revolution in bridge management training · revolution in bridge management training. 2 aspects...

WE MANAGE SHIPS SAFELY

APRIL 2009

House Journal of ASP Ship Management Group

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

IN THIS ISSUETanker Safety Forum

New Singapore Offi ceNaval Contract Challenge

Environmental AwarenessNew Mumbai Training Centre

Revolution in BridgeManagement Training

2 ASPECTS APRIL 2009

Bridge management program puts ASP in the safety leadASP has always embraced innovation in the service of safer, more effi cient and more cost-effective operations in all areas of our business. Nowhere is this more important that in the issue of safety on our ships.

A giant leap forward in this respect is the program of Advanced Bridge Resource Management training now being set up by international expert Capt Ravi Najjir, which will give ASP a pioneering role in the development of the highest possible standards of safe control of ships, with the aim of bringing bridge operations up to the same standards as cockpit management in the aviation industry.

We intend that this program, now under way for the ASP Australia fl eet, will extend to the fl eet worldwide, ushering in a generational shift in attitudes to shipping safety issues, and placing us at the forefront of the world shipping industry as ship managers.

Group trainingThe establishment of ASP Group Training as an over-arching entity to coordinate training throughout

all ASP offi ces and operations is a major step forward in ensuring that the same procedures and standards will be followed and aimed for, wherever ASP training is carried out.

Specialised training centres, such as those already in action in Manila, Mumbai, Kolkata and Odessa are a vital fi rst step in this program, backed up by standardised training philosophies and methods carried out by specialist staff.

Environmental awarenessThe achievement of compliance with the ISO 14001 standard for the implementation of a Group Environmental Management System is not only leading to the implementation of the accreditation process throughout the fl eet, but has generated a program of general environmental awareness for ASP staff both ashore and afl oat.

The program, facilitated by Australian Marine Standards Technical Offi cer Julie Pearce, shows that both in our everyday working lives and our private lives we all have an impact on the environment, and that we display the same attitudes towards this.

Tanker safetyASP Tanker Management was proud to host the 125th Informal Tanker Operators’ Safety Forum, in Singapore recently. This is a very important, informal annual gathering of tanker operators who agree to share safety statistics and incidents with each other, to continuously improve safety records within the industry.

The Forum also means that members share their safety performance statistics and can benchmark against each other, giving useful peer comparisons, and reinforcing the process of continuous improvement. ASP will continue to give the Informal Tanker Operators’ Safety Forum its highest encouragement and support.

Singapore offi ceThe opening of our new Singapore offi ce was a pointer to the growing importance of the region for ASP, and an indication of our faith in its continuing business potential. The offi ce will provide accommodation for ASP Tanker Management, ASP Marine & Technical Services, ASP Procurement Services and ASP Dry Bulk, and has been designed for future business expansion.

Cutting dry-dock costsThe recently formed ASP Marine and Technical Services is well on the way with its program for computerised shipboard management and dry-docking operations, using the REFMAN dry-docking system. This, combined with the practice of ships carrying squads of class-certifi ed tradesmen to carry out shipboard maintenance and inspection, means that dry-docking costs and “down times” can be signifi cantly reduced for owners. This is particularly relevant given the current shipping market.

The Naval connectionThe ASP team dedicated to the technical management of the Royal Australian Navy supply vessel HMAS Sirius are to be congratulated on the renewal of the contract and the opening of a new phase in their task of keeping this vital defence link in full and effi cient operation.

Bushfi resThe ASP Group was happy to make a donation to the relief of victims of the recent disastrous bushfi res in Australia in February and is proud also of the personal contributions made by our staff members to the same cause.

Cover Picture:Modern bridge simulators are the key to the new approach to Bridge Resource Management training.

ASPectsHouse Journal of the ASP Ship Management Group

Editor: Nigel PorteousEditorial Consultant: Bryan Reid

Design & production: www.advertisingalliance.com.auCorrespondence to: Nigel Porteous

ASP Ship Management473 St Kilda Road, Melbourne Vic 3004 Australia

Tel: +61 3 9211 9379 Email: [email protected]

AIMING HIGHER ON THE BRIDGEDavid Borcoski Group Managing Director & CEO

ASPECTS APRIL 2009 3

REVOLUTIONARY BRIDGE MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM

A generational shift in attitudes towards safety issues is foreshadowed in a major overhaul of Bridge Resource Management training (BRM) now being conducted throughout the ASP Australia fl eet, which is expected to eventually extend to ASP Group vessels worldwide.

The aim is to completely modernise the approach to bridge operations and bring maritime safety up to the same standards as in corporate aviation.

The project is being run by Capt Ravi Nijjer, an internationally acknowledged expert on modern bridge management, who will concentrate on bringing ship’s Masters and offi cers up to a level of response to emergency situations equal to those of airline pilots.

To this end, Capt Najjir has provided a blueprint for what needs to be done to implement a modernised approach in bridge operations. The blueprint incorporates training in Advanced BRM (2nd generation), shiphandling and structured simulator training and shipboard audits of bridge operations to close the loop. The response of ASP offi cers who have undergone the training so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

It is expected to make ASP the world leaders in the modernization of Bridge Resource Management.

The Advanced Bridge Resources Management program (BRM) will involve ASP Masters and offi cers in:

• Training on manned models, which will provide a common base line knowledge of hydrodynamics and practical understanding of the principles underpinning the practice of ship handling

• New and intensive systems-based training on full mission high fi delity simulators in which they will have to deal with a variety of situations ranging from the normal, to abnormal and emergencies and will also incorporate contingencies and varying workloads

• Onboard audits

• Annual simulator based competency checks for pilotage-exempt Masters

In addition, each ship will be given three standard reference textbooks for study and referral as the theoretical basis for shiphandling and tug usage.

Other factors embraced by the BRM program will be the sharing of bridge workload by pre-planning, delegation and task allocation and monitoring to avoid an overload situation and ensure that more than one person is involved in the operation, so that the chances of error occurring are minimized and opportunities for detection increased.

Capt Nijjer told ASPECTS:

“The shipping industry, up to now, has operated in much the same way, as regards bridge operations, as it did in the days of general cargo vessels. These ships of approximately 10,000dwt were around in very large numbers from the First World War to the early 1970’s and still defi ne the shipboard operating culture. With today’s huge variety of ships – container vessels, tankers and massive increase in the size and complexity of ships — those standards are simply not good enough.”

Capt Ravi Nijjer addressing the Bridge Resources Management seminar in Melbourne. From left: Capt Patrick Loo (ASP), Capt Ivo Vuskovic (trainee

pilot), Keith Hagen (ASP) and Lloyd Cahill (Searoad Shipping).

DISTINGUISHED CAREER Capt Ravi Nijjer has had a distinguished maritime career both afl oat and ashore since he began his training on the Indian Training Ship Dufferin in 1960. He completed the requirements for a Master Class 1 Certifi cate in Sydney in 1970, and was awarded the Longmore Bequest Prize for obtaining the highest mark in Australia for the Master Class 1 examination (1971). In 1980 he joined the marine section of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) as a lecturer, later leaving to form Marine Consulting Group Pty Ltd. He has been instrumental in developing and facilitating the Human Factors-based Bridge Resource Management (BRM) program over the past 13 years.


NEW OFFICE FOR ASP SINGAPORE

Ms. Joon Neo and Mrs. Susan Marnoch.

BELOW: Pratap Shirke (second from right) with, from left: Mr. Rohet Tolani of Tolani Shipping,

Ian Beange and Jeff O’Neill of North of England P&I Insurance.

