

are responding to the article published in the October Nautilus Telegraph supporting the campaign against open registries. The economic truth is that open registries are here to stay as they provide vessel owners with an alternative to closed registries that do not respond to the needs of the vessel owner in a timely manner. As far as a level playing field, in most cases the international conventions implemented by the IMO and/or the ILO force all registries, whether closed or open, to follow the same rules. Countries that have neither ratified the specific convention/ code nor made it their national law are still forced to implement the convention because vessels that fly the flag of any state that has not ratified the subject convention shall not receive more favourable treatment. With regard to the campaign against open registries, the truth is that

no registry, whether closed or open, is immune to labour issues. No registry can police an owner to follow the rules 100% of the time to avoid labour issues. The Vanuatu registry, although not the largest, still has approximately 700 vessels and has had only three known labour disputes where the ITF has been involved. That is a percentage of 0.428%; far from the 36% stated in the subject article. In each case VMSL has supported the ITF in resolving the issues. One example was brought to light in the companion article in the same Telegraph issue, involving mv Wisla. Although the article fails to mention the fact, VMSL supported the efforts of the ITF to resolve the non-payment of back wages and repatriation issues by contacting the managers and owners of the vessel and reminding them of their obligations to pay and repatriate the crew in accordance with Vanuatu law. The registry’s support of the crew’s plight was supported even when the vessel’s

manager gave the excuse that non-payment was due to the crew demanding cash onboard only instead of the usual payments that were to be channelled through financial institutions in the Ukraine, due to the present ‘unstable situation’ in that country. Likewise, the initial ITF article mentions the inability of open registries to contribute to the protection of merchant crews against piracy. VMSL was one of the first open registries to allow private armed guards to board a vessel operating in known high risk areas, which after much debate by the IMO finally became the best preventive measure at the height of the piracy issue. The campaign instituted by Nautilus International and the ITF against open registries appears to lump them all in one negative category without acknowledging that all open registries are not the same. Captain MICHAEL DeCHARLES Executive Vice President Vanuatu Maritime Services Ltd

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needs. I am a UK engineer working towards my Second Engineer Motor ticket. My background is a university education, obtaining my EOOW ticket after my degree via Clyde Marine. Because of my engineering degree, my cadetship was accelerated — which has had its pitfalls. Because of the lack of clear information available, I have ended up having to sit an academic exam, which only became apparent once I had started my EK classes. Because of this, the expected completion of my ticket has been put back by nine months, and my past two leaves from work have been taken up with study and exam practice, meaning my actual downtime over the past 12 months from when I started my studies has been slashed to basically nil. Those studying for their higher tickets do not necessarily have the financial means or time to take multiple or extended leaves from work to be able to tack on extra classes and courses, and speaking to work colleagues and friends in the industry who herald from both the UK and overseas, they have voiced their concerns regarding the lack of information or clarity for what they have to do to achieve their next level of ticket. I have also heard of classes being held off of cadetships at certain

institutions in an attempt to secure future attendance (or business...). I would like Nautilus to raise these concerns with the MCA, along with the following: z finding a way to make the information clearer regarding all certificates and exams required to be passed by each person, perhaps with a ‘Letter of a Further Assessment’ to fully lay out what is needed. If the IAMI can be linked with this, so exemptions can be applied for via the MCA, then the information will be much clearer and known before embarking on studies z having a thorough look at the distance learning programmes in place at UK colleges. My experience of distance learning is that guidance and mentoring is difficult to access and is not readily available, giving those who do not attend college classes a significant disadvantage over those who attend college to sit their academics z ensuring the colleges are making business decisions that are in the best interest of the industry as a whole and those wishing to study rather than just their institution I believe that if the information and process was much simpler and clearer, those who want to progress in the industry will be more motivated to complete their studies, which in turn increases the likelihood of retaining them in the industry long term with superior qualifications for their work. NAME & NO SUPPLIED

Cargo sector has no excuse for deaths in enclosed spaces Ship Register’s report on the F investigation into the death of two I have read the Isle of Man

officers in an enclosed space onboard the Carisbrooke Shipping vessel Sally Ann C in March this year. This is a good report, concise and hitting all the right areas. If only more flag states would do the same! It would be easy from this to pour the blame on those onboard and the company, but Carisbrooke is no different from 99% of the other cargoship companies. The oil and gas sector in the North Sea and the tanker and chemical carrier companies have made attempts to deal with the problem, but despite all the warnings, seminars, and even advisory notes from the MCA and the IMO, the general cargo and bulk sectors still bury their collective head in the sand and cling to the industry’s motto, ‘If it’s not required by SOLAS, don’t do it’. The latest IMO recommendation calling for all ships to audit their spaces and list them, as referred to in the report, has been totally ignored by almost all shipping companies. Enclosed space equipment is still a rare commodity and, as we see from the report, the piece of rope is not a joke, it is a reality on such ships as these. The crew did well in the rescue with the sparse equipment and lack

of training they had, but think what a difference a resuscitator or meaningful exercises with a proper dummy may have meant. Or a proper enclosed space management system that would prevent anyone from entering without reference to this and would provide the data required both for entry and rescue. No shipping company today can excuse these failures, as they know full well what is available both in equipment and in training if they can be bothered. But, tragically, seafarers are dying from management failures to provide training and equipment. The IMO must also take its share of responsibility as they know that firm legislation is required, replacing the standard IMO word of ‘should’ with ‘must’. Only when we have definite legislation in place will companies like this be dragged from the stone age to at last to accept that enclosed spaces are dangerous and we must stop pretending that a few posters and words in SMS books will suffice. The Enclosed Space Management system designed by Mines Rescue Marine could have made a difference to this, and this system was known to Carisbrooke but they chose not to install it. Captain MICHAEL LLOYD mem no 103126

telegraph STAFF editor: Andrew Linington deputy editor: Debbie Cavaldoro production editor: June Cattini-Walker senior reporter: Sarah Robinson Dutch correspondent: Hans Walthie ADVERTISING Redactive Media Group 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP. Display adverts: Jude Rosset tel: +44 (0)20 7880 6217 Jude.rosset@redactive.co.uk Recruitment adverts: Paul Wade tel: +44 (0)20 7880 6212 tel: +44 (0)20 7880 6200 email: paul.wade @redactive.co.uk website: www.redactive.co.uk Although the Telegraph exercises care and caution before accepting advertisements, readers are advised to take appropriate professional advice before entering into any commitments such as investments (including pension plans). Publication of an advertisement does not imply any form of recommendation and Nautilus International cannot accept any liability for the quality of goods and services offered in advertisements. Organisations offering financial services or insurance are governed by regulatory authorities and problems with such services should be taken up with the appropriate body.

Incorporating the merchant navy journal and ships telegraph

ISSN 0040 2575 Published by Nautilus International Printed by William Gibbons.

GENERAL SECRETARY Mark Dickinson MSc (Econ) HEAD OFFICE 1&2 The Shrubberies George Lane, South Woodford London E18 1BD tel: +44 (0)20 8989 6677 fax: +44 (0)20 8530 1015 www.nautilusint.org NETHERLANDS OFFICE Schorpioenstraat 266 3067 KW Rotterdam Postbus 8575, 3009 AN Rotterdam tel: +31 (0)10 4771188 fax: +31 (0)10 4773846 NORTHERN OFFICE Nautilus House, Mariners’ Park Wallasey CH45 7PH tel: +44 (0)151 639 8454 fax: +44 (0)151 346 8801 SWITZERLAND OFFICE Gewerkschaftshaus, Rebgasse 1 4005 Basel, Switzerland tel: +41 (0)61 262 24 24 fax: +41 (0)61 262 24 25 DEPARTMENT EMAILS general: enquiries@nautilusint.org membership: membership@nautilusint.org legal: legal@nautilusint.org telegraph: telegraph@nautilusint.org industrial: industrial@nautilusint.org youth: ymp@nautilusint.org welfare: welfare@nautilusint.org professional and technical: protech@nautilusint.org Nautilus International also administers the Nautilus Welfare Fund and the J W Slater Fund, which are registered charities.

22/10/2015 18:54

18 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

MEMBERS AT WORK

A world of knowledge in one ship What was the research vessel Discovery doing passing under London’s Tower Bridge last month? ANDREW LININGTON went onboard to meet the ship’s master and find out…

The Royal Research Ship Discovery can usually be seen out at sea, supporting cutting-edge scientiﬁc studies. But last month the 5,592gt vessel sailed into the heart of London on a very different mission. The ship spent ﬁve days moored beside the Second World War veteran HMS Belfast hosting visits by VIPs, politicians, business leaders, journalists and members of the public, to showcase the work carried out by the National Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of the organisation’s 50th anniversary celebrations. ‘Bringing Discovery to London

is our chance to tell the world why environmental research is fundamental to the UK economy and societal wellbeing, and why there is still so much to come,’ said NERC chief executive Professor Duncan Wingham. Designed in Norway, built in Spain and delivered to NERC in July 2013, Discovery is the fourth vessel to bear the name and is one of the most sophisticated and advanced research vessels in the world, with the capability of operating from the tropics to the poles. During the London visit, the ship showed a wide range of oceanographic research equip-

Captain Jo Cox of the NERC flagship Discovery

ment, including a small tide prediction machine, a wave glider, an Argo ﬂoat, and a long-range Autosub. It also had displays of work undertaken by the British Antarctic Survey, the British Geological Survey, the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the National Centre for Earth Observation.

Since being deployed last year, the ship had been on nine research voyages, and the London visit was to be followed by a two-month voyage to the Bahamas, collecting data from NERC moorings in the Atlan-

The Discovery heads out of London after a successful visit

tic Ocean as part of the RAPID climate change project. Next year, British and Brazilian scientists will use Discovery to

WERE YOU AWARE that following the successul outcome of a judicial review in respect of two Seatax clients, (brought before the Courts by Nautilus in collaboration with Seatax Ltd as expert advisors on the Seafarers Earnings Deduction), it was deemed that the two Seatax clients did have a legitimate expectation in applying the only published Revenue Practice with regard to the application of a day of absence in relation to a vessel sailing between UK ports. HMRC did not want to accept this practice (although referred to in their very own publications) but have now accepted that expectations of a claim based on such practice would be valid until the published practice is withdrawn. Following on from this, HMRC have now conﬁrmed that this Practice is withdrawn as of the 14 February 2014. Seatax was the only Advisory Service that challenged HMRC on this point.

WHY TAKE CHANCES WITH YOUR TAX AFFAIRS? Let Seatax use their knowledge and 35 years experience to ensure you do not fall foul of the rules Please visit our website for full details of the case. OUR FEES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Annual Return ...................................................................................................... £215.00 inclusive of VAT at 20% NAUTILUS members in the UK sailing under a foreign ﬂag agreement on gross remuneration can obtain a 10% reduction on the above enrolment fee by quoting their NAUTILUS membership number and a 5% reduction on re-enrolment.

or ite, e now r W on re ph r mo : fo tails de Elgin House, 83 Thorne Road, Doncaster DN1 2ES. Tel: (01302) 364673 - Fax No: (01302) 738526 - E-mail: info@seatax.ltd.uk www.seatax.ltd.uk

18_discovery_SR edit.indd Sec2:18

travel to the NE Atlantic to study the formation of critical ocean minerals essential for ecoenvironmental technologies such as photovoltaic cells. Nautilus member Captain Jo Cox was one of two masters onboard for the London visit, and was taking Discovery back down the Thames for the return voyage to Southampton. ‘It will be cool driving her back out, and I am very pleased I didn’t have to turn her around in the Thames on the way in,’ she said. ‘I was quite happy to leave that to my fellow master, Antonio Gatti, as he has much more experience than me!’ Jo is the first female master in the NERC fleet, gaining the command role a year ago. Her working life started with an engineering apprenticeship at Land Rover and it was while working as a test engineer with the company that she was bitten by the seafaring bug. ‘I had always been a keen dinghy sailor, and Land Rover sponsored me for a 10-day trip on the tall ship Winston Churchill, which I loved. I was invited back as a watch leader and got talking to the officers about the range of opportunities in the Merchant Navy, and I started to think about taking a cadetship.’ During her Maritime London cadetship, in which she served on ships ranging from a 300,000dwt tanker to an old cargoship, Jo had six months of seatime with the British Antarctic Survey — which, she says, was the highlight of her cadetship. After qualifying, she secured a job serving as third officer on the research vessel James Clark Ross and went on to work on the other

BAS vessel, Ernest Shackleton. Jo gained her master’s certificate within a decade, but shortly after this, in 2012, she accepted a post ashore working as a government officer in a base on South Georgia. Jo said she loved her experience during the three seasons of working ashore, but she had no hesitation in applying for the vacant master’s position on Discovery. ‘It was an amazing opportunity and I am very lucky to serve on such a good ship with a British crew,’ she added. ‘It has been a steep learning curve over the past 12 months, but I am sure the first command is like this for everyone.’

“

It will be cool driving her back out, I’m pleased I didn’t have to turn her around in the Thames

”

Jo said she loves working at sea — and says the rewards and the job satisfaction are particular high points. ‘But I would never want to do anything other than a research ship,’ she said. ‘Everyone is so driven and so enthusiastic about their work, and the fascinating studies that we support are at the cutting edge of research into some of the most important challenges that society faces.’

22/10/2015 17:38

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 19

GM15 LIVERPOOL ‘Jobs, Skills and the Future’ was the theme for the 2015 General Meeting — the Union’s important policymaking conference, which was held in Liverpool last month. More than 100 members from all sectors of the shipping industry, inland navigation and marine-related services

attended the two-day meeting, discussing and determining a dozen motions on subjects ranging from alcohol at sea to partnership at work. The meeting also heard from a series of guest speakers, including International Transport Workers’ Federation maritime coordinator

Jackie Smith, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady and UK Chamber of Shipping leader Guy Platten. The following eight pages are packed with reports on all the key debates and decisions from the meeting, which will set the Union’s course for the next four years…

Conference Report Photography

Colin McPherson

‘Industry will fail without its skills’ Investment in maritime jobs and training is crucial for the future, general secretary warns

The UK government must look across the North Sea to ﬁnd proactive policies to combat the long decline of the British shipping industry, Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson told the opening session of the Union’s general meeting. ‘The Dutch maritime policy package illustrates how things could be different if the UK government had strategies to support shipping and investment in the skills of our young people,’ he said. ‘The Dutch have a highly structured and coordinated commitment to the future of the nation’s maritime skills — with 100% support for training costs and a job guarantee — which is delivering a reversal of the decline in the skills base,’ he told the opening session of the Union’s conference. Introducing the Council’s report to the conference, Mr Dickinson said Nautilus has been working hard to deliver the objectives set out in its strategic plan. The Union has been developing its strong commitment to international cooperation in response to the growing global pressures in the maritime sector. ‘Our priorities in Europe have been to see renewed initiatives in European ferry sector to protect members’ jobs and conditions,’ he pointed out. ‘We played a leading role in the removal of the exclusion of seafarers from ﬁve key social and employment directives covering workers’ rights to information and consultation and protection of the working conditions. ‘We have sought to ensure a response to the threats from piracy in East and West Africa and beyond, and lobbied against global trade deals that will weaken the employment rights of our members,’ he added. Mr Dickinson said a key challenge is building on the foundations of the international Maritime Labour Convention — the so-called ‘bill of rights’ for the world’s 1.2m seafarers. ‘We continue to highlight that the MLC is not a destination but a journey — a journey of continuous improvement,’ he stressed. ‘It is the Sea-

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Council vice-chairman Wilco van Hoboken presided over the 2015 General Meeting

Union at the cutting edge had the ambitious aim of being a F ‘paperless’ conference and Wilco van

The 2015 Nautilus General Meeting

Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson opens the Union’s 2015 General Meeting in Liverpool

farers’ Bill of Rights and set out to establish a decent standard as a minimum for all seafarers, but no one thought it was “job done” back in 2006.’ Protecting jobs and improving members’ terms and conditions remain core priorities for Nautilus, Mr Dickinson said. ‘We also work tirelessly to ensure that the industry is regulated in the best interests of members, their long-term job prospects, their professional development and status, and their health and safety,’ he said. ‘To do all of this, we have to be much more than a traditional trade union and we have had to also maintain and enhance our role as a professional association — a strong and vocal advocate for the industries and sectors in

which our diverse membership works, and striving for high professional standards and opportunities for career development.’ As a membership organisation, Nautilus seeks to reflect the needs and aspirations of its members and respond accordingly, Mr Dickinson told the meeting. The determination to be always available to respond to members has been delivered with a 24/7 support service, he added. Mr Dickinson concluded with a warning about the state of the shipping industry. ‘The past four years have been difficult, with the overhang from the 2008 to 2009 financial crisis still all-pervasive. ‘The impact of low oil prices has brought relief in some sectors but has had dire

consequences in others — not least in offshore oil, where thousands of our members are employed. ‘We continue to face serious challenges in working to progress longstanding strategic policy issues such as fatigue, manning levels, criminalisation, health and safety, welfare, and piracy,’ he added. ‘However, I genuinely believe our message is getting through, and our theme this week — jobs, skills and the future — is very fitting. It is a theme that the shipping industry and those who regulate it should reflect upon extremely carefully. Without the necessary investment in skills, our maritime and fluvial industries will fail to grow and prosper.’

Hoboken, who chaired the meeting, said that it was a visible sign of the way in which the Union is using innovative ways of keeping in touch with members. ‘This, believe me, is just the beginning of our aim to keep Nautilus at the cutting edge of communications,’ he told members as he introduced the Council’s report on the work of the Union over the past four years. Mr van Hoboken described the report as ‘a particularly important document because it is one that epitomises the democratic structures of Nautilus and the accountability that we hold dear. Council is the Union’s governing body, made up of serving seafarers and maritime professionals, and this is our report to you, the members.’ He said it demonstrated the impressive range and breadth of the work carried out for members and the way in which policies and objectives are clearly defined and closely focussed, with a dynamic new strategic plan giving everyone — members, officials and staff — a clear chart for the future and defined means to measure performance on the objectives. ‘The report reinforces the Union’s constant commitment to dialogue with members — best illustrated by the statistics showing the numbers of ship visits, bulletins and consultative exercises undertaken by officials,’ he noted. ‘It shows how Nautilus has developed its role not just at national level, but also as a key player in high-level discussions at the IMO, ILO and other global forums. Whether it’s fighting on fatigue, with the trail-blazing Project Horizon research, or campaigning for measures to get the investment in recruitment and training of the new generation of seafarers the world so badly needs, this report explains how Nautilus leads the way time after time.’

22/10/2015 17:38

20 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

GM15 LIVERPOOL

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We should also make sure that there is free wi-fi in every port around Mike Hannan the world

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MCA reform will help ease skills crisis, owners claim UK Chamber of Shipping chief urges united approach to the challenges facing the industry

The shipping industry is at a ‘critical juncture’ and needs action rather than warm words from government, the head of the UK Chamber of Shipping told the Nautilus General Meeting. In a presentation to the conference, Chamber CEO Guy Platten said a strong and confident shipping industry is essential — with a matching need for a strong and ambitious seafaring workforce. With global sea trade forecast to double over the next 20 years, there are significant opportunities for owners and seafarers, he suggested. But, he warned, the UK fleet is facing significant problems — declining by around one-third over the past five years and with a real danger that the UK could be seen as a country with a maritime past rather than a maritime future. ‘The knock-on effect is yet to be felt,’ he added, ‘but make no mistake, it will be. With a smaller shipowning base in the UK, the demand for British seafarers will fall, and the demand for maritime business services in London will disappear too.’ Mr Platten said there is no

simple answer to the problems, but owners want to see radical reform of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency to make the UK Ship Register more attractive to shipping companies. ‘I speak to many owners and lots of them tell me that there are profound problems with the way the MCA does business,’ he continued. ‘There is a need for change in the culture and the rewards system and the Agency needs to be more responsive to shipowners, working in partnership so that when issues do arise they can be resolved collectively.’ The Chamber leader dismissed fears that reform of the MCA would result in a lowering of standards. ‘The MCA’s reputation has been built on high standards and losing that will be throwing the baby out with the bath water,’ he added. ‘It needs to enforce the rules, maintain high standards, but so too does it need to be more dynamic and ambitious to win new business to the UK and allow the workforce and economy as a whole to feel the benefit.’ Mr Platten — who is a former Merchant Navy officer — said measures to make the UK flag more attractive would help to boost maritime skills. ‘For years

UK Chamber of Shipping CEO Guy Platten speaks at the Nautilus GM

— certainly all the time I have been a seafarer — we have talked about the maritime skills crisis,’ he added. ‘Now, we can come up with new schemes and new campaigns all we like, but we will not ﬁx the crisis until we are able to create more jobs. And we cannot

create more jobs without reform of the MCA.’ Questioned by members, Mr Platten admitted that there is a problem in finding first jobs for newly-qualified OOWs trained by tonnage tax companies, and the Merchant Navy Training Board is

trying to provide help for them. ‘However,’ he added, ‘our experience is that seafarers generally get jobs within three to six months of qualifying.’ European seafarers may not be able to compete on costs, he added, but they can compete on the basis of added value through quality training and high skills. Mr Platten said it is a fallacy to suggest that young people are no longer interested in working at sea. ‘It is just that there are not enough jobs for them,’ he said. ‘We need to ensure that our seafarers have the right skills to encourage owners to employ them.’ He urged Nautilus and its members to work with the UK Chamber to unify the industry and grow the maritime economy. ‘I want us to ﬁnd new ways of working together — industry and workforce united,’ he added. ‘Because, for all the difﬁculties we face, there are huge opportunities out there. Global seatrade will double in the next 20 years — where will the seafarers come from? I want those jobs to be created here. A vocal UK industry and union movement working together means we can shape the global industry to our advantage.’

‘Jobs are haemorrhaging away’ for a focused campaign to F secure more effective measures to

Nautilus members have called

Lay reps share success stories at get-together representatives and liaison F officers from a broad spread of More than 20 Nautilus lay

companies held a special gettogether ahead of this year’s General Meeting, pictured above. Serving officers from companies including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, P&O, Maersk and Thames Clippers held talks with head of organising and recruitment Garry Elliott and senior assistant organiser Lee Moon. ‘Our lay reps play an increasingly important role in the work of the Union and we were able to exchange views and experiences on the best ways in which we can help them to help members even more effectively,’ said Mr Elliott.

20_gm15.indd Sec2:20

‘We want to be able to share success stories and achievements for members — especially in negotiations and on legal cases — and we also discussed further training, including refresher courses, for our lay reps,’ he added. ‘We talked about recruitment strategies and received some excellent feedback on the “introduce a colleague” scheme that is currently taking place,’ Mr Elliott said. ‘The meeting also covered the ship visitors’ directory that we are developing and the assistance that lay reps provide in our college visit programme, including presentations on subjects such as drug and alcohol policies.’

promote seafarer employment and training in Europe. The General Meeting voted to support a motion expressing concern at the long-term decline in the number of EU seafarers and the threat that this poses to the broader maritime cluster. General secretary Mark Dickinson said the motion reflected the theme of the conference — jobs, skills and the future. ‘Shipping has been facing a skills crisis for decades,’ he pointed out. ‘Years of under-investment in recruitment and training, coupled with the remorseless drive to find ever cheaper sources of seafarers, have put the industry into a position where it is crying out for properly trained and experienced personnel. Not just in shipping but in our inland waterways too. ‘And that’s at a time of retrenchment and recession. Had we not experienced the global slump in seaborne and waterborne trade of the past couple of years, heaven knows how the world fleet would have kept moving,’ he stressed.

