mna circular 2020 - #18 the pulse october 2020 · mna circular 2020 - #18 9th october 2020 5 the...
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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The Pulse
The MISSION of The Merchant Navy Association is to bring all serving and retired Seafarers together in a spirit of
companionship, consideration and commitment towards a united lobby for the Community of the Sea Hi Shipmates,
Please find below more snippets of information since circular #17 was published 20th September 2020. My thanks to MNA National Secretary, Pete Sinke’s daily publication “Maasmond Maritime - Shipping News
Clippings”, Lloyds List, gCaptain, Maritime London, Flashlight and many others from the T’internet, not
forgetting the items sent in by Readers and any other source I can access.
MNA National Contact Points
National Secretary, David Parsons = Email: [email protected] Tel: 01935 414 765
Welfare & Events, Tim Brant, - Tel: 01733 205001, Email : [email protected]
National Membership Secretary, Roy Glencross - Mobile: 07738 425 875
Email: [email protected]
National Vice Chairman, Malcolm Mathison - Mobile: 07831 622 312
Email: [email protected]
MNA Slop Chest, The Supply Officer:- Sandra Broom [email protected] Tel 0121 244 0190
If you call her, it may go to an answerphone. Please leave a message and she will call you.
Change of Address???? If any member has changed any of their contact details (Postal, E-
mail or Telephone) it is important that you inform the following people by email:- [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Sunrise over the Sanmar Shipyard built SVITZER LIWA operating in the port of Sohar (Oman)
Photo : 24/7 Port of Sohar pilot Rik van Marle © _____________________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________________
We are pleased to say we are now able to offer our supporters the
facility to make donations via our
Just Giving page.
This is a secure means of making payments and enables us to
claim Gift Aid from the Treasury.
Go to www.justgiving.com Click on ‘Search' at the top right-
hand side and type in Merchant Navy Association.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Solo Ocean Rower Lia Ditton Breaks US to Hawaii Record After three months alone and unassisted at sea, Lia Ditton
has set a new women’s world record for rowing solo from
San Francisco to Hawaii. The 40-year-old Briton made
landfall at 06.10 am 12th September, reaching Waikiki
Yacht Club on the island of Oahu in 86 days, 10 hours, 5
minutes and 56 seconds to break Roz Savage’s 2008
record of 100 days. Describing the voyage as “the greatest
psychological challenge of my life”, Lia logged
approximately 2700nm in total distance rowed and
overcame a series of mental and physical challenges,
including illness before the start, two capsizes, a shortage
of food, and persistent adverse currents and winds.
See more at http://nauticmag.com/2020/09/14/solo-ocean-rower-lia-ditton-breaks-us-to-hawaii-record/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APL changes name with effect from 1 December 2020 With effect from 1 December 2020, the name of APL Co.
Pte Ltd shall be changed to CMA CGM Asia Shipping Pte.
Ltd. The name change does not affect the company’s
business, shareholder structure, management, contact
details, or agreements it has entered into, the company said
in its release. The APL TEMASEK transiting the
Singapore Strait Photo : Piet Sinke
www.maasmondmaritime.com (c) CLICK at the photo to
view and/or download the photo ! APL Co. Pte Ltd has
been part of the CMA CGM Group since 2016. The name change is in line with the developments that the
CMA CGM Group has been making across its trade lanes and among its carrier brands over the last 3
years. The changes will mark a new phase of growth for the CMA CGM Group as a global shipping and
logistics leader. Source : portnews
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The APL TEMASEK transiting the
Singapore Strait Photo : Piet Sinke
www.maasmondmaritime.com ©
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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Maersk to cut jobs in major reorganisation Maersk MAERSKb.CO will cut jobs in a major shake-up that will affect a third of the shipping giant’s
staff as it seeks to integrate its seaborne container and in-land logistics businesses, it said.
Maersk, which handles about one in five containers shipped worldwide, has been under pressure from
investors to speed its transformation from an unwieldy conglomerate but has proved resilient in the face
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cost cuts and its reinstatement of more upbeat guidance last month have
helped to double its share price since March and the shares were trading 0.9% up at 9,652 crowns by 0835
GMT.
The company sold its oil and gas assets in 2017 to Total TOTF.PA as part of its efforts to become a more
streamlined company focused on its container and in-land logistics business for large customers such as
Walmart WMT.N and Nike NKE.N. Under the shake-up, its Damco freight-forwarding business and
Africa-focused carrier Safmarine will be integrated into Maersk by the end of the year and their brands
will cease to exist, Maersk said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Simplifying the organisation will regrettably impact jobs due to duplicate roles and roles that will no
longer be needed,” Chief Commercial Officer Vincent Clerc said earlier in an internal email sent to
Maersk employees and seen by Reuters. A Maersk spokeswoman said that between 26,000 and 27,000
employees out of Maersk’s total headcount of 80,000 will be affected by the restructuring. The company
did not say how many would be laid off and the internal email also gave no detail on the number of job
cuts. Hamburg Sud, which Maersk bought in 2016, will remain a separate brand but its back office will be
rolled into that of Maersk, the company said. The Hamburg Sud unit employs 4,500 people while Damco
and Safmarine have 2,300 and 1,100 staff respectively, according to Maersk. Source: Reuters (Reporting
by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Euan Rocha; Editing by Jason Neely and David Goodman)
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Installation vessel Orion was whiplash proof, but its crane was not’ SWZ|Maritime’s offshore expert Björn von Ubisch has analysed the crane accident with DEME’s new
offshore vessel Orion. His conclusion: ‘the ship could handle the “whiplash” effect, but the crane could
not.’ In the meantime, Liebherr has announced it has started
repairing the crane, with delivery planned in 2021.
In May 2020, the ORION 1 was in the port of Rostock after
having its 5000-tonne heavy-lift Liebherr crane installed.
During the test load of the crane (35 metres outreach and 175
metres hoisting height), the hook collapsed with the result
that the complete crane collapsed. The test load was a barge
filled with water to be lifted on the starboard side, the side
where the pedestal crane is mounted. Maximum capacity of
the crane is 5000 tonnes, the maximum test load was 5500
tonnes and the test load at the incident was 2600 tonnes.
Prior to testing, the vessel was counter-ballasted to about 5
degrees to portside.
Whiplash effect
‘When hoisting over the side,
counter-ballasting during
hoisting operations is frequently
done in order to extend the
operational capacity of the
crane/vessel combination,’
states Von Ubisch. ‘Counter-
ballasting should be done prior
to the hoisting operation and not
during the operation. Counter-
ballasting is done in order to
achieve 0-degree inclination at
ORION 1 with collapsed crane in the port
of Rostock photo : Entbert.
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maximum expected outreach and load during the operation. In this way, the load can always be retrieved
if things tend to go wrong.’
Von Ubisch adds: ‘One danger with all hoisting operations is “loss of load”. If counter-ballasting is used,
then there is always a chance of losing stability in case of a sudden loss of load and the subsequent
“whiplash” effect, which may result in the vessel capsizing. In this case, the vessel stayed upright and was
only listing a bit to port due to the counter-ballasting.’
The crane, however, was severely damaged. The hook collapsed and the barge fell back into the water.
‘The crane boom was raised to maximum pitch, minimum outreach and was pointing more or less
vertically to the sky,’ explains Von Ubisch. ‘When the load was lost, the ship heeled over to portside and
the boom tip swung over its equilibrium and got caught on the A-frame, part of the frame structure, and
the boom collapsed as well. This shows the crane could not handle the whiplash.’
No separate testing of the hook
The cause of the crane losing its load, was
the crane hook, the stem of which broke
during the test. Photos of the vessel after the
incident reveal that the “horns” of the hook
were missing. Von Ubisch: ‘It can be
assumed that the hook was never separately
load tested in the factory, as it collapsed at
about half the maximum load (safe working
load, SWL). Many organisations do that and
some even demand it. As an example, the
Norwegian Maritime Authorities and Lloyd’s
Register’s “Code for lifting appliances in a
marine environment” require separate testing
of “loose components” like hooks, wires and
sheaves. An enquiry at Huisman reveals that
Huisman always factory tests its hooks prior to installation.’ Liebherr had ordered the crane hook from a
third party. This turned out to be Dutch Ropeblock, which provided the design of the crane’s lifting
blocks, including the crane hook. Manufacture of this crane hook was then purchased from a certified
supplier who according to Ropeblock was familiar with parts of similar and larger sizes. Ropeblock also
stated the design had been verified by the authorised Notified Body.
Repairs of crane underway
On 14 September, Liebherr announced it would repair the HLC 295000 crane. The crane is to be
completed in the course of 2021 and the preparations for the recovery of the crane are now in full swing.
‘At times like these, partnerships show how well they function. Although the events around May 2, 2020
have affected us, we are convinced of the high quality of our products,’ said Leopold Berthold, Managing
Director at Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH. ‘Thus, we will rebuild the HLC 295000 and successfully
complete this project together with our partners.’
The heavy lift company Sarens has been assigned with the salvage of the damaged components of the
HLC 295000. In coordination with the port authority, the port operator and Liebherr, the salvage concept
will be refined and put into practice in the coming weeks.
In highly simplified terms, the salvaging can be split into three phases. Since the crane cannot be salvaged
directly on site, the first stage involves appropriate safeguarding of the scene of the accident in order to
safely shift the vessel to Berth 25 in the international Port of Rostock.
In phase two, the insecure components shall be recovered to ensure controlled and safe dismantling of the
crane during phase three. The salvage work is expected to start in September. Comprehensive repairs are
necessary during the coming months in order to put the heavy lift crane back into operation. According to
the current information both the 145-metre long boom and parts of the A-frame will be completely newly
manufactured. The necessary steel construction work will also begin in September at the Liebherr plant in
Rostock.
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The HLC 295000 is the largest offshore crane Liebherr has ever manufactured. The crane was designed
with the ever larger offshore wind energy farms in mind as well as the trend of dismantling disused
offshore oil and gas platforms from which large and heavy parts have to be disassembled in open seas.
SWZ|Maritime’s offshore expert Björn von Ubisch discusses the developments in offshore hoisting
appliances in SWZ|Maritime’s upcoming offshore special, to be published online on Thursday 24
September. www.swzmaritime.nl
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Vroon sends three PSVs for recycling By : Grant Rowles Dutch shipowner Vroon’s offshore arm
Vroon Offshore Services has disposed of
three platform supply vessels as part of a
“right-sizing” of its PSV fleet. are built
between 2006 and 2007, joined Vroon on
delivery from the shipyard and have mainly
been engaged in North Sea operations. Of
late, the vessels have been laid-up in
Harlingen- The Netherlands. “Although kept
well maintained and in excellent technical
condition throughout this period, the recent
downturn in offshore oil & gas markets and
continuing negative employment outlook
resulted in a recent decision to divest the
units,” Vroon said. The vessels will be sent to a specialised Dutch ship- recycling facility later this month,
where they will be dismantled in full compliance with both EU/national laws and all applicable
international regulations. Vroon will be left with 17 PSVs in its substantial offshore fleet. Source : Splash
247
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Thousand of seafarers stuck on ships with no internet THOUSANDS of seafarers visiting New Zealand are stranded on their ships due to the 28-day quarantine
restrictions in the Covid-19, reports the New Zealand branch of the London-based Mission to Seafarers.
