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The MISSION of The Merchant Navy Association is to bring all serving and retired Seafarers together in a spirit of

companionship, consideration and commitment towards a united lobby for the Community of the Sea Hi Shipmates,

Please find below more snippets of information since circular #07 was published 11th May 2021

My thanks to MNA National Secretary, Pete Sinke’s daily publication “Maasmond Maritime - Shipping News

Clippings”, Lloyds List, gCaptain, Maritime London, Flashlight and many others from the T’internet, not

forgetting the items sent in by Readers and any other source I can access.

MNA National Contact Points Chairman, Malcolm Mathison - Mobile: 07831 622 312 Email: chairman@mna.org.uk

Secretary, David Parsons Tel: 01935 414 765 Email: secretary@mna.org.uk

Welfare & Events, Tim Brant, - Tel: 01733 205001, Email : events@mna.org.uk

Membership, Roy Glencross - Mobile: 07738 425 875 Email: membership@mna.org.uk

MNA Slop Chest, The Supply Officer:- Sandra Broom Tel 0121 244 0190

shop@mna.org.uk

Full Ahead Editor, Sandra Turner,fullahead@mna.org.uk Tel 01889 585 588

Change of Address???? If any member has changed any of their contact details (Postal, E-

mail or Telephone) it is important that you inform the following people by email:- membership@mna.org.uk, secretary@mna.org.uk, events@mna.org.uk, chairman@mna.org.uk

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RAMFORM HYPERION berthed at the Saltburn Jetty at Invergordon

Photo : David Meek ©

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The Merchant Navy Association Bringing Seafarers past & present together

Through meetings and communications Comradeship and Support for all seafarers

Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets

For information visit our website

www.mna.org.uk

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HELP – Operation Pedestal. Max Hasings has just written Operation Pedestal about breaking the siege of Malta.

He mentions L Commander Roger P Hill Captain of HMS Ledbury one of the destroyers that towed the

tanker Ohio into Malta.

Roger Hill had a son Chief Officer on a vessel where there was an accident and he was killed. Has

anyone details of what ship was involved and where and when?

Respond to R546060@aol.com or chairman@mna.org.uk Please. RONK

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Sea trial completed for hospital ship Global Mercy Stena RoRo is leading the project for the

construction of the GLOBAL MERCY™, the

world's largest civilian hospital ship. After

several years of construction at the Tianjin

Xingang shipyard in northern China, the final

test, the official sea trial, has now been

completed with good results. The shipyard will

present the ship for delivery this summer and

the vessel will then sail to Antwerp in Belgium

on its maiden voyage, where some members of

the crew will board and the medical equipment

supplemented. This will be followed by a visit

to Rotterdam, and after this the Global Mercy™

will be ready for its first important mission in

West Africa. Stena RoRo is building the

GLOBAL MERCY on behalf of the international charity organization Mercy Ships, which provides free

life-changing healthcare to people in some of the world's poorest countries. The project began in 2013

and Stena RoRo is responsible for design, contracting and execution. The construction project is unique in

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its kind and places major and specific demands on both design and layout, dependent on the special needs

that hospital operations entail. On board are operating theatres and hospital wards, and everything needed

for both patients and those working on board, including schools and preschools for the children of the

volunteers.

The sea trial, which the GLOBAL MERCY has just

completed, means that the ship's systems and

functions – such as engine performance and fuel

consumption, navigation and radio equipment,

manoeuvrability and safety systems – are tested for

several days at sea. "The purpose of a sea trial is to

ensure that the ship's systems are working properly

during operation and that the requirements of the

specifications and applicable standards are met," says

Per Westling, CEO Stena RoRo. "The hospital

services to be provided on the Global Mercy entail

increased requirements for good ventilation and minimization of vibrations, for example. This was also

checked and she was approved on all counts." Global project under Swedish management The Global

Mercy is the result of a global collaborative project with the participation of a number of subcontractors

from around the world. Swedish Stena RoRo is leading the project and Finnish Deltamarin is conducting

work with design. A French shipbroker, Barry Rogliano Salles, (BRS Group), assisted in preparing the

contract and the ship is being built at the Tianjin Xingang shipyard in northern China. The vessel, that is

classified by the Lloyd's Register in the United Kingdom, will sail under the Maltese flag and operate

along the coast of Africa. Stena RoRo has based the project on a concept for passenger and cargo ships

for international travel in the RoPax class. The concept has been modified to a purely passenger ship

design with hospital activities. The Global Mercy will have six operating theatres, 200 hospital beds, a

laboratory, a patient clinic and an eye and dental clinic. In total, she will be able to accommodate 950

people, of which 641 are crew. "For a few years now, our team has consisted of up to 16 members,

stationed at the Tianjin Xingang shipyard," says project leader and site manager Rikard Olsson, who has

been in China with his family almost continuously since 2016. "The team has mixed nationalities and

part of the job has been to reconcile the different cultures. An important task has been to ensure that the

ship is built according to the specifications. For this shipyard, this is the first time this kind of ship, which

can be compared to a cruise ship, has been built. We have worked hard to meet the required standard and

everything has gone very well. We are very pleased with the collaboration with the shipyard." In addition

to providing free medical and dental care, Mercy Ships contributes to building up local healthcare

infrastructure by training local healthcare staff. This is why the Global Mercy is equipped with first-class

training facilities, including equipment for virtual reality training and other simulations of care and

methods for use in environments with limited resources. "The GLOBAL MERCY is a special project that

we are proud to be a part of. Mercy Ships is doing a fantastic job and with the new ship, their capacity to

provide free medical care to many extremely vulnerable people will be more than twice as large," says

Per Westling, who in 2017 visited the sister ship Africa Mercy when it was based in Madagascar. This

summer the GLOBAL MERCY will be delivered from the shipyard. The maiden voyage will be to

Antwerp in Belgium where some members of the crew will board and the last medical equipment

installed, which will take a few months. After that, there will be two weeks in Rotterdam in the

Netherlands, where festivities will be held in presenting the ship to sponsors, potential volunteers and

other interested parties. The first mission will be during 2022, when the GLOBAL MERCY is expected to

call at Dakar in Senegal. There will then be more than six hundred volunteers aboard from all over the

world and from a variety of professional categories, who will make it all possible through their

contributions of skills and time. More than 93 percent of the population in sub Saharan Africa do not

have access to safe surgical care *. The already very fragile medical care systems are at risk of being

further degraded by the corona pandemic, and the need for basic but vital care is greater than ever in

many poor countries. The Global Mercy will make a big difference for many people in southern and

western Africa.

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About the Global Mercy:

Length: 174 meters

Breadth: 28.6 meters

Draught: 6.15 meters

Gross weight: 37,000 tonnes

Deadweight: 4,500 tonnes

Total area: 30,000 square meters

Since 1977, Stena RoRo has led the development of new marine RoRo, cargo and passenger concepts.

We specialize in custom-built vessels, as well as standardized RoRo and RoPax vessels. The company

leases about fifteen vessels to operators worldwide, both to other Stena companies and third parties. Stena

RoRo specializes above all in applying its technical expertise to the design and production of new ships

and the conversion of existing ships for delivering tailored transport solutions to its customers. We call

this "Stenability". Since 2013, we have been responsible for the design and completion of Mercy Ships’

new hospital vessel the Global Mercy – the world's largest civilian hospital ship. Through its hospital

vessels, Mercy Ships provides free high-quality healthcare, building up healthcare capacity and providing

sustainable development to those with the least resources. Mercy Ships was founded by Don and Deyon

Stephens in 1978 and has since operated in more than 55 developing countries, contributing care and

development worth more than SEK 17 billion and treating more than 2.8 million people. Ships' crews

consist of approximately 1,200 volunteers each year from more than 60 countries. They are surgeons,

dentists, nurses, nursing educators, teachers, chefs, sailors, engineers and agricultural experts who

volunteer their time and skills. With offices in 16 countries and an African center, Mercy Ships strives to

make a difference for individuals and to assist nations.

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"DUTCH GOV’T OFFERS TO VACCINATE FILIPINO SEAFARERS" The Dutch government has offered to include in its vaccination program Filipino seafarers serving Dutch

owned and managed oceangoing vessels, according to Administrator VAdm. Robert Empedrad of the

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

Appearing on the program, DJ Surdo Online Radio, VAdm Empedrad yesterday disclosed that Dutch

maritime authorities made the generous offer during the recent bilateral meeting between the Philippines

and the Netherlands. Last week MARINA and Dutch officials held the virtual Philippines-Netherlands

21st Joint Committee on Maritime Affairs (JCMA) to discuss maritime issues common to both countries

and how to sustain their cooperation in addressing these concerns.

There are about 22,000 Filipino seafarers serving onboard Dutch-owned and controlled international ships

and the Dutch shipowners’ association, the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR),

continues to provide assistance to the state-run Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT) in Leyte.

“During the JCMA with the Dutch they informed us that if there were Filipino seafarers na nasa barko

nila na hindi pa nakakauwi and they are going to vaccinate yung seafares nila, they will include our

Filipino seafarers,” VAdm Empedrad announced during the popular among overseas Filipino workers

(OFWs).

The MARINA official also told the program that other countries are also willing to extend similar kind

gesture. He said they expressed this during his meetings with his counterparts in those countries.

“Tutulungan din tayo ng ibang bansa kung saan nandoon na yung mga seafarers natin. We will be

coordinating with them na kung pwede isama nila yung mga Filipino seafarers natin (in their vaccination

program) and they said it’s okay with them,” he added, but did mention these countries. source : PH

Imaritime

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Hext hits out at two-faced charterers for including no-crew change clauses in

contracts https://splash247.com/hext-hits-out-at-two-faced-charterers-for-including-no-crew-change-clauses-in-

contracts/

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Billionaire Jeff Bezos Spending $500 Million on Three Masted Superyacht Posted: 10 May 2021 06:35 AM PDT

Yacht Eos, reported to be similar but smaller than Bezos’ new yacht.

Bloomberg is reporting that Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos is spending upwards of $500 million to have a

417 feet (127-meter) long three-masted superyacht built at Oceano in the Netherlands.

