mna circular 2019-10 the pulse may 2019 · mna circular 2019-10 27. th. may 2019 . 3 . the pulse. d...

MNA CIRCULAR 2019-10 27th May 2019

1

The Pulse

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 #2019-8 was published 8th May 2019

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

National Secretary, Nigel Whitaker 51 Penswick Avenue, Thornton-Cleveleys, LANCASHIRE, FY5 3BH

Email : [email protected] Tel: 01253 824349

Welfare & Events, Tim Brant, 9 Saxon Way, Caistor, MARKET RASEN, LN7 6SG

Tel: 01472 85 11 30, Email : [email protected]

National Membership Secretary, Roy Glencross 3 The Maples, Old Main Road, FLEET HARGATE,

PE12 8NT Tel 01406 425 527, Mobile: 07738 425875 Email [email protected]

MNA Slop Chest, The Supply Officer:- Sandra Broom [email protected] 0121 244 0190

If you call her, it may go to an answerphone. Please leave a message and she will call you.

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

Telephone) it is important that you inform ROY GLENCROSS and copy in Nigel Whitaker, Tim Brant &

myself. If informing by e-mail send to:- [email protected], [email protected],

[email protected], [email protected]

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DANIEL Mc.ALLISTER, the largest preserved tug in Canada, launched in 1907. Tied up in Montreal,

Canada Photo : Robert Kuikhoven (c)

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mailto:[email protected]









2

The Pulse

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Just Giving & The Merchant Navy Association We are pleased to say we are now able to offer our supporters the

facility to make donations via our

Just Giving page.

This is a secure means of making payments and enables us to

claim Gift Aid from the Treasury.

Go to www.justgiving.com Click on ‘Search' at the top right-

hand side and type in Merchant Navy Association.

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SHE I have served on many ships and some were launched a He,

But every one of these was rightly known as She,

A curse on all the vandals that claim them gender-neutral,

Asserting such a case is ignorant - untruthful.

Every ancient mariner was married to the sea,

Starting out in long gone times, five hundred years B.C.

They named their sailing vessels after girls they left at home,

To remind them in their time away, when riding o'er the foam.

Vessels were their livelihood, they steered them “as She goes”,

Whaling ships knew beauty calling “thar She blows”,

Graceful were the figure heads, shaped with golden curls,

As a complement to women and tribute to the girls.

True seamen always will uphold that a ship's a She.

The vandals and the critics have never been to sea,

So never mind that P.C. lot who started off this row,

-They would have a Lady Boy pointing o'er the bow.

There is a special bond `tween seamen and the sea,

And the ship that carries them is always known as She,

So, to hear the poppycock spouting from the knaves,

Would make the likes of Nelson swivel in their graves.

Capt. Joe Earl M.N.M. - May 2019

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http://www.justgiving.com/


3

The Pulse

D Day

Hi all,

I have great

pleasure in

informing you all

that one of our

members of our Independent Vindicatrix of East Kent Assoc; has

been awarded a place on the Fred Olsen cruise ship "Boudicca"

for the 75th; anniversary of "D" Day for Normandy veterans.

Bert Cox from Margate is such a person who was at Normandy

and in the M.N. via the Vindicatrix and in the R.N. during WW2

and is now in his late 90's. I passed

details of this trip organised by the RBL /

MNA to members at our April meeting

and they have chartered the ship for this

special occasion and although they were

full at the time of applying they have now

offered him a berth. The ship sails from

Dover on June 2nd; to Dunkirk / Poole /

Portsmouth to arrive in Normandy for

June 6th; and I hope to be able to get

some lads to the Admiralty Pier to see them all away.

Bert was born in Bermondsey, S.E. London where he left at 16 to join the

M.N. Ratings Training Ship "Vindicatrix". His "D" Day role was repairing

lines so fuel could get through as enemy guns could be heard from shore.

Regards, Phil, (Secretary).

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Maritime workers rally globally to ‘save Australian shipping’ Maritime workers around the globe have rallied in an international show of solidarity for Australian

seafarers. The global day of action coordinated by the ITF Cabotage Task Force brought together

maritime unions from every continent.Protests outside Australian Embassies and Consulates, corporate

offices and on the waterfront called for a reinvigoration of Australia’s domestic shipping industry and

urged Australian voters to change the government at the upcoming Australia federal election on May 18.

“Today’s global demonstrations highlight the resolve of transportation workers to stand shoulder to

shoulder with Australian seafarers in their fight to protect their jobs and save Australian shipping,” said

James Given, Chair of the ITF Cabotage Task Force. “The current Australian government has failed

Australian seafarers through deregulation of the industry and permitting Flag of Convenience vessels to

operate in Australia’s coastal trade which has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs in the sector.

“Australian shipping hangs in the balance this election and voters have a clear choice – back a party who

have committed to create a strategic fleet of Australian-crewed vessels and strengthen coastal shipping

regulations or choose a party who is actively supporting the industry’s decline. The choice is simple: we

have to support those that support us,” said Given. Around the world – from Chile to Germany, Canada to

the Philippines, India to the US, Poland to Norway - seafarers, dockers and other maritime industry

workers sent a clear message: that to save Australian shipping, the country needs change the government.

ITF President and Maritime Union of Australia national secretary Paddy Crumlin today reflected on the

international protests: “The fact that thousands of transport workers around the world joined in this global

day of action highlights the importance of this fight and the global significance of saving Australia’s

shipping industry. “All over the world people are standing behind us because they know if we save

Australian shipping, protect domestic seafarers’ jobs and bring vessels back under the Australian flag, this

is good news for the cabotage fight globally. “It’s time to change the government, change the rules and

save Australian shipping,” concluded Crumlin

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Bert Cox


4

The Pulse

Big Lizzie's captain SACKED: Royal Navy is accused of overreacting after dismissing 'exceptional and popular' skipper of

flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth 'for using his official car at weekends'

Commodore Nick Cooke-Priest was sacked from the £3bn HMS Queen Elizabeth after the

'innocent mistake'

The captain of the UK's most famous aircraft carrier has been sacked

for using his official car at weekends.

Commodore Nick Cooke-Priest had been the captain of the £3 billion

HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, also known as 'Big Lizzie',

since October.

The Royal Navy confirmed the 50-year-old has now been fired, after

driving the ship's Ford Galaxy 'as if it was his own'.

He had taken over command of the ship in October and prior to that

he had been working with the Ministry of Defence in the Corporate

Strategy Group, before joining the Standing Joint Force Headquarters

as the assistant chief of staff of operations, during which the HQ

achieved Full Operational Capability.

Insiders claimed the married father-of-three was never warned that

the car was for official duties only, and he is said to be 'gutted' after

discovering he had breached the rules by making personal journeys in the Galaxy.

A retired commanding officer of a Royal Navy aircraft carrier said that without knowing the terms of the

lease of the vehicle to Cdre Cooke-Priest, he felt the decision to remove him from his position was an

over-reaction to a minor error.

He said: 'On the face of it it seems quite harsh but it would depend on the terms on which it was leased. A

number of people in government use cars for all sorts of purposes.

'I know of him and he is seen as a fine chap, it seems somewhat harsh and smacks of political

correctness.'

Admiral Alan West, former First Sea Lord and security adviser to Gordon Brown, said: 'Nick Cooke-

Priest is a very good officer and highly competent and nice officer and I would be surprised he has done

anything dishonest but I don't know the details so I cannot comment further.'

The Navy has been criticised for overreacting, with one source telling The Sun that he should merely

have been given a 'slap on the wrist'.

Another former officer said: 'Nick adores the Navy and has

lost his career by doing what captains have done for decades

— using the company car to get home.

'An innocent mistake has cost the Navy one of its best.'

Cooke-Priest, who received an OBE in 2016, was dismissed

this week after a Top Brass investigation found him guilty of

an 'error of judgement'.

He was then relieved of his duties commanding the carrier,

which is currently docked in Scotland, has a crew of 700 and

is capable of carrying up to 60 aircraft including the new

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. There is no allegation of

fraud and the officer, who joined the Royal Navy in 1990,

paid for his own petrol.

However, it remains unclear what personal trips the Ford Galaxy was used for.

was fired over the 'misuse' of HMS Queen Elizabeth's official car.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Portrait of Captain Nick Cooke-

Priest OBE, who was sacked from

his role as Commanding Officer of

HMS Queen Elizabeth

Captain Nick Cooke-Priest pictured with

Prince Charles


5

The Pulse

1165 - 05/19 - Uncharted terminals in China ports Date: 01/05/2019 Source: Loss Prevention/INTERTANKO Share:

Download: Bulletin 1165 (75 kB)Intertanko - Members report uncharted terminals in China ports (229

kB) https://www.ukpandi.com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/LP%20Documents/2019/Bulletin_1165_-_0519_-

_Uncharted_terminals_in_China_Ports.pdf UK P&I Club

_____________________________________________________________________________________

1166 - 05/19 - Increased Singapore ship detentions due to sewage treatment

plant defects Download: Bulletin 1166 (74 kB)MPA Circular 5/19 (349 kB)

https://www.ukpandi.com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/2019/Bulletin_1166_-_0519_-

_Singapore_ship_PSC_detentions_due_to_sewage_treatment_plant_defects.pdf UK P&I Club

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Fourteen Injured in Explosion on Pipelayer in Caspian Sea May 9, 2019 by Mike Schuler

Offshore contractor Saipem has confirmed that 14 of its

employees were injured in an explosion on board a pipelayer

in the Caspian Sea on Wednesday.

Saipem said the explosion occurred on the Saipem-operated

vessel, Israfil Huseynov, which is conduction pipelaying in

the Caspian Sea for the Shah Deniz II project. The comany

said the incident was related to maintenance operations on an

item of equipment during pipe-laying activities.

Seven of the fourteen injured are in intensive care due to the

burns suffered, according to Saipem. The company confirmed the nationalities of the victims as Italian,

English, Azerbaijani, Rumanian, Malaysian and Croatian.

“In expressing its sympathy to the employees and their families, Saipem will continue to ensure the

immediate repatriation of those who have suffered the least serious injuries and the transfer of the other

injured people to specialized medical centres,” Saipem said in a statement.

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Jean-Jacques Savin Completes Trans-Atlantic Crossing, Drifting in a Barrel Posted: 09 May 2019 06:51 AM PDT

After a voyage of 147 days covering more than 2,000 nautical

miles, French adventurer Jean-Jacques Savin, 72, has successfully

drifted across the Atlantic Ocean on the wind and currents in his 10′

by 9′ orange barrel-shaped craft.

He departed from El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, west of

Morocco, at the end of last December. After arriving in the

Caribbean on May 2, an oil tanker towed Savin and his barrel to the

tiny Dutch island of St. Eustatius. His Facebook page reports that he

is now on board a cargo ship on its way to Martinique.

The post Jean-Jacques Savin Completes Trans-Atlantic Crossing,

Drifting in a Barrel appeared first on Old Salt Blog.

