Welcome to www. themarinewaves.com
“ The Marine Waves ” is a free International Maritime Newsletter, dedicated to seafaring and maritime fraternity, launched on the World Maritime Day, 30th September 2004. Inaugural issue released, during “World Maritime celebrations held in ‘Seafarers Club’, Fort Glacis, Chennai.
Shipping is perhaps the most international of the world's industries, serving more than ninety per cent of global trade by carrying huge quantities of cargo cost effectively, cleanly and safely. The ownership and management chain surrounding any ship can embrace many countries and ships spend their economic life moving between different jurisdictions, often far from the country of registry. There is, therefore, a need for international standards to regulate shipping - which can be adopted and accepted by all. The first maritime treaties date back to the 19th century. Later, the Titanic disaster of 1912 spawned the first international safety of life at sea - SOLAS - convention, still the most important treaty addressing maritime safety. The Convention establishing the I. M. O. (International Maritime Organization) was adopted in Geneva in 1948 and IMO first met in 1959. IMO's main task has been to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit today includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping. A specialized agency of the United Nations with 167 Member States and three Associate Members, IMO is based in the United Kingdom with around 300 international staff.
IMO's specialized committees and sub-committees are the focus for the technical work to update existing legislation or develop and adopt new regulations, with meetings attended by maritime experts from Member Governments, together with those from interested intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The result is a comprehensive body of international conventions, supported by hundreds of recommendations governing every facet of shipping. There are, firstly, measures aimed at the prevention of accidents, including standards for ship design, construction, equipment, operation and manning - key treaties include SOLAS, the MARPOL convention for the prevention of pollution by ships and the STCW convention on standards of training for seafarers.
The concept of bringing out a free INTERNATIONAL MARITIME NEWSLETTER to and for the maritime fraternity for free browsing and nominal charge for print copy, was conceived after twenty long years of my rich sea service, gathering memories of the deficiencies, defects and loopholes in the system, exposition of systemic failures, most importantly to empower the SEAFARERS of their basic rights and privileges which they are deprived off, as against the shore-staff, who make tall claims and achieve owing to their ability to get together and raise their voice for redressal of grievances, to keep them enlightened of the international maritime scenario, with an insight of the seafarer’s role – working and living conditions onboard, in hazardous situations out at sea. The Mariners, therefore expect a better recognition within their country and after service benefits. Merchant Navy is the second line of defence. The high salary drawn while in service is in consideration of their professional risk and sacrificial prime human life, making a career in the early ages as a youth, living away from their close and near dear ones. While, they pump in (earning) considerable foreign exchange to their country of origin. Hence, the National Maritime Administration needs to focus on “Professional Ethics and Human Values” while viewing their legitimate welfare, with natural justice of human touch. Mariners inducted into national maritime administration, execute their day to day work without bias and prejudice and who need to prove their supremacy by their better qualification and rich practical experience, commanding respect from the seafarers afloat and ashore, by their attitude and keeping pace with the rapid surge of developments in their respective field as the shipping is international. If the nation’s autonomous body, UPSC is not able to attract the best but accept what comes, by inducting only on the strength of the COC – Certificate of Competency held for the operation and maintenance of the vessels (ships) with a trade apprenticeship background, as in the past, then it would continue to be doing injustice to mariners who can’t influence. Best alternative would therefore be outsourcing. Suggest examinations of Crew and Petty Officers with the Maritime Academies and Institutions and unless fully equipped with qualified staff and modern infrastructure, senior officers/engineers be rested with Institutions of higher learning with Research facilities, or else bring down the course fees reasonably lower to benefit a large section of the community on pure merit entry, with physical and mental fitness, which would boost our national image abroad and as well as our national exchequer with foreign exchange.
More particularly, the authorities of the National and the International level, regulating Shipping and Maritime administration, and those inducted into them exhibit their supremacy, with a sound, theoretical, practical and a holistic approach keeping abreast to the realistic situations, not remain mere paper tigers to protect a section of their near and dear ones without a fair practice. Every maritime nation should boost their image, to be a role model and not merely follow the outdated rules and regulations without changing to the times, rather than adopting the minimum standards achieved by the trial and error methods. Differences between the maritime nations should be sorted out then and then by the apex body IMO (U.N. agency) and not allowed to grow, needing a common language of expression and action or else it would lead to chaos and could actually increase the risk in the number of accidents and casualties i.e. at the cost of irreparable loss of our precious human souls(mariners). I.M.O. (International Maritime Organisation) have yet to go a long way to establish its capability and expertise, to bring the maritime nations of the world.
We are able to communicate loud and clear faster, far and wide these days owing to computer/communication age and hence our aim to implement the best, giving scope for future development as well. Invite open page constructive criticisms in websites. Imperative need, to have competent mariners in Maritime administration to respond/inter-act plainly and clearly. “Safety of the innocent souls of seafarers” cannot be compromised, hence not mere learning from mistakes alone but right thinking farsighted foresight that is needed by qualified National Maritime Administrators, during this RTI (Right to information) Age.
Managing the uncertainties in marine profession with a pursuit to excellence in safety, needs to be the watchword and the priority for real time development in maritime administration. This would generate an influential body of theoretically and practically backed professionals through an open forum with wider inter-action within the maritime world. This international maritime newsletter brings to your doorstep, action packed news and information of the Maritime world dealing with issues in shipping, onboard and shore-based seafarers, their working conditions in different situations, exposing the occupational hazards towards their welfare.
Its high time, we come up with a framework that is significantly better from what we have been seeing so far in the governance framework of maritime administration.
Transparency supported by varied section of professional veterans: Mariners includes navigators, marine engineers, senior retired ratings, marine associated doctors on Rigs, afloat as on SCI research and passenger vessels, engineers based in shipyards and repair yards. Logistic executives, Port handling executives etc. Management Representatives of Shipping Companies, Maritime Institutions, Shipyards, Ports, Educationists, Editors, Publishers etc.
Dr. Chandran Peechulli,Ph.D; MBA; D.Sc; FIE( India ), PgDIMS( UK ), PgTED; FIIPE; MSEI; MSNAME( USA ),
Ex.Chief Engineer(Marine), G.M.(Tech) Crossworld Shipping.
Managing Editor & Publisher-“MARINE WAVES” International Maritime Newsletter.
