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| CESMA News, October 2017 |
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| Otrdiena, 10 oktobris 2017 11:36 |
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THE EUROPEAN UNION SHIPMASTER INFORMATION CHRONICLE
ONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN SHIPMASTERS’ASSOCIATIONS
Opinions expressed in articles are those of the sources and/or authors only
REPORT ON THE 22ND CESMA GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON 12TH MAY AT RIGA, LATVIA
CESMA assembled at the premises of the Freeport Riga Authority at the invitation of the Latvian Shipmasters’ Association (LKKA).The meeting was attended by 17 representatives from 13 European nations and 16 shipmasters from the Latvian association, as well as representatives from the press and speakers.
As usual, the Assembly started with a small seminar on actual maritime issues.
The speakers were introduced by CESMA president Captain Hubert Ardillon.
1. Ms Aneta Logina (World Maritime University) and Latvian citizen, talked about “Criminal procedures and sanctions against seafarers after large-scale ship-source pollution”. This thesis was made by Ms. Logina to obtain a PhD in Maritime Affairs at the WMU in Sweden. The complete study, including a checklist, can be found on the Digital Repository of the WMU website: http//commons.wmu.se/all dissertations/508.
2. Capt. Dimitar Dimitrov (BSMA, Bulgaria) presented a paper on the IMO Maritime Ambassador Scheme – Tool to return the attractiveness of the maritime profession. (see complete text in this issue of the CESMA NEWS).
3. Capt. Mrs. Cajsa Jerler Fransson of the Swedish Administration talked about the EU Effiensea / STM project. STM (Sea Traffic Management) is now in its second phase which means that about 300 vessels are in a trial phase in the Nordic and Mediterranean area. The basic principle is information exchange between instruments or machines on board and ashore, so that some of the workload of the officers is taken over by automatic data exchange. This can by anything and by everybody; authorities, agents, crewing agents, owners. All this information is gathered in the so-called ”Maritime Cloud”. The project is co-funding the project which is a successor to the Mona Lisa 2 project. CESMA sits in the Advisory Board and will attend the mid-term conference of the project in Treviso, Italy, on 12 September 2017.
Freeport of Riga Authority
 The afternoon session was dedicated to the CESMA Annual General Assembly, presided by Capt. Hubert Ardillon. The agenda is updated every year according to the latest developments and bring these up for discussion. Although no new cases came to our attention, criminalisation of seafarers remains and has to remain on the CESMA agenda. Capt. Giovanni Lettich (CNPC, Italy) reported on the developments of the accident in 2013 of the ”Jolly Nero” where 9 people lost their lives when the vessel, during manoeuvring in the narrow port basin, hit the manned harbour control tower, situated near the edge of the quay side, causing it to collapse. Cause of the accident, probably malfunctioning of the engines not following the orders from the bridge. So far the captain, pilot officer and chief engineer are convicted to heavy prison sentences from 7 up to 10 years. Case is still not settled.
12th May, day of the Assembly, was the day that the final verdict after his appeal of Capt. Schettino of the ”Costa Concordia” was to be made public. The 16 years in prison was found to be extraordinary by the Assembly, particularly in comparison with the punishment of notorious criminals in Italy. It shows that Capt. Schettino, who has admitted guilt over part of the accusations concerning the accident, is used as a scapegoat to hide shortcomings in the construction and operation of the vessel.
It was again mentioned that masters should consider a personal assurance to cope with any cases of criminalisation in foreign countries as many ship owners or operators tend to end their assistance or responsibility on the moment that there is any doubt about the guilt of the person concerned, even if there is no proof or final verdict of the local court of justice.
Piracy was shortly discussed. The Assembly has noted a downfall in the number of attacks near Somalia but warns for an upsurge as soon as the attention for proper countermeasures will decrease. It also urges the European Union to maintain a naval presence in the area. In other areas, such as Southeast Asia and the Gulf of Guinea, piracy and kidnappings are still frequently happening.
Fatigue was another point on the agenda. The 6 on / 6 off watch system is again considered reprehensible as it very well could lead to fatigue of the seafarers concerned. Proper checking of work/rest hours lists by Port State Control officers could be of welcome assistance in this respect. Some countries, like Spain, refuse admittance to their ports of ships using the 6 on / 6 off watch system. The Assembly also noted a positive tendency. The number of ships, operated under the system, is decreasing. The results of the MARTHA project, which was recently presented at the IMO, and involves the problems of fatigue, was acclaimed by the Assembly.
The number of mooring accidents is still increasing. This is the reason that this issue will stay on CESMA’s agenda. It involves deaths and mutilation of seafarers. Reasons discussed are the location of the operating panels of the winches as they offer bad or no view for those handling ropes or wires. Also the limited number and experience of persons in the mooring teams, including language and communication problems. The ever increasing size and height of vessels play a role in the tension of wires and ropes making mooring operations ever more dangerous for those directly involved.
Further on the human element, the Assembly noted again the shortage of berths on board EU flagged ships for future EU seafarers to attain sufficient practical knowledge on board to be able to obtain their STCW certificates as Officer of the Watch. CESMA urgently requests the European Commission, EMSA and ECSA to pay attention. Without growth of the number of young EU seafarers, the European Union is feared to lose its maritime knowledge and experience.
In Italy, problems to adapt to the STCW Manila amendments for almost all officers, leads to a critical situation wherein officers have to go back to school because some courses taught at school do not match with the Manila amendments, as found out by EMSA officers during inspections. CESMA, our Italian member associations and trade unions are urging the Italian administration to act or in any way reimburse the seafarers concerned for their expenses of about 3.000 euros.
Like last Assembly, the tendency in a number of EU nations to replace practical education on board for young officers by simulator training at school, was discussed. There was no uniform opinion among those present. In some nations the nautical schools are urged by ship owners, supported by administrations, to lower practical time on board because there are not enough suitable possibilities on board their ships or for other, most financial, reasons. Therefore the Assembly, confronted by many opinions, decides to ask for uniform rules in the EU for replacement of practical education and training on board by simulator training. This means however that every student who finishes his 4 studies, cannot obtain his certificate for Officer of the Watch before he has acquired the 12 months sea time on board, which is required by the IMO STCW. He or she should acquire these missing months in another way, even outside the jurisdiction of the nautical school.
The issue of too much paperwork on board is discussed. CESMA is doing its utmost to convince responsible bodies to act but some, like customs and large port administrations are not too enthusiastic, as they want to remain at their own systems. CESMA participated in the EU sponsored ANNA project, looking at this issue, but so far the initiative has brought little change.
Capt. Ardillon (AFCAN) intervened with the construction of Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOC). Direct motive was the disaster with the fully loaded VLOC ”Stellar Daisy” which sank in the South Atlantic Ocean, with the loss of 20 lives. CESMA will bring this to attention of the IMO by a resolution asking for better regulations for construction of VLOC’s.
In conclusion, Dr. Mertens (VDKS) asked whether there is any initiative to cope with the situation which can be created with the introduction of unmanned ships. Technology is progressing rapidly and the big question of responsibility has to be answered soon. As IMO is responsible for maritime regulations, it is hoped and expected that the organisation will speed up procedures to issue proper regulation in this respect.
 Our hosts in Riga: Captains. Jazeps Spridzans and Peteris Rabsa (deputy)
CESMA President Capt. Ardillon concluded the Assembly by thanking the audience for their input in the discussions. The 2017 Assembly was concluded with a delicious dinner in which the ladies participated.
For more CESMA News click on link: CESMA News, October 2017 ; Cover CESMA News, October 2017
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