Martyn Gray

Mr Dickinson said there are ‘worrying’ signs for the future as the number of new entrants consistently fails to match the number of seafarers retiring from the industry. ‘Where will we get the skilled personnel we need for vital shore-based posts in safety-critical areas such as vessel traffic services and survey and inspection or for economically-critical maritime cluster roles such as marine law, ship management and maritime education? ‘There will always be a need

for people with nautical skills in a world where maritime and inland waterways trade literally oils the wheels of our globalised just-in-time economies,’ Mr Dickinson told the meeting. Seconding the motion, Jessica Tyson warned that jobs are ‘haemorrhaging’ away. ‘We seem to be perpetually chasing to keep up to ensure there are sufficient skills in the industry,’ she pointed out. ‘Without us, the world would not operate.’ Martyn Gray described the motion as ‘extraordinarily important’. Experienced seafarers are of fundamental importance to a wide range of positions across the maritime sector, he pointed out, and continued decline will put many key services and industries at risk. Andrew Armstrong said he was impressed by the approach taken in the Netherlands, where cadets are guaranteed a job at the end of their training. ‘There is a real problem in trying to find work experience for our cadets,’ he added. ‘There is lots of interest in seagoing careers and lots of young people wanting to go to sea, but we need to find the jobs for them.’

Norman Martin

Members must get improved IT access Meeting backed a motion H calling for Nautilus to make crew

Members attending the General

communications a core agenda item in negotiations with employers. The motion points out that the Maritime Labour Convention states that seafarers should be given ‘reasonable’ access at ‘reasonable’ cost — and it expresses concern at the evidence showing extreme variations in the quality of communications provision for seafarers and the frequent limitations in terms of cost, bandwidth, and access. As well as urging the Union to ensure that members get high quality onboard communications, the motion asks Nautilus to exploit new technology to enhance information flows with members through the development of apps and other digital communications. Assistant general secretary Marcel van den Broek told the meeting: ‘The world is changing fast and we are all embracing new technology. Seafarers simply will not accept being 20 years behind the rest of society.’ Good communications will improve the quality of life for seafarers and companies that fail to provide decent facilities for their crews will find increasing problems in recruitment and retention, he warned. Seconding the motion, Norman Martin emphasised the importance of keeping young people connected early in their careers. ‘Cadets on their first trip to sea need to get support from ashore,’ he pointed out. ‘It is very important for those who are vulnerable that they can have access to help from their families and from their trainers on land.’ Mike Hannan said he had recently been working on a cruiseship and was struck by the number of crew who went in search of a decent connection as soon as the vessel arrived in port. ‘It is not just employers who need to provide good communications, and we should also make sure that there is free wi-fi in every port around the world,’ he added. John Dodd said he supported the motion, but wanted to sound a note of caution about the number of seafarers making phone calls or emailing while on duty. ‘We need to be careful,’ he said. ‘There should be a set of guidelines about where and how communications are used. We have to stop the distraction.’

22/10/2015 16:14

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 21

GM15 LIVERPOOL

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Flags of convenience, lax regulation and minimal training — all are driving a race to TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady the bottom…

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Partnership approach is backed, but it doesn’t mean the Union is a pushover its long-standing policy of A promoting the concept of partnership Nautilus should re-launch

Iain MacKenzie

Ken Konasik

working with progressive employers, the General Meeting decided. Members voted unanimously in favour of a motion urging the Union to encourage employers to embrace ‘practical policies that enable members to have a voice in company strategy and the opportunity to ensure that the impact of staff is considered in any decision’. ‘There is a debate within many unions about whether negotiators are too tough or not tough enough,’ senior national organiser Ronnie Cunningham told

Royal Fleet Auxiliary deck officer cadet Sarah Stevens, left, won a prize draw for members who took part in the survey. She was presented with an iPad by Jessica Tyson, right, chair of the Nautilus Women’s Forum

the meeting. ‘However, we believe the partnership approach is the right one.’ Partnership is about developing a joint commitment with management to the success of companies, with mechanisms to develop meaningful dialogue and transparency, he explained. Done properly, it ensures that changes can be introduced through consensus rather than resistance, and enables issues to be dealt with before they become problems. However, Mr Cunningham stressed, it should not be assumed that the Union is a pushover because it adopts a friendly, polite and

professional approach to employers. ‘If we disagree and if members believe that we need to move along the road to a dispute, that is what we will do,’ he added. Seconding the motion, Iain MacKenzie commented: ‘Partnership is the way forward. Conflict always leaves a bitter taste and we all have a vested interest in making sure that the business works. If it doesn’t work, then we won’t work.’ And Ken Konasik added: ‘I keep telling people on the other side of the table that we are not your enemy. Fairness is what we look for and all we want is a fair share of the rewards that are generated by our work.’

Ronnie Cunningham

Union rights at risk, TUC warns General secretary says government proposals are ‘worst attack in 30 years’

Survey will shape P Nautilus services Nautilus membership? Are you F satisfied with the services and benefits What do you want from your

provided by the Union? These were among the questions members were asked earlier this year, and the results of a new independently-produced report on the survey findings were revealed at the General Meeting. The report follows the third in a series of membership attitude surveys conducted for the Union over the past 16 years and is based on detailed feedback from almost 2,000 members in the Nautilus UK, Dutch and Swiss branches. The findings were independently analysed by the Labour Research Department, and the report shows widespread satisfaction with the services provided by Nautilus. Satisfaction with the Union’s performance in a range of areas was slightly more positive than in previous surveys, except for efforts on training opportunities. Members ranked pay as the top priority for the Union’s collective bargaining negotiations — although its importance has declined slightly from the previous surveys, with improved communications now ranked almost as high. Those who had used the Union’s services mostly rated their experience as good or very good. Approval rates were better than in past surveys,

21_gm15.indd 21

especially for pension enquiries and insurance services. Presenting the findings to the meeting, director of campaigns and communications Andrew Linington described the report as extremely important and said the results would be used to shape the future work of Nautilus. ‘This research demonstrates how the Union is listening to its members and with a solid body of evidence behind us, stretching back to 1999, we have valuable and complex data showing trends in demand,’ he added. Members at the meeting voted to support a motion welcoming the findings, and calling for the creation of a Council working group to analyse the survey results in detail and to assess the implications for the Nautilus Strategic Plan and the work of all relevant departments. The working group will also examine the feedback on the benefits and services offered by the Union, and will be tasked with producing a proposed plan of action in response to the key findings. Speaking in support of the motion, David Gatenby commented: ‘We are all in the people business and communications are key. We have to do something with this feedback as a lot of time and effort has been expended in doing this survey and it is important to address the findings.’

Nautilus members should be very proud of their union, the head of the TUC told the General Meeting. General secretary Frances O’Grady described Nautilus as ‘a real champion for the jobs, skills and safety of seafarers — wherever they come from’. She told the conference that Nautilus is ‘a powerful force for good’ and a shining example of what ‘intelligent international trade unionism can achieve’ — addressing issues such as ﬂags of convenience, the perils of piracy, inhumane working hours and cost-cutting. ‘Nautilus is leading the way and showing that solidarity with workers across borders is not just one of the trade union movement’s enduring ideas, but in an industry like shipping is an absolute necessity.’ Ms O’Grady noted the way which the oil price slump has hit seafaring jobs in the offshore support vessel sector, with operators undermining terms and conditions and shedding highlyskilled jobs. And she expressed concern that exploitation has become the norm in some parts of the UK shipping industry: ‘It cannot be right that the minimum wage is only paid to seafarers in UK internal waters, leaving some overseas seafarers working 70 or 80 hour weeks, for barely more than £2 an hour. The TUC’s position is clear: we need justice and equality for

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady praised the work done by Nautilus

all seafarers working on UK-registered ships — whatever passport they hold.’ Ms O’Grady said health and safety is critical to securing the future of the shipping industry. ‘Flags of convenience, lax regulation and minimal training — all are driving a race to the bottom which ends up with too many workers losing out,’ she argued. ‘From the perils of piracy to inhumane working hours, costcutting is making shipping more dangerous than should be acceptable in any civilised sector.’ The TUC general secretary urged Nautilus members to support the campaign against the UK government’s Trade Union Reform Bill — warning that ‘it is

the biggest attack on trade union rights that we have faced in more than 30 years’. Nautilus tabled a motion at last year’s TUC Congress calling for the government to allow online voting in trade union elections. And Ms O’Grady told the Nautilus meeting: ‘If the Bill was really about improving turn-out, you have to ask why — so far — the government has refused to countenance our alternative proposals for modern voting methods.’ The Conservative Party had just used an online vote to select its candidate for London Mayor, she pointed out. ‘If it’s good enough for Conservative members, then surely it’s good enough

for trade unionists too.’ She warned that measures contained within the Bill — including plans to allow employers to replace workers who are on strike with agency staff — will amount to ‘state-sanctioned strike-breaking’ that would embitter industrial relations and make it harder to resolve disputes. ‘Most people understand that strikes are a last resort — not least for the workers who stand to lose pay if they vote for them,’ she said. ‘But without the right to strike we wouldn’t have equal pay, we wouldn’t have health and safety and we wouldn’t have fair pay.’ The proposals represent ‘a serious assault on civil liberties unprecedented in a free and democratic country’, she added, and they have been condemned by the human rights organisations Liberty and Amnesty International. Ms O’Grady urged members to help promote the positive role that unions play at work and in society. ‘I am very proud of what unions do and I know you are too,’ she stated. ‘Now more than ever, we need to stand together not just in Britain but in Europe and worldwide. Together we’ve got to shape the debate about the future — showing that the way to building a stronger economy and fairer society in Britain is not through attacking trade unions, but empowering us.’

22/10/2015 16:15

22 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

GM15 LIVERPOOL

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Our members on the RFA Argus didn’t just do the job they were sent to do in Sierra Leone — they gave much more Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson

Well deserved award for wise Union trustee A

Nautilus paid tribute to one of its long-serving trustee directors with the presentation of the Union’s Nevins & Griffiths Award to Gordon Thompson, who has stepped down from the role after 20 years of service. General secretary Mark Dickinson said the award was created by the Union in 1989 to honour outstanding service and achievements. It has been made only six times since then and it would be hard to select a more worthy recipient than Gordon Thompson, he added. ‘Nautilus trustee directors are chosen for their wisdom, experience and accumulated knowledge, and we are indeed fortunate to have such a rich range of expertise to provide professional guidance and support to Council,’ Mr Dickinson explained. ‘Gordon has been the epitome of all that we would wish for in a trustee. Loyal, dedicated and always ready to assist with his profound depth of knowledge and understanding.’ Mr Thompson became a trustee in 1995, following a prominent seagoing and shore-based career. He served at sea as an engineer officer for nine

years, mainly with Blue Star Line, before going ashore in 1959 to work as a marine surveyor. Work in the marine offices at Hull, London and Newcastle was followed by appointment to the Department of Transport’s headquarters in 1965, where he was involved in the investigation of marine casualties among other duties. From 1976 until 1982, Mr Thompson ran the department’s offshore safety section — dealing with oil and gas installations in the then rapidly expanding UK sector of the North Sea. His final post was as surveyor-general — a position he held until December 1992. Mr Dickinson said this experience had been invaluable to the Union, and Mr Thompson — a quiet and modest man — had always been ready and able to provide Nautilus with wise words and advice. Mr Thompson said he was proud to receive the award. ‘This is the best union I have seen — and I have seen a few in my time,’ he added. ‘Nautilus should be a model for others to follow. It has got everything.’

RFA office Nautilus Award presented to members wh

Retiring Nautilus trustee director Gordon Thompson, with his wife Shirley and general secretary Mark Dickinson Picture: Andrew Linington

GM enriched by impressive images smiling seafarers — Nautilus A asked members for their best shots

Stormy seas, striking sunsets,

of life at sea and, once again, the floodgates opened with a remarkable selection of images which were on show at the Union’s General Meeting. Nautilus has been running its Life At Sea photography competition since 1997, as part of the wider drive to raise public and political awareness of the shipping industry and the essential role played by merchant seafarers. The competition aims to give seafarers the chance to show their often hidden working lives to the wider public — giving a taste of both the good and the bad aspects of life at sea — and many of the entries will be used in the Union’s work to promote the shipping industry and maritime careers. Presenting the award, Rob Mathieson of competition sponsors Inmarsat said he had been impressed by the quality of the entries, and selecting the winners had been a hard task. First prize — £1,000 — went to Captain Richard Turnbull, a master serving with Shell International Shipping Services, whose portfolio included some stunning shots, including an amazing image of a cargo tank inspection. He was away at sea and was unable to attend the prize-giving. The second prize winner — Andrew Walder, a second officer

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Royal Fleet Auxiliary officers who played a key role in the UK mission to combat the spread of the Ebola virus were presented with the Nautilus Award at the Union’s General Meeting in Liverpool. Captain David Eagles, commanding officer of the RFA vessel Argus during the six-month deployment to Sierra Leone, accepted the award on behalf of the crew who served during the mission to provide vital aviation support and medical capability to the UK efforts to tackle Ebola. RFA Argus sailed to Sierra Leone from Falmouth in September last year, with more than 350 tri-service personnel onboard and returned in April this year. During the deployment, the ship helped to establish medical treatment centres ashore and transported medical workers to the areas most affected by the disease. At the General Meeting, Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson said he was presenting a very special award to honour the very special work undertaken by members onboard Argus. ‘In honouring our RFA members with this award, Nautilus pays tribute to their often unsung dedication to duty and their increasingly impressive record of service,’ he added. ‘They didn’t just do the job they were sent to do. As is so often the case with the RFA, they gave much more,’ Mr Dickinson said. ‘From raising sponsorship by rowing the distance from Falmouth to Freetown, holding a reindeer racing night on the flight deck on Christmas Eve, and donating a day’s pay, they raised thousands of pounds to support local charities and welfare services.’ Mr Dickinson said he hoped the award would highlight the impressive range of work undertaken by the RFA despite being starved of resources. ‘The RFA has had a tough time in recent years,’ he pointed out. ‘Defence cuts have hit hard, public sector pay policies have hit hard, yet our members have continued to demonstrate dedication

Left to right: Chief Officer (E) Padd general secretary Mark Dickinso

and professionalism and a co service in some extreme and tions.’ Capt Eagles said he was plea the award on behalf of the ship an amazing experience which us for ever,’ he added. ‘I doubt i anything again for which I wil It was an extraordinary six mo we had just two periods of six side. The ship never missed a through the professionalism o Former Nautilus/RFA lia David Gatenby served as chief

From one inspirat Campbell was presented with the Union’s A Victoria Drummond Award during this year’s Nautilus member Captain Barbara

Second prize winner Andrew Walder (right of picture) with Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson and Rob Mathieson of sponsors Inmarsat. Mr Walder was the only photo competition prizewinner home from sea and available to receive his award in person at the General Meeting Picture: Andrew Linington

serving with Natural Environment Research Council/British Antarctic Survey — submitted some breathtaking pictures during voyages onboard RRS Ernest Shackleton during the South Georgia Heritage Trust rat eradication project in February this year and in the Weddell Sea in March. Some of his photographs were taken using a DJI Phantom quad copter which he modified during the trip south, adding a gimballed mount for a GoPro camera, a video sender

and a heads-up display of flight information to enable him to see from the point of view of the camera when in flight — something he describes as ‘the ultimate selfie stick!’ Mr Walder did have a head start in the competition — he had completed a degree in documentary photography at the University of Wales College in Newport before joining the Merchant Navy in 2002. The third prize winner — Captain Nigel Prosser, a master serving with Swire Pacific — was praised for his

excellent entries, including a great shot of a sextant in use. He was at sea when the awards were given out. Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson commented: ‘We are grateful to Inmarsat for sponsoring this year’s competition. We always enjoy running it and we are constantly impressed by the photographic talent displayed by seafarers. There were some superb submissions that truly captured the spirit of the competition and showed some of the less-seen aspects of their varied working lives.’

General Meeting in honour of her extensive career achievements and her work to provide life-changing seagoing experiences to disabled people. Capt Campbell, who was one of P&O’s first female cadets, is now in her 40th year of seagoing service. She served on cargoships and with P&O Cruises and P&O Scottish Ferries, before moving to sail training ships. Having gained her Master’s Foreign Going in 1986, she joined the Jubilee Sailing Trust in 1996 and has been a master for the past 16 years, in command of the square-rigged ships Lord Nelson and Tenacious — vessels that give physically disabled people an opportunity to play an active role in running the ship. The award is made to female members of the Union as a long-standing tribute to Victoria Drummond — the first woman to serve as a chief engineer officer in the Merchant Navy. A god-daughter of Queen Victoria, Victoria Drummond was born in 1894, and after an

engineering apprenticeship ashore to sea in 1922 as Tenth Engineer ab Funnel’s Anchisesa. While serving as second engine Dutch ship in 1940, she was involve of the British Expeditionary Force. L she joined the ss Bonita and went o MBE and a Lloyd’s War Medal for br conduct and devotion to duty when bombed in the Atlantic. She went on to sail on many oth and after the war her career include a superintendent, second engineer 1959 until her retirement in 1962 — engineer. Presenting the award, Nautilus secretary Mark Dickinson said: ‘Vict persevered with her career through discrimination and we are proud to today. The award in her name pays women at sea today — who, as our harassment research has shown, m difficulties in this male-dominated Mr Dickinson said Capt Campbe worthy winner of the award, and he

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I was impressed by her calm confidence and ability to take us all on an amazing Member of Captain Barbara Campbell’s crew adventure

hey

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ers honoured who served in Sierra Leone mission to combat Ebola virus

Pictured above from left to right are Fleetwood Nautical Campus cadets Helen Astle, Matthew McGowan, Ed Chapman, Chris Carter and George Tetsell, who all made a guest appearance at the Union’s General Meeting. The five third phase trainee officers said that they had been delighted to be clapped as they entered the conference room and were touched that members had shown so much interest in them and their training experience .

Longstanding member wins recognition for loyal service member Eric Harcus must A surely be one of the oldest seafarers At the age of 81, Nautilus

) Paddy McMillen; Second Officer (CIS) John Wainman; Chief Officer (LS) David Gatenby; Captain David Eagles; and Nautilus kinson Picture: Colin MacPherson

a commitment to and testing condis pleased to receive e ship’s crew. ‘It was which will live with oubt if I will ever do h I will be so proud. x months in which of six hours alongssed a beat, purely ism of our people.’ A liaison ofﬁcer chief ofﬁcer (logis-

tic supply) during the deployment and received a Task Force Commander’s Commendation for outstanding service during the operation. ‘My job was to ensure that we got all the food, essential stores and supplies that we needed to maintain the operation for the ship’s company,’ he explained. ‘We have something like 300 people onboard instead of the normal 80 or 90, and served around three-quarters of a million meals during the deployment. ‘I joined the ship ﬁve days before it deployed — really in at the deep end!’ Mr

Gatenby said. ‘I also took on the role of welfare and personnel matters for the whole of the ship’s company. But I’m very proud to have been part of the mission. It was a difﬁcult operation, as there was no host nation support because of the problems in the area, and we were not sure how long we would be there for. ‘This was an operation that allowed the ship to realise its potential in delivering helicopter support for the work ashore,’ he added. ‘It was exactly what was needed and we were so versatile that they didn’t want to let us go.’

ational career to another ashore, she first went eer aboard Blue ngineer onboard a nvolved in the rescue orce. Later that year went on to receive an for bravery for her when the ship was ny other convoys, ncluded service as gineer and — from 962 — as chief utilus general d: ‘Victoria Drummond rough hardship and oud to honour her e pays tribute to the as our bullying and wn, may often face nated industry.’ mpbell was a very and he praised her

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work to encourage and mentor cadets serving on her vessels. ‘You have been an amazing ambassador for seafaring,’ he told her. ‘Your career path has not only taken you to the top of your profession, but has helped to inspire others to follow in your footsteps. ‘It’s also one in which you have enriched the wider community, by giving disabled people the chance to experience life at sea. As the Jubilee Sailing Trust says, focusing on what people can do rather than what they cannot really does change lives.’ Mr Dickinson quoted a crew member on a recent voyage under Capt Campbell’s command: ‘It’s empowering to see a woman do what she loves in a typically man’s profession, and do it well. Having a female captain made the voyage even more special for me. I was impressed by her calm confidence, boldness and ability to take us all on an amazing adventure.’ Capt Campbell said she was delighted to receive the award — almost 40 years to the day since she joined her first ship in the Royal Albert Docks in London. ‘I would never have dreamed then that I would be doing what I am today,’ she added.

General secretary Mark Dickinson presenting Captain Barbara Campbell with the Victoria Drummond award at the General Meeting Picture: Andrew Linington

still working in the Merchant Navy. His long service — and 52 years of Union membership — was honoured at the Nautilus General Meeting, where he was presented with a special gold pin by general secretary Mark Dickinson, who paid tribute to his remarkable loyalty and dedication. Born on the island of Papa Westray, in Orkney, Mr Harcus followed a family tradition in going to sea — as he had uncles who had served in the Merchant Navy. However, when he first left school at the age of 16 he worked on a farm and went on to be a gunner in the Royal Artillery during his national service. He first went to sea in 1954, serving with Dennison onboard a cargoship running between Sharpinsay Island and Kirkwall — often carrying cattle to market. ‘All the cargo was winched aboard,’ he recalls, ‘and we would have about a dozen cattle and lots of farmers onboard.’ He went on to serve on another ship that carried eggs between Kirkwall and Leith, before switching to his first coaster — the Sunderland vessel Glenside, which carried coal between Northumberland and the Orkney Islands. Gaining his officer certification in 1962, Mr Harcus went to work on the Orkney Steam Navigation Company ferries Earl Thorfinn and Orcadia. Wanting to progress further, he gained his Home Trade mate’s certificate and joined the Hullgate Shipping Company in 1964, carrying cargoes such as coal and iron ore as far afield as Cannes, in France. He also served on the John Stewart vessel Yewhill and on Burns & Laird cargoships and passenger

Mark Dickinson presenting a gold pin to 81 year old Nautilus member Eric Harcus for his 52 years of membership Picture: Andrew Linington

vessels, before moving to the Caledonian Steam Packet Company not long before it merged with MacBrayne’s to become Caledonian MacBrayne — initially working on the Clyde ferries then transferring to the Western Isles services. Mr Harcus went on to serve with Klondyke Shipping of Hull, Arklow Shipping of Ireland, Lapthorns — where he gained his first command — and Admiralty support vessels on the Clyde. Only last year he was working as skipper on a dredger in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, and his certificate remains valid until April next year. ‘It’s been a good life and I still

enjoy it after all this time,’ he says. ‘Life at sea is good now, although it is getting so highly pressurised and everything is cut down to the bare minimum. ‘I would certainly recommend it to young people today,’ he adds. ‘You have to put your heart into it and it is definitely not a nine to five job — it’s a 24-hour job, and cadets should be forewarned.’ Mr Harcus says he has seen lots of changes — some of them in the demarcation of roles onboard and many of them related to equipment. ‘You just have to adapt all the time — although it costs a lot to do all the courses,’ he reflects.

