THE MASTERS, MATES AND PILOTS'
WHEELHOUSE WEEKLY

- Bridging the Information Gap With E-News You Can Use -

Volume 6. . . . . Number 8. . . February 21, 2002

STORIES COVERED

ALSO

 

IMO MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE UPDATE ON MARITIME SECURITY

MM&P’s Special Representative Capt. Joe Stone attended a special meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee’s Working Group on Maritime Security held at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) London HQ last week.

The USCG called this unusual meeting to discuss important issues of maritime safety and security. The next two articles detail some of the subjects that were discussed that are of special interest to offshore mariners.
 
 

MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

 IMO RESTRUCTURE STRESSES SAFETY

The International Maritime Organization’s Secretariat has been restructured in order to ensure a systematic and consistent approach to maritime security issues. The Navigation Section of the Maritime Safety Division (MSD) has been re-designated as the Navigational Safety and Maritime Security Section.

In addition to its traditional duties pertaining to the work of the Subcommittees on Safety of Navigation (NAV) and on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR), the new section will be responsible for regulatory matters relating to the prevention and suppression of acts of terrorism against shipping.

It will continue to bear responsibility for matters relating to piracy and armed robbery against ships and, in co-operation with the Technical Cooperation Implementation and Project Management Section of the Maritime Safety Division, will assist the Technical Cooperation Division in the delivery of technical cooperation projects relevant to maritime security.

It will also act as the focal point in MSD for the implementation, from the safety point of view, of resolution A.920(22) on the review of safety measures and procedures for the treatment of persons rescued at sea. The re-structuring reflects IMO's continuing pro-active approach to the issue of maritime security, which was the subject of a special Working Group of the Maritime Safety Committee meeting last week.
 

MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

 

IMO ADDRESS MEASURES TO BOLSTER SHIP SECURITY

After its meeting last week, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee’s Working Group on Maritime Security (ISWG), issued a report that contains the following recommendations to the May 2002 meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 75) for further consideration.

To accelerate the implementation schedule for the mandatory fitting of Automatic Identification Systems for all ships of 500 gross tonnage and above, on international voyages. The final implementation date would be decided by a Diplomatic Conference on maritime security, scheduled for December 2002.

To amend SOLAS chapter XI to include special measures for maritime security and to amend the title accordingly. The general idea for consideration by MSC 75 is to incorporate new regulations XI/5 to 7 containing definitions, requirements for ships and requirements for port facilities respectively, supported by a draft International Code for the Security of Ships and Port Facilities, which should have a mandatory section.

To require by the Code all ships of 500 gross tonnage and above engaged in international voyages to carry ship security plans (SSPs). The need for such plans to be ultimately incorporated in the ISM Code was acknowledged. It was considered essential that the mandatory requirements relating to such plans should be developed prior to the Diplomatic Conference on maritime security.

To include a requirement for a Ship Security Officer (SSO) in the Code. The training needs of this officer to be developed in the context of the STCW Convention and that initially his/her responsibilities should include any necessary instruction to the crew of the ship. Training requirements for the SSO would need to be developed as a matter of urgency.

To incorporate a requirement for a Company Security Officer (CSO) including responsibilities and training requirements in the Code.

To recommend to MSC 75 to incorporate a requirement for port facility security plans (PFSP), but addressing only the Ship Port Interface, which needed further identification and definition and to stipulate which ports it would apply to. MSC will be invited to authorize more detailed work to be undertaken in close co-operation with ILO on comprehensive PFSP requirements. There was concern that it may not be appropriate to require such plans for small ports.

Port Vulnerability Assessment (PVA) was considered an essential part of the port facility security process and it was agreed to incorporate a new requirement for PVA in the Code and develop guidance/criteria for PVA based on the existing level of threat.

Urgent action on an up-to-date seafarer identification document. The Secretary-General of IMO has written to the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), emphasising the importance the Member States of IMO give to updating the ILO seafarer identification document as a significant contribution to enhanced maritime security and requesting early action on this matter,offering the assistance of IMO in this process.

Information on the ship, its cargo and people: full transparency of ownership information was desirable, but could be difficult to achieve. Nevertheless the owner of a ship needed to be defined in future, bearing in mind that many IMO instruments place responsibilities on the shipowner, who may not be easy to identify. Proposals will be referred to the Legal Committee for comments on the effective control of the ship; the issue should be further considered at MSC 75, based on substantive proposals submitted.

The Sub-Committees on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR), Ship Design and Equipment (DE) and Safety of Navigation (NAV) to be requested to consider means for providing a capability for seafarers to activate an alarm to notify authorities and other ships of a terrorist hijacking, including a recommendation on whether such an alarm should be surreptitious.