"Only a small percentage of these ships have internet wifi access for crew to contact home. Pre Covid-19,
crew took shore leave, accessed counselling/advocacy support from seafarer chaplaincies and utilised
shore-based wifi or purchased data to contact home," it said. Under Covid restrictions seafarers are now
unable to access services and contact home, and to compound matters, their home countries are being
devastated by the global pandemic. "This has now developed into a humanitarian crisis, currently an
estimated 300,000 seafarers are stranded at sea or in ports worldwide due to international border
closures," said the mission's statement. "Many seafarers are compelled to work beyond their already
lengthy nine-month contracts. The International Transport Federation has called for all seafarers to strike,
to force crew changes, allow shore leave and to allow the availability of support services. If a strike went
ahead, then 99 per cent of NZ's trade worth $120 billion that transits via the sea will come to a grinding
halt, effectively crippling our economy," it said. The New Zealand Ministry of Transport have now
deemed seafarer chaplaincy's an essential service where initially these services had lockdown restrictions.
The ministry has also allocated some funds to address the issues facing seafarers nationwide. Port Nelson,
a supporter of Mission to Seafarers Nelson since the early days have now provided seafarers free WIFI
access. Mission to Seafarers Chaplain Peter Akuhata is aiming to initiate a "Port Welfare Committee" in
compliance with an international maritime agreement which NZ is a signatory to. This Committee will
oversee the wellbeing of the 3,000 plus seafarers who visit Nelson annually. Members of this committee
will have representatives from Nelson's MP's office, Maritime NZ's Nelson office, International Transport
Federation Nelson office, the Nelson city Council, Port Nelson, the Nelson Harbour Master, Mission to
Seafarers Nelson, NZ Merchant Navy Association, Nelson based shipping agents and Pegasus Shipping.
Source : Schednet
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VOS POWER, VOS PRODUCER and VOS PROMINENCE
(Photo : Ton Nahuijsen ©)
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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Australia Bans Fourth Ship for Underpaying Crew Wages https://gcaptain.com/australia-bans-fourth-ship-for-underpaying-crew-
wages/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptai
n.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-7e0f61fbc4-139894965&mc_cid=7e0f61fbc4&mc_eid=4c72dd3685
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My First Ship – How Not to Gain Your Steering Ticket! I completed my training for the deck department on the "VINDICATRIX" in November 1958 and was
given KGV London as my "pool" with instructions that orders will follow. I duly received my orders late
November to join the Union Castle liner "Warwick Castle" in KGV Dock of the Royal Docks in London
on December 4th; 1958 where I was to sign articles.
This I did and I looked up at her ship side with awe as many of us possibly did on our first trip and
climbed the gangway to be directed to the deck boys cabin and then for signing on. All of this was very
confusing and exciting in a strange way and I started to feel like an adult as we sailed that day for
Gibraltar to go through the Mediterranean, Suez and round Africa to the Canaries before returning
home.
As with all deck boys our first priority was to get our Steering Ticket which required 10 hours on the
wheel and questions on helm orders and the compass. I was assigned to a Q.M. who duly gave me
instruction and advice and after 6 hours steering I was feeling rather confident - too confident it
appeared as I was chatting to the Q.M. during my trick and glancing around and then it happened.
This ship like many of that era had the conventional wheel and the early basic compass card and I looked
down at the card and saw I was 3 degrees off course and it looked a lot off course to me so without
thinking I put the wheel over rapidly to bring her back on course. Boy did she list over as the Q.M. came
running across the wheelhouse to me, the bridge door flew open and the Captain entered in a rage as I
had tipped him out of his chair and spilt a drink saying, "What the hell has happening here?".
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I started to stutter the words, but he cut me short as he ran to the bridge wings shouting, "My God!!". He
came in shouting that there are passengers still doing the breaststroke on the deck instead of in the pool, I
think he was exaggerating but I can't be sure as I was too scared to look for myself. He ordered the Chief
Officer to make an apology announcement with some excuse before turning to the Q.M. and gave him a
good dressing down in front of everyone and a reprimand and me, well I was told in the most severe tone
that I was not to get over confident and to do a further 2 hours on my steering time. I never forgot that
lesson.
I've attached two pictures of her as a war
time Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier and when she
was converted back to a liner. She was
originally the "Pretoria Castle" but after the
war Union Castle had plans for a new
"Pretoria" and as the "Warwick" was sunk
during the war they re-named her "Warwick
Castle".
I hope you and our members find this story
amusing and a lesson to all not to get over
confident without experience.
Regards,
Phil Hughes, MNA No; 0143,
Ex-Vindicatrix Trainee Deck.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
New deck fitting requirement for capesize vessels calling at Port Hedland,
Australia (as of 1 February 2021) Members with capesize vessels calling at Port Hedland,
Australia are recommended to refer to the attached marine
notice issued by the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA). Following
a detailed study on the incidents involving the failure of
vessels’ mooring fittings used for towing operations, PPA
requires all capesize vessels (nominal deadweight of 120,000
or more) to have one set of bitts and Panama lead / roller
fairleads on the vessel’s aft deck at or near the centreline to
be rated to a minimum of 120T safe working load (SWL).
PPA has given due consideration to the nature of the
structural modifications required and possible timeframes
associated with undertaking this upgrade. The requirement
for capesize vessels calling the Port of Port Hedland to have a
set of 120T SWL bitt and lead, will come into force as of 1 February 2021. Apparently, PPA first notified
ship operators of this requirement in September 2017. Since that time, there have been several questions
from ship operators regarding the requirement for modification to deck fittings. To answer these questions
a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is attached to this marine notice. Source: The Standard
Club
_____________________________________________________________________________________
EU proposes asylum plan for migrants rescued at sea A day after several shipping bodies called on the EU to help quickly disembark migrants rescued by
merchant ships, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen unveils a plan aimed at breaking
the bloc’s years-long impasse over asylum seekers
https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1134011/EU-proposes-asylum-plan-for-migrants-
rescued-at-sea
____________________________________________________________________________________
Bulker outbound from Port Hedland as seen
from the pilot helicopter just before landing at
the hatch to collect the pilot Photo : Piet Sinke
www.maasmondmaritime.com (c)
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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Master and Chief Engineer plead guilty in MV Funing case The Master and Chief Engineer of the log-
carrier MV FUNING, have been sentenced
and fined after admitting charges relating to
the grounding of the ship at the Port of
Tauranga in July, Maritime NZ reported.
Master Liang Guang Hong and Chief
Engineer Chameekara Prasad Nanayakkara
both entered guilty pleas in the Tauranga
District Court on 10 September to charges
brought by Maritime NZ under the Maritime
Transport Act (MTA) 1994. This followed an
investigation by Maritime NZ after the Singapore-registered ship lost power and passed over a channel
marker with the propeller becoming caught in the marker-chain, before making contact with a sand bar in
the Tauranga Harbour channel.
The Master was fined $3250.00 fine and ordered to pay $130.00 court costs, after pleading guilty to one
charge under Section 65(1)(a) of the MTA, of operating the vessel “in a manner which caused
unnecessary danger or risk to other persons or property, including the passengers and crew of the MV
Funing.
The Chief Engineer also admitted one charge under section 65(2)(a) of the MTA, for causing or
permitting the ship to be “operated, maintained, or serviced, in a manner that caused unnecessary danger
or risk to any other persons or property, including the passengers and crew of the MV Funing”. He was
also fined $3250 and ordered to pay $130 court costs. The maximum penalty for both charges was 12
months’ imprisonment or a $10,000 fine.
Michael-Paul Abbott, Maritime NZ’s Central Region Compliance Manager said, “following a series of
checks on the engine of the Funing prior to its departure from the Port of Tauranga, a problem was found
with the fuel quantity pistons. At this time, the wind was gusting 15 to 30 knots (28-56 kph) with the
wave height approaching 4 metres and rain had reduced visibility”.
“The problem started when one of the engine’s fuel quantity pistons indicated an error, which means that
if this isn’t addressed, the engine’s power will be reduced – which is power it needs when exiting the
narrow harbour entrance.” In the hours leading up to the engine failure, the Chief Engineer tested the
affected parts a number of times, each time triggering an alarm suggesting the problem had not been
rectified. The decision was then made to override the mechanism that automatically slows down the
vessel in the event of a problem with the engine, as an attempted precautionary measure.
“The Pilot subsequently came aboard around midnight and the master handed him the Pilot Card which
indicated that there were no issues affecting a safe departure. But as the ship tried to increase speed on
leaving Port, the Chief Engineer realised there was still a problem with one of the fuel quantity pistons
and that the engine was not responding with the shift to ‘full ahead’ (full power). The Pilot asked the
Master several times why the ship was going slowly, but did not receive a clear explanation,” Mr Abbott
said.
“As a result, the No. 2 engine cylinder lost all power, and during this time the wind and swell had
increased. At 0043 hours the Pilot called the tug boats to come and assist and the Master ordered the
anchor to be dropped. At 0047 hours the main engine stopped after the propeller became entangled with
the channel marker while the stern swung around and came into contact with the sand bank.
“The tugs then turned the vessel into the deeper channel water and held it there until it could be towed
into safer anchorage. There it remained until 14 July when it was towed into port.” Mr Abbott said the
Maritime investigation and subsequent prosecution proved that the Master knew there was an issue with
the main engine prior to departure and failed to notify the Pilot that there was a problem. The Chief
Engineer was also proven to have failed to retest the main engine to ensure it was operating on all 5
cylinders after attending to the fuel quantity piston error. The FUNING is currently being towed back to
Singapore which is expected to take around 40 days. Source : Portnews
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The FUNING during a visit to Melbourne during April
2019 Photo : Dale E.Crisp ©
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KOTUG INTERNATIONAL, ROTORTUG®, AND CAPTAIN AI TAKE AN
IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS FULLY AUTONOMOUS SAILING. Maritime service provider KOTUG International, ship design company
Rotortug®, and tech start-up Captain AI demonstrated the first boat in the
world that sails the most optimal route without human intervention at the
Smart Shipping event of the Netherlands Forum for Smart Shipping. A
significant milestone on the road towards fully autonomous and sustainable
sailing. In the summer of 2018, KOTUG and Rotortug® already
demonstrated that it is possible to operate a tugboat in the port of
Rotterdam, the Netherlands, remotely from Marseille, France. That was the
first step on the roadmap towards fully autonomous sailing. In
collaboration with Captain AI, it is now possible to safely sail the
Rotortug® "RT BOKUM” autonomously on the river Nieuwe Maas in
Rotterdam using the Captain AI Route Planner and Autopilot. "The route
planner
can be
seen as the Google Maps for
waterways," says Vincent Wegener of
Captain AI. "It calculates the route,
which the boat then autonomously sails,
using our autopilot software."
