Wavelength #16

W

Volume 2, Issue 16, July 2005

To r Sea each far ou er r s

avelength centrofin@centrofin.gr

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch Excerpts © Crown copyright 1/2005

What is a major injury?

CENTRO-NEWS

What is an accident?

An accident is an undesired event that results in personal injury, damage or loss. Accidents include loss of life or major injury to any person on board, or when a person is lost from a ship; the actual or presumed loss of a ship, her abandonment or material damage to her; collision or grounding, disablement, and also material damage caused by a ship.

An accident can also be an occurrence such as the collapse of lifting gear, an unintended movement of cargo or ballast sufficient to cause a list, a loss of cargo overboard or a snagging of fishing gear which results in the vessel heeling to a dangerous angle, if the occurrence could have caused serious injury or damage to the health of any person. It is the duty of every master or skipper to examine any accident occurring to, or on board, his/her ship.

SBTRN

To this effect the company is actively involved into the CENTROFIN’s Managing continuous training /refreshing of Director D.J. Procopiou has made the skills of his Human it known and believes that: Resources, both ashore and particularly onboard its fleet of the managed aframax oil-tankers, ‘There is evidence to support which is better known as that the most successful “Shipboard Training (SBTRN)”. companies concentrate upon

the quality of their products and services. Quality is not an option… Our organization knows well that what we want to achieve is commensurate with our resources. Our down to earth vision is to have safe, environmentally friendly, efficient and secure operations’.

Two, long known to the company experienced and professional Trainers - Indian Masters(photo), Captain SHARMA Jagdeep (r) and Captain VADEHRA Ajit, have undertaken this serious assignment. Each joins a vessel for a period of seven to ten days at sea and in cooperation with the Master and in full interaction with The company’s long-retained-pool the officers and ratings carries of seafarers ‘is the main power out, a tailor made for the vessel behind our successful and the company’s identified operations… The seeds of the requirements, training future lie in the present…Hence programme. comes the most important part in every seafarer’s performance: the The various Depts (MAROPS, continuous training and TECHNICAL, Q&S etc) indicate upgrading of skills. It is a and contribute their points of continuous endeavour’. ‘further training’. It begins with

TO THE MASTER: Please circulate this Bulletin to the CREW.

A major injury includes any fracture to, or loss of, a limb, loss of sight, or any other injury requiring resuscitation or leading to hypothermia or admittance to a hospital or other medical facility for more than 24 hours.

What is a serious injury?

A serious injury is an injury, other than a major injury, when the injured person is incapacitated for more than three consecutive days.

What is a hazardous incident?

A hazardous incident is when an accident nearly occurs in connection with the operation of a ship. In other words, it is what is often known as a "near miss".

cont'd to pg 4

In this issue pg 2-3

Albert Einstein in Brief pg 3

Nelson Mandela pg4-5

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch pg6

Understanding & Preventing AIDS an additional internal audit and a attitudes, whether they are (will thoroughly carried out inspection. be) applying what they have learnt to their duties and jobs, and In order to avoid ‘paralysis by finally whether the programme’s analysis’ many identified points application has commenced are remedied and implemented on producing measurable results. the spot. The Trainer’s visit is scheduled to take place twice per The largest majority of officers year on the same vessel. and almost all ratings love the SBTRN and the additional The seafarers are requested, benefits it brings to their seafaring anonymously in writing, to express career. their comments: whether they found value in the training After all it’s to their programme, whether it has INTEREST.Ed. changed certain skills and

Albert Einstein

The Man of the Century

1879

Albert Einstein was born to a middle-class German Jewish family. His parents were concerned that he scarcely talked until the age of three, but he was not so much a backward as a quiet child. He would build tall houses of cards and hated playing soldier. At the age of twelve he was fascinated by a geometry book.

"It is almost a miracle that modern teaching methods have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiousity of inquiry; for what this delicate little plant needs more than anything, besides stimulation, is freedom."

1895

Einstein's Puzzle There are five houses of five different colours. In each house lives a man of a different nationality. These five house-owners drink a specific type of drink. Each smokes a certain brand of cigarettes and each has a specifice domestic pet. So, among themselves each has a different pet, a different brand of cigarettes and a different drink.

Question: Who has the FISH? Facts.

