CESMA 13TH ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY

                                       AT VARNA (BULGARIA)

   This year CESMA organised its Annual General Assembly at Varna, Bulgaria, at the invitation of the Bulgarian Shipmasters Association, which joined CESMA in 2007 as an associated member. It was the first direct contact of CESMA with the Black Sea area which has become important to the European Union since Bulgaria and Roumania  recently joined.  Apart from the General Assembly, CESMA representatives had the opportunity to visit the premises of the Maritime Faculty and Technical College where ship officers are educated and trained. They are mainly employed by the National Bulgarian Shipping Company but many join foreign flag ships where they have earned a solid reputation of professionalism. This could be due to the more or less traditional and professional way of teaching at the institutions. Especially the navigation simulator, installed by Norcontrol, made a positive impression on the CESMA visitors.

    The Councilmeeting preceeding the Assembly, brought some important decisions in order to expand the membership and aims of the Confederation. The status of an Observer Membership was introduced for those shipmasters’ associations in the EU who are interested in the aims of CESMA but to whom a full or associated membership is  ”a bridge too far” for whatever reason. Observer members receive the CESMA Newsletter and can bring forward any technical issue they consider important for European shipmasters. This decision was taken to involve as many EU shipmasters’ associations as possible in CESMA in order to strengthen its role as a stakeholder in the European maritime industry. As was stated during the recent European Maritime Day, membership is important for influence of stakeholders. If EU shipmasters want a voice in Brussels, they should not remain isolated. Many problems are coming our way and we should be prepared.

   In our efforts to be able to possibly assist the European Parliament or Commission with professional advice, we have added, in accordance with our Statutes, the item of maritime research in the aims of the Confederation. CESMA’s associated membership of AMRIE is exactly in line with this policy. AMRIE has partly diverted from her original aims through the initiation of APRI which deals with research in maritime issues in the EU and is often consulted by members of the European Commission. CESMA is aiming at having a part in relevant items of research.

   The next day the Annual General Assembly took place at the premises of the Azalea Hotel. There was quite some attention from the local and national maritime authorities. We met a.o others the Executive Director of the Bulgarian Maritime Administration, the Harbourmasters of Varna and Burgas, the Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Shipping, the President of the Bulgarian Pilots’ Organisation and a member of the Bulgarian Maritime Accident Investigation Board. Special guests at our AGA were Prof. D. Yankov, member of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) in Hamburg and the Deputy Mayor of Varna, Mr. Svilen Kraichev.                         

The subjects discussed during the Assembly were diverse and many, The most important ones are being reproduced in the Resolutions which were compiled in the days after the Assembly.

Resolution nr. 1: Criminalisation of shipmasters.

The 13th CESMA Annual General Assembly in Varna, Bulgaria, noticed that the criminalisation of shipmasters continues to be a matter of great concern, in spite of the Fair Treatment of Seafarers Convention, as adapted by the ILO in 2006. A colleague shipmaster with Croatian nationality has been jailed in Greece after drugs had been found, originating from his vessel. Sofar no criminal intent or involvement has been proven. We therefore protest against the treatment and imprisonment of our colleague and ask the European Commission and Parliament and other international institutions to intervene in this matter which once again damages the image of seafaring.

Resolution nr. 2: Master -  Pilot relationship.

The Assembly acknowledges also that the relationship between shipmasters and pilots should be regulated in such a way that misunderstandings, eventually leading to maritime accidents, should be avoided at all cost. Authority in navigational matters should be stipulated accordingly, notwithstanding the ultimate responsibility of the shipmaster.

Resolution nr. 3: Safety of containerships and lashing of containers.

The Assembly notices also that the overall safety of containerships is becoming an issue of concern. This includes also the lashing of containers on board which, in a number of cases, leads to containers being lost overboard, creating a risk for maritime safety and the environment.

Resolution nr. 4: Relationship with the International Court of the Law of the Sea.

The Assembly agrees on the invitation to co-operate in the activities of the International Court of the Law of the Seas in Hamburg. CESMA is approached to act as advisor in maritime affairs and anticipates herewith to protect the position of the seafarer, the shipmaster in particular.

Resolution nr. 5: Facilities to disembark refugees taken on board at the high sea.

The Assembly expresses concern and discusses problems concerning the landing of refugees taken on board, according to international regulations. Facilities to disembark  refugees should be safeguarded by authorities in order to relieve the ship’s staff of further complications. 