A recommended formalization of cooperation with the World Customs Organization (WCO) on the question of container inspection and ensuring that the effective and efficient flow of multi-modal cargo is maintained in spite of the need for cargo security. IMO should work together with WCO through an appropriate mechanism with the aim of establishing international measures that would enhance the integrity of all cargo. In view of the annual volumes of containers being moved globally (about 150 million full and 40 million empty container movements in 2001), the ISWG considered this issue to be a particularly complex and difficult one to solve in the short term.

DE 49 (meeting in March) is to consider the issue of maritime security equipment to prevent unauthorized boarding in ports and at sea and report to MSC 75. It was recognized that the kind of equipment to be used on board would largely depend again on risk assessment (e.g. ship types, trading areas, etc.) and impacted on the SSP and the interface between SSO and CSO. If appropriate, a new regulation may be incorporated in the Code requiring ship security equipment. The ISWG will send its report for consideration by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which meets on May 15 to 24, 2002. The results of the MSC’s deliberations will be submitted (if appropriate) to a Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security scheduled for December 2002, at which any new or amended legislation could be adopted.
 
 
 
 

MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

 

IMB GETTING STRICT ABOUT BOGUS MARITIME DOCUMENTS

 
The International Maritime Bureau has issued a warning to vessel operators concerning the thousands of unqualified mariners of all licenses and ratings working illegally with false papers. IMB has called for tighter security by those issuing licenses. The notice follows the release of figures that show of 54 maritime administrations surveyed there were more than 12,000 cases of forged certificates. Seafarers’ International Research Center, Cardiff University in Wales conducted the study.
MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

 

ILWU FILES CHARGE OF UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE WITH NLRB

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board Feb. 14 against the Pacific Maritime Association.

The union charges that the association, which represents 80 shipping companies, refuses to share information necessary for upcoming contract negotiations. The current contract expires July 1.
 
 
 

MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

SHOWTIME PRESENTS POWERFUL STORY ON UNION ORGANIZINGING

The powerful story of A. Philip Randolph and the 12-year battle to organize Pullman Co. porters is captured in "10,000 Black Men Named George," a movie to be aired Feb. 24 on Showtime at 8 PM EST. It will be rebroadcast on Showtime TOO on Feb. 26 at 9 PM EST.

Randolph, portrayed by actor Andre Braugher, founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. The movie's
title comes from white passengers' routine practice at the time of disrespectfully calling all porters
"George," the first name of the company's owner. There will be a special showing of the movie during the AFL-CIO's
Executive Council meeting in New Orleans Feb. 26-27.
 

MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly


 

MITAGS ACADEMIC NOTES

Openings in Classes Through the End of June 2002

 MSC COMMS

Please note that the course convening originally scheduled for April 8 has been cancelled. Class is now scheduled for May 6-10.
 

BRM & SHS-EMR

Standard offerings for BRM and SHS-EMR are now five days. Three day versions are no longer scheduled.

SCHEDULE INFO

Schedule through June 2002 is being maintained on the website. Hard copies of the January-June 2002 schedule have been mailed to the halls. Check the MITAGS website at: www.mitags.org for up-to-date info. For additional course info, contact Mary Matlock at voice: 443-989-3226 or Email: admissions@mitags.org.
 
 

MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly


 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARITIME INSTITUTE ACADEMIC NOTES

Openings in Classes Through the End of March 2002

 

PMI MEDICAL COURSES

PMI is now offering two week "Medical Person in Charge" and one week "Medical First Aid Provider" course. To learn more about the STCW Requirements for Medical First Aid Provider and Medical Person in Charge, refer to PMI's webpage at stcw95.com/medical.htm which will link you to the relevant policy letter.

 

REGISTRATION

Register online at stcw95.com.
 
 

MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

 

MM&P MARKET WATCH AS OF 2-20 CLOSE

 D O W
 N A S D A Q
 9,941.10
-48.50 for the week
 1,775.57
 -83.59 for the week
 Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFINX)
 101.44
 Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund (VEXMX)
21.83
 Vanguard International Growth Fund (VWIGX)
 14.02
 Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund (VMRGX)
 13.77
 Vanguard Windsor II Fund (VWNFX)
 24.61
 Vanguard GNMA Fund (VFIIX)
10.50
 Chase Growth Fund (CHASX)
14.50
 Fidelity Asset Manager (FASMX)
15.29
 Fidelity Growth and Income (FGRIX)
 36.50
Fidelity Magellan Fund (FAGX)
 98.30
 Spartan US Equity Index Fund (FUSEX)
  38.93

MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly

The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly is the official electronic newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots, ILA, AFL-CIO, 700 Maritime Blvd., Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1941. Phone: 410-850-8700; Fax: 410-850-0973; Email: iommp@bridgedeck.org. For further info contact John Peige at jpeige@bridgedeck.org. The Wheelhouse Weekly is sent via Email to MM&P-contracted vessels at sea, broadcast worldwide via FEC marine telex and is posted on our web page under "News" at: http://www.bridgedeck.org.

Return to Top