1. The Filipino stays in the red house.

2. The Indian has a dog.

3. The English drinks tea.

4. The green house is to the left of the white house.

5. The owner of the green house drinks coffee.

6. The smoker of Pall Mall has birds.

7. The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.

8. He who owns the middle house drinks milk.

9. The Ukranian owns the first house.

10. He who smokes Blends lives next to the one who has cats.

11. He who owns the horse stays next to the one who smokes Dunhill.

12. The owner who smokes BluemaSterns drinks beer.

13. The Greek smokes SilkCut. 14. The Ukranian lives next to the blue house.

15. He who smokes Blends has a neighbour who drinks water.

Einstein wrote this puzzle in the 20th century. He claimed that 98% of the people can't solve it.

Can you?

ATTENTION. Do not try this puzzle during your working/watchkeeping duty hours.

Don't loose your sleep either!

Winners will be part of a raffle. Prize USD$50.

Last entry September 15th, 2005. Editor.

CENMAR Text Solution with your name – cell: +63.917.823 5814

At the age of fifteen Albert quit high school disgusted by rote learning and martinet teachers, and followed his family to Italy where they had moved their failing electrotechnical business. After half a year of wandering and loafing, he attended a congenial Swiss school.

The next year he entered the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

1900

After working hard in the laboratory but skipping lectures, Einstein graduated with an unexceptional record. For two grim years he could find only odd jobs, but he finally got a post as a patent examiner. He married a former classmate.

"Reality is an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."

(14/03/1879 – 18/04/1955)

1905

Einstein wrote four fundamental papers, all in a few months. The first paper claimed that light must sometimes behave like a stream of particles with discrete energies, "quanta." The second paper offered an experimental test for the theory of heat and proof of the existence of atoms. The third paper addressed a central puzzle for physicists of the day – the connection between electromagnetic theory and ordinary motion – and solved it using the "principle of relativity." The fourth showed that mass and energy are two parts of the same thing, mass-energy (E=mc2).

"I want to know how God created this world.

I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details."

1909

Einstein became an assistant professor at the University of Zurich, his first full-time physics job. In 1911 he moved on to the German University of Prague. He continued to publish important physics papers, and was beginning to meet fellow scientists, for example, at the exclusive Solvay Conference. The next year he returned to the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich as Professor.

1914

Einstein moved to Berlin, taking a research post that freed him from teaching duties. He separated from his wife and two sons. When the First World War broke out, Einstein rejected Germany's aggressive war aims, supporting the formation of a pacifist group.

CELLULAR PHONES ONBOARD

F

ew would disagree that mobile phones provide a useful communication facility, especially for the seafarers sailing on vessels within a range of land-based networks. We all realize how important it is to have contact with our loved ones ashore those long days at sea! Communication is such an imperative axiom in our daily lives.

H

owever, mobile phones, not intrinsically safe, apart from being a hazard onboard an oil tanker, can also be a distraction to watchkeepers responsible for safe navigation.

In a recent report, the United Kingdom's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) - read further in this issue - cited the master being distracted while using a mobile phone as one of the causes of the grounding of a chemical tanker.

I

t is obviously not prudent for watchkeepers to make personal calls while responsible for safe navigation, but it may be equally imprudent for watchkeepers - especially the master - to be making or receiving business calls. Perhaps one of the problems is the ease today with which commercial interests, such as charterers, operations departments or even stores clerks can make calls to masters and then expect their immediate attention. Similarly, unnecessary calls to ships may disturb masters and officers during their much needed rest periods.

G

ood advice to masters would be to turn mobile phones off, or divert calls to voice mail during navigational duty or rest periods. Ships operators should also make it clear to their shore staff, and to other parties involved with the ship, that safety takes precedence over routine commercial matters and that calls to mobile cells may not always answered immediately.

- pg 2 -

in Brief 1915

After a decade of thought, with entire years spent in blind alleys, Einstein completed his general theory of relativity. Overturning ancient notions of space and time, he reached a new understanding of gravity. Meanwhile he continued to sign petitions for peace.

"The years of anxious searching in the dark, with their intense longing, their alternations of confidence and exhaustion and the final emergence into the light – only those who have experienced it can understand it."

1918

As Germany collapsed, Einstein became more involved in politics and supported a new progressive party. The next year he remarried.

And his general theory of relativity received stunning confirmation from British astronomers: as Einstein had predicted, gravity bends starlight. In the popular eye he became a symbol of science and of thought at its highest.

1921

Aided by his fame, Einstein championed the fledgling German republican government and other liberal causes. Partly as a result of this, he and his theory of relativity came under vicious attack from anti-Semites. He began travelling, attended an International Trade Union Congress in Amsterdam, and visited the United States to help raise funds for the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The following year he received the Nobel Prize.

