The Italian Justice System is just a little hard to understand. Judging from the behavior of some of the Lawyers after the sentencing of five crew from the MS Costa Concordia it is hard for them to understand as well.
While it is understandable that the Italian Bridge Watch Officers at the time of her grounding would receive some punishment it is unbelievable that the helmsman, an Indonesian seafarer named Jacob Risli Bin, would also be punished.
The duties of a helmsman are clearly defined by the traditions of the sea as well as in Maritime Law. They are to steer the ship on a given compass course, shore leading marks, or a point of land in accordance to orders given by the Officer of the Watch (OOW). In fact until ordered by the OOW or the Master if conning, the helmsman must not alter from that basic heading.
How the Italian Court could even consider punishing the Indonesian helmsman Jacob Risli Bin under Maritime Law or indeed any Law (even Italian) is quite beyond the understanding of NAUTICAL LOG who thinks this is absolutely contemptible and a rampant miscarriage of International Maritime Law. It seems that the Court has just lashed out at all those on the Bridge and involved in the evacuation of the passengers but not yet the Master himself. The Master and his Lawyers have created some incredible story to cover his personal behavior during the event so appalling that an Italian Coast Guard Officer was incensed to find him ashore while the passengers were still on board and screamed at him to return on board at once.
NAUTICAL LOG believes (without much hope to be honest about it) that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will step-in and have the Italian Court erase the sentence passed against Jacob Risli Bin the Indonesian helmsman immediately. It is one of the duties of the IMO to protect seafarers from false charges and punishments which this by the Italian Justice System is clearly a massive injustice.
Good Watch.
While it is understandable that the Italian Bridge Watch Officers at the time of her grounding would receive some punishment it is unbelievable that the helmsman, an Indonesian seafarer named Jacob Risli Bin, would also be punished.
The duties of a helmsman are clearly defined by the traditions of the sea as well as in Maritime Law. They are to steer the ship on a given compass course, shore leading marks, or a point of land in accordance to orders given by the Officer of the Watch (OOW). In fact until ordered by the OOW or the Master if conning, the helmsman must not alter from that basic heading.
How the Italian Court could even consider punishing the Indonesian helmsman Jacob Risli Bin under Maritime Law or indeed any Law (even Italian) is quite beyond the understanding of NAUTICAL LOG who thinks this is absolutely contemptible and a rampant miscarriage of International Maritime Law. It seems that the Court has just lashed out at all those on the Bridge and involved in the evacuation of the passengers but not yet the Master himself. The Master and his Lawyers have created some incredible story to cover his personal behavior during the event so appalling that an Italian Coast Guard Officer was incensed to find him ashore while the passengers were still on board and screamed at him to return on board at once.
NAUTICAL LOG believes (without much hope to be honest about it) that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will step-in and have the Italian Court erase the sentence passed against Jacob Risli Bin the Indonesian helmsman immediately. It is one of the duties of the IMO to protect seafarers from false charges and punishments which this by the Italian Justice System is clearly a massive injustice.
Good Watch.
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