Ctrl/Click to follow the link https://accounts.google.com/signin/v2/challe
nge/pwd?service=youtube&uilel=3&passive
=true&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.y
outube.com%2Fsignin%3Faction_handle_signin%3Dtrue%26app%3Ddesktop%26hl%3Den%26next%3D
https%253A%252F%252Fwww.youtube.com%252Fwatch%253Fv%253DW3GvOUQXE7Q%2526t%253
D4s&hl=en&gae=cb-
p23934716&flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin&cid=2&navigationDirection=forward
&TL=AM3QAYaFRT7aqIQ24ZL7Agj6oPGuyY9A8CrnFhRAxnTPlv0kKYvCqKuPrTHn7g0i
to view the demo movie To define this route as efficiently as possible, Captain AI’s software is connected
to the KOTUG Optiport dispatch planning software, enabling optimized route planning in real-time,
based on AIS data and Artificial Intelligence. Patrick Everts of KOTUG: "The digital captain has to know
what the vessel’s destination is and how to get there in the most efficient way. Linking Captain AI's
software to OptiPort is not only making the skipper's life easier because vessels can autonomously
navigate the optimal route, but is also saving on fuel and CO2 emission". The “RT BORKUM” already
has undergone several successful operational tests in the busiest port of Europe, proving for the first time
that autonomous planning followed by autonomous sailing works in practice. KOTUG International and
Captain AI have entered into a partnership to further develop and commercialize the software. The next
step is making the software suitable for large-scale applications and to explore matters such as safety and
legislation, in consultation with the users and legislators.
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What changes would you like to make to the Maritime Labour Convention? https://splash247.com/what-changes-would-you-like-to-see-the-maritime-labour-convention/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Is anyone listening to the World Maritime Day sermon?
take stock of the underlying problems that are hurting shipping’s prospects and undermining the
progressive moves towards true sustainability
https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1134009/Is-anyone-listening-to-the-World-
Maritime-Day-sermon
_____________________________________________________________________________________
First vessel in the world that
autonomously sails the most
optimal route. Photo’s : Piet
Sinke www.maasmondmaritime
.com (c)
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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Passenger ferry with nearly 300 people on board runs aground off Finland Rescue officials were preparing to evacuate the vessel of
passengers and crew, none of whom suffered any injuries,
according to reports. The Finnish coastguard tweeted that the
M/S AMORELLA operated by ferry company Viking Line
between the Finnish western port city of Turku and Swedish
capital Stockholm was “stuck on the ground” south of the
port of Långnäs in the Åland Islands. CLICK at the photo left
! In a tweet, the local coastguard division posted: "
AMORELLA made ground contact south of Långnäs. The
ship pushed itself to the shore of the island to stabilise the
situation. Several units were alerted and several ships were
on-site in preparation for the evacuation. At present, the
situation is stable and human lives are not in immediate
danger." Video footage taken on board the ferry and posted
on the coastguard's Twitter account showed small boats undertaking the evacuation of those on board.
“There are no reported human casualties,” Viking Line said in a short statement adding that the situation
with the vessel was “stable." It added that the vessel has around 200 passengers and a crew of 80 aboard.
The coastguard was alerted of the incident just before 1 pm Finnish time. Authorities are now
investigating why the ferry ran aground. The Åland Islands, an autonomous Finnish territory, are midway
between the two port cities and M/S AMORELLA was set to make a scheduled stop there en route to
Stockholm. Source : Euronews
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Hundreds of Pilot Whales Die After Beaching in New Zealand
Volunteers trying to keep alive some of the pilot whales beached at the northern tip of New Zealand’s
South Island on Friday. Officials said it was one of the country’s largest whale strandings.
HONG KONG — Hundreds of pilot whales that swam into a shallow New Zealand bay died overnight
after they got stuck in the waterway and beached themselves on the coastline.More than 500 rescuers tried
frantically to send the pilot whales back out to sea, but at least 250 died in what officials called one of the
worst whale strandings in New Zealand’s history. By Gerry Mullany Photo Credit-Ross Wearing/Reuters
_____________________________________________________________________________________
A Baltic Sea passenger ferry with nearly 300
people aboard has run aground in the Åland
Islands archipelago between Finland and
Sweden on Sunday, Finnish authorities said.
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Singapore relaxes rules to assist crew changes Singapore has relaxed certain controls for crew changes including a shorter quarantine period for low-
risk countries and obtaining a negative coronavirus test result not more than 72 hours, rather than 48
hours, prior to departure flight to Singapore https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.cm/LL1133998/Singapore-relaxes-rules-to-assist-crew-changes
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Traumatised families need answers three weeks on from Gulf Livestock 1
disaster, says maritime charity Are they alive? Three weeks after 40 seafarers vanished at sea when a typhoon destroyed their ship, not
knowing is tearing their loved ones apart, says international maritime charity Sailors’ Society. The
charity, along with other maritime welfare organisations, is due to meet with the families of the seafarers
later this week to offer them mental health and practical support. Sara Baade, CEO of Sailors’ Society,
said: “These families are beyond desperate now. In our experience, not knowing whether your loved one
is alive or dead is one of the most painful experiences someone can go through and can cause
immeasurable trauma. “They don’t know whether to grieve or hope – it is tearing them apart.” The GULF
LIVESTOCK 1 was carrying 6,000 cows and 43 crew members when it went missing on 2 Sept off the
coast of Japan, during the powerful Typhoon Maysak. The Japanese coastguard recovered three crew in
the days following the disappearance. Two Filipinos survived but the third man died. The families are
holding onto hope that the rest of the experienced crew escaped the ship on life rafts, which are as yet
unaccounted for, and are alive on one of the thousands of tiny islands nearby. They’re scouring the scene
via satellite and have set up crowdfunding pages to conduct private search operations. Sailors’ Society
has supported seafarers and their families through maritime disasters for more than 200 years, including
the survivors and loved ones of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in 1987. “With the ship still
missing, the families don’t know whether the life rafts are still on board or were used to escape,” said
Sara. “We appeal to everyone involved to do everything within their power to find the ship and help them
get the answers they need.” Source : Sailors’ Society
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
450 seafarers quarantined on board for weeks amid COVID outbreak on ships Sailors’ Society delivers medicine to desperate crew off Indian island
A suspected coronavirus outbreak on 20 ships off the coast of a tiny Indian island has left 300 ill seafarers
stranded on board without basic medical supplies for weeks, international maritime charity Sailors’
Society has reported. Around 70 per cent of the estimated 450 crew on the ships, near Port Blair on the
Andaman Islands, have shown symptoms of the virus.
The seafarers, most of whom are from India or the Andaman Islands working on domestic ships, have
been quarantined on board for more than three weeks without access to basic medicine such as
paracetamol or cough syrup. The charity is delivering £500 (GBP) worth of medication to the desperate
crews this week.
Sailors’ Society’s CEO Sara Baade said: “The men weren’t allowed on shore because the authorities
didn’t want the infection to spread, especially as there is very little medical capacity on the island. “To
have an outbreak of this virus on board ships, where everyone is in a confined space, is frightening
enough. When they have no medical supplies, and no possibility of getting ashore for medical help, it
must be nothing short of terrifying.” Sailors’ Society got involved after a local captain informed it of the
crews’ plight. The charity contacted one of its partners, the Voluntary Health Services Hospital in
Chennai, India, which provided the over-the-counter medicine. Sailors’ Society has been trying to find
out how the seafarers are, but due to the remote nature of the ships and the number of ill seafarers, it has
not been possible to speak to anyone on board. It is hoping to get an update when local volunteers deliver
the medicine. Source: Sailors’ Society
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
12
The Pulse
Icebreaking Expedition Cruise Vessel The latest design from
KNUD E. HANSEN is an
Icebreaking Expedition
Cruise Vessel with a high
degree of operational
flexibility and a wide
range of sophisticated
design features. At 144
metres long, the vessel
can accommodate 300
passengers in 150 ultramodern cabins that offer an exceptional sailing experience. The vessel has a
service speed of 17 knots in open water and can operate in solid multi-year ice of 1,8m thickness. The
vessel has diesel electric propulsion, and two azipod-units, each 7,5 MW. The six generators have a
combined power of approximately 23 MW and are fueled by a combination of marine diesel oil (MDO),
and natural gas (LNG). There are two tunnel thrusters,
each abt. 1500 KW, located at the bow, which combined
with the twin screw arrangement, provide a high degree of
maneuverability. There is also a large lithium-ion battery
bank to power the vessel while dockside, resulting in no
port emissions. The vessel has a range of 8100 nautical
miles in open water. The vessel features a layout with
public spaces including a bar/lounge, multi-purpose
lounge, library, gift shop, observation lounge, fitness
room/spa including a panorama ice bar, as well as a pool
and jogging area. The vessel also features a large tender garage for stowing zodiacs and other expedition
equipment that can be easily launched through a shell door on the port side. The vessel features a large
helicopter deck aft where the helicopter can be lowered to the hangar on the deck below. There are two
service lifts and three passenger lifts providing access to all accommodation decks. The vessel also
includes a dedicate cargo hold with overhead hatch and davit system for stowing and deploying special,
expeditionary cargo in remote locations along the cruise. The majority of passenger cabins have private
balconies with ocean views. The passenger cabins feature the KNUD E. HANSEN ‘Flex Cabin System’,
which allows for cabin walls to be easily reconfigured between sailings to convert a single, luxury suite
into two separate cabins. This allows the operator to maximize revenue based on specific demand. The
vessel is fully SOLAS compliant. KNUD E. HANSEN aims to achieve the highest level of survivability
with strict adherence to Safe Return to Port (SRtP) requirements through the inclusion of redundant,
segregated power and propulsion systems as well as passenger safe havens and an auxiliary wheelhouse.
Special attention has been observed with regards to the MarPol regulations as well as the Polar code This
design has been developed completely in-house, by the highly trained and experienced staff of naval
architects, marine engineers and designers at KNUD E. HANSEN, who place the utmost importance on
safety, efficiency and design ingenuity.
MAIN PARTICULARS
Length o.a 144,20 m
Length pp 127,60 m
Breadth moulded 22,00 m
Depth moulded to deck 3 9,20 m
Design draught 7,00 m
Deadweight 1965 t
Ice class PC
Max number of passengers 300
Number of crew 150
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
13
The Pulse
Russian Navy Vessel and Container Ship Collide in Danish Waters September 23, 2020 by Reuters
COPENHAGEN, Sept 23 (Reuters) – A Russian navy
vessel collided with a Swiss-owned container ship in
Danish waters on Wednesday near the Oresund Bridge
linking Denmark and Sweden, Danish defence authorities
told Reuters.
The Ice Rose, which was sailing from St. Petersburg in
Russia to Gothenburg in Sweden, collided with a Russian
frigate early on Wednesday morning, a spokesman for the
Joint Operation Centre said.
He said the reason for the collision was not clear, but that the Russian vessel had permission to be in
Danish waters and had notified Danish authorities of its presence.
No one aboard the Ice Rose was injured and there were no signs of oil leaks or ingress of water, the
spokesman said.
In a statement carried by Russian news agencies, Russia’s Baltic fleet confirmed the collision and said the
Russian vessel, a small anti-submarine ship named Kazanets, was now returning to the port of Baltyisk in
the Kaliningrad region.