Resolution nr. 6: Co-operation in maritime research.

The Assembly agrees on the co-operations of CESMA with international organisations as already stipulated in the Statutes. Relations with the IMO and other international maritime organisations will be promoted and efforts will be initiated to jointly co-operate in maritime research and matters concerning maritime safety.

Resolution nr.7: Fatigue and safe manning

The Assembly notices with concern that the situation regarding watch schedules kept,  including the 6 on / 6 off system, is still in contradiction with stipulations by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In fact a system is maintained which is not internationally allowed, as indicated by our member shipmasters’ association ACCMM in Barcelona.

Also safe manning of seagoing vessels remains an issue of concern.

Resolution nr.8:

Safety of shipping in the Northern Black Sea and the Sea of Azov

The Assembly is informed on the maritime safety situation in the Northern Part of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, experienced during a recent period of severe weather, causing a number of victims. It appeared that the actual Search and Rescue (SAR) system is not sufficiently effective and should be improved. CESMA calls shipmasters’ associations and other organisations in neighbouring nations surrounding the area concerned, including the Bulgarian Shipmasters’ Association, to co-operate to come with workable and effective proposals to improve the situation. CESMA will act as a co-ordinating body and will communicate with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) if applicable.  

                                    EUROPEAN MARITIME DAY            

                CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS ON 19&20 MAY 2008

   The conference was attended by appr. 350 participants from the EU Commission, Member States, Regions, stakeholders from the EU maritime industry, environmental organisations, fisheries and journalists.

 CESMA was represented by Captain Chris Lefevere of our Belgian Member Association KBZ. In his opening words Commissioner Joe Borg indicated that the EU Maritime Day was focussed on an EU Integrated Maritime Policy, as proposed after the outcome of the consultative Green Paper in October 2007.

   Each year this day will be celebrated on 20^th May. The formula of the conference or event has not yet been defined. Preferably Brussels will be the city where the celebration will take place but any other city will be given the opportunity to host the event.

   German Member of EU Parliament Mr. W. Piecyk has been assigned to act as rapporteur for the proposed integrated maritime policy. He stated that now the Blue Paper, as reaction to the Green Paper, had come out, it became time for action. He also warned for pollution, commenting that it is not only shipping that pollutes the environment. In order to prevent human error he advised to ratify the IMO/ILO resolutions which aim at improving conditions for seafarers and enhance maritime safety. In a reaction to the actual situation in Somalia he also asked attention for the danger of piracy in large areas in the world.

   Important will be the forthcoming French presidency of the EU as stated by Mr, Jouvet, Secretary of State of European Affairs of France. He indicated the importance of innovaton technology for shipping, protection of the marine environment, surveillance of European waters to improve safety and security. He came with the important  message which CESMA fully supports, that the EU can only remain competitive through knowledge, meaning that Europe should offer just a little more than the rest of the world in this respect.

   A number of speakers touched the problem of the shortage of seafarers, not only in Europe, but worldwide. In this respect the attractiveness of the maritime profession was advocated. Ratification by EU Member States of the recently adopted ILO convention on  Fair Treatment of Seafarers would be step forward in this respect. Also a collective focus on public relations, recruitment and research for the European maritime industry could assist in solving the problem. A good communication and cooperation between the different stakeholders in the EU maritime industry could also generate solutions. Question remains which stakeholders are important. The European Commission has only limited resources to organise conferences. Stakeholders should therefore be transparent to show exactly who they represent. Then the European Commission could invite stakeholders to become part of so-called “formal advisory bodies”. Important is the number of members the organisation, which acts as a stakeholder, represents. The more members, the more influence was advocated by one of the organisations present at the Conference.

   The European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) had the good news that there is still a future career for EU seafarers. There is a strong demand for highly qualified seafarers at sea and ashore. ECSA referred to promotion campaigns in the United Kingdom, Belgium and recently in The Netherlands. ECSA joined forces with the ETF to produce a career mapping study for seafarers. High qualifications can only be obtained by a study level which goes beyond the STCW95 convention.

