Issue No. 7, September 2007 - J. Lauritzen

The average amount of money awarded
per inspection was increased by 75%
in 2006, and there were a growing
number of USD 500 awards for a
perfect score. The award money is
used for the benefit of the entire crew,
both those working at the time of the
inspection and those who join the ship
at a later date. Funds can be spent on
anything from video games to karaoke
systems to sports equipment. The idea
of identifying an overall winner as the
Vessel of the Year is a new addition to
the programme – one for which the
officers and crew of the Tessa Kosan
were awarded a commemorative plaque
and a 32” flat-screen TV.
“This programme is all about encouraging
team effort, and it’s obviously
been very successful,” says Klaus
Grøndal. “We’re not only paying out
more reward money, but the steady
reduction in crew-related remarks
also indicates a real change in attitude
and awareness. The performance of
the Tessa Kosan is a good example
of people pulling together to put our
core values into practice.”
Hole in one
While anchored on the roads off
Newcastle, Australia, the Pasha
Bulker – on long-term time charter to
Lauritzen Bulkers – ran aground during
a major storm on 8 June 2007,
just off the local golf club at Nobbys
Beach. The vessel remained grounded
on the beach only a few meters from
the greens, where it became a tourist
attraction and certainly also a distraction
for the club’s keen golfers.
After the dramatic grounding all 22
Korean and Filipino crew members
were successfully rescued from the
vessel by helicopter. The vessel had
no cargo onboard, as it was waiting
to load coal. During further stormy
weather, the ship was pushed onto
the beach and was stuck in the sand,
completely trapped between the
beach and the reef. There were fears
that it could break up and cause environmental
problems.
The vessel’s Japanese owners, together
with salvage experts, decided to try to
refloat the ship. After the third attempt,
it was successfully towed off
the reef on 2 July 2007. Minor
repairs were conducted in Newcastle
harbour before the Pasha Bulker was
towed for major repairs.
The incident caused extraordinary
media attention worldwide, but fortunately
neither the crew nor the
environment suffered any damage.
As time-charter owners, Lauritzen
Bulkers had no responsibility for the
navigation of the vessel nor for the
rescue, but we thank the owners and all
Australian authorities involved in the
rescue operation for a job well done.
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