NAUTICAL LOG

Continuing our series about the maritime Rules of the Road we turn now to Fishing Vessels. Fishing vessels get considerable consideration in the Rules, some of it may be outdated and not protect fishing vessels as was originally intended. Currently Rules 3, 10, 18, 26 and 35 all apply to vessels engaged in fishing. In Part 2 NAUTICAL LOG addressed how Rule 35 applies to vessels engaged in fishing so now lets have a look at the remaining Rules one by one. Rule 3 (d) defines the term "vessels engaged in fishing" and divides them according to the fishing apparatus in use and how it restricts their maneuverability. It is suggested that this division be dropped and the fishing vessel is either fishing or not fishing. Rule 10 (i) states that "A vessel engaged in fishing shall not to impede the passage of any vessel following a traffic lane". This could be changed to a prohibition of all fishing in traffic lanes. It could be expanded to create designated fishing areas ...

Continuing the question of whether the maritime Rules of the Road need a review and revision NAUTICAL LOG thinks Rule 19 should remain unchanged, however Rule 35 needs addressing. This is the Rule that lays down the Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility which currently are dependent on how the vessel is employed. Does this employment really matter and could these signals be made more effective by simplification and supplementation by electronic visual signals. As was suggested in '1st. of a Series' is there a way to move from 18th. Century thinking to 21st. Century thinking. NAUTICAL LOG suggested that it was unlikely in very many modern vessels that someone was actually standing out on an open Bridge listening for possible fog signals. When we did this, many years ago, the person on look-out was often deafened by the blast of their own vessel's foghorn. Also in fog sound is distorted and there is no good way to assess the direction of any foghorn from another vessel t...

NAUTICAL LOG would like to pose the question, is it time for a review and revision of the maritime International Rules of the Road ? Reference material used in writing this Post was " NAVIGATION RULES International - Inland COMDTINST M16672.2E" and "The Colregs Guide" by Klaas van Dokkum. Comments are based on personal experiences and reviews of recent maritime incidents. The Rules of the Road have always tried to be all things to all seafarers in all vessels, from small craft to ocean-going ships on international voyages all were bound by the same set of Rules on how to signal and respond when meeting at sea. It has worked remarkably well and provided one knows and follows the Rules incidents are largely avoided. However with the ever increasing size of personal yachts, now known as megayachts, and the unbelievable size and design of the current cruise ships, container ships and ones building, are they becoming outdated. Why should the size matter? Take a look...

Who is happy to see 10,000 containers lost each year ? The data for this Post came from one of our European correspondents who sent NAUTICAL LOG TT Talk Edition 136. It is from this article that we shall be quoting freely because frankly it is not something that we had addressed previously. Comments on the causes are based on the personal experience of NAUTICAL LOG serving as Chief Officer and Master in container ships. In a recent European Parliament debate the number 10,000 containers lost each year was quoted. Surprisingly the shipping lines and the insurers seemed content to accept this figure and do nothing about it. While there are some questions by Insurers as to the validity of the number "lost" it is clear that containers go missing. The Members of the European Parliament ( MEPs ) suggested that shipping lines and insurers be held responsible for the after effect of non-chemical toxic releases into European waters. The reasons cited for lost containers involved po...

From our Press Release folder comes comment from the Sea Shepherds on the Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) Report, released on November 18, 2010, into the collision between the Japanese and New Zealand vessels in the Southern Ocean. Following a revised Policy at NAUTICAL LOG we are listing the sources used to research and compile this Post. MNZ Report of November 18, 2010 summarized, and the Sea Shepherds Press Release of Tuesday, November 23, 2010. Additional comments are based on extensive seagoing experience, maritime accident investigation, and instructing in maritime law. From the MNZ Report: "The Director of MNZ, Catherine Taylor said its report into the collision between the New Zealand registered whaling protest vessel Andy Gil and the Japanese vessel Shonan Maru 2 on January 06, 2010 found no evidence that either vessel master had deliberately caused the collision. However both were responsible for contributing to and failing to respond to the "close quarters" situat...

The following "M" Notices are now available at www.mcga.gov.uk/ if there are any difficulties contact the Administrator at 023 8023 9391 MSN 1826 (M) International Safety Management (ISM) Code Amendments MGN 414 (F) Fishing Vessels - Domestic and Overseas Management Beyond European Waters MGN 415 (F) Fishing Vessels: The Hazards Associated with Trawling, including Beam Trawling and Scallop Dredging MIN (M+F) MARPOL - Amendments to Annex 1: Effect on the Oil Record Book Parts 1 & 2 MIN (M) Approved Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Small Vessel Certifying Authorities To our American readers Happy Thanksgiving and as always, Good Watch

MS Herald of Free Enterprise WSF Chetzemoka A FINAL WORD: Sunday, November 21, 2010. Between this Blog and comments in other maritime blogs we have pretty much discussed this vessel's issues fully. In fact we have beaten them to death!! The sad truth is that this is a politically operated ferry system to serve the public in the State of Washington. Being politicians they were able to convince another highly political federal agency, namely our USCG, to bend to their will. Nothing will be changed in this vessel and any further building will be done in the same way with the same results. The only possible change could be through the ballot box to replace those politicians and proceeding from there. So potential passengers may we suggest that prior to embarking you carefully check the current weather report. NAUTICAL LOG has been informed that the crossing is only 30 minutes and so doors are not an issue. We disagree and would refer you to the MS Herald of Free Enterprise ferry a...

