In SwedishThemes
Seamen at risk helped by ITF
Unpaid salaries, crews abandoned and worn ships. In merchant navies around the world there are many examples of seamen working under abysmal conditions, but Annica Barning, ITF inspector, explains that the absolute worst ships seldom come to Sweden.
Flags of convenience
The International Transport Workers Federation, ITF, lists 32 nations that have so-called flags of convenience. The basic criterion for a flag of convenience is when a ship sails under the flag of another country than that of the owner.
The flag makes all the difference
In this issue, 3 2009, of SAN News we have chosen to turn our gaze outwards and take a closer look at the conditions onboard ships in the world’s merchant navy. Which flags offer good working conditions and which are the worst? It is difficult to give categorical answers to such questions since conditions vary substantially between different ships sailing under the same flag.
Land and sea come closer at Broström’s office
A two-day introduction to the shipping company for all new crewmembers will bring land and sea closer to each other at Broströms.
– I know that it will be appreciated and it is something we should have done a long time ago, says personnel manager Kenneth Thorén.
Job exchange creates a feeling of solidarity
After six months in the office, he feels more a part of the shipping company and he has a greater understanding of how people work on land. Chief mate Martin Carlweitz thinks that more employees should try exchanging jobs.
Eight months of paternal leave welded family together
After eight months of leave, father Fredrik and his son Axel have grown close and the family has become even more united. But combining a job at sea with the role of father to small children is no easy match.
Seamen’s wives icon status on Åland
– Seamen’s wives are credited with a number of characteristics and are identified through their husband’s profession in a way that no other women are. To a certain extent this picture is true, and the characteristics of seamen’s wives are often used to describe Åland women in general.
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Seamen’s priest: Families need to meet to support each other
The seamen’s priest in Göteborg wants to make the church into a natural meeting place for seamen’s families. He believes there is a need to meet and exchange experiences.
Colleagues in crisis – a safety risk
A person in the middle of a crisis may be able to ”turn on the autopilot” and appear to manage their job quite well. In reality though, he or she may be a time bomb that should be taken off the ship as quickly as possible.
Debriefing an important procedure after accidents
Don’t ask if any of the crew want to have debriefing – just make it part of the standard, routine procedures after a serious accident. That is the advice of the psychologist, Arto Nordlund.
Safer work environment onboard with routine SAM
At Stena Nautica, systematic work environment management (SAM) is in full swing. A large number of risk assessments have been made and several deficiencies have already been made good.
Passenger traffic in the lead – slower headway for smaller ships
The quality varies and the work has reached different levels, but five years after the Work Environment Act was passed most crews have started work with Systematic work environment management (SAM).
Difficult to enforce demands on re-flagged ships
Before the Swedish Maritime Administration can approve re-flagging, the work environment onboard must be checked. The ship has already been approved by another administration, but to sail under the blue and yellow flag of Sweden it must fulfil Swedish demands, which in many cases are stricter than other countries’ rules and regulations.
A pleasant work environment boosts the whole company
Job satisfaction is important and surveys show that many people value it higher than their salaries. For seamen that both live and work onboard it is especially important to feel good in their work environment.
Danish project will give clear advice on well-being
The general level of well-being of Danish seamen will be raised with the help of a knowledge bank filled with useful experience and the support of a psychologist. The Danish Maritime Occupational Health Service (MOHS) is behind the project.
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”What makes you feel good onboard?”
Good colleagues. That was the most common answer when SAN News asked seamen at Wallenius Lines about what made them feel good onboard. But also wireless Internet, good training facilities, good ships and an open relationship with the management of the shipping company were seen as important factors.
Inspections lead to better-secured loads
Too few lashing straps. Wrong lashing techniques. Too much free space between cargo and front wall. Hardly any of the trucks coming off the Polish ro-pax ferry pass the inspection without any criticism.
IMO says no to cargo-securing certificates
– We want to introduce a cargo-securing certificate but have not got any support for the idea from IMO, says Patrik Granstam from the Swedish Maritime Administration, who is currently working with a compendium of instructions for lashing cargo.
Swedish Accident Investigation Board: ”Shifting of cargo sank Finnbirch”
Poorly lashed cargo can expose crew and passengers to mortal danger. The Finnbirch disaster, which resulted in two deaths, was probably caused by unsecured goods.