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Tanker collision sends thousands of gallons of gas product leaking into bay By MARK OSBORNE A collision between a massive tanker and two oil barges has resulted in as much as tens of

thousands of gallons of a gasoline product leaking into a shipping channel near Houston. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed

the accident, which took place about 3:30 p.m. local time, in the Houston Ship Channel, near Bayport, Texas … Source: ABC7news

_____________________________________________________________________________________

MV Israfil Huseynov. Photo courtesy

Caspian Marine Services

https://www.ukpandi.com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/LP%20Documents/2019/Bulletin_1165_-_0519_-_Uncharted_terminals_in_China_Ports.pdf

https://www.ukpandi.com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/LP%20Documents/2019/Bulletin_1165_-_0519_-_Uncharted_terminals_in_China_Ports.pdf

https://www.ukpandi.com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/2019/Bulletin_1166_-_0519_-_Singapore_ship_PSC_detentions_due_to_sewage_treatment_plant_defects.pdf

https://www.ukpandi.com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/2019/Bulletin_1166_-_0519_-_Singapore_ship_PSC_detentions_due_to_sewage_treatment_plant_defects.pdf

https://gcaptain.com/author/mike/


6

The Pulse

Lord Mountevans receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Lord Mountevans, chairman of Maritime London, has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement

Award at the 31st Seatrade Awards.

Receiving the award, Lord Mountevans said: "We have a great agenda to drive the maritime industry in

this country. We are very determined to maintain the UK as a great place to conduct maritime business."

Educated at Pangbourne Nautical College and Cambridge, Lord Mountevans worked for Clarksons for 45

years, joining the tanker department in 1972 then moving to gas in 1979. He has been on the board of

Maritime London, promoting the UK world-leading maritime services sector, since 2011, serving as

chairman since 2013.

He is a council member, and former chairman, of Maritime UK, an umbrella body uniting all sectors of

the UK's maritime industry. He chaired the UK government's Maritime Growth Study in 2015 and is

currently president of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.

He is a trustee of Seafarers UK and the White Ensign Association and an honorary captain in the Royal

Naval Reserve. A hereditary peer, Jeffrey was elected to the cross-benches (non-party) in the House of

Lords in 2015 and in 2015/16 he served as the 688th Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Jos Standerwick, CEO Maritime London adds: "I was incredibly pleased to see our chairman Lord

Mountevans receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. I simply cannot think of anybody else who gives

so much time and energy to the promotion of UK shipping industry.

"During his time as Lord Mayor of the City of London he commissioned the Maritime Growth Study,

commonly known as the Mountevans' Report. This report lay the foundations of the reinvigorated

Maritime UK, which has done so much to bring our rather disparate sector together, but also formalised

the industry's engagement with government, which has fundamentally changed the way in which

shipping, and the wider maritime sector is viewed within Whitehall. Lord Mountevans is passionate about

the future of our industry and this award is richly deserved."

The full list of Seatrade Award winners – including several Maritime London members – can be found

here.. London Matters - 9 May 2019

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Woman falls from cruise ship that left Glengarriff on Tuesday Story by Kieran O'Mahony

A 69-YEAR-old woman is feared dead after she went overboard on a cruise ship that had left Glengarriff

on Tuesday evening. The American passenger was aboard the MS AMSTERDAM, which had left

Glengarriff and was on its way towards Fort Lauderdale in Florida. She was first reported missing by her

family on Wednesday morning when the cruise ship was 240 miles off the southwest coast of

Ireland.Following extensive searches by international coast guards the search was called off last night and

the ship continued its journey to Florida and is expected to arrive there on May 16th. The ship operators

Holland America Line offered their sympathies to the woman’s family and friends. Valentia Coastguard

were not involved in the search for the woman as it is outside their remit and a Port of Cork spokesperson

declined to comment on the matter. Source : The Southern Star

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US deploys naval strike group as tensions rise with Iran US sends amphibious assault ship and a Patriot missile system to Middle East to counter alleged threats from Iran, despite Tehran shrugging off recent US deployment in the region. system will join the Abraham Lincoln carrier group,

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http://news.maritimelondon.com/_act/link.php?mId=C9294599998849648080419576643922&tId=374883156


7

The Pulse

The Royal British Legion

Dear Tim Brant

This year, 6 June marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings – one of the most remarkable Allied

wartime operations. The Royal British Legion is working with the UK Government and other

stakeholders to deliver significant commemorations to mark this momentous anniversary, both in

Normandy and Portsmouth.

As this is a major commemorative year and following the recent announcement that world leaders will be

in attendance, all attendees will be required to register so that they can be screened for security purposes.

Priority will be given to Normandy Veterans and their guests.

We ask that all associations help us in reaching as many Normandy Veterans as possible. The Legion

wants to ensure the additional security and global interest does not deter veterans wishing to attend.

The location of the major commemorations to mark D-Day 75 include:

• Southsea Common, Portsmouth, United Kingdom - 5 June

• The Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux, Bayeux, France - 6 June

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Bayeux, France – 6 June

Registration and accreditation

Accreditation will be required to attend all these events. To receive a link to the accreditation system to

register for event passes, please email [email protected] or telephone 0175 384 7900.

When requesting a link, individuals should indicate which event(s) they would like to attend, and whether

they are a Normandy Veteran or widow, accompanying a Normandy Veteran or widow, or attending as a

descendant or general entry.

Approved passes will be posted via registered mail. Full event joining instructions will be included with

the passes.

One veteran who has already signed up to attend is Royal Marine Veteran Jim Healy, who was just 19

years old and a coxswain of a landing craft transporting Canadian troops onto Juno Beach on D-Day. Jim

said: “I think it’s important to be a part of The Royal British Legion D-Day 75th Commemorations

because I always want to remember the lads that we lost – we actually lost ten of the boats in our 18-

strong convoy. I just hope other D-Day veterans who are fit enough to travel do the same.”

Travel in France

There will be a restriction on traffic movements in the Normandy area during the 6 June 2019. The Royal

British Legion have been working closely with the French Government to ensure that this does not impact

on any veteran travelling to events in Normandy.

It is currently understood that all coaches and vehicles carrying Normandy Veterans will be able to travel

within the secure zone using a vehicle pass generated by The Royal British Legion accreditation system.

All other private vehicles will be required to travel to Caen to catch a shuttle bus into Bayeux.

Please note that this information is correct at the time of publicising and may change - full details will be

sent to all registered attendees with their accreditation passes.

The veterans remain our number one priority and at the heart of everything we do, and we ask for you

cooperation to make sure that no one misses out on what will be an incredibly moving and poignant

occasion.

Further event information can be found on The Royal British Legion’s website rbl.org.uk/DDay75

I very much hope that the Legion can count on your valuable support. If you have any questions, please

do not hesitate to contact the Commemorative Events Team on [email protected]

Yours Aye,

The Royal British Legion

Bob Gamble OBE Assitant Director of Commemorative Events

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Crewless vessels Ship carrying oysters is world's first remote-controlled cargo

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8

The Pulse

"Avondale Park" Ahoy from Canada:

"Avondale Park" was built in Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1944, registered in the Canadian port of

Montreal and leased on bareboat charter to the Ministry of War Transport. She would have been manned

by British sailors at time of her loss, but at no time during her brief life was her port of registry changed,

thus, she was always a Canadian ship and not a British one.

Interestingly, in the eyes of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland,

the status of "Avondale Park" is that of an essential component of the maritime heritage of Scotland,

surely a unique status to be accorded to a relatively modern-day Canadian merchant ship.

Cheers - Captain Paul L. Bender

Member 2533

RUSI(NS)%20Tanner%20(1).pdf

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Empty North Sea gas fields to be used to bury 10m tonnes of C02 By : Daniel Boffey in Brussels, the Guardian

Ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Ghent to pipe greenhouse gas into vast under-sea reservoir

Three of the largest ports in Europe - Rotterdam, Antwerp and Ghent - are to be used to capture and bury

10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions under the North Sea in what will be the biggest project of its kind in

the world. The ports, which account for one-third of the total greenhouse gas emissions from the Belgium,

Netherlands and Luxembourg region, are to be used to pipe the gas into a porous reservoir of sandstone

about two miles (3km) below the seabed. It is hoped the project could be completed by 2030 but the scale

of the storage, in two empty gas fields, is unprecedented and raises questions about how the CO2 will

affect the deep subsurface, according to the Dutch government. An application for EU project of common

interest status for the development has been made, which would open the door to subsidies for building

the network. The goal is to construct the CO2 network in the port of Rotterdam by 2026, with work then

to be completed in the following four years on a cross-border pipeline to Antwerp and the North Sea port

by Ghent. A further expansion beyond the initial 10m tonnes of C02 is expected after 2030. The total

emissions of the business activities in the ports amount to more than 60m tons of CO2 a year. By

comparison, the UK's net carbon emissions last year came to 364 million tonnes The purpose of carbon

capture is to aid the transition of industry towards the elimination of the burning of fossil fuels, and to

help reach climate change targets set in the Paris agreement. The Dutch government is targeting a 49 per

cent reduction in emissions by 2030. Scientists in Belgium and the Netherlands have largely welcomed

the plans. Prof Mark Saeys of Ghent University told De Morgen newspaper: "Of course I would prefer to

see investments in renewable energy, but you have to be realistic: as long as we as a society remain

dependent on fossil fuels, underground CO2 storage may be a crucial lever for achieving our climate

targets." The world's first large-scale carbon storage project was developed in 1996 off the Norwegian

coast, injecting nearly 1m tonnes a year into a space 800 to 1,100 metres beneath the seabed. But the

development of carbon capture and storage has been stilted in Europe. In 2009, the European commission

committed €1bn to finance six pilot projects with the hope of having 12 schemes up and running by 2015.

Due to the high costs, none of the projects were developed. More than 70 per cent of the 30 million tons

of CO2 captured annually by facilities for use or storage is captured in North America. The largest

initiative in the world to date is the Petra Nova project in Texas, which was launched in 2017 and is

attached to a coal-fired power station. It has an annual capture capacity of 1.4 million tonnes of CO2, the

equivalent of the emissions produced by 350,000 cars. The pipeline planned for the European ports p

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Visakhapatnam port capacity doubled in 5 yrs _____________________________________________________________________________________


9

The Pulse

Oil Tankers Attacked Off United Arab Emirates Damaged to the stern of the tanker Andrea Victory off the Port of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, May

13, 2019. REUTERS/Satish Kumar

By Rania El Gamal and

Bozorgmehr Sharafedin DUBAI/LONDON, May 13

(Reuters) – Saudi Arabia said on Monday that two of its oil

tankers were among those attacked off the coast of the

United Arab Emirates and described it as an attempt to

undermine the security of crude supplies amid tensions

between the United States and Iran.