1924

Einstein contributed to the struggling new quantum theory. Meanwhile, he searched for a way to unify the theories of electromagnetism and gravity. In 1929 he announced a unified field theory, but the mathematics could not be compared with experiments; his struggle toward a useful theory had only begun.

Meanwhile he argued with his colleagues, challenging their belief that quantum theory can give a complete description of phenomena.

1933

Unwilling to live in Germany under the new Nazi government, Einstein joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.

He turned away from strict pacifism, and warned world political leaders to prepare for German aggression. He also worked to rescue Jewish and other political victims of the Nazis.

1939

Einstein signed a letter that informed President F. D. Roosevelt of the possibility of nuclear bombs, warning that the Germans might try to build them. The next year Einstein became an American citizen.

1952

Einstein was asked to become the second President of the State of Israel, but declined.

He was supporting many causes, such as the United Nations and world government, nuclear disarmament, and civil liberties.

"The feeling for what ought and ought not to be grows and dies like a tree, and no fertilizer of any kind will do much good.

What the individual can do is give a fine example, and have the courage to firmly uphold ethical convictions in a society of cynics. I have for a long time tried to conduct myself this way, with varying success."

1955

The search for a true unified field theory for a more profound understanding of nature continued to fill Einstein's days. While corresponding about a new anti-war project and writing a speech for Israel, he was stricken and died.

"One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike – and yet it is the most precious thing we have."

"How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of goodwill! In such a place even I would be an ardent patriot."

THE PRINCIPLES OF WAR Even in war…there are principles. During my years, 1959-1963, in the “Royal” Hellenic Naval Academy I remember this lesson on military science. As these principles, in a way, could shape and influence our business careers and even daily life, in peace, I would like to briefly mention them here below for your record: 1. The Objective. “Direct all efforts to ward a decisive, obtainable goal” 2. Simplicity. “Prepare uncomplicated plans and concise orders to ensure thorough understanding and execution” 3. Unity of Command. “For every task there should be unity of effort under one responsible commander” (i.e. the vessel's Master) 4. The Offensive. “Seize, retain and exploit the initiative” 5. Manoeuvre. “Position your military resources to favour the accomplishment of your mission” 6. Mass. “Achieve military superiority at the decisive place and time” 7. Economy of Force. “Allocate to secondary efforts minimum essential combat power” 8. Surprise. “Accomplish your purpose before the enemy can effectively react” 9. Security. “Never permit the enemy to acquire an unpredicted advantage”. Ed.

The LEGEND of the CENTURY

Nelson Mandela(and the Editor’s inspiration

for the President’s reconciliation, principles, dialogue and pragmatism) Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918.

His father was Chief Henry Mandela of the Tembu Tribe. Mandela himself was educated at University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand and qualified in law in 1942. He joined the African National Congress in 1944 and was engaged in resistance against the ruling National Party's apartheid policies after 1948.

He went on trial for treason in 1956-1961 and was aquitted in 1961.

After the banning of the ANC in 1960, Nelson Mandela argued for the setting up of a military wing within the ANC. In June 1961, the ANC executive considered his proposal on the use of violent tactics and agreed that those members who wished to involve themselves in Mandela's campaign would not be stopped from doing so by the ANC. This led to the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe. Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour. In 1963, when many fellow leaders of the ANC and the Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested, Mandela was brought to stand trial with them for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. His statement from the dock received considerable international publicity. On June 12, 1964, eight of the accused, including Mandela, were sentenced to life imprisonment. From 1964 to 1982, he was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison, off Cape Town; thereafter, he was at Pollsmoor Prison, nearby on the mainland.

During his years in prison, Nelson Mandela's reputation grew steadily. He was widely accepted as the most significant black leader in South Africa and became a potent symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement gathered strength. He consistently refused to compromise his political position to obtain his freedom.

Nelson Mandela was released on February 18, 1990. After his release, he plunged himself wholeheartedly into his life's work, striving to attain the goals he and others had set out almost four decades earlier. In 1991, at the first national conference of the ANC held inside South Africa after the organization had been banned in 1960, Mandela was elected President of the ANC while his lifelong friend and colleague, Oliver Tambo, became the organisation's National Chairperson.

- pg 3 -

MAIB

examines and investigates all types of marine accidents to or on board UK ships worldwide, and other ships in UK territorial waters.

As far as the MAIB is concerned, the sole objective of investigating an accident is to determine its circumstances and causes, with the aim of improving the safety of life at sea and the avoidance of accidents in the future. It is not the purpose to apportion liability, nor, except so far as is necessary to achieve the fundamental purpose, to apportion blame.

cont'd from pg 1

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch Preliminary Examination and Full Investigation

Reports

Following notification of an accident, inspectors will start to collect evidence and the decision whether or not to conduct a preliminary examination (PE) will be made.

