By Michael Grey* Do seafarers have any human rights, in an era where worthy folk are always shouting about this supposed entitlement for those who live safely on land? You have to wonder, when you learn about some of the disgraceful treatment meted out by the authorities around the world to those who have aroused […]
On our forum: Human rights of seafarers need to be reinforced Read More »
By Michael Grey* With everyone slowing down to save both the planet and fuel we should not be surprised that the expeditors among us are more anxious than ever to cut corners to make up for all those lost hours on passage. Some are undoubtedly sensible, such as becoming more expert at timing an arrival
On our forum: The dangers for seafarers of unlashing containers Read More »
By Michael Grey* You have to hand it to the Houthis, for their ability, with limited resources, to cause an extraordinary amount of trouble in the world. From financial crises in Egypt, with the Suez Canal now working part-time, to weather-induced casualties on shipping diverted around the Cape, it is all down to their malevolent
On our forum: Anarchy the new normal Read More »
By Yoan Marier* The consequences of a marine accident are not just felt in the moment that the disaster strikes or the harrowing ones that quickly follow. They are also felt in the next days, months, years, and, sometimes, decades. We have seen this in the case of the loss of containers overboard and fire
On our forum: Canada insufficiently prepared to respond to marine emergencies Read More »
Michael Grey* It was years ago that an old friend, who was a shipbroker, told me proudly that using his new mobile telephone, then something the size of a house-brick, he had fixed a cargo for one of his clients from the vegetable aisle of his local supermarket, while his embarrassed wife, pretending that he
On our forum: Alas, the “inconveniences” of digital technology… Read More »
Michael Grey* Are you suffering from “technostress?” It is an interesting term, which perfectly encapsulates the mentality of modern mankind, with manifold anxieties which were unknown to our predecessors. I thought of this worrying state of mind after reading a report provided by ISWAN and the Shipowners’ Club on The impact of maritime decarbonisation on
On our forum: Decarbonisation and “technostress” Read More »
By Michael Grey* The design of a ship was once a delicate balance in which an endless series of compromises were necessary to end up with a half-decent vessel. You wanted something box-shaped, to carry all the revenue-earning cargo, but had to modify your desires to accommodate something more streamlined under water. You wanted speed,
On our forum: Ship designs without compromise… Read More »
Michael Grey* P&I club Gard came up with some disturbing figures the other day, in a thought provoking note on mooring operations. Using statistics garnered from the International Group of P&I clubs, they report that between 2016 and 2021, there were 858 injuries and 31 fatalities which were attributable to mooring operations going badly wrong.
On our forum: Too many mooring incidents in faulty-designed operations Read More »
Michael Grey* A modern ship is a complex creature, packed with different systems, machinery and equipment and at any one time it is inconceivable that they will all be operating without any fault. You might argue that ships have always been like that and the essence of seamanship and good marine engineering is to have
On our forum: Various questions raised by the Baltimore bridge disaster Read More »
Michael Grey* One of the advantages (or perhaps disadvantages) of age is an ability to look back and see how custom and practice, behaviour and attitudes, have evolved over the years, mainly, it has to be said, to suit economic criteria. Risk taking has been part and parcel of seafaring since the dawn of time
On our forum: The evolution of ‘acceptable’ risk in shipping Read More »