The UAE said on Sunday that four commercial vessels were

sabotaged near Fujairah emirate, one of the world’s largest bunkering hubs lying just outside the Strait of

Hormuz. It did not describe the nature of the attack or say who was behind it.

The UAE on Monday identified the vessels as very large crude carrier (VLCC) tanker Amjad and crude

tanker Al Marzoqah, both owned by Saudi shipping firm Bahri. The other two were UAE-flagged fuel

bunker barge A. Michel and Norwegian-registered oil products tanker MT Andrew Victory.

Thome Ship Management said its MT Andrew Victory was “struck by an unknown object.” Footage seen

by Reuters showed a hole in the hull at the waterline with the metal torn open inwards.

A Reuters witness said divers were inspecting damaged ships. The UAE’s state news agency said

Fujairah port was operating normally.

A damaged Andrea Victory ship is seen off the Port of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, May 13, 2019.

REUTERS/Satish Kumar

Iran, which is embroiled in an escalating war of words with

the United States over sanctions and the U.S. military’s

presence in the region, moved to distance itself on Monday.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the incidents “worrisome and

dreadful” and asked for an investigation into the matter.

A senior Iranian lawmaker said “saboteurs from a third

country” could be behind it, after saying on Sunday the

incident showed the security of Gulf states was fragile.

The United States has limited information as yet about who

may have been responsible for the attacks, said a U.S. official

familiar with American intelligence on the incident and who

spoke on condition of anonymity.

Britain’s Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt warned of the risks of “a conflict happening by accident” with an

unintended escalation between Washington and Tehran over an unravelling nuclear deal.

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Reaching Challenger Deep, American Businessman Completes Deepest

Submarine Dive in History https://gcaptain.com/american-business-man-visits-challenger-

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Keel Laid for Australia's First Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessel

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Yantian Express Ready to Sail from Freeport With Remaining Cargo https://gcaptain.com/yantian-express-ready-to-sail-from-freeport-with-remaining-

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10

The Pulse

Ship Escorting - A Changing Mission By : Capt Henk Hensen Ships are escorted in several ports around the world, for instance in the U.S.,

Europe, Australia and Japan. Escorting can be carried out in several ways, with all types of tugs at low

speeds and with purpose built tugs at higher speeds. It is mainly the latter that is specifically called

escorting. What is escorting? According to the book Tug Use in Port the objective s of escorting are: 1.

To ensure a safe passage through the approach channel and apply steering and

braking forces to a disabled vessel by escorting tugs and to keep it afloat, or

limit the impact of collision or grounding if they unfortunately happen. 2. To

reduce the risk of pollution in port areas and port approaches due to

groundings or collisions caused by technical or human failures on board a

tanker. The escorting tugs should be able to control the ship over a relatively

large speed range, let us say from 10 knots down to zero.

Escorting has been carried out for almost 45 years. Specific attention to the

escorting of oil tankers started in the U.S. around 1975. Towing company

Foss Maritime was mandated to escort tankers by the State of Washington

that year. In Norway, escorting became mandatory in 1979 after the accident with the gas tanker

Humboldt in the narrow approach channel to Porsgrunn on Norway’s east coast in March 1979. A number

of years later, on March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground during her outgoing passage of the

Valdez Arm, Alaska, resulting in a huge oil spill. As a consequence, renewed attention was paid to

escorting loaded tankers in the U.S. Over the last 10 – 15 years, changes have taken place regarding the

risks that caused escorting to be started, in the type and number of ships being escorted and the way

escorting is carried out. What has changed since, let us say, 2010: • The phasing out of single hull tankers.

The final phasing-out date of single hull tankers was 2010. So, it is all double hull tankers now (with

some exemptions under conditions of the flag state administration). • According to ITOPF, the number of

spills has decreased enormously, while there is still a significant growth in crude, petroleum and gas

loaded. • Risk of an LNG spill is very low. LNG carriers have multiple containment walls and insulation

with eight feet between the hull and the cargo, making them very robust. No large LNG spill has been

reported. This means that the risk of pollution in port areas and

port approaches due to groundings or collisions has become very

low, and for that reason the need for escorting has become very

low as well. What can be seen now is that the escorting of large

gas carriers has increased considerably. Escorting of very large

bulk carriers has started to take place, as is the case in Port

Hedland, and in at least one port very large container vessels are

escorted.

This means that the main purpose of escorting has become only

the above mentioned objective 2, viz. to ensure a safe passage

through the approach channel and apply steering and braking

forces if needed. In other words, to keep the ship afloat and

fairways to the ports open. Whether this is needed for a port or

fairway depends on investigation of accidents that have

happened and/or the outcome of risk assessments. Further

developments are: • Escorting of LNG tankers in particular in

cold areas has increased, requiring special designed tugs. • Escorting with two tugs, so-called dual-

escorting, has emerged. Dual-escorting requires special attention so that the forces generated in the

towline by the tug are not too large for a ship’s deck equipment. The same applies for escorting of bulk

carriers and container vessels. Bulk carriers and container vessels do not need to comply with the

requirements for emergency towing equipment which can be used for connecting towlines too. This and

much more, even autonomous tugs, is discussed in the new third edition of the book Tug Use in Port. The

largeformat hardback book is illustrated with a wealth of detailed diagrams, graphics and photographs.

The book can be ordered at a price of €45 at The ABR Company Limited.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Photo: Østensjø Rederi,

Norway: Østensjø Rederi’s

Ajax, VS escort tug,

performing DNV full scale

escort trials.

Photo: Østensjø Rederi, Norway: Østensjø

Rederi’s Ajax, VS escort tug, performing

DNV full scale escort trials.


11

The Pulse

Tugboat captain and pilot at fault in Sunshine Bridge crash, company officials

say Marquette Transportation's president and other company

officials on Saturday placed blame for the Sunshine

Bridge crash squarely on the tugboat captain and pilot,

saying they failed to follow the company's internal safety

and voyage planning policies. Capt. Harvey Mabile, one

of the "go-to" field managers for a group of Marquette

Transportation tugboat captains on the lower Mississippi

River, said he got a call from the KRISTIN ALEXIS

tugboat about the crash at 2 a.m. on Oct. 12. Capt.

Desmond Smith, then the vessel's master captain, told

Mabile that a large crane barge that the tug had been pushing upriver from Convent to Darrow was stuck

under the Sunshine Bridge near Donaldsonville. The bridge has a wide and tall center span, also known as

a channel span, that's able to accommodate even the tallest cranes on most days, Mabile said. He told a

federal panel investigating the crash Saturday that he didn't understand initially how that the crane could

be stuck. "I went, 'How can you be stuck the under the bridge?' And he said he went through the alternate

span," Mabile said Smith told him. "'I know we should have went under the channel span, Harvey, but we

are stuck under the Sunshine Bridge.'" The company's policies call for mariners to know the crane's and

the span's dimensions to ensure vessels like the Mr. Ervin have room to fit under the bridge. But chief

among those policies, Marquette officials said Saturday, is the authority each employee is given to stop if

something seems dangerous or makes them uncomfortable. According to their testimony, both Smith and

his pilot, Capt. Eugene Picquet III, said they had concerns about limited visibility pushing the huge

Cooper Consolidated crane. However, they never actually calculated the height of the lower alternate

span or the crane. Smith said he relied on a word-of-mouth figure that was 6 feet short of the crane's

actual height. Mabile, a port captain who mostly oversees Marquette's "fleet" tugs ferrying cranes and

other equipment along the river, told investigators he would have been the one to receive a call if either

man had aired misgivings. Marquette tug ran different crane into another Mississippi River bridge before

Sunshine Bridge crash "It frustrates me that it wasn't done because that telephone call would have

eliminated all of this from happening," said Mabile, who knew Picquet and Smith and helped recruit

Picquet back to Marquette as a pilot only a month before the crash Both Smith and Picquet have been

fired since the incident. A joint panel of the U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board

has been taking testimony since Monday at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center about the crash that shut the bridge

for a month and a half. Saturday marked the last day of the testimony in Gonzales. A public report on the

findings of the hearing is not expected until late this year, at the earliest. Crews spent several hours the

morning of Oct. 12 adding water ballast to the crane so it could be lowered and removed from the bridge.

A state highway official told the panel last week that the bridge, on paper, should have come down

because of the damage to key support beams. Repairs have cost upward of $6.5 million. Source : The

Advocate

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Unattended machinery spaces: Class notations E0 and AUT – clarifications on

the annual survey https://www.dnvgl.com/news/unattended-machinery-spaces-class-notations-e0-and-aut-clarifications-on-

the-annual-survey-85588

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nautical Institute AGM & International Seminar 2019

12 and 13 June 2019 Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

The Nautical Institute's Hong Kong branch will be hosting the AGM and international seminar for 2019.

This important gathering will include technical content and a number of insightful talks, as well as a

chance to network with members from around the world.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

https://www.dnvgl.com/news/unattended-machinery-spaces-class-notations-e0-and-aut-clarifications-on-the-annual-survey-85588

https://www.dnvgl.com/news/unattended-machinery-spaces-class-notations-e0-and-aut-clarifications-on-the-annual-survey-85588


12

The Pulse

MNA National Treasurer Willie is now standing down due to ill health. We are deeply sorry to hear this as he has quietly done a

great job over the years and we are most indebted to him.

With immediate effect, I will act as temporary Treasurer and please send me anything that is

financial. When I get the books, it could take me a few days to get myself up and running.

We now require someone to take over the role as National Treasurer as soon as

possible. This is a most important Executive position - without a Treasurer, the

Association cannot function Please contact me for further information about the

position.

I can only act as temporary Treasurer for a very limited time as I am involved with 5 other charities and

MNDCS plus an impending house sale and purchase.

Regards,

Tim Brant

Events & Welfare Officer

Merchant Navy Association

9 Saxon Way, Caistor, Market Rasen LN7 6SG

Tel: 01472 851130

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mna.org.uk

Charity Reg. No. 1135661

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Ukraine-Russia naval dispute to be heard by sea tribunal Friday Last November, Russia seized three Ukrainian navy ships and captured dozens of sailors, sparking

outrage in Ukraine. The case is now being heard at a UN sea tribunal in Hamburg, but Russia has vowed

not to show. kerch.com.ru A naval standoff between Russia and Ukraine will be heard before an

international sea tribunal in Hamburg, Germany, on Friday. The incident last November saw tensions

between Moscow and Kyiv skyrocket after Russia fired on Ukrainian naval vessels near the Kerch Strait,

eventually seizing the ships and detaining 24 sailors, according to Deutsche Welle. The hearing is taking

place at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), where the judges will hear arguments

from Ukraine. Ukraine argues that the navy vessels have immunity under an international maritime

convention. Ukraine has demanded that Moscow drop all charges against its sailors and to release them.

