Anyone Interested in Ships

[colinreeves]

Combination of several factors:

1 lower fuel costs

2 saving of canal fees

3 over capacity on route with the trade downturn

 

[KeithMacdonald]

There's a shipping-related classic film on BBC iPlayer right now.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ml4yv/whisky-galore

 

[MarkC]

Just to let you know - I'm still on board. 17 weeks on board as of tomorrow - 7 weeks past payoff date...  The Company is attempting to do the first crew change of one ship, in Antwerp, on Monday. To say that there have been one or two hoops to jump through is an understatement...

 

So if there are major issues in NW Europe, what chance for us trading in the Caribbean and in Asia? The wait continues...

 

Our Indonesian colleagues have further issues - it's reported that there is no transport from Java to the other islands, even if we can get them to Jakarta. I would imagine that a similar situation will be operating in the Philippines as well.

 

Much of Eastern Europe is reportedly still locked down too.

 

I see that, as usual, the media has forgotten about seafarers, now that the issues with the SLF on passenger ships appears to be resolved. There are plenty of crew still stuck on board said ships though - and just because they can now use passenger accommodation does not compensate for being stuck on board...

 

As for us <traditional> seafarers, life just goes on. The ships are still trading, cargoes are being moved, the supply lines and thus the shops remain pretty full of goods for customers - so nobody outside of the industry seems to care. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose...

 

Mark.

[cunningduck]

Radio 4 recently featured an interview with a former colleague (Grey Funnel Line) who has transferred to the merchant fleet and is also stuck onboard as a trainee. 
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000hq2s

[drmditch]

7 hours ago, MarkC said:

P

As for us <traditional> seafarers, life just goes on. The ships are still trading, cargoes are being moved, the supply lines and thus the shops remain pretty full of goods for customers - so nobody outside of the industry seems to care. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose...

 

Mark.

 

I've only once seen one of the little silver 'MN' badges.

If you should happen to have one, please don't turn it upside down.

 

Some of us are grateful.

[jjb1970]

The crew change issue is a nightmare.  In many ports the problem is not sign on/off (crew changes are allowed in many ports) but repatriation of the off signer and getting the on signer into the country. And where that is possible it often entails 14 days quarantine, which becomes 28 days if needed at both ends. And then there is all sorts of confusion about COVID testing.

 

A much more serious issue is seafarers access to medical treatment. There have been cases of seafarers suffering internal bleeding as result of injuries or being seriously ill from conditions that are not related to COVID being denied access to care. Ships have made major diversions to reach a country that will allow seafarers access to hospital treatment. One ship had a seafarers suffer a stroke and despite being at anchor off quite a wealthy country the ship could not get the poor soul off.

[62613]

On 07/04/2020 at 15:53, MarkC said:

Get it wrong - or you lose power - you tend to lose

 

Hull interaction is a common cause of collisions though, particularly in narrow waterways. Not everyone understands the physics involved...

 

Mark

A factor in the Royston Grange tragedy.

[jjb1970]

This is an interesting report to read:

 

https://www.intercargo.org/bulk-carrier-casualty-report-2019/

 

There is a link to the actual report on the page linked but it is worth reading the summary too. 

 

One of the elephants in the room of maritime safety is that some flag states are still not carrying out incident investigations or publishing findings in a timely manner (and it is not an open register issue, some of the traditional flags aren't taking their responsibilities seriously).

[MarkC]

1 hour ago, jjb1970 said:

This is an interesting report to read:

 

https://www.intercargo.org/bulk-carrier-casualty-report-2019/

 

There is a link to the actual report on the page linked but it is worth reading the summary too. 

 

One of the elephants in the room of maritime safety is that some flag states are still not carrying out incident investigations or publishing findings in a timely manner (and it is not an open register issue, some of the traditional flags aren't taking their responsibilities seriously).

Interesting stuff.

 

Being in the tanker trades, whilst we oftentimes complain bitterly about inspections and regulations, it's easy to forget that not all sectors are as well regulated, and bulk carriers are still, to me, a much higher risk than my own specialisation - gas carriers.

 

And yes, a lack of investigations by some flag states is a disgrace - but a bulk carrier loss tends not to hit the headlines in the way that tanker and passenger ship casualties do...

 

Mark

 

[St Enodoc]

8 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

not... publishing findings in a timely manner

That's not limited to the maritime industry or "certain states".

