Continued from last week
PERSONAL HAZARDS
14. Salary not adequate:
Considering the salary paid in other industries like Information Technology, cost of living and other professional hazards in shipping industry, the salary paid to the seafarers are not adequate.
15. Disturbed family life:
A seafarer is not lucky to remain with his family members throughout his career like his shore based professionals. A seafarer cannot be with his family members in cases of emergencies. Further he has to forget about birthdays, Christmas, wedding anniversary and any other social and family events.
16. Health:
Due to work related stress, non availability of fresh food, lack of recreational facilities and inadequate medical facilities in ships, the health of a seafarer deteriorates faster.
17.Loneliness, boredom:
As the seafarer is subjected to “Bigger ships and lesser Manpower” concept of shipping companies, the seafarer till he signs off has to face loneliness and boredom. This also reduces the productivity of the seafarer. To overcome loneliness and boredom, a seafarer slowly becomes an alcoholic.
18.Faster turnarounds, no breaks in harbour:
Due to better cargo unloading facilities available in ports, ships turnaround time has drastically reduced. Practically ships crew don’t get any breaks in harbours to refresh themselves.
19.Communication problems:
Though English is the universal language, as the ships are manned by multicultural crew, communication problems exist between the crew. In addtion communication problems exist between ship and shore authorities. At times, this leads to misunderstandings and cause unwanted incidents.
20.Personal safety:
A seafarer has to lookafter himself and if he is not able to get along with ships crew, his life is not safe.
21.Medical facility:
Similarly a seafarer is expected to remain fit and remain seaworthy. Medical facilities are inadequate in ships.
22.Anyone can not be a Seafarer:
To become a seafarer, a person has to be psychologically fit in addition to medical or physical fitness. To assess the suitability to become a seafarer, psychometric tests are conducted at entry level training of seafarers.
SOCIAL HAZARDS
23.No recognition in society:
A seafarer due to isolation from his family members, gets slowly isolated from the society also and has no recognition in the society.
24.Seen as a high income man but spends more than he earns:
A seafarer is visualised by many in the society as high earning member whereas most of the seafarers spend more than they earn.
25.Not able to mix up in society:
Many seafarers are not able to mix up in a heterogeneous society as they interact with limited people throughout their career. They mix up successfully with other seafarers only.
Legal hazards:
26.Pollution:
If a ship pollutes the sea due to whatsoever reasons, ships crew including the captain of the ship have to face legal actions.
27.Marine accidents:If a ship gets involved in collision, allision, grounding, fire etc.,the ships crew including the captain of the ship are liable to face legal actions.
*Concluded
SHIPTALK: A GLOSSARY OF SHIPPING AND MARITIME TERMS
Fender piles: The wooden or plastic pilings on the outer edge of the wharf function like the fenders on a car. They are there to absorb the shock of a ship as it docks at the wharf and to protect the structural pilings that actually support the wharf. Fender piles are also called sacrifice piles since they are designed to be discarded after they are broken.
Fleeting: The area at which barges, towboats and tugs are berthed until needed. The operation of building or dismantling barge tows.
Manifest: The ship captain’s list of individual goods that make up the ship’s cargo.
Marine surveyor: Person who inspects a ship hull or its cargo for damage or quality.
Master: The officer in charge of the ship. "Captain" is a courtesy title often given to a master.
NVOCC: A non-vessel-owning common carrier that buys space aboard a ship to get a lower volume rate. An NVOCC then sells that space to various small shippers, consolidates their freight, issues bills of lading and books space aboard a ship.
Ocean carrier: Diesel-fueled vessels have replaced the old steamships of the past, although many people still refer to modern diesel ships as steamships. Likewise, the person who represents the ship in port is still often called a steamship agent.
Pilot: A licensed navigational guide with thorough knowledge of a particular section of a waterway whose occupation is to steep ships along a coast or into and out of a harbor. Local pilots board the ship to advise the captain and navigator of local navigation conditions (difficult currents; hidden wrecks, etc.).
