Wavelength Volume 3 Issue 25, January 2008 by wavelength issue

Volume 3, Issue 25, January 2008

To r Sea each far ou er r s

avelength The CENTROFIN Newsletter

The following article, reflecting the concerns about some all-too-common approaches to maritime accidents, is worth careful reading: (Contributed by Rod Short Executive Secretary GlobalMET Global Maritime Education & Training Ass'n GlobalMET Limited)

Spot The Difference

In this issue

(By Michael Grey / Lloyds List, 28 January 2008) THE great Heathrow air crash (or hard landing, if I might use the technical term) invited some interesting comparisons between ships and aircraft. Undoubtedly, the pilots of the Boeing 777 did everything they ought, as their two engines refused to provide them with the required power in their final descent. Forced to keep the nose down to maintain flight speed, the pilot managed to 'glide' the aircraft over houses and over a busy road with feet to spare, just getting the nose up at the last second to prevent the Boeing burying itself in the runway approach. Fortunately there was no double deck bus on the road, because the chances are the top deck passengers wouldn't have made it. The miracle was that there was no fire on impact and that with a few relatively minor injuries; the crew clearly had effected a textbook evacuation.

pg 2

The following day the airline was confident enough to parade their heroic flight crew and purser before the waiting press, subsequently collecting column feet of admiring reportage. Throughout the coverage it was fascinating to see the negative fact of a catastrophe just averted by the skin of one's teeth, transformed into a positive outcome for British Airways, airmanship, and heroic behaviour.

Even the passengers seemed to go along with the mood of the moment; those interviewed being remarkably stoical and matter of fact about the event, which had clearly happened rather too fast for terror to have become established.

Perfectionism There was no whingeing about panic, or mutterings about class action to gain compensation for the serious psychological damage done by the near-death experience. Nobody even complaining about having to wait for their luggage. Not on camera, anyway.

News Feeds pg 6

Spot The Difference pg 8-9

It was a happy outcome, not the usual frightfulness of an air crash, but even so I could not help comparing the events with what tends to go on in the aftermath of a marine casualty. We didn't hear about the first action of the authorities being to breathalyse the Cptn and first officer. We were not made aware that the first people aboard the wrecked aircraft were heavilybuilt chaps from the local constabulary, with their pencils and notebooks, anxious to take statements from the witnesses, deny them legal representation and arrest the senior officers, lest they flee the country.

cont'd to pg 6

Eleusinian Mysteries

pg 4

Safety First !! pg10

Eleusinian Mysteries pg12

AGE & Mental Reserves pg14

Fake crew certificate gang smashed in India

venerable. These myths and mysteries, begun in the Mycenean period (c. 1500 BCE), were a major festival during the Hellenistic era and later spread to Rome.

The rites, cultist worships, and beliefs were kept secret, as initiation was believed to unite the worshipper with the gods and included promises of divine power and rewards in the afterlife. There are many paintings and pieces of pottery that depict The Eleusinian Mysteries (Greek: Εëåõóßíéá ÌõóôÞñéá) were various aspects of the Mysteries. Since the Mysteries involved initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter visions and conjuring of an afterlife, some scholars believe and Persephone based at Eleusis, in ancient Greece. Of all that the power and longevity of the Eleusinian Mysteries the mysteries celebrated in ancient times, these were held to came from psychedelic agents. be the ones of greatest importance, the holiest and most cont'd to pg 10

TO THE MASTER: Please circulate copies of this Bulletin to the CREW.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism, in psychology, is a belief that perfection can and should be attained. In its pathological form, it is a belief that anything less than perfect is unacceptable. At pathological levels, this is considered an unhealthy belief.

(MIND)

Experts describe two types of perfectionism. Normal perfectionists "derive a very real sense of pleasure from the labours of a painstaking effort", while neurotic perfectionists are "unable to feel satisfaction because in their own eyes they never seem to do things good enough to warrant that feeling". Perfectionists are defined also as "people who strain compulsively and unremittingly toward impossible goals and who measure their own worth entirely in terms of productivity and accomplishment". There have been devised three aspects of perfectionistic self-presentation: advertising one's own perfection; avoiding situations in which one might appear to be imperfect; and failing to disclose situations in which one has been imperfect. Slaney (1996) created the Almost Perfect scale, which contains four variables: Standards and Order, Relationships, Anxiety, and Procrastination. It distinguishes between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism. Both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionists rate high in Standards and Order, but maladaptive perfectionists also rate high in Anxiety and Procrastination. Perfectionists are obsessive who need to feel in control at all times to protect themselves and ensure their own safety. By being constantly vigilant and trying extremely hard, they can not only ensure that they not only fail to disappoint or are beyond reproach but also they can protect against unforeseen issues (such as economic downturn). Vigilance may include constant monitoring of the news, weather, and financial markets. Perfectionists may be workaholics who can't relax; people who reproach themselves for the smallest errors or wrong words for days afterwards; the person so intent on finding the perfect mate that they never settle down; the procrastinator; the finicky person; and so on. Perfectionists tend to be exceptionally sensitive to criticism. Perfectionists often embody some or all of the following personality traits: emotional guardedness; fear of making mistakes or errors; thrift; need to be above criticism; tendency to be stubborn or oppositional; and so on.

We have heard, read and discussed the rules for success. Here it goes: Believe in yourself. Don't take no for an answer. Never quit. Don't accept second best. Above all, be true to yourself. It's hard to argue with those maxims. They seem self-evident. Recent studies stand as a warning against taking the platitudes of achievement too seriously. The new research focuses on a familiar type; perfectionists, who panic or blow a fuse when things don't turn out just so. The findings not only confirm that such purists are often at risk for mental distress, as Freud, Alfred Adler and countless exasperated parents have long predicted but also suggest that perfectionism is a valuable lens through which to understand a variety of seemingly unrelated mental difficulties, from depression to compulsive behaviour to addiction. Some researchers divide perfectionists into three types, based on answers to standardized questionnaires: Self-oriented strivers who struggle to live up to their high standards and appear to be at risk of self-critical depression; outwardly focused zealots who expect perfection from others, often ruining relationships; and those desperate to live up to an ideal they're convinced others expect of them, a risk factor for suicidal thinking and eating disorders. “It's natural for people to want to be perfect in a few things, say in their job being a good editor or surgeon; it depends on not making mistakes,” say experts. “It's when it generalizes to other areas of life, home life, appearance, hobbies, that you begin to see real problems.” Unlike people given psychiatric labels, however, perfectionists neither battle stigma nor consider themselves to be somehow dysfunctional. “On the contrary, they're very proud of it, and the culture highly values and reinforces their attitudes.” Some study participants strongly emphasised that “I think of myself as either in control or out of control” and “I either get on very well with people or not at all.”

- pg 3 In short, these are people who not only swallow many of the maxims for success but take them as absolutes. At some level they know that it's possible to succeed after falling short (build on your mistakes: another boilerplate rule). The trouble is that falling short still reeks of mediocrity; for them, to say otherwise is to spin the result. The burden of perfectionist expectations is all too familiar to anyone who has struggled to kick a bad habit. Break down just once - have one smoke, one single drink - and at best it's a â&#x20AC;&#x153;slip.â&#x20AC;? At worst it's a relapse, and more often it's a fall off the wagon: failure. And if you've already fallen, well, may as well pour yourself two or three more. This is why experts have long debated the wisdom of insisting on abstinence as necessary in treating substance abuse.