[MarkC]

Well, we have managed a crew change - sort of - on one of our ships in a major NW European port. 3 days later than planned, and only 4 crew members out of 17 were changed, but it's a start. However... 2 relievers were turned away at their home airport in the Far East, for reasons as yet undefined, but a suggestion of 'a lack of <consideration> to an airport official' (make of that what you will...) has been made; one chap was told by Immigration, as the ship was arriving at the berth, that there was no point in him getting off because he wouldn't be allowed to enter his home (Eastern European) country as he was 'a risk', according to his own country, and to top it all off, at the last moment someone at the terminal where the ship was berthed decided that nobody would now be allowed to pass through the terminal, so cargo operations had to be stopped in mid-discharge and the loading arms disconnected, so that a workboat could come alongside to allow personnel to board/leave. All costs down to owners for the delay too, natch...

 

But hey, who cares? It's only seamen...

 

Mark

Edited May 8, 2020 by MarkC

[chris p bacon]

Saw this story this morning.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52558639

 

[MarkC]

2 hours ago, chris p bacon said:

Saw this story this morning.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52558639

 

Interesting link - and I'm one of the fortunate few whose employer is doing their best for us - but as it says, unless other countries do the right thing, then the impasse continues. I can see why some countries would refuse to cooperate though - the perception being "why should they put their people at risk, for the benefit of a handful of itinerant strangers?". The irony is, of course, that the risk is actually to us; we are definitely clear of CIVID-19, having been effectively isolated for over 2 months now...

 

Then there's still the lack of flights to/from many regions...

 

Mark

[The Stationmaster]

I picked up from somewhere else a news story about cruise ships being stuck at sea in various places because they are either not allowed to go alongside to changeover crews or there is no room for them to go alongside anywhere.  While most vessels are a long way from British waters the situation round the British coast revealed by AIS tells a similar story.

 

There are 4 possibly 5 off Weymouth (Arcadia's IAS report is 14 hours old for some reason); four in Sandown IoW anchorage. three alongside in Southampton plus one in the Solent heading for ??; five alongside at Tilbury; and  three or four anchored in the Firth of Forth (one AIS signal is about 6 hours old) plus 2 crossChannel ferries alongside in Leith docks;   But in terms of numbers as nothing compared with what's in the general vicinity of the Bahama. An awful lot of tonnage lying idle but as yet none to have been sent towards the Fal.

[eastwestdivide]

See what you mean about the cruise shutdown. Here's a screenshot from vesselfinder.com just now, adjusted to only show cruise/passenger ships (green), dots are stationary, arrows moving (although not necessarily very much):

[The Johnster]

That’s the Bermuda Triangle, don’t worry, they won’t be there long...

[jjb1970]

For those interested, the framework of protocols document issued by IMO (but developed by the industry) can be found here:

 

https://www.ics-shipping.org/docs/default-source/Press-Release-downloads/circular-letter-no-4204-add-14---coronavirus-(covid-19)---recommended-framework-of-protocols.pdf?sfvrsn=2

 

Another useful document on the interface between ships and third parties (something which has been causing an awful lot of stress to seafarers can be found here:

 

https://www.ics-shipping.org/docs/default-source/Press-Release-downloads/covid-19-shipshorepersonnelinterfaceguidelines-6-may-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=2

 

 

[jjb1970]

On the matter of cruise ship crews, some of the attitudes and restrictions being thrown at people on cruise ships have been bordering on inhumane. A friend of mine who is still at sea (we were cadets together in P&OCL) is now CE on a cruise ship which is now making a voyage to India to repatriate Indian seafarers. Another ship is carrying crews from the US to Europe where the company thinks they may have a better chance of getting people home. 

 

However, it could be worse. I know of at least two ships stuck with the bodies of dead seafarers in their freezer because nowhere will allow them to berth let alone let them get the bodies back to their loved ones. Appalling.

[MarkC]

1 hour ago, jjb1970 said:

However, it could be worse. I know of at least two ships stuck with the bodies of dead seafarers in their freezer because nowhere will allow them to berth let alone let them get the bodies back to their loved ones. Appalling.

And that is one of the most distressing pieces of news I have heard in a long time. How utterly shocking, shameful and disgusting. My heart goes out to those on board and the families of the deceased.