Read also Russia changes tone in talks with Ukraine on POW sailors – MFA Ukraine They've also called

for the return of its three naval vessels. Russia has refused to attend the hearings, arguing that the ITLOS

doesn't have jurisdiction over "military activities." Last November, an incident erupted near the Kerch

Strait in the first open military clash between Ukraine and Russia since 2014 when Moscow annexed

Crimea. Russian coast guard ships fired on the Ukrainian vessels as they tried to pass from the Black Sea

to the Azov Sea. Russia seized the Ukrainian ships and detained 24 sailors, who are being held in pretrial

detention until July. Ukraine has said its ships were located in international waters when the incident took

place. Russia, however, claims that the Ukrainian ships entered Russian territorial waters without

permission. Read also U.S. State Department: Russia needs to free Ukrainian crews ITLOS is a Hamburg-

based independent judicial body consisting of 21 judges that was established under the United Nations

Convention on the Law of the Sea to deal with maritime disputes. Hearings are open to the public. The

court is set to release a decision by the end of May. With Russia declining to take part in the proceedings,

it not certain that they would comply with the court's findings. Source Unian

_____________________________________________________________________________________


http://www.mna.org.uk/


13

The Pulse

Grounded bulk carrier Solomon Trader refloated By : Eric Watkins

A BULKcarrier that leaked a huge

amount of oil after running aground

on a coral reef in the Solomon

Islands, SOLOMON TRADER , has

reportedly been refloated. The

73,380 dwt vessel was at the centre

of an environmental disaster at

Kangava Bay off Rennell Island after

running aground in February while

loading bauxite. It was carrying more

than 700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, and there was extensive leakage The Hong Kong-flagged ship was

chartered by Indonesian based Bintan Mining and was loaded with some 11,000 tonnes of bauxite when it

ran aground in heavy seas. Kangava Bay is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site, and concerns were

raised quickly over damage to the site from oil spilling from the grounded ship. Those concerns were

confirmed in mid-February by aerial assessments conducted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Conducted on behalf of the Solomon Islands government, the AMSA assessments confirmed extensive oil

leakage around the ship, dispersing across the surrounding sea and shoreline. The Solomon Islands

government quickly asserted that the vessel owner, King Trader Ltd, and its insurer Korea P&I Club,

were responsible for salvaging the vessel and mitigating the environmental impacts of the incident. In

March, King Trader and the P&I Club issued a “sincere apology” to the people of the Solomon Islands

following the grounding of the ship. While stating that matters of liability had yet to be determined, they

expressed “deep remorse” and characterised the situation as “totally unacceptable”. Melchior Mataki,

who chairs the Solomons National Disaster Council, said at the weekend that a detailed environmental

assessment would be undertaken now that the vessel is out of the way. “There is a preliminary report, but

the full report will be made known once assessments and investigation findings are compiled properly,”

Mr Mataki told the Agence France-Presse news agency. He said the government would likely seek

compensation for environmental damage. Source : Lloydslist

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Vehicle Carrier Grande Europa Hit By Fire in Mediterranean Photo: Salvamento Maritimo

Another Grimaldi Lines vehicle carrier has been hit by a major fire.

Authorities in Spain reported Wednesday that they were called to

assist the Grimaldi Lines car carrier Grande Europe which had

suffered a fire approximately 25 miles south of Palma de Mallorca

in the Mediterranean.

Fifteen crewmembers have been evacuated from the ship by

helicopter, while three vessels were helping fight the fire.

An update from Salvamento Maritimo said the fire onboard has been brought under control and the ship is

now under tow to the Palma Bay by the emergency response vessel Marta Mata.

AIS ship tracking data shows the 1998-built Grande Europa

is on a voyage from Salerno, Italy to Valencia, Spain. The

ship is flagged in Italy.

The incident follows a fire in March aboard the Grimaldi

Lines roll-on/roll-off containership Grande America in the

Bay of Biscay, which resulted in the ship’s sinking. All 27

crew members on board were able to abandon ship and later

rescued by a British Royal Navy ship. Grimaldi eventually

confirmed that the fire started in a container loaded on the

deck of the ship.

_____________________________________________________________________________________


14

The Pulse

Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most important oil artery Saudi Arabia said on Monday that two Saudi oil tankers were among vessels targeted in a “sabotage

attack” off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, condemning it as an attempt to undermine the security

of global crude supplies. The UAE said on Sunday that four commercial vessels were sabotaged near

Fujairah emirate, one of the world’s largest bunkering hubs lying just outside the Strait of Hormuz. It did

not say who was behind the operation, which took place amid heightened tensions between the United

States and Iran. Iran’s foreign ministry called the incidents “worrisome and dreadful” and asked for an

investigation. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in

Asia, Europe, North America and beyond, has been at the heart of regional tensions for decades.

WHAT IS THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ? The waterway separates Iran and Oman, linking the Gulf to

the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. The Strait is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, but the

shipping lane is just two miles (three km) wide in either direction.

WHY DOES IT MATTER? The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that 18.5 million

barrels per day (bpd) of seaborne oil passed through the waterway in 2016. That was about 30 percent of

crude and other oil liquids traded by sea in 2016. About 17.2 million bpd of crude and condensates were

estimated to have been shipped through the Strait in 2017 and about 17.4 million bpd in the first half of

2018, according to oil analytics firm Vortexa. With global oil consumption standing at about 100 million

bpd, that means almost a fifth passes through the Strait. Most crude exported from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the

UAE, Kuwait and Iraq — all members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries — is

shipped through the waterway.

It is also the route used for nearly all the liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced by the world’s biggest

LNG exporter, Qatar. During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, the two sides sought to disrupt each other’s oil

exports in what was known as the Tanker War. The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with

protecting the commercial ships in the area. “While the presence of the U.S. Fifth Fleet should ensure that

the critical waterway remains open, provocative Iranian military maneuvers are likely in the immediate

offing as is a nuclear restart”, analysts at bank RBC wrote on April 22.

Iran agreed to rein in its nuclear program in return for an easing of sanctions under a 2015 deal with the

United States and five other global powers. Washington pulled out of the pact in 2018. Western powers

fear Iran wants to make nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this.

“All of these geopolitical stories could present a cruel summer scenario for President (Donald) Trump as

he seeks to keep oil prices in check,” the RBC analysts wrote.

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES FOR GULF OIL? The UAE and Saudi Arabia have sought

to find other routes to bypass the Strait, including building more oil pipelines.

HAVE THERE BEEN INCIDENTS IN THE STRAIT BEFORE? In July 1988, the U.S. warship

VINCENNES shot down an Iranian airliner, killing all 290 aboard, in what Washington said was an

accident after crew mistook the plane for a fighter. Tehran said it was a deliberate attack. The United

States said the VINCENNES was in the area to protect neutral vessels against Iranian navy attacks. In

early 2008, the United States said Iranian boats threatened its warships after they approached three U.S.

naval ships in the Strait. In June 2008, the then Revolutionary Guards commander-in-chief, Mohammad

Ali Jafari, said Iran would impose controls on shipping in the Strait if it was attacked. In July 2010,

Japanese oil tanker M STAR was attacked in the Strait. A militant group called Abdullah Azzam

Brigades, which is linked to al Qaeda, claimed responsibility. In January 2012, Iran threatened to block

the Strait in retaliation for U.S. and European sanctions that targeted its oil revenues in an attempt to stop

Tehran’s nuclear program. In May 2015, Iranian ships fired shots at a Singapore-flagged tanker which it

said damaged an Iranian oil platform, causing the vessel to flee. It also seized a container ship in the

Strait.

In July 2018, President Hassan Rouhani hinted Iran could disrupt oil flows through the Strait in response

to U.S. calls to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero. A Revolutionary Guards commander also said Iran

would block all exports through the Strait if Iranian exports were stopped. Source: Reuters (Reporting by

Ahmad Ghaddar; Editing by Edmund Blair and Dale Hudson)

_____________________________________________________________________________________


15

The Pulse

Limpet mines suspected in Fujairah attacks Initial inspections of the four ships that UAE authorities said

were “sabotaged” on Sunday points towards the use of limpet

mines. Sources at Fujairah port who inspected three of the

four hit tankers tell Splash the damage done on each vessel

looks very much like limpet mines were used, a type of naval

mine attached to a target by magnets. All four ships suffered

damage to their sterns. Divers spent much of yesterday

assessing the damage on all four ships, which include VLCC

AMJAD and LR2 AL MARZOQAH belonging to Saudi

Arabia’s Bahri, the ANDREA VICTORY, a 47,000 dwt

tanker operated by Norway’s Champion Tankers and Sharjah-registered bunker tanker A. Michel. UAE

authorities had initially said the ships were

“sabotaged” without providing further details.

The attacks come as tensions between the US

and Iran escalate in the wake of Washington

reimposing sanctions on Tehran and deploying

an aircraft carrier to the region. The

Norwegian Maritime Authority took the

decision to warn owners to up their security

levels to MarSec 2 around Fujairah waters,

which corresponds to an elevated threat

warning around the port.Lars Bergqvist, a

security consultant, told Splash ships in the area must adhere to the ISPS code when carrying out

surveillance.

“Good watch keeping would be one crewmember on the port

bridge wing and another one on the starboard bridge wing,

and at night time operating the search lights,” Berqqvist said,

adding. “On deck, crewmembers should be on roaming

patrols from forward to aft. In the night, the side of the ship

ought to be illuminated.” Further, if a ship is at anchor and in

calm weather the man overboard boat could be used to make

patrols around the ship, Bergqvist suggested. American

newswire Associated Press (AP) yesterday suggested

explosive charges, likely deployed by Iranians, were used to

damage the tankers. An American military team’s initial

assessment is that Iranian or Iranian-backed proxies used

explosives to blow holes up to 3 m in radius just below the waterline in the ships anchored off the coast of

the UAE. The AP story came from an official who was not authorised to discuss the investigation

publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Commenting on the exclusive images obtained by Splash,

Will McManus, who heads maritime security firm RSG, said the damage was unlikely to have been from

a rocket-propelled grenade. He felt the most likely source of the damage was from a waterborne

improvised explosive device. President Donald Trump warned Iran on Monday afternoon it will “suffer

greatly” if the country does “anything” in the form of an attack. Port officials at Fujairah told Splash

today the port is running normally and no pollution or injuries have been reported. Source : Splash 247

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The End Of Crab Trap Entanglements? https://gcaptain.com/the-end-of-crab-trap-

entanglements/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptai

n+%28gCaptain.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-f25ba8f9ef-

139894965&mc_cid=f25ba8f9ef&mc_eid=4c72dd3685

_____________________________________________________________________________________

https://gcaptain.com/the-end-of-crab-trap-entanglements/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-f25ba8f9ef-139894965&mc_cid=f25ba8f9ef&mc_eid=4c72dd3685