ASP has a new offi ce in Singapore, offi cially opened on February 12 at a function attended by representatives of the Singapore shipping industry, tanker owners, charterers, lawyers and bankers.

Pratap Shirke, ASP Group Managing Director and CEO David Borcoski, Group Technical Director Chris Kirton, Group Finance Director Adrian Whatley and ASP Australia CEO, and Chairman ASP Tanker Management Bob Bird, attended the opening.

The new offi ces at Gateway East, accommodate a staff of 35, providing a head offi ce for ASP Tanker Management, under CEO John Marnoch, and ASP Procurement Services under Procurement Services Director Norman Bainbridge, and ASP Marine & Technical Services.

The premises cover around 6,200 square feet and have been designed for the management of about 50 vessels. The stunning, sharp elongated offi ce has been designed to use optimum use of storage space and to accommodate future expansion.

At the offi cial opening, a large gathering of some 75 customers, colleagues and friends from Singapore, helped celebrate the occasion.

In the traditional Chinese fashion, the reception area was fi lled with beautiful bouquets of fl owers from guests, and well wishers. Pratap Shirke cut the red ribbon, followed by Bob Bird who gave a welcoming speech.

Geoffrey Tan, Silvie Santoso, Adrian Ler,all from Citibank.

Floral Tributes from well-wishers

Pratap Shirke cuts the ribbon.

Opening celebrations picture gallery

The ASP Ship Management Group has embarked on a

completely new approach to raising environmental awareness, not only in their workplaces on board vessels but also ashore, ensuring personal obligations to contribute to the preservation and conservation of the environment.

Following an exhaustive process of reviewing and auditing the ASP environmental policies and practices internally and by international auditors DNV, the Group is now accredited to ISO 14001 – the internationally recognised standard for the implementation of an Environmental Management System(EMS).

The accreditation process has now been completed by all the ASP offi ces and throughout our managed fl eet.

This process has led to the analysis, review and upgrading of both shipboard and shore-based environmental practices and the identifi cation of ways in which our activities may impact on the environment at all levels.

“Perhaps the most important development from these considerations is the program of environmental awareness training for all employees”, said ASP Australia Marine Standards Technical Offi cer Julie Pearce, who has facilitated the EMS accreditation process:

“Already, much of what we already do in our daily tasks is connected in some way with reducing our impact on the environment, but we are just not fully aware of this connection. Onboard ships, we have formal procedures for activities such as reduction of emissions, oily water separation, disposal of garbage, for instance—which we follow, but don’t necessarily connect them consciously with environmental protection.”

Julie said that “during the accreditation process onboard our managed fl eet, the auditors frequently asked crew members to identify things they did for the environment. Many said they couldn’t name any such thing, but when they were taken through many of their routine tasks, they were immediately able to see the connection.

The need for environmental awareness is not confi ned to shipboard life. Ashore, in our offi ces, most people knew what they were supposed to do in the event of fi re—carry out the fi re drill procedures and know where to fi nd evacuation points. But what about fl ooding, leakage of gases, or the spreading of


THE ENVIRONMENTIS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESSASP Group launches a wide-ranging environmental awareness program

germs through air conditioning systems, they were asked. Very few people were able immediately to see that all these situations needed to be dealt with by virtually the same responses as a fi re, and that all of these scenarios were related to some kind of impact on the environment.

The result is that the term ‘fi re drill’ is to be replaced in all offi ces by ‘emergency response drill’.”

Julie explained that the underlying objective of the environmental awareness training program was to reduce ASP’s ‘carbon footprint’ throughout the world. “The Group has already had procedures in place for many years for this, and is still taking initiatives towards it,” she said.

“For instance, in our business air travel arrangements, including crew transfers, ASP now pays the voluntary carbon reduction levy on all fl ights as a matter of course, in the expectation that the funds generated will be earmarked by Governments for the reduction of atmospheric and other pollution.”

Modifying ship speeds is another initiative which has both economic and environmental benefi ts. This was illustrated recently when the Australian fl eet tanker British Fidelity, trading between Melbourne and the Kwinana refi nery in Western Australia, reduced speed by just one knot, signifi cantly reducing diesel fuel consumption and at the same time, reducing exhaust emissions.

Julie Pearce

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Paper goods prepared for recycling.


The need for environmental awareness continues after work, according to Australian Marine Standards Technical Officer Julie Pearce.

The associated environmental awareness program is intended, in many of its applications, to carry over into the personal lives of all ASP staff, not only helping to reduce the whole community’s “carbon footprint” but also bringing practical economic benefi ts.

Some key areas of environmental focus which can apply both in the offi ce and at home are:

DisposalRecycle old equipment (computers, printers, mobile phones etc) and consumables (ink cartridges and toner) by engaging a professional recycler.

PurchasingCarefully consider purchasing of new offi ce equipment, eg one large printer to serve a number of staff, rather than one on every desk, and ensure that environmentally friendly, re-usable consumables are used.

Purchase energy-effi cient equipment such as fl at-screen monitors, and equipment with automatic “switch-off” capability.

Use of equipmentSet monitors to switch off when inactive and switch off entirely if they are inactive for long periods. By switching off all peripheral equipment at the end of the working day it ensures commercial and environmental green house gas emissions. “Standby” wastes energy and costs money.

After hoursMake sure all equipment not needed after offi ce hours is switched off—computer equipment, printers, photocopiers and lights in particular to name just a few.

Paper & cardboardDo you really need to print out that document? Print double-sided wherever possible, and reuse paper printed on only one side.

Heating & coolingHeating and cooling systems produce huge amounts of greenhouse gas and use a lot of energy. Regulate heating and cooling systems to suit seasonal temperatures. Let in fresh air where possible (but don’t keep on heating or cooling it!)

Start and stop air-conditioning to keep conditions comfortable only when staff are in the building, and make sure air conditioning is well-maintained and cleaned to avoid breakdowns and to prevent conditions for the spread of diseases.

Waste & recyclingSet up separate bins or other containers for recycling paper, cardboard, aluminium, steel cans and plastics, and encourage the use of reusable containers such as glass or china rather than plastic cups.

“Most of these things are relevant to our own domestic lives, and the more we are aware of them and apply them both at work and at home, the greater the contribution we will all be able to make to the conservation of energy, the prevention of pollution and the preservation of the environment,” Julie said.

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As part of compliance to the Standard of ISO 14001, two documents, the Aspects & Impacts Register and the Legal Register, have been developed to ensure ASP’s compliance with the ever-increasing number of local and international maritime regulations.

The Aspects and Impact Register lists 40 areas of shipboard and shore-based activities, and identifi es for each one the risk it might entail, its impact on the environment, the relevant compliance regulations, how ASP can mitigate the risk to the environment and sets out the objective for eliminating the risk, with target dates and review mechanism.

An example of the Aspects and Impacts register is the cargo loading activity. What aspect and impact does this activity have on the environment i.e. land, water, air or noise?

ASPect/risk: A spill into port waterImpact: Pollution of port watersCompliance: IMO standards/industry standards/local lawsExisting risk controls: Engineering controlRisk Score: Moderate/Possible/ HighObjective: No spillsTarget date: OngoingReview mechanism: Chief Offi cer’s standing orders with the

applicable JSA

The register also deals with air travel, identifying the Aspect and Impact to air pollution, with the objective being to reduce ASP’s carbon footprint from the amount of employees’ travel by off-setting carbon emissions to service providers’ offset programs.