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The MLC has set the basement in the race to the bottom. Now we seek to establish the ground floor Martyn Gray

Trade pact ‘puts shipping at risk’ Meeting agreed a motion F expressing concern at the impact Members at the General

of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the US and Europe, and expressing support for the US maritime unions in their defence of the Jones Act measures to protect their shipping industry. Proposing the motion, Martyn Gray told the meeting that the TTIP was ‘sly, sinister and spurious’ — and did not do as it claimed. Trade tariffs already exist to protect small and medium sized economies from large economies flooding the market with an over-supply of cheaper goods, he pointed out. TTIP, and the similar Canadian deal, CETA, will affect seafarers as they attempt to remove regulations like the Jones Act and would continue the ‘race to the bottom’ on terms and conditions which began with flags of convenience, Mr Gray said. The motion called for Nautilus to campaign alongside other organisations for the immediate suspension of negotiations on TTIP and CETA, support calls for legislation to protect seafarers and other workers from unfair competition, and to work with the ETF to urge the European

Union to consider legislation based on the strategic aims of the US Jones Act. Supporting the motion, Henk Eijkenaar said he had recently attended a meeting at the European Trade Union Congress which highlighted how these agreements could have far-reaching effects on people’s daily lives, as well as their working conditions. ‘Regulations regarding protection of food will need to be equal,’ he said. ‘That means we will lose the current protections that we have against genetically modified foods for example. ‘It is also endangering our public sectors because once an industry has been privatised it will not be possible to re-nationalise them.’ John Thompson warned that it will affect the NHS in the UK, as this will be open to privatisation. The market could be flooded by drugs from US pharmaceutical companies, he said. Tony Minns also supported the motion, noting that the agreement would be at the ‘detriment to the democracy of our lives’ and the public would become dictated to by big business. g All attendees at the meeting were encouraged to sign the petition against TTIP which can be found at https://stop-ttip.org/

Federation seeks to widen support F

Members at the General Meeting voted to support a motion calling for the Union to continue developing the membership and scope of the Nautilus Federation and its associated international activities. General secretary Mark Dickinson told the meeting that the Federation is all about practical solidarity with like-minded unions around the world, providing mutual assistance to members wherever they may be. ‘I would like to nail the myth that the Nautilus Federation is incompatible with the ITF,’ he added. ‘It is entirely consistent with ITF policies and allows us to share resources and a network of support.’ ‘This is not a new idea,’ he stressed. ‘We are reworking something from the past, when Captain William Coombs launched the Officers (Merchant Navy) Federation in 1928 as a means by which officers’ organisations could cooperate and work together in

common effort whilst retaining their individuality. We are now working in the 21st century to develop the Nautilus Federation in a similar spirit and with similar objectives.’ Mr Dickinson said the Federation is focused on the delivery of practical support and mutual benefits to members, enhancing the professional support that can be provided — notably on legal, industrial and technical issues. But, he stressed, Nautilus will continue to maintain its strong commitment and contribution to the work of the European Transport Workers’ Federation, the ITF and the International Federation of Ship Masters’ Associations. Henk Eijkenaar seconded the motion. ‘Nautilus is doing a very good job in reactivating this federation,’ he added. ‘We are living in a globalised world and I am very comforted to know that when I am on the other side of the world there is a union there that will support me.’

Action plan for waterways Meeting unanimously approved F a motion calling for an action plan Members at the General

to address problems in the European inland navigation industry. International officer Nick Bramley said the sector remains one of the most neglected in the transport industry and its employees suffer some of the lowest wages and worst working conditions.

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He said the motion — which seeks measures to improve training and certification, implement a working time agreement, conduct research into fatigue, and to oppose cuts in crewing levels and social dumping — was vital to show that boatmen deserve the same respect, the same fair pay and the same decent working conditions as all other maritime professionals.

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ITF to focus on key global networks ‘Air of change’ will help to sharpen multinational campaign strategies

The International Transport Workers’ Federation is making fundamental changes to the way in which it works so that it can more effectively respond to changes in key sectors, maritime coordinator Jackie Smith told the Nautilus General Meeting. Critical issues in the shipping industry include piracy and security, fair treatment of seafarers, flag state performance, new global trade agreements and the challenge of enforcing the Maritime Labour Convention, she explained. There is also an increasing worry about what might happen if a coastal state refuses to accept migrants rescued by a merchant ship, she added. Against this background, Ms Smith described an ‘air of change’ within the ITF. New programmes have been adopted to ensure it works in a more streamlined and unified way, better meeting the needs of affiliate unions such as Nautilus, she said. A new strategic approach will see the ITF focusing on key transport hubs and corridors, engaging with key industry players and building mass membership, Ms Smith told the meeting. Campaigns are also being sharpened

ITF maritime coordinator Jackie Smith

up, with greater strategic planning and being made more relevant and speciﬁc, with a refocus on core issues. Ms Smith praised Nautilus for its work on global issues and its engagements with other unions across borders. ‘Ownership structures and transport companies have been changing across the world,’ she pointed out. ‘Gone are the days when it was a national company and national negotiations and the trade union movement needs to bring these discussions into the international arena.’

The ITF’s long-running flag of convenience campaign remains as important as ever, Ms Smith said, and there is increasing scrutiny of flag state performance in discharging their responsibilities under international conventions. ITF inspectors have recovered more than $80m in unpaid wages over the past two years, she pointed out, and this offered clear evidence of flag state failure to ensure that their crews were treated properly. In line with this, the ITF is working hard to ensure that the Maritime Labour Convention

delivers for the world’s seafarers, and has noted with concern that there has been an increase in the number of cases involving breaches of its provisions over the last year. Ms Smith warned that international trade agreements such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are introducing new challenges in the maritime sector. However, she added, through the International Bargaining Forum the ITF has managed to secure real wage increases for officers. As the power of multinational companies becomes even greater, Ms Smith said the ITF and its affiliates need to sharpen up their organisation and concentrate campaign efforts on key hubs and corridors, activating mass membership within major companies and ensuring respect for trade unions in all the countries where globalised operators are working. ‘All of this requires proper strategic planning,’ she added. ‘We cannot carry a campaign on our own and we need the support of affiliates. We want to make campaigns more relevant and more effective and refocus on core areas, looking to the future while learning from the past.’

Bill of rights must go further Meeting unanimously agreed A a motion welcoming the Maritime Members at the General

Labour Convention (MLC) and calling for Nautilus to seek further improvements to the trail-blazing agreement. Head of legal services Charles Boyle said the MLC was quite rightly dubbed the seafarers’ bill of rights — setting a base for minimum entitlements for all seafarers while also consolidating around 60 existing international conventions covering anything from minimum age to maximum hours of work. The MLC has now been ratified by countries with more than 80% of world tonnage on their books, he added, and it is unique among International Labour Organisation conventions in having an enforcement mechanism with teeth — backed up by port state control inspections and giving seafarers the right to make formal complaints. Mr Boyle said it was always intended that the MLC should serve as a ‘living’ instrument that is open to

Head of legal services Charles Boyle

amendment, and Nautilus is keen to see further improvements. The motion calls for Nautilus to seek to ensure that the convention addresses such issues as: z more support for abandoned seafarers through the establishment of national funds z upholding the fair treatment guidelines following shipping accidents z improved levels of access to shore leave and port-based welfare z measures to prevent seafarers from working excessive tours of duty

Steve Gudgeon

and to combat tiredness and fatigue and low manning levels z improved accommodation and the provision of adequate number of berths for trainees z harassment and bullying at sea z pensions and other provisions for retirement z onboard welfare, including improved communications Seconding the motion, Steve Gudgeon commented: ‘It is important to monitor the way in which the MLC is being implemented because there are still abuses of

seafarers’ rights which must not go unchallenged. Some employers have an attitude towards their crews which beggars belief at times.’ And Martyn Gray added: ‘The MLC has set a basement in the race to the bottom, and while we could fall no lower, this motion seeks to establish a ground floor to make sure we are treated as human beings, and with dignity and equal respect to those who work ashore.’ Tony Minns said he was disturbed to find that, two years after the MLC came into force, there is still widespread ignorance about it. He warned that the problems are particularly acute when crewing agencies are involved — often allowing responsibilities to be dodged when companies go bust. ‘P&I clubs are starting to address the issue of providing financial security for repatriation,’ he added. ‘This is an important point, so that — whatever the situation — there are funds available to get seafarers home without being blacklisted as a result of being abandoned.’

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If you set too many rules and treat people like children they will act like children and Council member Henk Eijkenaar break the rules

Dry ships ‘don’t address issues’

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Health and safety needs wider view

Seafarers need education, not zero-tolerance, Nautilus conference is told Angela Loveridge

Council member Henk Eijkenaar proposed a motion to the General Meeting which sparked a lively debate on the sometimes controversial issue of alcohol onboard ships. He said that the common approach of a complete ban on alcohol wasn’t fair on those who work deepsea and who are therefore unable to drink, even in moderation, for months on end. ‘In my opinion it is completely unacceptable to be unable to have even one beer during a nine-month trip,’ Mr Eijkenaar said. ‘If you set too many rules and treat people like children they will act like children and break the rules. If you treat them like adults and highlight the effects of alcohol, then people are much more likely to understand and accept it. ‘With good campaigning we can make people aware of the risks of alcohol, which will have a much more positive long-term effect than a concrete ban,’ he argued. Paul Dilks supported the motion, stating that the song ‘What shall we do with a drunken sailor’ highlighted an old-fashioned response to punish people with alcohol problems rather than ﬁnd ways to help them. ‘It is only the odd few seafarers today who are unable to understand the risks associated with alcohol,’ he said. ‘We should be supporting and educating those people, not stigmatising them. This will mean that everyone onboard will be able to enjoy a drink in moderation, if they choose to.’ David Gatenby also supported the motion and said that he had given talks to cadets at college about the dangers of alcohol onboard. Instead of lecturing young people and showing them images of damaged livers, it is much more useful to talk about the effects on everyday life, he argued.

Council member Henk Eijkenaar

‘Shock factors don’t work,’ he added. ‘We are professional people who need to be spoken to in a sensible and professional way.’ Mr Gatenby said that while he agreed with the motion, he was sceptical about the role of the Union in educating the world’s seafarers on alcohol risks — especially if it was through the provision of leaﬂets, which may not be read by those who need them most. Jessica Tyson added that many shore positions included an element of crisis support where someone may be needed out of hours to react to an incident at sea, and yet they are not held to the same restrictions. She said that complete bans on alcohol destroyed the

vital social fabric of life at sea. But John Dodd said that he had taken part in an exercise using simulators at a training course. During lunch, the attendees were offered wine and afterwards told that they would be repeating the exercise. ‘No one was drunk,’ he said, ‘and most people had only had a glass or two. However, I will admit that in the second session our reactions were poor. It is not about how much alcohol a person can “handle” but about how little alcohol can have an effect on their reactions. ‘All seafarers can be called upon at any time whilst onboard to react to a situation. Any alcohol will have an effect on how a seafarer reacts to the issue.’ In response to concerns raised in the debate, Mr Eijkenaar reassured members that the motion sought to educate seafarers on the perils of alcohol abuse and raise awareness about the health and safety risks. It was not intended to campaign for an end to any zero-tolerance policies; rather to encourage employers to think about the issues and bring in alcohol policies where they currently did not exist. Nautilus senior national secretary Allan Graveson concluded by stressing that alcohol onboard had been the subject of discussion within the industry for decades. He said the Union’s policy was for a sensible and mature approach, which the motion promoted. He agreed with the speakers who had cautioned against scrapping all zero-tolerance policies and said the situation on shortsea routes was clearly different from deepsea. ‘A blanket ban is not the answer,’ he concluded. ‘If you are away for six months, then the ship is your home and that must be respected.’ The motion was agreed by the meeting.

Criminalisation film is welcomed the criminalisation of F seafarers received warm support A special film to highlight

SRI executive director Deirdre Fitzpatrick

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from members after being shown during the Nautilus General Meeting. The 13-minute production was produced by Seafarers’ Rights International (SRI) with support from the International Transport Workers’ Federation Seafarers Trust. It aims to raise awareness of the problem and to highlight the actions that seafarers can take to protect themselves from unfair treatment. The ‘Criminalization of Seafarers’ film includes examples of cases where masters and crews have been prosecuted

following maritime casualties, and also highlights the results of a SRI survey of seafarers on the issues. SRI executive director Deirdre Fitzpatrick told the meeting that criminalisation remains as big a problem today as it was when she spoke to the 2001 Nautilus conference. ‘Although the number of cases is not great, the consequences for those seafarers that are involved in them are very serious,’ she pointed out. ‘It is a complex subject and the different investigations that take place after an accident can include no-blame investigations to full-scale criminal prosecutions,’ Ms Fitzpatrick said. ‘A lot of work remains to be done

to raise awareness of the subject and to provide seafarers with the tools to protect themselves.’ Ms Fitzpatrick said Nautilus had taken a lead role in fighting against criminalisation and providing good support to its members. But, she added, many seafarers are not members of a union and many unions do not provide the scale of legal assistance that Nautilus offers. She also expressed concern about the way in which shipping accidents are often badly reported, leading to additional pressures on seafarers. ‘Trial by media is something we have to push back on in all circumstances, as it can affect the level of justice,’ she warned.

adopted a motion put forward by F the Women’s Forum urging the Union

Members at the General Meeting

to promote a broader view of health and safety onboard ships. The motion called for Nautilus to: z support the introduction of a separate shipboard locker containing birth control, sanitary and hygiene products z encourage employers to conduct a thorough analysis and risk assessment of all personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency equipment in use onboard to ensure that everyone using such equipment is able to do so safely z increase recognition by employers of gender-specific health and safety issues and the actions that can be taken to mitigate them and, as a result, the creation of a safety culture where nobody is disadvantaged in the workplace Proposing the motion, Jessica Tyson explained that, whilst it dealt with some specific issues affecting the health and safety of women, the motion was for all seafarers who might not fit current ‘norms’. ‘Ill-fitting safety equipment is an issue that can affect anybody,’ she

stressed. ‘If you are a smaller man, or even a very tall one, then you may have a problem. Women have an obvious issue in this area, and not only does it cause discomfort, it can endanger the safety of all crew and cause psychological problems in the longer term.’ Ms Tyson said that if the industry was serious about encouraging diversity, then these and other health and safety concerns must be addressed. She explained that ‘accidents’ can happen when men and women work together and unplanned pregnancies can occur. Female crew members need to be able to make choices which sometimes cannot wait until they return to shore, and therefore ships’ medical lockers need to carry things like the ‘morning after’ pill. Angela Loveridge seconded the motion, explaining that females suffer from illnesses that don’t affect men — so medical lockers need updating to reflect this and remove the embarrassment. ‘We need to address and overcome the embarrassment associated with talking openly about these issues,’ she said. ‘It is something that those who have shore-based jobs never have to think about and therefore we have to be brave enough to have the conversation ourselves. ‘It will help us all to live more comfortably together and work to the best of our ability.’ Council member Joe Bowry agreed that the motion did not just affect women, but could also affect also gay men who may need drugs like PEP which are not currently obtainable at sea. ‘Having a procedure in place where men can confidentially obtain these types of drugs is very important,’ he added.

Welfare work stepped up welfare work for seafarers — F with major projects to provide more Nautilus is enhancing its

homes and new services for retired members and those in need, the General Meeting heard. Assistant general secretary Mike Jess told the meeting that in the last 12 months the £4m Trinity House Hub scheme had been completed — providing new accommodation, care and social facilities at the Mariners’ Park welfare complex. A new dementia wing has

been opened at the centre’s care home, he noted, and this will be very important for the future. Other initiatives have included a case workers’ project, which has recovered more than £500,000 in additional benefits for former seafarers and their families. And, looking ahead, the Hub is to expand even further — thanks to a £1.1m donation from the charity Seafarers UK, which will go towards the costs of a second phase project to provide 22 new homes.

£3.8m won for members collected more than £3.8m for F members who have suffered workNautilus International has

related injuries and illnesses over the past four years, director of legal services Charles Boyle told the conference. The Union usually receives two or three new claims each week, Mr Boyle said, and many of its cases are extremely complicated because of jurisdictional issues. ‘In a lot of instances, employment is fragmented across different countries and this means that you can’t get justice in your home country — and

sometimes not in any country at all, because there are not sufficient connections with any one country,’ he explained. The Union’s legal department has stepped up support for members with a 24/7 advice service and a series of seminars on criminalisation and the Maritime Labour Convention, Mr Boyle added. Nautilus has also assisted members who have been affected by piracy and has helped others who have been affected by the UK government’s decision to introduce fees for employment tribunals.

22/10/2015 17:39

26 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

GM15 LIVERPOOL

“

Sharing experiences can help people Women’s Forum chair Jessica Tyson who go to sea

”

Motions seek help with career moves Forums propose campaign to help seafarers through their job transitions

Bari Khan

Members attending the General Meeting backed two motions tabled by the Union’s Young Maritime Professionals Forum and the Women’s Forum calling for a new campaign to be launched under the banner of ‘All in the same boat’. Proposing the motions, Women’s Forum chair Jessica Tyson said the campaign would build on the work undertaken by both forums on the issues of transition periods — supporting members when they first go to college, go to sea, embark on their first trips as qualified officers, or move into shore-based work. ‘Sharing experiences can help people who go to sea,’ she pointed out. ‘We are a very fragmented industry in many respects and as a result it can be difficult to pass experience on and to help others learn from your mistakes.’ She said Nautilus should develop an ‘organic document’ containing advice and tips developed from case studies and anecdotes from members with personal lessons to share. Bari Khan stressed the importance of developing a mentor-

Young members meet in Liverpool Picture: Andrew Linington

Expert advises on ways to progress A

Hazel Bryan

Emma Lucas

ing scheme to give support to younger members. ‘There is a wealth of experience available and sometimes all that is needed is a nudge in the right direction,’ he pointed out. Hazel Bryan said such support is particularly vital for those struggling to ﬁnd work at a time of industry downturn. ‘You can become quite disillusioned if you are not supported and guided,’ she added. ‘You feel that the skills you have developed are worthless and you need to have advice on where to go so that you

can stay focussed and faithful to the industry.’ Emma Lucas said the motions were among the most important items on the conference agenda — ensuring that cadets do not waste their experience at the end of their training. ‘There are so many different opportunities available for them, but how do you know where they are?’ she pointed out. ‘Everybody is saying they need more people, so we need to join the dots and match people with the experience to the positions that are out there.’

Handy hints about making the transition to working ashore were given to members of the Nautilus International Young Maritime Professionals Forum when they met in Liverpool last month ahead of the Union’s General Meeting. The well-attended meeting discussed the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme, concerns about Maritime & Coastguard Agency examination requirements, job opportunities, bullying and harassment, mentoring, and promoting seafaring careers to school children and young people. Matthew Holman, a consultant with the maritime recruitment firm Spinnaker, gave a presentation to the forum, explaining the scale of shore-based demand for seafarers and describing some of the challenges facing those seeking to move from the sea to jobs on land. ‘Many organisations need people with hands-on seafaring experience and the demand is very much out there — especially for technical people,’ he told the meeting. ‘However, there is a need to look at the way the opportunities are being communicated

as the message doesn’t always seem to be getting across and there is something missing in between.’ Mr Holman said the typical age for seafarers to move to work ashore is between 30 and 35, and he cautioned that many will experience a substantial salary reduction because of losing seafarer tax allowances. He added that it is not always necessary for seafarers to become senior ranking officers before moving ashore, as some companies prefer to take candidates who are younger and less experienced so they can be ‘moulded’ into the organisation, rather than someone who has been away at sea for a longer period and may have their own defined ways of working. Mr Holman advised those thinking of leaving the sea to ensure they have a high quality CV, and present their skills and experience in the best possible way. He added that employers often raise concerns about the leadership and management abilities of seafarers. ‘It is not that seafarers are bad leaders, but it is about the way their skills translate into the shore environment,’ he concluded.

Union urged to research membership diversity F

Members attending the General Meeting voted in favour of a motion calling for Nautilus to conduct research into equality and diversity issues among the membership. The motion welcomed the creation of the forums for women and young members, and urges the Union to examine the impact of the changing demographics of its membership base and to ensure that appropriate support is in place for under-represented groups. Proposing the motion, Joe Bowry told how he had become involved with Nautilus after receiving support from the Union over a problem at work. ‘The assistance I received was second to none, but I was surprised to find that there was not an equality and diversity forum,’ he added. ‘In Europe, seafaring was traditionally white and male but the demographics have changed dramatically in the last 25 years and we need to reflect the more diverse backgrounds of the membership and ensure that they can get support,’ he said.

26_gm15.indd 26

‘Women are being heard’ International Women’s F Forum, pictured above, heard that Members of the Nautilus

Senior national secretary Garry Elliott Council member Joe Bowry

John Wainman seconded the motion, describing how the Royal Fleet Auxiliary has embraced policies to support diversity among the workforce. ‘This is something that we need today, as we cannot afford to lose people,’ he pointed out. Emma Lucas said she also supported the motion, but did not want it to become ‘a box-ticking exercise’ driven by quotas. ‘We just need to have the right people for the right job and to ensure that everybody is given the right opportunities,’ she added.

Oil slump is hitting jobs promote maritime careers at F schools and colleges, one member

Nautilus should be helping to

told the General Meeting. Clive Evans said he had been ‘stunned and shocked’ to hear that careers advisors are failing to promote seafarer training courses. ‘We talk about recruiting into the Union, but there is a big problem at the bottom end in recruiting young people into the industry,’ he added. Senior national secretary Garry

Elliott told the meeting that officials are working with the Merchant Navy Training Board on initiatives to raise the profile of the shipping industry — including visits to schools. Mr Elliott also described how the Union’s recruitment and organisation activities have boosted membership numbers — but warned that the oil price slump is leading to job losses in the offshore sector, so Nautilus is seeking to ensure that these are kept to a minimum, and on a voluntary basis wherever possible.

women seafarers are being taken much more seriously by the industry during a meeting last month ahead of the Union’s General Meeting in Liverpool. Forum chair Captain Jess Tyson told the meeting of 10 female members that the role of women in the maritime sector seemed to be heard at the recent London International Shipping Week when she, and fellow forum member Susan Thompson, spoke at highlevel meetings. The forum agreed that early requests for women to be invited to speak had helped to increase the numbers and that they would make a similar request ahead of the next LISW in 2017. Forum members also discussed

plans for the future transitions campaign and said that it was important that old and new communications methods were used so that the message could get to as many members as possible. Sascha Meijer, senior national secretary from the Netherlands office, and Council member Aike Cattie also attended the meeting and shared their views on how the issues for female seafarers were very similar in the Netherlands to those in the UK. ‘Listening to the ladies tell stories about the problems they have had onboard ships and especially when they have left the sea after having a family are very similar to those we hear in the Netherlands,’ said Ms Meijer, ‘and we should try and share experiences and advice as much as possible.’

22/10/2015 17:39

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 27

SEAFARER HEALTH

The doctor will see you now British seafarers can get fast-track medical treatment on the NHS, thanks to a special service run from one of London’s leading hospitals. DEBBIE CAVALDORO met the team behind the Dreadnought service…

The Dreadnought service is a special medical facility for British seafarers, based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Supported by Nautilus and the Seafarers’ Hospital Society, it organises priority medical treatment for those working at sea. Sandra Jones, one of two administrators for the Dreadnought, says the service aims to meet the demands of seafaring work patterns by ensuring that medical appointments match availability. ‘If you work at sea, you can’t simply commit to attend an appointment whenever it becomes available,’ she points out. ‘So our job is solely to get treatment for seafarers organised for when they have shore leave.’ The Dreadnought is not a private hospital or a separate unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ — patients are treated on the NHS and looked after by the ward or facility best suited to their needs. It simply ensures that treatment is organised quickly and efﬁciently, enabling seafarers to return to work as soon as possible. The effectiveness of the Dreadnought, and the warm welcome that all seafarers receive when they contact the service, is entirely down to the two administrators who organise it. Sandra has worked there 15 years, and Ruth Wallis, who has just retired, had 19 years under her belt. ‘We are both “people” people,’ explains Sandra. ‘You have to love people and you have to understand the particular needs of seafarers as well as the needs of patients.’