 

Mark

[JeremyC]

Found this in the Guardian 

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/may/11/cargo-ship-sailors-press-ganged-into-keeping-the-worlds-trade-afloat

Seafarers are the forgotten few.

[MarkC]

1 hour ago, JeremyC said:

Found this in the Guardian 

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/may/11/cargo-ship-sailors-press-ganged-into-keeping-the-worlds-trade-afloat

Seafarers are the forgotten few.

One problem is that different countries are implementing different rules (and no, I'm NOT advocating some form of 'one world government' - but that's a different topic). Then there's a simple lack of flights, which is another major stumbling block. When the bulk of the world's crews come from the Far East then global travel is pretty important...

 

I do take issue with the 'flowery language' used by the Gruin - and to compare this situation with the Press Gangs of yore is somewhat distasteful. (Actually, the Press was the Royal Navy - the writer probably meant the Crimping gangs, which were a different beast, aimed at putting bodies on merchant ships, not RN. But I digress...). We're not 'pressed/crimped' as such, but caught up in something which is beyond anyone's control in many ways.

 

Whilst there will be a few unscrupulous owners who will take advantage, most will be doing their utmost to find some sort of resolution. Remember, it's not just getting us off the ships and home; first you have to get replacement seafarers out to the ships, which is something that your average meeja hack doesn't seem to comprehend.

 

90% of the world's trade in goods is done at some point by sea. Stop that and watch a different set of problems arise.

 

I'm seeing some Owners & Ship Management companies trying to work together to help each other - which is great news - but again the issues of national/regional actions, lack of flights etc remain.

 

In the meantime, we'll just keep going as best we can...

 

Mark

 

 

 

Mark

[The Johnster]

This is an unprecedented situation and governments are 'winging it'.  I suspect, or at least hope, that some world scale agreement with regard to repatriating seafarers and others trapped by such situations home would ensue, and would suggest that it is something easily arranged. that could be done quickly, effectively, and safely now, as where ships, compounds, or similar locations are free of CV-19 quarantined transport to the airport can easily be arranged.  I agree that comparison with press gangs and crimpers is a bit over the top and while I have been brought up in a seafaring family with a certain viewpoint about owners instilled into me, I sympathise with those that are trying to do their best in the current situation.

[Tankerman]

On 06/08/2017 at 08:40, MarkC said:

That's some legacy of the British Merchant Navy there, with that list 

 

The oil major concerned - it was the one which involved a large striped member of the feline species in its advertising, many year ago...

When I was at sea as a Lecky with with Trident Tankers/P&O Bulk Shipping between 1968 to 1977, hence Tankerman, it was generally thought that their name stood for Eat S**T, Sleep and Overtime.

 

On 06/08/2017 at 08:40, MarkC said:

 

 

Mark

 

[jjb1970]

I think the Guardian headline sums up so much of what is wrong with the press:

 

Cargo ship sailors press-ganged into keeping the world's trade afloat

 

‘Ticking time bomb’ as contracts aren’t honoured and ports stop crews going ashore even for urgent medical care

 

I think the headline is a joke. Press ganged? Sea farers have had to extend tours because national governments made crew changes almost impossible in many regions, that is very bad but it is not being press ganged. The biggest losers in this mess are actually cruise ship crews, whose treatment by port states has been utterly appalling, but it would seem they're deemed less worthy than cargo ship crews by Guardian headline writers. Contracts aren't honoured, makes it sound like evil shipowners are ripping up contracts (later in the article one of the persons interviewed say's they've had a 50% salary uplift to compensate), I suspect that might play better to the target reader than being told shipowners and managers have been unable to get crews off and have been forced to extend contracts, and that the ITF have agreed contract extensions and actually worked very positively with shipowners throughout the crisis. And ports haven't stopped seafarers going ashore, national governments stopped seafarers going ashore. In a recent very high profile case which was blamed on the USCG the decision to deny landing permission for a very sick seafarer came directly from a state governor. 

 

The fact that it is industry that wrote nearly all of the IMO circulars and guidance to try and get seafarers home, access to medical care etc and that it is governments that have prevented crew changes, denied access to healthcare etc may not fit the usual stereotypes held by many but it happens to be true.

 

The rest of the article isn't quite as bad, but the headline is dishonest clickbait. 

[eastwestdivide]

6 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

but the headline is dishonest clickbait

Like a lot of headlines unfortunately.