The second key document is the Legal Register which lists all relevant regulations emanating from the IMO and ILO, class regulations, fl ag regulations including US, UK, Australia, Singapore and Finland Regulations.

ENSURING ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

THE ENVIRONMENT DOESN’T THE ENVIRONMENT DOESN’T STOP AT THE OFFICE DOORSTOP AT THE OFFICE DOORTHE ENVIRONMENT DOESN’T STOP AT THE OFFICE DOOR


ASP in Rockingham, West Australia is facing some big challenges this year, with an early fi rst special survey docking of the supply vessel HMAS Sirius scheduled for the Royal Australian Navy.

ASP Rockingham Manager Mike Mutlow said the requirement for the docking, brought forward to April by the navy has engaged staff in the major task of preparing a work package and arranging competitive tenders for the special survey.

Rockingham is also evaluating and improving the navy planned maintenance system and identifying and purchasing a fi ve-year spares holding for all critical ship’s systems, Mike said.

ASP won the navy tender for a service support contract for HMAS Sirius after the previous navy supply vessel, HMAS Westralia was withdrawn from service, its disposal being managed by ASP.

The Sirius contract was signed in March 2007 for a fi ve-year period. Its key elements are:

• Management services – providing reports, data, analyses, etc

• Maintenance support – planned maintenance, repair delivery, including dockings

• Engineering support (design changes, technical investigations, recommendations)

• Supply support – procurement, storage and management of all spares

The ASP team for the Sirius contract comprises 11 full-time staff - up from the original 9 because of an increased work load.

Sirius, formally a double-hulled product tanker, was purchased by the navy to comply with the new MARPOL regulations. She was built in Korea in 2004 and subsequently underwent major conversion work for naval use as a supply vessel.

Modifi cations included the addition of a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) capability to allow refuelling of other naval vessels while under way, an aft vertical replenishment platform to allow transfer of goods from a helicopter and emergency helicopter landings, additional accommodation for up to 90 people, weapons, and a navy communications suite.

ASP shares the Rockingham offi ce with 10 naval staff, and rents additional offi ce space to accommodate the new larger team required for the Sirius contract.

CHALLENGES FOR ASP ON NAVAL CONTRACT

The RAN supply vessel Sirius in a refueling exercise at sea.

The ASP Rockingham team responsible for the HMAS Sirius contract: Back Row: Support Engineer Henry Nyeboer, Data Offi cer Chris Speed,Quality Coordinator Tim Pyatt, Manager Mike Mutlow.Front Row:Purchasing Offi cer Jan Gardner, Technical Specialist Allan Knox, Administration Offi cer Jo Howell, Maintenance Manager Chris Rigg and Finance Offi cer Colleen Gibbons.


LEFT: Participants at the Global Financial Crisis Forum, seated from left:Michael Estaniel, Philippine representative of International Maritime

Employers Committee (IMEC); Capt. Gregorio Oca, President of Associated Marine Offi cers’ and Seamens’ Union of the Philippines -

Philippine Transport and General Workers’ Organization - International Transport Workers’ Federation (AMOSUP-PTGWO-ITF; Labour Secretary Marianito Roque. Standing from left: Dr. Conrad Oca, Vice-President of AMOSUP-PTGWO-ITF ; Vicente F. Aldanese, Jr. – President of ASP Crew Management, Manila and Jennifer Manalili, Administrator of Philippine

Overseas Employment Administration.

BIG CHRISTMAS FOR SONGA EAGLE

MANILA FORUM ON FINANCIAL CRISISThe Philippines Department of Labour and Employment (DLE) conducted a Forum in November at AMOSUP (Associated Marine Offi cers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Phillippines) Convention Hall regarding the impact of the current global fi nancial crisis on the lives of Filipino sea-based workers.

The Forum was held to consider concerns raised by maritime stakeholders, most importantly shipping/ manning companies, pointing to superior information management as a paramount factor in maintaining the Philippines’ competitive advantage as a seafarer supply country and the assurance that demand for Filipino seafarers remains stable, despite the global economic slowdown.

ASP Philippines was represented by ASP Crew Management President Vicent F. Aldanese Jr.

Christmas 2008 was a double celebration for the crew of the Songa Eagle in Busan, Korea. On Christmas Eve the vessel was delivered to owners from the Jinse Ship Building Co. On Christmas Day, the whole ship’s company gathered for a magnifi cent Christmas lunch in the crew’s mess room.

Picture shows:

Offi cers, crew & guests enjoying Christmas lunch aboard the Songa Eagle.

Flags for WHITE RIBBON DAYASP employees, at sea and in offi ces in Australia, showed their support for White Ribbon Day 2008 on November 25, by wearing white ribbons and wristbands, while special fl ags were fl own at ASP headquarters in Melbourne and on ASP vessels to help promote the signifi cance of the day.

White Ribbon Day was instituted by the White Ribbon Foundation of Australia, which aims to eliminate violence against women by promoting culture-change around the issue.

The major strategies to achieve this are a national media campaign as well as education and male leadership programs aimed at men and boys around Australia. All funds received by the White Ribbon Foundation will support the implementation of these strategies.

ASP joined other maritime operators and unions in Australia supporting White Ribbon Day.

The Botany Tribute was one of the many ASP ships which fl ew the

White Ribbon Day fl ag.


The 125th Informal Tanker Operators’ Safety Forum (ITOSF), hosted by ASP Tanker Management at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Singapore on 10th & 11th February, was an outstanding success, with some highly important issues discussed and information exchanged on a wide range of safety concerns, practices and procedures. Fifty-two members attended.

Opening speeches were made by the Chairman, Capt Paul Jones of BW Shipping, followed by a welcome speech by John Marnoch, CEO ASP Tanker Management.

The fi rst day’s meeting included presentations on the recent hijack of the tanker Sirius Star in Somalian waters, a safety management talk by DNV and other items on the agenda. The closed door Forum on the second day included, but was not limited to, talks and sharing of information on the situation in the Gulf of Aden.

ASP Australia CEO, and chairman ASP Tanker Management, Bob Bird addressed the Forum in informal surroundings and strongly outlined ASP’s commitment to “Managing Ships Safely”.

The Informal Tanker Operators’ Forum has been in existence since the seventies. Originally it was a casual gathering of the oil majors’ safety departments that were based in the UK, but now includes independent tanker owners and tanker managers from around the world. There are now around 75 members. ASP Tanker Management have been a member since 2006.

The fi rst day of the Forum is usually fi lled with presentations by members or outside third parties related to safety, such as Classifi cation Societies. The second day is a closed door round the table session where every member is encouraged to have a 15 minute presentation on signifi cant incidents that have occurred onboard their company ships. This information is shared with all Forum members.

If members fail to attend one of three meetings then membership is forfeited.

PURPOSEJohn Marnoch told ASPects:

“The purpose of the Forum is an informal gathering of like-minded tanker operators who agree to share safety statistics and incidents with each other in the belief is that this can only lead to better safety records within the industry.

“The informal segment means that no minutes are taken or published. You can take your own notes but the names of vessels and operators are to be protected at all times.

“The other benefi t is that the members share their safety performance statistics and benchmark against each other. This allows participants to see on an annual basis where they stand against their peers on safety performance. This is important in trying to continually improve safety records.

“The sharing does not just stop at the meetings. There is a continual fl ow of information throughout the year by an ITOSF distribution list. Members can post concerns and ask questions on any aspect of operational safety.