‘We liaise with a lot of the departments at this Trust and they know who we are,’ adds Sandra. ‘They know that when we ask for an appointment at a particular time or with an amount of urgency, that we’re doing it for a reason — although we are sometimes known as the dreaded Dreadnought!’ The Dreadnought service works with seafarers from the ﬁrst referral letter right through to the operating table, where needed. The administrators have also been known to visit patients on the ward if they know family or friends are too far away to be able to visit. The service is well known and well respected within Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and departments know to contact the administrators if they are having trouble contacting patients, as well as patients themselves contacting the service. ‘We act as a sort of buffer,’ says Sandra. ‘It’s so difﬁcult to get through to NHS clinics as it is. If you only have a limited amount of time available, and are trying to coordinate appointments with a number of departments it becomes virtually impossible. We take that stress away from seafarers and do the chasing on their behalf.’ ‘The hospital sends appointments out by letter and if you don’t make that appointment you won’t get another,’ adds Ruth. ‘But if you are a seafarer away at sea for long periods then you might not be home to even receive that letter. This means that seafarers end up getting struck off through no fault of their own.

Sandra Jones (left) and Ruth Wallis (right) worked together as administrators for the Dreadnought Service for over 15 years

“

We are here every day to trouble-shoot and stop these problems before they arise

‘We are here every day to trouble-shoot and stop these problems before they arise. We ask patients to tell us when they are going to be home next Ruth and Sandra admit that the workload has doubled in the last few years, with problems in some NHS Trust areas adding to the demands. But they truly believe in the work that they are doing, and talk of their dedication to the service.

”

‘If one of us happens to get sick when the other is on holiday, then we would drag ourselves in,’ adds Ruth. ‘It is not acceptable to have no one here, you have to be totally committed. We will simply not allow this service to let seafarers down.’ As well as the service administrators, the Dreadnought also has the commitment of a general surgeon from the hospital. Abrie Botha is the consultant responsi-

Seafarers simply need a referral letter from their GP or approved company doctor, and the service can also help where seafarers are having difficulty obtaining an appointment with their GP. There is even a limited amount of accommodation available at the hospital or nearby, at a subsidised rate, for those who live a long way from London. ‘The Dreadnought service covers any treatment that is available on the NHS,’ explains Ruth. ‘As soon as we receive a referral letter from a GP we check to ensure that the patient is eligible for the service. For government funding reasons the letters have to be processed through our office first. ‘Once cleared, we phone the patient to find out when they are next due shore leave and coordinate with the relevant department to set up their appointments.’

ble for the Dreadnought Medical Service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and he ensures that the service is fully represented at the highest level within the Trust. He says that the advocacy role that Sandra and Ruth play is vital in ensuring that seafarers’ needs are taken into account — especially at a time when the NHS is bound by so many competing targets. ‘The agreement for preferential treatment for seafarers is a unique agreement by the chief executive of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Trust,’ he explains. ‘It was probably a more essential service when NHS waiting lists were so long, but they have come down substantially recently. Despite this, referrals to the service have gone up and I

A proud history, continued today

The Dreadnought Service is named after the ship which used to house sick seafarers

The Dreadnought Medical Service dates back to 1821 and is named after one of the original hospital ships set up by the Seafarers Hospital Society on the Thames at Greenwich after the Napoleonic wars. The service came ashore in 1870 and operated for over 100 years from the former Greenwich Hospital Infirmary. But it came under threat in the 1980s as a result of the decline of British shipping and following changes in the way the NHS was funded. While the hospital was closed, seafaring unions campaigned to ensure that the service not only survived, but developed its role in meeting the complex health and welfare needs of seafarers and their dependants.

think this shows how much seafarers value the work of Dreadnought. ‘The Dreadnought administrators really understand the needs of seafarers and this make a huge difference to patients using the service.’ Mr Botha has been acting in a voluntary capacity to help the Dreadnought for over 10 years. He ensures that the medical needs of seafarers remain a priority to the hospital. ‘If a letter needs to go to the chief executive from the Dreadnought service I provide that named consultant within the hospital to champion the service,’ he explains. ‘There is no formal job description or remuneration for this — I do it because I am interested in the work of seafarers and believe that this is a valuable service. We should do all we can to look after our seafarers in this maritime nation.’

The Dreadnought service is available to merchant seafarers, marine pilots, ﬁshing vessel crews and tug crews — including trainees and cadets. Some shore-based jobs, such as coastguards, may also be applicable. Although the service receives some government funding, it is part funded by charitable donations via the Seafarers’ Hospital Society.

g To request support from the Dreadnought service, contact: dreadnought2@gstt.nhs.uk. g To make a donation to the Seafarers’ Hospital Society and support the work of the Dreadnought, visit: www.seahospital.org.uk.

28 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

SEAFARER TRAINING

How to create careers Is global maritime education and training on course? That was the question considered by cadets and industry experts at a special symposium held to mark World Maritime Day. TOM SHORT reports on the discussions…

The shipping industry has a human resources problem, an IMO symposium on seafarer education and training was warned last month. Speaking at the event, Phil Parry — chairman of the recruitment firm Spinnaker Global — cited a recent survey of shorebased maritime professionals, conducted in collaboration with Nautilus, which revealed that 53% of participants considered that the wrong people were getting leadership roles in the sector. In a session that was themed around the topic of seafaring as a profession, Mr Parry warned delegates that the industry is not doing enough to identify the right people early in their careers, and that the current system of promotion based on time spent rather than skill was ineffective. With former captains and chief engineers often blamed for poor shore to ship communication, Mr Parry suggested that such figures are merely repeating the ‘quasihierarchical’ environment on shore that they learned at sea. He advocated a range of HR methods to combat this problem, including competency tests and personality profiling, while stressing that more needed to be done to encourage career paths into shore-based work. His statements were echoed by other speakers at the event, which was designed to address the World Maritime Day theme: ‘Shipping’s future needs people. Is global maritime education and training on course?’

Alan Cartwright, from Warsash Maritime Academy, spoke about careers for ships’ officers

The growing shortage of skilled seafarers makes this a question of some urgency, Branko Berlan, the International Transport Workers’ Federation representative at the IMO, told the meeting. The widely accepted prediction that the global ﬂeet will have increased by 70% by 2030 means that there will be an annual requirement for some 40,000 ofﬁcers that will need to be recruited and trained, he pointed out. Mr Berlan warned of the negative impact of fatigue at sea. While important steps had been taken by the IMO on the issue, he suggested that the problem could not be solved by education and training alone. ‘Those of us who work at sea realise that workload, fatigue and manning are obvi-

ously inter-related issues,’ he argued. ‘While there is a place for education and training in fatigue management, the primary focus should be on the availability of human resources.’ Poor implementation of IMO principles was all-too common, he added, and greater transparency was required to ensure operators’ compliance with workload, fatigue and manning regulations. Another key concern among the speakers was the inevitable role which technology had to play in the future of the shipping industry, and how education and recruitment should be adapted to reﬂect this. Advanced technology is a political issue, with the potential to diminish, upgrade or even

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Trying out a virtual reality training system during the IMO symposium

replace the role of seafarers, Mr Berlan asserted, referring to the debate surrounding the IMO strategic implementation plan for e-Navigation, which is partly intended to avoid substitution of the human element by technology.

Dr Olof Lindén of the World Maritime University added: ‘Automation is here … Tomorrow’s MET curriculum must pay more attention to the human factor, and to adapt to new technology.’ Professor Jingjing Xu, from the Faculty of Business at Plymouth University, said conditions for seafarers onboard needed to be appealing if the forecast future shortage of ofﬁcers and ratings is to be addressed. She said her studies had shown that poor internet access onboard ships is the largest disincentive to young people taking up seagoing roles — outranking other factors such as security or boredom. Dr Lindén noted the success of WMU online courses and e-learning platforms, suggesting that the internet could have a positive and democratic role in encouraging and educating future mariners. Besides the immediate necessity of providing internet access on ships, Professor Xu advised that more of a systematic approach, both from policy-

makers and the shipping industry, was required to encourage young people into the shipping industry from school age upwards. She told how the Marine Academy Plymouth — a specialist secondary school — offered a useful model of how an early maritime education system could be put in place, while recommending an increase in university scholarships for students from poorer backgrounds, following the example of countries such as Singapore. Ensuring that more students moved into the maritime professions after completing their training was also a critical issue — a view supported by session moderator Rajaish Bajpaee of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, who noted that a huge amount of wastage occurs during training: ‘It takes seven to eight years’ training to become a chief engineer, and we’re losing them in one or two years.’ All of the speakers agreed that a lack of public awareness of was the over-arching problem, with Barry Bryant, of the charity Seafarers UK, going so far as to suggest that the industry was virtually invisible in Britain. Attributing such ‘sea-blindness’ to the loss of the romantic image of seafaring brought about by health and safety, alcohol policies, and reduced port times, he

stressed the importance of a cohesive government education strategy. Maria Dixon, from ISM Shipping Solutions, spoke of the need for greater gender diversity, and said that barely 6.5% of cadets who began their studies in 2014 were female. Raising the example of Kate McCue, the first woman to command a US cruiseship, Ms Dixon emphasised the importance of drawing young women’s attention to such pioneering figures. A controversial issue was the lack of training berths. One of the 32 cadets from 16 countries attending the symposium complained that her country did not have training ships — thus making it difficult to gain practical experience. As Pradeep Chawla of the Anglo-Eastern Group explained, most countries lack the resources to maintain training ships and even an IMO paper enforcing one cadet per ship has not yet made it past the discussion stage — with the constant battle between ship management and shipowners meaning that it probably never will. With cadets facing such difficulties, there was some urgency behind session moderator Captain Kuba Szymanski’s closing entreaty to the delegates: ‘Please be responsible for what you do in this room.’

Cadets from 16 different countries took part in the maritime education and training symposium

22/10/2015 16:16

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 29

MARITIME RESEARCH

Partners in knowledge

Pictured, left to right, at the China Centre Maritime launch are: Dr Kate Pike of Southampton Solent University; Dr Minghua Zhao; Kimberley Karlshoej of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust; Professor Graham Baldwin; and Li Guoqiang, first secretary of the Chinese embassy Picture: Southampton Solent University

Cadets from Warsash Maritime Academy took part in the IMO launch of two major new Southampton Solent University research projects. MIKE GERBER reports…

A new study is investigating the welfare needs of seafarers — particularly women — and how they are treated onboard in today’s multicultural working environment. The Gender, Empowerment and Multicultural Crews Project (GEM) is being carried out by Southampton Solent University and is sponsored by the International Transport Workers’ Federation Seafarers’ Trust. It was launched at the International Maritime Organisation headquarters in London at an event timed to coincide with World Maritime Day on 24 September. At the launch, project manager Dr Kate Pike said GEM aims to improve the welfare and working conditions for all crew by empowering and supporting women who may be experiencing discrimination and harassment. ‘It will identify gaps in current knowledge — with regard to training and retention — and raise awareness of the wider issues surrounding multicultural crews so that women can play a fuller role onboard ships and beyond,’ she explained. GEM will draw on data from current and former

students at Warsash Maritime Academy (part of Southampton Solent University), and on comparable data from China’s Shanghai Maritime University and Nigeria’s National Maritime Academy, with a focus on issues such as isolation at sea. Researchers will examine pre-sea and post-voyage perceptions and consider whether some of the issues can be addressed in a training context. Dr Pike said she hoped the research would assist with wider campaigns for seafarer recruitment and retention. As well as aiming to attract more women to seafaring careers, the work aims to ﬁnd ways to help them feel valued within that choice — ‘and also to help cadets successfully complete their training and feel they have support when they start their new careers’. Kimberley Karlshoej, the head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, which is sponsoring GEM to the tune of £70,000, spoke of the pressing need for the research from the perspective of seafarers’ mental, physical and social wellbeing. ‘We are missing out on a lot of skilled, resilient and competent women that would add immense

Cadets from Southampton Solent University’s Warsarsh Maritime Academy attended the launch of the Gender, Empowerment and Multicultural Crews Project

Picture: Southampton Solent University value to our industry,’ she pointed out. ‘The term seafarer is gender-blind and so are the seas, and this is why this research is so important.’ Two of the Warsash cadets attending the event — Hannah Rosson and Rachel Horsfall — told the Telegraph they welcomed the launch of the GEM project. ‘It is brilliant because I didn’t realise until this evening that only 2% of seafarers are women,’ said Ms Rosson. ‘It’s good that we raise awareness.’

The event also saw the launch of Southampton Solent University’s China Centre Maritime (CCM) project, which aims to build links between the UK and China — especially in maritime-related affairs. It will promote research

and disseminate the studies of the role of China as a major maritime nation. Plans for the centre include the development of a maritime master’s degree in business administration, the establishment of a team of PhD students and a range of research projects, and exchanges between staff and students from Southampton Solent University and partner institutions in China. CCM director Dr Minghua Zhao commented: ‘China’s importance in the maritime industry is growing, it has the second largest commercial ﬂeet in the world and it is the largest shipbuilding country in the world. The centre’s aim is to promote closer ties between China and Britain that go well beyond maritime matters.’

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30 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

MARINE ART

Maritime masterclass Are todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial vessels as inspirational to artists as the sailing ships of the past? DEBORAH McPHERSON paid a visit to Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious Mall Galleries to see what this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RSMA exhibitors made of our industryâ&#x20AC;Ś

Working merchant ships featured highly on the hanging list of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA) exhibition in London â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the 70th annual show by painters and sculptors specialising in sea scenes. The 10-day show at the Mall Galleries in London was opened by world-famous solo sailor (and former Merchant Navy officer) Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. He had flown in from Brazil, where he had been overseeing the finish of the first leg of the Clipper Round the World race. Sir Robin, himself a keen art commissioner and collector, said he had agreed to open the RSMA exhibition because of his love of art â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and also because he enjoys â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;beating the drum for encourag-

ing shipping every day of the weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and counteracting â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;our national sea blindnessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Modern maritime scenes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including coastal ships, North Sea support vessels, tugs, ships in dry dock, and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were among the subjects chosen by the 300 marine artists exhibiting at the event. Sir Robin said he hoped the show would be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;important in some small wayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and would help more people to realise how much of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trade relies on sea transport. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think there is an appreciation that as a nation we actually canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feed ourselves, or that we have to import most of our fuel,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he added. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We have got to have UK ships and we have to

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (right) with artist John Lines, who won an award at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RSMA show

encourage more young people to work at sea.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sir Robinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own career showcases the opportunities to be had

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from a life at sea. Being the first to sail solo non-stop around the world â&#x20AC;&#x201D; between June 1968 and April 1969 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is a feat he attributes to his sound sea time in the Merchant Navy. He first went to sea in 1957 as a deck officer with the British India Steam Navigation Company and gained his masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certificate in 1965, aged just 26. Sir Robin is the goodwill ambassador for Sail Training International, and in November 2014, aged 75, he went back to ocean racing himself, winning third place in his class in the single-handed transatlantic Route du Rhum race â&#x20AC;&#x201D; although he dismisses media interest in his age as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;irrelevantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. He attributes his success to his â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;perfectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; training in the British Merchant Navy: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We were made mates young and given a lot of responsibility early on but we grew into it. It made me as a young man, it taught me how life worked, and it has kept me going very nicely the rest of my life.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Artist Pamela Stone with Alan Cartwright of Warsash Maritime Academy

Back at the art show, the varied lives of seafarers and their ships were represented through a variety of media. One of the eight award winners was RSMA member John Lines â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a painter for 55 years. He enjoys crafting oil paintings of modern commercial vessels such as coastal traders, working up to eight hours at a time in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;very windy and coldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vantage points. After numerous commissions â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including one to paint 21 ships for a Greek shipping magnate â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mr Lines says he has now been onboard more ships than someone from the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;landlocked middle of Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; could possibly have imagined. Elsewhere in the show, a representation of the 1930s French ocean liner Normandie by artist Paul Wright was praised as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wellresearchedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. And the almost photographic accuracy of a painting by Pamela Stone, which depicted

Artist Paul Wright and his painting of the 1930s liner Normandie

the RFA Black Rover and a Royal Navy vessel, impressed industry visitors. Alan Cartwright, formerly of the RFA and now commercial manager at Warsash Maritime Academy, said it was an extremely good rendering of

replenishment at sea. But Sir Robin admitted he would be giving a wide berth to one of the other pictures, even though he loved it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a winning portrait of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;far too realisticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; menacing wave.

22/10/2015 18:15

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 31

NAUTILUS AT WORK

The spot for superyachts Nautilus International is fast gaining a reputation as the most supportive and useful professional body for superyacht crew. This year’s Monaco Yacht Show was therefore just the place to reach out to members, build partnerships and develop services. Senior assistant organiser DANNY McGOWAN tells all…

Nautilus International was represented at the Monaco Yacht Show in late September by myself and senior national secretary Garry Elliott. We were joined by Jorg Wendt and Jerry Bayliss from our yacht sector partner D&B Services, which is based down the coast in Antibes. As the event approached, we sought out a number of opportunities that could be used to develop the Union’s activity in the sector. Our first meeting was with the founders and developers of YachtNeeds, the first concierge and directory app for those working in the yacht industry. When a seafarer opens the app, they are presented with local businesses and services relevant to them and their yacht. It was the first time the YachtNeeds founders had encountered Nautilus, and they were impressed with our extensive range of benefits and keen to work in partnership. They agreed to explore how Nautilus could be

displayed within the app wherever the seafarer opened it, as a result of our 24/7 helpline and our afﬁliation to the ITF. For our part, we will let members know whenever the app is enhanced or upgraded, such as when the planned listings are completed for Asia and the Caribbean. The second opportunity was to meet with the delegation from the yacht crew training college UKSA and discuss how we could develop our existing partnership with them. This was very productive: they were keen to continue working with us and we talked about arranging dates for us to visit the UKSA’s Isle of Wight base to tell trainees about Nautilus membership. In addition, Jorg Wendt met with David Squires, the UKSA maritime ambassador, to discuss industry-funded training in the superyacht sector. During the show, we also attended a seminar on the Maritime Labour Convention to see how other organisations run

Christmas Card Appeal Every year the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society pays over £1m in grants to the dependants of those lost at sea, as well as sick, disabled and retired seafarers struggling to make ends meet. Please help us to continue this important work.

s QUALITY CHRISTMAS CARDS s CORRESPONDENCE CARDS s NAUTICAL HERITAGE CALENDAR s BIRTHDAY CARDS s GIFT ITEMS To receive a copy of our new 2015 brochure and order form please contact: Dept NI, 1 North Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TL 4EL s &AX

e-mail: general@shipwreckedmariners.org.uk

www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk

S Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society M

Reg Charity No 212034 Inst. 1839

SSupporting the seafaring community for over175 years

31_monaco_SR edit.indd 29

Senior assistant organiser Danny McGowan (left) with YachtNeeds founders Tony Stout (centre) and Paul Hussein

their information sessions, and met with Dick Welsh from the Isle of Man Registry to talk about the Union’s ongoing activity in the yacht sector. We later spent some time with Mark Jaenicke and Neil Carrington at the Viking Recruitment stand. Nautilus has long had a positive relationship with Viking, and we are now looking to work together in the yacht sector as well as in merchant shipping. I also had an extremely worthwhile meeting with an organisation called Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY), where two Nautilus members came over to say hello, having recognised me from the Union shirt I was wearing. They were proud to be members, now working shoreside having transitioned from operational superyacht employment. One of them, Geoff Moore, is the managing director of West Nautical. He invited Nautilus to visit one of the company’s vessels, M/Y St David (on the market for £25m) where we were provided with a tour of its facilities and a visit to the bridge. We look forward to exploring opportunities to work with Geoff and his team and to developing a partnership with YPY.

a result of our international links, and generally received a positive reaction wherever we went.

It was interesting to note that companies in the Dutch superyacht industry had collaborated to provide their own marquee at the show: Holland House. None of the organisations exhibiting within Holland House were for crew, many being dedicated to shipbuilding and other technological enterprises. Maybe Nautilus could ﬁll the gap another time… In all, our attendance at the show was a worthwhile and positive experience, both for the development of our Union and for those members we met whilst present. Our presence was enhanced by our corporate image in branded shirts, and through meticulous pre-planning of the locations of vessels on which we may have had members present, and of relevant events and seminars. It was further enhanced by using the event to network and negotiate with current and future partners. We’ll be back!

Danny McGowan with Nautilus members Geoff Moore (left) and Tom Leyland (right), who also belong to Young Professionals in Yachting

Our Nautilus-branded shirts proved to be worth their weight in gold throughout our attendance at the show. We were approached by a number of Nautilus members in every area, and Jerry Bayliss was even spoken to whilst on the train en route to Monaco! Members were quick to approach us, with some saying it was good to see a friendly face at the show and others revealing their membership in the course of conversation, such as a representative of the Cayman Registry. Non-members also approached us to enquire about membership, purely as a result of seeing our shirts. We were invited to visit yachts, including one with a Dutch ﬂag, as

Visiting Holland House: senior national secretary Garry Elliott (left) with Jerry Bayliss from Nautilus yacht sector partner D&B Services

22/10/2015 18:57

32 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

OFFWATCH ships of the past by Trevor Boult

50 YEARS AGO

a sea route to the Orient F was opened between Vancouver

Navigating officers and cadets will now be seeing a new cadet record book which has been issued by the Merchant Navy Training Board or produced by their own companies as part of a programme to ensure that deck cadets can be sure of a planned and systematic approach to training at sea. Developed by a working group in response to a resolution passed at the 1963 MNAOA General Meeting, the record book is designed to show the progress being made by cadets at each stage of their training, enabling officers to see what duties still have to be performed when a cadet joins from another ships. Meanwhile, a review of the annual examination syllabuses is nearing completion, defining pre-entry and onboard training requirements, as well as proposing that cadets should be allowed at least six hours a week for private study during normal working hours The Telegraph, November 1965

In the 1890s in North America

and Hong Kong by the ‘Empress’ liners of the Canadian Pacific Railway. These linked up with the more utilitarian ‘Princesses’ which serviced the NW coast of the continent. The Princesses were responsible for conveying a great many of the necessities, and occasional luxuries, to those who lived in the lonely settlements, isolated canneries and logging camps all the way up to Alaskan waters. The arrival of ‘The Boat’ was a social event, a highlight of early coastal life. The inhabitants accepted the dangers of sea travel because there was no other choice. Canadian Pacific’s British Columbia Coast Service was introduced in 1903. Some years later it brought into operation the Clyde-built Princess Sophia — a ship popular with her passengers but which became the subject of the worst maritime disaster in the history of the Pacific NW coast. Lying between the northern settlements of Skagway and Juneau is the deep fjord of Lynn Canal. It has many hazards. In the middle is the most notorious: Vanderbilt Reef. In October 1918 Princess Sophia departed Skagway for Vancouver, she struck the reef in a snowstorm and became fast. The highly experienced captain declined assistance from numerous small craft that attended to remove the passengers to safety. He believed Sophia was secure on the reef and that, when conditions improved, the passengers could be transferred to a larger vessel then known to be en route. Instead, the storm worsened and it became impossible to rescue anyone. Together with the fishing vessel King and Winge, the US Lighthouse Service tender Cedar made a gallant rescue bid but was driven back by the exceptionally appalling

25 YEARS AGO

Immediate evacuation a legacy of Pacific coast loss conditions. On finally reaching the casualty, all that remained to be seen was the foremast. All 360-plus people aboard perished. Despite the ship’s shuddering pre-dawn collision with the illmarked reef, passengers seemed unconcerned. Most adults shared the confidence of the captain. Children played happily in the public rooms below decks. Within 30 hours the ship was gone. Finding the bodies was arduous and prolonged. Remains were delivered to nearby Juneau for identification and burial. Two weeks later, on Armistice Day 1918, the company ship Princess Alice — already dubbed by newspapers as the ‘Ship of Sorrow’ — edged alongside black crepedraped Pier D, on Vancouver’s waterfront. Her grisly cargo was the bodies of 157 men, women, and children. Yet the sinking slipped quickly into history, soon forgotten by those not involved. The ship had been an unglamorous coaster carrying a cross-section of working people and families from the

Yukon and Alaska, sailing out of Skagway on one of the last voyages of the annual autumn exodus. Among their number were pioneers of the Klondike gold rush 20 years earlier who had stayed in the north, riverboat captains and crewmen heading home as the river freeze-up began, and young soldiers newly enlisted and on their way to a war in Europe in its last days. There were several shipments of gold bullion, and in the hold were 24 horses and ﬁve dogs. The sole survivor of the tragedy was an oil-soaked English setter. The waters of Alaska’s Lynn Canal had already claimed two other Canadian Paciﬁc ships before Sophia, one with loss of life. A series of vessels had gone down in the treacherous channel. Even in good weather, navigating the narrow, mountain-ringed fjords strewn with islands, reefs and rocks was dangerous. Navigation aids were few and weather forecasting often unreliable. The odd delay while a ship was pulled from a sandbar or

Telegraph prize crossword The winner of this month’s cryptic crossword competition will win a copy of the book Ate the Dog Yesterday by Graham Faiella (reviewed on the facing page). To enter, simply complete the form right and send it, along with your completed crossword, to: Nautilus International, Telegraph Crossword Competition, 1&2 The Shrubberies, George Lane,

South Woodford, London E18 1BD, or fax +44 (0)20 8530 1015. You can also enter by email, by sending your list of answers and your contact details to: telegraph@nautilusint.org.