Rubber-Tired Gantry (RTG): Traveling crane used for the movement and positioning of containers in a container field. RTG’s may also be used for loading and unloading containers from rail cars.
Sheddage: Regardless of the length of stay, a vessel is charged a one-time fee for use of shed space and/or marginal (waterside) rail track space. The charge is based on the length of a vessel.
Short ton: A short ton equals 2,000. Lifting capacity and cargo measurements are designated in short tons.
Spreader: a device for lifting containers by their corner posts. The spreader bar on a container crane is telescopic to allow lifting various length containers.
Real Story of How Highjacked MV Beluga Fortune Regained Freedom
Somali pirates who highjacked the German owned multi-purpose ship BELUGA FORTUNE were forced to give up possession after the crew shut down all propulsion units and secured themselves in a ‘citadel’ on board the vessel, where they awaited the arrival of navy units to free the ship.
Shortly after the vessel was reported as being highjacked, an aerial reconnaissance noted that the ship was drifting seemingly without anyone in control, although the pirates were on board. What the crew had done was to turn off the fuel supply, shut down the engines, place the bridge out of action and radio a patrolling military aircraft to advise it of what was taking place. They then secured themselves in a safe room to await developments.
While it is not yet known whether the pirates left voluntarily or whether naval forces had to retake the ship, it appears the former is most likely with the pirates having abandoned their ‘prize’ and sailing off in search of new and possibly less well-trained victims.
In a statement Beluga-Reederei described the behaviour of the crew as ‘cool headed’ which it said left the pirates with no other option than to give up dreams of a million dollar ransom and to flee.
Beluga Fortune was heading for Durban from the UAE when she was highjacked.
WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT
23.10.2010:
1235 UTC: Posn 04:14.0S – 041:19.0E Around 98 nm east of Mombasa, Kenya, Off Southern Somalia.
Armed pirates attacked and hijacked a LPG tanker underway
23.10.2010:
0252 UTC: Posn: 13:09.1N – 049:12.6E, Gulf of Aden.
Five pirates armed with AK47 weapons in a skiff chased and fired upon a general cargo ship underway. Master raised alarm, increased speed and crew mustered in the citadel. Onboard security personnel fired rocket flares at the skiff and the pirates aborted the attempted boarding. No injuries to crew and damages to the ship.
23.10.2010:
0252 UTC: Posn: 13:09.1N – 049:12.6E, Gulf of Aden.
Five pirates armed with AK47 weapons in a skiff chased and fired upon a general cargo ship underway. Master raised alarm, increased speed and crew mustered in the citadel. Onboard security personnel fired rocket flares at the skiff and the pirates aborted the attempted boarding. No injuries to crew and damages to the ship.
24.10.2010:
0542 UTC: Posn: 03:29.0N – 059:35.0E: Around 850 nm east of Mogadishu, Somalia.
Pirates armed with automatic weapons and RPG attacked a general cargo ship and boarded it. The crew members entered into the safe room / citadel and locked themselves from inside. They contacted the authorities for assistance. When pirates could not sail the ship, they damaged the ship and abandoned it. The next day, the master informed a warship that all crew are safe and in the citadel.
25.10.2010:
0856 LT: Offshore Onne, Nigeria.
While alongside the rig, several small boats were sighted in the vicinity. The skiffs approached the tug with threat to board it. Alarm raised, tug casted off and proceeded to open sea. The boats chased with attempt to board it. Later, due to evasive manoeuvres and anti piracy measures, the boats aborted the attempt.
26.10.2010:
1805 LT: Posn: 08:20.2S – 040:42.4E: 62nm from Jibondo island (off Tanzania), off Somalia.
About five pirates heavily armed with automatic weapons and RPG in a skiff chased and fired upon a LPG tanker underway. The crew contacted the authorities and went into the citadel / safe room. Pirates boarded the tanker but could not sail the tanker. Before leaving the vessel the pirates caused some damage. Later, crew took command of the tanker and sailed towards a safe port. No injuries to crew.