“I would say that every day of the year there is some topic being discussed through the distribution list. ASP has benefi ted many times from this sharing of information and I would like to think we have helped other operators with information also supplied from ASP Tanker Management.”

TANKER SAFETY FORUM HOSTED BY ASP

RIGHT: The Informal Tanker Operators’ Safety Forum in session.

Hail & FarewellLEFT: Outgoing Chairman of ITOSF Capt Paul Jones is welcomed by John Marnoch. AT RIGHT: John with the incoming ITOSF Chairman

Capt Ian Mathison, Director of the Safety Department, Bibby Ship Management.


STUDENT RECOGNISES VALUEOF WORK EXPERIENCEAustralian Maritime College (AMC) student Tim Latta, who completed a session of work experience with ASP in Melbourne, scooped the awards at the AMC graduation function in February 2009. When receiving his awards, Tim said in tribute to ASP:

“ASP generously allowed me to attend their workplace for some ‘real-world’ experience while studying at AMC. This allowed me to relate the theory learned at university to a real business environment, providing a wider perspective to the shipping industry.

“I also gained experience at the Australian Shipowners Association (ASA), looking at areas of environmental, commercial and employee relations. This opened my eyes to the issues the industry is facing from another different perspective. Overall, I believe the shipping industry and AMC should continue to strengthen their ties, providing work experience as a prominent tool in this development”.

At the graduation ceremony, two annually awarded ASP prizes were also presented. In both cases, the winners were not present, but the awards, presented by ASP Australia Employee Relations Manager Evan Westgarth, were accepted on their behalf by their respective college lecturers.

Megan Louise Profke won the ASP Ship Management Sam Marsh Prize for best performance in nautical studies in a seafarer (deck) course at diploma or advanced diploma level. The prize was accepted for her by lecturer Mike Weston.

Trent James Bastian won the ASP Ship Management Prize for highest marks in the study of logistics in a higher education program in the Department of Maritime and Logistics Management. Lecturer Hilary Haugstetter accepted the prize on his behalf.

ASP Australia Employee Relations Manager Evan Westgarth presents the ASP Ship Management Prize to AMC lecturer Hilary Haugstetter, on behalf

of the winner, Trent James Bastian.

Tim Latta who won many prizes at the AMC after work experience at

ASP and ASA.

The North of England P&I Club is supporting international efforts to highlight lifeboat safety with a new DVD and poster campaign designed to reduce the risk of accidents during lifeboat drills and operation.

‘Accidents during lifeboat drills cause death and serious injury to seafarers,’ says North’s head of loss prevention, Tony Baker.

According to the club, a planned port-state-control inspection campaign for 2009 will target lifeboat maintenance and records, operational safety, on-load release systems, davits and winches as well as the critical area of lifeboat training. To help members reduce the risks of accidents and to ensure crews are properly prepared for such inspections, North has produced and distributed an 18 minute DVD designed to be used as the basis of a short, sharp briefi ng prior to lifeboat drills.

‘The DVD is intended to boost the confi dence of seafarers and improve levels of safety when undergoing lifeboat training,’ says Baker. ‘It explores common causes of lifeboat accidents, such as not being able to release the lifeboat painter, and explains the growing use of fall-preventer devices to reduce serious incidents

following inadvertent release of on-load lifeboat hook-release mechanisms.’

Entitled: Lifeboat Safety - Managing the Risks, the new DVD includes a 12 page guidance booklet for offi cers, assisting them to create crew awareness on safety issues.

North of England has also published a new lifeboat safety poster as part of its Safe Work series. The A3 poster also graphically illustrates the use of fall-preventer devices to protect crews in the event of an inadvertent activation of on-load release hooks. The Club points out that such devices should only be fi tted after consulting with the ship operator and relevant authorities.

Lifeboat Safety - Managing the Risks, ISBN 978-0-9558257-1-2, and the Safe Work set of eight posters, are both available to non-members for £30 each from Anchorage Press in London,www.anchoragepress.co.uk

LIFEBOAT SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Australian Maritime College Awards


TOTAL COST CONTROLfor dry-docking projectsASP Marine and Technical Services (ASPMTS) is now implementing a series of training programs which is expected to lift vessel maintenance, dry-docking procedures and new building supervision to new levels of cost control and effi ciency.

ASPMTS General Manager Jayantha Halangode (pictured left) said the new, computer-based programs were aimed at ensuring a high level of control over dry-docking projects, arising from a continuous monitoring and recording of maintenance requirements between surveys, with the aim of

keeping repair costs to a minimum and allowing clients to budget more accurately for major dry-dockings.

The ASP Australian fl eet is using “riding squads” of class-certifi ed tradesmen to carry out onboard repair and maintenance work which would otherwise have to be done during dry-docking, thus reducing downtime and docking costs.

In addition, ships will also carry class-certifi ed Ultrasound Thickness Measuring (UTM) technicians to carry out inspections of steelwork in order that highly accurate and comprehensive specifi cations can be drawn up well before the vessel is scheduled for dry-docking.

ASPMTS now has agreements with leading service providers Oscar Marine Services, of Mumbai India to provide certifi ed fi tter/welders for the onboard maintenance riding squads, and Shipscan Marine, Singapore, to carry out the UTM work.

The UTM instrumentation specialists will include a class-certifi ed supervisor to draw up detailed specifi cations, accompanied by a class surveyor to witness and oversee the whole operation.

“By establishing fi rm specifi cations well before the vessel enters dry-dock, we eliminate any ‘surprises’ such as unforeseen costs, in order that our client will have an accurate cost estimate and can manage his budget accordingly, particularly when major repairs are being undertaken,” Jayantha said.

A Shipboard Defect Status monitoring system has also been introduced to the Australian ASP fl eet, in which defects are identifi ed and analysed by the vessel’s senior offi cers. The data, including photographs, is then transmitted by the Chief Engineer to the Shore Superintendent, who will decide when and where the defect will be rectifi ed.

All procedures for continuing maintenance and repairs are based on the REFMAN dry-docking software system in which ASP Superintendents are being trained in all ASP Group offi ces.

“REFMAN allows anyone involved with Group dry-docking to determine the status of maintenance and repairs on any vessel instantly,” Jayantha said. “Financial reports of the dry-docking are transmitted to clients, depicting total control of the project development, costs and time lines.”

It is expected that the REFMAN computerised dry-docking system will be in use for all ASP managed vessels, in the immediate future.

REFMAN software forNEW BUILDINGSREFMAN Docking and Project software was recently introduced to the new building project of two 11,000dwt oil product/chemical tankers under construction in China for a consortium of owners including Pan Oceanic Bulk Carriers Ltd.

ASP Marine and Technical Service (ASPMTS) have established a project supervision and inspection team at the Penglai/Bohai shipyard since construction commenced last year, and the REFMAN software will assist management to monitor the construction activity more effi ciently.

ASPMTS General Manager Jayantha Halangode installed the software and trained the Project Manager during a recent progress inspection visit to China. New building site inspection and supervision periods are generally timed from the initial steel cutting event until delivery, with a scope of work, depending on the type of vessel being built. Management items in the software include:

• Continuation of both offi ce and on-site approval of production and detail drawings

• Supervision during hull assembly, fi tting out, application of internal and external coatings machinery, electrical/automation, and cargo system installation

• Inspection at the shipyard and at the subcontractors for main engine, generators, etc

• Outfi tting

• Continuous assessment of progress to ensure construction schedules are maintained and delivery date is met

All inspections and attended tests are planned and documented, and the results recorded in an inspection record signed by the Site Supervisor or the attending Project Manager. The Site Supervisor plans and coordinates the building inspection tasks in accordance with the shipbuilder’s production schedule and agreed quality plan.