Positive aspects Perfectionism can drive people to accomplishments and provide the motivation to persevere in the face of discouragement and obstacles. In a positive form, perfectionism can provide the driving energy which leads to great achievement. The meticulous attention to detail necessary for scientific investigation, the commitment which pushes composers to keep working until the music realises the glorious sounds playing in the imagination, and the persistence which keeps great artists at their easels until their creation matches their conception, all result from perfectionism". Adaptive perfectionists have lower levels of procrastination than non-perfectionists. High-achieving athletes, scientists, and artists often show signs of perfectionism. For example, Michelangelo's perfectionism may have spurred him to create masterpieces such as the statue David and the Sistine Chapel. Perfectionism is associated with giftedness in children.

Negative aspects In its pathological form, perfectionism can be very damaging.

It can take the form of procrastination when it is used to postpone tasks ("I can't start my project until I know the 'right' way to do it."), and self-deprecation when it is used to excuse poor performance or to seek sympathy and affirmation from other people ("I can't believe I don't know how to reach my own goals. I must be stupid; how else could I not be able to do this?"). In the workplace, perfectionism is often marked by low productivity as individuals lose time and energy on small irrelevant details of larger projects or mundane daily activities. This can lead to depression, alienated colleagues, and a greater risk of accidents. Studies describe five characteristics of perfectionist students and teachers which contribute to underachievement: procrastination, fear of failure, the all-ornothing mindset, paralysed perfectionism, and workaholism. In intimate relationships, unrealistic expectations can cause significant dissatisfaction for both partners. Perfectionists may sacrifice family and social activities in the quest for their goals. Perfectionists can suffer anxiety and low self-esteem. Perfectionism is a risk factor for obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and clinical depression. Therapists attempt to tackle the negative thinking that surrounds perfectionism, in particular the "all-or-nothing" thinking where the client believes that an achievement is either perfect or useless. They encourage clients to set realistic goals and to face their fear of failure.

Causes Like most personality traits, perfectionism tends to run in families and probably has a genetic component. Parents who practice an authoritarian style combined with conditional love may contribute to perfectionism in their children. Perfectionism may be a legacy of our evolutionary past. Hominids who were motivated for prolonged, incremental improvement (perfectionism) could create better tools and this would provide significant survival advantages.

Practical suggestion. Leave work on time. Don't arrive early. Take all the breaks allowed. Leave your desk a mess. Allow yourself a set number of tries to finish a job; then turn in what you have.

Our Joke A Monkey Tale Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10. The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest and started catching them.

>The man bought thousands at

$10 and as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort. He further announced that he would now buy at $20. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer rate increased to $25 and the supply of monkeys became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it! The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on behalf of him. In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers. Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at $35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell it to him for $50.'

>The villagers squeezed up with all their savings and bought all the monkeys.

>Then they never saw the man nor his assistant, only monkeys everywhere!! !

Welcome to the 'Stock' Market!!

NEWS FEEDS Dear Master, Officers and Ratings, We hope you find the text below of interest and that you will respond to its contents with equal ethos, tact and professionalism. Thank you. Ed.

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR PORT STATE CONTROL OFFICERS We would like to advise our clients that IMO has approved the Code of good practice for Port State Control Officers (PSCO's) at the fifty-sixth session of its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), held between 9 -13 July 2007, and at the eighty-third session of its Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) held between 3 -12 October 2007. The final text of the subject Code is hereby attached for your information and easy reference. It is recommended that this information is passed to the Technical and Safety & Quality Departments of shipping companies. Kind regards, Hellenic Lloyd's S.A Tel: +30210 4580800 Fax: +30 210 4528950-1 Email: piraeus@lr.org A member of the Lloyd's Register Group. Hellenic Lloyd's S.A. is a company registered in Greece.

Money Saving Tips!

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION Ref. T5/1.11(f) MSC-MEPC.4/Circ.2 1 November 2007

PORT STATE CONTROL-RELATED MATTERS

CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR PORT STATE CONTROL OFFICERS 1 The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its fifty-sixth session (9 to 13 July 2007), and the Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-third session (3 to 12 October 2007), approved the text of the Code of good practice for Port State Control Officers. 2 Member Governments and regional port State control regimes are invited to apply the Code of good practice for port State control officers as appropriate and to bring it to the attention of the officials exercising port and coastal State actions and other parties, as appropriate. *** [[ In order to facilitate the identification and retrieval of information circulated by means of joint MSC-MEPC circulars, from now on such information will be disseminated through the following circular series:

Start building a nest egg with these handy tips for controlling your finances: 1. SET goals and KEEP to a budget. 2. CLEAR your credit card debt. 3. SEE a financial adviser for an investment strategy. 4. MAKE a shopping list when you shop for groceries (and STICK to it). 5. LEARN to distinguish between "wants" and "needs". 6. RENT movies instead of going to the cinema. 7. BRING your own lunch to work-it might be boring, but it'll save you a few dollars every day. 8. OPEN separate current and savings accounts. 9. SHOP smart-RESEARCH prices, stores and sales. 10. TRAVEL in low or shoulder seasons if possible.

1 Organisation and methods of work, as MSC-MEPC.1/Circ. 2 General matters, as MSC-MEPC.2/Circ. 3 Casualty-related matters, as MSCMEPC.3/Circ. 4 Port State control-related matters, as MSC-MEPC.4/Circ. 5 Survey and certification-related matters, as MSC-MEPC.5/Circ. 6 National contact points for safety and pollution prevention and response, as MSC-MEPC.6/Circ. 7 Human element-related matters, as MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.]]

CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR PORT STATE CONTROL OFFICERS CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE REGIONAL MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT ON PORT STATE CONTROL Introduction 1 This document provides guidelines regarding the standards of integrity, professionalism and transparency that regional port State control (PSC) regimes expect of all port State control officers (PSCOs) who are involved in or associated with port State control inspections.

When investing with financial institutions: 11. Be rational (when you feel fear don't act on it) 12. Don't be dogmatic 13. Have a diversified portfolio; invest securely 14. Be moderate especially in Market Timing 15. Remember that your relationship with your Wealth Manager may last a long time. Feel comfortable with the Firm and the individuals you are dealing with 16. Be happy with the service that you are getting and deserve. After all is your money! 17. Be frugal and look out for the 'rainy' days. Good luck.

- pg 5 -

Objective 2 The object of this Code is to assist PSCOs in conducting their inspections to the highest professional level. PSCOs are central to achieving the aims of the regional PSC regime. They are the daily contact with the shipping world. They are expected to act within the law, within the rules of their Government and in a fair, open, impartial and consistent manner. Fundamental principles of the Code 3 The Code of good practice encompasses three fundamental principles against which all actions of PSCOs are judged: integrity, professionalism and transparency. These are defined as follows: 1.Integrity is the state of moral soundness, honesty and freedom from corrupting influences or motives; 2. Professionalism is applying accepted professional standards of conduct and technical knowledge. For PSCOs. standards of behaviour are established by the maritime Authority and the general consent of the port State members; and 3. Transparency implies openness and accountability. 4. The list of the actions and behaviour expected of PSCOs in applying these principles are set in the annex to this document. 5. Adhering to professional standards provides greater credibility to PSCOs and places more significance on their findings. 6. Nothing in the Code shall absolve the PSCOs from complying with the specific requirements of the PSC instruments and applicable national laws.

