Editorial 07/06

July 15th, 2006 by JCB
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Editorial

This year has so far been a disastrous one for shipping accidents which has regrettably resulted in an enhancement of public image of shipping as a poorly run and dangerous industry. The run of disasters started on Christmas day 2005 with the grounding of the APL Panama on the beach at Ensenada in Mexico where she remained stubbornly in place until finally being refloated in March. In February, the tragic capsize and total loss of the Al Salam Boccaccio 98 ferry in the Red Sea with no survivors, coupled with deaths of seafarers in several other disasters has also served to make this one of the worst years for maritime fatalities. It may just be that I am receiving more press reports of incidents but there definitely seems to have been an alarming increase in collisions and groundings with several occurring around the UK. Despite the fact that pilotage waters are acknowledged as the most hazardous section of a vessels voyage, only a minimal number of these incidents have occurred with a pilot on board thus confirming the need to retain traditional pilot recruitment and training policies.

With no national newspaper or major media outlet having a shipping correspondent, the shipping industry is faced with an uphill battle to portray shipping in a positive light but IMPA are at least attempting to redress the balance. Building on the encouraging response to last year’s World Maritime Day, IMPA President, Geoff Taylor, has been establishing contacts within the general media to hold another event this autumn. Although the programme has yet to be finalised I know that Geoff is hoping to arrange an important international media event and also to get pilots to contact their local media and try to get someone out on a ship. It is in all our interests that we highlight the essential role that shipping plays in everyday life and although I know that Geoff’s catchphrase is “the sound of safety is silence” we should loudly trumpet the essential safety role that pilots play in ensuring that shelves of the retail outlets remain fully stocked. When details of the initiative are finalised, I urge you all to give it your full support.