200248 Ports, Pilots and ISM

Ports, Pilots and ISM
Report No. 200248

It is high time that the Port Terminals, Pilots and other parties also start adhering and understanding IMO guidelines and ISM procedures.

Case 1

In a very recent case, a Pilot boarded a bulk carrier for sailing from a Port. He was very upset when the Master informed him that, after completion of cargo work, the vessel needed to carry out pre-departure check lists tests before getting underway. The Pilot refused to agree with the Master and insisted that the vessel should sail in 15 minutes time after completion of cargo work giving no regard to the time taken for all checks, draft survey, cargo calculations and other paper work. The Pilot was very rude and used abusive language. The Master kept his cool and, not wanting any delays or problems, ate the humble pie and prepared the vessel in minimum time by carrying all check procedures himself. My colleagues all agree that draft checks, calculations, paperwork and pre departure checks take some time before the vessel is actually ready for sea .

Case 2

The Terminal wanted the vessel to dock and undock with holds open. Written instructions were sent to the Master that if the vessel fails to keep the hatch covers open or tries to close when alongside the ship will be fined $3000 by the Terminal Operators. I strongly feel that vessel should never dock or undock with hatch covers open.

Incidents such as these leave me disillusioned with the ISM and IMO guidelines. It is high time that PSC Inspectors, IMO and other regulatory bodies also monitor and ensure that Terminals, Pilots and other parties associated with shipping understand and follow the IMO guidelines and procedures. The vessel is expected to comply with MARPOL regulations with regard to Garbage Management. Many ports have no reception facilities or the charges for garbage are so high that no Master in his right sense would land the garbage. The system will never work unless these changes are made in all aspects of shipping and not only on board ships. A ''no blame culture'' should be adopted and the perception that a scapegoat must always be found needs to be changed.

Feedback:

I agree with the correspondent that pilots should never use abusive language to a master, or to anyone else for that matter. However, I can understand the pilot's frustration in boarding only to find that the ship is not yet ready for sea. Why were the pre-sailing checks not made prior to the completion of cargo? That the 1st. Mate was engaged in a draft survey is immaterial; where were the 2nd. And 3rd. Mates? Why did the master have to carry out the pre-sailing checks himself? If the master has not trained the junior officers in their routine duties he can hardly complain when the results of that failure come home to roost. Incidentally, is there any evidence that berthing or unberthing a modern ship with hatches open is deleterious in any way?