16

The Pulse

2 sightseeing planes carrying cruise ship tourists in deadly midair collision

over Alaska A team of federal accident investigators is expected to arrive in Alaska Tuesday to try to piece together

what caused a deadly midair collision between two sightseeing planes. There was conflicting word on the

death toll. Both aircraft plunged into waters below. A source familiar with the situation told CBS News

both are submerged in water. Investigators believe one came to rest in a lake, the other in the ocean. It

was unclear how far apart they are. The Coast Guard said four people were killed when the floatplanes

carrying cruise ship tourists collided Monday near the southeast Alaska town of Ketchikan. Two others

were missing, according to Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios, a Coast Guard spokesman. The passengers were

from the cruise ship Royal Princess and were on sightseeing flights, one of which was sold through

Princess Cruises and operated by flightseeing company Taquan Air, Princess Cruises said. Eleven people

were on Taquan's single-engine de Havilland Otter DHC-3 when it went down as it returned from Misty

Fjords National Monument, which is part of the Tongass National Forest, the nation's largest. Ten people

were taken to a Ketchikan hospital. All patients were in fair or good condition, according to Marty West,

a spokeswoman for PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center. The second plane was a single-engine de

Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, according to Coast Guard Lt. Brian Dykens, who said three people from that

aircraft died. It was unclear which plane carried the fourth victim, whose body was recovered during a

Monday night search, Rios said. Local emergency responders worked with state and federal agencies and

good Samaritan vessels to help rescue and recover victims. "It's been a long day and the crews have been

working really hard to rescue people and recover the deceased," Deanna Thomas, a spokeswoman for the

Ketchikan Gateway Borough, the local government, said Monday evening. A spokeswoman for Taquan

Air, operator of the Otter, said the company had suspended operations while federal authorities

investigate the deadly crash. "We are devastated by today's incident and our hearts go out to our

passengers and their families," Taquan said in a statement. Cindy Cicchetti, a passenger on the Royal

Princess cruise ship told the AP that the ship captain announced that two planes were in an accident

Monday. She said the ship is not leaving as scheduled and there weren't any details on how the accident

will affect the rest of the trip. The ship left Vancouver, British Columbia, on May 11 and was scheduled

to arrive in Anchorage Saturday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives and the

families of those impacted by today's accident. Princess Cruises is extending its full support to traveling

companions of the guests involved," Princess Cruises said in a statement. The FAA and NTSB are

investigating. Weather conditions in the area on Monday included high overcast skies with 9 mph

southeast winds. It wasn't the first major plane crash near Ketchikan, a popular tourist destination. In June

2015, a pilot and eight passengers died when a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter operated by Promech Air Inc.

crashed into mountainous terrain about 24 miles from Ketchikan. The NTSB later determined that pilot

error and lack of a formal safety program were behind the crash. Source : CBS

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Gulf of Mexico’s 14-Year Oil Leak Finally Contained https://gcaptain.com/gulf-of-mexico-14-year-old-oil-spill-

contained/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCa

ptain.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-27ffbb8f85-139894965&mc_cid=27ffbb8f85&mc_eid=4c72dd3685

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Thermal scanners installed at Indonesian ports after Singapore monkeypox

case The monitoring of people arriving by air and sea from Singapore has been heightened in Pekanbaru, Riau,

and in Batam, Riau Islands, after the city-state reported its first human case of the rare monkeypox virus.

Singapore reported over the weekend that it had identified a case of monkeypox brought in by a Nigerian

man. The man has been hospitalized in an isolation ward to prevent the virus from spreading. Twenty-two

other people he had been in contact are also being kept in isolation. State-owned airport operator PT

Angkasa Pura II (AP II), "One of the ways is by installing thermal scanners at airports. If they identify

suspected patients, necessary measures will be taken," ………….…. source : The Jakarta Post

_____________________________________________________________________________________

https://gcaptain.com/gulf-of-mexico-14-year-old-oil-spill-contained/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-27ffbb8f85-139894965&mc_cid=27ffbb8f85&mc_eid=4c72dd3685




17

The Pulse


18

The Pulse

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Fwd: Invitation from Portsmouth City Council to the D Day Stone Memorial -

Southsea Esplanade 06 June 2019 at 1045

On behalf of the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth South branch of the Royal British

Legion, I would like to invite you and members of your association to the Memorial Service at the D-Day

Stone, Southsea Esplanade on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of D-Day on Thursday 6th June 2019

at 10:45am. This annual Service is being jointly organised by the Royal British Legion and Portsmouth

City Council.

The Service will be attended by veterans from across the city who will march to the Stone, preceded by a

platoon from the Royal Marines Cadets. The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines will lead the parade.

FORMAT

Marching veterans are asked to assemble at Canoe Lake car park, Southsea Esplanade where you will be

marshalled by the Veteran's Parade Commander, Spike Redwood. Toilet facilities and first aid will be

available in this area.

The parade will be led by the Standards, so we ask that your Standard Bearer assembles at the front of the

parade. The Standard's Parade Commander will be available to brief your Standard Bearer on arrival.

Non-marching veterans should go directly to the D-Day Stone near South Parade Pier where seats will be

provided.


19

The Pulse

The march from Canoe Lake Car Park to the D-Day Stone is approximately 500 – 600 metres. Veterans

in wheelchairs are very welcome to take part in the parade.

The Service will be conducted by the Revd Canon Bob White. Towards the end of the Service there will

be an opportunity to lay wreaths; please allow the official wreath layers to go forward first, Father Bob

will then invite you to make your way to the Stone if you wish to lay a wreath.

After the Service, the parade will form up on the road, and march past the saluting dais. The Lord

Lieutenant of Hampshire has kindly agreed to take the salute.

TIMINGS

By 10.15am Veterans assemble at Canoe Lake car park.

10.20am Parade marshal forms up the parade.

10.30am Parade step off, led by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines

10.50am D-Day Service begins

11.30am Parade forms up and marches past.

In the event of wet weather, the event will carry on as planned above.

DRESS

All those taking part are invited to wear Regimental Blazers, berets and medals where appropriate.

PARKING

Parking is available free of charge for veterans in the Canoe Lake Car Park. Alternate parking is

available free of charge on Castle Field (next to the Pyramids Car Park). Please note that all other guests

will be charged to park in either of these parking locations. Please show your medals to the parking

officer who will allow you access. Buggies will be available at both car parks to transport you to the D-

Day Stone if required.

Alternatively there is plenty of free on street parking around Canoe Lake.

Please note that road closures will be in place on St Helen's Parade and Southsea Esplanade around the D-

Day Stone area from 06:00am so to access Canoe Lake car park or the on street parking at Canoe Lake

you will need to approach from the Eastney end of the city.

I do hope you and members of your association will be able to join us on this occasion. I would be

grateful if you can let me know numbers of veterans attending from your association by Monday 3rd June

2019 at the latest. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me on 023 9268 8938.

Should you wish to find out further information about the events in Portsmouth, please visit our

website:https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documents-external/d-day-75-programme.pdf

Lydia Mellor

Events Manager

_____________________________________________________________________________________

https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documents-external/d-day-75-programme.pdf


20

The Pulse

Is S'pore's Tuas port too big for its britches in today's environment? QUESTIONS have been raised by the OECD's transport agency, among others, whether Singapore's Tuas

Mega Port, currently under construction, is too big and costly to be effective in today's rapidly changing

maritime sector. A KPMG study argued that the optimal size vessel for the Asian market is 4,700 TEU,

which is very different to the capacity of Tuas handling vessels that are four and five times the size, noted

Singapore's Splash 247. The OECD's International Transport Forum (ITF) warns that costs of mega ships

could be substantial because of heavy investment needed terminal infrastructure considering Tuas is

competing in a cost-based sector and region. The importance of the decision by terminal operator PSA to

embark on such a project that essentially consolidates the five existing container terminals into one

precinct is a big step. The ITF report, entitled Megaships: Trends and Rationale goes on to argue that the

cost savings are decreasing as ships get bigger. The savings of the latest generation vessels are four to six

times smaller than the savings from the previous round of upsizing. Interestingly, the report states that 60

per cent of the savings come from more efficient engines and not to ship size. The report also says any

increase in the maximum size of containerships would raise transport costs due to the costs associated

with infrastructure upsizing. Source : Schednet

_____________________________________________________________________________________

DERBYSHIRE SUBMARINERS 236 JUNE 2019 NEWSLETTER

http://www.godfreydykes.info/TJ%20236%20Jun%202019.pdf

Link ABOVE for the June issue of Derbyshire Submariners Newsletter 'The Trade Journal'

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Is English the True International Language of the Sea? https://gcaptain.com/is-english-the-true-international-language-of-the-

sea/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.c

om%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-4c3ad583ef-139894965&mc_cid=4c3ad583ef&mc_eid=4c72dd3685

_____________________________________________________________________________________

This 72-Year-Old Frenchman Just Crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a Giant

Orange Barrel

He must be as Mad as a tea cosy!! But very brave eh!

Subject: This 72-Year-Old Frenchman Just Crossed

the Atlantic Ocean in a Giant Orange Barrel

Date: 16 May 2019 at 6:34:15 am AEST

Crossing the Atlantic in a 10ft barrel, just relying on the

currents to take you to your destination, certainly isn’t for

the fainthearted. After 127 days at sea, the 72 year old

French adventurer was rescued by a Dutch tanker, he was

then towed by a tug to the Dutch Island Saint Eustache in

the Caribbean. The latest news was that after a few days

there, he was onboard a French tug on his way to the

French Island Martinique.

His adventure hasn’t deterred him from other pursuits in

seeking new challenges, such as swimming the English

Channel. He is also thinking of crossing the Pacific Ocean

in a barrel, if he can get sponsorship.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

http://www.godfreydykes.info/TJ%20236%20Jun%202019.pdf

https://gcaptain.com/is-english-the-true-international-language-of-the-sea/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-4c3ad583ef-139894965&mc_cid=4c3ad583ef&mc_eid=4c72dd3685




21

The Pulse

Retiring Director General of Seafarers UK Faces Farewell Fundraiser

Commodore Barry Bryant CVO RN is to step down after 17 years as Director General of the

Seafarers UK maritime welfare charity in July.

His final fundraising challenge is to abseil 100

metres down the iconic Spinnaker Tower in

Portsmouth, UK on 30 June.

Commodore Bryant said: ‘I was looking forward

to going quietly after 17 enjoyable but fairly

frenetic years at the helm, but as usual my team

had other ideas! Fundraising has been perhaps the

hardest part of the job, but so absolutely necessary

if Seafarers UK is to take forward our many

initiatives across the whole maritime community.’