It said visibility had been poor. Most of Denmark was covered in fog on Wednesday morning.
Cyprus-based Maestro Shipmanagement, which manages the Ice Rose, confirmed to Reuters that an
incident had occurred, but could not comment any further and said it was awaiting further information
from Danish authorities.
The owner of the ship, Switzerland-based Maestro Shipping, declined to comment. (Reporting by Nikolaj
Skydsgaard and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen; additional reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-
Farber in Moscow. Editing by Catherine Evans)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020.
********************************************
The Danish Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the
Russian Navy corvette, Kazanets, collided with the
refrigerated cargo vessel, Ice Rose, in dense fog, near the
Øresund Bridge, which spans the entrance to the Baltic.
The Russian ship, a Parchim-class corvette, is reported to have been operating with this AIS turned off.
The corvette is said to have suffered a hull breach above the waterline and to have proceeded under its
own power toward the Baltiysk Naval Base, Kaliningrad Region, Russia.
The merchant ship, Ice Rose, is reported to have suffered significant damage and is anchored south of the
Øresund Bridge awaiting a determination of seaworthiness. Ice Rose is a 14567 DWT ship carrying
refrigerated containers. The ship is owned by Maestro Ship Management.
Thanks to Irwin Bryan for contributing to this post. Source:- Old Salt Blog
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Maritime Day 24 September IMO World Maritime Theme 2020
"Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet" is the World Maritime theme for 2020. This will provide
an opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and
showcase the work that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its Member States are
undertaking to achieve the targets.
Short video at:-
http://www.imo.org/en/About/Events/WorldMaritimeDay/Pages/World-Maritime-Theme-
2020.aspx?dm_i=33T,71YR9,LGE99N,SH3EB,1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 / Eduardo Raboso
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
14
The Pulse
Is Today World Maritime Day Or Maritime Fail Day? Today is World Maritime Day, and a search of Google News reveals that the IMO has failed during what
– because of the fact that more than 300,000 seafarers are currently stranded onboard ships – maybe the
most important World Maritime Day ever. They have failed because not one major publication has, so far,
picked up on the story.
https://gcaptain.com/is-today-world-maritime-day-or-maritime-fail-day/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Tay – Falklands Conflict – Were you there?
Dear Member,
A production company for the BBC would like to speak with anyone who served on board
the MV British Tay during the Falklands. I believe there was at least a RFA Liaison
Office on board. If you were there or know of anyone who was, please contact me by
email and I will put you in touch with the programme producer.
Best wishes, stay safe.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maersk refuses bookings for shipments to Sydney as the port struggles to cope By Gavin van Marle
Despite signs of a rapprochement between docker unions and container terminal employers in the port of
Sydney, shippers have been warned to expect continuing congestion in container supply chains. And
some carriers are refusing Maersk announced a temporary suspension on Sydney bookings, likely to last
until the end of the month. ……………………
…………………………………………. .“With the busiest quarter almost upon us, we must address the
bottlenecks at key Australian ports,” Mr Coldrey said. source : The Loadstar
_____________________________________________________________________________________
World’s Biggest Offshore Wind Farm Will Boast World’s Largest Installed
Turbines On the day it walks away from coal, GE bags a huge 2.4-gigawatt turbine order for the U.K.‘s
Dogger Bank project. By John Parnell
The world’s largest planned offshore wind farm will use the world’s largest installed offshore wind
turbines when it starts spinning in British waters. SSE Renewables and Equinor are developing the 3.6-
gigawatt Dogger Bank project in U.K. waters, to be built in three 1.2-gigawatt phases. Dogger Bank will
provide 5 percent of the U.K.’s electricity once complete in 2026.
The developers confirmed this week that the first two phases will use a 13 MW version of GE Renewable
Energy’s Haliade-X platform, with the first power expected in 2023. News of the huge 2.4 GW offshore
wind turbine order came on the very same day that GE confirmed it will no longer supply power
equipment to new coal plants.SSE and Equinor named GE as the preferred technology partner for Dogger
Bank last year, shortly after GE unveiled the Haliade-X platform. The order will see GE providing 190
turbines in total, divided into 95 per phase. A single turn of the Haliade-X's 220-meter rotor provides
enough electricity to power a typical British household for more than two days, according to GE. ……….
………………..…. GE announced last year that it would add 200 jobs at the factory, from a base of 160.
Dogger Bank will use monopile foundations. A supplier will be named later this year.
U.K. politicians have previously talked up the prospects of creating a “Saudi Arabia of marine energy”
and the huge job opportunities that would follow. The U.K. has a 40 GW offshore wind installation target
for 2030. By the end of 2020, there will be around 10 GW of commissioned turbines in U.K. waters.
Source : greentechmedia
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
15
The Pulse
Greenpeace builds underwater barrier to stop destructive bottom trawling in
North Sea protected area Activists on the Greenpeace ship Esperanza have today begun the closure of
almost 50 square miles of the Dogger Bank protected area in the North Sea to
all destructive bottom trawling. The activists have placed a first set of inert
granite boulders at precise intervals inside the protected area to ensure that
bottom trawlers can no longer operate in the new bottom trawler exclusion
zone. Another set of boulders will be placed in the coming days.
This comes after a Greenpeace investigation found that industrial bottom trawlers are systematically
breaking the law while fishing in the Dogger Bank. 11 out of 19 bottom trawlers observed fishing in the
Dogger Bank in June 2020 were AIS dark [1], a serious breach of UK and international maritime law.
These bottom trawlers are directly destroying the Dogger Bank’s protected feature, the seabed, which is
in “unfavourable” condition [2]. The Dogger Bank’s seabed is one of the North Sea’s most important
habitats. It is home to sandeels, crabs, flatfish and more. These species are a vital food source for
porpoises and seabirds like are puffins. There no permanent restrictions on fishing activity in the Dogger
Bank protected area, making it protected in name only. Bottom trawling activity has increased in the
Dogger Bank in recent years [3].
Activists will continue to place boulders in the new bottom trawler exclusion zone until it is fully
protected from all bottom trawling. Greenpeace will remove the boulders if the UK Government properly
protects the Dogger Bank protected area. Chris Thorne, a Greenpeace UK oceans campaigner, said from
on board the ESPERANZA:
“Our Government has utterly failed to protect the Dogger Bank,
and all our marine protected areas, from destructive industrial
fishing. How can you continue to allow bottom trawlers to plough
the seabed in a protected area designed specifically to protect the
seabed? It beggars belief that this Government continues to call
itself a ‘global ocean champion’ when it leaves its own seas at the
mercy of destructive industrial fishing. “
Allowing bottom trawling in a protected area established to protect the seabed is equivalent to allowing
bulldozers to plough through a protected forest. This must stop. Our Government won’t act, and we can’t
sit idly by while they allow supposedly protected parts of our oceans to be destroyed.
“We have carefully and precisely placed these inert natural boulders in this new properly protected area,
which when complete will be permanently off limits to all bottom trawling. We will remove them only
when our Government takes the necessary action to properly protect the Dogger Bank.” Greenpeace
commissioned an independent scientific agency, BioLaGu, to conduct a Natura 2000 Environmental
Impact Assessment on the potential impact of the activity. This Assessment concluded the activity would
not have a significant impact on the protected feature of the Dogger Bank. Greenpeace activists have
informed the relevant marine authorities to ensure navigational safety for mariners in the area. Despite the
Dogger Bank being formally designated as a Special Area of Conservation in 2017, the UK Government
has failed to implement effective management measures to properly protect the area. There is a brief
temporary closure of the scallop fishery to allow scallops to spawn, but this will be lifted after scallops
finish spawning in early October. This is not intended to protect the seabed.
WWF, Client Earth and other NGOs lodged an official legal complaint against the UK, Dutch and
German Governments in 2019 over their failure to properly protect the Dogger Bank from bottom
trawling. Greenpeace is committed to properly protecting the Dogger Bank, and will continue to expand
the new area off limits to bottom trawling until the UK Government properly protects the Dogger Bank.
A Greenpeace report, released in August, revealed that the majority of the UK’s offshore protected areas
are failing to meet their conservation targets. Greenpeace has been campaigning for the UK Government
to ban destructive industrial fishing vessels, like supertrawlers and bottom trawlers, from operating in UK
protected areas. This ban will be easier to enact after Britain leaves the European Union’s Common
Fisheries Policy
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
16
The Pulse
Investigator testifies Golden Ray violated stability regulations Vehicle carrier discharged 1,500 metric tons of ballast prior to sailing to Port of Brunswick
By : Kim Link-Wills, Senior Editor
Tuesday marked the conclusion of a hearing into
the capsizing of the GOLDEN RAY in September
2019.
A naval architect testified Tuesday that the
GOLDEN RAY’s ballast level was not compliant
with stability regulations when the vehicle carrier
capsized while departing the Port of Brunswick in
September 2019. “If the vessel had kept the additional ballast on board that was discharged during the
Freeport-to-Jacksonville voyage, this would have resulted in full compliance with the 2008 Intact
Stability Code and likely would have prevented the capsize,” said Lt. Ian Oviatt of the U.S. Coast Guard
Marine Safety Center in Washington.
The roll-on/roll-off vessel had sailed from Freeport, Texas, to Jacksonville, Florida, before continuing to
the Port of Brunswick in Georgia. Oviatt said his analysis showed the GOLDEN RAY was not compliant
with the International Maritime Organization’s Intact Stability Code during either of the two earlier
sailings. “Though the righting arm curves in both of these previous voyages are slightly more favorable to
stability, they are still well below the benchmark loading conditions. Our results indicated that the vessel
was not in compliance with the 2008 Intact Stability Code during either of the preceding voyages,” he
said.
Thus, the GOLDEN RAY could have capsized on its way to Jacksonville or Brunswick but it didn’t
because of the greater amount of ballast it carried, Oviatt determined.
“During the Freeport-to-Jacksonville voyage, the vessel discharged approximately 1,500 metric tons of
ballast,” he said.
“The additional righting energy that this 1,500 tons of ballast would have provided in the capsize voyage
is likely to have caused the capsize.” Oviatt explained why he believes that a lack of righting energy
likely caused the capsizing of the GOLDEN RAY.