The REFMAN software will be used to monitor and report on all aspects of the new building process.

Fabrication of the forward section, of the fi rst vessel, Oceanic Indigo.


Proposals for making electronic charting (ECDIS) mandatory on all vessels at various dates between July 1, 2012 and July 1, 2018 is now being discussed by the IMO as an amendment to SOLAS.

The deadline dates for the implementation of the amendment would depend on the type and cargo capacity of the particular vessel. Although a number of digital devices are already used in modern navigation, the latest ECDIS equipment brings together all other shipboard navigation instruments, and differs from other navigation tools by combining planning and positional awareness and allowing various levels of combination of different systems.

ECDIS makes passage planning easier by the automatic updating of electronic charts and by the capacity to take account of other factors such as a ship’s characteristics, weather and tidal conditions.

The possibility of mandatory ECDIS raises the question of providing back-up for the system, either by paper chart or a second ECDIS. Whatever the case, it seems clear that there will be an urgent need for special training of navigators in ECDIS.

The IMO timetable for the introduction of mandatory ECDIS on vessels would be:

• New passenger ships of 500gt and upwards from July 1, 2012• New tankers of 3000gt and upwards, from July 1, 2012• New cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000gt and upwards,

from July 1, 2013• New cargo ships, other than tankers, of between 3000gt and

10,000gt from July 1, 2014• Existing passenger ships of 500gt and upwards must be

equipped with ECDIS by the fi rst survey after July 1, 2014 at the latest

• Existing tankers of 3000gt and upwards must be equipped with ECDIS by the fi rst survey after July 1, 2015 at the latest

• Existing cargo ships, other than tankers, of 50,000gt and upwards must be equipped with ECDIS by the fi rst survey after July 1, 2016 at the latest

• Existing cargo ships, other than tankers, of between 20,000gt and 50,000gt must be equipped with ECDIS by the fi rst survey after July 1, 2017 at the latest

• Existing cargo ships, other than tankers, of between 10,000 and 20,000gt must be equipped with ECDIS by the fi rst survey after July 1, 2018 at the latest.

ELECTRONIC CHARTS MAY BECOME MANDATORY

A new procedure for selection of trainee Integrated Ratings (IR), (a classifi cation of seafarer in Australia performing the duties of both an AB and a Greaser/Motormen) for ASP Australia will give potential recruits the opportunity to “try before they buy”. ASP Australia Employee Relations Manager Evan Westgarth told ASPects the procedure will give groups of candidates a period onboard ships (a) to determine whether each individual responds positively or otherwise to life and work at sea and (b) to give ASP the opportunity to assess their suitability for the job.

The new selection method commenced in December 2008 with the fi rst batch of trainees being assigned to ships, where the Master and other offi cers can provide feedback on their selection prospects.

“The procedure means that candidates who don’t fi nd shipboard life congenial will automatically disqualify themselves, leaving the others to be selected on their shipboard assessment merits,” Evan said. “It is a win-win outcome for both parties – ASP gets a better understanding of who the best candidates are, while the candidates themselves have a greater opportunity to assess whether a career at sea is actually something they want to embark on.”

“TRY BEFORE YOU BUY” for trainees

TOUGH DECISION ON SUB-STANDARD SHIPSAn EU decision to ban ships with three detentions from European ports was described as the “best way to tackle sub-standard shipping” by European Community Ship Owners Association secretary general Alfons Guinier.

The ban is part of the port state control directive, one of seven Erika 3 Maritime Safety Laws drafted by the Strasbourg-based European parliament. Instead of the temporary ban that most governments wanted, vessels detained three times in the past three years will

be on a permanent blacklist. After conciliatory talks held earlier this week, the EU extended the new law to anchorages as well as ports. Malta, one of the world’s top six shipping registries, opposed both the permanent ban and the anchorage extension, but its concerns were over-ruled by the EU’s qualifi ed majority voting system.

”Banning ships after three detentions is a far more effective and reliable deterrent than the two-detention ban the EU had previously proposed,” Mr Guinier said.


PILOTS’ TRIBUTE TO TANKER

The Port of Mackay Marine Pilots on the Australian North Queensland coast have made a special award to the BP tanker British Loyalty and her crew for their seamanship in continuing to provide safe and effi cient access for pilots boarding the ship.

The British Loyalty is a regular caller at Mackay and the pilots have noted that the pilot ladder is not only perfectly rigged but also maintained to a high standard.

As a result, the ship has become a fi rm favourite for the pilots who know they can have full confi dence in the rig, especially as they put their lives in jeopardy when climbing a pilot ladder.

In a letter to the ship’s Master, Capt Mike Ashby, the Pilot Services Manager in Mackay, Capt Graham Ring, wrote:

“Thanks for the opportunity to present you and your crew with a small token of our appreciation for the consistently high standard of pilot ladder access on the British Loyalty during your regular visits to Mackay.

“As pilots we see a wide range of pilot ladder standards and it is the Mackay marine pilots’ wish that some day they may all be rigged as effi ciently and as safe to use for pilot transfer as those on the British Loyalty.”

Capt Ashby told ASPects: “We are very proud of this recognition. In this day and age, where doing the right thing seems to go unnoticed, we hear only the negative points of a ship’s operations. I think we have every right to be proud of this award.”

From left: Trainee Integrated Rating Christian Webster, Port of

Mackay Pilot Service Manager Capt Graeme Ring, Chief

Integrated Rating Mark Glover, Capt Mike Ashby and Mackay

Pilot Capt Roland Svensson.

LEFT: The plaque awarded to the offi cers and crew of the British Loyalty.

The crew of the BP tanker British Loyalty have grown somewhat hairier over the past few months. They all grew moustaches to raise funds for the Movember Movement, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness of men’s health issues and raising funds for research into prostate cancer and depression. At last report, the ship had raised $720 for the cause.

Since its inception as a formal charity in 2004 Movember, has raised over $30 million globally, signifi cantly increased awareness of prostate cancer and depression in the community, and is continuously working to change the attitude men have about their health.

The money raised by Movember is dedicated to improving men’s health in rural, remote, regional and metro areas across Australia by supporting men’s health projects.

British Loyalty crew display their facial adornment, from left: Steve Pastoors (3/E), Tony James (CC),Ben Newman (1/E), Jordan Tedman (C/O), Chris Picken (IR), Capt Mike Ashby (Master), Luke Borchet (OTD),

John Bailey (IR), Ryan Miller (IR), Wayne Ferrier (IR), Andrew Burns (3/O), Brett Baker (CIR), Sean Liley (2/O),John Morley (C/E), Brendan Eakan (ext 3/O), Paul Storey (2/E), Mike D’lecki (Master),

Keith Hagen C/O and Alain Dillenseger (IR).

HAIRY EFFORT FOR HEALTH


TRAINING

ASP Group Training is now administered as a stand-alone department to which ASP Crew Management and ASP Ship Management will respond for all training needs and functions.