10 YEARS AGO The UK’s tonnage tax scheme is not working, two leading academics have warned. Writing in the influential Maritime Policy Management magazine, Professors Heather Leggate and James McConville point out: ‘The tonnage tax has undoubtedly succeeded in attracting a considerable amount of new tonnage onto the UK register, but its achievement in relation to the employment of UK seafarers can be seriously questioned, despite the link to recruitment.’ The two academics argue that there is a strong case for an employment link to the scheme, as the number of non-UK officers on tonnage tax ships has trebled since the scheme was launched, while the overall decline in UK seafarers has not been reversed or even stabilised The Telegraph, November 2005

THEQUIZ 1

In what year did the world’s first LNG-powered ro-pax ferry enter into service?

There are roughly 2,840 ships in the world ro-pax fleet. How many of them were built before 2000?

Approximately how many LNG-powered ships are there

in service around the world at present? 4

Which company is the world’s largest shipbuilder?

Which ship register has the largest share of the current global orderbook for new vessels?

In which company is the platform supply vessel operator Island Offshore based?

J Quiz answers are on page 42.

Name: Address:

Telephone:

Membership No.:

Closing date is Friday 13 November 2015.

QUICK CLUES Across 1. & 5. Car security (7,7) 9. Gave vent to (5) 10. Imagined remotely (9) 11. Mogul (9) 12. Wombs (5) 13. Interference (5) 15. About smell (9) 18. Trifle (9) 19. Vote in (5) 21. Teeth user (5) 23. Dweller not at altitude (9) 25. Scarper (9) 26. Track down (5) 27. Learner (7) 28. Protracted (7)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 14. 16.

32_offwatch.indd 32

rock was considered a part of the adventure of west coast sea travel. However, professional mariners had not ignored the looming menace of Vanderbilt Reef. Despite many ofﬁcial representations, US government had not put a light on the reef — only a bell buoy visible in daylight if the weather was good. The poignant question about the disaster remains: ‘Did they all have to die?’ A hastily-called investigation failed to provide the answer, the commission ﬁnding that the wreck was simply ‘peril of the sea’. Others judged this to be a whitewash. Families and crew members received the minimum compensation under the law and passengers’ relatives got nothing despite legal battles which continued into the 1930s. A lasting positive legacy of the Princess Sophia disaster is that coastal shipping lines acknowledged the need to remove passengers from a stranded vessel as quickly as possible, no matter what the circumstances. A navigation light was also placed on Vanderbilt Reef.

Three NUMAST members facing manslaughter charges arising from the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster walked free from the Old Bailey last month after the trial dramatically collapsed. The hearing — which was expected to have lasted at least five months — was halted after only 27 days when the judge directed the jury to acquit P&O European Ferries (Dover) and seven former employees. NUMAST general secretary John Newman welcomed the decision. ‘The search for scapegoats among seafarers does nothing to create safer ships and does nothing to address the fundamental problems of safety at sea,’ he added. The ship’s master, Captain David Lewry, thanked NUMAST for the ‘fantastic’ support provided by the legal team The Telegraph, November 1990

Down Alpinist kit (7) Special care (9) Horse event (5) City (9) Lawful (5) Blemish (9) Golfer’s ace hole (2,3) Chatter prone (7) Amuse (9) Coast (9)

17. 18. 20. 22. 23. 24.

Red account (9) Mind infant (7) Jailer (7) Greek letter (5) Accommodation (5) Fire-raising (5)

CRYPTIC CLUES 1. 5.

9. 10. 11.

12. 13. 15.

18.

Across Crop length of cloth for seat of learning (7) Difficult incorporating epidemic treatment for a Cambridge university (7) Their thorns may bring about sores … (5) … just deadhead, fool (9) Administered corporal punishment around prison unit then called it off (9) Later turned out to be a honey badger (5) Computer key to what one does to join competition (5) Briefly, salesman Leonard changed his appearance to stock up (9) Fast as the mail picking up speed (4-5)

19. It was once your compiler who joined song with sage (5) 21. Fix election with abbreviated identity, but they are inflexible (5) 23. Lamenting the new organisation (9) 25. Get sun on ankles, half-seen as tease (9) 26. Magazine found in Sarajevo guesthouse (5) 27. Promising new mountain climb (7) 28. For let around river, that’ll be the flood (7)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Down Craft made by Cornwall’s first soothsayer (7) Ears excited with new tones — rings a bell (9) To follow middle of Lent instigate litigation (5) Letters arrive unexpectedly with upper House (9) Sticky sign of hesitation in concealed encasement (5) A small reserve pressing for making a comeback (9)

7. Not exactly auld, eighth of acquaintances is nevertheless a grown-up (5) 8. Tom Jones’s very own hairdresser (7) 14. Hardy tree recycled to get water back in (9) 16. Executive parking occupant put together (9) 17. Climber gives name to elite group that includes 1 and 2 across (3,6) 18. Wordplay about Michael Caine’s student being a moralist (7) 20. ‘I rather would --- thy company/ To see the wonders of the world abroad’ (Two Gentlemen of Verona) (7) 22. Running jokes centre on northern workers’ groups (5) 23. A general point is that it’s discriminating against oldies (5) 24. At no time see the first lady between beginning an end of November (5) J Crossword answers are on page 42.

22/10/2015 17:40

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 33

MARITIME BOOKS

Wise heads tackle a persistent problem Navigation Accidents and their Causes Edited by David Pockett The Nautical Institute, £40 ISBN: 978 19069 15322 fwww.nautinst.org/pubs subject: why do navigation accidents keep K happening despite all the technological advances This is an interesting book on an interesting

of recent years? In seeking answers and setting out possible solutions, the Nautical Institute has assembled an impressive team of authors — including accident investigators, master mariners, navigation specialists and academics — to address some of the most common problems with the help of analysis of almost 30 major incidents. The 123-page publication is organised across 12 chapters, each written by a different expert, which cover critical subjects such as passage planning,

positioning, pilotage, bridge resource management, fatigue, collision avoidance, anchoring, vessel trafﬁc services, and under-keel clearance. Technical editor David Pockett notes in his introduction the range of different factors that lie behind most casualties, but underlines the critical importance of the human element and ensuring that technology is backed by training, teamwork and an understanding of traditional skills. Looking at current and future trends, he describes the increasing role of electronic navigation aids but points out that these are ultimately only as good as the user, and that they need an alert observer who understands the input and output, can assess the data provided and knows how to identify faults. In the light of these comments, one particularly interesting chapter from Professor Thomas Porathe deals with ways to get the most out of your electronic equipment — not least remaining

in the naval battles of the First World War. Stokes also explains, from his own experience, about the practicalities of discovering and exploring historic wrecks — a nice touch reminiscent of the sections in David Attenborough’s recent nature documentaries describing how they were filmed. Given the care that has been taken with the content, it’s a shame the book’s layout and paper quality don’t quite match up to the standard of the narrative, but there is a section of interesting black-and-white images in the centre. Worth a read, whether or not you ever plan to don a wetsuit and investigate a wreck first-hand.

How wreck diving adds to historical knowledge

Essential reading at college and onboard

Between the Tides: Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast By Roy Stokes Amberley, £15.99 ISBN: 978 14456 53334 fwww.amberley-books.com

Navigation advanced for Mates/ Masters 2nd edition

Shipwrecks have long fascinated the popular imagination, but many sunken vessels remained out of reach until the development of scuba diving equipment in the late 20th century allowed a wide range of people to see the wrecks for themselves. Author Roy Stokes is one such diving enthusiast, and is even credited with discovering the paddle steamer Queen Victoria in 1983 — the first historic shipwreck to be protected under new legislation. In Between the Tides, Stokes shares his love of diving and maritime history, taking the reader on a tour of the wrecks around Ireland. Focusing on significant vessels from different eras, he shows how the discovery of a wreck can provide an insight into our ancestors’ way of life, and shed new light on historical events. The book is well-researched, providing the history of each featured vessel, the context in which it operated and the circumstances of its sinking. Through individual wrecks we learn, for example, about the East India trade, and about Ireland’s role

33_books_SR edit.indd 33

By Captain Nadeem Anwar Witherby Publishing, £50 ISBN: 978 18560 96270 fwww.witherbyseamanship.com updated the first edition of this K guide to all things navigation, which Captain Nadeem Anwar has

is a must for any would-be master or senior navigation officer. Capt Anwar explains that the book is aimed at ‘the navigator of today

mentally stimulated and avoiding overreliance on the screens. Mr Pockett also questions in his introduction whether the industry really does learn from accidents, and a chapter from Captain Leslie Morris points the reader towards sources of information thatt might help to prevent repeat mistakes. A ﬁnal chapter, dealing with onboard training and mentoring, also offers some positive tips about spreading knowledge and sharing experience. The book is nicely designed and makes good use of its case histories to reinforce its points. The variety of authors leads to variation in writing styles and approaches to the h subject matter, but also means that each chapter can be read on its own. However, a common theme running though the book is the way in which the rapid changes in shipping regulation and

and of the future’, and recognises that the increased workload of the watchkeeper demands simple methods of working, which he aims to provide. He explains how, despite all the electronic aids to navigation, officers must still understand the basics — with chapters dedicated to radar and celestial navigation, as well as the effects of extreme weather and tides. There are also sections on search and rescue at sea, bridge procedures and marine communications. The chapters are presented in a clear and concise manner, which allows the book to be used in college as a study aid and as an onboard resource. Examples, exercises and templates ensure that the reader’s knowledge is complete and can be put into practice immediately. Author Capt Anwar is the curriculum manager at Fleetwood Nautical Campus, with credentials that include 14 years at sea and 10 years as an academic. His other work includes Ballast Water Management, Passage Planning Principles and Passage Planning Practice, available from the same publishers.

technology are d how h impacting on navigators — and factors such as economic and environmental zones are reducing sea room and piling on the pressures for greater oversight of maritime operations.

A scheme to please the eye and befuddle the enemy Dazzle-painted Ships of World War I By Glyn L Evans Published by Bernard McCall, £9.95 ISBN: 978 19029 53731 fwww.coastalshipping.co.uk colourful anti U-boat measures K introduced during the First World War One of the more exciting and

was the dazzle painting of ships. ‘Desperate times call for desperate measures,’ explains former First Sea Lord Baron West of Spithead in his foreword to this lovely little book. ‘It was against this background that, at the end of April 1917, the famous artist Lieutenant N. Wilkinson put his Dazzle Paint Scheme to the Admiralty.’ Dazzle painting was a system for painting ships, not to hide them

Curious compilation of nautical nuggets A Ate the Dog Yesterday By Graham Faiella B Whittles Publishing, £30.00 W ISBN: 978 18499 50893 IS fwww.whittlespublishing.com book Ate the Dog Yesterday is. There is K ssomething of the miscellany about it — those It’s hard to decide quite what sort of

ccollections of anecdotes and fascinating facts ppopular as Christmas presents. In other ways, it’s like the books where well-known journalists it bbring together the highlights of their recent aarticles, whether humorous or serious. And there’s also a sense in which it aspires to be a th straightforward history. st The subtitle of the book is Maritime ccasualties, calamities and catastrophes, but it ccould just as well have been ‘Graham Faiella reads old copies of Lloyd’s List so you don’t re hhave to’. The author has scoured editions of the venerable maritime newspaper to o find interesting voyage reports from the late 119th and early 20th century — the last years of the age of sail. Extracts from the paper o aare reproduced as originally written, with aaccompanying text explaining the vocabulary uused or giving further information about a

particular incident. The material is grouped according to subject matter and occasionally illustrated with contemporary artists’ impressions of particular maritime disasters. Chapters include Mutiny, Murder and Mayhem, Fire!, Earthquakes, Seaquakes and Volcanoes, and Odds & Sods & Mollycods. There is also an introductory section explaining how Lloyd’s List came into being and providing a brief overview of nautical practices and terminology from the period. The phrase in the book’s title comes from a genuine message-in-a-bottle — one of many written by desperate seafarers as they faced death by sinking or from lack of food and clean water. When these bottles washed ashore and were picked up, their contents were relayed to Lloyd’s List and published, while other reports came via more conventional means such as telegraphy. If that titbit has got your attention, then there will be much of interest for you in Ate the Dog Yesterday. The tone of the book may be uncertain, but perhaps, after all, the mix of black humour, harrowing witness accounts and tall tales is actually rather apt for a work on maritime culture and history. One for the Christmas list…?

but to confuse the eye when trying to target the vessel. The process involved painting ships in bright colours with many lines and shapes intended to break up the shape of the vessel, making it difficult to estimate a target’s range, speed and direction. Its effectiveness was never proven and the technique had fallen out of favour by the Second World War, but 100 years on, a number of ships were chosen to be ‘dazzled’ once more, to demonstrate the idea in an exhibition. This book covers the concept from its original haphazard trials in 1914 and the official Dazzle Paint Scheme put forward in 1917, to the famous artists who would go on to take up the challenge and the ship designs they produced. Although not in the traditional coffee-table design, this book has all the elements of the ‘pick up and flick through’ that is normally associated with them. The images, as you would expect, are what make the concept of dazzle come to life, and the modern colour photographs really help to demonstrate it to the reader. It’s the perfect time of year to be thinking about stocking fillers, and this would make a great one for any war or ship enthusiast.

BOOK SAVINGS Nautilus members can buy the books reviewed on these pages at a whopping 25% discount on the publisher’s price through the Marine Society’s online shop. g To qualify for this offer, readers need to make their purchase at www.marinesocietyshop.org. Click on the ‘Books of the month’ button with the Nautilus logo.

22/10/2015 18:16

34 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

NL NEWS

Retourtje Hoek van Holland Harwich Alvorens het vlootbezoek van de vakbond begon, vond er eerst nog overleg plaats met de voorzitter en nog een lid van de Ondernemingsraad, V.l.n.r. Maarten Keuss, Nautilus International; Hans Walthie, Nautilus International; Hans Bosgieter, OR-voorzitter; Olaf van Daalen-Schüller, OR-lid; en Marcel van Dam, Nautilus International

Onboard services medewerkers achter de bar, v.l.n.r.: José Silva, Marlou Pellegrino, Simon Gomes en Bernice GomesWaalders

Vlootbezoek Stena Hollandica en Stena Transporter

we uiteraard zelf op zoek ja.’

Op 30 september en 1 oktober scheepten Maarten Keuss, adjunct bestuurder Nautilus International en Hans Walthie, communicatie en marketing adviseur Nautilus International, zich in voor een retourtje Hoek van Holland Harwich met de Stena Hollandica. Ook brachten ze een bezoek aan de Stena Transporter. Zij spraken daar met een aantal bemanningsleden en maakten, op de Stena Hollandica, ook een veiligheidsoefening mee. Een impressie: ‘Toen ik met varen begon, zo’n 30 jaar geleden, ging het er allemaal wat meer ontspannen aan toe. Nu heb je veel meer regels en papierwerk gekregen. Meer bureaucratie er omheen dus. Maar goed, dat waren andere tijden. Toen had je ook nog een aparte vakbond voor ofﬁcieren en gezellen. Dat is allemaal veranderd en dat vind ik ook beter zo nu. Dat je gewoon één vakbond bent.’ Kapitein Bert van der Vliet vindt het goed dat Nautilus zich ook aan boord laat zien. ‘Dan weet je ook beter wat er allemaal speelt en ben je benaderbaar voor je leden’, aldus Van der Vliet.

Het is net schafttijd op de Stena Transporter. De eerste vrachtcontainers worden aan boord gereden. Ook nu schijnt de zon weer uitbundig en staat er weinig wind. Kevin Schuiling, 3e werktuigkundige (wtk), Jan van der Meer, hwtk en Robert Kistemaker, 2e wtk, hebben net gegeten. Op de vraag of ze de Telegraph wel eens lezen, komen wisselende reacties. Jan van der Meer vindt dat er in verhouding weinig Nederlands nieuws in staat. ‘En dat mogen ze van mij ook op een paar A4-tjes zetten en naar me toe sturen….’ Robert Kistemaker kijkt de Telegraph echter regelmatig in. Ook de Engelse artikelen vindt hij interessant. Kevin Schuiling stelt slechts ‘sporadisch’ door de Telegraph te bladeren. Robert zit ook in de Ondernemingsraad. Alle drie vinden ze het goed dat de vakbond voor ze onderhandelt en dat ze gezamenlijk optrekken. Kevin: ‘De vakbond is er voor iedereen. Dus iedereen zou ook gewoon lid moeten zijn.’

Terug op zee

Alle medewerkers verzamelen zich op dek 9 voor de veiligheidsoefening.

Geef uw mening Vorige maand vroegen wij: Denkt u dat de toekomst van de scheepvaartsector in het Verre Oosten ligt?

Nee 67% Ja 33%

De poll van deze maand is: Denkt u dat de huidige maritieme opleidings- en trainingsprogramma’s voldoen aan de behoeften van de maritieme industrie, nu en in de toekomst? Geef ons uw mening online, op www.nautilusint.org/nl

34-36_nl_amended.indd 34

Het is prachtig weer. De zon schijnt breeduit en het is een rustig zeetje richting Harwich. In de machinekamer nemen de 3e werktuigkundigen Bastiaan Mooiweer, René de Kroon en Ron van Eijsden even wat technische details door met elkaar, als Maarten en Hans aanschuiven voor een gesprekje. René de Kroon is na een kort uitstapje aan de wal weer terug op zee. Hiervoor werkte hij bij scheepvaartbedrijf Bore. René: ‘Ik vaar toch liever, dan dat ik aan de wal werk, is me gebleken. Ik was altijd lid van de vakbond, maar toen ik aan wal ging werken, heb ik opgezegd. Ik denk er nu toch wel over om weer lid te worden.’ Ron van Eijsden snapt ook niet waarom de vakbonden hebben ingestemd om de pensioenleeftijd te verhogen naar 67 jaar. Ron: ‘Wij doen hier toch vrij zwaar werk. Werken tot 67 jaar is voor veel

Bladeren door de Telegraph

Stagiair Laurens van Leijden heeft het naar zijn zin op de Stena Transporter

mensen nauwelijks vol te houden.’ Maarten Keuss legt hem uit dat de vakbonden, zeker voor zware beroepen, altijd tegen deze maatregel hebben gestemd, maar dat ‘de politiek’ het zo besloten heeft. Verder raadt hij iedereen aan om lid van de vakbond te worden. ‘Hoe meer vakbondsleden, hoe sterker je je kunt maken richting werkgevers en politiek. Ook heb je dan invloed op het cao-overleg binnen je eigen bedrijf.’‘Inderdaad, samen sta je sterker, dat is mij de laatste tijd toch wel gebleken’, valt Bastiaan Mooiweer Maarten bij. Bastiaan: ‘Ik heb veel contacten met collega’s. Samen praten we de dingen door. Dan kom je met elkaar toch ook tot betere voorstellen, ook als je dit vervolgens weer met de bondsbestuurders bespreekt.’ Complimenten voor On Board Services

De avond valt. Harwich komt in zicht. De meeste passagiers verlaten het restaurant op dek 9. Een mooi moment om even met een paar On Board Services (OBS) medewerkers te praten over werkdruk aan boord. Aangeschoven zijn José Silva, Marlou Pellegrino, Simon Gomes en zijn vrouw Bernice GomesWaalders. José, Marlou en Simon doen dit werk al ruim 30 jaar. Bernice korter, maar die loopt ‘toch ook al weer heel wat jaartjes mee’. ‘Het is leuk werk, je ontmoet allerlei mensen. We krijgen ook veel complimenten van onze klanten. Dat is natuurlijk leuk om

te horen’, zegt Marlou. Bernice: ‘We hebben overigens wel een superdrukke zomer achter de rug. Dat heeft toch wel een wissel getrokken op veel collega’s. Evenals dat we in de zomerperiode dan ook niet of nauwelijks op vakantie kunnen. Dat is voor mensen met kinderen, die vastzitten aan de schoolvakanties, natuurlijk minder leuk. Ook voor Simon Gomes, die nu in de ziektewet zit, en voor José Silva is de verhoogde pensioenleeftijd naar 67 jaar een brug te ver. ‘Ik denk niet dat ik zolang door kan blijven werken. Daar moeten we als bond toch nog eens goed naar kijken met elkaar’, aldus Simon. Veiligheidsoefening

De volgende ochtend, als de Hollandica weer terug is uit Harwich, vindt er een veiligheidsoefening (Security Drill) plaats. Dit keer zijn er ook inspecteurs van de Inspectie Leefbaarheid en Transport (ILT) van de partij. Alle medewerkers zijn verzameld op dek 9. Er wordt gesimuleerd dat er 4 vermisten aan boord zouden zijn. De zoektocht begint. Alles wordt in kleine teams grondig doorzocht. Uiteindelijk worden ze gevonden en wordt er geëvalueerd. Edith van der Kruk, housekeeping coördinator: ‘In het echt missen we ook wel eens iemand. Vaak betreft het dan een chauffeur die zich verslapen heeft. Dan roepen we zijn naam en kentekennummer om. Vaak lost het zich dan weer op. En zo niet, dan gaan

Stage lopen op de Stena Transporter

Tenslotte leidt stagiair Laurens van Leijden, 3e jaars van het Maritiem Instituut Willem Barentsz te Terschelling, zijn vakbondsgasten geroutineerd rond op het schip.’ Ik doe hier, aan het begin van mijn 3e jaar, een meeloopstage van 5 maanden en krijg met alle facetten van het vak te maken. Heel leerzaam en bijzonder boeiend. Ik heb zelf begin dit jaar al een sollicitatiebrief gestuurd en werd toen vrij snel uitgenodigd voor een gesprek. Op school zeiden ze dat je beter niet te lang kan wachten met je aan te melden. Want het is op het ogenblik dringen op de stagemarkt…Wat ik van een vakbond vind? Ik heb daar eigenlijk nog niet zo goed over nagedacht. Op school raden ze het ons wel aan om lid te worden van Nautilus. Ik zal er nog eens goed over nadenken. En ja hoor, jullie mogen me best een inschrijfformulier toesturen…’

Protocol Dienstdoen in Gevarengebieden verlengd Protocol inzake het Dienstdoen F in Gevarengebieden, dat was

schepen onder niet-Nederlandse vlag.

verlengd tot 30 september 2015, op 25 september 2015 geëvalueerd. Besloten is het protocol tot 30 september 2016 te verlengen. Dit protocol is van toepassing op zeevarenden, inbegrepen stagiairs, die onder de werkingssfeer van een Nederlandse cao vallen en werkzaam zijn op Nederlands gevlagde schepen. Partijen doen de aanbeveling om het gestelde in dit protocol eveneens van toepassing te laten zijn op Nederlandse zeevarenden in dienst van een Nederlandse werkgever die hun werkzaamheden verrichten op

Aanwijzing havens in Libië en Syrië tot gevaarlijk bestemmingsgebied

CAO- partijen hebben het

CAO- partijen hebben de overeenkomst ‘Aanwijzing havens in Libië en Syrië tot gevaarlijk bestemmingsgebied’, die gold tot 25 september 2015, geëvalueerd. Besloten is deze overeenkomst met twee maanden te verlengen tot 25 november 2015. Hiermee is overeengekomen dat partijen gebonden aan het zogenaamde ‘Protocol inzake het dienstdoen in Gevarengebieden’ alle havens in

Libië en Syrië aanwijzen als gevaarlijk bestemmingsgebied. Partijen hebben vastgesteld dat de reeds langere tijd bestaande geopolitieke spanningen in Libië en Syrië aanleiding geven tot het instellen van het gevaarlijk bestemmingsgebied. Aanwijzing havens in Guinee tot gevaarlijk bestemmingsgebied

CAO- partijen hebben de overeenkomst ‘Aanwijzing havens in Guinee en Sierra Leone tot gevaarlijk bestemmingsgebied’ die gold tot 25 september 2015 geëvalueerd. Besloten is de overeenkomst met twee maanden te verlengen voor

Guinee tot 25 november. Gezien de verbeterde situatie in Sierra Leone wordt de overeenkomst voor havens in dat land niet verlengd. Hiermee is overeengekomen dat partijen gebonden aan het zogenaamde ‘Protocol inzake het dienstdoen in Gevarengebieden’ alle havens in Guinee aanwijzen als gevaarlijk bestemmingsgebied. Partijen hebben vastgesteld dat de ebola-uitbraak in het genoemde land, in samenhang met het daarop gebaseerde negatieve reisadvies van het Ministerie van Buitenlandse zaken, aanleiding geeft tot het instellen van het gevaarlijk bestemmingsgebied.