“Turning with maximum possible rudder at maximum possible speed is not typically dangerous for most
cargo ships. However, in cases where there’s only a very small amount of remaining righting energy left,
the dynamic effects of the turn can easily overcome the remaining righting energy and lead to significant
heel or capsize. Our conclusions indicate that this was likely the case for the Golden Ray,” he said. A lack
of righting energy would be caused if “the vessel either had too much cargo at a high vertical center of
gravity or not enough liquid at a low vertical center of gravity,” Oviatt explained. VIf the vessel had kept
the additional ballast on board, the capsizing likely would not have occurred, he said. Oviatt testified on
the final day of a hearing conducted by the Coast Guard in conjunction with the National Transportation
Safety Board, Republic of the Marshall Islands maritime administrator and the Korean Maritime Safety
Tribunal. The Golden Ray, which has remained on its side in St. Simons Sound since it ran aground and
capsized on Sept. 8, 2019, was operated by South Korean shipping and logistics company Hyundai
Glovis. Capt. Blake Welborn, the Coast Guard’s lead investigating officer, said the hearing will
determine, in part, the cause of the accident, adequacy of the ship’s safety management system, and
whether there was any misconduct or negligence related to the capsizing or response. VWelborn did not
say Tuesday when findings from the hearing would be announced. Source : freightwaves
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crew change humanitarian crisis on course to affect 1m seafarers https://splash247.com/crew-change-humanitarian-crisis-on-course-to-affect-1m-seafarers/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Spanish coastguard bans small sailboats after damage from orcas
https://www.reuters.com/article/spain-sailing-killerwhales/spanish-coastguard-bans-small-sailboats-after-
damage-from-orcas-idUSL5N2GL4FU
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
17
The Pulse
ADERCO BACKS CALLS FOR SEAFARER INTERVENTION There are more than 300,000 seafarers currently stranded at
sea and unable to get home as the global Covid-19 pandemic
continues to impact world trade. As both local and global
restrictions are still being enforced and affecting the ability
of ships to enter or leave ports around the world. The IMO is
reinforcing its call on governments to immediately recognize
seafarers as key workers to ease their plight and enable crew
changes to be made.
Aderco, the fuel treatment technology specialists, is backing
this call from the IMO and the other regulatory maritime
bodies to support seafarers across the globe. There are already reports of some seafarers who have been at
sea and unable to leave their ships for more than17 months, a period which exceeds the 11-months limit
set out in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). This is unacceptable and Philippe Lecloux, Aderco
Group Head of Marine, says they fully support the efforts of the maritime world to resolve this situation.
“On land we have all been affected in some way by the global pandemic but at least we are able to access
friends and family even in some limited ways. Seafarers are unable to do these things and are suffering
from mental and physical issues as a result of their situations.Aderco supports the campaign to help these
seafarers return to their homes and families and we are proud to stand alongside some of the leading
maritime bodies who are working hard to achieve a resolution for these dedicated men and women.
The global economic recovery will be driven by maritime shipping and seafarers will be pivotal in
keeping the industry driving forward. At Aderco we are adding our support to this campaign; through
donating candies and sanitary kits parcels which are arriving with each Aderco delivery in Singapore
waters to show our appreciation and support for these often forgotten mainstays of the maritime world.”
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For Carnival, ‘Death on the High Seas Act’ Protects the Bottom Line By Christopher Yasiejko (Bloomberg) –
Carnival Corp. is poised to dramatically curb monetary damages for passengers killed by the coronavirus
under the latest court decision to side with the company.
If a ruling Monday by a Los Angeles federal judge is followed by others, it could offer the cruise line
something of a safe harbor under the Death on the High Seas Act. The century-old federal law limits
payouts for survivors to “pecuniary” damages such as how much the deceased contributed through wages
or housework. One maritime lawyer said that in the case of retirees, who make up a large portion of
Carnival’s customers, the recovery may amount to little more than burial costs.
The subject of the ruling was a 71-year-old man who died in April after allegedly contracting Covid-19
while cruising on the Coral Princess. His family was trying to keep its wrongful-death lawsuit in state
court, where they were seeking punitive damages as well as recovery for other losses. But the judge said
the only way to proceed was under federal law.
See more at :-
https://gcaptain.com/for-carnival-death-on-the-high-seas-act-protects-the-bottom-
line/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.c
om%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-76509b59ed-139894965&mc_cid=76509b59ed&mc_eid=4c72dd3685
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TRADE JOURNAL 252 OCTOBER 2020 NOW ON LINE The Latest Derbyshire Newsletter the Trade Journal is now on line.
http://www.godfreydykes.info/TJ%20252%20Oct%202020.pdf
Hope you are all safe
Regards
Terry Hall Terry Hall, Hon. Secretary/Treasurer Derbyshire Submariners
http://www.godfreydykes.info/derbyshire_submariners_page.html
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
18
The Pulse
USS Kidd Arrives in Washington Flying a Pirate Flag.
Here’s Why It’s Authorized to Actually Do That The arrival of the U.S. Navy’s guided-missile
destroyer USS Kidd at its homeport in Everett,
Washington this week drew quite a bit of attention
online, but it wasn’t because of the millions worth of
drugs it had seized during its counter-narcotics
deployment.
Instead, it was the giant “Jolly Roger” pirate flag it
was flying from its mast.
The USS Kidd (DDG-100) arrived at Naval Station
Everett on September 21 following its deployment
to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations for enhanced
counter-narcotics operations missions in the
Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
During their deployment, Kidd’s sailors aided in the
recovery of 805 kilograms of suspected cocaine
worth over an estimated wholesale value of $30
million; rendered assistance to a fishing vessel in
distress, towing the vessel over 200 nautical miles to
safety; battled a bout of COVID-19; and participated
in a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the El
Salvadoran navy.
So why the skull and crossbones?
The story actually dates back to the first voyage of
the original vessel to bear the Kidd name, USS KIDD DD-661, Fletcher-class destroyers launched in
1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry-dock Company in Kearny, New Jersey.
USS KIDD (DD-661) was named after Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr., a Medal of Honor
recipient who was killed aboard the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. His widow, Mrs.
Inez Kidd, served as the ship’s sponsor. So, as the story goes…
The KIDD’s first voyage was one of some notoriety. Under the command of Cdr. Allan B. Roby,
the destroyer moved across New York Harbor for delivery to the Brooklyn Naval Shipyards . . .
flying the skull and crossbones of the Jolly Roger high from the foremast. The edition of TIME
magazine that week carried a photo of KIDD, announcing that it had been one hundred years
since the Jolly Roger had flown in New York Harbor. The crew quickly adopted the pirate
Captain Kidd—who ironically hailed from New York—as their mascot and hired a local
cartoonist to paint the famed buccaneer’s image high of the forward smokestack. Not wishing to
dishonor RADM Kidd, however, the crew obtained permission from Mrs. Kidd first. The
Admiral’s nickname at the Naval Academy had been “Cap” (as in “Captain Kidd”) and he had
gone by this nickname his entire life. So on the crew’s behalf, Mrs. Kidd obtained official
permission from the powers-that-be in the Navy for them to paint the pirate on the stack and fly
the Jolly Roger. The KIDD would become the only vessel in the history of the United States
Navy to ever have such leave granted to fly the flag of piracy. Source: USSKidd.com
The tradition has since been extended to the two other Navy destroyer’s named in honor of RADM Kidd,
including the USS Kidd (DDG-993) and USS Kidd (DDG-100).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shipping Giant CMA CGM Hit by Ransomware Cyber Attack https://gcaptain.com/shipping-giant-cma-cgm-hit-by-cyber-
attack/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptai
n.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-43d1b635df-139894965&mc_cid=43d1b635df&mc_eid=4c72dd3685
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A close-up view of the USS Kidd flying the
“Jolly Roger”
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
19
The Pulse
TRADE JOURNAL 252 OCTOBER 2020 NOW ON LINE The Latest Derbyshire Newsletter the Trade Journal is now on line.
http://www.godfreydykes.info/TJ%20252%20Oct%202020.pdf
Hope you are all safe
Regards
Hall Terry Hall, Hon. Secretary/Treasurer Derbyshire Submariners
http://www.godfreydykes.info/derbyshire_submariners_page.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Way of a Ship Reel 1 (1953) (Video) 10 minutes of nostalgia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT1L7ijVr5U
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shipping companies receive awards for slowing to protect blue whales, blue
skies September 27, 2020 by Sponsored
Polynesia Line, MSC, GALI, and Hapag-Lloyd were sapphire winners
The Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program gave awards to 15 global shipping companies for
reducing speeds to 10 knots or less in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Santa Barbara Channel region
in 2019.
The voluntary program is an initiative to cut air pollution and protect endangered whales. The 2019
program ran from May 15, 2019 through November 15, 2019. Although COVID-19 public health
guidelines prevented an in-person awards event, the companies received trophies, plaques, or certificates
according to their levels of achievement.
Read more at:-
https://gcaptain.com/shipping-companies-receive-awards-for-slowing-to-protect-blue-whales-blue-
skies/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.
com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-1d0bb3c880-139894965&mc_cid=1d0bb3c880&mc_eid=4c72dd3685
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Look at Life – Report on a River – The River Thames – 1963,
Another 10 minutes of nostalgia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzNLg457eUU
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
20
The Pulse
Sweden, Finland and Estonia to Look at New Evidence from 1994 ‘Estonia’
Ferry Disaster https://gcaptain.com/sweden-finland-and-estonia-to-look-at-new-evidence-from-1994-estonia-ferry-
disaster/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCapta
in.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-43d1b635df-139894965&mc_cid=43d1b635df&mc_eid=4c72dd3685
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Norway Warns of Forgotten Victims of Covid – Seafarers September 27, 2020 by Bloomberg By Lars Erik Taraldsen (Bloomberg) —
Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg warned of a humanitarian and trade crisis if the roughly 800,000
seafarers stranded around the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic aren’t offered similar protections
and rights to other essential workers.
Solberg is using her speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday to draw global attention
to the issue. In an interview with Bloomberg News shortly before she was due to address the assembly,
Solberg said she was calling on “all member states to say that seafarers are essential workers,” and asking
that the International Maritime Organization’s protocol for crew changes be enforced.
“Large parts of the world’s trade is in ships, in terms of medicines, energy and food,” Solberg said. If no
effort is made to free the stranded seafarers, “then shipping will eventually stop, which could have major
repercussions for the world economy.”
The pandemic has left the shipping industry facing a trade and humanitarian crisis as crew members are
often prevented from disembarking, in some cases for up to a year, according to Solberg. The current
situation ignores IMO requirements, with reports suggesting that some of those affected have been
stranded without pay.
“It’s awful for the sailors who experience this, and it’s awful for their families back home,” Solberg said.
