Security training should be mandatory for seamen

A senior official of the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has said that security training should be made mandatory under the requirements of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention and the call comes as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) prepares to review STCW 95 next year.

Since the coming into force of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, on July 1, 2004, there has been continual debate regarding the need for increased security awareness training for all seafarers, because of the perceived threat of international terrorism and piracy against shipping.

The deputy director of BMA, Faslur Chowdhury, who is also responsible for BMA's training and manning, was speaking at the 7th Asia Pacific Manning and Training Conference, held recently in Manila and he was endorsing proposals for an STCW amendment that includes minimum requirements for security familiarisation and instruction for all seafarers on seagoing ships to which ISPS applies.

Chowdhury suggested that this could be included in the revised "basic training" syllabus as the fifth new component proposed for inclusion in the Convention.

He also said that it was being proposed to the IMO that SSO training should be included in a revised Chapter VI, as a new regulation VI/5. This chapter already covers safety, medical and survival training requirements.

Currently under the requirements of the ISPS Code, for seafarers it is mandatory only for the Ship's Security Officer (SSO) to have completed formal security training, in parallel with similar requirements for the Company Security Officer (CSO) and the Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO).

However, several contracting governments are known to have expressed views that the ISPS code has not gone far enough regarding requirements for the training of personnel in security awareness and any new requirements that increase general security awareness are likely to be welcomed with some administrations already requiring personnel that have been assigned onboard security duties (in addition to SSO's) to undergo formal ISPS training.

Furthermore, the US has also put forward proposals for ordinary sailors to receive such security training indicating that it may be 'on the cards' in future for vessels calling at US ports to demonstrate such training has been carried out.

BV bids for Germanischer Lloyd

Referring to the recent announcement by Bureau Veritas (BV) of its bid to acquire a majority stake in Germanischer Lloyd (GL) BV's marine division managing director Bernard Anne said such an alliance would be number one in ship classification in terms of numbers of vessels, order-book size, and global revenue, and number three or four in terms of tonnage in class.

He also said that within ten years, the new grouping would have a twenty per cent share of the market in China, arguably the world's largest shipbuilding nation, and 13 per cent of the world's largest shipping market - Greece.

Anne was speaking at the tenth annual Bureau Veritas Beaujolais Nouveau reception held at London's Trinity House on November 16 when he also reported that the BV had achieved a record-breaking year with a sustained growth of fifteen per cent in net sales to the end of June, 2006.

He said, "Our group is doubling in size every five years, and I am confident we will reach over $2.2 billion. in turnover by the end of the year. BV's classed shipping fleet has grown to over 53.8 million gross tons and more than 7,400 ships."

Meanwhile in Hamburg more than 800 employees of GL gathered last week to discuss their strategy to fight what they consider to be a hostile takeover by BV. The workforce expressed its concerns regarding resultant redundancies if the merger were to go ahead and also a decline in quality of services and threat to safety in view of BV's orientation towards profit.

Tanzania promotes Dar es project

The East African newspaper has reported that Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is promoting a project to develop a shipyard for Dar es Salaam by putting up $15 million whilst it seeks a joint venture partner, possibly to also operate the yard.

The new facility is proposed within the port area to serve requirements for local vessels, possibly where TPA operates an existing yard and there are proposals to develop existing repair facilities as well as the acquisition of a floating dock, although no indication of size of vessels to be handled has been given.

Goa shipyard for sale

Fairplay has said that Western India shipyard in Goa is for sale. The company has been put on the block by a consortium of banks as a going concern after a series of losses. Larsen & Toubro, Aban Lloyd and Wärtsilä Group are reported to be interested.

According to market estimates, the company, which has a floating dry dock for shipbuilding and a wet repair berth, is valued at Rs2 billion to Rs2.5 billion ($44 million, $55 million) because of its location and land area.

The Western India share price, currently trading at Rs7.73, has gained significantly over the past month and prospective buyers are believed to be offering up to Rs25.

In the year to last March 31, the company lost 181 working days due to adverse weather conditions and repair work to the drydock.

A further 60 days were lost in the three months to June 30 for the same reasons. With repair work to the dock and conversion of the incomplete graving yard into a slipway, Western India's prospects have been greatly strengthened.

The writer is a marine consultant based in Dubai.