ASPects Aug 09.pdf

WE MANAGE SHIPS SAFELY

AUGUST 2009

House Journal of ASP Ship Management Group

• A U S T R A L I A • N E W Z E A L A N D • S I N G A P O R E • U N I T E D K I N G D O M •• SCAND INAV IA • IND IA • GERMANY • PH I L IPP INES • UKRA INE •

IN THIS ISSUENew Crew Management GM

Maritime College ProgressSeafarers’ “Bill of Rights”Second Coal Transhipper

Environmental HonourMajor Dry DockingsCrew Forum Afl oat

2 ASPECTS AUGUST 2009

The appointment of Ben Brooksby as Group General Manager, ASP Crew Management is a major step towards bringing even more focus on crew management to meet the continuing challenge for growth within the Group in the present climate of serious shortage of qualifi ed seafarers.

Ben’s former position as Group Training Manager is being capably fi lled by the very experienced Capt Purnendu Shorey based in Mumbai. Purnendu will be responsible for all crew training undertaken by ASP Crew Management as well as the development and maintenance of training standards throughout the company.

Another transhipper for ASPThe capacity of ASP to manage a wide variety of vessels is demonstrated by the addition of a second large cargo transhipment platform, the FOTP Derawan, to the ASP Singapore fl eet. ASP Singapore already manages the SST Berau, a semi-submersible transhipper. Both vessels enable coal to be loaded from barges and then transferred to bulk carriers off-shore. Together, the two vessels will be able to tranship 10 million tonnes annually. ASP can now claim specialist status in managing this type of vessel.

A cruising forumASP Crew Management Ukraine took an imaginative step forward in its training program in April with a senior offi cers’ and shore management training Forum held aboard the cruise ship, Dnieper Princess, on a cruise down the Dnieper River from Odessa to Kiev. This was a unique opportunity for the crews to get together with Group management and shore staff, helping substantially to strengthen the company culture.

Start for Maritime CollegePlanning for the proposed MAC Maritime Training and Research Institute in Pune, India is well under way with artist’s impressions being illustrated on page 9. This major project which was announced in the November 2008 issue of ASPects, is a partnership of ASP Group, Chowgule Shipping and Mercator Shipping. The fi rst intake of students is expected to be enrolled at the start of the school year 2011.

ASP is proud to be associated with the venture, which will produce one of the world’s most advanced maritime training establishments, with a capacity of 520 students and state-of-the-

art educational, recreational and residential facilities.

Drydock projectsSince the last issue of ASPects, major drydockings have been carried out on the Royal Australian Navy supply vessel HMAS Sirius, the BP Shipping tanker British Loyalty and the Silver Fern coastal tanker Torea, all on time and within budget. In the case of the Sirius, the ASP Rockingham West Australia team, did a sterling job in accommodating the decision by the Navy to put the ship into dry dock in Brisbane several months earlier than originally planned.

Another interesting, complex and successful job was the conversion of two ferries from Ro-Ro to Ro-Pax by the ASP Glasgow team. This work was undertaken to comply with Passenger Class requirements for the United Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

IBS MilestoneInternational Bunker Supplies commemorated a signfi cant milestone in June with the delivery of the one millionth tonne of bunker fuel to the vessel Port Botany in Gladstone Australia. We congratulate Mark Patman IBS CEO and his team on this great achievement.

Environmental recognitionA signal that the ASP Group policy of taking care of the environment is on the right course, was the acceptance of the ASP managed tankers, British Fidelity and British Loyalty into the AUSMEPA Ship Membership Scheme, and the presentation by the IMO Secretary-General of certifi cates and fl ags to representatives of the vessels’ owners and of ASP for our current excellent marine environmental and safety record.

Seafarers “Bill of Rights”ASP has noted the adoption by the ILO “Seafarers’ Bill of Rights”—the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) which provides comprehensive rights and protection for all seafarers on ships above 500gt in international trade. We also note the revised standards which new buildings will have to achieve for compliance with the Convention.

The MLC 2006 Convention is discussed in detail on pages 6 and 7 in this issue, together with two related articles discussing the IMO’s campaign to meet the worldwide demand for trained seafarers, and a comprehensive overview of how ship managers should maintain their most important asset—quality crews.

Cover Picture:The fl oating transfer platform FOTP Derawan, recently handed over to ASP Singapore for management. The vessel, owned by Canadian Steamship Lines, will transfer coal from the Berau mines in Indonesia to bulkcarriers offshore.

ASPectsHouse Journal of the ASP Ship Management Group

Editor: Nigel PorteousEditorial Consultant: Bryan Reid

Design, production and correspondence to: Nigel PorteousASP Ship Management

473 St Kilda Road, Melbourne Vic 3004 AustraliaTel: +61 3 9211 9379 Email: [email protected]

CREW MANAGEMENT CHANGEDavid Borcoski Group Managing Director & CEO

ASPECTS AUGUST 2009 3

A second offshore transhipment platform has come under the management of ASP Tanker Management (ASPTM) Singapore for Canadian Steamship Lines (CSL).

The FOTP Derawan, will join the other transhipper, SST Berau, also owned by CSL and managed by ASPTM Singapore.The vessel is stationed at the Muara Pantal anchorage about 10 nautical miles off the north-east coast of Kalimantan, Indonesia, in the Sulawesi area.

The transfer platforms are essential links in bridging the gap between Indonesia’s coal mines and its global customers. Fully operational, they will be able to tranship a total of nearly 10 millions tonnes of coal annually for CSL’s client, Berau Coal.

FOTP Derawan was built in China at the Yangtze River Zhongtai shipyard, Jingjiang, Jiangsu, by China Communications

ANOTHERANOTHERTRANSHIPPERTRANSHIPPERfor ASPSingapore

ANOTHERTRANSHIPPERfor ASPSingapore

Construction Company Limited and CCCC Shanghai Equipment Engineering Co., Ltd.

A naming ceremony for the new platform was held at the shipyard on March 28, attended by many senior company representatives including the President of CSL International, Mr Paul Cozza, and the Executive Vice President of CCCC Shanghai Equipment Engineering Co. Mrs. Mega Selvia Armys, as the sponsor from PT Berau Coal Company, named the vessel before a gathering of more than one hundred guests and senior ASP Group representatives (see below).

LEFT: The naming ceremony in progress for the FOTP Derawan at Zhongtai Shipyard, Jiangsu, China.

BELOW FROM LEFT: Mrs Meredith Borcoski, ASP Group CEO David Borcoski, and Pratap Shirke.


IMO Secretary General Admiral Efthimios E.Mitropoulos recently presented certifi cates and fl ags to Capt Brett Whiteoak, BP Shipping and Andrew Douglas, ASP Ship Management (Australia) for the ASP managed tankers British Fidelity and British Loyalty, the most recent ships to be approved and accepted into the AUSMEPA Ship Membership Scheme.