“I expect the world community to look into this,” she said. “We expect greater action to be taken from
both UN member states and other countries.” © 2020 Bloomberg L.P
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Container vessel remains stuck in S'pore mid-sea Crew member tests Covid-19 A vessel carrying nearly 1,000 containers, stuffed with Bangladeshi export goods, remained stuck in the
mid-sea for days as the Singapore port authority did not permit it for berthing after a crewmember was
found Covid-19 positive. Sources said the container vessel -- MV THORSWIND -- left Chittagong port
on September 11 and reached Singapore water territory on September 16. After that a crewmember tested
positive for Covid-19. The Port of Singapore did not let the vessel, operated by COSCO Shipping Lines,
take berth and put it under quarantine for 21 days. Rashid Ali, General Manager of Continental Traders,
the local representative of Shanghai-based COSCO Shipping Lines, told the FE on Tuesday that the
vessel is yet to get permission for berthing. "The representative of the vessel's owner is negotiating with
the authorities concerned to reduce the quarantine period and seek opportunity for early berthing," he
said. Mr Ali said he was expecting developments in this regard on Wednesday. According to sources, the
vessel was carrying 814 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers, mainly apparel and jute
goods, destined for Europe and America. They said the Liberian-flagged vessel is unlikely to get
permission for berthing soon, thus the containers will miss boarding designated mother vessels. A
representative of a main line operator in Dhaka told the FE that this is for the first time, any crewmember
of a vessel which touched Chittagong port was found Covid-19 positive. He said since the containers will
miss the designated mother vessels and may need weeks to get onboard in other vessels after the
quarantine is over, the exporters will incur financial loss due to delay. "The buyers will demand price
waiver of goods as they will reach late," he added. Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority S M Abul
Kalam Azad could not be reached for his comment on port's precautionary measures to stem the spread of
Covid-19. Source: thefinancialexpress
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Crew change crisis risks becoming forced labour epidemic as tragedy hits six-
month mark on World Maritime Day -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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The Pulse
VLCC Tanker to Port salvage teams still working to bring burnt out tankers
to port NEW DIAMOND after the fire was extinguished - courtesy
of Two weeks after the joint teams from India and Sri Lanka
were successful in dowsing the fire aboard the VLCC New
Diamond, the salvage crews are still working on a plan for
the ship. They are looking for a port and a means to off load
the cargo of 270,000 tonnes of crude oil aboard. Speaking to
the media in India, Shrikant Madhav Vaidhya, who is chairman of the Indian Oil Company, said that the
salvage team is still searching for a port for the burnt-out tanker. The tanker was operating on charter to
the Indian Oil Company when the fire broke out on September 3. It took a week to put out the fire which
spread from the engine room to the deck house. The teams had succeeded in putting out the fire only to
have it reignite due to the heat on the vessel and high winds in the area. Vaidhya said that the salvage
team, SMIT Singapore Pte, is managing the efforts. SMIT will decide on towing the vessel to a location
for the transfer of crude oil to another ship. Ultimately, he expects that the crude oil shipment will still
reach the company’s oil refinery. Among the challenges that they are dealing with is an oil slick that
formed from engine room leaks in the ship’s diesel fuel supply. The Sri Lanka Airforce has been called
on to drop dispersants on the oil slick that was seen behind the ship Fearing a potential environmental
disaster, Sri Lanka had previously ordered the vessel to leave its waters and said that it did not want the
tanker towed to its ports. Vaidya told the reporters that India had offered its ports as a possible destination
for the tow but that it was not certain the vessel would be towed to India. He cautioned that the process
would take time and said it might be two months before the oil reached India’s refinery. Separately
India’s ministers of foreign affairs and for petroleum and gas met to discuss ways of expediting the
removal of the cargo from the tanker. They all also continued to emphasize that the ship remains safe and
stable. They believe that the crude oil cargo is in no immediate danger. Source : MAREX
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Black Watch and Boudicca Sold, Will Serve as Hotel Ships Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has found a buyer for the classic BLACK WATCH and BOUDICCA ships as
the company modernizes its fleet with the addition of the former ROTTERDAM and AMSTERDAM
from Holland America Line. The BLACK WATCH and BOUDICCA will leave the Fred. Olsen fleet
with immediate effect, and will not be scrapped, but instead serve as hotel ships, according to a statement.
A buyer was not named. Source : Cruise Industry News
_____________________________________________________________________________________
CMA CGM Updates on Cyber Attack September 29, 2020 by Mike Schuler
French shipping giant CMA CGM has provided an updated on the
malware attack that forced the group to shut down “periphery” servers
to prevent it from spreading.
In today’s update, CMA CGM said it had shut all external accesses to
their network and computer applications as a precautionary measure.
“All communications to and from the CMA CGM Group are secure,
including emails, transmitted files and electronic data interfaces (EDI),”
the update said.
“Maritime and port operations are functioning as per usual.
“The booking functionalities remain up and running.
“Alternative solutions to the e-business site are available in order to support business continuity for CMA
CGM Group’s customers.
“All of the Group’s teams remain fully mobilized to continue serving its customers and partners,” the
statement said, without specifically stating whether or not the incident has been resolved.
Lloyd’s List reported Monday that the cyber incident was a ransomware attack by the ransomware group
“Ragnar Locker gang”.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
FILE PHOTO: Sheila Fitzgerald /
Shutterstock
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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The Pulse
Why the IMO should move its HQ from London to Singapore By : Andrew Craig-Bennett
There is a variant of Parkinson’s Law which says that once an organisation builds itself a grand
headquarters it is in decline. A visitor to Tower Hill, in London, will see an imposing building called Ten,
Trinity Square; now a hotel, formerly the home of an insurance broker, but built as the headquarters of the
Port of London Authority. The PLA decided to build it in 1911; it was finished in 1922. Its boardroom
was so grand that the first meeting of the United Nations was held there in 1946. 1911 was the year in
which trade through the Port of London, and thus the revenue of the PLA, reached its peak. It has
declined ever since.
The International Maritime Organization is, as everyone reading this knows, a United Nations agency
based far away from the UN’s HQ in New York. It was set up at a conference held in Geneva in 1949,
which agreed that a new UN agency, to be called the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative
Organisation (IMCO), would be set up in London. From 1959 to 1982, IMCO wandered around London,
in various rented buildings, from Chancery Lane to Berners Street to Piccadilly, doing useful stuff. It got
its own place, on the Albert Embankment, and a grander name, in 1982. It was no longer
‘intergovernmental consultative’ but ‘maritime’. It soon became less useful and has done less and less,
with more and more bureaucracy, with every year that passes.
The IMO has fossilised; it needs something to wake it up.
A change of scenery might do that. In 1949, London was obviously the headquarters of the world’s
merchant shipping. Not only was the British merchant fleet the largest in the world, but London was still,
as it had been during World War II, the ‘home from home’ of the Greek, Norwegian and Dutch merchant
fleets. By 1959, the open registers had eaten into the dominance of those flags, but London was still pretty
much the place to be, with New York as the only practical alternative, so far as shipbroking, finance, law,
arbitration and special expertise of all sorts as well as shipmanagement were concerned.
British merchant shipping reached its greatest tonnage in 1977. By 1982, it was well into absolute as well
as relative decline, but nobody who wasn’t at sea, and being made redundant, really noticed.
London could pretend for a few decades that although it no longer had many actual ships, it still had
Lloyds, most of the P&I Clubs, the Baltic Exchange, most of the brokers, many of the bankers, most of
the lawyers, arbitrators, average adjusters and the like (remember the Salvage Association?) and many
experts. And anyway, it was doing better than New York.
The IMO is now in the wrong place. That Eighties building, stranded on the Albert Embankment, looks
more and more like a white elephant. It has been shut for months – did you notice?
Shipping isn’t centred on the North Atlantic anymore; this is the Pacific Century. Tokyo, Seoul,
Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, and of course Singapore, can all make a better claim to host the IMO than
can London, which isn’t even in the European Union.
Changing the location of the headquarters requires an overwhelming majority of the member states.
Clearly, any city making a play to house the new IMO HQ will have to be somewhere that delegates (and
let us not forget, partners of delegates!) want to be. Five of the cities I have listed can do that with no
trouble at all, and even Manila can look quite good when it wants to; it is already the home of the IIRI and
the ADB.
I suggest that the secretary general convenes a committee to hold a beauty parade in the manner of the
International Olympic Committee, and get in the most generous financial inducements and the best offers
of new buildings, perhaps located where a ship or two may be seen from the windows. It’s going to be
Singapore; the trick is to get the Singaporeans to pay generously for something that they so desperately
want. Perhaps the IMO secretariat can make a start now, whilst they are not so busy? Source : Splash 247
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This is the reason why the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean’s water didn’t mix at
all! https://www.thedailyfeed.org/2020/this-is-the-reason-why-the-pacific-and-atlantic-oceans-water-didnt-
mix-at-all/
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
23
The Pulse
Better crew training needed for CO2 firefighting systems Global safety leader Survitec is advising the maritime industry to ensure fixed fire-fighting systems are
commissioned by their original equipment manufacturers and that crews undergo basic system
configuration training, following a spate of incidents where ship fires have been exacerbated through
incorrect use or installation of CO2-based extinguishing systems.
While the International Maritime Organization’s FSS
Code provides engineering and design standards for all
types of fire extinguishing systems, there are no
mandatory regulations governing their installation and
commissioning, only recommendations. Standards on
operation and maintenance have improved over the last
years but in many cases, they are still seen as guidelines
Survitec said that although these guidelines should be
followed, there have been several incidents in recent
times where fixed fire extinguishing systems have failed.
“While it is difficult to put a number on all the fire related incidents where incorrect installation,
operation or maintenance of a fixed firefighting system has resulted in system failure, injury or death, the
subsequent accident investigations offer a difference perspective on the effectiveness of the current
regulations and guidelines,” said Mats Hestmann,
Survitec Group QHSE Manager.
“Fire safety systems are inherently designed to protect and save lives. However, if these systems are
incorrectly used, installed or insufficiently inspected and maintained, the consequences can be severe,”
said Hestmann. MSC.1/CIRC 1318, the Guidelines for the Maintenance and Inspections of Fixed Carbon
Dioxide Fire-Extinguishing systems was released in June 2009 and have been adopted by most Flag
states, but some are still following their own set of standards.
Hestmann, believes that it would be beneficial for MSC.1/CIRC 1318 to become even more structured as
is the case with MSC 1432, clearly defining what should be inspected. Once the majority of flag states
have adopted an MSC circular, it then becomes a resolution making it mandatory.
He adds: “Great improvements to safety have come as a result of IACS Z-17 Service provider approvals.
However, it’s not the failure of the firefighting system that is resulting in so many incidents, but rather the
lack of system knowledge and poor operator training. There should be more effective rules governing
system training; because a crew member is familiar with one firefighting system doesn’t mean they are
appropriately trained to use another manufacturer’s system or even a different system configuration.
While the product itself might be standard, the layout of the system, the location of valves, cylinders, and
vents and so on will differ from ship to ship. Certainly, crews need to be better trained in the use,
operation and maintenance of these systems.”
Erik Christensen, Technical Director Fire Fighting said: “We have seen a number of incident reports
where human error in the use of firefighting systems is a common factor. Valves have been closed when
they should have been open, ventilation flaps left open with main generators still running during the fire.
“Carbon Dioxide is a dangerous gas and any system that has been incorrectly installed, maintained or
operated could not only fail to extinguish the fire but be very harmful to the crew.”
As the market leader and a champion of maritime safety initiatives, Survitec is fostering greater fire safety
and systems awareness across the industry. It has already issued advice notices and is raising wider
awareness of the need to ensure firefighting systems are correctly installed, regularly maintained, serviced
and that crew operating the systems are trained and understand how to use the specific system. “We want
to ensure that operators and crews have a much better understanding of how fixed firefighting systems
operate and the importance of regular, properly carried-out maintenance.
With greater knowledge, they will be able to overcome many of the operational challenges they face and
prevent system failure when it is required in an emergency.
“Crews can be better equipped to fight fires more effectively, more safely, but any initiative needs to
work in harmony with the rules, some of which could do well to be revised,” said Hestmann.