22/10/2015 18:17

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 35

NL NEWS

Volg ons op Twitter

Gehuldigd Vakbondslid Blikt 70 Jaar Terug

SRI video over risico’s criminalisering A bij ongelukken Rights International (SRI) een F belangrijke video over de risico’s van

Onlangs lanceerde de Seafarers’

criminalisering van zeevarenden die betrokken zijn bij een ongeluk op zee. Dit in opdracht van de International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). De video laat zien wat zeevarenden kunnen verwachten als ze in hechtenis worden genomen en hoe de vakbond ze kan bijstaan. Zo kunnen alle Nautilus International leden altijd en overal ter wereld, 24 uur per dag, een beroep doen op juridische bijstand van hun vakbond. Dit geldt zowel voor de zeeen binnenvaart, als de waterbouw. Deirdre Fitzpatrick, SRI executive director, hield op de Nautilus Algemene Ledenvergadering deze week een bewogen toespraak over wat er allemaal kan gebeuren bij

ongelukken. En uiteraard kregen de aanwezigen de video te zien. Deirdre: ‘Ondanks het feit dat de veiligheid in de scheepvaart de laatste jaren is verbeterd, vinden er nog altijd teveel ongelukken plaats. Met alle vaak kwalijke gevolgen voor zeevarenden tot gevolg. Hun vrijheid staat op het spel, evenals het risico dat hun vaarbevoegdheidsbewijzen kunnen worden afgenomen. Deze video laat zien dat criminalisering een dagelijks risico vormt voor alle zeevarenden en dat alle betrokkenen ervoor moeten waken dat zeevarenden niet automatisch bij alle ongelukken als zondebok worden bestempeld.’ g Kijk zelf naar de video ‘Criminalization of Seafarers’ op: www.seafarersrights.org/ seafarers-subjects/criminal-law/

Teken mee voor Fair Transport Nautilus International zich F al jaren sterk voor Fair Transport Zoals bekend maakt

(Eerlijk Transport) in de zeevaart. Het doel hiervan is om goede scheepvaartmaatschappijen eenvoudig herkenbaar te maken via een nieuw Fair Transport Mark(keurmerk) en om de import-/exportbranche aan te moedigen met deze bedrijven te werken en de prijsvechters links te laten liggen. We doen dit samen met de Zweedse zeevaartbond SEKO. Inmiddels heeft de European Transport Workers Federation, waarbij wij ook zijn aangesloten,

het Fair Transport port Europe iinitiatief nit itiiatief gelanceerd. Uitgangspunt is om ‘eerlijk werk’ voorwaarden in de gehele Europese transportsector te bevorderen. Ook in de zeeen binnenvaart. Met als doel volgend jaar tenminste 1 miljoen handtekeningen van Europese burgers te verzamelen, om dit prima initiatief kracht bij te zetten. g Hoort en zegt het voort... en teken ook de petitie: www.fairtransporteurope.eu g Zie ook ons Nautilus International Fair Transport initiatief: www.nautilusint.org/ nl/wat-we-zeggen/campagnes/ eerlijk-transport/

Toekomstgerichte Nautilus Algemene Ledenvergadering F

’Energiek, vernieuwend en toekomstgericht’, zo beschrijft assistant general secretary Marcel van den Broek de Nautilus Algemene Ledenvergadering, die op 6 en 7 oktober plaatsvond in Liverpool. ‘De 12 aangenomen moties beslaan alle facetten van het vakbondswerk en zullen er voor zorgdragen dat de samenwerking tussen de diverse Nautilus Branches verder geïntensiveerd zal worden.’ Alle aangenomen moties staan in het teken van het hoofdthema van de Algemene ledenvergadering: ‘Banen, Vaardigheden en de Toekomst’.

bemanningsleden Samenwerkingsverbanden op het werk Nautilus Federatie en internationale activiteiten Maritiem Arbeidsverdrag LRD Ledenonderzoek 2014-2015

Alle moties op een rij:

Ingediend door de leden: Informatie over alcohol aan zeevarenden Rapport binnenvaart Gezondheid en veiligheid voor vrouwelijke leden Handelsovereenkomsten Loopbaanovergangen- allemaal in dezelfde boot Gelijkheid en diversiteit

Ingediend door de Council: Banen, Vaardigheden en de Toekomst Communicatiemogelijkheden voor

g Zie ook het verslag van de bijeenkomst op de Engelstalige pagina’s 19-26.

34-36_nl_amended.indd 35

‘We maken er een mooi feestje van!’ Dat zei de 93-jarige Jantinus Lanting toen wij hem belden met de vraag of wij hem op 1 oktober mochten huldigen voor zijn 70-jarig lidmaatschap. Op 1 oktober 1945 werd de heer Lanting lid van het Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen (NVV). Het NVV was een op 1 januari 1906 opgerichte vakbond die in 1977, samen met het Nederlands Katholiek Vakverbond, is opgegaan in de FNV. Op de vraag waarom hij als 23-jarige lid werd van de bond antwoordt hij:’ Dat is toch normaal? De vakbond komt op voor je belangen als werknemer. Zowel individueel, als je bijvoorbeeld met ontslag wordt bedreigd, als bij het afsluiten van de cao voor alle werknemers.’ De heer Lanting was toentertijd werkzaam als elektricien en een ander vakbondslid, uit zijn woonplaats Emmen, heeft hem lid gemaakt. Onze jubilaris herinnert zich nog goed dat hij als kaderlid de deuren langs ging om bij de leden contributie op te halen. Halverwege de jaren ‘60 ging de heer Lanting als elektricien werken voor De Koninklijke Adriaan Volker Groep. Dit bedrijf is uiteindelijk via de HAM gefuseerd met Van Oord. Op de muur in de gang hangt nog een schilderij dat hij heeft meegenomen uit Hong Kong. Daar was de heer Lanting werkzaam bij een landaanwinningsproject. Op de vraag hoe hij bij Volker terecht kwam, zegt hij: ‘Ach jongen…hoe lang geleden is dat wel niet? Dat weet ik niet meer’. Wel geeft hij aan dat hij nooit voor minder loon ergens anders is gaan werken. Dat advies geeft hij ook onze jongere leden graag mee.

schreef dan een paar regels. Haar vader was wel eens drie maanden weg en dan weer één maand thuis. Soms, als hij na maanden weer thuis kwam, kregen ze met terugwerkende kracht een uitbrander van hun vader. Trots op lidmaatschap

uiteraard ook het borreltje zorgden voor gezellige tijden aan boord. ‘Daarom ben ik zo gezond oud geworden’, vertelt hij met een knipoog. Ook verheugde hij zich altijd op brieven van zijn thuisfront. Drie van zijn zes

kinderen zijn aanwezig om het jubileum samen met hem te vieren. Oudste dochter Henny weet nog goed dat zij met de hele familie een brief schreven aan hun vader als hij in het buitenland werkte. Ieder kind

Dat de heer Lanting trots is op zijn lidmaatschap van de bond, lijdt geen twijfel. Op de kast in zijn woonkamer staat een hele reeks felicitatiekaarten van zijn kinderen en kleinkinderen. Op zijn jasje prijkt de FNV speld die hij ontving bij gelegenheid van zijn 50- jaar lidmaatschap. Charley Ramdas — voorzitter van FNV Waterbouw — bevestigt het nieuwe FNV speldje op het jasje van de heer Lanting voor zijn 70 jaar lidmaatschap. Charley vertelt dat hij het een grote eer vindt dat hij dit namens de bond mag doen en dat het echt heel bijzonder is dat iemand zo lang lid is. Ook reikt hij een speciale oorkonde uit die ondertekend is door Ton Heerts, voorzitter van de FNV. De heer Lanting wil deze naast zijn klok ophangen en zegt tot slot tegen zijn aanwezige kinderen: ‘Als jullie niet meer voor mij kunnen zorgen, dan bel ik de bond!’.

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Onze jubilaris bewaart goede herinneringen aan de saamhorigheid aan boord. Het eten — zes gangen diners als we hem mogen geloven — en

In this month’s Dutch pages: z the ETF’s new Fair Transport

campaign z Seafarers’ Rights International’s new criminalisation film z Marcel van den Broek looks back at the Union’s General Meeting z scientific research in the Netherlands looks at watchkeeping rotas z Chemgas launches 17 new LNG / dual fuel coasters z Nautilus gives an award to former FNV chairman Ton Heerts following 70 years of union membership z Union officials visit members onboard Stena Hollandica and Stena Transporter z Nautilus official attends ITF tug conference

courses Maritime Shipping High Voltage for Shipping – STCW (5 days) Dynamic Positioning: -

Awareness (2 days) Induction (4 days) Intensive Simulator / Sea time Reduction (5 days) Simulator / Advanced (4 days) Reference System Course (3 days)

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22/10/2015 18:58

36 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

NL NEWS Wij hebben Facebook. Volg ons ook! Bezoek www.nautilusint.org

Voorstel verruiming Pauze Artikel

ETF/ITF Sleepvaartconferentie: meer A coördinatie door vakbondsnetwerk conferentie, die op 23 en D 24 september werd gehouden in Op de ETF/ITF Sleepvaart-

London, spraken de vakbonden zich uit voor een betere internationale coördinatie en informatie voor de sector door middel van het inzetten van een vakbondsnetwerk. De competitie in de sleepvaart speelt zich af op een internationaal niveau. Het aantal bedrijven wat hieraan deelneemt, is vrij overzichtelijk en komt elkaar steeds weer tegen in de verschillende (grote) havens overal ter wereld. Alle middelen om van de concurrent te kunnen winnen, worden hierbij ingezet. Dit zorgt ook voor een toenemende druk op de positie van werknemers en dit was aanleiding voor de International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) om hier prioriteit aan te geven. Aangezien de havensleepdiensten wereldwijd worden toegerekend aan de binnenvaart, is de European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) ook betrokken bij deze sector en problematiek. Na een 1e conferentie in Antwerpen, georganiseerd door de ETF, had de ITF op haar kantoor te London deze 2e conferentie geïnitieerd. Het programma bestond uit zaken die op dit moment in de sector actueel zijn en de verschillende manieren om deze als vakbonden te benaderen voor belangenbehartiging aan hun leden en werknemers. Zo werd er onder meer een inleiding verzorgd door Jeremy Anderson, Head of Strategic Research ITF, over de ‘4 hefbomen voor vakbondsmacht’. Oneerlijke concurrentie voorkomen

Zoals hierboven aangegeven wordt de sleepvaart ook toegerekend aan de binnenvaart, doordat het merendeel van de schepen de havensleepdiensten verzorgen. Op dit moment wordt binnen de Europese Unie (EU) gewerkt aan een ontwerp reglement voor Markttoegang Havendiensten en financiële transparantie in de havens. Het doel van dit reglement is om de toegang van commerciële bedrijven tot het verlenen van havendiensten te vergroten. En tevens om oneerlijke concurrentie door staatssteun te voorkomen of aan het licht te brengen, door financiële transparantie te verplichten. De vorderingen hierin worden nadrukkelijk gevolgd door de beleidsmedewerkers van de ETF. In de conferentie werd hierover dan ook verslag gedaan door Livia Spera, ETF Politiek Secretaris Havens. De inventarisatie van sleepactiviteiten in Europa (het zogenaamde ‘mappen’) werd gepresenteerd door Myriam Chaffart, ETF Politiek Secretaris Binnenvaart. Aansluitend aan deze presentatie kregen de aanwezigen

34-36_nl_amended.indd 36

de gelegenheid om hierop aan te vullen en de veranderingen vanuit de actuele ontwikkelingen in ‘hun’ havens mede te delen. Dit bleek ook nodig te zijn omdat de veranderingen elkaar in een hoog tempo opvolgen. Sleepvaart in nieuwe Panama kanaal

Een belangrijke positie tijdens deze conferentie werd ingenomen door de uitdagingen op het Panama Kanaal. De presentatie hiervan was in handen van de collega’s Ivan De la Gruardia en Rolando Arrue uit Panama. Zij belichtten een donkere keerzijde van de exploitatie van het kanaal. Die exploitatie is in handen van een zeer machtig overheidsorgaan. Dit is zo machtig dat het als een staat in een staat wordt ervaren door de inwoners en werknemers van Panama. Het economische belang van het kanaal voor het land Panama is de belangrijkste reden en oorzaak van deze machtspositie en gaat zelfs zover dat het zich volledig onttrekt aan democratische inspraak en controle. De link met de conferentie ligt in de ontwikkeling van het nieuwe kanaal. In plaats van opnieuw treintjes aan weerzijde van het kanaal te laten meelopen, zoals in de constructie van het oude kanaal, heeft men bij de bouw van het nieuwe kanaal uit kostenoverweging gekozen voor de inzet van slepers. Echter meer dan helft van het aantal slepers moet langs de kant worden gehouden door gebrek aan onderhoud en onderdelen. Ian Bray van het Australische MUA liet de aanwezigen zien hoe zij hun werkgevers in kaart brengen om vervolgens de werknemersbelangen te behartigen. Dat is ook belangrijk. Te vernemen hoe andere collega´s het werk benaderen en daarmee successen behalen.

Begin vorig jaar stemden de zeevarende Nautilus leden er positief mee in om, in opdracht van de Overheid, onder uitvoering van de Stichting STC, een wetenschappelijke pilot uit te laten voeren onder zeevarenden om af te wijken van het 6 uur op/6 uur af wachtschema. Dit om te onderzoeken of een 7/5 uren wachtschema beter is voor zowel de gezondheid van de wachtlopenden als ook voor de algehele veiligheid aan boord. Uit de pilot blijkt dat het aan te bevelen is het pauzeartikel uit het Arbeidstijden besluit zeescheepvaart te verruimen. In de huidige regelgeving dient er na elke periode van 6 uur wachtlopen een half uur pauze te worden genomen. De pilot bestond uit een literatuuronderzoek, alsmede een proef op 6 schepen met een ander urenschema. De onderzoekers tekenen er hier echter wel bij aan dat — door diverse redenen — de voordelen van een dergelijke verruiming nog niet direct duidelijk tot uitdrukking zijn gekomen in de proef op de zes schepen. Eén van de redenen daarvan is dat enkele deelnemers niet altijd voldoende rusttijd hebben genomen. Nu wordt er nog gewerkt volgens het wachtschema ‘6 uur op/ 6 uur af’. In de nieuwe te verruimen regeling zou dit opgerekt kunnen worden naar ‘7 op /5 af’ en ‘7 op /5 af’, eventueel met een verschoven aanvangstijd. De onderzoeksvragen in de pilot waren de volgende: Onderzoeksvraag (primair) Stel de verschillen vast tussen het werken aan boord van zeeschepen met toepassing van het wachtschema 6/6 en het wachtschema 7/5 in relatie tot het beheersbaar maken van kritieke vermoeidheid onder wachtofﬁcieren. Vergelijk de effecten van beide wachtschema’s en stel vast welk wachtschema uit oogpunt van beheersing van vermoeidheid de voorkeur geniet.

Onderzoeksvraag (secundair) Stel vast of het verschuiven van het aanvangstijdstip van de wacht leidt tot het terugdringen van kritieke vermoeidheid onder zeevarenden die wachtlopen. De belangrijkste aanbeveling op basis van dit onderzoek en op basis van eerdere onderzoeken is dat een 6/6 wachtsysteem niet voldoende ruimte voor rust geeft, vanwege het feit dat een slaap van 6 uur ononderbroken niet kan worden genoten. Met een 7/5 wachtsysteem is een periode van ononderbroken slaap wel mogelijk. Op basis hiervan wordt aanbevolen dat het beter is om flexibel om te kunnen gaan met de wachtsystemen, waardoor een betere slaap efficiëntie kan worden bereikt. De pilot heeft plaatsgevonden aan boord van 6 verschillende schepen waarbij de wachtofficieren (de Kapitein en de Eerste Officier) de data voor dit onderzoek hebben gegenereerd. De deelnemende schepen zijn allen werkzaam in de short sea shipping sector: Sunergon Shipping CV — MV Sunergon; De Bock Maritiem BV — Smaragd; Wijnne Barends — Lady Nora; Wijnne Barends — Lady Nola; Wijnne Barends — Lady Nona; Flinter — Nordic Erika.

verruiming van het Pauzeartikel een betere optie is. Ook onze Raad van Advies heeft zich voor verruiming uitgesproken. Maar uiteindelijk is natuurlijk het woord aan onze leden, die hierover op onze ledenvergadering op 24 november een oordeel zullen moeten vellen.’

Raad van Advies positief; leden beslissen

Nautilus International assistant general secretary Marcel van den Broek: ‘Begin vorig jaar stemden onze zeevarende leden er positief mee in om, in opdracht van de Overheid, onder uitvoering van de Stichting STC, een wetenschappelijke pilot uit te laten voeren om af te wijken van het 6/6 urenschema. Kennelijk blijkt uit de proef op de schepen dat de voordelen van verruiming nog niet direct duidelijk worden. In feite zou je een nog veel uitgebreider onderzoek moeten houden om dit aan te tonen. Want uit literatuuronderzoek, en uit het gebruik van de bekende rekentool Martha, blijkt dat

Kom naar de ledenvergadering Op 24 november a.s. van 13.00 – 17.oo uur vindt er voor zeevarende Nautilus leden een speciale ledenvergadering plaats over het Voorstel Verruiming Pauze Artikel. Locatie: Vergadercentrum Vredenburg Vredenburg 19 3511 BB Utrecht

Belangrijkste aanbeveling Eindrapport pilot studie naar Wachtsystemen en vermoeidheid in de scheepvaart literatuuronderzoek laat zien dat 7/5 en F 7/5 plus een uur in theorie voordelen hebben Op basis van de conclusie dat

ten opzichte van 6/6, maar dat dit door diverse redenen in de pilot niet duidelijk tot uitdrukking is gekomen, zouden de volgende aanbevelingen kunnen worden geformuleerd: z Aan de wetgever: om de pauzebepaling te verruimen z Aan de sector: om, vooral bij het toepassen van een 7/5 schema, in overweging te nemen om met verschoven aanvangstijdstippen te werken. g Zie het volledige rapport op de website www.nautilusint.org/nl/wat-we-zeggen/ nautilus-nieuws

Slotverklaring: solidariteit en meer transparantie

De conferentie sloot af met een slotverklaring, ondertekend door 20 vakbondsorganisaties, waaronder Nautilus International. In deze slotverklaring beloven de bonden solidair met elkaar te zijn waar het gaat om het bestrijden van mondiaal opererende ondernemingen die oneerlijke tarieven opleggen aan lokale spelers. Ook als dit leidt tot acties en stakingen, wordt er solidair opgetrokken. Verder eisen de bonden dat de gehanteerde tarieven volledig transparant zijn en dat er niet beneden de vastgestelde loonafspraken wordt gewerkt. Ook wordt de Europese Commissie opgeroepen een onderzoek te starten naar de methodieken en business modellen van de grote sleepvaartondernemers die staatssteun vragen. Dit om met name te controleren of er geen sprake is van oneerlijke concurrentie.

Chemgas gelooft in innovatie en in een beter milieu plaats van de nieuwe Chemgas F coaster Sefarina in Rotterdam. Op 17 september vond de doop

Hiermee werd tevens het 50-jarig bestaan van de rederij ingeluid. De Sefarina is gebouwd bij Scheepswerf Shipyard Constructions Hoogezand Nieuwbouw (SCHN). Brutotonnage: 2929.00. De nieuwe coaster is voor Chemgas de eerste van twee identieke schepen die varen op zowel gasolie als LNG. Chemgas heeft hiervoor

(‘dual fuel’) gekozen omdat LNG nog niet overal in Europa verkrijgbaar is. Daar waar mogelijk wordt echter op LNG gevaren. Hierdoor wordt de uitstoot van stikstof-, fijnstof en CO2 aanzienlijk teruggebracht. De twee LNG tanks hebben een capaciteit van 3000 kuub. Nautilus International assistant general secretary Marcel van den Broek was bij de doop aanwezig. Van den Broek: ‘Met het in de vaart brengen van de gastanker

Seferina draagt Chemgas bij aan de emissiereductie doelstelling zoals deze vanaf begin dit jaar geldt op de Noordzee. Behalve schoner, is het schip ook nog eens stiller, wat het welzijn van de bemanning ten goede komt.’ Toekomstbestendige schepen

Chemgas stelt te geloven in innovatie door toepassing van nieuwe ontwikkelingen. ‘Dit ondersteunt

ook onze ambitie om voorop te blijven lopen. De schepen gaan 25 jaar mee en wij streven naar toekomstbestendige schepen, waarbij we ook goed rekening willen houden met nieuwe energie- en milieuregels. Bovendien vinden wij het als gas-expert belangrijk om praktische kennis en ervaring op te doen met LNG. Meer plannen voor binnenvaartcapaciteit liggen al bij ons op de plank’, laat een woordvoerder van het bedrijf weten.

