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RESOLUTIONS
FROM THE CESMA GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON
19 MAY 2010 AT
THE PALACIO DE LLOREA HOTEL, GIJON
Resolution
nr. 1: Criminalisation of seafarers.
The 15th
General Assembly in Gijon,
Spain,
noted that the problem of criminalisation of seafarers continues to be a matter of great
concern. In stead of decreasing, the number of cases is increasing. Motives are not only
environmental offences but also serious accidents which involve victims. Recent cases have
shown that co-operation between all parties concerned is the best solution to tackle
criminalisation. CESMA has been invited by the EU Commission to co-operate in charting the
problem. Criminalisation is seen as one of the causes of
the poor image of the seafaring profession.
Resolution
nr. 2: Piracy and armed robbery
The Assembly
again discussed the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships in various parts of
the world, the Horn of Africa in particular All means to prevent these criminal acts
should be activated to protect the lives of seafarers. Seafarers should be properly
briefed before the vessel enters piracy
infected areas. Yet CESMA still denounces the use of fire arms and armed guards on board
ships as it could escalate violence and threaten the safety of the ship and the lives of
seafarers. A new issue is the aftercare for victims of piracy and their families in which
CESMA will be involved via the project ”A
response to Post-Piracy Care” together with various other organisations.
Resolution
nr. 3: Shortage of seafarers in the European
Union.
The Assembly
shares the concern of the European Parliament and Commission that the number of EU
seafarers is declining rapidly. As a consequence, the shortage will increase and apart
from the problem in manning vessels under a European flag, there is a threat that maritime
knowledge and experience will disappear within the EU, also for shorebased jobs. CESMA
will co-operate, if appropriate, with any organisation in the EU to make a seafaring
career more attractive. This includes supporting maritime
educating and training institutions in the EU. Proposals have been brought forward during
the preceeding European workshop on the occasion of European Maritime Day.
Resolution
nr. 4: Fatigue and safe manning
The Assembly
still noticed with concern that the problem of fatigue is not attracting enough attention
at IMO, although the issue has been transferred from the STWC Convention to the Maritime
Safety Committee (MSC) as a safety issue. The requirement of three certified bridge
watchkeepers, including the Master, on each seagoing vessel of 500 GT and more, is still
supported by CESMA. The European project HORIZON, which investigates the consequences of
fatigue via simulation, will be closely monitored by CESMA as an observer.
Resolution
nr. 5: Abnormal waves in European waters.
The Assembly
has been informed about abnormal waves which more and more occur in European waters,
without any notice by weather stations in their forecasts, causing damage and victims on
board ships. It is recommended to share information on these freakwaves, so colleagues can
be warned. Weather stations are requested to include the possibility of abnormal waves in
their forecasts.
Resolution
nr. 6: Safety of life saving equipment.
The Assembly
discussed the safety of life saving equipment on board seagoing vessels including many
incidents and accidents during drills. It urges international bodies and flag states to
introduce proper legislation to improve safety and design of life saving equipment in
order to improve efficiency and quality in spite of possible considerable investment.
Resolution
nr. 7: Safety and Search and Rescue in the Northern
Black Sea and the Sea of Azov
Latest info
shows that the situation in the above waters has not improved with regard to maritime
safety and Search and Rescue. The Bulgarian Shipmasters’ Association proposes a
conference to be organised autumn 2010 in
cooperation with IMO, EMSA, CESMA, Bulgarian
and other Black Sea
administrations. This initiative is supported by the CESMA Assembly.
FROM
THE EDITOR
·
The European
Union intends to continue its mission against pirates in Somalian waters for at least two
years. The navyships from EU Member States
will remain active in the area until at least December 2012. The EU has also decided to
expand the jurisdiction in which the ships are active to the east and south into the Indian
Ocean because
piracy has spread towards these areas.
·
The taskforce
to enhance the attractiveness of the maritime profession in the European Union nations and
look for solutions, as mentioned in the report on the recent EESC conference, has been annulled, as the European Commission
estimated the representation in the force as not being representative for the EU.
·
Captain
Giorgio Blandina has stepped down as President of the Collegio Nazionale Capitani in Genoa,
Italy.
The new President is Mr. Roberto Penna who we met at the CESMA Annual General Assembly in
May 2009.
·
Kenya
has established a new court in Mombasa
to try alleged pirates, apprehended in the Gulf of Aden
and the Indian Ocean.
Some 5 million dollars have been provided by several parties, among them the European
Union. Originally the job of trying pirates was placing a strain on the judicial system in
Kenya
which is overcome with this new facility.
·
·
The final
outcome of the recent International Maritime Organization diplomatic conference in Manila,
the Philippines, in the application of minimum
rest hours represents a compromise over the contentious two-day derogation provision by
including some short-term flexibility which
gives owners or operators the possibility to ignore rest hour requirements in emergencies
or in any other overriding operational conditions. This last “flexibility” is
greatly welcomed by owners, represented by the International Shipping Federation (ISF),who
operate vessels with ultra minimum manning in a six-on / six-off watch schedules.
·
Croatia
has launched its first school ship “Kraljika Mora” (Sea Queen). She was built at
the Montmontaza Greben shipyard in Croatia.
She has a capacity of 28 students, 4 professors and 7 crewmembers. The project was
initiated by the Zagreb Brodarski Shipping
Institute and was funded by the state. The vessel’s godmother is Croatian Prime
Minister Jadranka Kosor.
·
The World
Maritime University (WMU) in Malmoe,
Sweden
faces financial difficulties and eventual closure in 2011 partly due to several donors,
including Norway
and France
withdrawing contributions. The existence of the WMU will depend on emergency short term
funding by the IMO, which established the University in 1983. CESMA worked closely
together with the WMU during the METHAR and METNET projects, addressing the maritime
education and training standards in European Union nations.
·
Recession
brought down the number of accidents in European Union waters last year, according to the
latest figures from the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). Lay-ups and slow steaming
resulted in fewer lives lost and less cases of pollution according to EMSA’s Maritime
Accident Review. Accidents dropped by almost 20% compared with the boom years of 2007 and
2008. There were 540 accidents of all types. 52 seafarers lost their lives, compared with 82
in both 2008
and 2007 and 76 in
2006.
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