   The EU Maritime day celebrations proved to be a more political event than many had anticipated. Yet international shipowners’ organisation ICS, although highlighting the continued threat of regional action by the European Commission, conceded that relations between ICS and EU institutions had recently improved. Seeing the initiative of the EU Maritime Day as an exercise in raising the profile of the industry and boosting the image of shipping, it should only be welcomed. This is in fact where we all have been after for a long time, the maritime industry should be boosted as part of a positive political agenda, rather than being the target of a negative and reactionary one.

   In the international field there is already the well publicised World Maritime Day, organised by the International Maritime Organisation and the annual World Oceans’ Day to be celebrated on 8^th June. The EU’s day is pitched somewhere in between, but crucially at a regional level, however important that region may be. And it is perhaps because of this, that some, especially in the United Kingdom, may view the event with some caution. The threat of European (regional) action from Brussels on a number of crucial issues remains. Recent attempts to co-ordinate policies and make some concessions to the global agenda appear to have some effect. If posture policies can be avoided on both sides, the EU Maritime Day could be an opportunity for the EU Commission to prove that support for the maritime industry is a real priority, not only in Europe.  

                          CESMA VISITS EMSA HEADQUARTERS

   On 25th June a delegation of CESMA visited the EMSA Headquarters in Lisbon. President Captain Rossignol was introduced to the Chief Executive Mr. Willem de Ruiter who gave an overview of the aims, procedures and development of the European Maritime Safety Agency. Maritime safety, as the name indicates, is main goal of the organisation. Almost every EU Member State is represented in the Agency, making it a truly European institution.

   Among them are many civil servants from the various Member States and also several marine experts with a maritime background. In the talks Mr. de Ruiter referred to the increasing number of shipping accidents in the last few years, especially the number of collisions and groundings. He contributed these accidents mainly to incompetent crews, lacking proper maritime education and training before going to sea. It is for this reason that EMSA is auditing maritime training institutes, not only in Europe but also in those nations that supply ship’s crews for vessels under an EU flag. In large labour supplying countries, like The Philippines, only a few institutions past these tests. Also in Europe, some institutes which offer a medium level education and training, to be compared with the STCW95 conditions, did not satisfy the auditors. As CESMA promotes a good level of education and training, especially for EU seafarers, this initiative is highly welcomed and the Confederation has offered EMSA assistance whenever required.

   The initiative to audit Nautical Colleges has been commissioned by the various Member States, reason to ask Mr. de Ruiter if more Member States’ inspection tasks would be handed over to EMSA, as administrations in a number of Member States are withdrawing f.i. from inspection duties to be transferred to Classification Societies. EMSA does indeed also audit classification societies, a task which the IMO could not tackle because of lack of manpower.

   Another issue which EMSA is going to address is the qualifications, testing and implementation of the ship monitoring LRIT, which looks at Long Range Information and Tracking of ships. These data for which an EU databank will be set up, is already approved by the IMO, at the initiative of the United States. Aims are of course security by tracking of suspected ships, but also for polluting ships and Search and Rescue (SAR) applications. This whole procedure will be monitored from Lisbon.

   It appears that new initiatives in the maritime safety field will be transferred from the Member States to EMSA which will see its staff growing from the 120 already active in Lisbon at this moment. Before long the present building will be exchanged for a new building in the centre of Lisbon with a view on the River Tagus. Conditions seem to be ideal although there are some problems with direct flight connections to and fro several EU Member States.

   At the end of the visit we had the possibility to meet with EMSA employees of several different departments, such as Port State Control, the LRIT initiative, those responsible for the audits at maritime training institutes and last but not least the public relation officer of EMSA Mr. Louis Baumard who will be our main contact in the future,.together with the assistant of Mr. de Ruiter, Captain  Emilio Martin Bauza from Spain, as the Maritime Affairs Advisor of the Bureau of Mr. de Ruiter.

   The result of the visit is, in our view, a better understanding of the activities and aims of both organisations EMSA and CESMA. We have promoted CESMA as an independent professional organisation which is ready and willing to work together with EMSA to enhance maritime safety in EU waters by attending workshops or when a special professional shipmasters’ advice is needed to produce a feasible, workable and effective piece of legislation. Active shipmasters are often left out of relevant discussions although they have to live and work with regulations which are sometimes unworkable or useless. Visits like these and other recent activities by CESMA might assist in turning the tide. We still have a great number of European experienced seafarers. Let us use their knowledge and expertise. They form the backbone of the European maritime heritage which is so clearly formulated in the recent  Blue Paper of DG Mare.