December 2007.pdf - Nautilus NL

8 ✪ ●Nautilus UK Telegraph ●✪ DECEMBER 2007newsMPs warn ofGalileo ‘folly’EUROPE’s proposed Galileosatellite navigation system hascome under fresh attack — withMPs warning that the scheme is a‘folly’ and experts arguing that it isat risk of failing to achieve its keyobjectives because of political andcorporate bickering.A report from the House ofCommons transport committeepublished last month urged thegovernment to ‘bring theEuropean Commission to itssenses’ — warning that the totalcosts of the project could rise to£10bn, without any true assessmentof its benefits.Meanwhile, opening theNAV07 conference in London,Professor David Last — presidentof the Royal Institute ofNavigation — questioned the viabilityof the EU ‘vision’ of an independentsatnav system, with thestart date now six years overdue.Marine TrainingCADET CARRIERPICTURED right are some ofthe 321 Sea Cadets whotravelled from Portsmouth toLondon on the Royal FleetAuxiliary landing ship LargsBay to take part in the capital’sannual Trafalgar Day parade.The cadets — who camefrom all corners of the country— became the biggest group ofsea cadets to be at seasimultaneously in their history,and used the space onboard toprepare for their part in theTrafalgar Square parade.Largs Bay is designed tocarry an embarked militaryforce of 356 fully equippedtroops — or up to 700 in war‘overload’ conditions. In thefirst visit of an RFA LDSA toLondon, the ship conducted amammoth six-hour pilotage upthe river to Greenwich todisembark the cadets andreturn to Plymouth on thefollowing day.www.aset.co.uk• Dynamic Positioning training for Induction/Basic and Simulator/Advanced coursesaccredited by Nautical Institute using Kongsberg & Alstom equipment.• Stability and Ballast Control training for semi-submersibles (utilising ASET’s unique highfidelity Marine Simulator). Training meets UKOOA & IMO Guidelines. We are the onlycommercial training centre in the world to have achieved both Class ‘A’ and Class ‘B’Accreditation from the IADC for our Stability training.• Marine Operations of Self-Elevating Platforms (Jack-Ups).For bookings, course content or general enquiries on the service we can provide, please contact:Aberdeen Skills and Enterprise Training LimitedT +44 (0)1224 896196 |E asetbookings@abcol.ac.ukFor further information and a tour of our facilities, visit our website: www.aset.co.ukOil & GasTrainingMaintenance &Process EngineeringEX MOBIL OFFICERIS NEW SOSREPA FORMER Mobil Shipping deckofficer, left, has been appointed asthe UK’s new maritimeemergencies and salvage ‘tsar’.Hugh Shaw — who has morethan 30 years’ experience in themaritime sector — takes up thepost of Secretary of State’sRepresentative (SOSREP) onMarineTrainingElectrical & ExTrainingHealth & SafetyTrainingTransportationTrainingBusinessComputing1 January 2008, replacing RobinMiddleton, who is retiring aftereight years in the post.Mr Shaw has been deputy tothe SOSREP since 2004 and saidhe was ‘honoured’ to bepromoted. Shipping minister JimFitzpatrick commented: ‘I ampleased that someone whoalready has such a wealth ofknowledge of the role of SOSREPhas been appointed and we lookforward to the benefit of Hugh’sexperience and advice.’Anger at Law Lords curb onasbestos compensationNAUTILUS UK has expressedextreme concern at a landmarkLaw Lords ruling that could preventthousands of seafarers fromclaiming compensation for theeffects of exposure to asbestos.In a long-awaited judgement,the Lords upheld the case of insurancecompanies that people withpleural plaques — a scarring oflung tissue caused by exposure toasbestos — are not entitled todamages because the condition isnot a disease.The ruling could affect severalthousand seafarers — particularlyengineroom staff — exposed toasbestos which was widely usedonboard ships built well into thesecond half of the 20th century.Nautilus UK deputy generalsecretary Peter McEwen commented:‘This is an appalling decisionthat bears no relationship tothe suffering of former seafarers,and other workers, with thiscondition. Diagnosis of pleuralplaques is a serious issue, andcauses immense stress and anxiety.’Delivering the unanimousjudgement by the five Law Lords,Lord Hoffman stated that ‘proof ofdamage is an essential element ina claim in negligence and in myopinion the symptom-less plaquesare not compensatable damage’.Charles Boyle, head of NautilusUK’s legal services, pointed outthat compensation for pleuralplaques had been well establishedfor some 20 years before this ruling.