Awareness on safety & training

Important issues came up for consideration at the recent meetings of the various committees of the International Maritime Organisation. India made a strong bid to bring in several constructive changes especially with regard to STCW convention and the maritime safety. In order to bring people of the trade up to date on the decisions taken an Awareness Seminar was organised at the MTI auditorium of the Shipping Corporation of India, Powai, Mumbai, on June 21, 2008.

Mr. Dilip Mehrotra, Deputy Chief Surveyor with the Government of India head of the delegation presented a broad outline about the amendments that were made and other issues that came up for discussion. He explained why the STCW needed to be updated and what was the final outcome.

The amendments on training were presented by Capt M. C. Yadav, Director (Training) of FOSMA. He informed that the major concern of the member countries was with regard some seafarers who were possessing fraudulent certificates. The 27 countries representing the European Union insisted that the certificates be endorsed and attested by the flag states. India desired that in the event of any detection of fraudulent certificates the flag state should be informed. This proposal was accepted.

Capt Yadav informed that a review of the principles for establishing the safe manning levels of ships would be undertaken but there was no likelihood of any major change being effected. On the offshore side the certification of tugs, dredgers, workboat, etc. was proposed and it has been agreed that competency standards would be fixed for electrical, electronic, electro technical officers and taken up at the next meeting. He also mentioned that Model Training courses with regard LNG, ship ballast water, communication & leadership skills, fatigue prevention, mitigation and management, ship sanitation, marine environment awareness and on security matter were on the anvil.

A major issue that came up for discussion was consumption of alcohol and drugs. Since the ship was not only a work place but also a home for the seafarers, countries insisted that alcohol consumption not be banned however, drugs have been banned.

Mr. Rajeev Nayyar, Head Sales and Purchases of Essar Shipping gave the outcome of the proceedings on the Safe Manning Document. He referred to the resolution A 890 (21) with regard to safe manning and the paper that was submitted for review. It was felt that the goal based proposal was preferred rather than being restrictive. Eventually it was decided that a framework be developed for safe manning. A working group was set up for this purpose in which India has a representation.

There was an agreement on two levels of training to familiarise candidates in oil and chemical tankers and another for gas tankers. It was also accepted that advance fire fighting should not be mandatory as was suggested by India. Another approval that received acceptance was the certification at support level approved for sea service in engine room and deck side.

Next was a brief on the review of STW 39. Capt K. N. Deboo, Principal of Anglo Eastern Maritime Training spoke about the review of Chapter IV, V and VII that took place. He informed that a debate ensued on whether electronic or electro-tech personnel training requirement be included in Chapter III and Chapter IV. The august body decided that training requirement for Electronic officer be included as a separate section in Chapter III and familiarisation training in Section B-1/14.

Capt M. M. Saggi, Nautical Adviser to the Government of India who chaired the session on maritime safety gave a brief on what the IMO role was and how the different convention took shape. He also indicted the function of the apex body and how they committees operated.

Bringing into focus the human element on ISO code, Mr. A. Banerjee, P. O. cum Jt. D. G. pointed out that the major principles laid down involves the entire spectrum of human activities performed by ship’s crew, shore based management and regulatory bodies, ship owners, etc.

He said the recent Maritime Safety Committee meeting noted that seafarers were afraid to lose their jobs if they raised issues of safety concern. Hence it was agreed that a seafarer’s representative would be selected or elected who could be a crew member and will not be subject to dismissal or adverse action. On another aspect of safety it was agreed that if a ship’s safety management certificate expired it would be given 3 months extension. In a move to enhance safety it was decided that internal audit be carried out on board annually and this be documented. A contentious proposition was made by the International Chambers of Shipping and it was that every body has to have a generic tanker familiarisation course before he has anything to do with a tanker.

Capt J. S. Uppal, Deputy Nautical Adviser, Government of India made a presentation on the Implementation of the Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT). He informed that this would start from 1st January 2009 from the DGS office in Mumbai. He explained on how it operated and that it would apply for all vessels. India would have its own National Data Centre and a Regional Data Centre.

On the side of the industry Capt K. S. Nair, Sr. Vice President, SCI talked on the “Industry’s concern on Implementation of LRIT”. He gave an update about how various countries were expected to implement it and what the implication would be if countries failed to do so.

The seminar gave an opportunity to the India’s representative on the IMO to interact and get the opinion of the trade. Accordingly, they would be taking up the issue in the right perspective at the IMO.