27.10.2010:
1930 UTC: Posn: 13:18.0N – 068:56.0E, Around 345 nm west of New Mangalore, India, (Off Somalia).
Two skiffs chased and fried upon a tanker underway. Alarm raised, crew alerted and speed increased. Effective anti piracy measures resulted in skiffs aborting attack. An unlit suspected mother vessel was detected on the radar at a distance of 14 nm.
27.10.2010:
1300 UTC: Posn: 10:51N – 063:28E, around 710nm east of Raas Xaafuun, Somalia.
Pirates in two skiffs armed with guns chased and opened fire on a container ship underway. Vessel managed to evade the attack.
28.10.2010:
0539 UTC: Posn: 13:08N – 049:14E: Gulf of Aden.
Pirates in two skiffs chased a tanker in a convoy and opened fire on it. Warship and other military assets in the vicinity rendered assistance to the tanker.
NIMASA Rescues Lagos Village From Ocean Surge
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has carried out a successful Search and Rescue Operation at Okun Alpha Community in Owode village, Alpha Beach, lekki lagos which was ravaged by a surge from the Atlantic Ocean.
A statement issued last week by the agency disclosed that distressed signals were received at the Search & Rescue radio room of the Agency in the early hours of the fateful day and Management immediately mobilized officials from its Search and Rescue unit to the Community.
On arrival, the team undertook detailed search operation to establish the extent of damage and took time off to teach basic safety measures to the inhabitants of the community. Although no life was lost, the surge affected properties.
Medical staff of the Search and Rescue Clinic provided first aid services for all those who required medical attention.
The Director Marine Environment Department of NIMASA Mrs. Juliana Gunwa who led the team, gave an assurance that NIMASA will immediately carry out a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment to determine the immediate and remote causes of the ocean surge in the area. The community was also assured of the Agency’s commitment to protecting the environment around the Alpha beach in Lekki.
The spokesperson for the Community Chief Imam Shamsudeen Banuso expressed the people’s gratitude to NIMASA for coming to their aid and responding immediately to their distress call. He explained that some dredging activities in the Alpha Beach area were partly responsible for the distortion being witnessed by the Ecosystem of the area. He noted that the surge has become a regular occurrence adding that NIMASA was the first government Agency to respond to their plea. Inhabitants of the community which has over five hundred houses heaved a sigh of relief when they sighted the NIMASA Search and Rescue team.
NIMASA Director Marine Environment Management Department, Mrs. Juliana Gumwa led the delation which also included the Director Maritime Safety department Captain Ibraheem Olugbade Head Hydrographic Unit, Comander Olugbode and the Chief Medical Director of the Search and Rescue Clinic Dr. Echelibe were all part of the emergency team that carried out the operation.
“Look out for Illegal Bunkerers, Sea robbers”: Ex Naval Chief Warms Successor
Apparently worried by the unrepentant determination of illegal bunkers and ser robbers on Nigerian waters, the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim has urged his successor to tackle piracy and illegal bunkering with the seriousness they deserve, even as he forewarned that bunkerers would attempt to undermine his efforts.
He warned his successor not to underrate the antics of bunkerers and pirates as they would be among the first set of people to besiege his office pretending to be friends, while they are saboteurs and enemies of the nation.
Vice Admiral Ibrahim gave the warning at a ceremony to pull him out of the Navy at a parade which held recently in Lagos.
According to him, Nigeria loses billions of naira yearly to sea robbers and crude oil thieves who have made the nation’s waterways a safe haven for their criminal activities.
"I fear that maritime activities in Nigeria may soon come to a standstill if the Federal Government fails to heed the call as the criminal activities of pirates are now forcing those in the industry to divert their businesses to other African countries", he said. The implication of this, according to him, would be enormous since the nation’s economic main stay, which is oil, is mainly off-shore.
He pointed out that Nigeria’s economic wealth lay mainly offshore with the oilfields.
There are already indications that fishing trawlers that once operated from Nigerian harbours have begun relocating to neighbouring West African countries because they no longer feel safe in Nigeria.