Admiral Mitropoulos said he was pleased to make the presentation which rewarded these two ships for their excellent marine environmental and safety record.

Michael Julian, Executive Director of AUSMEPA (Australian Marine Environmental Protection Association) said the AUSMEPA Ship Membership Scheme had been introduced to award ships which can demonstrate a high level of safety and marine environment consciousness. “To fl y the AUSMEPA Flag is a sign of quality” he said.

The presentation ceremony took place during the NatSHIP 09 conference in Sydney where the IMO Secretary-General was the keynote speaker.

To be approved by the AUSMEPA Board for Ship Membership a ship must be able to demonstrate a good safety and

environmental record. AUSMEPA uses the following guidelines to determine ship quality and assess potential for AUSMEPA ship membership; any one will qualify a ship for consideration:

• Two continuous years free of detention under Australia’s Port State control regime;

• A US Coast Guard QUALSHIP 21 Certifi cate;

• A Green Award Certifi cate

• Any other internationally recognised certifi cate or record providing evidence of the ship’s quality and safety record, e.g. from a ship vetting company.

AUSMEPA ships are entered in the data base operated by Right Ship Pty. Ltd. which keeps track of AUSMEPA member ship’s PSC and other inspections throughout the world. Their database would also show up any signifi cant incidents, should one occur, such as a grounding or collision. Such a monitoring scheme is essential to provide integrity to the AUSMEPA ship membership scheme.

At the presentation Michael Julian acknowledged the support AUSMEPA has received from the shipping and port industries, in particular the Gold Sponsors, including the Australian Shipowners Association.

ENVIRONMENTALAWARENESSRECOGNISED

SONGA FALCON delivery

Pictured above, the newly built chemical tanker Songa Falcon after leaving the Jinse Shipbuilding Company’s yard in Korea in March. The vessel was delivered for management by ASP Tanker Management.

Pictured at the AUSMEPA presentation, FROM LEFT: Capt Brett Whiteoak (BP Shipping), Andrew Douglas (ASP Ship Management Australia), Adml Efthimios Mitropoulos (Secretary General International Maritime Organization), (IMO), and Michael Julian (AUSMEPA).

Picture below showing the Puja ceremony aboard the ship, with Superintendents Capt Ankur Trivedi (far left) and Viktor Dahlen (second from left), with offi ce staff members Sally Noh, Clair and Angelina and members of the crew.


BIG CONVERSION JOB FOR FERRIES

A major construction project was undertaken recently on two ferries managed by ASP Glasgow, converting them from Ro-Ro to Ro-Pax ferries. This included the insertion of new bulkheads in each of two 33,160-tonne ferries , together with a great deal of other complementary work.

The conversion, was carried out to comply with Passenger Class requirements for the United Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and apart from the insertion of the two new bulkheads

on each vessel on the lower vehicle deck, other work included associated underdeck stiffening and re-routing all forward bilge, ballast and fi re mains, involving about 370 metres of pipes of various sizes.

New ventilators were installed in the two voids created and access was made from the lower vehicle deck and main garage deck. The work, supervised by ASP Glasgow fl eet managers Roger Clark and Jim Miller, was completed by Gemac Shipyard at Tuzla Bay in Turkey, in about 20 days

The two vessels, Ro-Pax 1 and Ro-Pax 2, are to enter the passenger ferry trade between Greece and Italy. Each is designed for 200 passengers and 450 semi-trailers or other equivalents. They can also carry 90 railway cars and locomotives.

Ro-Pax 1 after conversion

The US Coast Guard now requires that from May 28, seafarers aboard ships in US waters must have proper credentials.

This new rule requires that each crew member on a foreign commercial vessel en route to a US port or place of destination, or on a US commercial vessel coming from a foreign port or place of departure to a US port, or place of destination, must carry and present upon demand an acceptable identifi cation when in US navigable waters. The vessel operator is required to ensure that crew members comply.

Maritime organisations believe the rule is not unexpected and not particularly onerous. The only compliance problem may be with regard to the effective date.

Foreign seafarers who do not have an acceptable identifi cation document will probably be able to obtain one after 30 days from application. The Coast Guard is expected to exercise reasonable enforcement restraint so mariners can have time to comply.

Acceptable identifi cation documents include: A passport; a US permanent resident card; a US merchant mariner document or US merchant mariner credential; a US Transportation Worker Identifi cation Credential; or a Seafarer’s Identifi cation Document issued by, or under the authority of, a country that has ratifi ed the International Labour Organisation Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (ILO 185), meeting all of the requirements of ILO 185.

CORRECT IDENTITY REQUIRED FOR CREWS ENTERING USA PORTS


The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has adopted the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006), under which a Maritime Labour Certificate (MLC) and a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) will be required to ensure compliance with the Convention for all ships above 500gt in international trade.

The MLC 2006 will enter into force one year after 30 countries with a minimum of 33% of the world tonnage have ratifi ed it. DNV expect the MLC 2006 to enter into force in December 2011/12 based upon EU’s planned ratifi cations before 31 December 2010.

Panama is the fourth and Norway the fi fth Flag state to have recently ratifi ed the MLC, 2006, which has already been ratifi ed by Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Norway, the Bahamas and Panama

MLC 2006 provides comprehensive rights and protection at work for the world’s more than 1.2 million seafarers. The new labour standard consolidates and updates more than 65 international labour standards related to seafarers adopted over the last 80 years.

The Convention sets out seafarers’ rights to decent conditions of work on a wide range of subjects, and aims to be globally applicable, easily understandable, readily updatable and uniformly enforced. It has been designed to become a global instrument known as the “fourth pillar” of the international regulatory regime for quality shipping, complementing the key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Under MLC 2006, all new ships (that is ships which have the keel laid after entry into force) fl agged to a ratifying State must be built in accordance with the requirements in the new convention. It should be noted that it is the laying of the keel and not the date

of the contract that will determine which requirements that have to be complied with.

Regulation 3.1 in MLC 2006 has to be approved during newbuilding phase or if the ship is substantially altered. In addition some requirements in regulation 3.1 will be checked during the onboard inspection.

The requirements related to accommodation are basically about:• the size of rooms and other accommodation• heating and ventilation• noise and vibration and other ambient factors• sanitary facilities• lighting• hospital accommodation

International certifi cation authorities such as GL and DNV have already prepared training courses for achieving compliance with the MLC 2006 requirements.

A comprehensive overview of what should be regarded as a shipping company’s most valuable assets—its crews—was given by the General Manager of the International Ship Management Association, (InterManager) Guy Morel (pictured far right) to a recent conference in Cyprus.