Few details are available on the newbuilding, but reports are that it will have a second yacht as a tender

and that the tender will be large enough to have its own helipad. (It has been suggested that the rigging on

the superyacht would interfere with landing a helicopter.)

In terms of size, the new yacht will be roughly twice as long as the clipper ship Cutty Sark, and, in

financial terms, will cost twice what Bezos paid when he purchased the Washington Post newspaper in

2013.

Bezos has an estimated net worth of over $200 billion. Spending half a billion dollars on a superyacht

represents one-fourth of one percent of that.

What will Bezos’ superyacht look like? Bloomberg reports that in 2019, Bezos got a taste for the yachting

life, vacationing on Eos, the sailing yacht of friend Barry Diller and his wife, fashion designer Diane Von

Furstenberg. … Bezos’s sailing yacht will be similar to Diller’s.

The Eos is a 305 feet (92.92m) long three-masted Bermuda rigged schooner.

The post Billionaire Jeff Bezos Spending $500 Million on Three Masted Superyacht appeared first on Old

Salt Blog.

‘Ow much?? !! _____________________________________________________________________________________

The CHIRP Charitable Trust is pleased to announce the publication of

MARITIME FEEDBACK 63.

FEEDBACK 63 is the second bulletin of 2021 and contains reports on a motor yacht fire, the cover up of

the presence of COVID 19 on board, a report on engine issues in bad weather raising issues on leadership

and communication with the company. There is also a report on the interaction of recreational vessels

with fishing vessels and the replacement of a speed log whilst underway. MFB 63 is available online in 4

languages; English, Chinese, Portuguese and Filipino.

MFB 63 is freely available online here.

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Weymouth Lifeboat station is looking for a very special volunteer The RNLI’s Lifeboat Station in Weymouth is looking for a volunteer to lead the existing team in the role

of Lifeboat Operations Manager. When the current LOM steps down from the role in September.

Weymouth is one of the RNLI’s busiest lifeboat stations on England’s south coast.

It operates two lifeboats – “Ernest and Mabel”, a Severn class all-weather lifeboat, plus a B class Atlantic

85 inshore lifeboat “Jack and Phyl Cleare”.

The impact you will make

This role will help the RNLI save lives at sea by carrying out the day to day management of the lifeboat

station to ensure a permanent state of readiness for service.

What you will be doing

§ Authorise launch of the lifeboats

§ Provide leadership of the operations team

§ Ensure that all operational activities are carried out to maintain the lifeboats and all associated

equipment in a constant state of readiness for launching on service

What you need for this role

§ Team player

§ Good communicator

§ Leadership skills

§ Local maritime knowledge

§ IT literate (desirable)

§ Knowledge of the RNLI (desirable)

What’s in it for you

§ Join an inclusive and diverse organisation

§ Have fun, meet new people and join a motivated and enthusiastic team who are making a difference

§ Learn skills and gain experience to enhance your CV

§ Gain the satisfaction of giving back

§ Training to fulfil your volunteer role will be provided and reasonable out of pocket expenses

reimbursed

Please apply online or if you have a question please contact the RNLI’s Volunteering Team on 01202

663346 or by email volunteering@rnli.org.uk

https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/lifeboat-operations-manager-

441972.html?_ga=2.253680393.1870936474.1619513010-1489045846.1608037515

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ReCAAP: Seven Armed Robbery Assaults Against Ships Were Recorded in

Asia in April In April 2021, seven incidents of armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia. No piracy incident

was reported. The ReCAAP ISC is concerned with the continued occurrence of incidents on board ships

while underway in the Singapore Strait. In April 2021, five incidents were reported in the eastbound lane

of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. There was no report of abduction of crew

in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah, Malaysia in April 2021. However, the threat of

abduction of crew remains high, given the information such as the operation on 3 Nov 20 by the

Philippine authorities in preventing a kidnap-for-ransom plan by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the

military operation on 23 Apr 21 by the Philippines Armed Forces against members of ASG (page 14 of

this Report). Source: ReCAAP

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Press Release

The Merchant Navy Welfare Board gets national recognition through formal agreement with MCA

Seafarers’ and fishers’ welfare has been boosted following the signing of a formal agreement between

the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Merchant Navy Welfare Board.

The Memorandum of Understanding sets out ways both will work together to coordinate their approach

to the provision of welfare for seafarers and fishers.

It sets out the specific responsibilities of the two organisations, as well as committing to sharing

information about matters affecting seafarers’ and fishers’ welfare, seeking advice and consulting on

other issues.

The MoU formally designates the MNWB as the UK’s National Seafarers’ Welfare Board in accordance

with ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The MCA and the MNWB have been working together on

welfare matters for years. In recognition of an already strong relationship, this formal agreement

demonstrates the UK government’s ongoing commitment to seafarers’ and fishers’ welfare and has

most recently included support to get crews home during the pandemic.

The potential of a working partnership with the MNWB has already been seen – alongside The

Seafarers’ Charity – with the provision of free mobile WiFi units for those seafarers stuck on ships during

the pandemic, so they could stay in touch with friends and family. The government initiative showed

how a partnership can be to the benefit of all seafarers.

Robert Courts, Maritime Minister said: “The MCA and the Merchant Navy Welfare Board have been

doing a fantastic job of supporting seafarers during the pandemic.

“Signing a formal agreement reinforces our commitment to put welfare at the heart of the maritime

industry both domestically and internationally, giving seafarers that extra assurance as we rebuild the

sector and look to the future.”

Julie Carlton, Head of Seafarer Safety and Health at the MCA’s UK Maritime Services, said: “This is an

important step in ensuring we continue to work closely together, making the best use of the expertise

and capabilities of each organisation. It will also help ensure seafarers’ and fishers’ welfare continues to

be supported in our ports and through other services.”

Capt. Andrew Cassels, MNWB Chairman said: “We are delighted that the MCA has formally recognised

the ongoing, collaborative work of the Board by formally designating the MNWB as the UK’s National

Seafarer’s Welfare Board. In particular, the agreement recognises the important contributions made by

our many Constituent member organisations and voluntary Port Welfare Committees.”

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As part of this relationship, the MCA will nominate a senior member of staff for appointment to the

MNWB’s Council of Management, and representatives to attend Port Welfare Committees, Forums and

Working Groups.

The Memorandum of Understanding sets out the following in terms of the joint approach:

• Ensure an integrated approach to the provision of welfare to seafarers and fishers.

• Provide the most effective use of resources and expertise to ensure compliance with seafarers’ and

fishers’ welfare provisions of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and ILO C188 Work in Fishing

Convention.

•Promote collaboration of UK seafarers’ and fishers’ welfare at national, regional and local levels to

ensure that effective procedures are in place and implemented.

• Review existing welfare facilities in ports to ensure the correct provision in the right places.

• Promote awareness of each organisation’s role in the provision of welfare to seafarers and fishers to

improve collaboration and communication where necessary.

• Help to ensure that no seafarer or fisher is left without welfare support in the context of the

responsibilities of the UK Government as set out in ILO MLC, 2006 and C188.

• Promote cooperation with other Member States of the ILO to promote the welfare of seafarers and

fishers at sea and in port.

Footnote. Efforts to obtain national recognition of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board has been a long

process, which began long before my retirement, in 2017, as its chief executive. It is the result of

culmination of huge positive efforts by many people. The Board, established in 1948, was the original

seafarers’ welfare board. It has since been used as the template by the International Labour

Organisation (ILO) within those parts of its conventions that cover seafarers’ welfare in ports – most

recently within the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006. This formal partnership between the

Agency and the Board marks a major milestone which will both strengthen welfare provision in the UK

and also, hopefully, encourage other ILO member states to follow suit. David Parsons, National

Secretary

Notes to editor

The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) is acting as the National Seafarers’ Welfare Board in

accordance with ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 Regulation 4.4 (MLC, 2006) and Resolution VIII

adopted by the International Labour Conference (ILC) at its 94th session supporting fishers under ILO

C188 Work in Fishing Convention, in accordance with Resolution VI adopted by the ILC at its 96th

session, and under MCA’s Marine Guidance Note MGN 486 (M+F). The MCA/DfT does not generally

provide financial resources for welfare. Welfare is primarily funded through charities. Any government

funding would be ad hoc and justified case by case. The MNWB www.mnwb.org is the umbrella charity

for the UK Merchant Navy & Fishing Fleets. It has 45 Constituent member organisations providing

welfare support to serving and retired UK seafarers, and their families; These organisations provide a

plethora of welfare services ranging from care homes to financial assistance with many supporting

international seafarers. For further information visit https://www.mnwb.org/contac

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Fin Whales Found Dead Beneath HMAS Sydney at US Naval Base Posted: 12 May 2021 07:55 AM PDT

As if anyone needed a reminder of how vulnerable whales are to ship strikes, when HMAS Sydney pulled

into Naval Base San Diego over the weekend, it brought with it a grim cargo. The carcasses of two fin

whales were dislodged from beneath the hull of the Royal Australian Navy destroyer. One whale was

20m long while the other was about 8m and are suspected to have been a mother and a calf.

HMAS Sydney has

been in the area

conducting joint

exercises with the US

Navy since early

April.

“The Royal Australian

Navy can confirm that

as HMAS Sydney was

berthing alongside

Naval Base San Diego

in California two deceased whales dislodged from her hull beneath the surface,” the statement said.

“The US Navy and the Royal Australian Navy are co-operating with the NOAA (National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries and other agencies to review the incident.

Thanks to Alaric Bond for contributing to this post. The post appeared first on Old Salt Blog.

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Ever Given Insurer Says Egypt's Reduced Claim is Still Too High UK Club, an insurer of the container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March, said on Monday a

reduced compensation claim made by the Egyptian authorities for almost $600 million to free the vessel

and cover related losses was still "exceptionally large". The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) adjusted its

claim from an initial $916 million in an effort to settle out of court, SCA head Osama Rabie told private

TV network MBC Masr on Saturday.