The Group Training Department will be directly responsible for:

• Cadet study expenses• VOD (computer based training)• Employment of Training Superintendents• Safety and industry awareness programmes• ASP Training Centre costs • Conducting staff seminars

ASP Crew Management will be responsible to Group Training for:

• External training as required • Travel for staff seminars• ASP Training Centre operation• Travel, expenses and travel for cadets

ASP Ship Management will be responsible for costs of training and the facilitation of the quarterly ASP Seminars accessing three shipboard staff personnel per vessel per year, and also ensuring that the requisite numbers of trainees are funded across the Group catering to the needs of particular clients.

Group Training Manager Ben Brooksby (left) told ASPects:

“Shipping has been experiencing a period of growth at a time when suitably skilled labour is increasingly diffi cult to attract and retain. To continue to rely on the ‘poaching’ of qualifi ed personnel from competitors is not and never has been a sustainable labour plan.

EXPANDED ROLE FOR ASP GROUP TRAINING “The solution to the global shortage of seafarers is not simple and the action being taken by ASP to address this is complex and multi-faceted. We must be innovative within an industry steeped in tradition, an industry ever more driven by ‘the bottom line’.”

Cadet Programme To ensure that ASP vessels continue to be manned by skilled and motivated personnel ASP Ship Management invites and strongly urges clients to embark upon a joint cadet training programme,” Ben said.

“ASP currently employs cadets from Australasia, India and the Philippines. Maintaining 3 cadet berths per vessel is sufficient to produce one new junior officer per year per vessel. At this time of rapid growth, even this level of training is unlikely to fully meet demand.”

To broaden their experience, cadets will be rotated through the coastal and internationally trading vessels, working with different nationalities and on different trades.

ASP will manage the cadet training program on behalf of clients. The objectives of the program are:

• To increase the supply of well trained junior offi cers already indoctrinated into the company culture

• To maximise client control and to minimise the risks associated with transporting cargo

• The maximum utilisation of training funds

• To foster open, honest communications.

The programme aims to produce seafarers with the required skills and knowledge of ASP procedures and requirements to meet and exceed ASP and client expectations for quality and safety performance. A structured training and career path plan will help retention rates of well qualifi ed, motivated and dedicated crews.

TRAINING THE TRAINERS for BRMBridge Resource Management (BRM) consultant Capt Ravi Nijjer conducted a three day “Training-the-Trainers” exercise in Manila in February, organised by Group Training Manager Ben Brooksby as part of the development of ASP Group Training and of the Fleet Training Superintendents.

The aims of the course were to provide the trainers with advanced levels of knowledge and up-to-date application of Advanced BRM and to convey ASP’s vision of a fl eet-wide culture of operational safety developed and initiated in Australia last year.

Ravi told ASPects that the very intensive seminar indicated that the participants had gained a good understanding of the application of Advanced BRM principles in their independent analysis of the case studies. All agreed that the approach to safety embedded in the content of the BRM seminar was the way of the future.

Capt Ravi Nijjer conducting an Advanced BRM training session at the Manila Training Centre.


TRAINING

The ASP Group Training strategy of establishing training centres for all international offi ces is well under way, with new centres already established in Manila and Odessa and most recently, in Mumbai.

The offi cial opening and inauguration of the Mumbai Training Centre was carried out recently by Mr Patwardhan, Managing Director of Chowgule Steamships Ltd. Other guests included Mr Sawant, CFO of Chowgule Steamships; Mr Sarosh Buhariwala, Deputy General Manager, Technical of PFS Shipping and Capt Tariq Khan, Operations Manager, PFS Shipping.

The occasion was also attended by ASP Crew Management India CEO, Capt Girish Phadnis, ASP Group CFO Adrian Whatley, Capt Purnendu Shorey, and staff from ASP Mumbai.

Ideas were exchanged between the representatives of ASP and the shipowners, and the guests were given a guided tour of the facilities and information on the training programmes being undertaken. The tour was followed by celebratory refreshments.

The ASP Training Centre in Mumbai, located in Andheri (East) Mumbai, a short distance from the ASP Ship Management offi ce, will focus on:

• Induction training for all new crews and staff• Star IPS-related training• Computer Based Training for Seafarers• Safety Offi cers’ Course and Shipboard Security Offi cer

Training. • Bridge Resource Management and Electronic Chart

TrainingReplicating the training philosophies at all Crew Management centres, Training Centre Manager Capt Purnendu Shorey has also initiated training sessions at ASP Crew Management, Kolkata. The fi rst course in Kolkata was held on November

Benjamin Brooksby plans to follow up on the positive outcomes of the seminar and to maintain the momentum, with further similar courses to be held at various locations throughout the year.

ASP personnel attending the seminar (pictured from left) included:Frederick Solde, Timoci Tamani, Marcelino (Butch) Bautista, Milind Phadnis, Achintya Bhadra, Ben Brooksby, Ravi Nijjer, Siddharth Mishra, Purnendu Shorey, Gyles Deacon, Jotama Tolo, Sumit Dasgupta.

Pictured at the Mumbai Training Centre opening, from left: Mr. Shreet Kumar (General Manager, Keel Marine India), Capt Bomi Dastur (Seagoing Master),

(rear) Adrian Whatley, ASP CFO, (front) Mr Patwardhan, Mr Sawant, Capt Tariq Khan, Capt Girish Phadnis, Capt Purnendu Shorey and Mr Sarosh Buhariwala.

10 and 11, 2008 and feedback from the participants gave strong encouragement to continue the program.

The Mission of the Training Centres is to:

• Inculcate an “ASK if you do not know” culture

• “Train and Retain” the best

• Create a platform to discuss seafarers’ concerns

• Stimulate the seafarers’ underlying initiative where required

• Emphasise the crew’s role during inspections

In Mumbai, Capt Shorey will conduct the courses, assisted by visiting lecturers as needed. Capt.Sumit Das Gupta will support the training sessions to be carried out in Kolkata. ASPTC Mumbai will also serve as the focal point (maintaining records) for Videotel training carried out across the fl eet.

MUMBAI TRAINING CENTRE OPENS


The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is pressing the IMO to tackle the long-standing problem of safety in enclosed spaces.

In a recent bulletin, after outlining a number of incidents, some fatal, the MAIB stated:

“There can be few more important aspects of personal safety on board vessels than following the correct procedures before entering a dangerous enclosed/confi ned space.

“Tragically, it is clear that the measures which have been put in place have failed to prevent the death of many seafarers. Indeed, data already collected indicates that accidents in enclosed/confi ned spaces continues to be one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities on board ships today. This is due to:

• Complacency leading to lapses in procedure

• Lack of knowledge

• Potentially dangerous spaces not being identifi ed

• Would-be rescuers acting on instinct and emotion rather than knowledge and training.

IMO URGED TO ACT ON ENCLOSED SPACESThe worst of the incidents reported by MAIB was the death in September 2007 of three experienced seafarers inside the chain locker on board the emergency response and rescue vessel Viking Islay, when conducting rig support operations at an oil fi eld off the UK West Yorkshire coast.

The fi rst two men were overcome while securing an anchor chain to prevent it from rattling in the spurling pipe. The third to die was the fi rst rescuer who entered the chain locker wearing the Emergency Escape Breathing Device (EEBD). He was soon constrained by the device and removed its hood. All three men died as a result of the lack of oxygen inside the chain locker caused by the ongoing corrosion of its steel structure and anchor chains.

The bulletin also records that the Marine Accident Investigators’ International Forum instigated research into the problem which has so far identifi ed 120 fatalities and 123 injuries resulting from entry into confi ned spaces since 1991, not including the two most recent cases.

The MAIB bulletin continues:

“It is essential that the IMO recognises the unacceptably large fatality rate in this area and takes the lead in identifying initiatives to improve this very poor safety record.