ANNEX CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR PORT STATE CONTROL OFFICERS Actions and behaviour of PSCOs The PSCOs should: (1) Use their professional judgment in carrying out their duties; Respect (2) Remember that a ship is a home as well as a workplace for the ship's

personnel and not unduly disturb their rest or privacy; (3) Comply with any ship housekeeping rules such as removing dirty shoes or work clothes; (4) Not be prejudiced by the race, gender, religion or nationality of the crew when making decisions and treat all personnel on board with respect; (5) Respect the authority of the Master or his deputy; (6) Be polite but professional and firm as required; (7) Never become threatening, abrasive or dictatorial or use language that may cause offence; (8) Expect to be treated with courtesy and respect; Conduct of inspections (9) Comply with all health and safety requirements of the ship and their administration; e.g. wearing of personal protective clothing, and not take any action or cause any action to be taken which could compromise the safety of the PSCO or the ship's crew; (10) Comply with all security requirements of the ship and wait to be escorted around the ship by a responsible person; (11) Show their identity cards to the Master or the representative of the owner at the start of the inspection; (12) Explain the reason for the inspection, however, where the inspection is triggered by a report or complaint they must not reveal the identity of the person making the complaint; (13) Apply the procedures of PSC and the convention requirements in a consistent and professional way and interpret them pragmatically when necessary; (14) Not try to mislead the crew, for example by asking them to do things that are contrary to the Conventions; (15) Request the crew to demonstrate the functioning of equipment and operational activities, such as drills and not make tests themselves; (16) Seek advice when they are unsure of a requirement or of their findings rather than making an uninformed decision, for example by consulting colleagues, publications, the flag Administration, the recognized organization;

(17) Where it is safe to do so accommodate the operational needs of the port and the ship; (18) Explain clearly to the Master the findings of the inspection and the corrective action required and ensure that the report of inspection is clearly understood; (19) Issue to the Master a legible and comprehensible report of inspection before leaving the ship; Disagreements (20) Deal with any disagreement over the conduct or findings of the inspection calmly and patiently; (21) Advise the Master of the complaints procedure in place if the disagreement cannot be resolved within a reasonable time; (22) Advise the Master of the right of appeal and relevant procedures in the case of detention; Integrity (23) Be independent and not have any commercial interest in their ports and the ships they inspect or companies providing services in their ports. For example, the PSCOs should not be employed from time to time by companies which operate ships in their ports or the PSCOs should not have an interest in the repair companies in their ports; (24) Be free to make decisions based on the findings of their inspections and not on any commercial considerations of the port; (25) Always follow the rules of their administrations regarding the acceptance of gifts and favours e.g., meals on board; (26) Firmly refuse any attempts of bribery and report any blatant cases to the Maritime Authority; (27) Not misuse their authority for benefit, financial or otherwise; and Updating knowledge (28) Update their technical knowledge regularly. ----------------A ship was detained while it was in dry dock for being in an unseaworthy condition. Ed

Spot

The Difference cont'd from pg 1

The first officer, I noted, was resident in France, but did not appear to be detained under UK jurisdiction. The casualty investigators, rather than subjecting the crew to umpteen hours of non-stop questioning, we were told by one newspaper, had interviewed them, and then taken them for a curry, which would have settled the nerves, if not the stomach. Within 24 hours of this horrific 'near miss', the Air Accident Investigation Branch was issuing a preliminary statement about the sequence of events that appeared to have caused the hard landing. It did not appear that lawyers representing the engine or aircraft manufacturer, or whoever had repaired or maintained the 777 over the last few weeks, were making strenuous attempts to prevent such a statement being made public. It all seemed, by comparison with the maritime world that I inhabit, astonishingly civilised and sensible. 'Professional' is a word that comes to mind. Moreover, as one expects in the world of aviation, everyone was stepping up rapidly to the plate, not seeking to lie low or avoid their responsibilities. A team from Boeing was quickly on the scene, with the engine manufacturers rushing their experts into Heathrow. Doubtless, those whose components had been installed, if they were even remotely

relevant to the inquiry, would be present and correct. "We just cannot not know what caused an air accident", I recall the then president of the Royal Aeronautical Society telling me severely, when I was sitting next to him at a dinner some years ago. It is no more than we should expect. But it was the complete absence of people burbling on about fault or blame which seemed to me to be so significant in the aftermath of this near disaster. There was no lobby group whimpering about the fact that they had warned the authorities about the likelihood of such an accident for years.

There were no muscular statements from safety authorities pledging "full and searching enquiries" and that the guilty persons will be 'held to account'. It was like the shipping industry before the lunatics had taken over the asylum. If these things are a matter of perception, the public perception is that the aviation industry does things right, and enjoys a generally positive image. There is just no need for the nonsense on stilts and general hysterics that tend to follow a maritime accident, and in particular one that involves oil pollution.

The “Erika” judgement, if you like, was a case in point. More than eight years after this elderly tanker had been lost with serious pollution and we have a trial of some (not all) of the parties involved. Worth recalling that the master of the Erika, Capt Mathur, who had managed to get his crew safely off the ship in notably hostile weather, was immediately hustled into a French prison, denied legal representation and treated like a major criminal and enemy of the state. It took the urgent representations of the Mission to Seafarers chaplain in Dunkirk to spring this poor survivor from the Bastille in which he was held. Poor Captain Mangouras of the “Prestige”, a man who was no youngster, and who was attempting to perform miracles to save his wounded ship, fared, as we know, no better at the hands of the Spanish authorities, which are arguably culpable for their refusal of a place of refuge and ridiculous orders to the ship as the emergency developed. Both accidents set new standards in largely pointless litigation and blaming; standards which were already at Olympic levels after the “Exxon Valdez” fiasco. There is also a level of transparency within the aviation industry that is just not the case in shipping. How often, scanning the casualty columns in this newspaper do I enunciate the words to the effect that I would pay money to discover what caused some particular choice maritime conundrum. "How on earth did they manage to do that with that ship?" It is not just my macabre sense of curiosity public interest demands that these matters are made public, so we can learn from the casualty and make sure it doesn't happen again.

But with a small list of notable exceptions, led by the UK's excellent Marine Accident Investigation Branch, the Australians, New Zealanders, Danes, Bahamians, the US Transportation Safety Bureau and a few others, the majority of flag states do not make these matters generally public. There is a convention requirement to ensure that accident investigations are published and lodged with the International Maritime Organization, but a large number of administrations, bless 'em, don't bother to do this, or indeed have any adequate investigation mechanism available. It might get better as a result of casualty investigation capability being linked with flag state auditing. It badly needs to. And yet the lessons from casualties require such to be published promptly. Less than a day after the Heathrow crash and authoritative statements are being made. Perhaps the urgency involved in an aviation casualty is scarcely comparable with the more ponderous world of shipping. One can imagine the operators of some 900 Boeing 777s undertaking many hours of creative overtime to check over their autothrottles, practically before the dust had settled. You can argue that aviation and shipping are very different modes of transport, ships naturally floating and aircraft unnaturally suspended in the air and moving at speeds which are positively frightening. But you cannot get away from the basic difference that following an accident, aviation focuses on cause, while shipping drills down on blame and liability. And all of this spills over into a public perception about flying, despite its apparent danger, which is just so much more positive than that of shipping. Perhaps the shipping industry, with its convoluted management structures involving the use of third parties is its own worst enemy. I don't recall many post