The EVER GIVEN, one of the world's largest container ships, was jammed across the canal for six days

from March 23, stopping traffic in both directions. The vessel, still loaded with thousands of containers,

is being held in a lake between two stretches of the canal amid the dispute about the level of

compensation SCA has claimed from the Japanese owner Shoei Kisen. Rabie said on Saturday there was

no immediate prospect of a settlement. "We haven't seen any response from their side so far, so we are

moving forward with the issue, as we were, in the court," he said. UK Club said the reduced amount

proposed had not been reflected in SCA's claim filed at court. "The EVER GIVEN's owners still have not

been provided with evidence that would support a claim of this size, which remains exceptionally large.

The Ever Given's interests continue to negotiate in good faith with the SCA," it added.

An Egyptian economic court is due to hold a hearing on May 22 to consider the SCA claim for what it

describes as losses due to the blockage and costs for dislodging the ship, SCA sources said. An Egyptian

investigation into the incident found no wrongdoing by the SCA or its pilots, the sources said, without

elaborating. One source said the court could authorize the SCA to auction off the ship if the owner

rejected any ruling to compensate the canal authority. Rabie has also mentioned such an outcome. An

Egyptian court rejected an appeal by Shoei Kisen against the Ever Given's detention earlier this month.

Source: Marinelink (Reporting by Jonathan Saul and Yousry Mohamed; Writing by Mahmoud Mourad;

Editing by Aidan Lewis and Edmund Blair)

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Where did That phrase/saying come from? Bearing in mind we had at least two mills locally, these sayings derive from milling.

Grind to a halt: The gap between millstones can be adjusted to give control over the fineness of the

grain. When the stones meet they literally grind to a halt

Damsel in distress: The damsel is a spindle that strikes the shoe to make grain drop into the eye of the

millstones. There's a strap that runs across the hopper and is held down by the weight of the grain. When

the grain runs out, the strap springs up and causes a bell to ring each time the damsel strikes the shoe. The

ringing bell is called a 'damsel in distress' and the miller would have a bell with a different ring on each

hopper so that he knew which grain had run out.

First come, first served: This was the law for millers in many countries. Because it could take days for a

farmer to have his grist ground, the law was designed to prevent impatient customers (or those receiving

special treatment from the miller) from queue jumping.

Wait your turn: When referring to the rotation of a

windmill’s sails, ‘turn’ (not ‘spin’) is the correct term. had to

wait in line-often for days-until the windmill would ‘turn’ to

grind his grain.

Keep your nose to the grindstone: If set incorrectly,

millstones could grind too hot and the flour would become

cooked, emitting a burning smell. Occasionally, flour would

burst into flames. The miller kept his “nose to the grindstone”

to detect the temperature and condition of the meal - and

because most windmills are made of wood, they could (and

frequently did) burn to the ground in a matter of minutes.

Come to a grinding halt: If the millstones ground too close

while the wind was dying, the mill would ‘come to a grinding

halt’. The phrase now seems to apply to bad brakes on a car, or

anything that stops both suddenly and awkwardly.

Rule of thumb: To test the quality and grind of the flour, the miller would take a pinch of it between his

thumb and finger. If too coarse, the flour would be ground again.

Three sheets to the wind: A (four-sailed) windmill with only three of its sails covered in ‘sheets’ of

canvas will turn clumsily because it is off balance. Thus, the term is applied to drunks.

Fair to middling: The quality of ground meal would be fair, middling, or fine. To be ‘fair to middling’ is

to be below one’s best.

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War Graves Week - A week to Remember Today, 21 May, marks the anniversary of the founding of the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves

Commission in 1917. Over 100 years after our work first began, we continue to care for the resting places

of the war dead of the two World Wars, ensuring their memory lives on. For our first ever War Graves

Week, we want communities to come together to learn about the shared World War heritage on their

doorsteps. Learn more about our first national awareness week in the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lBERQPc0PQ

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Royal British Legion Celebrates it’ Centenary at the Cenotaph Saturday 15th May

marked 100years of

service to the Armed

Forces. Because of

Covid the service

was kept very simple

with a minimum of

attendees (7

including the Welch

Guards Bugler). In

addition to

representatives from

the Royal Navy, Army and Airforce the Merchant Navy was represented by Falklands Veteran, Martyn

Coombs MNM, the Military Widows were also represented by Emma Gray all of whom laid wreaths.

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MARITIME CHARITIES EXTEND FUNDING FOR RETRAINING UNTIL

END OF YEAR The Maritime Charities Group (MCG), Trinity House, Nautilus Slater Fund and the Merchant Navy

Welfare Board have announced the extension of the MCG Retraining and Redundancy Bursary Fund until

the end of this year. The fund, which is administered by the Marine Society on behalf of MCG, provides

extra cash for training and refresher courses and is aimed at merchant seafarers who’ve lost work due to

Covid-19 and want to stay in the industry. 48 applications have been approved since the fund was

launched last November and over £20k awarded in grants, but another £20k is still available.

Chair of MCG, Commander Graham Hockley LVO RN explained: “The fund was due to close at the

beginning of May but with furlough coming to an end in September and many jobs under threat, the need

for this kind of support hasn’t gone away. With no government funding available for seafarer retraining,

it makes sense to extend the scheme.”

The charities want to spread the word, especially to ratings, ferry crew and female seafarers. Commander

Hockley continued: “The response so far has been really good but less so from ratings, ferry crew and

women. Our message to these groups, and to any other UK-based seafarer who’s lost work due to the

pandemic, is that the MCG bursary could help you get back into employment or retrain for a new role in

the industry. It covers everything from certificate renewal to writing job applications, from retraining to

interviewing skills. Just go to the Marine Society website and apply today.”

Applicants can claim up to £500 towards training or qualifications of their choice. To find out more about

the MCG Redundancy and Retraining Bursary Fund and how to apply go to https://www.marine-

society.org/redundancy-fund

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Wind-Assisted Containership Receives Class Approval in Principle https://gcaptain.com/wind-assisted-containership-receives-class-approval-in-

principle/?subscriber=true&goal=0_f50174ef03-c14747e63c-

139894965&mc_cid=c14747e63c&mc_eid=4c72dd3685

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Merchant Navy Association can receive a donation from online shopping Hi

Did you know that every time you shop on line, the Merchant Navy Association resaves a donation from

the supplier, at no cost to you, no hype in in original cost, so it’s a win, win for both of us.

You can do this either online or on your phone app.

So sign up and put us as your nominated charity.

If you would like more help in setting up, please call me on 07738 425875

Thank you

Roy Glencross, National membership secretary

_____________________________________________________________________________________

MARITIME CHARITIES EXTEND

FUNDING FOR RETRAINING UNTIL END

OF YEAR The Maritime Charities Group (MCG), Trinity House,

Nautilus Slater Fund and the Merchant Navy Welfare

Board have announced the extension of the MCG

Redundancy and Retraining Bursary Fund until the end of this year. The fund, which is

administered by the Marine Society on behalf of MCG, provides extra cash for training and

refresher courses and is aimed at merchant seafarers who’ve lost work due to Covid-19 and want

to stay in the industry. 48 applications have been approved since the fund was launched last

November and over £20k awarded in grants, but another £20k is still available.

Chair of MCG, Commander Graham Hockley LVO RN explained: “The fund was due to close at

the beginning of May but with furlough coming to an end in September and many jobs under

threat, the need for this kind of support hasn’t gone away. With no government funding available

for seafarer retraining, it makes sense to extend the scheme.”

The charities want to spread the word, especially to ratings, ferry crew and female seafarers.

Commander Hockley continued: “The response so far has been really good but less so from

ratings, ferry crew and women. Our message to these groups, and to any other UK-based seafarer

who’s lost work due to the pandemic, is that the MCG bursary could help you get back into

employment or retrain for a new role in the industry. It covers everything from certificate

renewal to writing job applications, from retraining to interviewing skills. Just go to the Marine

Society website and apply today.”

Applicants can claim up to £500 towards training or qualifications of their choice. To find out

more about the MCG Redundancy and Retraining Bursary Fund and how to apply go to

https://www.marine-society.org/redundancy-fund

ENDS

For all press enquiries, please contact Laura Simons, Consultant to MCG, on 0774 773 2039 or

email laurasimons@lms2.co.uk n _____________________________________________________________________________________

World’s Largest Iceberg Breaks Off from Antarctica May 19 (Reuters) – A giant slab of ice bigger than the Spanish island of Majorca has sheared off from the

frozen edge of Antarctica into the Weddell Sea, becoming the largest iceberg afloat in the world, the

European Space Agency said on Wednesday. The newly calved berg, designated A-76 by scientists, was

spotted in recent satellite images captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission, the space agency said in

a statement posted on its website with a photo of the enormous, oblong ice sheet.

https://gcaptain.com/worlds-largest-iceberg-breaks-off-from-

antarctica/?subscriber=true&goal=0_f50174ef03-b0155a95bb-

139894965&mc_cid=b0155a95bb&mc_eid=4c72dd3685

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MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

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The Pulse

Lerwick lifeboat in line for upgrade By : Stuart Prestidge Lerwick lifeboat station will be one of the first five

across the UK that will see an overhaul of its Severn

class lifeboats so they can continue saving lives at

sea for another 25 years. The Severn, the largest and

most powerful class of lifeboat, entered service in

1996 with an operational lifespan of 25 years; and

now the 44 vessels in operation are approaching

retirement age and are due to come off service.

However, the charity’s expert in-house engineering

team, working in partnership with academic and

industry experts, has established that the lifeboats’

hulls can continue operational service for another 25

years via a life extension upgrade. Additionally the

Severn’s wheelhouse will be redesigned and a wide range of upgrades and extra safety features added,

ensuring the vessels can operate safely and effectively for another 25 years. Nick Fenwick, project

manager for the RNLI’s Severn life extension programme, said: “From shock-mitigating seats for the

crew, to new survivor space seating for casualties and a new daughter craft that can be launched quickly

for rescuing casualties in shallow waters or close to rocks, the life extension upgrades will ensure our

Severn class lifeboats are ready to save lives at sea for another 25 years. “The upgrades will bring the

technology and systems onboard the Severn class lifeboats right up to date. A key upgrade will be the

installation of the Systems and Information Management System, also known as SIMS.” The average

anticipated cost of each life extension upgrade is £1.25 million, significantly less than the cost of

designing and building a brand-new class of lifeboat to replace the Severn. Angus Watson, engineering

and supply director, added: “I am so excited to announce our plans to extend the operational life of our

Severn class lifeboats. “Our Severns are often located in the more remote locations across the UK and

Ireland, where the crews are often required to sail out longer distances in the most challenging sea

conditions. ”Work is already underway on the first vessel to receive its life extension upgrade with all

work on the initial seven vessels from five stations taking place at the RNLI’s all-weather Lifeboat Centre

in Poole, Dorset. Source : shetlandtimes

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Historic Tall Ship Zebu Aground, Flooded, on Holyhead Breakwater This has been a terrible few days for

the historic tall ship Zebu. On Thursday, the

100′ long brigantine, built in Sweden in 1938,

encountered unspecified difficulties and had to

be towed out of shipping lanes off Wales by

the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

(RNLI). The ship was towed to an anchorage

at Holyhead.