“It is also vital that all shipping industry bodies raise the awareness of the continuing and increasing number of deaths in enclosed spaces to show that no one is immune to the physical effects of the lack of oxygen or harmful gases.

SHIP MANAGEMENT DIPLOMAInternational Bunker Supplies (IBS) CEO Mark Patman (pictured left) has been awarded a Diploma in Transport and Logistics (Ship Management) after completing a part-time correspondence course with the Cambridge Academy of Transport.

The course involved research and a series of assignments over a period of four years covering all aspects of ship management. Mark said his main aim in pursuing the study was to gain a better appreciation of his shipping industry clients’ perspectives and needs, thus enabling him to have a more knowledgeable marketing approach.

Mark joined Australian shipping line ANL’s purchasing department in 1985, transferred to ASP in 1991 and was appointed CEO of IBS following the acquisition of BHP’s Marine Fuels business by ASP in 2002.

ASP Manila offi ce staff visited the tanker High Century recently during its discharge in Port Limay, Bataan, Philippines, on a familiarisation visit. The ship’s offi cers and crew introduced the visitors to all departments on board and explained the workings and daily routine of the vessel. All agreed that the visit had been a most worthwhile experience.

Pictured during the visit, from left: C/E Jagdish Shenoy; Mary Sorongon - Admin Staff; Sheena dela Torre - Opts Assistant; Marichu Pampilon -

Admin Offi cer; Judith Alvero - HRD Manager; (middle) Capt Tom Manikath; Hydee Remedio - Admin Offi cer; 3/O Shashi Raman; Capt Bautista,

Crewing & Training Manager and Cheska Boncales - IT/HR Assistant.

LIFE ON BOARD


STAFF APPOINTMENTS

DESKTOP SUPPORTIsabelle Magnin-Bougma has recently been appointed Desktop Support Offi cer at ASP Australia, based in Melbourne. French-born Isabelle emigrated to Australia in 2005.

After a brief return to France, she came back to study in Melbourne for a Microsoft Professional Certifi cate. She worked in desktop support for Sensis and KPMG before joining ASP in October 2008.

TWO FROM SOUTH AFRICA JOINED GLADSTONE STAFFTwo new appointees to the ASP Australia staff in Gladstone, North Queensland both hail from South Africa.

Superintendent Hilton Jackson (top right) began work as an apprentice Millwright with South African Railways & Harbours, in 1989. Working for the Marine Department and later the dry-dock department, he later became Technical Manager for the Port of Cape Town’s three ship repair facilities. Hilton holds both Managerial and Technical qualifi cations including a National Diploma (B-Tech) in Business Management, and he plans to complete his Degree in Australia.

Hilton and his wife Tracey have a son and daughter, Alex (10) and Andie (5) and he says his family is looking forward to life in Australia.

Alan Unsworth, (lower right), newly-appointed Superintendent, was born in the United Kingdom but emigrated with his family to South Africa in 1983, where he took up an engineering cadetship with Safmarine in 1988, studying marine engineering at Cape Technikon/Cape Peninsula University of Technology. After Safmarine was acquired by Maersk in 2000 Alan remained with the fl eet, becoming Chief Engineer in December 2008.

Alan and his wife Janet have two sons Alex 14, and James 9. A keen fi sherman, Alan says he can’t wait to get out on to the Great Barrier Reef.

Hilton and Alan commenced work with ASP Gladstone in January.

SHIP MANAGER FOR GLASGOWShip Manager for ASP Glasgow, Roger Clark, began sea service with the Australian National Line in 1981 on the coastal vessel Townsville Trader, then served on various vessels, predominantly in the dry bulk trades, which included the British Phosphate ships and the ‘P’ boats. His last ship was the car carrier Australian Searoad, when it came under ASP management.

He joined CSR Shipping in 1992 and remained as Chief Engineer and Project Engineer until 1996 when the vessels were brought back to ASP Ship Management. He remained as Chief Engineer on the Kowulka until May 2007, then took up a posting as Ship Manager for the Rio Tinto Marine fl eet at Gladstone, before transferring to ASP Glasgow as Ship Manager in late 2008.

TANKER EXPERTAndy Russ, who has joined ASP Tanker Management as Senior Superintendent in Singapore, brings with him a wealth of technical experience. He has served as both Chief Engineer and Technical Superintendent and spent his career working with oil major companies on tankers.

Andy’s position as Senior Superintendent will also include a supervisory role. He started with ASP Tanker Management in February after relocating from his previous employment in Dubai.


WORLDTRAVEL NEWSThe British pint of beer and metric mile are safe after the European Parliament shelved plans to force the UK to adopt litres and kilometres. An indefi nite opt-out has been agreed by European MPs in Strasbourg to allow the continued use of the mile for roads, the pint for draught beer, cider and bottled milk, and the ounce for precious metals. The concession to British tradition was due to expire next year, when imperial measures faced being banished altogether from packaging, road signs and market stalls.

An in-fl ight mobile phone service has become available on board 20 Ryanair aircraft. The move is the fi rst step in fi tting the budget carrier’s fl eet of more than 170 aircraft over the next 18 months to allow passengers to make and receive mobile calls and texts on all fl ights. Passengers on Ryanair’s 20 OnAir enabled aircraft, mainly operating from Dublin, can now make and receive voice calls at (non–EU) international roaming rates (£1.50-£3 per minute) text messages (40p+) and email (£1-£2) using standard mobile phones, BlackBerrys and other smartphones.

The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), and Cox and Kings India have signed a joint venture agreement to set up a company called the Royale Indian Rail Tours to manage and operate the fi rst pan-India luxury tourist train. The train is scheduled to start operations in the third quarter of 2009. IRCTC managing director, Dr Nalin Shinghal said the train, which would travel through multiple states in India, would be a landmark in the growth of luxury tourism in India. The Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, is the tourism arm of Indian Railways.

ANDREW JOINS THERICH &FAMOUSMariner Travel Senior Consultant Andrew Denishensky had fame thrust upon him when he was photographed with Virgin chief Sir Richard Branson in Sydney at the February 26 launching of the fi rst V Australia commercial fl ight to Los Angeles. Andrew fl ew on the new aircraft from Melbourne to Sydney.

The launching celebration began with the arrival of Sir Richard by helicopter on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, where he greeted some 800 guests, including Andrew as representative of Mariner Travel. The party featured an auction in support of Australian bushfi re victims, in which more than $200,000 was bid on items including fl ights, a private concert with Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia, naming rights for one of the V Australia aircraft, and a two hour Boeing 777 simulator session, which went for $15,000!

TRAVEL

Andrew Deneshensky with Sir Richard Branson at the V Australia party.

If you want a pillow and blanket in coach class on US Airways, it’s going to cost you US$7. Airways began charging for its “Power-Nap Sack” on February 16.

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

While High Tea is common at many places around the world, it is most famously known as being an experience and steeped in centuries of tradition. One of the most well known places and also rated as one of the best teas in London is Brown’s Hotel, now part of the luxury Rocco Forte Collection. The tea is served with generous portions and one category allows you to eat as much as you’d like of any of the menu items. Tea is served in the traditional silver teapots and hot water is constantly refreshed.