- pg 7 -

casualty disputes about complex "chains of responsibility" in the world of aviation, despite its dependence on leasing and sub-

contracted maintenance. I guess there is no doubt about whose responsibility it was to do whatever needed to be done. You certainly don't get the sort of fiascos you have in the shipping industry, where the manager blames the terminal meanness of the owner, who blames the occasional scrutiny of the classification society, the cargo owner and charterer blame everyone else, while the flag state and the polluted coastal state rage at each other. And the lawyers settle down to litigation that will

The Pronouns of Power (Language and Social Structure)

Most of us in speaking and writing English use only one pronoun of address; we say 'you' to many persons and 'you' to one person. The pronoun 'thou' is reserved, nowdays, to prayer and naive poetry, but in the past it was the form of familiar address to a single person. At that time 'you' was the singular of reverence and of polite distance and, also, the invariable plural. In French, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek and other languages most nearly related to English (IndoEuropean family) there are still active two singular pronouns of address. The interesting thing about such pronouns is their close association with two dimensions fundamental to the analysis of all social life; the dimension of power and solidarity. Semantic and stylistic analysis of these forms takes us well into psychology and sociology as well as into linguistics and the study of literature. (By semantics we mean covariation between the pronoun used and the objective relationship existing between speaker and addressee). A man's consistent pronoun style gives away his class status and his political views, though at times in which a man may vary his pronoun style so as to express transient moods and attitudes. The European development of two singular pronouns of address begins with the Latin tu and vos. In Italian they became tu and voi (with lei eventually displacing voi); in French tu and vous; in Spanish tu and vos (later usted). In German the distinction began with du and Ihr but Ilr gave way to er and later to Sie. English speakers first used 'thou' and ye and later replaced 'ye' with 'you'. As a convenience we propose to use T and V (from the Latin tu and vos) as generic designators for a familiar and a polite pronoun in any language. In the Latin antiquity there was only tu in the singular. The plural vos as a form of address to one person was first directed to the emperor and there are several theories about how this may have come about.

last for the entire careers of young practitioners. And the new enthusiasm for criminalisation brings an exciting new dimension to the whole process as regional regulators seize the opportunity to flex their muscles and invoke their punitive sanctions on all involved, chiefly the master, who is being conveniently held in some dungeon, ready for the tumbrels to roll. One gets the impression that the world of aviation is one which is practical, pragmatic and utterly focused on accident prevention. By contrast, the shipping world retains the worst of its medieval past and has embraced little of the 21st century.

The use to the emperor began in the fourth century. By that time there were actually two emperors; the ruler of the eastern empire had its seat in Constantinopole and the ruler of the west sat in Rome. Because of Diocletian's reforms the imperial office, although vested two men, was administratively unified. Words addressed to one man were, by implication, addressed to both. The choice of vos as a form of address may have been in response to this implicit plurality. An emperor is also plural in another sense; he is the summation of his people and can speak as their representative. Royal persons sometimes say 'we' where an ordinary man would say 'I'. The Roman emperor sometimes spoke of himself as nos and the reverential vos is the simple reciprocal of this. The usage need not have been mediated by a prosaic association with actual plurality, for plurality is a very old and ubiquitous metaphor for power. Consider only the several senses of such English words as 'great' and 'grand'. The reverential vos could have been directly inspired by the power of an emperor. Eventually the Latin plural was extended from the emperor to the other power figures. There was much inexplicable fluctuation between T and V in Old French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. In verse, at least, the choice seems often to have depended on assonance, rhyme, or syllable count. Some time between the 12th and 14th centuries varying with language, a set of norms crystallised, which we call the nonreciprocal power semantic. One person may be said to have power over another in the degree that he is able to control the behaviour of the other. Power is a relationship between at least two persons, and it is nonreciprocal in the sense that both cannot have power in the same area of behaviour. The power semantic is similarly nonreciprocal; the superior says T and receives V. There are many bases of power physical strength, wealth, age, sex, institutionalised role in the church, the state, the armed forces, or within the family. The V of reverence entered European speech as a form of address to the principal power in the state and eventually generalised to the powers within the microcosm of the state the nucleus family.

It is hoist by environmental activism, which has captivated the politicians and hamstrung the regulators. And in this melange of political correctness and simple inefficiency, shipping sails on, an industry where innocent people are persecuted and prosecuted because they are unfortunate enough to be in command of a ship. They are not trotted out as heroes, when they have done something heroic, but instead will be detained in darkened cellars being questioned for hours by interrogators, so blame can be apportioned. Best to go down with the ship, and leave heroics to the world of aviation, where they appreciate heroism.

In the history of language, then parents are emperor figures. The individual's first experience of subordination to power and of the reverential V comes in his relation to his parents. In later years similar symmetrical power relations and similar norms of address develop between employer and employee, officer and soldier, subject and monarch. We can see it might happen, as Freud believed, that the later social relationships would remind the individual of the familiar prototype and would revive emotions and responses from childhood. In a man's personal history recipients of the nonreciprocal V are parent figures. Medieval European societies were not so finely structured so that the power semantic was never the only rule for the use of T and V. For varying times equals of the upper classes exchanged the mutual V and equals of the lower classes exchanged T. The practice slowly disseminated downward in a society and later Europeans became conscious of the extensive use of V as a mark of elegance. In the drama of the 17th century France the nobility and bourgeoisie always addressed one another as V. This is true even of husband and wife, of lovers, and of parent and child if the child is adult. Mme de Sevigne in her correspondence never uses T, not even to her daughter. Servants and peasantry, however, regularly used T among themselves.

Safety First !! Message from the DPA: As you know, we are all part of a high exposure industry which in turn can be very demanding. New regulations are constantly applied both regionally and internationally. All of these regulations seem to impose additional burdens to the seafarer's everyday work, and all of them are meant to improve the safety standards on board; however some try to provide tools for the seafarer to use. One such new requirement is Risk Assessment, to which you have been recently introduced. I wish to urge you not to view this procedure as extra workload or paperwork, but to use it as the decision making tool it is meant to be. Please try to make it part of your everyday work in fact it has been part of your routine for many years, the only difference is that now you will have to document your thoughts and experience. You have been provided with written procedures and training equipment, and as always you have the full support of the shore management in its implementation. Anthony Lambros / Q&S Manager DPA I welcome your comments, suggestions or feedback on the contents of this column (Safety First!) at q&s@centrofin.gr.

Case Study: A number of incidents during navigation in restricted visibility. Vessel: Various types of vessels common rules applicable to all Source: USCG Sector Hampton Roads Safety Alert HMRMS 04-07 Abstract: A ship strikes a highway bridge, causing damage to the fender system and an oil spill. A barge strikes a U.S. Navy facility, causing extensive damage. Two tugs, one pushing a loaded gasoline barge, collide, narrowly avoiding a disaster. What do these recent marine casualties have in common? All of the vessels were navigating in restricted visibility. Findings / Suggestions: Every vessel must be well prepared for navigation in restricted visibility every time she gets underway. A delay to the vessel is preferable to the undesirable consequences of an accident, and the responsibility for sailing is always with the vessel's Master. If a vessel must navigate in restricted visibility certain procedures should be followed:

have no other duties, and receive periodic training on proper lookout procedures. Lookouts should be relieved regularly to ensure they remain alert. At a minimum, a lookout should have binoculars and a means of communication. 4. FREQUENT POSITION FIXES. Mariners fail to appreciate the importance of frequent fixes while navigating in restricted visibility. Over reliance on radar and electronic navigation systems can cause a mariner to lose situational awareness, A vessel can travel several hundred meters in the time it takes for the track line to update on an electronic chart.