The review, reported in the April 2009 issue of Tanker Operator magazine, encapsulates every aspect of the crew management policies of the ASP Group.

“Ship Managers have realised that seafarers are their most important assets and have gone to great efforts to attract and maintain their quality crews in a world where the hunt for good seafarers and in particular, competent offi cers, has become ruthless,” Morel said. The ongoing situation of global world crew shortages had contributed to a major ship management dilemma.

Crew retention had become a contentious issue and due to intense competition, seafarers had to be convinced that staying with the company is the best solution for them.

“But, as always, you can only satisfy seafarers’ needs by having a deep understanding of what they are,” Morel said. He quoted American psychologist Abraham Maslow who identifi ed a hierarchy of human needs, each of which could be applied to the shipping scene:

• Basic needs, associated with simple physiological provisions to fulfi l survival requirements

• Safety needs, covering job security, fi nancial comfort, health insurance, guarantees of safety at sea and assistance in the case of emergency, career development training and management with the prospect of a long career in the company

PROTECTING OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSETS: OUR SEAFARERS

MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION ALREADY BEING RATIFIED


The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is backing a campaign to meet the worldwide demand for trained seafarers, with support from the ILO, Bimco, ICS/IFS, InterCargo, InterTanko and the ITF.

The IMO quotes studies showing estimated future shortages of 27,000 qualifi ed ships’ offi cers worldwide by 2015 and up to 83,900 even sooner, a defi ciency which will be exacerbated when set against the rise in orders for new buildings.

“Once delivered, these increasingly sophisticated new ships must be entrusted to seafarers who are competent to sail them in a safe, secure, environmentally sound and effi cient manner,” the IMO says in its campaign document.

The document points out: “Shipping carries more than 90 per cent of world trade, and given that the bulk of the trade consists of commodities such as grain and oil, the data leads to the inescapable conclusion that, without shipping, half the world would starve and the other half freeze.”

“This immense job is done by close to 100,000 merchant ships, crewed by more than 1.25 million seafarers from all over the world. Against an estimated total world population of 6.7 billion, these fi gures draw a stunning conclusion: that the feeding and heating needs of the entire world are dependent on just over 1 million seafarers.

“Paraphrasing Winston Churchill’s words, one could say that ‘never before in the history of mankind have so many owed so much to so few.’!”

The IMO said not a single opportunity should be missed to raise the profi le of shipping as a vibrant industry, which provides rewarding, stimulating and long-term career prospects.

The industry itself, however, was both the heart of the problem and the source of the solution to the shortage of seafarers. A career at sea had to be a more attractive proposition for young people than available alternatives ashore. “The industry has, therefore to do much more to improve the way it is perceived and address the sociological (work/life balance) and fi nancial factors which explain the limited attraction to a seafaring career.”

“The Go to Sea” campaign suggests the industry should:• Promote itself more strongly through the media and support and

endorse campaigns aimed at improving its image.• Take a closer look at contemporary lifestyles and do more to make

life away from home more akin to the life enjoyed by others ashore• Offer fi nancial support for establishment, promotion and

maintenance of maritime training facilities.• Encourage women to join the seafaring profession, including

making accommodation and on-board atmosphere more gender-friendly.

• Use existing seafarers to promote shipping as a career, e.g. arranging for Masters and Chief Engineers to speak to young audiences to stimulate their thoughts on serving at sea.

The IMO pledges to take every opportunity to take the message to Governments and key industry fi gures during missions and maritime events, and to visit training facilities and seafarers’ welfare organisations abroad. The International Labour Organisation will also be invited to take a leading role in supporting the campaign.

WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN ADDRESSES SHORTAGE OF SEAFARERS

The important social needs were based on a sense of belonging. “By developing a caring environment beyond the simple satisfaction of physiological and safety needs, companies are giving their seafarers a group with which they can identify,” Morel said.

“Crews need to feel they are part of an organised group rather than a commodity placed there to do a job for a period before being dumped again.”

Crews also had to feel they were part of a larger group, extending beyond the ship, which had regular and substantial interaction with them. Morel identifi ed regular superintendent visits, crew visits to shore offi ces and offi ce staff visits to ships as important elements in this process.

Communication with their families was vital to crew welfare, he said. Wherever possible, crews should be offered the ability to communicate—from the simple sending and receiving of emails, to SMS exchange, voice communication, web browsing and video conferencing.

The fourth level of social need was self-esteem—the need to be respected and recognised. Morel said the shipping industry had

been defi cient in this area, but lately, new thinking was changing, with the recognition that crew loyalty was not due but had to be earned as part of the company culture.

Morel emphasised the role that IT played in all aspects of crew management, from fi rst contact to the management of crew travel, crew documentation, salary and allotment management and the integration of these into computer systems. Morel concluded: “Today, as a result of the fi nancial crisis, we will be tempted to cut back on what is considered to be non-essential: the well-being of our crews. It would be dramatically wrong to do that as it would be unfair to crews, and because we would be in an extremely diffi cult situation when the market moves up again.”

Guy Morel, General Manager, International Ship Management

Association

“So many owe so much to so few”


TOUGHER PORT STATE CONTROL RULES

SHORE STAFF GET SHIPBOARD EXPERIENCEShip and shore met aboard the Oceanic Crimson in Singapore in April, when two young women from the ASP Tanker Management offi ce visited the ship.

ASPTM CEO John Marnoch said the visit had been arranged to serve the twofold purpose of showing the shore staff something of life aboard ship and giving the ship’s offi cers and crew the opportunity to meet some of the people who looked after the interests of the ship and crew ashore.

The visitors were front desk receptionist Nilam Sarie, and technical administrator Zahirah Rahman, for whom the whole experience, from donning their full set of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—overalls and hard hat—at the offi ce, the 40-minute journey by small boat to the ship, to the guided tour of the vessel and a splendid lunch on board, was highly exciting.

Nilam reported that when she fi rst arrived at the Oceanic Crimson she was astonished at the huge bulk of the ship, but the two ladies bravely tackled the ladder to be greeted by Capt R.S. Verma and Chief Engineer Allan Mitchell Saverio. Their PPE was checked and they were given a safety briefi ng before starting their tour.

“First I saw the piping system,” Nilam said,“ and I was totally confused by the complicated maze of pipes, until Chief Engineer Saverio explained the colour coding representing the different functions of the pipes.”

After inspecting the mooring ropes, the ladies were served a sumptuous Indian lunch. “I was especially impressed by the ice-cream and mango milk shake, “Nilam reported. “I never expected to fi nd mango milk shakes on a ship.”

Then followed visits to the engine room, the refrigeration store and the bridge, where they sat in the Captain’s chair and tried the wheel, which they found surprisingly easy to turn, although it was not very comfortable, because their feet couldn’t touch the deck.