On Saturday, the ship broke from its moorings

and drifted onto the Holyhead New Harbour

breakwater, where she became hard aground. A rescue mission was launched by HM Coastguards’

Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre – but was ultimately unsuccessful. The ship heeled over as the

tide fell, rolling more than 45 degrees and subsequently flooding.

Zebu had been heading to Bristol for conservation work from her base at the Royal Albert Dock in

Liverpool.

Zebu is a registered historic traditional brigantine rigged tall ship and was declared the National Historic

Ships regional flagship of the year for the north-west in 2020.

Capsized ship Zebu near Holyhead. Sunk by the breakwater tall ship.

Thanks to Robert Kennedy for contributing to this post. The post appeared first on Old Salt Blog

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MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

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The Pulse

A ship rams Gerrit Krolbrug in Groningen. Swing bridge total loss, skipper

detained The tanker BODENSEE from Mannheim rammed the Gerrit

Krolbrug in Groningen around midnight on Friday night. The

bridge is badly damaged. A scooter rider drove onto the

bridge, it is unclear whether he was injured in the collision

with the 110 meter long tanker. The ship was en route from

Strasbourg to Delfzijl and carried four crew members aboard.

The old swing bridge lies over the water and seems a total

loss. The National Police Unit reports this on Twitter the

bridge remains blocked for the time being and that the skipper

of Bodensee has been arrested.

Bicycle bridges probably still usable. For the time being it

seems that the high bicycle bridges have remained

undamaged. They are still closed for investigation but are

likely to be released later in the morning. A traffic light has

broken down.

Source :Newspaper of the North (Translated from Dutch article)

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U.S. Coast Guard, tugboats assisting container ship off Monterey coast

following engine fire By Dan McMenamin A container ship off the coast of Monterey reported an engine fire

early Friday morning but no injuries have been reported as a result

of the blaze, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The crew of the

NYK DELPHINUS, which was bound for the Port of Oakland,

reported the fire to Coast Guard Sector San Francisco at 4:54 a.m.

while it was about 50 miles west of the Monterey coast. There

were 24 people aboard the ship at the time and the Coast Guard

sent a boat and two helicopter crews to the area, with one

transferring a dewatering pump to the ship. Resolve Marine, a

maritime emergency response company, contracted five tugboats

to assist the NYK DELPHINUS. The Coast Guard, the state of

California and Resolve Marine established a unified command for

the response, with a focus on "the safety and well-being of the

crew, controlling the fire, and mitigating pollution," the Coast

Guard said in a news release. No other details about the fire were

immediately released. Source: foxktvu

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Incidents in Enclosed Spaces Incidents in enclosed spaces have been a serious problem for many years within the operation and

management of ships.

Guidelines, incident information, and preventive measures are constantly updated, and even included, in

the SOLAS 1. The distribution of this information to ships and crew members, along with its use in the

education of crew members and the operation of ships, are some of the most important responsibilities of

companies that manage and operate ships.

This report includes information about incidents involving enclosed spaces on ships and subsequent

actions that should be considered in order to prevent these incidents occurring again.

Long article but worth a read for those interested in SAFETY – and that means YOU

https://www.ukpandi.com/news-and-resources/articles/2021/incidents-in-enclosed-

spaces/?dm_i=33T,7DO34,LGE99N,TYHLL,1 Source: - UK Club

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Photo: Jaspar Moulijn

MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

15

The Pulse

Arthur Beale: London Chandlery Closing after 500 Years,

Victim of the Pandemic and High Rents Posted: 19 May 2021 07:50 AM PDT

London’s yacht-chandler Arthur Beale will close its doors on

June 24, after being in business for more than 500 years.

Located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in what is now London’s

West End, the store is shutting down due to high rents and the

impact of the pandemic.

Originally founded by rope-maker, John Buckinghams,

sometime around 1500, no one knows how old the business is

exactly. In 1890, Arthur Beale joined the company as an

office boy. The shop was re-named after him in the early

1900s.

In addition to providing supplies for ships and yachts, their

rope was used for British expeditions to Mount Everest and

Antarctica. The firm also supplied ice axes to polar explorer,

Ernest Shackleton; the flagpole for Buckingham Palace and rigging for escapologists, and the window

displays of Selfridges department store.

How did a chandlery end up in London’s theater district? In the 16th Century, large numbers of flax

plants were grown in fields in that part of London, which were used to manufacture boat sails and rope.

“The shop started off life as a rope maker, so all the materials had to be as close as possible to where the

rope was being made,” co-owner Hugh Taylor told the BBC.

“A lot of people think it’s bizarre that there’s a yacht chandler in London but 500 years ago the Thames

was pretty important from a nautical perspective and all the Everest explorers would come to the shop in

London for their supplies,” he added.

Although Arthur Beale will close next month, Mr. Taylor said the company will be opening a warehouse

outside London and become an e-commerce business

“Our hope and aspiration is that we will be home for Christmas in a pop-up, and then one day in the

future, we hope to return to London.”

Thanks to d dobs for contributing to this post. The post appeared first on Old Salt Blog.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Netherlands-flagged, 2010 built,

motortanker 'VINOTRA 10',

11.571 DWT, beam 22,8 meters,

entering Hansweert Locks with 24,0

meters beam, from Antwerp,

destination Rotterdam.

Photo : Alexander Hoogstrate.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

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The Pulse

Modular Molten Salt Nuclear Power for Maritime Propulsion File image courtesy Core Power

PUBLISHED MAY 14, 2021 6:14 PM BY HARRY VALENTINE

Evolving modern modular molten salt nuclear technology

incurs comparatively lower cost while using a zero-pressure

reactor and lower non-weapons grade uranium fuel. A module

measuring 13 feet by 23 feet using a briefcase-sized load of

solid fuel weighing 440 pounds could deliver 100 MW of

thermal energy for up to 25 years. This potentially cost-

competitive technology has potential for future commercial

ship propulsion, along with multiple stationary floating power

generation applications.

Introduction

Several navies around the world operate scaled-down versions of nuclear power stations aboard ships and

submarines to provide propulsion and ancillary power. The onboard nuclear reactors are cooled by high-

pressure water and many (including the U.S. Navy’s reactors) require weapons-grade uranium for fuel.

While such propulsion technology is suitable for a naval vessel, it has zero application in commercial

civilian ship propulsion.

New developments in nuclear technology are based on an old idea involving the molten salt reactor,

which can operate free from high pressure water and offer greater long-term operational safety while

being suitable for mass production, reducing capital cost.

The technology uses solid non-weapons grade uranium fuel mixed into a chloride salt that melts at 750

degrees F in a pressure-free reactor. Any mixture that should ever leak out of the reactor would cool and

solidify, free from any explosion. For maritime propulsion, the technology is comparable to a battery that

holds sufficient charge to provide up to 25 years of propulsion at variable power settings. The carbon-free

propulsion system saves many years of expense on fuel oil for transoceanic propulsion, providing the

maritime industry with an economic and environmental case for its use.

Power output

The modular molten salt reactor delivers up to 100 MW of thermal energy at sufficient temperature to

generate steam to activate turbines, which drive electrical generators. Unlike earlier nuclear technology

that has to operate continually at constant power output, the molten salt reactor can rapidly adjust its

power output and adapt to external demand. A single module could deliver between 4,000 and 26,000

horsepower in either propulsive or stationary floating generator station applications.

The generating system would run on steam power and used seawater to cool the condensers when

required when operating at elevated levels of output, with potential for organic Rankine-cycle engines to

convert a portion of the exhaust heat to useable power.

Many vessel operators reduce sailing speed to 12 knots to save fuel and reduce engine exhaust emissions,

while others sail their ships at 18 to 24 knots. A trio of modular molten salt nuclear reactors connected to

steam power conversion could provide sufficient power to sail the largest bulk carriers and the largest

container ships economically at elevated speed. Slower ships could use a single molten salt reactor as a

primary source of propulsion, perhaps with a back-up piston or turbine engine.

Transportation terminals

Many advances are occurring in electric battery storage technology applied to the transportation sector.

This includes short-sea maritime, commercial roadway, railway and even short-haul airline propulsion.

There are many locations internationally where maritime ports are located within close proximity to

airports, both of which connect directly or indirectly to road and railway transportation. Future battery-

electric propulsion provides opportunity to install modular molten salt reactor technology at major

transportation terminals to provide energy recharge for a variety of short-sea maritime vessels, commuter

aircraft, trucks, buses and even railway technology powered by any of batteries, overhead cable or third

rail.

MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

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The Pulse

At some locations, there may be scope to use floating technology to carry several modular reactors, the

result of seasonal peak traffic at some major transportation terminals. Floating technology could move

internationally to spend a few weeks to a few months at locations requiring peak seasonal electric power.

Land based modular reactors located next to the ocean would provide base-load power throughout the

year. Modular reactors would be able to generate hydrogen for mainly aircraft propulsion, with hydrogen

also being made available to some forms of maritime, railway and road vehicle propulsion.

Reusing spent fuel

Molten salt nuclear technology has the potential to reuse spent fuel from older nuclear power stations. It

can do so at a very high level of safety, eliminating high-pressure water from the reactor while the molten

salt material contains the radiation. Reusing reprocessed spent fuel offers a long-term cost advantage in

terms of the expense of hydrocarbon oil fuel. As the fuel approaches expiration, much of it is recyclable

via reprocessing while non-recyclable material would be cast in concrete and stored until full expiration

after a period of about 100 years.