If you have the time and the money, there’s no better time to travel. An expert for Priceline.com says leisure travellers could benefi t from a drop-off in business conventions due to the economy. ”Leisure travellers who want the most “bang for the buck” out of their vacations this year should look to the convention cities, where they’ll fi nd big discounts on everything from vacation packages and hotels, to theme parks, attractions and restaurants,” said Brian Ek of Priceline. “These cities want and need those tourist dollars more than ever, and they’re pricing aggressively. The big convention cities include Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago, New York, Miami, Atlanta, Anaheim, New Orleans, San Francisco, Dallas, San Diego and Washington,” said Brian Ek of Priceline.com


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

[email protected]

ESSAY COMPETITION

ASP MAKES QUICK RESPONSE TO BUSHFIRE TRAGEDY

ASP supports The Mission to Seafarers

ASP staff Australia wide raised $4,840.00 in donations to support the appeal in aid of victims of the disastrous Australian bushfires in February when more than 1800 homes and 200 lives were lost.

Donations included $2,000 from the ASP Board and the remaining from ASP offices in Rockingham, Gladstone, and ASP Melbourne and the crew of the alumina carrier Endeavour River. The crew of River Embley, also in the alumina trade, made a contribution directly to the Red Cross who were coordinating the fire appeal.

Along with monetary contributions, many staff brought in food and groceries as well as clothes for the victims on what is now known as Black Saturday. ASP were also able to provide boxes of bottled water, overalls, gloves, boots and first aid kits to the victims of the fires.

Some ASP staff were personally affected by the fires. The partner of Australian Marine Technical Services Officer Julie Pearce drove to his 92-year old grandparents to evacuate them but was refused entry by police at the base of the mountain. Luckily his uncle had been able to get through the police barricade 5 minutes previously to rescue them from their already burning house and surrounds. However it took them in excess of an hour to negotiate out of the fire torn area to safety.

Mariner Travel Senior Travel Consultant Andrew Denishensky’s veterinary surgeon wife who has a surgery in Whittlesea near the fires area, was inundated when treating fire-affected animals and pets.

MOORING OPERATIONS CAN BE FATALSerious accidents in mooring operations involving death or serious injuries appear to be on the rise over the long term, according to the UK P and I Club, which believes its own claims statistics indicate similar experience over the whole shipping industry.

Mooring operations are becoming more dangerous to crews, because of the great loads mooring lines carry and the possibility of their breaking under tension.

Hazard areas include bulkhead frames, mooring bitts, pedestal fairleads, cleats and structures such as the windlass and hawse pipe cover platforms. All relevant deck areas should be kept clean, clear, painted and marked - especially the “snap back” zones where broken ropes and wires can recoil with devastating effect.

Operations should always be undertaken with enough crew to do the job safely. That means at least two people for each mooring station. Even with automatic mooring systems, a second person should be ready for things going wrong. All operatives should have a clear view of relevant equipment and active operations.

Only personnel involved in mooring operations should be present at stations during operations. Inexperienced people, such as cadets, should be supervised by experienced seafarers.

Deck offi cers must watch out for hazards and take action to avoid possible incidents but crews must take responsibility for themselves. A signifi cant number of personal injury incidents still result from standing within a bight or coil of rope. Even experienced seafarers do not always pay enough heed to the snap-back zone when a mooring line is under tension.

Personal protective equipment - hard hats, safety footwear and boiler suits or other protective full-length clothing - should be worn during mooring operations. So should gloves but loose gloves might become trapped under a line on a windlass drum, hauling a crew member over it.

Crews should not operate a windlass or capstan and handle ropes at the same time. Fixing a lanyard to an operating lever and pulling on it from the rope-handling position should not be allowed. If only two crew members carry out mooring operations, they should work together on the lines at one end of the vessel and then move to the other. The crew member at the windlass drum must keep his hands clear of the turns and avoid becoming fouled in coils of rope.

www.aspships.com

AUSTRALIA4th Floor, 479 St Kilda RdMelbourne Vic 3004Contact: Bob BirdT: +61 3 9211 9311M: +61 412 313 969F: +61 3 9211 9325Email: [email protected]

33 Goondoon StGladstone Qld 4680Contact: Stephen HillT: +61 7 4973 4200M: +61 412 636 314F: +61 7 4972 7049Email: [email protected]

6B Leach Cres Rockingham, WA 6168Contact: Mike MutlowT: +61 8 9529 4311M: +61 437 614 753F: +61 8 9529 4211Email: [email protected]

NEW ZEALANDSilver Fern ShippingLevel 10, Allied Nationwide Finance Tower, 142 Lambton Quay, WellingtonContact: Steve ParkerT: +64 (0)4 460 3924M: +64 (0)27 4524 744Email: [email protected]

FINLANDStrandgatan 12 FI - 22100 MariehamnFinlandContact: Mikael HolmT: +358 18 620 622M: +358 40 900 7090F: +358 18 620 680Email: [email protected]

GERMANYPaul-Dessau-Strasse 6DE-22761 HamburgContact: Mikael HolmT: +358 18 620 622M: +358 40 900 7090F: +358 18 620 680Email: [email protected]

INDIA571 Solitaire Corporate Park,Andheri - Ghatkopar Link Rd,Chakala Andheri (East), Mumbai 400-093Contact: Hirakesh RoyT: +91 22 6602 9000M: +91 9833 125 226F: +91 22 6602 9047Email: [email protected]

NORWAYN-Nedre Vollgt.10158 OsloContact: Mikael HolmT: +358 18 620 600M: +358 40 900 7090F: +358 18 620 680Email: [email protected]

SINGAPOREASP Tanker Management152 Beach Road,105-01-04 Gateway East,Singapore 189721Contact: John MarnochT: +65 6576 5750M: +65 9739 2689F: +65 6222 3463Email: [email protected]

UNITED KINGDOMGranite HouseLevel 1, 31 Stockwell StGlasgow G1 4R2Contact: Chris KirtonT: +44 (0) 141 553 2230M: +61 431 700 542F: +44 (0) 141 553 0888Email: [email protected]

AUSTRALIA479 St Kilda RdMelbourne Vic 3004Contact: Michael ClinchT: +61 3 9211 9332F: +61 3 9211 9325Email: [email protected]

INDIA571 Solitaire Corporate Park,Andheri - Ghatkopar Link Rd,Chakala Andheri (East), Mumbai 400 093Contact: Girish PhadnisT: +91 22 6602 9000M: +91 98 2064 9939F: +91 22 6602 9047Email: [email protected]

6 Ballygunge Tce,Golpark Kolkata 700 029Contact: Sumit DasguptaT: +91 33 6458 0507M: +91 98 3038 6810Email: [email protected]

PHILIPPINES801 United Nations AveManila, 1000Contact: Milind PhadnisT: +63 2 524 3783M: +63 921 558 4829F: +63 2 524 7517Email: [email protected]

UKRAINEOffi ce 10,33 Shevchenko Ave, 65058, OdessaContact: Peter PashegorT: + 380 48 785 1114F: + 380 48 785 1214 Email: [email protected]

International Bunker Supplies33 Goondoon St, Gladstone 4680AustraliaContact: Mark PatmanT: +61 3 9211 9333M: +61 411 141 942F: +61 3 9211 9365Email: [email protected]: www.ibsfuels.com

Universal Bunkering473 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004AustraliaContact: Mark NeveT: +61 3 9211 9313M: +61 418 530 171F: +61 3 9211 9352Email: [email protected]

Mariner Travel473 St Kilda RdMelbourne Vic 3004, AustraliaContact: Joanne TomasiT: +61 3 9211 9341M: +61 407 312 254 F: +61 3 9211 9359Email: [email protected]: www.marinertvl.com

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