The ladies’ visit ended with a game of volleyball – something else they did not expect to fi nd on a ship.

“The visit was so amazing,” Nilam said. “There were a lot of fi rst time experiences for me in being aboard a real tanker instead of seeing pictures on TV and in magazines.”

She said the visitors also gained an appreciation of the life of the crews working in a tough environment, far away from their families. “I send my applause and respect to all the ASP crews,” Nilam said.

FROM LEFT: Zahirah Rahman, Capt. R. S. Verma and Nilam Sarie. FROM FRONT: Nilam Sarie and Zahirah Rahman in the engine control room.

At the start of 2011, port state control authorities in Europe and Canada will introduce a new system of checking ship standards to reward quality operators with fewer inspections, and to scrutinize more closely and more often those vessels regarded as high risk.

The terms of the New Inspection Regime (NIR) were agreed to by members of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control at a recent meeting in Iceland. NIR will replace the existing target of inspecting at least 25 per cent of all ships visiting the region.

NIR was drawn up to complement the European Union’s third maritime safety package and will use various databases to identify high-risk vessels.

Ships will be targeted according to such factors as their age and type, and the performance of their fl ag, classifi cation, owners and

operators. Those deemed as high risk will be inspected at least once every six months, against once every 24 to 36 months for low-risk vessels and once a year for standard-risk vessels.

The MOU committee has also developed guidelines to help port state control offi cers with the implementation of the international Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006)—the ‘seafarers’ bill of rights’—which is expected to come into force in 2011/12.

MOU members have taken measures to improve training for port state control inspectors, and the committee noted the ongoing development of the Rulecheck electronic tool to help inspectors check the application of legislation.

The Paris MOU will work with the Tokyo MOU to conduct a concentrated inspection campaign on lifeboat launching from September to November 2009.


Construction of one of the world’s most advanced maritime training establishments is planned to begin at a site in Pune, India, before the end of this year, with its fi rst intake of students expected to be enrolled at the start of the school year 2011.

The MAC Marine Training and Research Institute, a joint venture between ASP Group, Chowgule Shipping and Mercator Shipping, and being constructed by B.G. Shirke Construction Technology, will have a capacity of 520 students on its 15.8 acre site.

The most up-to-date facilities will include workshops, laboratories and lecture rooms to cater for all branches of maritime studies and technical training, a dining hall with a 600 seat capacity, a residential hostel, a library reading room, a computer station and auditorium and a health and recreation block. Sporting facilities include a swimming pool, basketball, gymnasium and playing fi elds.

The main academic block is designed around an open courtyard on to which classrooms and laboratories open out. The courtyard has also been designed as an amphitheatre where a range of cultural activities can be carried out.

The academic block and the administration block are fl anked by the auditorium and library block, with the reading areas lit by diffused northern light from windows and apertures. A central walkway connects all major structures.

In addition to its undergraduate and basic training courses, the Institute will offer post graduate programs, with residential accommodation, health and recreation facilities provided to students.

Planning well ahead forNEW TRAINING INSTITUTE

The academic block and administration section (Artist’s impression)

The students’ dining facility (Artist’s impression)

BELOW: Director’s accommodation buildings (Artist’s impression)


Following the decision by the Royal Australian Navy to put the supply vessel HMAS Sirius into dry dock several months earlier than originally planned, the ASP team in Rockingham West Australia had to pull out all stops to generate a docking specifi cation package and carry out a competitive tender to the only two Australian dockyards large enough to accommodate the vessel – Forgacs in Brisbane and Thales in Sydney.

Because of the short notice, the scope of work was limited to 65 essential items including underwater survey, painting, and repair tasks. The remainder of the required work was planned to be completed following the ship’s return to Rockingham.

Forgacs’ Cairncross dockyard in Brisbane was selected by ASP and the Navy to carry out the work, and a contract was signed for docking to begin on April 16 with a scheduled undocking date of May 9. A team of six Rockingham-based ASP staff, led by Chris Rigg, fl ew to Brisbane to oversee the work for the duration of the docking period and the program was ultimately achieved on time and under budget.

ASP Rockingham Manager Mike Mutlow told ASPects: “We were concerned that due to prevailing wet weather conditions at this time of the year in Brisbane, we may have been pressed to maintain the tight schedule. In the end, good fortune was on our side and the conditions remained dry throughout the docking period, enabling our programmed dates to be achieved”

Shortly after undocking and with harbour and sea trials completed, the ship departed Brisbane on May 14 bound for Rockingham, taking the southerly route around the Australian coastline. En route, heavy seas were encountered but Sirius eventually arrived safely back at her home port of Garden Island in Rockingham on May 25, with the ASP team ready to undertake the remaining tasks associated with this fi rst Special Survey. It was anticipated that Sirius would complete this “wet phase” of the work package by the end of July.

The BP tanker British Loyalty undertook her fi rst Special Survey at Sembawang Shipyard, Singapore in April this year. In addition to the survey work extensive steel work modifi cations were conducted as a result of reported high fatigue areas in cargo tanks which had lead to cracking in other vessels in the same class.

During the 26 days docking period, the main scope of work involved hull painting, overhauling cargo gear and fabric maintenance. However the critical path for the refi t was the work in the cargo tanks. More specifi cally this work involved re-welding and stiffening highlighted areas of concern around her lower stool space areas and corrugated bulkheads. Repairs were also made to her ballast tank stool spaces that had suffered from paint detachment.

ASP Australia Ship Manager Tim Asome said: “Great team work and commitment by Sembawang Shipyard and ASP Tanker Management managed to reduce the repair time by 14 days from the quoted period. “The resultant reduction in dry docking costs drew praise and thanks from the client, in these times of heightened spending awareness.”

The vessel loaded her fi rst cargo in Singapore 36 hours after leaving the yard and worked a passage back to her home port of Brisbane, including her fi rst visit to Melbourne since ASP Tanker Management has been operating the vessel.

SPECIAL SURVEY FOR BRITISH LOYALTY

NAVY SUPPLY SHIPDOCKING CHALLENGE

BELOW: Repairs and maintenance to the deck crane.


The value of using “riding squads” for on-board repair and maintenance was amply illustrated with the drydocking of the Silver Fern tanker Torea in June.

The vessel carried a riding squad before and during the docking, thus signifi cantly reducing time in drydock and keeping costs to a minimum. The Torea completed a docking of only 14 days at Sembawang ship yard in Singapore.

“In today’s harsh economical environment it was imperative to keep the down time of the vessel to a minimum,” ASP Tanker Management Fleet Manager Stevan Connolly told ASPects.