1. SOUND FOG SIGNALS. Fog signals are required when navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility.

5. MONITOR OTHER VESSELS. The bearing, range and CPA of other vessels should be closely monitored. Communications should be established early to determine their intentions. Short and long range radar scanning should be used to identify targets.

2. REDUCE SPEED. The state of visibility is one of the most important factors in determining safe speed. Speed should be reduced - to bare steerage if necessary (always taking local conditions such as currents in consideration).

6. SUMMON HELP TO THE BRIDGE. A limited watch cannot safely navigate in restricted visibility (man the helm, monitor the radar, serve as lookout, plot fixes, communicate with other vessels and the bow lookout, and so on).

3. POST LOOKOUTS. Additional lookouts must be posted, and should be well rested,

Source: USCG via UGS

TRUST (Ten Really Useful Safety Tips) Use of Tools and Equipment Always . . . 1. Check your PPE (especially helmets, safety shoes, safety gloves), make sure it is in good condition and USE IT. Hearing protection should be used if the work causes high noise levels. 2. Make sure that you and your colleagues have had SUFFICIENT REST before commencing any work. 3. Ensure that you are using the tools for the purpose for which they were designed. Use of unsuitable tools may lead to accidents and injuries. Only non-spark tools should be used on tankers. 4. Ensure you DO NOT wear loose clothing or jewelry when using machinery as there is a risk that it is caught in moving parts. Long hair should be covered in a hair net / safety cap. 5. Ensure that only those competent to use equipment should do so. New recruits should ALWAYS be trained in the proper use of equipment prior to undertaking a job. Operating instructions should ALWAYS be adhered to. 6. Check that all equipment is routinely maintained and tested in accordance with prescribed instructions in order to ensure proper and safe operation. Damaged or worn tools should NOT be used, and cutting edges should be kept sharp and clean. 7. Remember: A chisel is best held between thumb and base of index finger with thumb and fingers straight, palm of hand facing towards the hammer blow. 8. Remember: A saw should not be forced through the material being cut; it should be pushed with a light, even movement. 9. Ensure accessories and tool pieces (i.e. drill bit, chisel, etc) are secured in a power tool, and are not changed while the tool is connected to the power source. 10. Verify that when the job is done, equipment is correctly stored and any cutting edges are properly protected.

- pg 9 Safety Bulletin 08-01 OUR OWN TRACK RECORD

How do we measure up?

Case Study: Accident with Pilot Ladder Vessel: Applicable to all types of vessel Source: DNV Casualty Information no 02/07

OUR OWN TRACK RECORD

How do we measure up?

Every year & every quarter we record a number of important data regarding the performance of our vessels, and we compare our present against our past. This is part of our continual improvement process. One of the most objective measures is performance during Port State Control (PSC) inspections. There has been NO PSC detention in any company vessel for the past 5 years. We measure the number of deficiencies raised by PSC detentions, and the percentage of inspections with nil deficiencies raised, both of which show our continually improving standards, as can be seen from the graphs below:

Abstract: When a vessel was at anchorage, a diving boat was tied up aft of the vessel for some work. A pilot ladder was rigged to let people climb down to the diving boat. While a person was climbing down, the ladder gave way and suffered total rope failure at 6 different points within the top 4 to 5 meters. The person fell and landed on the work deck of the diving boat approximately 10 meters below the ship's poop deck. The person suffered moderate injuries, but in the opinion of the medical staff, he was lucky to have survived.

Findings / Contributing factors: The investigation concluded that the ladder was made by the ship's crew, and had been constructed in the same manner as a pilot ladder (4x3 strand 18 mm manila ropes) except that no spreaders had been used. The rope at the top of the ladder was hard, discolored and had disintegrated as it twisted against the lay. According to the company's investigation team, the poor condition of the upper part of the rope was due to inappropriate storage in close proximity with chemicals. No (in-situ) load test had been carried out by a rigger or responsible person prior to the ladder's use. People often attend vessels at anchorage using pilot ladders, more importantly so, pilots themselves. In that respect the following is emphasized: 1. Prior to use, pilot ladders should be subject to inspection of ropes and spreaders, including a load test where possible. The responsible officer on board should confirm that the ladder is OK. 2. Pilot ladders should be manufactured and certified in accordance with appropriate standards. Ladders of more than 1.5 meters

In length must be fitted with spreaders not less than 1.8 meters long. 3. Pilot ladders need to be properly stowed, carefully inspected and maintained and correctly rigged. The local environment may weaken the rope (chemicals). 4. Man ropes should be ready to be rigged at the user's request, especially in adverse sea conditions. SOLAS Ch.V Regulation 23 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pilot transfer arrangementsâ&#x20AC;? states that appliances shall be kept clean, properly maintained and stowed, and shall be regularly inspected to ensure that they are safe for use. It is the Master's responsibility that the ladders in use are safe. 5. Every pilot ladder should be secured and positioned so that: - access is clear of any discharges from the vessel - it is firmly secured to the ship's side - safe, convenient and unobstructed access is provided at the top of the pilot ladder to the person using it. - the person climbing it can safely and conveniently board the vessel after climbing not more than 9 meters.

cont'd from pg 1

Eleusinian Mysteries

Mythology of Demeter and Persephone

The Mysteries seem to be related to a myth concerning Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility as recounted in one of the Homeric Hymns (c. 650 BCE). According to the hymn, Demeter's daughter Persephone (also referred to as Kore, "girl") was gathering flowers with friends, when she was seized by Hades, the god of death and the underworld, with the consent of her father Zeus. He took her to his underworld kingdom. Distraught, Demeter searched high and low for her daughter. Because of her distress, and in an effort to coerce Zeus to allow the return of her daughter, she caused a terrible drought in which the people suffered and starved. This would have deprived the gods of sacrifice and worship. As a result of this Zeus relents and allows Persephone to return to her mother. According to the myth, during her search, Demeter travelled long distances and had many minor adventures along the way. In one instance, she teaches the secrets of agriculture to Triptolemus.

This left her the choice of where to spend the last four months of the year and since she opted to live with Demeter, the end result was eight months of growth and abundance to be followed by four months of no productivity. These periods correspond well with the Mediterranean climate of Ancient Greece. The four months during which Persephone is with Hades correspond to the dry Greek summer, a period during which plants are threatened with drought. After the first rains in the fall, when the seeds are planted, Persephone returns from the Underworld and the cycle of growth begins anew.

The Eleusinian Mysteries probably included a celebration of Persephone's return, for it was also the return of plants and of life to the earth. Persephone had gone into the underworld (underground, like seeds in the winter), then returned to the land of the living: her rebirth is symbolic of the rebirth of all plant life during Spring and, by extension, all life on earth. Various other traditions were current among the Greeks respecting the author of these mysteries; for, while some considered Eumolpus or Musaeus to be their founder, others stated that they had been introduced from Egypt by Erechtheus, who at a time of scarcity provided his country with corn from Egypt, and imported from the same quarter the sacred rites and mysteries of Eleusis.

