Seaways August 2023
It’s so hard to believe that a year has passed since our AGM in Plymouth, celebrating our 50th Anniversary in, quite literally, Royal style.
Andre LeGoubin FNI, President, The Nautical Institute
Looking beyond the traditional
A year on, I was delighted to be in Hamburg, speaking to the members of our newly formed German Branch and others – including those from the equally newly formed Baltic Branch. I would like to thank all our members for your contribution to making The Nautical Institute a dynamic, relevant, and growing organisation.
The next generation
Over my first year as President, I have had the privilege to travel to many places far and wide and at each of these, I have been introduced to local cadets. Along with the many cadets I meet during my work I have gained an insight into the current thinking of those younger career professionals, and many have shared their hopes and concerns with me.
Far too many of these cadets express serious concerns in gaining onboard sea time to complete their studies. But it is not the same around the world. In some areas, such as in the UK and Europe it seems to me that companies provide the support that cadets need; especially so in Singapore where there is a 100% take up.
Are we failing the less fortunate cadets who do not have access to these opportunities? I believe so. I honestly believe that the maritime training establishments have a much greater role to play in this. Where a cadet joins your college or university to gain their maritime academic qualifications, they should be safe in the knowledge that there are going to be ships available to them to gain their statutory sea time to complete their studies. So many cadets are still providing documented evidence that they (or their families) are having to pay substantial money to get onboard a ship. There are plenty of ships out there, let’s work to get them together.
Widening our reach
The global fishing industry has remained neglected in relation to commercial shipping in terms of safety standards and welfare. It has always been the aim of The Nautical Institute to promote professionalism, best practice and safety throughout the maritime industry and over the last year that has included the international fishing community.
With approximately 30 million fishers and 4.5 million fishing vessels worldwide, fishing remains the most hazardous industry both nationally and globally with an estimated annual fatality rate of 30,000 (ILO) although a most recent independent study suggests this figure could be significantly higher.
A further key component of this safety driver is the industry requirement for ‘ethically sourced’ fish. ‘Ethically’ encapsulates not only safe working practice but hours of work/rest, welfare, employment contracts, food and health provision and rates of pay. Something seafarers globally, whatever their vocation, can identify with.
It is so good to see us diversify as the industry does and recognise other parts of our industry away from the traditional – but this is something The Nautical Institute has always been good at – just look at our industry leading DP certification and ice navigation programs. Recently, we have been pleased to demonstrate our own industry leadership through a developing relationship with the International Jack-up Barge Operators Association (IJUBOA). This organisation is committed to improving safety in the operation of jack-up barges (also known as ‘lift-ships’) and have developed specialist qualifications in this area.
Listening to the seafarer
It is important as we evolve as an industry that we listen to the seafarer in everything we develop or implement on ships. In my experience, that is something that is just not happening and feedback that is received appears to be often ignored. ‘It wasn’t like that in my day’ is regrettably an expression we still hear. No, it absolutely isn’t! Things have changed on board since you first went to sea 5, 10, 20 or more years ago.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being a seafarer and being at sea, but things have changed, and it is so important that we listen to today’s seafarers, especially the younger generation. As one young second mate said to me a couple of weeks ago, when talking about his position as a navigator, ‘My major concern is that navigation is becoming secondary’. He was describing to me the eight checklists he was required to fill out on approach and arrival at a pilot station. Or as Chief Mate Emily Bull, a member of our Younger Members Council puts it ‘Your reality is the truth about shipping’. Only if we listen and recognise this reality can we push for the changes we need to improve it.
I am just one person and can do very little on my own but with every one of our over 9,000 members, we are a formidable team. Together, I truly believe we are making a difference.
I would like to thank all our members for your contribution to making The Nautical Institute a dynamic, relevant, and growing organisation.
André