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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The Pulse
UN warned crewing crisis could involve ‘a million’ seafarers
By: Declan Bush
THE United Nations has been told that the crewing crisis
could soon affect 1m seafarers and governments must act to
avert a humanitarian crisis that has the shipping industry at
breaking point. The International Chamber of Shipping
estimates there are about 400,000 seafarers trapped on ships,
while the same number were stuck on land waiting to relieve
them, often on little or no pay. Guy Platten, its secretary-
general, said employers were doing all they could, including
diverting ships thousands of miles to enable changes, but it
was not enough. “At present we estimate that 400,000
seafarers are now well beyond their original contracts with a
further 400,000 ashore ready to relieve them, often waiting
with little or no pay,” he told the 75th UN General Assembly
High-Level Side Event on maritime crew changes. “If this
continues, we could well see a million seafarers adversely
affected in the coming months. This is unsustainable.” He said
seafarers cannot extend their tours of duty indefinitely. “The
situation is unsustainable and at breaking point,” he said.
“People and governments just don’t think it
matters enough, he said. The remarks were made on World Maritime Day during an online side event to highlight the crew
change crisis at the UN General Assembly. Shipping ministers of Canada, France, Panama, the
Philippines and Kenya joined calls to class seafarers as key workers, as did representatives of A.P.
Moller-Maersk and Unilever. Captain HediMarzougui led a merchant ship from December to May and
told the UN his crew were trapped for three months past their contracts. His crew worked 12 hours a day
with no idea when they could go home. He said the crisis “has led to despair across the world’s fleet and a
feeling no one cares about us”. “Our work at sea can be very challenging and dangerous,” he said. “Any
lack of concentration, any mistake can lead to catastrophic consequences, from loss of life to severe
damage to the environment.”
Capt Marzougui said “mariners are human beings first and should be treated as such”. International Transport Workers’ Federation general secretary Stephen Cotton said seafarers feared
blacklisting by employers they complained, a situation “bordering on forced labour”. “We have had great
statements, but statements alone do not move seafarers on and off ships,” Mr Cotton said.
Source : Lloydslist
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Mercy Ships – serving the world’s forgotten poor Mercy Ships serves countries that lie on the lower third of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO)
Human Development Index, where access to safe, affordable, and timely surgery is extremely limited. As
a result, countless people suffer and die from conditions that can easily be cured. In partnership with
developing countries striving to make healthcare accessible for all, Mercy Ships offers programmes that
bring holistic support. Since 1978, Mercy Ships has delivered services to more than 2.7 million direct
beneficiaries.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3/O Sankar, AB Jo-Jo, and Motorman Jamar
enjoying a coffee at the gangway in the Riga
morning sun.
These guys make sure your supermarket and
pharmacy is full. International Labour
Organization director general Guy Ryder
said despite industry pleas, crew changes
were seen “in some quarters of government
as an unacceptable threat to broader public
health concerns” and “just too complicated”.
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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The Pulse
Stranded Seafarers Refuse to Sail on Three Ships in Australia https://gcaptain.com/stranded-seafarers-refuse-to-sail-on-three-ships-in-australia/
____________________________________________________________________________________
Harwich Harbour Ferry badly damaged in gale-force winds The Harwich Harbour Ferry in Essex
was wrenched from its moorings at
Ha'Penny Pier and found half
submerged on Saturday morning
Chris and Lucy Zemann, who own the
ferry which connects Harwich with
Felixstowe and Shotley Gate in
Suffolk, said they were devastated.
The latest one, a 40ft (12m) former
lifeboat, has been in use since 2015. A spokeswoman for Harwich Haven Authority, which manages the
pier, said: "The severity of the weather meant that we were not able to recover the ferry by sea, or secure
her lines from the pontoons. It was too dangerous." The authority confirmed the vessel had "sustained
significant damage but she is still afloat". Mr and Mrs Zemann said: "We have started assessing the
damage, but it is clear we can't operate for the rest of the season, which was due to last for another month
"We are determined to resume our ferry operation next season, save our livelihood and continue to serve
the communities of Harwich, Shotley and Felixstowe." Local reaction to this terrible incident has yet
again brought home to us how much the Harwich Harbour Ferry is loved by these communities."The
ferry service reopened in May after closing due to lockdown restrictions. The couple said: "We were
excitedly planning for the future, so the damage caused by the storm has come as a huge blow, but we
fight our way back." Source : BBC News
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Captain of oil tanker that caught fire barred from leaving Sri Lanka A Sri Lankan court on Monday barred the captain of the
Greek-owned oil tanker that caught fire off Sri Lanka''s eastern
coast from leaving the country. The magistrate''s court here,
however, declined to issue a remand order on Steiros Illias, the
captain of the Panama-registered tanker MT NEW DIAMOND
that went up in flames on September 3 while carrying 2 million
barrels of crude oil from Kuwait to India The deputy solicitor
general had requested for a remand order as the captain was
needed to file an indictment in the high court. The court barred
him from leaving the country as he was needed for further
proceedings. The captain appeared in the court after the
attorney general directed police to record his statement. He
was to be charged for committing offences under the Marine
Pollution Environmental Protection Act. The next hearing in the case is on October 12.On Saturday, the
owner of ship, Greece-based Porto Emporios Shipping Inc., agreed to pay USD 2.3 million to Sri Lanka
for the costs incurred on dousing the fire on board the tanker. The deputy solicitor general told the
magistrate that oil had leaked from the tanker polluting the sea. At least two nautical miles had been
affected by the oil seepage. NEW DIAMOND, a vessel under charter by the Indian Oil Corporation, was
carrying 270,000 metric tonnes of crude oil from Mina Al Ahmadi port in Kuwait to the Indian port of
Paradip when a boiler explosion in its engine room caused a fire off the coast of Sangamankanda in
Ampara district. The fire killed one Filipino crew member and injured another, while 21 other crew
members escaped uninjured. The Sri Lanka Navy with the help of Indian counterparts and coast guard
doused the fire after a much effort. The ship is currently in the seas 70 nautical miles east of Batticaloa in
the east and 129 kilometers away from the Batticaloa coast. Source : outlookindia
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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The Pulse
HMS VICTORY IN PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR 1911 In this distant view the Victory appears
sound enough, but her hull was in very poor
condition. At this date the results of her refit
in 1814-16 were still very much in evidence;
her bulwarks were raised and much of her
decoration was removed, giving the ship an
austere aspect. When she was restored in the
1920s she was returned to her Trafalgar
appearance. This would be frowned upon
today, but it dramatically improved the
Victory’s visual appeal.
HMS Victory was one of the oldest ships in
Nelson’s fleet, having first been launched at Chatham Dockyard in 1765. The name of the new
warship was not universally popular, as many sailors were superstitious and the previous Victory had
been lost in a storm with all hands in 1744. Their misgivings proved to be ill-founded, for if ever a ship
led a charmed life, it was the Victory.
The Victory was commissioned in 1778 and for next 20 years she had a hard life, which culminated in
her service as fleet flagship at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in February 1797. A few months later she
was surveyed and found to be in such poor condition that an order was placed to convert her into a
hospital ship. Victory’s career as a warship appeared to be over, but fate intervened when the 98-gun
Impregnable was wrecked off Spithead in 1799. The navy was now short of a three-decker and the
Victory was therefore given a major refit and put back into service.
The refit, which nearly amounted to a rebuild, was completed in 1803 and the Victory, which had
always been a fine sailer, was chosen as Nelson’s flagship. At Trafalgar the Victory received extensive
damage, but she managed to weather the storm that followed the battle and was finally towed into
Gibraltar by the Neptune. The Victory continued to serve until the end of the Napoleonic Wars, but in
January 1824 her seagoing days came to end when she was designated as the Port Admiral's flagship
at Portsmouth.
In 1831 she was placed on the disposal list, but Admiral Hardy (Nelson’s flag captain at Trafalgar)
refused to allow her to be broken-up. The Victory remained afloat at Portsmouth, but very little
maintenance was undertaken and in 1886 a visitor reported that he could have poked his walking stick
through her sides. The Victory continued to deteriorate at her mooring and in 1903 she was nearly lost
when she was accidentally rammed by a warship under tow to the breakers. Emergency repairs
followed, but it was again proposed that she should be scrapped and a reprieve only came through the
intervention of the King.
In 1910 the Society for Nautical Research was founded, but although the organisation began serious
efforts to save the ship, all impetus was lost with the outbreak of the First World War. Finally, in 1921,
a “Save the Victory” campaign was launched and sufficient funds were raised for her restoration to
begin the following year. However, the Victory was not quite safe, for Portsmouth was heavily bombed
during the Second World War and in 1941 she was damaged by a near-miss from a 500lb bomb. Once
again Lady Luck was on her side, for a direct hit would have reduced the old ship to matchwood.
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Fishing Without a Safety Net https://www.seafarers.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Seafarers-UK-Fishing-Without-a-Safety-Net-
Report.pdf
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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The Pulse
Merchant Navy/Royal Canadian Navy Commemoration (virtual)
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am pleased to invite you to attend a virtual Merchant Navy/Royal Canadian Navy Commemoration
ceremony that will be held on October 14, 2020, at the Royal Canadian Navy Monument, commencing at
11:00 a.m. This observance will be ‘live-streamed’ on the Royal Canadian Navy Facebook page.
October 14, 2020, marks the 78th Anniversary of the sinking of the Newfoundland ferry SS Caribou that
was torpedoed in the Cabot Strait on her way to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland: 136 of the 237 souls
on board perished. The year 2020 also marks the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Battle of the
Atlantic, and the 110th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy.
During the Second World War, a total of 25,343 merchant ships, with 164,783,921 tons of cargo on
board, sailed from North America to Britain. The Royal Canadian Navy gave to the struggle over 2, 000
dead and 24 warships. More than 900 RCAF and Canadian Army personnel were also lost. Over 2,199
Canadian Merchant Navy Seaman were killed in both World Wars. Moreover, more than 250,000
American Merchant Marine sailed the treacherous oceans of the world. Over 6,835 American Merchant
Marine were killed and over 11,000 wounded. In addition, 604 Merchant Mariners were taken prisoners
of war, resulting in 61 casualties within POW camps.
We would be honoured to have you join us virtually for a Facebook LIVE stream
at https://www.facebook.com/RoyalCanadianNavy/. To join the online conversation on social media and
share your own stories, please use the suggested hashtags: #BOA75, #RCNRemembers, #MerchantNavy,
#CanadaRemembers.
I look forward to you joining our virtual ceremony LIVE from the Royal Canadian Navy Facebook page.
Stéphane Ouellette
President and Chief Executive Officer
Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP)
[email protected] | 613.421.9005 |www.alliedmerchantnavy.com
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The British Normandy Memorial The British Normandy Memorial was apparently opened to the public on 5 September 2020. Below is a
link to a short video update containing an important message about the opening of the Memorial from
Founding Trustee, Nicholas Witchell.