A PE is the first stage of a full investigation, and identifies the causes and circumstances of an accident to see if they meet the criteria required to warrant further investigation and a publicly available report.

If it is decided as a result of the PE that the criteria have not been met, the MAIB will not continue the investigation and all involved parties will be notified.

Every effort is made to examine a wide range of accidents each year. All PEs and accident investigations seek answers to four basic questions:

路what happened? 路how did it happen? 路why did it happen? 路what can be done to prevent it happening again?

Once the decision to proceed has been made, all available evidence is gathered. No two cases are ever the same, and the process may take different forms.

Inspectors will usually wish to see logbooks, charts and other documents. They will invariably interview those who may be able to shed light on what happened and are likely to take photographs and examine computer records. If the vessel contains a 'black box', the data will be removed and examined.

OUR JOKE Girl: When we get married I want to share all your worries, troubles and lighten your burden.

Boy: It's very kind of you darling but I don't have any worries or trouble.

Girl: Well that's because we aren't married yet.

Inspectors consider evidence from as many sources as possible. If necessary, they will call in technical experts from outside the Branch. The MAIB places particular emphasis on identifying human factors in the causes of an accident.

Sometimes the MAIB will use divers or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) on the seabed to carry out a detailed examination of a wreck. Obviously, an underwater survey is only an option once a wreck has been pinpointed, which is not always possible. In very general terms, it can take seven months to a year to complete an investigation and publish a report. At first sight this might seem a long time, but it may be necessary to interview a wide range of individuals, cross-check evidence, examine suspect equipment and consult with technical experts. Often the true cause of an accident turns out to be very different from the convenient solution identified by people who are not accident investigators.

A full investigation or PE is entirely independent of any enquiries made by the police or other authority collecting evidence for a possible prosecution.

- pg 4 -

The MAIB aims to improve safety for all those who work at, or travel by, sea. The MAIB's investigation findings almost always lead to recommendations aimed at preventing similar accidents.

If a decision has been made to fully investigate an accident, the MAIB will make the results publicly available in a full report.

The accident investigation report is not written with liability in mind and is not intended to be used in court for the purpose of litigation. It endeavours to identify and analyse the relevant safety issues pertaining to the specific accident, and to make recommendations aimed at preventing similar accidents in the future.

Three times each year, the MAIB produces a Safety Digest - a collection of short, anonymous reports on the lessons learned from examinations and investigations.

From time to time, the Chief Inspector may publish a report highlighting specific safety problems, safety trends, or any other issues he feels should be brought to the attention of the maritime community and the public.

An annual report outlining the uptake of safety recommendations will be available from 2006.

The MAIB produces an annual report which describes what the Branch has done over the past year.

All these publications are available free of charge from the MAIB and are also on the MAIB website.

Families

The MAIB is very conscious of the hurt and bewilderment that a marine accident causes to the families of victims. Inspectors make every effort to contact next of kin after an accident to explain the MAIB's role.

Once our investigation is complete, we give the next of kin our conclusions before we make them publicly available.

OFFICERS & CREW MT CE-NIRIIS - 2005

SAFETY DIGEST Lessons from Marine Accident Reports 1/2005 INVESTOR IN PEOPLE This Safety Digest draws the attention of the marine community to some of the lessons arising from investigations into recent accidents and incidents. It contains facts that have been determined up to the time of issue.

This information is published to inform the shipping and fishing industries, the pleasure craft community and the public of the general circumstances of marine accidents and to draw out the lessons to be learned. The sole purpose of the Safety Digest is to prevent similar accidents happening again. The content must necessarily be regarded as tentative and subject to alteration or correction if additional evidence becomes available. The articles do not assign fault or blame nor do they determine liability. The lessons often extend beyond the events of the incidents themselves to ensure the maximum value can be achieved.

Extracts can be published without specific permission providing the source is duly acknowledged.

The work of the MAIB over the past 4 months has once again been dominated by 2 types of accidents: collisions and the fatal foundering of less than 15m fishing vessels (Code boats).

Collisions: There is nothing new to learn from any of the collisions we have investigated, just the same old chestnuts! You will not have a collision if you follow 3 basic principles:

1. Lookout. Keep a good lookout, both visually and by radar. At night, in poor visibility, in heavy shipping or in navigationally constrained waters, you MUST have an additional dedicated lookout in accordance with STCW. In virtually every collision we investigate, the additional lookout has not been on the bridge when he should have been. Not using a lookout, means not using one of the most important safety nets the OOW has.