Donations to Seafarers UK are invited at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BarryBryant

Seafarers UK has been helping people in the maritime community for over 100 years, by providing vital

support to seafarers in need and their families, and to those in education or training who are preparing to

work at sea. The charity does this by giving grants to organisations and projects that make a real

difference to people’s lives.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Los Angeles docker killed, another in coma when tyre explodes ONE docker was killed and another was in a coma at the Port of Los Angeles' Fenix Marine Service

terminal at Pier 30 after a tyre exploded on a top-loader container handler International Longshore and

Warehouse Union (ILWU) officials said the two men were inflating the top-handler tyre, which is about

five to six feet in diameter, when it exploded. The dead man, Jose Santoyo, 58, was a member of the

ILWU as was the injured man, Pedro Chavann, who suffered head injuries and was in coma, after being

taken to Harbour UCLA Medical Centre, according to New York's FreightWave. "My heart goes out to

the families of the victims of this tragic accident," said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los

Angeles. Said Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino: "Today is a tragic reminder of the danger that

thousands of workers face every day working on our docks." The accident happened on the day of the

ILWU's "First Blood" commemoration, which honours the lives lost working on the waterfront.

According to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the last death that occurred

during marine cargo handling occurred May 10, 2014. A longshoreman was struck and killed while

loading cargo at the Gulf Stream Marine terminal in Houston. Source: Schednet

_____________________________________________________________________________________

INCAT TO BUILD WORLD’S LARGEST ALUMINIUM SHIP Incat Tasmania has secured a contract to build a

Ro-Pax that will be the world’s largest

aluminium ship at 130 metres long. Buenos

Aires-based Buquebus will operate the vessel

between Argentina and Uruguay. Work is

underway on design and engineering while the

physical construction will commence as soon as

the completed detail design drawings are approved by the customer. The vessel will have a maximum

speed of over 40 knots, four dual fuel engines that can also run on LNG, and capacity for 2,100

passengers and 220 motor vehicles. Source: bairdmaritime

_____________________________________________________________________________________

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BarryBryant


22

The Pulse

Seafarers condemn working conditions on board Blumenthal ships Current and former seafarers have detailed exploitative working conditions aboard Blumenthal vessels

raising grave concerns about the welfare and rights of seafarers working on their global fleet The

International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have been contacted by current and ex-crew members

who have told distressing stories of intimidation, threats and abusive conditions onboard the German

shipping company’s global fleet “Seafarers have described atrocious stories of exploitation and

discrimination on Blumenthal vessels, practices that have no place in the maritime industry,” said ITF

maritime coordinator Jacqueline Smith. The Blumenthal whistle blowers, who have requested to remain

anonymous due to fears of retaliation, have detailed cases of forced overtime, withholding of wages,

discrimination based on nationality and a lack of access essential provisions like food and water. “We are

force[d] to work more than the normal working hours and [overtime] is not paid … engine ratings are

forced to do mooring operations and if something bad happened, they will not compensate with the

involved crew. A lot of unpaid extra jobs … They have fixed wages for us so even if we do a lot of

[overtime] and extra jobs, we are paid the same amount monthly,” said one current Blumenthal seafarer.

“They are also forcing to sign a waiver before arriving [in] a port with strong ITF union that states, we the

crew of a certain [Blumenthal] vessel do not want to join the union and they are threatening us that if we

report to the union they will sue us. “The provisions are also worst. They'll send a supply for 1 month and

will spend it for 2 months. Vegetables are limited and some fruits and provisions are given only for the

officers. The allotment is always late and no cash advance onboard,” he added. Another seafarer onboard

another Blumenthal vessel complained about access to basic provisions: “We have only one case water

[remaining] and now captain propose to us to drin[k] tank water but that water ev[e]n not good for

washing.” Former Blumenthal seafarers also urged the ITF to expose Blumenthal’s treatment of crew,

with one saying, “[employers] like them should be exposed. They have no respect whatsoever to the crew

who toiled, and continue to work, under their name,” and another saying, “please continue to hunt down

these kind of operators they have no place in the maritime business. These disturbing stories follow the

detention of Blumenthal’s Anna Elisabeth at Port Kembla in Australia on March 26, after an inspection

revealed serious deficiencies in manning, seafarers employment agreements, access to shore leave and

food provisions.

The ITF today called on the German government and the maritime industry to join the ITF in strongly

condemning Blumenthal’s treatment of seafarers. “What we are talking about here is the fundamental

abuse of these seafarers’ rights. To be paid for the work that they perform. To be fed. To have the right to

freely associate and be represented by a union,” said Smith. “Today we urge the German government,

charterers and the broader maritime industry to condemn Blumenthal’s exploitation of these workers, and

join us in calling on the company’s president, Dr. Matthias-K. Reith, to bring all of the company’s vessels

under ITF Agreements to ensure respect for seafarers’ rights, freedoms and working conditions,”

concluded Smith

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Super Sniffer Drones and Jail: Regulators Get Tough on Shipping https://gcaptain.com/super-sniffer-drones-and-jail-regulators-get-tough-on-

shipping/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCapt

ain.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-cb2b760ba7-139894965&mc_cid=cb2b760ba7&mc_eid=4c72dd3685

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Unmanned 12-Meter Ship Aims to Be First to Cross Atlantic Without Crew https://gcaptain.com/unmanned-12-meter-ship-to-cross-

atlantic/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCapta

in.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-cb2b760ba7-139894965&mc_cid=cb2b760ba7&mc_eid=4c72dd3685

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Fujairah 12 May Attacks – risk mitigation measures https://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge-publications/article/fujairah-12-may-attacks-risk-mitigation-

measures-148680/?dm_i=33T,6ARRG,LGE99N,OVA82,1

_____________________________________________________________________________________

https://gcaptain.com/super-sniffer-drones-and-jail-regulators-get-tough-on-shipping/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-cb2b760ba7-139894965&mc_cid=cb2b760ba7&mc_eid=4c72dd3685



https://gcaptain.com/unmanned-12-meter-ship-to-cross-atlantic/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-cb2b760ba7-139894965&mc_cid=cb2b760ba7&mc_eid=4c72dd3685



https://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge-publications/article/fujairah-12-may-attacks-risk-mitigation-measures-148680/?dm_i=33T,6ARRG,LGE99N,OVA82,1

https://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge-publications/article/fujairah-12-may-attacks-risk-mitigation-measures-148680/?dm_i=33T,6ARRG,LGE99N,OVA82,1


23

The Pulse

Maersk Officer Presumed Dead After Falling Overboard on Saint Lawrence

River May 20 2019 by gCaptain

The second officer of the containership Maersk Patras is

missing and presumed dead after falling overboard from the

ship in the Sant Lawrence River on Sunday.

According to a statement from Maersk Line, the 2nd Officer

reportedly fell overboard at approximately 9:30 am local

time on the Saint Lawerence River in Canada, north-east of

the junction with the Saguenay River.

Several vessels participating in the search and rescue,

including Maersk Patras, along with the support of airborne

assets. The search was coordinated by the Marine Search &

Rescue Centre (MRSC) of the Canadian Coast Guard,

which ultimately called off the search at approximately

20:00 local time.

“It is with regret we have received the news that the search and rescue operation was unsuccessful and we

must conclude that we have lost our colleague. It is a tragic situation for the family and we have offered

them our full support. My deepest condolences and thoughts go to them,” says Søren Toft, COO of A.P.

Moller – Maersk.

The 2nd Officer is from Sri Lanka, according to Maersk Line. Maersk said it is in contact with the

relatives as well as the crew members of Maersk Patras, who will receive crisis counseling.

The circumstances surrounding the man overboard were not immediately clear. Maersk said it will

cooperate fully in investigations into the incident.

Built in 1998, Maersk Patras sails under the Singapore flag and has a capacity of 2.902 TEU (twenty foot

equivalent).

AIS ship tracking data shows the Maersk Patras was sailing from Antwerp, Belgium to Montreal when

the incident occurred.

MAERSK container ship lost crew while taking pilot on board, Canada Container ship MAERSK PATRAS lost man overboard while reportedly, taking pilot on board

off Les Escoumins, Quebec, Saint Lawrence river mouth, in the morning May 19. Vessel arrived from

Antwerp, being bound for Montreal. SAR lasted until evening May 19, was suspended, all involved ships

and helicopter released. MAERSK PATRAS resumed voyage at 1945 LT May 19, as of 0500 UTC May

20 was sailing upstream, below Quebec City According to unconfirmed social media posts, missing crew

is either AB or Second Officer, he wasn’t wearing life jacket, little chance of survival in 6 C water.

Container ship MAERSK PATRAS, IMO 9168221, dwt 37842, capacity 2890 TEU, built 1998, flag

Singapore, manager MAERSK Line (EQUASIS). Source : Maritime Bulletin

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Norwegian Encore Gets Her Hull Art The new Norwegian Encore now has her trademark hull

art. Eduardo Arranz-Bravo, the Spanish artist, created

the hull artwork for the fourth and final ship of its

Breakaway-Plus class, Norwegian Encore, debuting in

Miami in November 2019. A representation of his

modern and abstract style, the ship’s hull will feature a

"labyrinth of color" inspired by ArranzBravo’s life by

the sea in Barcelona and pay tribute to the vibrant guest

experience for which the Norwegian brand is

recognized, the company said. After her debut in

Miami, the Encore will move to Seattle in 2021, sailing

seven-day cruises to Alaska.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

File photo shows the MV Maersk Patras.

Photo credit: Maersk Line


24

The Pulse

Albatros Expeditions Confirms Second Newbuild Albatros Expeditions has confirmed plans to

add a second SunStone Infinity-class class

expedition cruise vessel to its fleet in 2022.

The OCEAN ALBATROSS will operate in

both Antarctica and the Arctic and on cruises

between these core expedition areas, the

company said. The 186-guest Ocean

Albatros will join the new Ocean Victory,

that will be operated by Albatros Expeditions

in Antarctica from December 2020 and is chartered to Victory Cruise Lines for operations in Alaska for

the summer seasons. Albatros has also announced the appointment of Hans Lagerweij as president of

international businesses. Lagerweij has extensive experience in the expedition and small-ship cruise

industry, and in the past was responsible for managing Quark Expeditions and recently Victory Cruise

Lines. Hans Lagerweij, president of international businesses, said: “Many expedition cruise companies

are focusing on features such as under water lounges, helicopters or submarines for their newbuilds. At

Albatros Expeditions, we have chosen vessels that are enhancing an authentic expedition experience

which customers are looking for. The proven and patented X-Bow design gives our passengers a more

enjoyable sailing, by improving guest comfort and safety, and even reducing seasickness. It provides very

low levels of noise and vibration and gives us the ability to better maintain speed, ensuring we keep to our

expedition schedules in rougher seas." Albatros owner Soren Rasmussen added: “Next to large cabins,

most with balconies, we offer a heated infinity pool, hot tubs, library, spa, gym, three restaurants and two

bars. Finally, the vessels also belong to the greenest generation of cruise ships in the world. Its tier 3

compliant engines give up to 80 percent less emissions and operate on significantly lower fuel

consumption. Furthermore, we will remove single use plastics, only use bio-degradable and eco-friendly

cleaning and laundry products. We will only offer sustainable seafood, reduce the use of all chemicals

and implement an onboard recycling program." Source: cruiseindustrynews.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Book Review By : Auteur : Frank NEYTS

“Hard down! Hard down!”