Conclusion

The modern modular molten salt nuclear reactor has potential to fulfill multiple applications in the

maritime sector, including propulsion and floating power generation. It has the potential to power a

commercial vessel for the entirety of its normal lifespan without refueling.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

SVITZER SARAH is undergoing annual dry dock works along with replacement of Voith rotor casings

port and starboard. at Cammell Laird The SVITZER TRIDENT has already been in dock this year and the

SVITZER STANLOW is expected to arrive once SARAH departs. Svitzer is a much-valued customer of

Cammell Laird and plays an integral role in assisting in vessel movements within our facilities.

Photo : Cammell Laird

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MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

18

The Pulse

Demand, supply and competitiveness in the global container shipping industry

Register for webinar 1-2pm (BST) 9 June 2021 1-2pm (BST) 9 June 2021

This live and interactive webinar, organised by Maritime London in partnership with members MDS

Transmodal Ltd, will discuss the changes in the global deep-sea container market. The topics will include:

Long term trade growth and the erratic trends of the last 12 months which led to a Q4 2020 demand 5%

more than any other previous quarter

Slow growth in liner service capacity so that utilisation levels are now very high

Deteriorating service quality (reliability, port calls completed) as demand has led to port congestion and

ships being off schedule

A major spike in rates, exacerbated by a lack of equipment (i.e. containers) in major export areas (empties

now having been returned earlier in the year)

A wider reflection on the role of liner shipping on creating connectivity between trading countries

Trends in carbon emissions

Increasing concentration in the control and ownership of liner service capacity

Host & Moderator: Jos Standerwick, Chief Executive, Maritime London

Presenters:

Mike Garratt, Chairman, MDS Transmodal Ltd

James Hookham, Chief Executive Officer, Global Shippers’ Forum

Tim Morris, Chief Executive Officer, UK Major Ports Group

NB: We suggest to use Google Chrome or Firefox to register for online events whenever possible - copy

and paste the link below https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/ML-MDST-containers.

If you experience further difficulties with the registration please email us.

REGISTER HERE https://maritimelondon.us4.list-

manage.com/track/click?u=37649efa0846545f45ffa2c1a&id=8ed2938f3d&e=e4b64af742

Maritime London

Representing the UK's world leading maritime services sector

Maritime London

38 St Mary Axe

London

EC3A 8BH

UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7929 4999

Email: enquiries@maritimelondon.com

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Dredging begins on southern section to widen, deepen Suez Canal THE Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has begun dredging operations that will extend a second lane for two-

way traffic in the southern section of the canal, reports Rotterdam's Dredging Today. The project will

extend the two-way south of the Great Bitter Lake and will be carried by the largest dredger in the Middle

East.

Previously, the grounding of the 20,000-TEU Ever Given delayed the passage of countless vessels

through the waterway, disrupting global trade. "To immediately start implementing the proposed

development plan and put in place a timetable for completion as soon as possible," said Egyptian

President Abdel Fattah.Said Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie: "This will lead to improvements in

the ability of the guide and the captain of any ship to navigate inside the canal." Source : Schednet

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MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

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The Pulse

Cyclone Tauktae: 74 Seafarers Missing, Multiple SAR Ops Under Way The Indian Coast Guard has been

engaged in a series of back-to-back emergency response efforts

after Cyclone Tauktae cast four oil and gas vessels adrift off the

coast of Mumbai, sent a tug aground off Karnataka and left

multiple vessels in distress off Maharashtra and Gujarat. The

Indian Coast Guard swung into action in advance of the storm's

arrival, mobilizing rescue teams and patrol vessel crews. The

lessons learned during Cyclone Ockhi in 2017 - when hundreds

of fishermen went missing in severe weather off the coast of

Kochi - were on full display, and this time the authorities made

early and proactive efforts to direct over 6,000 fishing boats

back to port in advance of the storm. Oil and gas interests were

also alerted to the need to make preparations for heavy weather.

However, Cyclone Tauktae left multiple vessels and their crews

in distress, and the Indian Coast Guard has been working hard to

rescue hundreds of personnel in simultaneous high-stakes SAR

operations. At an oilfield about 40 nm southwest of Mumbai, the

work barges P305 (Papaa-305), GAL CONSTRUCTOR and SS-

3 (Support Station-3) - operated by Afcons Infrastructure on a

contract for India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) -

were all cast adrift by winds of up to 110 miles per hour and waves of up to 26 feet. Despite forecasts

predicting extreme weather, all three barges were manned with hundreds of personnel when the cyclone

arrived.

The P305 sank in the storm with 273 people on board. As of Tuesday night at least 74 were still missing,

according to local reports, and Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy search efforts continue. The naval

vessels INS BEAS, BETWA, TEG, KOCHI and KOLKATA are currently engaged in the search, along

with multiple coast guard and ONGC-owned vessels. "This is one of the most challenging search and

rescue operations I’ve seen in the last four decades," said Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Adm. MS

Pawar, speaking to ANI. Meanwhile, the barge GAL CONSTRUCTOR drifted aground, necessitating a

separate evacuation effort. All 137 personnel have been rescued and accounted for. An additional 202

people were rescued from the drifting barge SS-3.

The ONGC-operated drill ship SAGAR

BHUSHAN also lost her anchors and

went adrift, with about 95 people on

board. On Tuesday, an SCI-operated

tug successfully connected a line and

took the Bhushan in tow.

Separately, the Indian Coast Guard's

MRCC Mumbai coordinated with the

tanker MT DESH BHAKT and the OSV GREATSHIP ADITI, which went adrift in the storm during

SPM operations off Mumbai. Though responders had concerns that Desh Bhakt was drifting towards the

offshore rig VIVEKANAND-2, the tanker managed to restore propulsion and has since resumed her

operations safely. In less serious offshore casualties, the jack-up rig VALLIANT DRILLER reportedly

lost a portion of her superstructure over the side in high winds, and the jack-up Sagar Kiran reportedly

went dark ship after losing her emergency generator. The Indian Coast Guard also had to contend with a

variety of smaller scale incidents. A fishing vessel sustained significant hull damage off Veraval, and its

crew required evacuation and medical attention. The tug COROMANDAL SUPPORTER IX went

aground off Karnataka, and the Indian Coast Guard cutter VARARAH GEMINI and an Indian Navy

helicopter evacuated the tug's nine crewmembers. Additionally, at least two more fishing boats lost power

and required a tow in rough conditions. Source : MAREX

_____________________________________________________________________________________

MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

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The Pulse

IMO Safety Committee Addresses Reporting for Containers Lost at Sea Responding to the dramatic increase in the loss of containers at sea in the past year, the Maritime Safety

Committee of the International Maritime Organization discussed the issue at its recent meeting. Agreeing

that the loss of containers at sea represents a potential danger to maritime safety and is a threat to the

environment, the IMO’s MSC took initial actions focusing on detecting and reporting lost containers. The

IMO said that it will also work to address efforts to prevent the loss of containers and restore confidence

in container shipping practices.

The committee raised a range of concerns during its discussion that focused on the loss of over 3,500

containers over the past few months in the Pacific Ocean. The One Apus was the most dramatic loss with

the vessel’s representatives reporting that over 1,800 boxes were lost into the Pacific on November 30 due

to what they said was high seas. Inspectors and analysts for cargo claims consultants WK Webster

reported that out of the 22 bays on deck, only six appeared to have survived intact.

With 20 rows per bay and with stack heights of 6-8 tiers, Webster estimated that approximately 2,250

containers were potentially impacted. Since the vessel was mostly carrying 40-foot boxes, Webster noted

that it was equivalent to approximately 4,500 TEUs. It took nearly four months for the vessel to recover

and return to service. Summarizing the discussion by the IMO’s committee, the industry trade association

BIMCO reported that the IMO agreed that the causes that may lead to the loss of containers at sea vary. It

may be due to bad weather conditions or high waves creating instability on board. Inspectors for the class

society, insurers, and cargo claims representatives will also be looking at the loading practices and

equipment and design of the vessels. Cargo associations also cite the dangers of misdeclared and

overweight containers.

Regardless of the causes, the IMO committee also says the fact is that it is difficult to have precise figures

on the number of containers lost. They highlighted particularly that container visibility from the bridge

may be limited by the containers themselves, and only the upper tiers and the nearest bays can be seen.

They discussed the dangers of pollution particularly in regard to the plastics in the containers.

When a relatively distant stack of containers collapses, it is difficult to determine immediately and

precisely how many containers are involved and when they fell, the committee said. These events

generally occur in adverse weather conditions that prevent immediate on-site investigation. For the crew,

it is extremely dangerous to walk along unstable container stacks.

The IMO’s MSC, therefore, agreed according to BIMCO to initiate new measures to detect and report

containers lost at sea, which may enhance the positioning, tracking, and recovery of such containers. The

IMO agreed to establish a compulsory system to declare the loss of containers and setting up means on

board to easily identify the exact number of losses. Together with such a system, the ships are obliged to

report the loss of containers through a standardized procedure, possibly detailing, e.g. identification,

cargo carried (particularly dangerous goods or harmful substances), or whether these containers may float

and constitute a risk of collision with ships and boats. Over the next couple of years, BIMCO says the

IMO will also develop measures designed to mitigate containers falling into the sea and to restore fidelity

in the safety of container transport with the present fleet. Source : MAREX

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Malcolm,

I’ve just digitised this old photo - sorry about the quality.

Taken around June 1986, possibly off the Forth of Forth, I am

pretty certain this was an experimental rotary sail fitted to a

British ship, but can’t find which.

At a guess it was probably a short-lived experiment.

Looks like 3 vertical rotating sails

Any thoughts?

Chris

An anyone help to identify this please _____________________________________________________________________________________

MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

21

The Pulse

'Operation Pedestal' by Sir Max Hastings

A Zoom webinar presentation on Tuesday 1st June at 16:00 BST

Sir Max Hastings has written a book on Operation Pedestal, published on 13th May and favourably

reviewed in the Sunday Telegraph on 9th May Here

Cachalots are invited, by the UK fund-raising committee for restoration of St. Paul’s Anglican Pro-

Cathedral, Valletta, to attend this presentation, details below. This notice will also be published in the

forthcoming newsletter on 31st May but is circulated now to give you time to complete the free

registration process if you wish to attend.

