NAUTILUS P01 NOVEMBER 2009.qxd - Nautilus International

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02 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | November 2009 NAUTILUS AT WORK £2bn: the value of UK marine services ANautilus has welcomed a new report showing that the UK’s maritime services — such as shipbroking, marine insurance, classification and law — chalked up record overseas earnings of more than £2bn last year. And the Union has warned the government that continued success depends upon a steady flow of skilled and experienced seafarers who are essential for many of the posts within the sector. It says worrying signs of a decline in the number of UK officer trainees being taken on this year suggests owners are not taking note of the calls from their own leaders not to cut training in response to the downturn. ‘This report demonstrates just how valuable the maritime sector is to the UK economy,’ said Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson. ‘However, there are many other countries after this business, and if we are to continue to lead the world we must have sufficient skilled and experienced seafarers to provide the knowledge and expertise needed by many of these businesses. It is therefore very disturbing that we are looking at a 20% decline in UK cadet numbers this year.’ The report, published by International Financial Services London (IFSL), said UK maritime services exports were valued at £2.1bn in 2008 — up by 40% from the level of 2006, and confirming ‘London’s position as a leading centre worldwide in the supply of business services to the international maritime community’. But it warned that UK shipping and maritime services are now facing ‘a major challenge from the steep downturn in the global economy’ — which will mean this year’s results are likely to be well down on 2008. IFSL said London’s 400 shipbroking firms generated net exports of £948m in 2008, 23% up on £769m in the previous year. And, in the face of increasingly tough competition from Japan, the US and Germany, UK-based marine insurers had managed to maintain their global dominance — with British P&I clubs accounting for almost two-thirds of the world’s market. London-based banks provided more than 13% of international ship finance in 2008, whilst Lloyd’s Register was ranked as the world’s second largest classification society, accounting for 18% of the global fleet. IFSL estimates that 15,600 people were employed in UK maritime services last year — the majority in shipbroking, insurance, legal services and classification. Duncan McKenzie, IFSL’s director of economics, commented: ‘The global economic downturn has contributed to an expected 10% drop in seaborne trade in 2009. The knock-on impact on maritime services means that UK overseas earnings in 2008 represent a high point unlikely to be exceeded for a few years.’ ITF’s summer scholars Bevis Minter winner James Burnell is pictured with training officer Bob Brooke and Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson Picture: Vivion Gough Top cadet prize for James James Burnell says he is ‘absolutely loving’ Fhis time training to become a deck officer on Chevron tankers. And his positive approach to his chosen profession paid off last month when he became, at the age of 19, the youngest ever winner of the Nautilus Bevis Minter Award. James, from Wicklow in Ireland, is the only student in his class at the National Maritime College of Ireland who did not have some kind of seafaring background. ‘I got interested in seafaring because when I was going out diving I used to have more fun driving the boat than doing the diving,’ he told the Telegraph. ‘I loved being in the boat and thought it would be great to do it as a job.’ He visited the college, and being impressed by its facilities, decided to start a cadetship. His training provider is Clyde Marine and he is sponsored by Chevron Shipping. James said he particularly enjoyed his first sea time — a three-month trip on the Chevron training vessel Capricorn Voyager. ‘It was real hands-on experience,’ he added. ‘We did absolutely everything — from chipping and painting to holding a watch on the bridge. I even got to steer the ship under the Golden Gate Bridge.’ James — who is studying for a degree in nautical science as well as his first certificate — said he was shocked, but delighted to win the Nautilus award. ‘I’ve got no doubts that this is the right career for me, and once I decided I was going to sea I was aiming for the top,’ he added. Presenting the award, general secretary Mark Dickinson commented: ‘Even at such a relatively short time into his career, James is displaying the qualities that we always seek in the Minter Award winner. Enthusiastic, positive and determined, he has made his mark with employers and lecturers alike. The qualities of self-belief and determination displayed by James are in the very best traditions of merchant seafaring,’ he added. ‘The shipping industry has changed dramatically in recent decades, but I continue to be impressed by the remarkable aptitude and attitude of today’s officer trainees. Anyone who argues that academic standards have declined in recent times would do well to see the achievements of those in maritime training at present.’ Unions call for end to wages ‘shame’ MPs are urged to put a stop to legalised pay discrimination on UK ships Nautilus national secretary gRonnie Cunningham is pictured with cadet member Joe Mattock at the International Transport Workers’ Federation summer school for trade unionists. Joe told the Telegraph the twoday event was ‘an absolute success’ — bringing together representatives from shipping, aviation and rail — and was thoroughly recommended to other Nautilus members. ‘The focus was on training trade unionists in the skills of organising, and working to bring about change in the labour movement,’ he explained. ‘The school carried out group exercises, tasks, and lectures in areas which focussed and broke down organising into steps.’ During the course, Joe made a short informal presentation about the youth work in the ITF. ‘It’s fair to say that the gathering of a variety of workers of different nationalities, and sectors in one place brought great variety and richness to group discussions,’ he added. ‘I am certain everyone who attended the conference took something away with them to use in their union and workplace. There is great value in the summer school, as it shares ideas, thoughts and best ways to campaign.’ PNautilus International and the RMT have written to all UK MPs urging them to end legalised discrimination against seafarers by signing up to an amendment to the Equality Bill. Under existing UK employment legislation, it is acceptable to pay foreign seafarers less than the National Minimum Wage (NMW) — even if those seafarers work on vessels operating solely between UK ports or in the UK offshore sector. The legislation allowed, for example, that seafaring ratings working on ships operated by Streamline between Aberdeen and Lerwick have received basic monthly rates of pay of between £314 and £367 instead of the NMW equivalent of £996 a month (based on 40 hours a week). And ratings working for the Varun Shipping Company on offshore vessels working out of Aberdeen and Peterhead are receiving basic hourly rates of between £1.72 and £2.07. ‘These disgraceful rates of pay shame our industry and undermine the employment of British seafarers,’ said Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson. ‘It is time to close legal loopholes that allow the exploitation of foreign seafarers in UK waters.’ The maritime unions would like to see the legal changes taken even further, arguing that the NMW should be enforced on intra-EU ferries trading to and from the UK. However, last year in the Employment Bill debate, the government advised that this would not be possible, as foreign flag ships trading to other countries’ ports could claim the right of innocent and free passage under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The proposed amendment to the Equality Bill — tabled by Dover MP Gwyn Prosser — has therefore been limited to vessels operating between UK ports and in the UK offshore sector. But these vessels would not have to be UK-flagged; the unions have received legal advice that the amendment would allow the NMW to be enforced on foreignflagged ships if they were operating in the defined waters. The NMW amendment to the Equality Bill was due to be considered at report stage by the House of Commons as the Telegraph went to press. Ongoing efforts are also being made by Mr Prosser, the maritime unions and the TUC to close discriminatory loopholes in the Employment Bill and the Race Relations Act (1976).
