Seafarers disenfranchised by accident treatment
The sinking of the ‘Prestige’ was the centre of a media storm as well as an oil disaster.
A pledge to provide direct input from seafarers to debates at the International Maritime Organisation was delivered by the Nautical Institute’s new president.
Captain James Robinson said that he would strive to counter mariners’ feelings of disenfranchisement from society.
In his inaugural address, Capt Robinson said there was ‘clear evidence’ of the feelings of this disenfranchisement in the increasing trend to criminalise seafarers involved in bona fide accidents at sea.
Captain Chris Spencer agrees with the sentiment, and explains to MJ that a master of a vessel may only have a matter of seconds to make a decision. 'Not enough understanding is given to this when something goes wrong. It takes anything from six months to six years to find out what went wrong in those six seconds,' says Capt Spencer. He goes on to add, ‘In a aircraft you are presumed to be innocent, on a ship there is almost always an assumption you are not – by governments, flag states and port authorities.’
Capt Robinson also highlighted the need for the industry to counter ill-informed comment on shipping casualties by politicians, some media and general public, and indicated that the Institute will continue to work with other like-minded international bodies to ensure that abuses of the Fair Treatment Guidelines are highlighted at the IMO and in the media generally.
‘The response must highlight the importance of a full and speedy casualty investigation and the need to avoid prejudging the matter until after the investigation and legal process are complete,’ he said. ‘Above all, lessons must be learned to improve safety.’
The new president said he hopes to stimulate debate, and touched on other issues which may need attention, such as the requirement for an alternative navigation system to complement GPS and the status of the navy within the Defence Forces.
Turning to the continuing internationalisation of the Institute he urged the branches worldwide to increase their membership utilising the new, inclusive membership criteria to attract maritime professionals from all sectors of the industry in their representative body.
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