He said it was the fi rst time the riding squad concept had been used in the New Zealand shipping industry and the main work of the squad was the deck painting. The success of the concept was the result of the co-operation of the riding squad on board completing the preparation work on the main deck and the ship’s crew completing the fi nal painting of the deck on the return voyage to New Zealand.

Other major work completed included generator surveys, and modifi cations to the tank wash system and sounding points in the cargo tanks.

ABOVE RIGHT: Examination of the propeller. RIGHT: Deck painting was a major task for the “riding squad” aboard the ship.

New regulations covering the protective coating of water ballast tanks for ships over 500gt came into force on July 1 this year for all keels laid from January 1, 2009. The mandatory regulations will then apply universally to all vessels delivered from January 1, 2012 onwards.

The Performance Standards for Protective Coatings (PSPC), adopted in December 2006 by the IMO to be included within SOLAS, apply specifi cally to the protective coatings used for dedicated seawater ballast tanks in every

type of vessel. The aim is to reduce ballast tank corrosion, which is deemed to have been somewhat neglected in the past, because of its non-earning function, compared with cargo tanks.

A target of 15 years useful life has been set for the coating, during which time it will be classifi ed as being in good condition, according to a defi nition used by the International Association of Classifi cation Societies (IACS). This has been identifi ed as the time needed for enhancing the structural

integrity of the vessel by avoiding the effects of corrosion, thus improving safety at sea. The new performance standards have already been applied to tankers’ ballast tanks and double side skin spaces since December 2006.

The PSPC regulation covered improved procedures and better quality control through increased inspection requirements at all stages in these three main areas:• Surface preparation, primary and secondary, including

requirements for profi le, cleanliness and shop primer• Coating application, including surface preparation at

all stages, dry fi lm thickness (DFT) and recognised qualifi cations for coating advisors

• Coating quality, including type, pre-qualifi cation and specifi cation.

While shipowners will benefi t from lower maintenance costs and higher retention values, there will be additional costs at the new building stage to meet inspection criteria. It is estimated that new building costs could increase by up to 10 per cent.

Longer ship building times could also result from the shipyards’ requirement for increased documentation and the need to train specialised staff. There will also be fewer options for shop primer, ballast tank coating systems and DFT.

RIDING SQUADSPROVE THEIR WORTH

Tough new BALLAST TANK REGULATIONS


GREEN CONVERSIONFOR SUPER YACHT

One of the more unusual recent projects for ASP Scandinavia has been the “greening” of the Northern Cross, a 330 tonne, 43 metre luxury super yacht based in San Remo, Italy, after the owner asked ASP to convert the yacht into an environmentally friendly vessel.

The ASP team contracted a specialist company to supply products and services, particularly biodegradable cleaning products. Many conventional products can end up in the ocean to the detriment of marine life, and can also expose crew and guests to harmful vapours and chemicals.

In addition to the cleaning products, the contractor, Earthly Supply Company, based in Antibes, France also supplied eco friendly linen and towels, as well as long-lasting, clean-burning candles which leave no residue. Another special product is toilet paper which dissolves in fi ve minutes—something of great interest to engineers familiar with clearing sanitary systems!

ASP has also established a planned maintenance system for the Northern Cross, tailored to the special demands of a luxury yacht.

The vessel has fi ve guest cabins, all ensuite and six cabins to accommodate eight crew members. Flatscreen TV, DVD, CD and music systems are installed throughout the vessel, which is fully air-conditioned. A range of water skiing, fi shing and scuba diving and snorkelling equipment is carried.

LEFT: The Northern Cross anchored in San Remo.BELOW: The Saloon area.

The latest addition to the Croatian Uljanik Plovidba Group fl eet, the oil/chemical tanker Kastav, was handed over by the builders, 3 Maj Brodogradliste, at the yard in Rijeka, Croatia, in May.

Kastav is the fourth Uljanik Tanker Management Inc vessel to be managed by ASP Tanker Management (ASPTM), and represents a continuing good relationship between the two companies.

The handover ceremony was attended by local dignitaries, including the Mayor of Rijeka, senior maritime representatives from the Port Authority and Croatian Register of Shipping and representatives from Uljanik and ASP senior management.

FOURTH CROATIAN TANKERFOURTH CROATIAN TANKERJOINS FLEETFOURTH CROATIAN TANKERJOINS FLEET

ASP was represented by Group CEO David Borcoski, ASPTM CEO John Marnoch, and Fleet Safety Manager Capt Robert Walker and Pratap Shirke.

The vessel was received by Mr Dragutin Pavletic, Director of Uljanik Plovidba, and his staff, including Mr Igor Budisavljevic, Fleet Manager of Uljanik Tanker Management. Capt Denis Arseta took command of the vessel with the hoisting of the Croatian Flag of Registry on the halyard.

The Kastav is 30,638gt, length 195 metres, and is currently trading world wide on the spot market.

LEFT: Chief Engineer Zelijko Cargonja, John Marnoch (ASPTM), CRS Rijeka Manager Mario Hodiac and Capt Denis Arseta.


GENERAL MANAGER FOR ASP CREW MANAGEMENT APPOINTED

Former ASP Group Training Manager Ben Brooksby has been appointed General Manager, ASP Crew Management (ASPCM). The creation of the new post refl ects the need for even more focus on crew management to ensure that the ASP Ship Management

Group can continue to grow in today’s critical worldwide manning situation.

The new Singapore based role will manage the international crew operations and report to COO Australasia, Bob Bird and COO Europe, Chris Kirton.

In addition he will oversee the executive management within ASPCM, India, Ukraine and Philippines to improve overall crewing operations and profitability. The key aspects of Ben’s new role are:

• Lead the international crew management operation’s focus on improving levels of service to their key customers i.e. the various ASP Ship Management companies and third-party clients alike.

• Work with the crewing companies and their customers to ensure that proper levels of short and long term planning are in place in respect of current and future vessel manning.

• Push enhanced procedures across the international crewing companies ensuring only the best qualifi ed seafarers are recruited and employed by internal ASP and third-party fl eets.

• Match more closely the Group Training activities currently undertaken by ASPCM companies and third-party providers.

• Maximise benefi ts of the new ERM database system to both the ASP ship management and crewing companies worldwide.

• Coordinate the commercial aspects across all ASPCM companies for the crewing group i.e. crewing budgets, costs, fees and new business bids.

Ben took up his new appointment in Singapore in April.

International Bunker Supplies (IBS), the ASP subsidiary company which provides bunkering services for ships in and off the Port of Gladstone in Central Queensland Australia, has delivered its one millionth tonne of bunker fuel, since the company began operations in June, 2002.

Based in the Port of Gladstone, IBS provides bunkering services through the bunker barge Larcom, either at the berth(s) in port, or at either of the two anchorages.