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November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 37

NAUTILUS AT WORK

Practical advice to stay safe Nautilus took part in a root and branch review of one of the shipping industry’s most important safety guides — the UK’s Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers. The new edition is now available — and this special report explains what’s different about it…

Publication of the fifth edition of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers coincided with a change to the rules about carriage of the Code on UK ships. The Merchant Shipping (Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen) Regulations 1998, which specified which officers and other seafarers onboard were to be provided with a copy of the Code, have been revoked and replaced by a requirement that the Code is made readily available and easily accessible to every seafarer onboard (see M-notice summaries, page 42). This complements the existing duty under health and safety legislation that seafarers must be provided with ‘such instruction,

training and supervision’ as they need for their health and safety onboard. The Code is considered to contain essential information for all seafarers’ health and safety. The more ﬂexible carriage requirements recognise that safety management structures vary between ships, but will also prepare the ground for the increasing use of computer systems to deliver information to crew members. The Code is available from The Stationary Ofﬁce (TSO) in pdf format as well as in hard copy, and an e-book version is planned for next year. However, the MCA would normally expect some hard copies to continue to be carried for reference, and as a back-up to digital access.

The Code, which is published by the MCA, is recognised as providing deﬁnitive guidance on safe working practices on UK ships, and is endorsed by Nautilus International, the RMT union and the UK Chamber of Shipping through the National Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Committee. The MCA has published guidance which advises that the Agency expects the shipowner, master or employer to comply with the guidance in the Code or to be able to demonstrate that they have taken other measures ensuring an equivalent level of safety. This will generally be considered to demonstrate that they have done what is reasonably practicable to comply with health and safety regulations.

Pictured above is the scene where the chief officer of a Dutch cargoship died when he was struck by a spring line that broke while the vessel was berthing in a Swedish port. Following investigations into the incident, Nautilus used this case to amend the UK Code of Safe Working Practices to ensure that it draws attention to an extended area of danger in snap-back zones

Publishing the Code meets the UK’s obligation under Article 4.3 of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, to publish health and safety guidance for its ships. Although mandatory only on UK-ﬂagged ships and based around UK legislation and guid-

ance, the MCA Code is widely recognised as providing authoritative guidance which is relevant on any ship. It is carried on many ships of other ﬂags, and has in the past been made available to publishers in other countries to translate into other languages.

This international relevance was taken into account during the revision of the Code, for example in seeking to make greater use of drawings, simplify the language and to focus more on giving practical advice than on explaining regulatory requirements.

Help to build your career with the Slater Fund… Nautilus makes even more money available to help seafarers gain their first OOW certificates If you’re working at sea and want to train as a ship’s officer, the Nautilus Slater Fund is just the ticket. The bursary scheme offers financial support to Merchant Navy ratings, electrotechnical officers and yacht crew to study for the STCW officer of the watch qualification (either deck or engineer). Up to £17,500 per applicant is available to help with the costs of gaining your first certificate of competency. Maybe you need a hand with tuition fees or buying books — or would welcome a boost to your income if you’re off pay during college phases.

There’s even a discretionary £1,500 bonus payment when you make it through the course and gain your OOW certificate. The support is provided through the JW Slater Fund, named in honour of a former Nautilus general secretary. Slater Fund awards have been made to over 1,400 seafarers since the scheme was launched in 1997, and these recipients are now enjoying the enhanced salaries and job satisfaction that come from rising through the ranks. g So if you’re looking to become an officer of the watch, don’t leave things to chance. Fill in the form now or apply via the Nautilus website: www.nautilusint.org

Complete this form and send it to: Slater Fund, The Marine Society, 202 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7JW. I am over 20 years of age and normally resident in the UK. Please send me details of the John Slater Award. Name:

____________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Email:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

This form is also available online at: www.nautilusint.org or email your name, address and request for Slater Fund details to: slater@ms-sc.org

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38 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

APPOINTMENTS

2016 STCW UPDATING TRAINING FLEETWOOD - A TOP UK NAUTICAL COLLEGE

WITH A LONG ESTABLISHED REPUTATION FOR BEING A LEADING PROVIDER OF TRAINING TO THE MARITIME INDUSTRY.

FLEETWOOD NAUTICAL CAMPUS OPEN DAY | SATURDAY 13 FEB 2016 | 10AM ONWARDS

*Special offer price (when booked together)

Fleetwood Nautical Campus | Broadwater | Fleetwood | FY7 8JZ

STCW

FRB

2016 STCW UPDATING TRAINING Personal Survival Techniques Updating £155 Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting Updating £200 Advanced Fire Fighting Updating £175 Proficiency in Survival craft & Rescue Boat £200

2016 STCW FAST RESCUE BOAT UPDATING 1 Day MCA Approved FRB updating course with Capsize drill £245

The above four courses can be booked as a

4 day package £680*

2016 AVAILABLE COURSE DATES 4 , 11 ,18 Jan | 1, 8 , 15, 22, 29 Feb | 7, 14 Mar | 4, 25 Apr | 9, 16 , 23 May | 6 , 13, 20 Jun | 4, 11, 18 July

Fridays after each Updating package

*** EXTRA WEEK ADDED DUE TO DEMAND

9 NOV 2015 ***

STCW FAST RESCUE BOAT 3 Day MCA Approved FRB course with Capsize drill £855 Company bookings available throughout the year dependent on tides

LIMITED NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL BOOKINGS AVAILABLE 11 Nov (2015) | 25 Jan (2016)

FOR MORE INFORMATION E offshore@blackpool.ac.uk T 01253 779 123 W blackpool.ac.uk/offshore Facebook /FleetwoodNauticalCampusOffshoreOperations

Securing the nation and protecting its economy An operation command within the Home Office, Border Force enforces immigration law and Customs regulation. Detecting prohibited and restricted goods, immigration crime and a fiscal fraud, the work we do secures the UK’s border at its ports, airports, postal depots and rail. Our five-strong fleet of cutters, which patrol the UK’s sea border and are occasionally deployed elsewhere around the world, have an incredible history and an enviable reputation amongst leading professionals and mariners worldwide. As part of an on-going modernisation programme, we are now looking for a number of experienced maritime professionals to join us.

Head of Technical Services

Third Engineers

£34,558 - £39,742 (plus Seagoing Allowance and £22,961 - £26,406 (plus Seagoing Allowance and Maritime Package of £23,246 to start) Ref: 1467456 Maritime Package of £14,628 to start) Ref: 1468336 Working closely with the crews, you’ll monitor the performance of the fleet and take the lead when it comes to budgeting, specifying and implementing any changes from detailed improvements to complete refits.

Second Officers £22,961 - £26,406 (plus Seagoing Allowance and Maritime Package of £14,628 to start) Ref: 1468269

To lead an Engineering Watch on board one of our cutters. Overseeing the vessel’s day-to-day maintenance, you’ll also monitor and report on its technical performance, analyse defects and carry out any necessary repairs. Each of these roles is an opportunity to put your knowledge and experience to work in a far more challenging and rewarding environment. One in which you’ll be helping to protect and enhance both the UK economy and national security.

Managing the crew on deck, you’ll lead searches of targeted vessels, as well as helping individuals and businesses to cross the border. This will involve arresting and detaining those suspected of customs or immigration offences. To find out more and apply online, visit www.civilservice.gov.uk/jobs and search with the relevant reference above. Closing date: Thursday 12th November 2015. The Home Office will not discriminate on grounds of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, those with caring responsibilities, part time workers or any other factor irrelevant to a person’s work.

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20/10/2015 14:15

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 39

APPOINTMENTS NOTICE TO READERS Nautilus International advises members that some crewing agencies may not be advertising specific positions, but instead may be seeking to develop their databases of job hunters.

11 November 2015 is the closing date for December 2015. You can still advertise online at any time.

SHOREBASED

YACHTS

DRY

Technical Superintendent Kent - £60K Pkg

Chief Engineer 40m+ S/Y - €6.4K/mth

Technical Super - Container - €85K

Technical Superintendent Newcastle - £55K Pkg

Deckhand 100m+ M/Y - $3.7K/mth

Technical Superintendent London - £60K

2nd Stewardess 60m+ - €3.6K/mth

Mooring Manager Portsmouth - £65K

Stewardess 80m+ M/Y - €2.5K/mth

CREWING SEAGOING

Junior Captain 100m+ M/Y - €8.5K/mth

Chief Engineer - Dredger - £58K Chief Engineer - Tugs - South UK - £45K &KLHI 2IƂFHU '32 DSV - Salary DOE Master Mariner - Tugs - Salary DOE

FERRIES Vessel Scheduler - RORO/ROPAX - £35K Engineering Superintendent - £60K Chief Engineer - RORO/ROPAX - £58K Master - RORO/ROPAX - £62K ETO - RORO/ROPAX - £200/day &KLHI 2IƂFHU RORO/ROPAX - £44K

3rd Engineer 80m+ M/Y - €4.5K/mth QG 2IƂFHU 100m+ M/Y - €5K/mth ETO 70m+ M/Y - €6K/mth Chief Engineer 50m+ M/Y - €8.5K/mth VW 2IƂFHU 5HOLHI 0DVWHU 100m+ M/Y - €8K/mth Junior Technical Superintendent Super Yachts - €45K Yacht Manager Super Yachts - €70K

Shore - based: +44 (0)23 8020 8840 shipping - uk@faststream.com

Seagoing: +44 (0)23 8020 8820

seagoing - uk@faststream.com

Technical Super - Dry Bulk - £55K Senior Technical Super - Dry/Bulk - €90K Fleet Manager - Dry/Bulk €120K HSEQ Assistant - Container - £35K Chief Engineer - Container - £50K

CRUISE &KLHI 3XUVHU Cruise - $40K USD 2nd Engineer - Cruise - €49K Technical Superintendent - Cruise - €80K Technical Superintendent - Cruise - £70K 1st Engineer - Cruise - €56K (QY (QJLQHHU 2IƂFHU Cruise - €43K Refrigeration Engineer - Cruise - €35K 'HPL &KHI GH 3DUWLH Cruise - €18K &KHI GH 3DUWLH Cruise - €25K Hotel Director - Cruise - £50K

Search for ‘Faststream Seafarers’ @faststreamsea www.faststream.com

Engineer & Mate - Portland SMIT operates workboats employed to assist the MOD with various aspects of marine training, including range clearance duties, Target Towing and Aircrew Marine Survival Training.

We are currently recruiting for an Engineer and a Mate on our 27M workboat based in Portland. Due to the nature of the work, the posts are subject to MOD security clearance and you will need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years. Recent commercial seagoing experience is preferred. Applicants are required to hold a full and valid driving licence and must live within a daily commutable distance of Portland. The applicant for the engineer’s position is required to hold an STCW95 Engineering OOW CoC. The applicant for the Mates position is required to hold an STCW95 II/3 OOW less than 500GT near coastal CoC. Both applicants should hold an ENG 1 or be able to pass an ENG 1 medical. Salary for the Engineer’s position will be in the region of £32,500 per annum. Salary for the Mate’s position will be in the region of £31,000 per annum. Closing date for applications is 20th Nov 2015. Interviews will be held week commencing 23rd Nov 2015. To apply please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to: HR Department, SMIT International, Westminster House, 4 Crompton Way, Segensworth, West Fareham, Hampshire PO15 5SS or recruitment@boskalis.co.uk

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20/10/2015 14:15

40 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

APPOINTMENTS Leading Marine Recruitment Specialists We are seeking all ranks of seafarers, offshore and shore based personnel and in particular:

Your first port of call Address: First Floor Unit 7, Hythe Marine Park, Shore Road, Southampton, SO45 6HE UK Telephone: +44(0)23 8084 0374 Email: recruitment@seamariner.com

Senior Deck and Engineering Of½cers - All vessels All Of½cers and Crew - ERRV Tug/Multicat Crew - All ranks Various shore based personnel All Crew for temporary assignments

Chief OfÀcer

If you would like further information in registering with Seamariner or you would like to discuss your crewing requirements, please contact one of our experienced consultants.

www.seamariner.com

ISO9001:2008 accredited and KvK and MLC compliant Reg Co number: 2745210

CV Professionals Maritime & oσshore specialists www.cvprofessionals.co.uk

Advertising your vacancy works! Contact Paul Wade on +44 (0)20 7880 6212 or email paul.wade@redactive.co.uk to find out how advertising your vacancy here will work for you.

Wightlink is one of the UK’s largest domestic ferry operators, providing a link between the Isle of Wight and the Hampshire mainland. We operate ro-ro ferries and high speed catamarans on three routes from Portsmouth and Lymington, carrying almost 5 million passengers and around 1.5 million cars, coaches and freight vehicles every year across the extremely busy Solent waterway. With employment to commence 1 December 2015 we are seeking to recruit a permanent Chief OfÀcer who have the ambition to progress to Master. The successful candidate will have a Chief OfÀcers Unlimited CertiÀcate, preferably previous ferry experience, effective leadership and customer service skills. In return we offer a competitive salary and the opportunity to work at sea but still go home at night! To apply, please email your CV and covering letter to recruitment@wightlink.co.uk by 1 November 2015.

DEPUTY HARBOUR MASTER (OPERATIONS) £60,000 plus package

Harwich Haven Authority has the vitally important task of ensuring the safety of navigation for some of the world’s largest container vessels and cruise liners accessing the Haven Ports, while simultaneously safeguarding the sizeable leisure vessel community sharing the same waters. Managing this diversity of traffic is a complex and demanding task and we are now seeking a Deputy Harbour Master to assist our Harbour Master to manage our team of highly experienced marine professionals in the delivery of a safe and efficient customer focussed service to all our stakeholders. In filling this challenging role we are seeking candidates with a relevant maritime qualification and senior management experience within a ports or shipping environment. In addition candidates will have a proven track record in change management and possess excellent leadership and communication skills. In recognising the importance of this position, we are offering a highly competitive salary together with an excellent benefits package. If you feel you have the required qualifications, skills and experience to undertake this key role, please download an application pack, available at http://www.hha.co.uk. Go to ‘vacancies’ select DHMO1/2015. The closing date and time for the receipt of applications is Friday 18th December 2015, 1200hrs. Harwich Haven Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

PLOT YOUR NEXT COURSE WITH US Excellent opportunities exist within our fleet of Oil, Chemical, LPG and LNG Tankers for various positions including:

MASTERS - CHIEF OFFICERS CHIEF ENGINEERS - SECOND ENGINEERS OOW DECK AND ENGINE We also have current opportunities onboard RoRo/RoPax Vessels. To view all current vacancies and for further information, please visit our manning agent website: www.nmms.co.uk. Or send full CV to: recruitment@nmms.co.uk

MASTERS / CHIEF OFFICERS / SECOND ENGINEERS / OOW DECK AND ENGINE / MASTERS / CHIEF OFFICERS / SECOND ENGINEERS / OOW DECK AND ENGINE

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November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 41

APPOINTMENTS

P&O Ferries is the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest ferry operator, carrying nine million passengers each year on an extensive network of tourist and freight services to Ireland, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and across the Irish Sea with a Ă&#x20AC;eet of modern ships from dedicated freighters to fast and frequent, high-capacity super ferries and luxurious cruise ferries serving all the key gateways into northern Europe.

Map Out an Exciting Career at Sea

As part of our talent and succession planning activities, we are now recruiting for the following positions within our Fleet across all our sectors.

Secure your future with Holland America Line and Seabourn Cruises

Masters Chief Engineers Chief OfÂżcers (Masters COC) Second Engineers (Chief Engineer COC)

We are currently recruiting for the following positions: Â&#x2C6; (IGO 3JÂ˝GIVW SJ EPP PIZIPW Â&#x2C6; )RKMRI 3JÂ˝GIVW SJ EPP PIZIPW IWTIGMEPP] MRXIVIWXIH MR LSPHIVW SJ 'PEWW 'S' Â&#x2C6; *EGMPMX] 1EREKIVW LSXIP WIVZMGIW IRKMRIIV Â&#x2C6; 6IJVMKIVEXMSR )RKMRIIVW Â&#x2C6; )PIGXVMGEP )PIGXVSRMG 3JÂ˝GIVW Â&#x2C6; ,SWTMXEPMX] +YIWX 7IVZMGIW 4VSJIWWMSREPW

We would welcome applications from candidates that have RoRo experience (previous experience in a similar role), senior tickets and a current ENG1. If this sounds like you, please visit our careers page on P&O Ferries LinkedIn and/or send your CV together with a cover letter outlining how you meet the role requirements to jobs@poferries.com as soon as possible.

All UK candidates please contact us using the following details and quoting reference VRL11/15: +44 (0)300 303 8191 applicants@vikingrecruitment.com For all other candidates please use the following details: +31 (0)10 2976600 HR_Europe_Recruitment@HollandAmerica.com

RYAN OFFSHORE LTD RYAN SHIP MANAGEMENT LTD

Whereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my Telegraph? C P Marine UK Ltd are specialists in worldwide ship and shore based marine recruitment. We provide a professional, dedicated and quality personal service in connecting seafarers to shipping companies and also placements to shore based marine positions. Temporary and permanent vacancies are available worldwide for: â&#x20AC;˘ Captains â&#x20AC;˘ Chief Engineers â&#x20AC;˘ Deck Officers â&#x20AC;˘ Driving Mates â&#x20AC;˘ DPOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;˘ Engineering Officers

â&#x20AC;˘ ETOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;˘ Crane Operators â&#x20AC;˘ Deck and Engine Room Ratings â&#x20AC;˘ Cooks â&#x20AC;˘ Offshore Personnel â&#x20AC;˘ Shore based Personnel

To register with us for all marine sectors, please send CV to: C P Marine UK Ltd, PO Box 314, Hull HU10 7WG United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0) 1482 650279 Fax: +44 (0) 1482 671341 info@cpmarineuk.com www.cpmarineuk.com

S SHIPPING

To let us know your new address, go to www. nautilusint.org and log in as a member, or contact our membership department on +44 (0)151 639 8454 or membership@nautilusint.org The membership team can also cancel your print copy if you prefer to read the paper on the Telegraph app.

Salary ÂŁ38,000 per annum

The Merchant Navy Training Board is the shipping industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central body for promoting and developing VHFWRU VSHFLÂżF HGXFDWLRQ WUDLQLQJ DQG VNLOOV :H DUH at the forefront of educational developments and UK wide careers promotion and provide education and WUDLQLQJ IUDPHZRUNV WKDW ZLOO GHYHORS KLJK TXDOLW\ British seafarers who are respected worldwide for their SURIHVVLRQDOLVP DQG VNLOOV 7KH 017% LV SDUW RI WKH 8. &KDPEHU RI 6KLSSLQJ WKH WUDGH DVVRFLDWLRQ IRU WKH VKLSSLQJ LQGXVWU\ :H DUH ORRNLQJ IRU DQ H[SHULHQFHG (GXFDWLRQ DQG 7UDLQLQJ SURIHVVLRQDO WR ZRUN DW QDWLRQDO OHYHO WR

FOR - 4-PT MOORING DSV / AHTS/ PSV/ MRV/ ERRV REQUIRE MASTERs, CHOFFs, 2ND OFFs, CHENGs, 2ND ENGs, 3RD ENGs, DP ENGs, ETOs

FOR - DP3 / DP2- DSV / DP2- AHTS / DP2- PSV / DP3 PIPELAYER / DP2 CLV

REQUIRE MASTER-DPOs, CHOFF-SDPOs, 1ST OFF-DPOs, 2ND OFF-DPOs, CHENGs, 2ND ENGs, 3RD ENGs, ETOs, CRANE OPTRs - STG 2 / 3

FOR - SHORE BASED OFFSHORE FLEET

REQUIRE TECH MANAGER, TECH SUPT, DIVE SUPT (OFFICE BASED), ENGINEERING SUPT, ELECTRICAL SUPT, PORT CAPTAIN, PORT ENG, QHSE

CONTACT DETAILS

T E L: +44 (0) 1 9 1 5 4 8 8 8 5 9 FAX: +44 (0) 1 9 1 5 4 88 425

EMAIL: office@ryan-shipmanagement.co.uk, office@ryanoffshore.net, office@shipping-connections.com WEBSITE: www.ryan-shipmanagement.co.uk , www.shipping-connections.com, www.ryanoffshore.net RYANSHIP, P.O.BOXâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;1282, SUNDERLAND, SR5 9HX, UNITED KINGDOM

38-41_rec.indd 41

\HDU Âż[HG WHUP FRQWUDFW

co-ordinate the development and implementation of a UDQJH RI LQLWLDWLYHV WR VXSSRUW UHFUXLWPHQW WUDLQLQJ DQG UHWHQWLRQ RI 8. VHDIDUHUV ZLWK VSHFLÂżF HPSKDVLV RQ rating employment and training across industry sectors FRYHULQJ RIIVKRUH ZLQG IDUPV IHUULHV DQG SDVVHQJHU VKLSV DQG ODUJH FRPPHUFLDO \DFKWV The successful candidate will be professionally TXDOLÂżHG DQG KDYH HYLGHQFHG H[SHULHQFH RI DGXOW education and training and the ability to use a variety of WHDFKLQJ OHDUQLQJ DQG DVVHVVPHQW PHWKRGRORJLHV WR VXSSRUW HIIHFWLYH OHDUQLQJ WRJHWKHU .QRZOHGJH RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW VNLOOV DJHQGD DQG D JRRG XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI

CONNECTIONS

MARITIME RECRUITMENT

If you have moved recently, your home copy may still be trying to catch up with you.

Training Development Manager Full time

BeneďŹ ts package includes: Â&#x2C6; 'SQTIXMXMZI VEXIW SJ TE] Â&#x2C6; %RRYEP WEPEVMIW ERH 7XEJJ 3JÂ˝GIV &SRYWIW Â&#x2C6; SV VSXEXMSR JSV 7IRMSV 3JÂ˝GIVW Â&#x2C6; 7EMPMRK %WWMKRQIRX 6IXYVR &SRYWIW 7%6& Â&#x2C6; 6IXMVIQIRX 7EZMRKW 4PER 4IRWMSR Â&#x2C6; 7TSRWSVIH WXYH] PIEZI ERH 8VEMRMRK TVSKVEQQIW Â&#x2C6; )\GIPPIRX SRFSEVH WTSYWI JEQMP] TSPMG]

WKH QDWXUH RI DQ LQGXVWU\ ERG\ LV HVVHQWLDO You will be a self-starter who has a facilitative and persuasive manner and a passion for education and WUDLQLQJ ,I \RX ZRXOG OLNH WR NQRZ PRUH SOHDVH GRZQORDG WKH UHFUXLWPHQW SDFN IURP RXU ZHEVLWH DW www.ukchamberofshipping.com/ about-us/vacancies/ Closing date PLGGD\ 7KXUVGD\ 1RYHPEHU Interviews ZLOO EH KHOG RQ 7KXUVGD\ 1RYHPEHU

Job Opportunities aboard PADDLE STEAMER

WAV E R L E Y

Operating around the UK Coast

â&#x20AC;˘ Senior Master & Relief Master/Mate â&#x20AC;˘ Chief Engineer & Engineer OOW (Steam) â&#x20AC;˘ Purser/Chief Steward & 2nd Purser For job description and qualification requirements call 0141 221 8152 or email info@waverleyexcursions.co.uk

Waverley Excursions Ltd, 36 Lancefield Quay, Glasgow G3 8HA

www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk

22/10/2015 15:10

42 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

SHIP TO SHORE

M-Notices M-Notices, Marine Information Notes and Marine Guidance Notes issued by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency recently include: MSN 1699 (M) — The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1998: Amendment 2 This second amendment to MSN 1699 rectifies a number of inconsistencies discovered in the first amendment. It also advises of related inconsistencies in the Merchant Shipping Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No 2723, as amended). In addition, MSN 1699 Amendment 2 aligns requirements for vessel subdivision and damage stability with those contained within EC Directive 98/18, as amended. The corrections are all set out in the annex to the notice. This version of the regulations supersedes all others, and MSN 1699 Amendment 2 is now an integral part of the legislation. MGN 477(M) — Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: seafarers’ employment agreements This note highlights the requirement for every seafarer employed on a vessel covered by the MLC Minimum Requirements Regulations to have a legally enforceable seafarer employment agreement (SEA). The SEA must include the minimum information set out in Annex 1 to MGN 477. The notice period for termination of the agreement must be at least seven days, and must not be shorter for the shipowner than for the seafarer. When a seafarer’s work on a ship comes to an end, he or she must be provided with a record of service onboard that vessel. An SEA may consist of more than one document; for example, it may include a collective bargaining agreement. If the SEA is not in English, an English translation must be provided onboard the ship. A recommended model format for an SEA is provided at Annex 2 to MGN 477. This format is not mandatory; however, all the required information must be included in any alternative form of SEA. Ships not subject to the MLC Minimum Requirement Regulations will remain subject to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Crew Agreements, Lists of Crew and Discharge of Seamen) Regulations 1991. A separate Marine Guidance Note, MGN 474 (M), sets out the requirements for such ships.