The Trust shares a summary of the construction works that have taken place since the start of 2020 plus
access to the Memorial site webcam.
https://www.normandymemorialtrust.org/news-story/important-update-on-the-opening-of-the-memorial/
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Fire ravaged New Diamond VLCC set to discharge cargo at Kandla port
By : Sam Chambers The burnt NEW DIAMOND VLCC will discharge its cargo at an offshore oil terminal at Kandla Port
Trust rather than its intended destination of Paradip.
The fully laden Panamanian flagged ship, owned by Adam Polemis’s New Shipping, suffered a severe
fire earlier this month off Sri Lanka when a boiler exploded in its engine room. One crewmember died in
the accident and significant resources were deployed from India and Sri Lanka to douse the blaze. The
New Diamond‘s captain appeared in court in Sri Lanka for an initial hearing into the accident. Source :
splash 247
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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The Pulse
The BAGHEERA inbound for Rotterdam passing Maassluis
Photo : Cees Kloppenburg Maritime photo Maassluis ©
The 120' / 36.57m PJ 120 open 'BAGHEERA' was built in 2005 by Palmer Johnson and last refitted in
2020. Nuvolari & Lenard is responsible for her beautiful exterior and interior design. Previously named
LUCY II BAGHEERA 's interior layout sleeps up to 9 guests in 4 rooms, including a master suite, 2
double cabins and 1 twin cabin. She is also capable of carrying up to 5 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed
luxury yacht experience. Timeless styling, beautiful furnishings and sumptuous seating feature throughout
to create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere. BAGHEERA's impressive leisure and entertainment
facilities make her the ideal charter yacht for socialising and entertaining with family and friends. She is
built with Aluminium hull and GRP superstructure. With a cruising speed of 24 knots, a maximum speed
of 28 knots and a range of 850nm from her 6,800 gallons fuel tanks, she is the perfect combination of
performance and luxury. Equiped with Air Conditioning, WiFi connection on board, Deck Jacuzzi
Source : yachtcharterfleet.
Footnote:- Yellow flag … Quarantine? … Self-isolating?
Daddy wouldn’t like that!
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Rare photo of a mother wrench feeding her young
Someone needs to tell Sadiq Khan that flu jabs are only effective if the doc takes the cap off the syringe.
When you're told that you have to isolate for 14 days in the same house as Donald Trump
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
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The Pulse
Crew member on container ship heading to LA charged in fatal stabbing A crewmember on a container ship heading from China to the Port of Los Angeles was charged Monday,
Sept. 28, with a federal offense and accused of a fatal stabbing of another employee. Michael Dequito
Monegro, 41, a resident of the Philippines, was named in a complaint that charges him with one count of
performing an act of violence against a person onboard a ship that is likely to endanger the safe
navigation of the ship, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The felony offense carries a sentence of
up to life in federal prison or the death penalty.
The complaint, filed in
federal court in Los Angeles,
alleges that Monegro used
two knives to repeatedly stab
the victim on the MSC
RAVENNA on Sept. 20
while the vessel was
traveling to the Port of Los
Angeles, its destination after
a voyage from China. The
victim, also a citizen of the
Philippines, died from the
stab wounds. Other members of the crew witnessed the attack, after which the captain of the ship
persuaded Monegro to surrender the knives, according to the complaint. Monegro was then detained in a
cabin aboard the ship, where other members of the crew took turns guarding him. Personnel from the FBI
and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service responded to the Liberian-flagged MSC RAVENNA on
Sept. 22 after the ship had docked.After obtaining consent from the ship’s owner, investigators boarded
the vessel, took custody of the victim’s body and recovered two knives identified by witnesses as the
murder weapons. “Based on an initial assessment of the body, it appears that (the victim) was stabbed
approximately 17 times, had multiple defensive wounds to his hands, and lacerations to his throat, face,
and leg,” according to an affidavit in support of the complaint. During a shipboard interview by two FBI
agents, Monegro admitted to stabbing the victim repeatedly, according to the affidavit. The incident
appears to have traumatized some of the crew members who witnessed the attack, the affidavit states. On
Sunday, special agents with the FBI and CGIS arrested Monegro, who had remained onboard the
Ravenna. Source : The Daily Breeze
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A man and woman were married for many years. Whenever there was a confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would
shout, "When I die, I will dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the
rest of your life!"
Neighbours feared him. The old man liked the fact that he was feared.
Then, he died. After the burial, her neighbours, concerned for her, asked, "Aren't you afraid that he
may indeed be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?"
The wife said, "Let him dig. I had him buried upside down and I know he won't ask for directions."
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Q What does the word 'benign' mean?
A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight. (brilliant)
Q. Name the four seasons
A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
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Photo : Piet Sinke www.maasmondmaritime.com (c)
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
30
The Pulse
NTSB: Dredge Waymon L. Boyd Struck Submerged Liquid Propane Pipeline
Before Explosion October 2, 2020 by gCaptain
The National Transportation Safety
Board says the dredge Waymon L.
Boyd struck a submerged liquid
propane pipeline during dredging
operations in the Corpus Christi Ship
Channel, causing the explosion that
killed four people back in August.
The details were released in the
NTSB’s preliminary report on the
incident.
According to the NTSB, at about 8:05
a.m. on August 21, 2020, the US-
flagged, non- propelled, 152-foot-long
cutter-head suction dredge Waymon L.
Boyd, reportedly struck a submerged
16-inch liquid propane pipeline during
dredging operations adjacent to EPIC
Corpus Christi Marine Terminal,
located on the Inner Harbor of the
Corpus Christi Ship Channel in Corpus
Christi, Texas. A geyser of gas and water erupted adjacent to the vessel followed by an explosion and fire
consumed the vessel and surrounding shoreline.
Several other vessels assisted the Waymon L. Boyd during dredging operations, including work boats,
anchor barges, booster barges and a supply barge.
A total of 18 personnel employed by Orion Marine Group were working on the dredge and assist boats on
the day of the accident. Four crewmembers died and six others suffered burns.
According to the NTSB, the fire aboard the dredge was extinguished by 4:10 p.m. local time, but it
temporarily reignited at 8:30 p.m. before it was finally extinguished an hour later. The dredge sank
overnight.
The NTSB said the damaged pipeline was a 16-inch liquid propane line operated by Enterprise Products
Operating, LLC, and was installed in 1968. An underwater segment of the pipeline was in close proximity
to the area where Orion Marine Group was conducting dredging operations. At the time of the accident,
the Enterprise Products pipeline controller received a low-pressure alarm on pipeline TX219. Enterprise
Products technicians subsequently closed valves upstream and downstream of the incident location to
isolate the pipeline. The estimated release of propane from the pipeline was about 6,000 barrels.
The U.S. Coast Guard declared the accident a major marine casualty. The National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB) is the lead federal agency for the safety investigation, with the Coast Guard, Orion Marine
Group (owner/operator), Enterprise Products Operating, LLC (pipeline operator), the US Department of
Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Railroad Commission of
Texas named as parties.
Investigators have now interviewed several of the surviving crewmembers and company personnel, and
collected documents regarding the dredging operations, crew training, and pipeline marking and damage
prevention requirements.
On August 24, an underwater inspection found evidence of mechanical damage and two wall breaches in
the pipeline, according to the NTSB. The Waymon L. Boyd’s cutter dredge head has been recovered and
is being transported to a secure location for examination. On-scene work will continue with the removal
of the damaged pipeline for further examination and testing at NTSB’s laboratory, as well as interviews
with additional crew and company officials.
The NTSB preliminary report did not provide any probable cause or recommendations.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coast Guard crews respond to a dredge on fire in the Port of
Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Aug. 21, 2020.
U.S. Coast Guard Photo
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
31
The Pulse
I have been requested to Circulate the following. Your Choice, some may agree & some may disagree.
"Please add your signature to support our petition for the
Government to build specifically designed ships in the UK
with a dual purpose of providing Disaster relief/delivering
UK Aid and training the next generation of UK and
commonwealth seafarers. These ships will help regenerate the
UK commercial shipbuilding Industry, directly provide
practical UK Aid to devastated communities and at the same
time deliver skills training - and provide jobs and apprenticeships to the UK shipbuilding, seafaring and
maritime support Industries - and be funded out of the UK Overseas Aid budget.
We need 10,000 signatures to obtain a response from the Government, so please give us your support
(and other adult members of your household) by signing the petition, using the link
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/549072
Last month we commemorated Merchant Navy Day when we remembered and commemorated those
Merchant Navy seafarers who sacrificed so much for us – and the World. What better way to
commemorate their memory than by using the Sea to directly deliver help to those in need, and at the
same time employ and train future generations of British seafarers.
Thank you for your support."
Kevin Slade
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I got caught taking a piss in the swimming pool today.
The attendant shouted at me so loudly, through a loud
hailer - I nearly fell in.
When you're seventy...............who cares
____________________________________________________________________________________
I went to our pub last night and saw a BIG woman
dancing on a table.
I said, "Good legs."
The woman giggled and said, "Do you really think so?"
I said, "Definitely! Most tables would have collapsed by
now."
Cost me 6 more stitches, but...
when you're seventy..............who cares?
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MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
32
The Pulse
Seafarer Support Site Relaunched During Covid19
Serving and retired Merchant Navy personnel and their dependants are encouraged to visit the new
Seafarer Support website www.seafarersupport.org, which signposts those who may need help or advice
during these challenging times to the maritime charities best suited to help. The new website, redesigned
by the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, boasts the latest technology with AI search facilities and a live
chatbot facility to enable users to communicate directly with the welfare team. For those who prefer to
speak to someone in person, or who seek further information that is not available online, Seafarer Support
has a freephone helpline (0800 121 4675). Trained staff are available during office hours to direct them to
the many charities and organisations waiting to help.
Visitors to the site can now choose between Merchant Navy, Royal Navy and Fishing Fleet and search for
assistance across a wide range of welfare categories such as:
• Financial advice and assistance
• Support (bereavement, social, spiritual etc.)
• Accommodation, health and medical
• Redundancy & Retraining
• Advice (helplines, employment, pensions etc.)
The innovative website helps online users from any background search and directly contact one or more
of over 150 maritime charities that are standing by to offer support during the pandemic and beyond. If
you know of any UK seafarer that may need help during these difficult times then please ask them to visit
www.seafarersupport.org
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My neighbour knocked on my door at 2:30am this morning, can you believe that
2:30am?! ……………………………… Luckily for him, I was still up playing my Bagpipes. _____________________________________________________________________________________
The wife has been missing a week now… Police said to prepare for the worst.
So I’ve been to the charity shop to get all her clothes back. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #18 9th October 2020
33
The Pulse
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We are pleased to say we are now able to offer our supporters
the facility to make donations via our
Just Giving page.
This is a secure means of making payments and enables us to
claim Gift Aid from the Treasury.
Go to www.justgiving.com Click on ‘Search' at the top right-
hand side and type in Merchant Navy Association.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
That’s all from me now folks.
Stay Safe Shipmates
Good Health, Fair Winds and Calm Seas. Take Care.
Yours Aye,
Malcolm
Malcolm Mathison
National Vice-Chairman
Merchant Navy Association
Tel: 01472 277 266 Mob: 07831 622 312 Email: [email protected]
www.mna.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1135661
Stay Safe