IBS marked the occasion of the one millionth tonne, which was delivered to the vessel Port Botany in Gladstone on June 23rd, with the presentation of a commemorative plaque by IBS CEO Mark Patman to the Master and crew of the Larcom, and to Matthew Lynam, the IBS Bunkering Offi cer in Gladstone.

Mark told ASPects the client for the one millionth tonne was Pacifi c Basin Shipping (HK) Ltd, and that a similar plaque will be presented to the client company at a bunkering conference in October.

LANDMARK BUNKER DELIVERY FOR IBS

TOP: Mark Patman presents plaque to Matthew Lynam and Mark Waugh.LEFT: Presentation of the commemorative plaque to the crew of the Larcom, from left: CEO Mark Patman, Master, Mark Waugh, Chief Offi cer Rob O’Sullivan (front), Chief Engineer Allan Reif, GP Andrew Druett and GP Roger Butcher.

RIGHT: The IBS one millionth tonne plaque. The plaque will be presented to the client company, Pacifi c Basin Shipping (HK) Ltd,


DIRTY BRIDGE WINDOWFACTOR IN GROUNDINGAccident investigators have identifi ed a dirty bridge window as a factor in the grounding of a Scottish ferry earlier this year.

The vessel sustained substantial hull damage after striking a reef while leaving the port of Oban in Western Scotland.

A preliminary examination by the Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) found that with the sun directly ahead, the Master had found it diffi cult to see through the dirty bridge window and had arranged for it to be cleaned.

But he also “inexplicably” decided to make an early turn, prior to the cleaning taking place, and although the second offi cer raised the alert and full astern pitch was applied, the vessel momentarily grounded on the reef. Although the hull was badly damaged, there was no water pollution, the MAIB report noted.

The MAIB acknowledged that the vessel’s operators had investigated the incident and taken a number of steps to avoid a repeat of such an event. It also highlighted the lack of a pre-departure brief, as well as the need to monitor a vessel’s position in relation to an agreed passage plan.

It was important also, to ensure that bridge teams were not distracted at critical times by routine husbandry tasks.

In a letter to the operating company, the MAIB ‘strongly advised’ it to regularly monitor the performance of the bridge teams to ensure compliance with procedures and to verify that appropriate standards were being maintained.

Flag states should strongly discourage the carrying and use of fi rearms by seafarers for the protection of a ship, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has advised after its meeting in London in May to approve revised guidance on combating piracy and armed robbery against ships.

Seafarers, it was agreed, are civilians and the use of fi rearms requires special training and aptitudes and the risk of accidents with fi rearms carried on board ship is great. Carriage of arms on board ship may encourage attackers to carry more fi rearms or even more dangerous weapons, thereby escalating an already dangerous situation.

Any fi rearm on-board may itself become an attractive target for an attacker. Carriage of fi rearms may pose an even greater danger if the ship is carrying fl ammable cargo or similar types of dangerous goods.

It was agreed that the use of unarmed security personnel is a matter for individual shipowners, companies, and ship operators to decide. The carriage of armed security personnel, or the use of military or law enforcement offi cers (duly authorized by the Government of the Flag state to carry fi rearms for the security of the ship) should be subject to Flag state legislation and policies and is a matter for the Flag state to authorise, in consultation with ship owners, companies and ship operators.

The MSC reviewed the latest statistics on piracy and armed robbery against ships, in particular off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, where ships continue to be attacked

ARMED RESISTANCE TO PIRATE ATTACKS DISCOURAGED

and hijacked, despite the concerted efforts of the international community, spearheaded by IMO, navies and the industry, to protect shipping.

The number of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships reported to the IMO to have occurred in 2008 was 306, against 282 during 2007, representing an increase of 8.5 per cent. In the fi rst four months of 2009, 157 incidents were reported to IMO.

The revised guidelines to ships Masters and crews includes a new annex aimed at seafarers, fi shermen and other mariners who may be kidnapped or held hostage for ransom, based on the current United Nations guidance on “surviving as a hostage”.


A group of ASP staff and crews went on a cruise in April down the Dnieper River in Ukraine – but it wasn’t all fun and games. They were taking part in a senior officers’ and shore management training Forum, and their cruise ship, the Dnieper Princess, was the Forum venue as well as their hotel during the seven day journey from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, to the port of Odessa on the Black Sea.

ASPCM General Manager Ben Brooksby told ASPects that living aboard the cruise vessel gave the Ukrainian participants a unique opportunity to get together with Group management and shore staff for informal discussions and the exchange of views and experiences.

“This kind of gathering is a key tool in company cultural development,” he said.

During the voyage, participants were able to make shore excursions during breaks in the Forum sessions, and had plenty of opportunities for informal discussions and exchange of views and experiences.

LEFT: At lunch between lectures on the Dnieper Princess: From left: Group CEO David Borcoski, Anatoliy Drozd ASP Ukraine, Group Training Manager Capt Shorey, ASP Ukraine CEO Capt Pashegor, and ASPCM General Manager Ben Brooksby.

RIGHT: David Borcoski giving opening address to Forum delegates.

After a welcome address by ASP Odessa Crew Management CEO Capt Peter Pashegor, the opening address to the Forum was given by ASP Group CEO David Borcoski, followed by a training report by Ben Brooksby.

Other sessions were headed by ASP UK Operations Assistant Jerry Wiszniewski, ASP Ukraine Fleet Training Superintendent Anatoliy Drozd, ASP Group Training Manager Capt Purnendu Shorey, and Ukraine trade union representative Nikolay Barskiy.

Subjects covered included P&I claims, positive reporting, navigation errors, electrical safety, control of hazardous substances, fatigue and stress management and bridge resource management. An incident case study was also held. Furthermore, discussions were held on the importance of training both sea and shore staff to comply with company policies and procedures. The Forum closed with an address by Capt Peter Pashegor.

A report on the Forum was carried by the Ukrainian maritime magazine Sea Truth Weekly, based on an interview with Anatoliy Drozd.

CREW MANAGEMENT FORUM HELD ONUKRAINE RIVER CRUISE


The fi rst of a series of Advanced Bridge Resource Management training courses was held in May at the ASP Training Centre in Mumbai by Capt Purnendu Shorey with oversight by BRM expert Capt Ravi Nijer.

Following the course, the eight participants responded with positive and enthusiastic feedback.