Recently Whittles Publishing released ‘Hard down! Hard down! The life and times of captain John

Isbester from Shetland’, by Captain Jack Isbester. ‘Hard down! Hard down!’ describes the eventful of a

Shetland man in pursuit of his ambitions – to reach the top in his profession, to find a wife, to cherish a

family, to do his job well and to be respected by his peers. The account is enlivened by extracts from

numerous well-chosen family letters, diaries and postcards revealing the minutiae of shipboard and family

life 120 years ago. After four years as a fisherman in the stormy waters around Shetland, John Isbester

chose to spend his next forty years in large square-rigged sailing ships from Liverpool at a time when

shipping casualties were all to common. Remarkable feats of survival and tragic deaths are described with

clarity and detail. Happier times are also remembered with picnics in Sydney harbour with captain, family

and friends transported in the ship’s longboat. John Isbester”s wife, and sometimes their children, sailed

with him on several yearlong voyages accompanied by her upright piano. Her letters provide an extra

dimension, describing conditions ashore in Sydney, ‘Frisco, Antwerp and La Rochelle. Technical issues

are illustrated with numerous diagrams for the reader and there are new insights into the tragic loss of the

‘Dalgonar’ and the acclaimed saving of 26 of the crew.

“Hard down! Hard down!” (ISBN 978-1-84995-402-0) is issued as a paperback. The book counts 240

pages and costs £18.99 or $24.95. The book can be ordered via every good book shop, or directly with the

publisher, Whittles Publishing, Dunbeath Mill, Dunbeath, Cairness IKW6 6EG, Scotland (UK), e-mail:

[email protected] , www.whittlespublishing.com .

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Robbers board vessel underway off Singapore _____________________________________________________________________________________


http://www.whittlespublishing.com/


25

The Pulse

Lloyds Maritime Institute offers training Courses in Marine Engineering/

Join us now and Save 25%

The program offers a comprehensive course load complete with advanced training modules and

techniques which:

· Build a broad-based knowledge of highly complex engineering systems of a modern ship.

· Study the major principles of mechanical and hydraulic machinery, electrical systems, naval

architecture and ship construction instrumentation and control systems.

BENEFITS OF STUDYING THE MARINE ENGINEERING

· Describe the implications of marine legislation relevant to marine engineers;

· Identify and explain the principles and concepts used in the safe operation of marine propulsion

plant and electrical equipment;

· Describe the forces acting on a ship at sea and their implication on structural strength;

· Understand the concepts of ship design and naval architecture;

· Describe the various factors affecting optimum performance at sea;

· Identify and describe technological advancements and their impact on a more efficient and

environmental engineering practice;

· Undertake a vessel design specification combining the necessary legislation, structural and

engineering considerations.

Don’t miss this limited opportunity, where you can save 25% and earns a highly qualified Diploma.

For more information please contact us on:

Mrs. Sophia MILLER Education Consultant Email: [email protected]

Tel: +41 22 519 2735 Fax: +41 22 591 2731 Web: www.lloydmaritime.com

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Coast Guard airlifts container ship captain in medical emergency A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted the captain of a container ship and took him to a hospital

after he clutched his chest and collapsed while aboard the ship in the San Francisco Bay on Monday

evening. The crew responded around 6:20 p.m. after a harbor pilot aboard the 738-foot vessel VITTORIA

reported that the captain, a 54-year-old Philippine national, collapsed as the ship was headed to its

anchorage south of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Island, according to the Coast Guard. A crew took

Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco’s MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and hoisted the captain from the

ship, then took him to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Source : SFbay

Comment:

What better argument could you have for having the Ch/Off on the Bridge when going to “Stations”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

ITF Urges Canada to Halt Lashing on St. Lawrence River After Man

Overboard Fatality https://gcaptain.com/itf-urges-canada-to-halt-lashing-on-st-lawrence-river-after-man-overboard-

fatality/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptai

n.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-acd4dfee67-139894965&mc_cid=acd4dfee67&mc_eid=4c72dd3685

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Oban lifeboat evacuates passenger from cruise vessel _____________________________________________________________________________________

THE BLONDE JOKE TO END ALL BLONDE JOKES!

In the swim-meet, after the blonde came last competing in the breast-stroke,

she complained to the judges that all the other girls were using their arms. _____________________________________________________________________________


http://www.lloydmaritime.com/

https://gcaptain.com/itf-urges-canada-to-halt-lashing-on-st-lawrence-river-after-man-overboard-fatality/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29&goal=0_f50174ef03-acd4dfee67-139894965&mc_cid=acd4dfee67&mc_eid=4c72dd3685




26

The Pulse

MNA National Treasurer It is very deep regret that we have learned that Willie Macfarlane, our National Treasurer, passed away

peacefully on the morning of Saturday 25th May. We offer Anne and her family our deepest sympathy.

Willie was a good friend and a tireless worker for The Merchant Navy Association, he will be very sadly

missed by all the National Councillors and everyone who came in contact with him. The MNA is very

appreciative of Willie’s dedicated and accurate work over many years.

It is imperative that a successor is found, as soon as possible, to maintain the financial

fundamentals of the Association.

Please contact John Sail, [email protected] , to put yourself forward or to recommend anyone who is

able to undertake this value-added role. The role may be filled by any Full Member who may or may not

belong to a Branch, it is an opportunity for a National Only member to become more involved. There is

a need to be computer-literate and be able to work on a basic spreadsheet – Tim Brant, [email protected] has more information about the role.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The Ocean Liner Society We are a 700 strong membership, and all have a love of ships whether they be old, new, small, large, or

even ferries. Please see our website for more information https://www.ocean-liner-society.com/

The purpose of this email is to ask if your members would be interested in coming along to our yearly

Ship Show which, again, is being held in Southampton at the beautiful premises in the Masonic Hall,

Albion Place, Southampton on Saturday 16 November, 2019.

The event runs from 10am - 4pm, with 25 tables exhibiting all things to do with ships, books, ornaments,

memorabilia, paintings, etc.

Across the lunch we have two talks, usually from well-known figures in the cruise industry.

Admission is £3 per person - this amount taken off should anyone attending decide to join our Society.

Yearly membership is £20 per year, which includes 4 issues of our 48-page magazine Sea Lines.

We also hold a monthly lecture evening on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in Farringdon, London.

I do hope the above may be of interest to you, and your members.

Regards

Desri Omer, Secretary - Ocean Liner Society

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Phoenix Reisen To Launch Riverboat Designed for Disabled Guests German tour operator and cruise brand Phoenix Reisen will christen its newest

riverboat, the VIOLA, June 3 in Bonn. What makes the vessel different is that she has

been designed with disabled guests in mind. The VIOLA will be christened by Annika

Zeyen, a disabled wheelchair basketball player, who is a gold medal winner, having

participated in the Summer Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, London

2012, Bejing 2008 and Athens 2004. She has also played in the German wheelchair

basketball league and for the national team winning three European titles, and for the

University of Alabama. Johannes Zurnieden, founder of Phoenix Reisen, said in a prepared statement that

he wanted to make unrestricted travel possible also for wheelchair users on the water. The VIOLA departs

on her first cruise on the Rhine on June 3, after the christening ceremony.source: cruiseindustrynews

_____________________________________________________________________________________



https://www.ocean-liner-society.com/


27

The Pulse

Seafarers forced to collect rainwater to survive on board Blumenthal’s LITA The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have heard claims that seafarers on board

Blumenthal’s “LITA” are being forced to collect rain water with tarpaulins for drinking water after the

ship ran out of potable water. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) today released an

appalling photograph onboard the Liberian-registered bulk carrier raising fresh concerns and fears about

the welfare of seafarers working onboard Blumenthal’s global

Flag of Convenience (FoC) fleet. “The fact that seafarers are

being forced to collect rainwater in order to survive is an

indictment on Blumenthal. Their diet is a bread and water,

without the water!” said ITF maritime coordinator Jacqueline

Smith. “Blumenthal is playing dangerously with the lives of

these seafarers aboard the LITA which must be exposed to

and condemned by the entire maritime industry,” said Smith.

The ITF had alerted the Liberian flag authorities more than a

week ago after an initial report that the vessel was running

critically low on water. “We are concerned, but not surprised,

about the lack of action from the Liberian registry because

clearly nothing has been done to help these men,” said Smith. “This systemic abuse of these seafarers’

rights is the dreadful reality of many Flag of Convenience ships and one that allows unscrupulous

operators like Blumenthal to exploit workers’ most fundamental rights like access to clean drinking

water,” added Smith. This revelation is more damming proof of the systemic mistreatment of seafarers

across Blumenthal’s fleet sparked by the detention of the Anna-Elisabeth in Australia and the release of

distressing stories of intimidation, threats and abusive conditions onboard the German shipping

company’s global fleet ITF inspector and leader of the Blumenthal targeted operation, Sven Hemme said

today: “Over the past six weeks, the ITF have exposed the exploitative conditions seafarers are forced to

endure working on Blumenthal ships. Seafarers who are desperate for help. “This must be the final straw.

The Liberian flag must intervene, and Blumenthal's president Dr. Matthias Reith must engage with the

ITF and German maritime unions to set a responsible and dignified standard for workers on board all of

their ships,” concluded Hemme.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

U.S. Blames Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for Tanker Attacks _____________________________________________________________________________________

https://gcaptain.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9d589e63fba611f84640a8337&id=56d9ed147c&e=4c72dd3685


28

The Pulse

Carnival cruise ship rescues man who jumped overboard By Michael Hollan

Passengers reportedly watched as a man desperately tried to swim back to their cruise ship after possibly

going overboard on purpose. The incident occurred on Saturday morning near San Juan, Puerto Rico. The

man was traveling on the CARNIVAL FASCINATION ship and was successfully rescued from the

waters. According to a statement from a spokesperson for Carnival, the man jumped overboard, although

it's unclear what prompted this action. A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Lines told Fox News, “At

approximately 8 am Saturday, May 18, CARNIVAL FASCINATION crew rescued a guest who had

jumped overboard from Deck 10. Crew and guests witnessed this event and quickly alerted the bridge.

The ship’s captain promptly returned to the location and a lifeboat was deployed with essential personnel.