MGN 539 (M) — Carriage of the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers This note advises readers that the Merchant Shipping Regulations (Code of Safe Working Practices) (Amendments and Revocation) 2015 introduce a duty on the shipowner to ensure that the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers, published in 2015, is easily accessible and readily available to all workers at sea. The Merchant Shipping Regulations (Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen) 1998 have been revoked. The Code is the UK shipping industry’s handbook for health and safety onboard ship, published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) with the support of the UK Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International and the RMT union (see page 37 for more information). The 1998 Regulations specified the number of copies of the Code in force at any time to be carried on UK ships, based on the number of crew on board and specific roles. The regulations required that the master, safety officer and any members of the safety committee had their own copy, leaving at least one available for general reference. The new requirement provides more flexibility to the shipowner as to the precise number and location of copies of the Code but is intended to achieve the same purpose, that all seafarers can easily access the information and guidance in the Code. Few of the UK’s merchant shipping health and safety regulations now refer directly to the content of the Code, which therefore has no statutory status. However, the Code is considered to provide definitive guidance on best practice for many aspects of health and safety onboard ship, as agreed by experts representing shipowners’ and seafarers’ organisations in the UK shipping industry. The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 place a duty on the employer to ensure the health and safety of workers and other persons so far as is reasonably practicable. The MCA considers that making the Code available onboard, in particular to those with specific responsibilities for health and safety, is a necessary part of complying with that obligation. It is recommended that, even where all seafarers have ready access to an electronic copy of the Code, an appropriate number of hard copies are retained onboard as back-up in case of system failure.

Member meetings and seminars Nautilus International organises regular meetings, forums and seminars for members to discuss pensions, technical matters, maritime policies and legal issues. Coming up in the next few months are:

MIN 513 (M) — Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: food and catering: recognised qualifications in food hygiene or food safety in catering for ships’ cooks and others processing food in the galley This note reminds readers of the food hygiene and safety requirements under the MLC Minimum Requirements Regulations. The shipowner must ensure that the ship’s cook and any other person who processes food in the galley of a seagoing United Kingdom ship is properly trained or instructed in food and personal hygiene as well as safe handling and storage of food onboard ship, in accordance with the learning outcomes and assessment criteria set out in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1846 (M). MIN 513 provides a list of those qualifications and awarding bodies that the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency currently recognises as fulfilling the requirements of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria. All the qualifications are classroom-based followed by an assessment (it is not possible to gain this type of qualification via online study). Level 2 is the minimum acceptable level for catering staff and persons processing food in the galley. MIN 513 also lists food hygiene and safety courses which are no longer available. The MCA had previously recognised and accepted these certificates as fulfilling the requirements of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria in MSN 1846. Applicants holding one of the certificates listed in this section can still use it when applying for their UK Ships’ Cook Certificate of Competency, provided it is dated before the certification end date given with the listings.

z M-Notices are available as

electronic documents or as a set of bound volumes.

z A consolidated set of M-Notices is published by The Stationery Office. This contains all M-Notices current on 31 July 2009 (ISBN 9780115530555) and costs £210 — www.tsoshop.co.uk z Individual copies can be electronically subscribed to by emailing a request to mnotices@ecgroup.co.uk or downloaded from the MCA website. Go to www.gov.uk/mca and click on Find marine (M) notices.

g Professional & Technical Forum Tuesday 1 December 2015 at 1300hrs for 1330hrs at the Jurys Inn, 80 Jamaica Street, Glasgow G1 4QG, UK. The Forum deals with a wide range of technical, safety, welfare and other professional topics of relevance to all members, including training and certification. The meeting is open to all members (UK, NL & CH)

g Young Maritime Professionals Forum Saturday 5 March 2016 Southampton — TBC. The Forum provides guidance to Nautilus Council on the challenges facing young people in the shipping industry and on the issues that matter to them. Open to all young members (UK, NL & CH).

g Women’s Forum Saturday 5 March 2016 Southampton — TBC. The Forum provides guidance to Nautilus Council on the challenges facing women in the industry and encourages female participation in Union activity. Open to all female members.

Contact Sue Willis: +44 (0)20 8989 6677 protech@nautilusint.org

Contact Paul Schroder: +44 (0)20 8989 6677 ymp@nautilusint.org

Contact Lisa Carr: +44 (0)20 8989 6677 women@nautilusint.org

Contact Nautilus International Nautilus International welcomes contact from members at any time. Please send a message to one of our department email addresses (see page 17) or get in touch with us at one of our offices around the world. For urgent matters, we can also arrange to visit your ship in a UK port. Please give us your vessel’s ETA and as much information as possible about the issue that needs addressing.

Offshore sector contact point Members working for companies based in the east of Scotland or UK offshore oil and gas sector can call: +44 (0)1224 638882 THE NETHERLANDS Postal Address Nautilus International Postbus 8575 3009 An Rotterdam Physical Address Nautilus International Schorpioenstraat 266 3067 KW Rotterdam Tel: +31 (0)10 477 1188 Fax: +31 (0)10 477 3846 infonl@nautilusint.org

FRANCE Yacht sector office in partnership with D&B Services 3 Bd. d’Aguillon 06600 Antibes, France Tel: +33 (0)962 616 140 nautilus@dandbservices.com www.dandbservices.com SPAIN Yacht sector office in partnership with dovaston C/Joan de Saridakis 2, Edificion Goya Local 1A, Marivent 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain Tel: +34 971 677 375 recruitment@nautilusint.org www.dovaston.com

College contacts Induction visits See www.nautilusint.org event section for dates of upcoming college visits by the Nautilus recruitment team. For further information, email recruitment@nautilusint.org or call Lee Moon on +44 (0)151 639 8454. Industrial support for cadets An industrial official is appointed to each of the main nautical colleges. In addition the industrial department is responsible for representing trainee officers in line with all

members that we represent; please contact the Union on +44 (0)20 8989 6677. Your enquiry will then be directed to the relevant industrial organiser for your employer/sponsoring company. The union also facilitates a Young Maritime Professionals Forum to provide an opportunity for young members to engage in discussions on the specific challenges facing young workers in the maritime profession. For further information, members should contact Paul Schroder at ymp@nautilusint.org.

Quiz answers 1. The world’s first LNG-powered ro-pax ferry, Glutra, entered into service in Norway in February 2000. 2. Around 1,940 of the 2,840 ro-pax vessels presently in service were built before 2000. 3. According to DNV GL, as of May 2015, there were 63 LNG-fuelled vessels in operation worldwide (excluding LNG carriers and inland waterway vessels). 4. The world’s largest shipbuilder is Hyundai Heavy Industries, of South Korea. 5. The Marshall Islands is the flag with the largest share of the world orderbook. 6. Island Offshore is based in Norway. Crossword answers Quick Answers Across: 1. Central; 5. Locking; 9. Aired; 10. Vicarious; 11. Plutocrat; 12. Uteri; 13. Noise; 15. Olfactory; 18. Bagatelle; 19. Elect; 21. Biter; 23. Lowlander; 25. Skedaddle; 26. Stalk; 27. Trainee; 28. Lengthy. Down: 1. Crampon; 2. Nurturing; 3. Rodeo; 4. Liverpool; 5. Licit; 6. Carbuncle; 7. In one; 8. Gossipy; 14. Entertain; 16. Freewheel; 17. Overdraft; 18. Babysit; 20. Turnkey; 22. Theta; 23. Lodge; 24. Arson. This month’s cryptic crossword is a prize competition, and the answers will appear in next month’s Telegraph. Congratulations to Nautilus member Ian Grainger, who has won the prize draw for the October cryptic crossword. Cryptic answers from October Across: 1. Plight; 4. Pardoner; 10. Cathedral; 11. Organ; 12. Fog lamp; 13. Spectre; 14. Servo; 15. Cloister; 18. Paraffin; 20 Alter; 23. Infanta; 25. Angelic; 26. Depot; 27. Constrain; 28. Shepherd; 29. Priest. Down: 1. Pacifist; 2. Integer; 3. Haematoma; 5. Atlas Mountains; 6. Drone; 7. Nightie; 8. Render; 9. Tropic of Cancer; 16, Slaughter; 17. Precinct; 19. Affable; 21. Tillage; 22. Hindus; 24. Notch.

To suggest an organisation which could appear here, email telegraph@nautilusint.org

Maritime & Coastguard Agency +44 (0)23 8032 9100 www.gov.uk/mca Implements the UK government’s maritime safety policy and works to prevent the loss of life on the coast and at sea.

International Transport Workers’ Federation +44 (0)20 7403 2733 www.itfglobal.org A federation of over 700 unions representing over 4.5 million transport workers from 150 countries.

Merchant Navy Welfare Board www.mnwb.org Umbrella body for the UK maritime charity sector, promoting cooperation between organisations that provide welfare services to merchant seafarers and their dependants within the UK.

Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport + 31 88 489 00 00 www.ilent.nl Dutch maritime authority (separate from Dutch coastguard).

Merchant Navy Training Board www.mntb.org.uk UK organisation promoting maritime education and training, and providing careers guidance. Administers the Careers at Sea Ambassadors scheme, under which serving seafarers can volunteer to give careers talks in UK schools.

Seafarers UK (formerly the King George’s Fund for Sailors) +44 (0)20 7932 0000 www.seafarers.uk Supports and promotes UK charities helping seafarers from the Merchant Navy, Royal Navy and fishing fleets. Often organises places for maritime fundraisers to enter marathons and other charity challenges.

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SINGAPORE Nautilus International 10a Braddell Hill #05-03 Singapore, 579720 Tel: +65 (0)625 61933 Mobile: +65 (0)973 10154 singapore@nautilusint.org

Northern office Nautilus International Nautilus House, Mariners’ Park Wallasey CH45 7PH Tel: +44 (0)151 639 8454 Fax: +44 (0)151 346 8801 enquiries@nautilusint.org

Useful organisations

Swiss Maritime Navigation Office +41 (0)61 270 91 20 www.smno.ch Swiss maritime authority.

SWITZERLAND Gewerkschaftshaus, Rebgasse 1 4005 Basel, Switzerland Tel: +41 (0)61 262 24 24 Fax: +41 (0)61 262 24 25 infoch@nautilusint.org

UK Head office Nautilus International 1&2 The Shrubberies, George Lane South Woodford, London E18 1BD Tel: +44 (0)20 8989 6677 Fax: +44 (0)20 8530 1015 enquiries@nautilusint.org

Quiz and crossword answersACDB

International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network +44 (0)300 012 4279 www.seafarerswelfare.org Global organisation providing a 24 hour, year-round multi-lingual helpline for all seafarers’ welfare and support needs, as well as an emergency welfare fund. SAIL (Seafarers’ Information and Advice Line) 08457 413 318 +44 (0)20 8269 0921 www.sailine.org.uk UK-based citizens’ advice service helping seafarers and their families with issues such as debt, benefit

entitlements, housing, pensions and relationships. Seamen’s Hospital Society +44 (0)20 8858 3696 www.seahospital.org.uk UK charity dedicated to the health and welfare of seafarers. Includes the Dreadnought health service. Seafarers’ Link +44 (0)1752 812674 www.communitynetworkprojects.org Telephone friendship project connecting retired UK seafarers at home through a fortnightly telephone conference service.

Seatax Ltd +44 (0)1302 364673 www.seatax.ltd.uk Company providing specialist tax advice for merchant seafarers. Marine Society +44 (0)20 7654 7050 www.marine-society.org UK charity dedicated to the learning and professional development of seafarers. Offers 120,000 books to ships through its library service, plus distance-learning programmes and scholarship schemes including the Nautilus-administered Slater Fund.

22/10/2015 16:20

November 2015 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 43

JOIN NAUTILUS

The face of Nautilus Hans Walthie, communications and marketing advisor

Hans Walthie has taken up a new post with Nautilus — as communications and marketing advisor, based in the Union’s Rotterdam office. Educated at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Hans comes to Nautilus with extensive experience as a press officer, PR manager, lobbyist, trainer, writer and journalist, and video and film producer. He has worked for a wide range of commercial and non-for-profit organisations, as well as government ministries and national and international companies such as ING, Post NL and TNT. ‘My role at Nautilus is very varied, and includes not just the writing of Dutch news

and features for the Telegraph and the website, but also wider PR and membership work,’ Hans says. ‘This variety is very attractive and I think it is an exciting and inspiring challenge to be able to contribute to the further positioning and expansion of Nautilus, nationally and internationally.’ After leaving university, where he studied sociology for a couple of years, Hans carved out an impressive career in communications, public relations, journalism and marketing. ‘As well as being an employee, I also spent some years working for myself as an independent consultant,’ he adds. Hans spent 10 years working for TNT Express and Logistics as a PR and marketing

manager, and also worked on a freelance basis. And before Nautilus, he spent two and a half years as a press officer with the Dutch union organisation FNV. ‘At first, I was working for FNV Construction, and then for FNV Metal — which was very busy as there was a long strike by workers seeking a good new labour agreement,’ he says. ‘We had a lot of news coverage and we also scored a lot of new union members. ‘As a former lay rep for FNV, I always had, and still have, the opinion that every employee, wherever and by whom he or she is employed, has a right to earn a good salary and to enjoy good working conditions,’ he says. ‘But I also have a lot of respect for

entrepreneurs who, at their own risk, are building a solid company, and at the same time are paying their employees fair wages and providing them with the opportunities to build up new skills — whether they act as contractor, truck builder, or shipowner. ‘In my new job for Nautilus International I hope I will be able to make a contribution by servicing the members as well as possible,’ Hans adds, ‘and also in demonstrating to the outside world the good things we are standing for as a Union. I also regard it as a challenge that we all will be able to recruit new, also young, members. The more members we have, the stronger our position as a Union!’

Wherev er you are , so are we

CALL NOW TO JOIN NAUTILUS ON: UK: +44 (0)151 639 8454 NL: +31 (0)10 477 11 88 CH: +41 (0)61 262 24 24

Want to keep your job in 2017? Then read on! It’s time to get your papers out and start checking whether your UK certificate of competency will still be valid when STCW 2010 comes into force…

Nautilus is urging members to take note that the countdown has begun to new rules that will require additional training to be undertaken to keep UK certiﬁcates of competency valid for service after 31 December 2016. The new requirements are being introduced as part of the ‘Manila amendments’ to the Standards of Training, Certiﬁcation & Watchkeeping (STCW) convention, which were agreed at an international conference in 2010.

g Members are encouraged

to refer to the relevant M-Notices or alternatively contact the professional and technical department: protech@nautilusint.org

42-43_infosprd.indd 43

14 MONTHS TO GO UNTIL 1 JANUARY 2017 HELM course or acceptable equivalent

DECK UPDATEE TO TO 010 STCW 2010

(e.g. sea service)

ECDIS certificate caat ate te ach achie achi achieved chie hie h after 1 January 2005 to avoid negative endorsement oid idd neg nega

HELM course or acceptable equivalent

ENGINE UPDATEE TO TO 010 STCW 2010

(e.g. sea service)

High Voltagee certifica certificat certificate ertific ertifica tifi ifi or qualifying sea void oid idd n ne neg service to avoid negative endorsement

NEW FICATE ICATE CAT CATE A AT CERTIFICATE alternati lterna lternat t terna — otherwisee alternat alternative designation, ctrical trical rical icall En E such as Electrical Engineer

I addition: sea-time In rrequirements for revalidation — 12 months in preceding five years or three months in preceding six months plus valid ENG1.

I addition: appropriate In ttanker endorsements — subject to revalidation.

6 To serve as an ETO certification is required...

ETO

R Refresher training — rrequired every five years for certificates held. Dependent upon rank (support/ operation/management) and duty — for example, Fast Rescue Craft. Certificate.

22/10/2015 16:21

44 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2015

NEWS

Ministerial praise for prize UK cadet Officer trainee of the year is honoured for his ‘exceptional’ achievements

Nautilus member David Barfoot has been awarded the 2015 UK Cadet of the Year prize, which was presented to him by shipping minister Robert Goodwill at the Marine Society & Sea Cadets annual court in London. David — who studied at university and worked as a cruise director running entertainment programmes before deciding to re-train as an engineer ofﬁcer — was described by the minister as ‘an outstanding candidate’ for the annual award. Mr Goodwill said David ‘embodies everything that we look for in a successful ofﬁcer’ and praised the dedication and commitment he had displayed during his studies at Warsash Maritime Academy. ‘He had been away from the academic environment for a while, but really embraced his studies and made exceptional progress,’ the minister added. As well as helping other students, he had gained additional seatime on a voluntary basis and had also attended careers fairs to promote MN training. Mr Goodwill said David had shown determination to make the most of his opportunities and had been described by one trainer

David Barfoot at the awards ceremony last month

as the most talented cadet he had ever come across. Wilhelmsen sponsored David’s cadet training through Clyde

Marine, and he gained sea time on the car carriers Tirranna and Tamerlane, qualifying in May this year.

Now serving with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, he said he was honoured to receive the award. ‘I have always been fascinated by seafaring and have a twin brother in the Royal Navy,’ he added. ‘However, I was not one of those people who knew exactly what they wanted to do at the age of 16 and I had no idea that there were cadetships at that age. While working as an entertainments officer on P&O and Royal Caribbean cruiseships, David spoke with engineer officers who encouraged him to retrain. ‘They told me that there were good opportunities out there and said I should give it a go,’ he recalls. ‘I like working with my hands and decided I ought to push myself.’ David said he had been a bit concerned about returning to education at the age of 33, but said lecturers and fellow cadets at Warsash had been ‘absolutely brilliant’ and extremely supportive. ‘This is a long way from ballroom dancing with elderly passengers,’ he reflected. ‘I am just very happy to have qualified and want to keep on learning as much as I can and as soon as I can. I’d like to get my next certificate and see where time and tide takes me...’

Slater Fund helps to change lives told how their careers have A been transformed thanks to support Two superyacht officers have

from the Nautilus JW Slater Fund. Kieran Gilchrist and Anthony Hood were the joint winners of this year’s Marine Society award for outstanding achievement by Slater Fund scholars — both winning praise for their ‘excellent’ work at college. They each gained four distinctions and one merit, and Kieran also scored 100% in his chart work. Kieran — who has a degree in geography and environmental studies — had been working as a deckhand after training at the UKSA yacht college, serving worldwide on yachts ranging between 60m and 90m. ‘I spent a lot of time working alongside some really good officers and seeing how professional they were was something I really wanted

Kieran Gilchrist, left, is presented with his Slater Fund award

to aspire to,’ he said. He decided to train for his officer certification at Warsash, and after

Merchant Navy Operations (Deck) Certificates of Competency Officer of the Watch (Unlimited) Jan, May & Sept intakes Chief Mate/Masters (Unlimited) May & Sep intakes Master Mariner (Unlimited) Orals Prep Mar & Oct intakes Master Mariner (200Gt) Orals Prep (2 weeks) STCW Safety, Navigation & Management STCW Basic Safety Training Personal Survival Techniques (FULL) Personal Survival Techniques (UPDATE) Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities Elementary First Aid Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting ECDIS Efficient Deck Hand HELM Operational & Management

44_news.indd 44

qualifying earlier this year he is now working on a 120m superyacht — taking part in the mission in August

Man Over Board / Rib Capsize Drills NAEST (O) & (M) Security Awareness Designated Securities Duties Shipboard Safety Ofﬁcer Shipboard Security Ofﬁcer

to recover the bell from battleship HMS Hood on the Atlantic seabed. ‘The support from the Slater Fund was incredible,’ Kieran said. ‘Not having to worry about the financial burden means that you can focus on your work and on your academic studies. If you had money worries, it would be much more challenging.’ Anthony — who is now serving as second officer on a 124m superyacht — has also wanted to get unlimited OOW certification so that he could work as a senior officer in the superyacht sector, as well as to gain a rotation position to enable him to spend more time with his family. ‘The scholarship has made a big difference to my studies, by taking away the financial worries,’ he said. ‘It made me feel proud and put a positive pressure on me, as I did not want to let you down.’

Bari Khan, centre, is pictured with Amir Esmiley and Roger Towner, from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency

was presented with the Marine F Society’s award for outstanding Nautilus member Bari Khan

achievement and lifelong learning at the annual court last month. Now serving as a graduate surveyor with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Bari studied for a degree while serving as an engineer officer and said he was indebted to receive the support of the Marine Society after being put in touch with the organisation by Nautilus. ‘I wanted to work ashore to make use of my opportunities, and to gain experience and knowledge,’ he said. ‘I became eligible for my role at the MCA thanks to the support of the Marine Society and I am honoured to receive the lifelong learning

award, which validates my decision to continue to seek knowledge and experience. ‘I am fortunate to be supported by the MCA and will be progressing my seafaring qualification to the senior engineer certificate of competency this January,’ he added. ‘My intention is to work as a surveyor and then return to sea with the knowledge and experience I gained ashore, to add greater value to my sea time, as I work to progress to the rank of chief engineer,’ Bari said. And it doesn’t stop there: ‘I also intend to study psychology at degree level and combine this with my engineering background to conduct research at sea,’ he added.

Gareth Farquhar receives his award from Admiralty pilot Captain Rachel Dunn and Pam Barber, from the Open University

officer with BP, was presented F with the Open University/Marine Gareth Farquhar, a second

Society award for outstanding achievement — winning praise for his ‘real commitment’ to his degree studies despite the challenges of working at sea. Gareth joined BP after a cadetship with Bibby, which he began at the age of 25. ‘I started late,’ he admitted, ‘as I had done a degree in microbiology and went on to work for BT and a data company — but I found it unsatisfying and wanted to try something different.’ Working at sea has been

everything he hoped for. ‘It’s the variety,’ he said. ‘Most jobs are extremely routine but in the Merchant Navy you can go from anything like manual labour to crew welfare or challenging calculations in a very short time.’ Gareth has been studying through the Open University for a degree in business leadership and management, sponsored by BP as part of its programme to fast track seafarers for jobs ashore. ‘The course has given me a deep understanding of how things work, and I have been extremely fortunate to have the support of the company.’

Dr Tim Carter, left, was presented with the Thomas Gray Medal in recognition of outstanding service to seafarers. Dr Carter was praised for his work as chief medical advisor for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency — making ‘a hugely significant contribution’ to seafarer health and safety, both nationally and internationally. Dr Carter said he was honoured to receive the award, which is given in the name of a 19th century champion of maritime health and safety.

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22/10/2015 18:58