The Mysteries

Finally, by consulting Zeus, Demeter reunites with her daughter and the earth returns to its former verdure and prosperity: the first spring. Before allowing Persephone to return to her mother, Hades gave her seeds of a pomegranate. As a result, Persephone could not avoid returning to the underworld for part of the year. According to the prevailing version of the myth, Persephone had to remain with Hades for four months while staying above ground with her mother for a similar period

The Mysteries are believed to have begun about 1500 BCE, during the Mycenean Age. The lesser mysteries were probably held every year; the greater mysteries only every five years. This cycle continued for about two millennia. In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, King Celeus is said to have been one of the first people to learn the secret rites and mysteries of her cult. He was also one of her original priests, along with Diocles, Eumolpos, Polyxeinus and Triptolemus, Celeus' son, who had supposedly learned agriculture from Demeter. Under Pisistratus of Athens, the Eleusinian Mysteries became pan-Hellenic and pilgrims flocked from Greece and beyond to participate. Around 300 BCE, the state took over control of the Mysteries; they were specifically controlled by two families, the Eumolpidae and the Kerykes.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; For among the many excellent and indeed divine institutions which your Athens has brought forth and contributed to human life, none, in my opinion, is better than those mysteries. For by their means we have been brought out of our barbarous and savage mode of life and educated and refined to a state of civilization; and as the rites are called "initiations," so in very truth we have learned from them the beginnings of life, and have gained the power not only to live happily, but also to die with a better hope.â&#x20AC;? Cicero, Laws II, xiv, 36

This led to a vast increase in the number of initiates. The only requirements for membership were a lack of "blood guilt", meaning having never committed murder, and not being a "barbarian" (unable to speak Greek). Men, women and even slaves were allowed initiation.

The Participants There were four categories of people who participated in the Eleusinian Mysteries: 1.Priests, priestesses and hierophants. 2.Initiates, undergoing the ceremony for the first time. 3.Others who had already participated at least once. They were eligible for the fourth category. 4.Those who had attained epopteia, who had learned the secrets of the greatest mysteries of Demeter.

Secrets The outline below is only a capsule summary; much of the concrete information about the Eleusinian Mysteries was never written down. For example, only initiates knew what the kiste, a sacred chest, and the kalathos, a lidded basket, contained. The contents, like so much about the Mysteries, are unknown. However, one researcher writes that this Cista ("kiste") contained a golden mystical serpent, egg, a phallus and possibly also seeds sacred to Demeter.

Greater and Lesser Mysteries There were two Eleusinian Mysteries, the Greater and the Lesser. According to Thomas Taylor, "the dramatic shows of the Lesser Mysteries occultly signified the

miseries of the soul while in subjection to the body, so those of the Greater obscurely intimated, by mystic and splendid visions, the felicity of the soul both here and hereafter, when purified from the defilements of a material nature and constantly elevated to the realities of intellectual [spiritual] vision." And that according to Plato, "the ultimate design of the Mysteries … was to lead us back to the principles from which we descended, a perfect enjoyment of intellectual [spiritual] good." The Lesser Mysteries were held in Anthesterion (March) but the exact time was not always fixed and changed occasionally, unlike the Greater Mysteries. The priests purified the candidates for initiation (myesis). They first sacrificed a pig to Demeter then purified themselves. The Greater Mysteries took place in Boedromion (the first month of the Attic calendar, falling in late Summer) and lasted ten days.

Greater Mysteries The first act (14th Boedromion) of the Greater Mysteries was the bringing of the sacred objects from Eleusis to the Eleusinion, a temple at the base of the Acropolis. On 15th Boedromion, called Agyrmos, the hierophants (priests) declared prorrhesis, the start of the rites, and carried out the "Hither the victims" sacrifice (hiereia deuro). The "Seawards initiates" (halade mystai) began in Athens on 16th Boedromion with the celebrants washing themselves in the sea at Phaleron. On 17th Boedromion, the participants began the Epidauria, a festival for Asklepios named after his main sanctuary at Epidaurus. This "festival within a festival" celebrated the hero's arrival at Athens with his daughter Hygieia (Health), and consisted of a procession leading to the Eleusinian, during which the mystai apparently stayed at home, a great sacrifice, and an all-night feast (pannychis). This solemn procession was accompanied by great numbers of followers and spectators, and the story related by Herodotus is founded by the supposition that 30,000 persons walking along the sacred road on this occasion was nothing uncommon. The procession to Eleusis began at Kerameikos (the Athenian cemetery) on the 19th Boedromion from where the people walked to Eleusis, along what was Ïäüò), called the "Sacred Way" ((ÉåñÜ ), ÉåñÜ Ïäüò swinging branches called bacchoi. At a certain spot along the way, they shouted obscenities in commemoration of Iambe (or Baubo), an old woman who, by cracking dirty jokes, had made Demeter smile as she mourned the loss of her daughter. The procession also shouted "Iakch' o Iakche!," referring to Iacchus, possibly an

epithet for Dionysus, or a separate deity, son of Persephone or Demeter. Upon reaching Eleusis, there was a day of fasting in commemoration of Demeter's fasting while searching for Persephone. The fast was broken while drinking a special drink of barley and pennyroyal, called kykeon. Then on 20th and 21st Boedromion, the initiates entered a great hall called Telesterion; in the centre stood the Anaktoron ("palace"), which only the hierophantes could enter, where sacred objects were stored. Here, in the Telesterion, the initiates were shown the sacred relics of Demeter. This was the most secretive part of the Mysteries and those who had been initiated were forbidden to ever speak of the events that took place in the Telesterion. The penalty was death. Athenagoras of Athens claims that it was for this crime (among others) that Diagoras had received the death penalty. As to the climax of the Mysteries, there are two modern theories. Some hold that the priests were the ones to reveal the visions of the holy night, consisting of a fire that represented the possibility of life after death, and various sacred objects. Others hold this explanation to be insufficient to account for the power and longevity of the Mysteries, and that the experiences must have been internal and mediated by a powerful psychoactive ingredient contained in the kykeon drink. Following this section of the Mysteries was the Pannychis, an all-night feast accompanied by dancing and merriment. The dances took place in the Rharian Field, rumored to be the first spot where grain grew. A bull sacrifice also took place late that night or early the next morning. That day (22nd Boedromion), the initiates honored the dead by pouring libations from special vessels. On 23rd Boedromion, the Mysteries ended and everyone returned home.

End of the Eleusinian Mysteries The mysteries long survived the independence of Greece (Hellas). In 170 CE, the Temple of Demeter was sacked by the Sarmatians but was rebuilt by Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius was then allowed to become the only lay-person to ever enter the anaktoron. As Christianity gained in popularity in the 4th and 5th centuries, Eleusis' prestige began to fade. Julian was the last emperor to be initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Roman emperor Theodosius I closed the sanctuaries by decree in 392 CE as part of his effort to suppress Hellenist

resistance to the imposition of Christianity as a state religion. The last remnants of the Mysteries were wiped out in 396 CE, when Alaric, King of the Goths, invaded accompanied by Christians "in their dark garments", bringing Arian Christianity and desecrating the old sacred sites. The closing of the Eleusinian Mysteries in the 4th century is reported by Eunapios, a historian and biographer of the Greek philosophers. Eunapios had been initiated by the last legitimate Hierophant, who had been commissioned by the emperor Julian to restore the Mysteries, which had by then fallen into decay. According to Eunapios, the very last Hierophant was a usurper, "the man from Thespiae who held the rank of Father in the mysteries of Mithras."The general belief of the ancients was that the mysteries opened to man a comforting prospect of a future state. In modern times many attempts have been made to discover the nature of the mysteries revealed to the initiated, but the results have been as various and as fanciful as might be expected. The most sober and probable view is that, according to which, 'they were the remains of a worship which preceded the rise of the Hellenic mythology and its attendant rites grounded on a view of nature, less fanciful, more earnest, and better fitted to awaken both physical thought and religious feeling". Eleusinia were also celebrated in other parts of Greece.