Join us for this riveting Zoom webinar presentation by Sir Max Hastings, celebrated historian,

author and journalist who will talk about the Santa Marija Convoy, featured in his new book that is

being published on 13th May. Sir Max will be with us for a Q & A session following the

presentation.

This is a thrilling new account of a critical naval battle, known in Malta as the Santa Marija

Convoy, where it is still remembered and celebrated, but little-known elsewhere – one of the most

vital operations of World War II, which ensured Malta’s survival.

In his signature brilliant style, Max Hastings gives a thrilling narrative of this crucial naval battle,

retelling the intense action, which perfectly encapsulates the spirit and power of the Royal Navy,

surely the fiercest and most iconic fighting force of WW2.

.

There is no fee for registration but donations are requested either via the Donate button

below or via online transfer to:

Barclays Bank, Soho Square London W1D 3QR

Diocese in Europe Sort Code: 20-06-13 Account No. 40317039

Reference: Operation Pedestal

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

DONATE

The event is kindly hosted by The Malta Business Network. For further information click on this

link The Malta Business Network Webinar: "Operation Pedestal - The Fleet that battled to Malta"

in conversation with Sir Max Hastings | Malta Business Network

REGISTER NOW

REGISTER

Source - CACHALITE 178 2021-05-23

_____________________________________________________________________________________

MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

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The Pulse

Iconic Ships 3: HMS Hood with Eric Grove

A very special episode in our new Iconic Ships series, published on the anniversary of the loss of

HMS Hood in 1941. HMS Hood is without doubt one of the Royal Navy’s most famous ships. A battle-

cruiser, laid down in 1916 and launched in 1918, she was the largest battle-cruiser ever built and the

largest warship of any type in the world for twenty years. She enjoyed a correspondingly high profile

which rendered her loss, with all but three of her crew, particularly potent. On this day in May 1941,

whilst hunting the mighty German battleship Bismark, Hood was struck by several German shells,

exploded, and sank in just three minutes.

This week is special not only for the subject but also for the historian who makes the case for Hood being

an Iconic Ship - it is a contribution made by the late Eric Grove who so sadly was recently lost to us.

Eric was one of the UK's most important naval historians; a magnificent personality, a brilliant teacher

and a formidable scholar. He was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Member of Council of

the Navy Records Society and most importantly of course, he was a Vice President of the Society for

Nautical Research.

This recording was made just the day before his death and was the last piece of work he prepared for

publication.

HMS Hood was the subject that Eric was most passionate about and in this episode you can hear him

explain why she was so important, in his own words, and in his own voice.

You can find the podcast via any podcast app on a smartphone, on the publisher's website and now on

our own website on the new dedicated podcast page.

How can you help? Please share links to the podcast on all social media - if you do we will give you a

shout out on the next podcast!

If you have an iPhone please 'rate' the podcast with lots of stars on the Apple podcast app/iTunes and if

you have time please also leave a review. You can find the podcast here on iTunes. It is enormously

important at this stage to get as many ratings and reviews as possible!

Best Wishes,

Sam Source: - The Society for Nautical Research

_____________________________________________________________________________________

More seafarers are being vaccinated in or near US ports with the help of

maritime charities as access is widened to non-American workers. Meanwhile, the ITF has called

for universal access to vaccines to prevent the crew change crisis from spiraling out of control a

third time.

Source:- Lloyds List

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MERCHANT NAVY COMMEMORATIVE THEME PROJECT (MNCTP)

TODAY WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL MARITIME DAY IN THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA MAY 22, 2021 Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and Chief Executive

Officer, Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project

(MNCTP), observed National Maritime Day in the United

States of America.

It was on the historic day of May 22, 1819, when the first

American steamship the S.S. Savannah set sail from

Savannah, Georgia to Liverpool, England. This was the first

transoceanic voyage fuelled by steam. National Maritime

Day was created by the United States Congress on May 20,

1933.

During the Second World War, more than 250,000 Merchant Marine sailed the treacherous oceans of the

world. Over 6,835 American Merchant Marine were killed and over 11,000 wounded. In addition, 604

Merchant Mariners were taken prisoners of war, resulting in 61 casualties within POW camps. Over

2,199 Canadian Merchant Navy Seaman were killed in both World Wars.

Maritime Day is a special day which recognizes the rich seafaring history of The United States. The

American Merchant Marine has been visible in every war and conflict dating back to The Revolutionary

War of 1775, right up to present day conflicts. In times of peace, the U.S. maritime industry: employs

more than 260,000 Americans; provides over $29 billion in annual wages; and, moves over 100 million

passengers and $400 billion worth of goods between ports in the U.S. annually.

Globally, our seaborne trade accounts for 90% of the world’s food, fuel, raw material, and manufactured

goods that are delivered to every corner of the globe. This worldwide shipping network is interconnected

by over 100,000 commercial vessels, and consists of 2,800 ports within 150 countries. Over 1.5 million

seafarers operate, maintain, and repair these massive ships, while simultaneously fighting rough seas,

risking their lives through piracy and war zones, and sacrificing quality time with their families. Seafaring

remains one of the most perilous and indispensable jobs on Earth. It is the world’s most important and

widespread concentrated ‘human effort’ that is essential to ensuring security, defense, and prosperity for

our society worldwide.

NEWS RELEASE- 2 –

Quotes

“They have delivered the goods when and where needed in every theater of operations across every ocean

in the biggest, the most difficult, and dangerous transportation job ever undertaken. As time goes on there

will be greater public understanding of our merchant fleet’s record during this war.” –

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Statement on the U.S. Merchant Marine, September 19, 1944

“ … On National Maritime Day, we honor the steadfast commitment and sacrifices of the men and

women who serve in the United States Merchant Marine and recognize their essential role in safeguarding

and strengthening our Nation. Called the “fourth arm of defense” by President Franklin D. Roosevelt

during World War II, the Merchant Marine established itself as a cornerstone of sealift support for our

Armed Forces, sailing through theaters of war to deliver troops and supplies while keeping vital ocean

supply lines operating. The perseverance and dedication of the Merchant Marine contributed to the Allied

victory even as they suffered one of the highest casualty rates of any of our military services. ”

– President Joseph R. Biden Jr., 46th President of the United States of America,

A Proclamation on National Maritime Day, 2021 | Mirage News

“Shipping has maintained a constant presence in the history of human development. From the times of

imperial expansion to the World Wars, the merchant navy/marine served as an important lifeline to the

overseas colonies and bridged the physical spaces between the western and home fronts. Presently, our

national and international maritime history remains disparate, highly fragmented, and virtually unknown

by international organizations, nations, and the common person worldwide. Like our unsung wartime

seafarers, modern seafaring remains one of the most neglected, underappreciated, and marginalized

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professions in history. It is high time that we demonstrate our gratitude to all our brave mariners, past and

present, for the risks and personal costs to life they face at sea, so that we may continue to enjoy our life

on shore.”

– Stéphane Ouellette, President and CEO, MNCTP

Associated Links:

A Message of Gratitude to the People of the United States of America on Their National

Maritime Day | MNCTP | May 22, 2016

The Allied Merchant Navy - THEIR LEGACY… OUR FREEDOM

A Message of Gratitude to the Republic of India on their National Maritime Day | MNCTP |

April 5, 2016 http://www.alliedmerchantnavy.com/home/index.html

Merchant Marine Music Video Merchant Marine - YouTube

• Also see Merchant Marine Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_poMZSUUyg

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The Last Bristolian Pirate, from Cures What Ails Ya by The Longest Johns

(Cover of Arrogant Worms) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6Qsz0ZvUeI

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Lawyers for Ever Given Shipowner Say Suez Canal Was at Fault in

Grounding Reuters May 23, 2021

CAIRO, May 22 (Reuters) – The owner of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March says the

canal authority was at fault over its grounding as it disputes the vessel’s detention and a compensation

claim, a lawyer representing the owner said on Saturday.

The Ever Given, one of the world’s largest container ships, became jammed across the canal in high

winds on March 23, and remained grounded for six days, blocking traffic in both directions and

disrupting global trade.

The vessel has since been held in a lake between two stretches of the canal as the Suez Canal Authority

(SCA) pursues a $916.5 million claim against Japanese owner Shoei Kisen.

An appeals chamber at Ismailia Economic Court held hearings on Saturday over the ship’s detention,

which the SCA is seeking to uphold following an appeal by the owner, as well as the SCA’s financial

claim.

Lawyers representing Shoei Kisen argued that the SCA had been at fault for allowing the ship to enter the

waterway amid bad weather, Ahmed Abu Ali, a member of the legal team, told Reuters, adding that the

authority failed to prove any fault by the ship.

Recordings from the ship that were presented to the court showed disagreements between SCA pilots and

its control center over whether it should enter the canal, Abu Ali said.

Egyptian Court Rules Suez Canal Can Keep Holding Ever Given

Lawyers for Shoei Kisen said the ship should have been accompanied by at least two tug boats suitable

for the ship’s size “but this didn’t happen,” he added.

The SCA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but it has publicly denied being at fault.

Lawyers for Shoei Kisen also argued that the Ever Given’s detention was legally flawed and that the work

to release the ship was not “a salvage (operation) in the proper legal sense,” meaning the SCA could not

seek compensation for such an operation, Abu Ali said.

“This was one of the duties of the authority according to the traffic contract,” he said.

Shoei Kisen is claiming $100,000 in initial compensation for losses related to its detention, he said.

The court was expected to issue a decision on the case on Sunday, lawyers and witnesses said.

(Reporting by Yusri Mohamed in Ismailia and Mahmoud Mourad in Cairo; Editing by Aidan Lewis and

Nick Macfie)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021.

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Last Ditch Appeal to Save the Tall Ship Falls of Clyde from Scrapping or

Scuttling Posted: 20 May 2021 08:18 AM PDT

Supporters in Scotland are mounting a last-ditch effort to save

the Falls of Clyde from scrapping or scuttling in Hawaii. The

Falls of Clyde, launched in 1878 in Port Glasgow, Scotland, is

the only remaining iron-hulled four-masted full-rigged ship

and the only surviving sail-driven oil tanker in the world.