The course dealt in detail with all Advanced BRM (Human Factors Related) modules including:

• BRM – The Missing Link

• Introduction to “Human Factors in Marine Accidents”

• Hazards, Losses & Defences

• Decision Making & Communication Barriers

• Cultural Infl uences (National, Professional & Organisational)

• Situational Awareness and Cognitive Bias

• Stress and Fatigue at Work place

• Automation (Advantages/ Disadvantages)

• The BRM Way

The Course was attended by seagoing staff, Capts Akhilesh Ghatak; Ritesh Sheth; Behamanshah Dastoor and Thomas Varghese; Second Offi cer Bhupendra Ambekar and Third Offi cer Sherwyn Fernandes. Also participating were ASP Kolkata Crewing Manager Capt Sumit Dasgupta; and Marcelino Bautista Jr., Trainer from the ASPCM Training Centre, Manila.

The next level of in-house BRM development was achieved in June when Capt Shorey sailed on the Star Cruises passenger vessel Superstar Virgo on a voyage from Singapore to Port Klang and return.

SPECIAL BRM COURSES HELD IN MUMBAI

Since Star Cruises practices the procedures involved in this level of Bridge Resource Management, the basic purpose of the educational voyage was to obtain an insight into the hands-on application of Advanced BRM fundamentals on a sea going vessel.

Group Crew Management General Manager Ben Brooksby said that by the end of the year, ASPCM expected to have regular stand-alone three-day in-house BRM courses, as a key function of Group training.

“We see this as the greatest single factor in creating the company culture we aspire to. The aim is to have our offi cers, both deck and engine, thoroughly grounded in Advanced BRM and ERM procedures and practices, based on current human factor theory,” he said.

FROM LEFT: Superstar Virgo Staff Captain, Safety Offi cer andMaster Capt Gottberg (right) with Capt Shorey.

ASP Crew Management (ASPCM) India is now providing crew for the 280,000dwt bulk ship Prem Putli, after her recent conversion from a VLCC to a VLOC for her owner, Mercator Shipping.

Her fi rst voyage after conversion in July, was from Brazil to China under the command of Capt Gajanan B.Karanjikar (pictured above right with his crew), who began his career as a Chowgule Shipping cadet and has subsequently served with ASPCM India. Capt Karanjikar attended the entire conversion of the vessel at the Yulian yard in China.

ASPCM INDIA takes on big bulker


NEW PA FOR GROUP CEOASP Group CEO David Borcoski has a new Personal Assistant. She is Lisa Hoffmann (LEFT), who took up her new job in June after starting at ASP as receptionist three years ago. Lisa replaced Kara Vaina, who had been with ASP for more than six years and left to await the birth of her fi rst child.

Previously, Lisa worked in theatre as a wardrobe manager, organising costumes for stage productions, including Sunset Boulevard and Phantom of the Opera. Lisa started her working life in nursing, but soon left

to take up her theatre career, which included six years in London, as well as in leading Australian theatres. She provided costuming for many well known Australian actors, including Hugh Jackman, Marina Prior and Debra Byrne.

Assisting Lisa is another new appointee, Administration Assistant Genevieve Mason (RIGHT), who joined ASP on June 1 from New Zealand, where she had worked as a para-consultant for a recruitment agency and in human resources with an employment recruitment function. Genevieve attended art school in New Zealand and still paints. She also played soccer and hopes to join a team in Melbourne.

Lisa and Genevieve will also be providing assistance to Group CFO Adrian Whatley and Group Technical Director Chris Kirton.

CORRECTION & APOLOGY Our apologies to Gladstone, Australia Superintendent Alan Unsworth, whose career as Chief Engineer we inadvertently shortened in our report of his appointment in the April issue of ASPects. Alan achieved Chief Engineer rank in April 2007, not December 2008 as we reported.

MUMBAI SUPERINTENDENTA Chief Engineer in the ASP Tanker fl eet has been appointed Superintendent of ASP Crew Management India in Mumbai. He is Dinesh Rampal, who began his sea career as a Junior Engineer with Shipping Corporation of India in 1996, and served on many different ship types, including VLGC (Gas Carriers) ULCC, VLCC, AFRAMAX tankers, chemical tankers and bulk carriers. In 2004 he joined the ASP Tanker Fleet, serving as Second Engineer and later as Chief Engineer.. He is currently studying for an MBA degree from Mumbai University and is a corporate Member of the Institute of Marine Engineers of India.

FLEET TRAINING SUPERINTENDENT APPOINTEDCapt Ajeet Singh has recently joined ASP India as a Fleet Training Superintendent, based in Mumbai, following the promotion of Capt Shorey to Group Training Manager. Capt Singh’s role will involve both on-board training in the fl eet and teaching in the ASP Training Centre in Mumbai.

He has served in the IMC Shipping fl eet, has wide experience in both Panamax and Handymax class ships and has been Master in oil and chemical tankers since 2006.

STAFF APPOINTMENTS

NEW GROUP TRAINING MANAGERCapt Purnendu Shorey, formerly manager of the ASP India Training Centres in Kolkata and Mumbai, has been appointed ASP Group Training Manager.

Responsibilities of the role will include all fl eet and shore based training activities both afl oat and at ASPCM Training Centres, and the maintenance and continuous upgrading of training standards.

Capt Shorey started his career as a deck cadet in 1990, and has sailed on a variety of vessels, ending his sea going service as Master on container vessels in 2005, when he was recruited as a Superintendent in the

Manning Division of Fleet Management Limited.

He later moved to a Senior General Manager’s post at ISF Maritime Services, Mumbai, where his three years of service allowed him to explore various aspects of marine services including training, surveys, inspections and accident investigation before joining ASP India in October 2008 as Training Superintendent.


WORLDTRAVEL NEWSWorld’s longest golf coursePERTH – The world’s longest golf course has been offi cially launched between Western Australia and South Australia. The 18 hole, par 72 Nullarbor Links Golf Course stretches 1,365 kms from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia with one hole in each participating town or roadhouse along the way. The Nullarbor Links Golf Course allows golfers to tee off in either location and follow the course along the Eyre Highway, playing a hole in each location, some as far as 100 kms apart.

Farewelling freedomThe days of the wild one-night “buck’s turn” for men about to face the marriage altar seem to be changing. These days, grooms-to-be are looking out for newer ideas of enjoying the end of their solitary status. In the United States, they consider going alligator hunting in Louisiana with baited chickens. This hair-raising experience is mostly conducted in marsh airboats that seek to pull in alligators that have taken the bait the previous night. The bachelor is the one to kill the animal by a rifl e, handgun, bow or a sports knife.

If the bachelors are willing to travel up to Ireland they can experience innumerable fun activities, and the Icelandic glaciers are wonderful for ice trekking. But if the bachelors favour safari expeditions, then South Africa is the place for catches of impala, wildebeest and zebra or, more challenging the smart, strong and extremely territory-conscious cape buffalo. If these options are not attractive, bachelors may also head for Scotland for a nice game of golf.