Triptolemus received wheat sheaves from Demeter and blessings from Persephone, 5th century BC relief, National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

- pg 11 -

INSIDE GEOGRAPHIC (Compliments National Geographic.com.magazine)

shows heat thrown off during exercise, a 'camera pill' treks down the digestive tract, high-speed cameras record the impact of a runner's footfalls (Sept 2007)

See how technology affects the human body on NG channel 's Incredible Human Machine. It offers a quirkier take on the extraordinary capabilities of the ordinary human body. Special footage is used to plunge viewers bone-deep into everyday activities: Thermal imaging

Aftermath. “As these words are written, three days only have passed since San Francisco was shaken by the most destructive earthquake in her history, and the subsequent unparalleled ruin wrought by fire is not yet ended”, wrote geologist Frederick Ransome, in the 1906 GEOGRAPHIC, published weeks after the April 18, 1906, disaster. His quickly assembled article, “The Probable Cause of the San Francisco Earthquake”, was illustrated

with maps of fault lines and the ominous scribbles of a seismograph. Readers had to wait for the June's issue to see images similar to this one of the tumbled courthouse in Santa Rosa, California.

AGE & Mental Reserves (Health-Science)

Do you realise that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. "How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. "How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life. You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!! But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

design buildings, work with computers, write books, do puzzles, knit or perform other mentally challenging tasks that can befuddle people much younger. But when these sharp old folks die, autopsy studies often reveal that up to two-thirds of people with autopsy findings of Alzheimer's disease were cognitively intact when they died. "Something must account for the disjunction between the degree of brain damage and its outcome," the scientists deduced. And that something, they and others suggest, is "cognitive reserve." Cognitive reserve, in this theory, refers to the brain's ability to develop and maintain extra neurons and connections between them via axons and dendrites. Later in life, these connections may help compensate for the rise in dementia-related brain pathology that accompanies normal aging. Exercise: Mental & Physical.

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone. But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60. You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-byday thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92." Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!" May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!! The brain, like every other part of the body, changes with age, and those changes can impede clear thinking and memory. Yet many older people seem to remain sharp as a tack well into their 80s and beyond. Although their pace may have slowed, they continue to work, travel, attend plays and concerts, play cards and board games, study foreign languages,

As Cathryn Jakobson Ramin relates in her new book, "Carved in Sand: When Attention Fails and Memory Fades in Midlife" (HarperCollins), the brains of animals exposed to greater physical and mental stimulation appear to have a greater number of healthy nerve cells and connections between them. Scientists theorise that this excess of working neurons and interconnections compensates for damaged ones to ward off dementia. Observing determine

this, other neuropsychologists, set out to how people can develop cognitive reserve. They have learned thus far that there is no "quick fix" for the aging brain, and little evidence that any one supplement or program or piece of equipment can protect or enhance brain function. Nonetheless, well-designed studies suggest several ways to improve the brain's viability. Though best to start early to build up cognitive reserve, there is evidence that this account can be replenished even late in life. Cognitive reserve is greater in people who complete higher levels of education. The more intellectual challenges to the brain early in life, the more neurons and connections the brain is likely to develop and

- pg 13-

Facts

(Reference - Factfinder)

What is a fact? Something that has really happened or is actually the case; something certainly known to be of this character; hence a particular truth by actual observation or authentic testimony, as opposed to what is merely inferred, or to a conjecture or fiction; a datum of experience, as opposed to the conclusions which may be based upon it. This definition, one of the longest in the Oxford English Dictionary, gives the difficulty involved in saying what exactly counts as a 'fact' and thus of the difficulties facing any editor/attorney who has to decide what should be included in a book / legal document. At first glance, the answer is obvious: there facts about objects and animals (what are the characteristics of X?), people (who is X?), places (where is X?), and times (when did X happen?), verbal (how to describe X?), and

tabular (how to classify X?). At second glance, the situation becomes more complicated (and more interesting). There are facts about fictions (X in mythology or literature) and fictions about facts (disputes over the longest and largest X). There are situations where we cannot decide whether something is fiction or fact (the changing politics of country X). There are near-facts (estimates of X), transient facts (world records about X), qualified facts (the majority of X), arguable facts (the most important X), politically biased facts (the growth or decline of X), and contrived facts (neat classifications of X). A fact book/report must not ignore these awkward and marginal cases, but having included them it must always remember to warn readers/recipients if 'there is something they should know' before swallowing a 'fact' whole.

perhaps maintain into later years. Several studies of normal aging have found that higher levels of educational attainment were associated with slower cognitive and functional decline. Experts suggest that cognitive reserve probably reflects an interconnection between genetic intelligence and education, since more intelligent people are likely to complete higher levels of education. But brain stimulation does not have to stop with the diploma. Bettereducated people may go on to choose more intellectually demanding occupations and pursue brain-stimulating hobbies, resulting in a form of lifelong learning. In researching her book, Ramin said she found that novelty was crucial to providing stimulation for the aging brain. "If you're doing the same thing over and over again, without introducing new mental challenges, it won't be beneficial," she said in an interview. Thus, as with muscles, it's "use it or lose it." The brain requires continued stresses to maintain or enhance its strength. So if you knit, challenge yourself with more than simply stitched scarves. Try a complicated pattern or garment. Listening to opera is lovely, but learning the libretto (available in most libraries) stimulates more neurons. In my 60s I took up knitting and crocheting and am now learning Spanish. The more activities, the lower the risk. Long-term studies in other countries, including Sweden and China, have also found that continued social interactions helped protect against dementia. The more extensive an older person's social network, the better the brain is likely to work, the research suggests. Especially helpful are productive or mentally stimulating activities pursued with other people, like community gardening, taking classes, volunteering or participating in a play-reading group

Many bitter arguments could be avoided if more attention were paid to this issue.

What is not a fact? On the other hand, certain notions are not part of a fact book/report. Definitions of words, for example, really have no place. Nor is a fact a single, isolated piece of information. An enquirer may have a single question in mind, and want a single fact of an answer, but any fact book/report worth its salt should show how this enquiry fits into a broader frame of reference. No fact exists in isolation. Everything is part of a pattern. It is therefore important to show the pattern. Should say to the reader: You asked about X, and here is the answer but don't forget there is also Y and Z, which can help you understand X further. In Shipping we call it 'Evidence'

HOW TO STAY YOUNG 1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them." 2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. 3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's. 4. Enjoy the simple things. 5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. 6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. 7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. 8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is. 10. Tell the people you love that you love them , at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER : Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Fake crew certificate gang smashed in India By Shirish Nadkarni in Mumbai - Friday 4 January 2008

ive people were arrested on New Year's Day. INDIA's Directorate-General of Shipping has been left red-faced and seriously concerned after the port zone division of Mumbai police busted a racket involving the distribution of fake continuous discharge certificates required for ship's crew. Five people, including two with allegedly forged CDCs and three with blank booklets, were arrested on New Year's day. Yesterday, three more arrests were made of people trying to get lucrative seafarers' jobs with certificates that had not been issued by the DGS. In September, when it was found that fake CDCs had been given to over a thousand Indian seamen, the Directorate assured the shipping industry that the government was aware of the problem of fake and forged seafarer certificates, and was taking swift and serious action to tackle the problem. In a widely publicised release at the time, the DGS had emphasised that the Indian certification system had been made virtually unbreachable with the introduction of several checks and balances. It pointed out that it maintained an electronic database of all certificates, endorsements and other documents issued to seafarers (including the CDC). It said that these certificates were being issued by the DGS itself, and had not been

delegated to any other entity. It stressed that the authenticity of the certificates could be verified online from the DGS website. But these claims proved unfounded when blank CDC booklets were found in the possession of Clement Dias, Premkumar Prasad and Fahim Ahmed Khan, three of the people accused in the scam. There is very real fear that blank booklets are being smuggled out of the Mumbai-based DGS's office with the cooperation of staff.