This was disclosed by President of Nigeria Fishing Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA), Mrs. Margaret Orakusi, who also added at the ceremony that sea robbery and piracy is taking a lot from her members.
"There is the increasing need for the Federal Government to purchase more platforms for the Navy so that it would be able to dedicate a special force to patrol the waters or remain at sea. Fishing trawlers are now relocating to neighbouring West African countries to do their businesses since they no longer feel safe in Nigeria” she revealed.
Incredible, But The Chandlers Have spent One Year in Pirates’ Captivity
Somali pirates holding a British couple hostage for a year have reiterated they won’t release Paul and Rachel Chandler until ransom is paid, adding they live in the poorest conditions, a pirate spokesperson said last week.
The spokesperson, who identified himself only as Qodar, told a local radio station the Chandlers lived in a good condition for the first six months after their capture, but their situation worsened when the British government didn’t heed or meet their demands.
Qodar said they are ready to open negotiations with anyone to free them, insisting ransom payments are inevitable.
He described as “hindrances” Somali refugees living in England, saying they “reached [out to] us for several times requesting to free British couple without ransom.” Qodar said the refugees should not interfere.
He said a lot of time, money and efforts had been spent on maintaining the hostages during their captivity.
The Chandlers were kidnapped by Somali pirates Oct. 23, 2009, as their yacht was heading to Tanzania from the Seychelles.
The pirate’s statement comes as the transitional federal government proclaimed it will help gain the British couple’s release.
The yacht belonging to the Chandlers was captured on 23 October 2009 while sailing from the Seychelles for Dar es Salaam.
The pirates abandoned the yacht which has since been returned to the UK but took the middle-aged couple into custody at a remote part of Somalia, where they have been held, apparently separated, in primitive conditions. The British government, which has changed whilst the Chandlers have been prisoners, has steadfastly refused to negotiate a ransom for their release, leading, say the captors, to a hardening of attitude towards the couple and a worsening of their living conditions.
The Somali Transitional Government has recently taken up the cause and says it will try to secure their release but just how this will be achieved is anyone’s guess, as the Traditional Government hardly governs any area of the country.
Safety of Navigation: Van Oord Awarded Mombasa Dredging Contract
The Dutch dredging company of Van Oord has been awarded the contract to dredge the approaches for the port of Mombasa, after an adjudication process eliminated three other firms.
The contract, worth an undisclosed amount, is due to commence shortly – Kenya Port Authority procurement manager Yobesh Oyaro told a Kenyan newspaper last week that the tender was awarded more than a fortnight ago and all that remained was the signing of the contracts documents, “…so that the dredging can start by next month or at latest in January next year.”
“We don’t anticipate any hurdles and the dredging will go ahead as planned,” he said.
The dredging contract was postponed a year ago to enable the dredging to coincide with the construction of a second container terminal planned for Mombasa. It is planned to use the material dredged from the approach channels for levelling and preparing the area for the new terminal.
A second container terminal has become necessary with Mombasa becoming increasingly congested and which has seen the port having to turn away transshipment cargo for regional ports because of a lack of stack space. Some of this loss included the transshipment containers destined for the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam, where similar overcrowding has occurred, forcing shipping lines to look elsewhere to transship Tanzanian cargo.
Port authorities at Mombasa say that once the second container terminal is completed and in business they will target regional transshipment cargo, in particular for the ports of Seychelles, Mauritius, Tanga, Zanzibar and Maputo.
The Dutch firm of Van Oord was also awarded the contract to dredge the approaches for the Mozambique port of Beira. The contract there is worth € 37 million and commenced in April this year. A total of 8 million tonnes of sand and mud will be dredged from one of the more notorious port entrances along the East African coast. This material will be utilised for the construction of a new coal terminal to service exports from the Moatize coal mine, which is due to come into operation next year.
On the Beira contract Van Oord is using among others two medium size trailing suction hopper dredgers. It has not been disclosed what type of dredger will be used with the Mombasa contract.
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