Those of you who read NAUTICAL LOG must think that we are obsessed with the Sea Shepherds and we fully admit they are interesting. It seems they always have something going to draw attention to themselves and it works. For the activist maritime Blogs such as NAUTICAL LOG they provide good copy - so here we go again. In this mornings Press Release folder comes the announcement that the "The Countdown is On for Operation No Comprise" seems that title has been used before by the US Military but no matter. We quote from the PR: " Final preparations are being made to launch our 7th. Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, Operation No Compromise. In the first week of December our ships will depart from Tasmania bound for the frigid Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and rugged desolate coast of Antarctica." Wow! these guys can write dramatic copy, but it would seem this is not written in the bombastic style of Captain, now called Admiral we understand, 'Wats-his-name'...

The following "M" Notices have been issued and may be obtained at www.mcga.gov.uk/ . If any difficulties contact 023 8032 9391 for assistance. MGN 421 (M+F) Media using ships and fishing vessels MIN 389 (M) Abandonment of Seafarers MIN 398 (M+F) MCGA VHF RDF Good Watch.

The Internet Blogs are about every subject one could imagine and as a result the Posts in them generate comments. Unfortunately those comments fall into several categories which results in many being quite appalling both in subject matter ignorance, personal intemperate behaviour and language. In NAUTICAL LOG we have a statement as to comments but in fact usually publish the anonymous ones if they are, in our opinion, useful comments with no foul language - hey its our Blog. Actually NAUTICAL LOG does not get a large number of comments, we thought it was because we did not have a large number of readers!! However the 'SiteMeter' shows nearly 19,000 so that may not be true. Those of you who do read NAUTICAL LOG know that we usually have plenty to say on maritime issues. We consider ourselves a maritime activist blog with opinions - opinionated perhaps? - there are other excellent maritime blogs which take the approach of forwarding published maritime articles or articles of ...

Ambassador Cecila Mackenna (centre) and her Irish cousins Bernardo O'Higgins Juan Mackenna On September 18, 2010 Chile celebrated its bi-centennial, the 200 year anniversary of the Independence of Chile, An Neamhspleachas na Sile in the Irish language. The Irish and the Chileans have a history from its second holder of the title Supreme Director of Chile, Bernardo O'Higgins. He is considered the founding father because he held that title when Chile became fully independent of Spain. He was Irish and Basque, his father being Ambrosio O'Higgins, the 1st. Marquis of Osorno and his mother Isabel Riquelme, whose father Don Simon Riquelme y Goycolea, was a member of the Cabildo or Council of Chile. The flagship of the Armada de Chile is always named after Bernardo O'Higgins, currently it is a submarine SS 23 O'Higgins , which is rather unique. The family of NAUTICAL LOG is Irish and Chilean, so it was a great pleasure to receive an article and the stamps issued, today...

Restoration British Royal Navy Ensign Even for those of us born and raised in coastal towns and spending summers in fishing villages there is still much to learn to become a seaman. No less important than the nautical science are the traditions of the sea and its history. In 1948 while staying with family friends at a wonderful house, "Bella Vista" Priest Road, Tramore, Co. Waterford, Ireland NAUTICAL LOG was introduced to sea stories. The family had an extensive library which included a nautical section of books from "Browns Flags and Funnels" 1934 3rd. edition to works on Samuel Pepys and his Diary. While Pepys is not easy reading for a 12 year old boy that "Browns Flags and Funnels" is in my study bookcase. Also there was a real seagoing long glass - telescope - which on taking up to a top floor window, some five stories above the town, one could examine a large section of Tramore Bay lying between "The Metal Man" with its three white t...

The Polish ship STV Fryderyk Chopin commanded by CAPT. Ziemowit Baranski has arrived at Falmouth, Cornwall UK. under tow of a MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) rescue tug. There is a full report on the BBC (British Broadcasting Company), it makes interesting reading particularly the remarks on the incident and its cause by her Master. NAUTICAL LOG is somewhat concerned by the remarks as being an 'excuse' for the incident happening. The vessel is owned and operated by a private Polish university founded in 1997 the European School of Law and Administration www.ewspa.edu.pl/ - not a very nautical sounding college. In the interest of safety of STV's NAUTICAL LOG would like to suggest that Sail Training International which works closely with those operating STV's arrange a Seminar at the November 12 - 13, 2010 Conference in Stavanger, Norway. This should be done before there is serious loss of children's lives - 14 to 16 year olds are children. The STI Confe...