November 2009 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 03 NAUTILUS AT WORK Council upholds gun-free policy Arming merchant seafarers is not the answer to piracy, members rule UMerchant seafarers conference — Nautilus policy had should continue to sail been developed to focus on five without weapons on key elements: their ships — despite the dramatic increase in violent attacks security measures z more investment in adequate by pirates off Somalia, Nigeria z higher crew levels and other parts of the world, Nautilus International Council mem- naval forces z support for the deployment of bers have decided. z political action at national, Last month’s meeting in Amsterdam discussed a detailed posi- z preventing members from European and international level tion paper, presented by assistant being forced to serve in high-risk general secretary Paul Moloney, areas which questioned whether the ‘This is a health and safety Union should revise its policies issue,’ Mr Moloney stressed. ‘We in response to changes in the would not want members to go style of attacks. into enclosed spaces or enginerooms if they were not safe, and ‘The nature of piracy has changed significantly in recent the same should be the case with years,’ Mr Moloney told the meeting. ‘In the post-9/11 world, we see Wilco van Hoboken said Nau- areas that are prone to piracy.’ it as a form of terrorism in which tilus surveys had shown a change heavily armed pirates no longer of attitude towards the carriage steal from the ship, but instead of weapons onboard, and he suggested this was probably the steal the ship and hold it and its seafarers for ransom.’ result of the increasing violence Tactics have also changed significantly, he added, with the use But general secretary Mark being used against seafarers. of mother ships extending the Dickinson said he believed the range of the pirates by a massive Union should retain its opposition to the use of weapons. ‘Arm- extent. Following debates at successive BGMs over the past two he said, ‘and indeed it may actuing seafarers is not the answer,’ decades — including this year’s ally increase the dangers they face Members in Atlantic rescue of solo sailor Nautilus members serving on Athe oceanographic research vessel James Cook conducted a mid- Atlantic rescue after the ‘Help for Heroes’ campaigner and former SAS Commando Peter Bray ran into problems in the path of a hurricane. Pictured with Mr Bray after the vessel arrived safely in Falmouth in September are Nautilus members chief engineer officer George Parkinson, chief officer Matthew Turner, Captain Peter Sarjeant, third officer Vanessa Laidlow, and second officer Malcolm Graves. At the time of the rescue, the RRS James Cook had a team of 30 international scientists onboard, studying and comparing the diverse species of sea creatures at two locations on either side of the Mid- Atlantic Ridge. The vessel had just left the SE work site when it received a Mayday from Mr Bray’s ocean rowing boat, Black Knight, relayed by Falmouth Coastguard. The ship responded to the message and sailed some 110nm towards the scene. Crew members spotted the Black Knight riding to a sea anchor, amidst a 4-5m swell and in near gale force conditions. On-scene options for recovery were carefully assessed and ultimately the decision made to leave the deep-leading sea anchor intact with the ‘Cook’ making an approach with the wind and swell fine on the port bow for attempted boarding amidships, on the starboard side. Contingency ‘man overboard’ measures were in place. by escalating the levels of violence.’ Owners should be looking at the increasingly sophisticated technology available to protect their ships, Mr Dickinson argued. They should also note the evidence showing that higher crew levels are one of the most effective ways of reducing the risk of attack, by increasing the chances of early detection and prompt evasive action. Trustee Rodger MacDonald said the International Maritime Organisation had upheld the principle of keeping seafarers unarmed. So far, there have been relatively few fatalities among crew members, he added, but that could change if seafarers started shooting back. He also questioned how serious shipowners are about protecting their crews. ‘At the recent Portsmouth forum on piracy, a lot of companies were displaying what they could provide to ships but the general discussion with those selling their wares was that the owners are just not buying it,’ he added. Capt MacDonald suggested Nautilus policy should address At the starboard waist, a heaving line was used to swiftly transfer personal effects from Black Knight. Then, at an expertly timed moment, Peter Bray stepped onto the ship’s pilot ladder and climbed effortlessly aboard. Mr Bray was remarkably calm and well after 43 days at sea — roughly halfway into his 1,940 mile rowing challenge from St John’s, Newfoundland to the Isles of Scilly. He had hoped to beat the current 64-day world record for rowing solo across the Atlantic and, in the the issue of counselling for those affected by the attacks, Support should be available not just for seafarers but also for their families, he argued. Jim Stone said the Union should also seek to ensure that pirates are brought to justice. ‘There must be a deterrent to piracy by ensuring that those that are caught are properly punished,’ he stressed. ‘It is ludicrous that warships capture these people and then let them go.’ Assistant general secretary Marcel van den Broek warned that defence experts had told Nautilus the threat shows no sign of decreasing. ‘In Somalia there are thousands of young men wanting to become pirates and willing to take the risk of death or capture in the hope of becoming rich beyond their wildest dreams,’ he pointed out. Lee McDowell also urged the Union to focus on security in ports and harbours — especially small and remote facilities — and Roger Stuart said Nautilus should work with local unions in Nigeria to put pressure on their government for action to reduce the attacks there. process, raise cash for Help for Heroes. Naturally he had mixed feelings about the decision to abandon both his boat and the challenge. However, his project team had made the decision on the basis of Hurricane Bill weather projections and rescue options. After the rescue, Mr Bray integrated well with the ship’s company — putting in many a day’s work stencilling fire flap and ventilation signs to statutory safety certification requirements, until arrival at Falmouth. shortreports CRIMINALISATION MEETING: members are invited to a special Nautilus seminar on criminalisation of the maritime profession. The event is taking place in the Hambledon Room at Warsash Maritime Academy on Friday 6 November, starting at 1400hrs. Speakers will include leading maritime lawyers, who will cover subjects including the role of accident investigators and the rights and responsibilities of seafarers following incidents. To book your place, contact Sharon Suckling at Nautilus head office on +44 (0)20 8530 1656 or email legal@nautilusint.org CONDITIONS SLATED: the Maritime & Coastguard Agency voiced concern last month at conditions onboard a Vietnamese-flagged tanker detained after discharging its cargo at the Fawley oil terminal. Inspectors found that the 50,530dwt Vinalines Glory had unsatisfactory maintenance and record-keeping, some crew lacked a satisfactory command of English and a satisfactory abandon ship drill could not be demonstrated ‘which would make the ship dangerously unsafe’. RETIREMENT BLOW: the TUC has expressed disappointment at a High Court ruling rejecting a challenge against the UK’s default retirement age of 65. General secretary Brendan Barber said the decision was ‘a blow to working people who need, or want, to work on beyond 65’ and would allow employers to weed out staff on the grounds of an arbitrary retirement age. FASTNET SERVICE: a cooperative venture seeking to relaunch services between Swansea and Cork says it has finally secured a ferry to run on the route. The West Cork Tourism Cooperative says it has purchased the 1,860-passenger vessel Julia, which has been laidup in Finland since last summer. The new service is set to begin in March next year. PIRACY SOARS: pirate attacks in the first nine months of the year have already outstripped the total for the whole of 2008, according a new report from the International Maritime Bureau. The IMB study said the use of guns had more than doubled this year, with 176 cases between January and the end of September — full report, see page 38. WAGE RISE: the TUC has welcomed increases in the UK National Minimum Wage which came into effect last month. The 1.2% rise sees the NMW move from £5.73 to £5.80 an hour. ‘The raise is a modest one, but it will put extra cash into the pockets of some of the UK’s most low-paid workers,’ said TUC general secretary Brendan Barber. BOX RECOVERY: the container shipping slump has ‘bottomed out’ and an upturn in global volumes is expected to be seen very shortly, according to a new report from Drewry Shipping Consultants. It predicts that trade flows should rise by around 2.4% next year, with east-west rates rising by some 18%. SHORTSEA SUPPORT: the European Commission has called for member states to adopt high-tech electronic data management systems to cut red tape in shortsea shipping and to improve the sector’s ability to compete with road and rail. FREIGHT FALL: UK ports handled 562m tonnes of freight traffic last year — down 3% from the previous year, according to new Department for Transport figures. Grimsby & Immingham remained the country’s busiest port, handling 65m tonnes. ROTTERDAM DROP: Rotterdam — Europe’s largest port — recorded a fall of almost 12% in traffic in the first nine months of this year. Port authority officials described the figures as ‘a hefty decrease’ — but said signs of a recovery have been seen. BOXES LOST: printers, toys and sweets were strewn on a Dutch beach after nine containers were swept off the Liberian-flagged Navi Baltic in rough weather some 11km north of Terschelling last month.
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