‘The judgement will haveenormous repercussions andmeans that thousands of peoplewho have been exposed toasbestos will not be able to recovercompensation if the only result ofthat exposure is the developmentof pleural plaques,’ he added.It has been estimated thatinsurers will save some £1.5bn asa result of the ruling. Mr Boylepointed out that the Lords notedthat it may be possible for pleuralplaques sufferers to bring claimsagainst employers for breach ofcontract, as a result of being put ina life-threatening situation.‘However, compensation forsuch a claim is likely to be negligible,’he cautioned.Mr Boyle said members shouldalso note that the judgement onlyapplies to pleural plaques wherethere are no symptoms. ‘If thereare other symptoms, then considerationcan be given as to whethera claim should be made,’ he added.People & BusinessManagementNAUTILUS UK has welcomed amove by major international shippingemployers to introduce anumber of new initiatives to boostseafarer recruitment and training.But the Union is also urgingthe employers to look to traditionalareas of seafarer supplyrather than seeking to open upnew sources of potentially lowcostlabour.Companies belonging tothe International MaritimeEmployers’ Committee — whoemploy some 70,000 seafarersaround the world — approved themeasures in an effort to tackle thegrowing global skills shortage.Meeting in London, IMEC’sgeneral assembly also endorsedthe two-year InternationalBargaining Forum agreementthat will provide an 8% pay rise forseafarers serving on some 3,500flag of convenience ships.IMEC said it was pressingahead with ‘ambitious plans’ totackle recruitment and trainingissues, including:✪ sending IMEC delegations topotential new labour supply countriesto investigate the needs oftraining centres and to considerhow standards could be upgradedNEW ICS GUIDE TOBRIDGE PRACTICENAUTILUS UK has welcomed thenew edition of the ICS BridgeProcedures Guide, published bythe International Chamber ofShipping (ICS) last month.The guide is intended to reflectbest navigational practice in allsectors and trades. For the latestedition, it has been ‘thoroughly✪ launching rating-to-officerconversion courses in severalcountries, including thePhilippines and Russia✪ setting up dedicated IMECtraining courses for cadets in thePhilippines✪ appointing a training manager,based in Manila, to oversee projectprogress and standards✪ providing English languagetraining in eastern EuropeIMEC chairman Ian Sherwoodcommented: ‘We must make surethat the number of trainees andthe quality of their training is to astandard that today’s shippingindustry requires.‘During the forthcoming localnegotiations in the main laboursupply countries it will be a priorityfor our negotiators to makesure that adequate funds are providedto support the training initiativeswe propose.’Nautilus UK general secretaryBrian Orrell said he was pleased tosee IMEC — as a major employerorganisation in the internationalshipping community — takingpositive steps to address the seafarersupply shortage.‘However, it is ironic that it isdirecting its efforts to new labourupdated’, with input from ICSmembers. As with previouseditions, the guide covers IMOregulations and providesprocedural checklists for mastersand navigating officers — bothfor everyday use and foremergencies.The new edition takes accountof the increased use of modernelectronic charting systems andthe introduction of AIS. Guidanceon pilotage has also beenupdated.IMEC MOVESON TRAININGEmployers seek to combat seafarer shortagessupply areas, rather than towardstraditional sources in the countriesin which many of its membersare based,’ he added.‘Research shows very clearlythat the number of masters andsenior officers from OECD countriesis set to decline sharply overthe next 10 to 15 years, and that fora number of reasons they will notbe replaced by those from the newlabour supplying countries,’ MrOrrell pointed out.‘There needs to be a completere-think by IMEC to ensure that ithas a balanced approach torecruitment and training sources,for the future supply of skilled andexperienced seafarers,’ hestressed.‘The senior officers of tomorrowhave yet to be made, and thereis no better place to make themthan in the traditional maritimecountries.’Mr Orrell said Nautilus UK hasa good relationship with IMEC,formalised through a frameworkagreement, and the Union seeksto build on that to develop ‘meaningfulnegotiations on a morestructured approach to trainingthat will facilitate the employmentof British officers.’