Royal Caribbean all-a-twitter over Oasis of the SeasRoyal Caribbean is using social and digital media to launch its new cruise ship Oasis of the Seas. The menu includes “webisodes”, a blog written by Royal Caribbean’s chairman Richard Fain, Twitter ‘tweets’ and a countdown newsletter. The Oasis of the Seas webisodes give a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring the 16-deck cruise ship with a capacity of 5,400 passengers to life. When she is launched in December 2009, the 220,000grt Oasis of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world. She will have 16 decks and 2,700 staterooms. The ship will sail from her homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

TRAVEL

New modern luggage rangeTravelpro, the original inventor of Rollaboard luggage and leader in innovative, high-quality luggage, introduces Platinum 6, its new fl agship collection designed to meet the unique needs of business and frequent leisure travellers who seek durability and style in their travel gear. The strikingly innovative Platinum 6 collection takes you to the next level of luxury travel. From the chrome accents to the sealed ball bearing wheels and sleek moulded corners, this elegant luggage is a bold fusion of fashion, functionality and lightweight durability.

“Deadly” mangoesThe latest example of America’s Transport Security Administration in action: X-ray equipment used by screeners lead to a Columbus, Ohio airport summoning a bomb squad to detonate a suspicious item that turned out to be pickled mangoes. The screeners could not decide what was in a sealed canister in luggage being inspected labelled “baby food.” TSA offi cials say they were suspicious when the woman who owned the suitcase claimed the canister held pickles. A fi re department bomb squad removed the item from the airport and detonated it. They found mangoes. One blogger wrote: “I’m amazed that they (TSA) were outwitted by the superior mental capabilities of their formidable adversary.” Another commented: “In this case, I’d say they were man-no-goes.”

Beach behaviorThe most common beach holiday violations are hogging chairs, urinating in the pool water and littering. The most prevalent complaints are about loud music and smoking. A survey of tourists revealed that almost 84 percent think holding chairs for someone else is bad behaviour. “My bugbear is when people throw a towel over one of the highly sought-after sun lounges/cabanas, and then go AWOL,” complained one respondent. Smokers came in second at 82 percent. As for attire, more than two thirds think it’s a big deal for women to wear revealing bikinis while slightly less say the same for men and Speedos. One respondent was irritated by people who “either go topless or wear tiny little dental-fl oss bikinis on the beach or by the pool.”

US-UAE codeshareUnited Arab Emirates carrier Etihad Airways and American Airlines plan closer co-operation through a codeshare, if the agreement receives regulatory approval from the US government. This will pave the way for closer commercial ties between the two airlines. The codeshare will further extend the two airlines’ global networks by providing easy access between Abu Dhabi and key cities in the US including Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston which have previously been unavailable to Etihad passengers.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL CONSULTANTGerard Lucas, recently appointed international travel consultant at Mariner Travel, was born in Bangalore, India but gained most of his experience in the travel industry in Dubai, where he spent 13 years mostly doing work for the corporate section.

He came to Australia to do 18 months in retail travel, before returning to the corporate function with Mariner Travel. Gerard and his wife Petuala have a three year old daughter, Gretchen.


How to win $US1000! ASP offers an annual prize of $US1000 for the best and most suitable essay published each issue for the year ending with the August 2009 issue. Write about your life at sea or anything else you think interesting and mail it to The Editor, ASPects, ASP Ship Management 473 St Kilda Road, Melbourne Vic 3004 Australia, or email it to

[email protected]

ESSAY COMPETITION

The ASP Group supports The Mission to Seafarers

“THE DEVIL IN THE BELLY OF A BANK LINE” By Mahesa Abeynayake

The delicate knock on the door woke me from a deep sleep. I could see the silhouette of a face, his shiny white teeth the only thing visible in the dark. I turned on the light. One look at the smiling face told me my sleep time was up. His olive skin was glowing, not due to any divine intervention, but from sweat pouring around his black singlet and shorts.

He said sheepishly “The Devil beckons”.

It was 15 minutes to midnight. That was my “quarter call” from the previous watch’s greaser (engineer). It was time to go down to “the pit” to encounter the Devil himself.

After a quick splash of some water on my face, I slid into the battered overalls that were once white, and headed down the three tiers of ladders to the ship’s engine room.

On the top platform I could see the cylinder heads bobbing up and down. That was most unusual for a slow speed, two-stroke diesel engine – but this was no ordinary piece of machinery. She was a mighty Harland and Wolf opposed piston, two-stroke engine built in

Belfast in 1956. The 9600 BHP (7061 kW) engine gave the ex-Bank Line vessel a strong 13 knots in good weather.

On the middle level, I saw the same singlet and shorts-donned greaser disappear between the noisy, hot engine to top up the cylinder oil on each of the six main engine units. This was the hottest job on the watch, hence his sweaty appearance.

The bottom platform was 50 degC. There were two blowers on port and starboard for ventilation. The senior watch keeper had the privilege of hanging onto the main air start valve under the blower, with the full force of the warm air on his partly-bald head, causing his remnants of hair to fl y upwards. Most engineers on these old vessels were bald from this rigorous hair treatment.

The other junior engineer was hanging on to the fuel lever. His job was to pull the lever back when the propeller lifted above the water and then increase fuel when the propeller settled back down – the only way to control the speed on the old Harland and Wolf engine.

The junior engineer had been doing this manoeuvre all watch due to the adverse weather conditions. In this type of weather the “Old Girl” would be doing two or three knots or none at all. The senior engineer on the 12 – 4 watches took over the lever task while I proceeded to take over the greaser’s watch.

No auto controls, sauna-like conditions and a heavy oil purifi er pouring out sludge, the result of some poor quality oil from some exotic port. Each shift was like a dance with the Devil himself, and just as hot.

Our one thought was that climb back up the ladder - our transition to Heaven, topped off by a cold shower in the common bath area.

I spent two years on the “Old Girl”. Yet it was a sad day when the faithful old Bank Line ship was ramped up to full speed and beached at the breakers’ yard, somewhere in Pakistan.

GENEROUS DONATIONWe are delighted to announce that Capt H’Tay Lwin, who won the prize of $US1000 in the ASPects Essay Competition for 2007-08, has donated his prizemoney to the cause of children who lost their parents in the disastrous hurricane in Myanmar in May last year. We salute his generosity and humanitarian ideals.

Capt Lwin is Master of the vessel Eagle Pioneer which was managed by ASP at the time of his award.

www.aspships.com

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INDIA7th Fl, 571 Solitaire Corporate Park,Andheri - Ghatkopar Link Rd,Chakala Andheri (East), Mumbai 400-093Contact: Hirakesh RoyT: +91 22 6602 9000M: +91 9833 125 226F: +91 22 6602 9047Email: [email protected]

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