In late April, the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s Harbors Division put out a request for proposals

for the “removal of the derelict sailing vessel Falls of Clyde from Honolulu Harbor.” The bids are due at

10 a.m. Friday. (21st May ?)

The Scotsman reports that supporters have launched an “emergency call to action” to prevent the 143-

year vessel from being scuttled or broken up over fears a hurricane could see her sink in the harbor. The

desperate appeal follows a series of unsuccessful attempts to return the Falls of Clyde to Scotland for

restoration.

The Falls of Clyde narrowly avoided scuttling in 2008. The ship had been towed to Hawaii in 1968 and

opened as a museum in 1971 but was poorly maintained. In 2008, the Bishop Museum, which had

control of the ship, was preparing to tow her out to sea and scuttle her. In an attempt to save her, the

Friends of Falls of Clyde, a tax-exempt group was formed and purchased the ship in September 2008.

The Friends of Falls of Clyde intended to raise money to restore the ship but was largely unsuccessful. In

2016, the State of Hawaii ordered that the ship be removed from Honolulu harbor. Lacking funds and a

place to put the ship, the Friends of Falls of Clyde left the ship at the berth, where she had been for close

to a half-century.

In February 2019, the ship came perilously close to sinking at the dock in Honolulu. The State of Hawaii

foreclosed on the ship and in March put the ship up for auction, but had no takers.

Now the state wants the ship removed and soon.

Derek Chow, Harbors Division deputy director told the Star Advertiser that the state’s goal is to have the

ship removed before hurricane season begins in June, he said.

“It does pose a danger,” he said. “If a hurricane hit Oahu or Honolulu Harbor, we’re afraid waves and

wind will cause the ship to tip over sideways or sink, so we certainly don’t want that to happen.”

The state is also spending money annually on the ship’s maintenance and repairs, he said, including the

patching up of holes. In addition, the state is unable to make needed repairs to Pier 7, where the ship

remains docked.

For her first twenty years, the Falls of Clyde served as a British merchantman in the India trade and ain

tram service. She was then purchased by Matson Navigation and brought to Hawaii. From 1899 to 1907,

she made over sixty voyages between Hilo, Hawaii, and San Francisco, California, carrying general

merchandise west, sugar east, and passengers both ways.

In 1907, the Associated Oil Company (later Tidewater Oil) bought Falls of Clyde and converted her to a

bulk oil tanker with a capacity of 19,000 barrels (3,000 m3). Ten large steel tanks were built into her hull,

and a pump room, boiler, and generator fitted forward of an oil-tight bulkhead.

The post appeared first on Old Salt Blog.

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Stranded Australian Coal Cargo Arrives in China After 356 Days at Sea Bloomberg May 21, 2021 By Kevin Varley (Bloomberg) —

The Jag Anand, stranded off the Chinese coast for 356 days with Australian coal, left the port of Jingtang

yesterday after delivering its cargo, according to shipping data analyzed by Bloomberg.

Chartered by Cargill Inc, the vessel left the port of Gladstone on May 26 last year, laden with 174,000

tons of coal. It went into anchorage off Jingtang in mid-June last year before finally arriving into port on

May 16.

The ship and its sailors, along with more than 70 other bulk carriers, were essentially stranded off the

coast when China implemented a ban on several Australian commodities amid worsening relations

between the two countries.

At least 19 ships carrying Australian coal from the height of the spat are still anchored off the Chinese

coast. The W Eagle, holding 90,000 tons of Aussie coal, departed Gladstone on June 17 and is still

waiting off Jingtang.

While China allowed 35 of the ships to offload, others sailed away earlier this year and delivered their

cargo to India, Vietnam and other nations in Southeast Asia.?

Australian coal exports to China, once topping A$1.78 billion in June 2018 have dwindled to zero in

2021.

–With assistance from Aaron Clark.

© 2021 Bloomberg L.P.

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Barge with 273 on board adrift near oil rigs, Navy sends rescue team A massive rescue operation has been launched at Arabian Sea

after a ‘barge’ – an engineering ship -- working near the off-

shore oil-rigs of ‘Bombay High’ is adrift – meaning

powerless to control itself. There are 273 personnel on board.

A free-floating barge in the ongoing cyclonic winds can be of

a risk to other ships and also to the oil installations which are

some 70 km south-west of Mumbai. Indian Navy

spokesperson in New Delhi Commander Vivek Madhwal

confirmed that a request for assistance has come from Barge

‘P305’ adrift off Heera Oil Fields in Bombay High area. “It

has 273 personnel on board, INS KOCHI has sailed out from

Mumbai with despatch for search and rescue (SAR)

assistance. INS TALWAR is also preparing to sail out,”

Commander Madhwal added.

Meanwhile, the Navy has got another SOS call. A Barge

‘GAL Constructor’ with 137 people onboard is adrift some 15 km west of Mumbai. INS Kolkata sailed

out on Monday afternoon to render assistance.

Both the barges may have to be tugged back into port if engines have failed or the water had filled in the

engine room – normally at the lowest deck of the ship. Several other ships and aircraft have also been

readied for tasking in the wake of Cyclone Tauktae, he added. Source: Tribune News Service

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway.

One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'

Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, 'I've lost my electron.' … The other says, 'Are you sure?'

The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.'

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Chinese and French companies feel the wind in their sails A team of French companies has allied with

major Chinese naval architecture company

SDARI, a subsidiary of the China State

Shipbuilding Company (CSSC), and have

designed a low-carbon feedership using

wind energy to supplement main engine

power. The 2,500TEU Trade Wings design,

developed by France’s yacht designer

VPLP, consultancy Alwena, and

Oceanwings, sail designer Ayro along with

SDARI received its Approval in Principle

from classification society Bureau Veritas.

Trade Wings 2,500 has a capacity of 2,500TEU and has an overall length of 197m and a breadth of 32m

with a deadweight of 32,500 tonnes. In a joint statement, the companies said the design, “Fosters the

combination of a wind assisted propulsion with six Oceanwings and LNG-electric propulsion with pods.

The wingsails are installed on a vertical sliding mechanism to retract them partially while the vessel is in

port, thus minimising the impact on cargo operations.”

In addition, the initial design will have an LNG storage tank based on the Mark III containment system

designed by another French company, GTT. Trade Wings is designed with gas only four-stroke gensets

only. A feature of this design is that the gensets can be upgraded at a later date to operate on zero carbon

fuels including ammonia and hydrogen. Trade Wings 2500 will retract its sails during cargo operations.

“Suitable for shortsea shipping operations or feedering in Europe, Central America, Caribbean Islands

and China, the Trade Wings 2,500 can also operate on transatlantic trades. The design minimises time in

port operations, as manoeuvrability is increased with the vessel’s pods, and the hatch coverless design

further speeds up cargo operations,” said the vessel designers. On a Transatlantic trip of around 4,000Nm,

the designers estimate that the vessel will on average save 35% CO2-equivalent emissions compared to a

conventional design, with a two-stroke engine, single shaft and without wingsails, at the same speed. Of

the 35% in carbon equivalent reductions, the designers say the Oceanwings sails will account for 57% of

the reduction in emissions, while the optimised LNG propulsion will provide 43% savings. Alex Gregg-

Smith, senior vice president Bureau Veritas for North Asia said, “We have just released new wind

propulsion system rules – and this innovative design, approved in principle by BV, including a sliding

mechanism, demonstrates the feasibility of wind-assisted propulsion on board container ships with deck

space limitations. Benefitting from a coverless hatch and LNG electric pod propulsion, the design

provides both operational flexibility, improved efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, complying with,

or exceeding, regulatory requirements.” Source : Container News

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Brand new container ship on fire off Colombo By : NIKOLAY TORKIN

Cargo in containers on board of container ship X-PRESS

PEARL caught fire in the afternoon May 20, on Colombo

Anchorage. The ship arrived at Colombo anchorage on May 19

from Hazira India, with 1486 containers on board, loaded

among other goods, with nitric acid, other chemicals and

cosmetics. Sri Lankan Navy is engaged in fire fighting, as of

0330 UTC May 21 the ship was in the same position, understood

firefighting still continues, with deployment of tug or tugs,

including offshore tug, and probably, Navy ships, too. According to Sri Lankan Navy press-release, ship

is manned with 25 crew, which includes Philippine, Chinese, Indian and Russian nationalities. The ship is

brand new, she was built in China, started trading in Feb this year. All photos courtesy Sri Lanka Navy.

Container ship X-PRESS PEARL, IMO 9875343, dwt 37000, capacity 2700 TEU, built 2021, flag

Singapore, manager X PRESS FEEDERS, Singapore. Source : maritimebulletin

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The Pulse

Bombay High tragedy: Barge Master, others charged with culpable homicide The deceased including its employees would get a total compensation equivalent to the balance period

of service upto 10 years' service combined with ex-gratia and insurance

The Yellowgate Police Station has lodged a

first information report invoking charges of

culpable homicide not amounting to murder

against the Master of the Barge PAPAA-305

and others in connection with the vessel

tragedy in the Arabian Sea which left at least

51 dead and many more missing, officials said

here on Friday.

The police have acted on a complaint filed by

the Barge chief engineer Rahman H. Shaikh

who was among the survivors rescued by the

Indian Navy earlier this week even as Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) and Afcons

Infrastructure Ltd. (AIL) announced compensation for the victims.

The development came two days after the police launched its probe based on an accident death report to

ascertain why the barge allegedly failed to adhere to safety norms despite warnings of the impending

Cyclone Tauktae which wreaked havoc on the country’s west coast last Sunday onwards. Besides

culpable homicide not amounting to murder, the barge Master and others are also charged with common

intentions, negligent acts causing hurt to others, etc., said Mumbai Police Spokesperson and Deputy

Commissioner of Police S. Chaitanya.