“It could take around six months to a year, and a sum of Rs550 ($14) to get the CDC from the DGS,” said Mumbai Police's port zone deputy commissioner YP Dhoom. “The gang offered to get the document for unemployed youths in a month; and in the process faked the CDC. We will know in a day or two how many of the eight arrested were people trying for seafarers' jobs, and how many were members of the gang peddling fake CDCs.” Mr Dhoom revealed that some gang members were placement agents for ship crew and offered the CDC as well as jobs. “They used to solicit customers near the DGS's office and offer their services,” he said. “The Mumbai shipping office

is fully computerised, so they took advantage

COGNITIVE: Concerned with acquisition of knowledge. Relating to the process of acquiring knowledge by the use of

How accurate are your charts? (Compliments North of England P&I) The limited resources of the world's hydrographic services have historically followed the traditional global trading patterns when charting the sea bed and marking aids to navigation. Recent demands for raw materials have seen the development of mining and terminal facilities in geographical locations remote from these traditional trading routes.

National Union of Seafarers of India general secretary Abdulgani Serang said that the forgers were doing a better job now than some years ago, when a fake certificate could be easily identified by poor print quality and spelling errors. “The DGS has actually made it quite easy to get a CDC for those who approach it with a graduation certificate and the standard fee,” he said.

“It even waived certain timebar criteria for those who had missed the bus earlier, but were eligible for CDCs. “But touts and fakers prey on the emotions of poorly educated people from rural areas, impressing upon them the glamour and topclass remuneration of a seafaring job; and at the same time, stress the difficulty and expense of getting a genuine certificate. Gullible people feel that having a CDC in hand is a guarantee of a good seafaring job.”

“It is incumbent upon all stakeholders from different shipping-related constituencies to get together and hammer out a solution. I am working towards inviting all constituents to a meeting where we can put our heads together, and come up with a solution to stamp out this menace.” Several Hong Kong-based shipmanagers with a large contingent of Indian seafarers are already vigilant to the risk of forged documents, writes Keith Wallis in Hong Kong. Wallem Shipmangement managing director Jim Nelson told Lloyd's List: “We

double-check everything with the authorities regardless.” Anglo-Eastern Ship Management trading and quality director Pradeep Chawla, said the latest arrests follow incidents a few months ago when forged documents were found. He said the documents, which are mainly used by people going as cooks and stewards on board ship, are different from the seafarer's certificate of competence which list's a seafarer's qualifications and experience.

“In India, we have 5,850 seafarers and I have never come across a false certificate of competence in 15 years of working for Anglo-Eastern,” Capt

In the face of the fact that fake certificates are now being professionally printed and are virtually indistinguishable from genuine certificates, the DGS is considering revalidating all CDCs at its office.

Chalwa said.

“The problem of fake certificates is being faced wherever tertiary education is being given, anywhere in India,” said Joint DGS Lukose Vallatharai.

Capt Chalwa added that if there are any doubts about the authenticity of these certificates the details can be checked with the shipping ministry within about two hours.

“We are forced to admit that the systems we had thought to be foolproof have been breached, and the matter is serious.

QUOTATIONS

The Quality will be remembered long after the Price has been forgotten.

Politics: a partisanship that often boils down to insults, intimidations, inquisitions & Invastigations

Reason, logic and truth should play a major role in the way we make our important decisions. (From ancient Greek texts)

It is not the case that a man who is silent says nothing.

Perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation. It is better be alone than in bad company.

Ideals are like stars: you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but like the seafaring man on the ocean desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them, you reach your destiny.

It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't.

Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time.

If I'm not back in five minutes... wait longer!

Reasoning, Intuition, or Perception. Relating to thought process. Larger vessels may now be navigating in unfamiliar coastal waters where hydrographic data can be sparse and less reliable. Recent reports of bulk carriers grounding on uncharted navigational hazards off the islands of the Philippines highlight the hazardous nature of navigating in these waters. Masters and ship operators should ensure that vessels are provided with the latest navigational chart and pilotage information for the intended voyage. Masters are reminded to:

! ! !

of the manual systems employed by the Kolkata office and issued the CDC by forging the signatures of the shipping master, Kolkata.”

AGEMENT I N AN

NTROF

consider the survey history for the intended route when preparing the voyage plan. always use the most recent edition of the largest scale chart available. ensure local navigation warnings are referred to and incorporated into the voyage plan. Do you have a joke or a funny photograph to share with all of us? If published will earn you a bonus (50 US$).

OCIMF TMSA Guidelines : Element 1 Management , Leadership and Accountability (AIM: Through strong leadership, management promotes the concepts of safety and environmental excellence at all levels in an organisation).

Main Objective Provide direction and clearly define responsibilities and accountabilities at all levels within the organisation. An effective quality-management system requires commitment at the highest levels of the organisation and clear definitions of the roles and responsibilities for everyone involved in its administration. Element 1 establishes these principles as part of the management system. Safety and Environmental Excellence The concepts of safety and environmental excellence should be understood at all levels in the organisation and actively promoted through leadership and the disciplined use of documented management systems.

Roles and Responsibilities Ship operators should ensure that management roles and individual responsibilities are clearly established, assigned, understood and documented. Communication Ship operators should establish and maintain effective communication procedures between shore-based management and the fleet. This should include communication of the quality management system to all areas within the company.

The Articles written and the Views expressed in this bulletin do not NTROF necessarily reflect those of CENTROFIN and/or its members. Like what you see? Want something else? Got something to add? Tell us at: wavelength@centrofin.gr DISCLAIMER. The contents provided herewith are for general information purposes only; not intended to replace or otherwise contradict the detailed instructions issued by the owners/managers, flag etc. Editor: Cmdr Nicholas A. Iliopoulos - Master Mariner - Human Resources Tel. +30.6944 941 333. Email: ilioship@yahoo.com.sg. Comments? This editor welcomes readers' responses to all articles and editorials. Design-Production: www.paradox.com.gr Tel.30.210.6560 574 AGEMENT I N AN

The CENTROFIN Newsletter

The Quality-Management System Ship operators should establish and maintain a documented quality-management system that can accomplish the stated fleet management policies and objectives. In addition, all managers should be held accountable for achieving the targets and objectives established for them. Management activities that require instructions and procedures should be systematically identified. Where instructions and procedures are required, they should be suited to the purpose and easy to understand and follow. Where appropriate, these instructions should be developed in consultation with those who will be affected by them or who will have to apply them. The management system must promote feedback and appropriate responses within ship operators companies. It must also provide information on incidents, ship inspections, fleet performance, serious near misses and lessons learnt. This information should be made available to those who charter vessels.

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