The guest was quickly brought back on board. He is in good condition and was evaluated by the ship’s

medical team.” Someone claiming to be a passenger on the ship posted a photo of the rescue to Twitter

with the caption, “today at sea - Man Overboard- something you never want to hear on a cruise. A rescue

followed, thankfully. This picture I took from my balcony.” This news comes on the heels of another

rescue operation by a Carnival Cruise Lines ship. On Monday, the cruise line announced that one of their

ships, the CARNIVAL PARADISE, saved a man after he sent out a distress call because his boat was

taking on water. The sailor was picked up 13 miles north of Cozumel, Mexico, where the CARNIVAL

PARADISE had just departed. CARNIVAL PARADISE reversed course and lowered a rescue boat,

brought the mariner onboard and provided food, water and medical treatment,” a spokesperson for

Carnival said to Fox News in a statement. Source : Foxnews

_____________________________________________________________________________________

How Petrogress MD faked pirate attack, abduction of seafarers By Godspower Edoza

The Nigerian Navy said on Wednesday that an alleged piracy attack and abduction of sailors on a ship

named MT APECUS on April 19, 2019 was stage managed by one Osimili Adah, who is the Managing

Director of Petrogress Incorporation in Nigeria. The Executive Officer of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS)

PATHFINDER Port Harcourt, Navy Capt. Adegoke Ebo, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt, said his

men arrested Adah and 17 others including one Indian for allegedly attempting to illegally export stolen

crude oil to Ghana. While handing over the suspects and vessels to the police at the naval base in Port

Harcourt on Wednesday for further investigation, Ebo said the suspects had planned to move stolen crude

oil from Nigeria with MT APECUS and MT INVICTUS, believed to be owned by Petrogress

Incorporation with offices in Nigeria, Greece and U.S. He stated that the suspects were on the verge of

moving the crude oil to Ghana before they were arrested by naval forces. He said, “Among those arrested

was the Managing Director of Petrogress Incorporation in Nigeria, Osimili Adah. “Adah stationed two

vessels, MT APECUS and MT INVICTUS at Qua Iboe (Akwa Ibom) and in Bonny (Rivers) with intent

to lift the petroleum product before the seizure. “Our findings revealed that Adah has been actively

involved in sourcing crude oil from Nigerian creeks and shipping it to Platon Gas Oil Refinery in Tema,

Ghana without clearance and approval. “Additionally, evidence available to us suggests that the illicit

crime had been going on for a while” Ebo alleged. He said the suspect later disclosed names of his

accomplices and facilitators as well as presented evidence and proof to the illicit trading. He said during

interrogation, Adah revealed that the report of pirate attack on MT APECUS was stage managed. Five

Indians and two Nigerians were reportedly abducted onboard MT APECUS by suspected sea pirates off

the coast of Bonny in Rivers on April 19. According to Ebo, the pirate attack occurred following

disagreement between two alleged oil thieves over rights to lift stolen crude oil abroad. “Contrary to the

initial reports, our investigation revealed that the abduction was rather as a result of failed oil theft

collaboration. “Investigation revealed that one of the aggrieved syndicate resorted to the abduction of the

five Indians and two Nigerians. Also, information made available from a sister maritime agency revealed

that MT APECUS had been conducting trading activities in Nigerian waters since 2014 without clearance

and approval. “It was found that the vessel has changed name and flag under which she operates no fewer

than on 15 instances,” he said. Adah confessed to newsmen of his alleged involvement in the illegal trade.

He said that he was an agent to the two vessels, but that MT APECUS entered into Nigeria without his

knowledge and consent. Source : Ships & Ports

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The Pulse

Crew forced to abandon container ship as it tips over in dramatic Liverpool2

scenes MSC MATILDA was seen tilting in Liverpool2 dock on

Friday (May 24). (Image: UGC TM) The docked MSC

MATILDA at Liverpool2 which is reportedly carrying

millions of pounds worth of goods,ran into trouble in the

early hours of Friday morning (May 24). The coastguard sent

lifeboats, tugs and a pollution response vessel out to the

scene after being contacted by Peel Ports who operate the

dock at Seaforth. The crew from the 20-year-old ship, which

sails under the Panama flag, reportedly abandoned the vessel

at 2am this morning, one witness told the ECHO. The same

man said he thought the ship would "capsize" because of the way it was leaning over. A spokesperson for

the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "HM Coastguard was contacted by Peel Ports VTS at around

2.25am today (24 May) to report that a container vessel was listing just outside Gladstone Dock on the

River Mersey." "Crosby Coastguard Rescue Team and the RNLI Hoylake all weather lifeboats have been

sent to the scene, two tugs and a tier 2 pollution response vessel are on standby as a precautionary

measure. MCA’s Duty Counter Pollution & Salvage Officer, Duty Surveyor and the Marine Accident

Information Board have been informed. "All ship’s crew onboard are safe and well. ""The vessel is now

reported to be back on an even keel following a ballast transfer with unloading due to commence The

crew eventually returned to the ship at 8.30am once the vessel was righted. A spokesperson from Peel

Ports said: “We can confirm at 2am this morning, Friday 24th May, a container vessel at the Port of

Liverpool started to list. We immediately instigated the emergency response procedure under the

leadership of the Group Harbour Master. A controlled and safe evacuation of the vessel was completed in

the early hours of this morning whilst the vessel was under maritime assessment. “As of 08:00 the vessel

was stable and maritime assessments by Port State Control are continuing. “The health and safety of our

employees, customers and contractors remains our priority. In line with Maritime Law, State Control need

to complete their inspections to ensure the vessel is sail worthy in UK and International waters.” The

£400m Liverpool2 container terminal is part of the Port of Liverpool, owned by Peel Ports . Opened in

2016 it is best known for its giant red cranes and means Liverpool can now handle the world's biggest

container ships. Source : Liverpool echo

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This will no doubt put Coca Cola out of business in the near future...!

The Pfizer Corporation announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form and

this new product will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a

mixer.

It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one.

Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of

cocktails, highballs and just a good old-fashioned stiff drink.

Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO.

Thought for the day...There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today

than on Alzheimer's research.

This means that by 2025, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs, huge

erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them. _____________________________________________________________________________________


30

The Pulse

The Programme for the Cavel Van event being held at the Harwich

Mayflower Heritage Centre The Programme for the Cavel Van event being held at the Harwich Mayflower Heritage Centre between

the 5th and 14th July 2019 is soon to be published. Meanwhile I set out below the information you

requested about Captain Fryatt relating to his capture and execution which is the focus of the exhibition

along with the history of Edith Cavel. There will be a talk on Captain Fryatt for the Merchant Navy at the

Centre at 14.00 hours on Thursday the 11th July to which you and your colleagues are very welcome. In

addition to the Ipswich Branch invitations have been given to the Felixstowe and Harwich Branches.

The history relating to Captain Fryatt is that during the First World War he was legitimately operating his

passenger ferry off the coast of Europe when he was seen by a German submarine. There are two

accounts as to what happened. The first is that Captain Fryatt intended to ram the submarine. The second

account which I believe is more accurate is that by approaching the submarine at full speed his intention

was to cause it to crash dive thereby preventing it from using its deck guns and while it was submerged it

would be slow and more difficult to control. I believe that Captain Fryatt was carrying out Admiralty

Orders on the action to be taken in such a situation. Captain Fryatt was captured by the Germans and

taken to Germany where he was executed. After being brought back to Britain he received a State Funeral

and was recognised as a national hero. As a Merchant Seaman this week of events are particularly

important for the Merchant Navy. Although the event is being organised by the Harwich Mayflower

Heritage Centre they have invited us to take part and are keen for the Association to show a strong

presence. They would also like members dressed in uniform to act as guides and if any members would

like to take part to show a presence could you let me know please or they can contact me in any of the

ways set out below.

Address:- John Martin, 18 St John's Close, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4AR

Telephone:- 01799 527853

E-mail:- [email protected]

Kind regards,

John

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Norwegian Encore Gets Her Hull Art The new Norwegian Encore now has her

trademark hull art. Eduardo Arranz-Bravo, the

Spanish artist, created the hull artwork for the

fourth and final ship of its Breakaway-Plus

class, Norwegian Encore, debuting in Miami

in November 2019. A representation of his

modern and abstract style, the ship’s hull will

feature a "labyrinth of color" inspired by

ArranzBravo’s life by the sea in Barcelona

and pay tribute to the vibrant guest experience

for which the Norwegian brand is recognized,

the company said. After her debut in Miami,

the Encore will move to Seattle in 2021,

sailing seven-day cruises to Alaska.

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31

The Pulse

After we were both suffering from depression for a while, me and the missus were going to

commit suicide together yesterday.

Strangely enough, however, once she killed herself, I started to feel a lot better.

So, I thought - sod it, I'll soldier on. _____________________________________________________________________________________

LIVE PORTRAIT

I cannot draw or paint, am tone deaf and cannot sing,

Have no artistic taint nor the money it may bring,

My canvas is the deep sea, but a brush I never clutch,

For the ever-changing colours are impossible to touch,

But I have seen the lacy foam on the back of giant seas,

Looked upon the flying fish scudding in the breeze,

My eyes have noted albatross and spouting of blue whale,

Have marvelled at the dolphins, and clippers under sail.

The icebergs in the Arctic far from desert sand,

Shining in the midnight sun in Rory Bory land,

Freezing times in southern climes under stars so bright,

And o`h so rare - a giant ray loop the loop in flight.

I have heard a storm’s shrill wind a’whistling in the rigging,

And a mighty hurricane with nature wildly singing,

Worked through many sunsets and dawns of pastel hues,

Watched the daggered lighting strike wherever it may choose.

I have viewed the skeletons of ships now long deceased,

High and dry upon the banks of treacherous hidden reefs,

Ogled at the sharks attack with nothing left but blood,

And a foreign delta, overwhelmed by flood.

Inspired by scuba diving, in underwater caves,

Swum along an ancient wreck below the ocean waves,

Weathered blinding sandstorms blowing off the shore,

Fought against the tidal range that surged the river bore.

I have dodged the waterspout to avoid its whirling ire,

And gazed upon a metal mast beset by Elmo’s fire.

Recognised a mirage and seen the rig set square,

Upon the Flying Dutchman in a ghostly glare.

Does an artist sit too long while I sail from shore to shore,

Is he held in throng while I move along and free to see much more?

So young lad, a masterpiece may sit upon a shelf,

Better far a live portrait - go see it for yourself.

Joe Earl

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32

The Pulse

Woman, cranky because her husband was late coming home again, decided to leave a note saying,

"I've had enough and left you, don't bother coming after me." and hid under the bed to see his

reaction.

After a short while the husband comes home and she could hear him in the kitchen before he comes

into the bedroom, she could see him walk towards the dresser and pick up the note.

After a few minutes he wrote something on it before picking up the phone and calling someone -

"She's finally gone ... yeah I know, about bloody time, I'm coming to pick you up, put on the sexy

French shit, I love you".

He hung up, grabbed his keys and left.

She heard the car drive off as she came out from under the bed, seething with rage and with tears in

her eyes she grabbed the note to see what he wrote; "I can see your feet. Stop being retarded, we're

outta bread, throw the kettle on, back in 5 minutes.”

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_____________________________________________________________________________ That’s all from me now folks.

Good Health, Fair Winds and Calm Seas. Take Care.

Yours Aye,

Malcolm

Malcolm Mathison

National Vice-Chairman

Merchant Navy Association

Tel: 01472 277 266 Mob: 07831 622 312 Email: [email protected]

www.mna.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1135661

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_____________________________________________________________________________________

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