It may be recalled that of the 342-plus offshore

installations of the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation

Ltd. including 243 fixed and the rest floating, five of

the latter including the Barge PAPAA-305 were

caught in the turbulence of the cyclone and it sank

late on Monday. A spokesperson for ONGC said

that it will provide an immediate relief of

Rs.100,000 to all survivors and Rs.200,000 to the

families of the deceased or missing. AIL announced

comprehensive compensation package for those deceased on the company rolls and also those who were

employed with sub-contractors.

The deceased including its employees would get a total compensation equivalent to the balance period of

service upto 10 years' service combined with ex-gratia and insurance, which could range between Rs.3.50

million to Rs.7.50 million per family of the deceased.

Additionally, the AIL would form a Trust to take care of the educational needs of the children of the

deceased through scholarships besides arranging trauma and grief counseling to help the families tide

over the loss of their dear ones. ONGC and maritime sources said that during the Cyclone Tauktae fury,

there were an estimated around 10,000 people in and around the vicinity of the Bombay High Fields,

around 175 kms off Mumbai. These included over 7,600 people of the ONGC, 1,290 of Afcons

Infrastructure Ltd, and the others on smaller barges or supply vessels providing various types of services

on the high seas at the BHF. Of the total human presence in the BHF region, around 6,900 were on

different types of 94 floating vessels, and the rest on the ONGCs fixed installations like oil rigs, drills or

platforms, which did not suffer known damage or report any human casualties. Source: business-standard

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The secret deportations: how Britain betrayed the Chinese men who served

the country in the war “Compulsory repatriation of undesirable Chinese seamen”

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/may/25/chinese-merchant-seamen-liverpool-deportations

_____________________________________________________________________________________

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The Pulse

Happy faces from Mt IBA vessel as the crew finally returns home after

spending 4 years at sea! The crew gained media attention after their empty tanker ran aground

on a beach in the UAE due to heavy winds in January 2021. For all

these months, seafarers were onboard the vessel without any payment

or supplies. After the efforts from various welfare organisations in

UAE and media houses, the owner agreed on selling the tanker to pay

their pending wages.

ISWAN SOUTH ASIA has been in contact with the seafarers for the

last couple of years and has provided them with emotional support

over the course of several months. We have also been co-ordinating

with various authorities to bring the seafarers back home. While it is

difficult to be away from your loved ones, the pain and helplessness

that the crew and their families have endured are unacceptable. We'd

like to thank The Mission to Seafarers for taking care of the crew by

providing supplies and support on a regular basis along with the UAE

authorities and various other stakeholders for successfully resolving

the case and releasing the seafarers from the sea prison.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

FAMOUS LIGHTVESSEL TO BE REPLACE BY SPECIAL BUOY A veteran will make way for new technology, as Trinity

House is to replace the bright red Channel Lightvessel which

has indicated the start of the Traffic Separation Scheme in

the English Channel since 1979. She will be replaced in

August by one of the largest Safe Water Mark buoys,

specially adapted for the situation. The 9NM Navigational

light will come from an LED source that only requires nine

watts of power and lasts ten years. The buoy has also has

been adapted to continue the flow of meteorological

information. Trinity House made the decision to change to a

buoy after assessing that the vessel marks only the start and

finish of the TSS and not any physical hazards to navigation,

and could be removed now that traffic patterns in the area

are well established. The Vessel took up its position following the grounding of the tanker AMOCO

CADIZ in 1978 and the disastrous oil spill that followed, leading the International Maritime Organisation

to set up the Off Casquets Traffic Separation Scheme. Trinity House is responsible for all lights and

markers around Britain, and the picture shows the crew of their ship PATRICIA, performing maintenance

on the Lightvessel. Photo’s : Raymond Wergan, Newton Ferrers.(c)

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Viking to restart Europe river cruises in July for vaccinated travelers By : Anne

Kalosh

Viking will restart its European river operations in July with select itineraries in Portugal, France and

along the Rhine open to fully vaccinated travellers. The first five itineraries now available include 'Rhine

Getaway' (eight days, Amsterdam to Basel), 'Portugal’s River of Gold' (10 days, Lisbon to Porto), 'Paris

& the Heart of Normandy' (eight days, round-trip Paris), 'Lyon & Provence' (eight days, Avignon to

Lyon) and 'France’s Finest,' a 15-day journey that combines the northern and southern France itineraries.

This announcement follows today's news that the European Union will open its borders to fully

vaccinated Americans and other travellers. 'We have been delighted to greet our first guests back on

board in England this week, and we are looking forward to welcoming travellers back on board some of

our European river vessels in July” Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen said. Source : Seatradecruise

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The Pulse

Excellent seafarers by Captain Domênico Rodrigues As one of the Company’s key ambassadors in giving

everyone equal opportunities! by Captain Domênico

Rodrigues

I never underestimated the women’s strength. My father was

a seafarer and used to embark for months as sea. In that way,

my mother not only played her role as a mother, but also as

a father, and she did not fail in her mission.

I started my career offshore on board a supply vessel and

gained the necessary maneuvering skills before given the

opportunity to work onboard an anchor handler. Onboard we

had great Norwegian mentors and at this stage I met some

Brazilian women who recently started their seafarer career

on the bridge and machinery site. In conversation with these women I met on each vessel, they all told me

that they just wanted to spend a short time there to try to work onshore or on a platform. I did not

understand how a person goes to school to work at sea then work onshore shortly after completing their

training!!! I decided to tell the Company never to send any woman Deck Officer to the vessel I was

embarked. A few years later, one of my Deck Officers could not embark and the Company informed me

that there was only one female Deck Officer that could replace him on a temporary basis. I reluctantly

accepted it, mainly because it was for a short period.

In conversation with this Officer, she told me that she wanted to make a career and wanted my support. I

invested my time and patience to mentor her for a year, and then, she left our Company to work on a

platform with arguments I did not understand. Again, I was disappointed in confirmation of my first

impressions over female Officers, then I informed the Company that even for a short time I would not

accept women on board.

Some years later, when I went to Norway as part of the Brazilian

crew for familiarization of a new vessel scheduled to operate in

Brazil, the company sent a female Deck Officer. I got angry, of

course, but it was promised it was temporary and only to bring the

vessel over to Brazil. During those months where I got to learn

how the female officer carried out her tasks, I saw how she solved

all issues with remarkable skills and resilience. Always creative,

intelligent and even when the things were difficult, she always

had a smile on her face and a professional attitude. When we

arrived in Brazil, the company asked me if I wanted to replace her

by a male Deck Officer. I was very proud to have such

professional in my team and felt that it was time to make a female

AHTS Captain in the Company, and she had all abilities needed,

correct posture, clear communication and commitment to the

Company: the perfect formula.

Ironically after she changed my traditional impression, more

women cadets appeared on my vessel and during their training

they showed the same determination and passion for the seafarer

profession. Of course, I did recommend keeping them after their

cadet period finished and soon my bridge team was entirely made up of women. They are the ones who

manage the whole part of the deck services, they operate the bridge equipment with total confidence and

dexterity, they are strong and smart. Captain Domênico Rodrigues, FAR SAGARIS:

“I don’t see them as women, but as excellent seafarers.”

The woman who changed my impression of female seafarers is Verônica Rodrigues, at that time my Deck

Officer and currently Chief Officer on board FAR SAGARIS on Captain’s Waldemir Pinto’s shift.

Source: Solstad

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Captain Domenico Rodrigues onboard

FAR SAGARIS shares a story on how his

view of female seafarers has changed

tremendously through his career.

2nd-Off-Gabriela-Deck-Off-

Monique-and 2nd-Off-Susanne-

working on deck of the FAR

SAGARIS

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Weymouth Armed Forces / Veterans Service - Sun 20th June 2021. With reference to the Annual Armed Forces Service and Parade on Sunday 20th June 2021, unfortunately

due to covid compliance the traditional Service and Parade on Weymouth Seafront can not take place this

year.

However, the Town Council have been working with the Nothe Fort, Weymouth for the Service to be

relocated to their open-air Parade Ground and it give me great pleasure on behalf of the Mayor of

Weymouth, Cllr Colin Huckle to extend an invitation to you and your members to attend the Service on

this occasion.

The Service will commence at 11 am, however we would appreciated arrival no later than 10.45 am and

please allow time for social distancing measures / procedures etc on arrival at the Nothe Fort. Please

note, this will be a static standing service (chairs available if required). Standards are welcome.

Due to restricted numbers, I would be very grateful if you could give me an indication of numbers

attending. Following receipt of your confirmation, further information will be sent.

I look forward to hearing from you and if you require any further details, please do not hesitate to contact

me.

Regards, Charlie.

Charlie Sheppard, Events Manager, Weymouth Town Council, Commercial Road,

Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8NG

T: 01305 239309 M: 07980 730036

E: charliesheppard@weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk

Become a fan on facebook www.facebook.com/VisitWeymouth

Website: www.weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk

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Two Eskimos

sitting in a kayak

were chilly, so

they lit a fire

in the craft.

Unsurprisingly it

sank, proving

once again

that you can't have

your kayak and

heat it too.

Did you hear about

the Buddhist who

refused Novocain

during a root-canal?

His goal: transcend dental medication

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Above Board

Pirates would hide crew members below decks to fool victims. When all the crewmen were on the deck

then -- seeing is believing – the vessel was more likely to be an honest merchant ship.

All hands on deck

Nowadays we gather to discuss some tasks. Sailors did the same thing, but met on the deck.

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The Pulse

The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.

He acquired his size from too much pi.

I thought I saw an eye-doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out

to be an optical Aleutian .

• She was only a whisky-maker, but he loved her still.

A rubber-band pistol was confiscated from an algebra class,

because it was a weapon of math disruption.

No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

A hole has been found in the nudist-camp wall. The police are looking into it.

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand.

And "lollipop" is the longest word typed with your right hand.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".

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A vulture carrying two dead raccoons boards an airplane. The stewardess looks at him and says,

'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.'

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MNA CIRCULAR 2021 - #08 25th May 2021

33

The Pulse

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The Merchant Navy Association

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That’s all from me now folks.

Stay Safe Shipmates

Good Health, Fair Winds and Calm Seas. Take Care.

Yours Aye,

Malcolm

Malcolm Mathison

National Chairman

Merchant Navy Association

Tel: 01472 277 266 Mob: 07831 622 312 Email: R546060@aol.com

www.mna.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1135661