If you wish to report an accident or incident please call our 24 hour reporting line

2. Electronic navigational equipment. All too often, OOWs just use radar target trails to judge CPAs, sometimes with catastrophic results. Facilities such as automatic plotting, electronic bearing lines, variable range markers and radar guard alarms, are normally provided to assist the OOW. Using them to assist in maintaining a good situational awareness of other shipping is the professional thing to do.

3. Taking early action. If you are the give way vessel, the sooner you take action, the less dramatic the action has to be, and the sooner the risk of collision is avoided. Leaving alterations until the last minute endangers your vessel and presents the other officer of the watch with a quandary. Similarly, if you are the stand-on vessel, do not assume “he will alter at the last minute”. Use the appropriate signals laid down in the ColRegs, and, if necessary, initiate a manoeuvre under Rule 17, as soon as it becomes apparent that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking appropriate action.

Whilst we would ideally wish for our vessel not to sink, it is essential to have appropriate equipment in case the unthinkable happens. A well positioned liferaft, an EPIRB, and a good lifejacket ready-to-hand could save your life one day. It is a false economy not to be prepared for the worst.

FATIGUE: Unusually, in this edition of the Safety Digest we have a piece of research, which affects the readers of all three sections of the Digest. It has therefore been placed after this introduction.

Fatigue is not well considered at sea, and yet its effects are insidious. Please take the time to read this short article, and ponder on how safe you may be when you are tired.

Finally, the MAIB developed a new website at the end of 2004. For those who have not visited it, it can be found at www.maib.gov.uk.

We hope you will find it faster and easier to use.

023 8023 2527

WATCHKEEPING & FATIGUE The investigation files on 66 collisions, groundings, contacts and near collisions were reopened recently for a safety study into watchkeeping practices. The evidence was thoroughly reanalysed, focussing on the makeup and performance of the bridge watchkeeping teams. In addition, the MAIB's database was used to extract broader information from over 1,600 relevant accidents that had been reported to the Branch during a 10-year period. This data was used to look at trends and anomalies.

The safety study, which was published in 2004, concluded that, among other things, watchkeeper fatigue was a major factor in many of the accidents and particularly in groundings. This accords with the general experience that MAIB inspectors have gained from meeting crews after accidents, and will be no surprise to officers involved in the short sea trade in particular.

A number of the accidents in the study were caused as a direct result of a lone watchkeeper falling asleep, but fatigue was a factor in many more of them. Long before a watchkeeper has reached the stage where he cannot keep his eyes open, fatigue is affecting his performance.

It can cause the following: Inability to concentrate, including being less vigilant than usual Diminished decision-making ability including: - Misjudging distance, speed, time etc - Overlooking information required for complex decisions - Failing to anticipate danger ! Poor memory, including forgetting to complete a task or part of a task ! Slow response, including responding slowly to normal, abnormal or emergency situations ! Reduced competence in interpersonal dealings ! Attitude changes, including: ! Being too willing to take risks ! Displaying a “don't care” attitude ! Disregarding warning signs

! !

Safe sailing.

Stephen Meyer Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents April 2005

cont'd to pg 8

- pg 5 -

8

Steps Toward a More Satisfying Life

UNDERSTANDING &

By Fe Almogela Bacungan MD, S.M.LAZO Medical Clinic, Manila

Be informed (TIME, February 7, 2005)

Want to lift your level of happiness? Here are some practical suggestions from University of California psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, based on research finding by her and others. Satisfaction (at least a temporary boost) guaranteed.

1.Count your blessings.

One way to do this is with a 'gratitude journal' in which you write down three to five things for which you are thankful from the mundane (your peonies are in bloom) to the magnificent (a child's first steps). Do this once a week, say Sunday night. Keep it fresh by varying your entries as much as possible.

2.Practice acts of kindness.

These should be both random (let that hurried mom go ahead of you in the checkout line) and systematic (bring Sunday supper to an elderly neighbour). Being kind to others, whether friends or strangers, triggers a cascade of positive effects- it make you feel generous and capable, gives you a greater sense of connection with others and wins you smiles, approval and reciprocated kindness - all happiness boosters.

3.Savour life's joy.

Pay close attention to momentary pleasures and wonders. Focus on the sweetness of a ripe strawberry or the warmth of the sun when you step out from the shade.

4.Thank a mentor.

If there's someone whom you owe a debt of gratitude for guiding you atone of life's crossroads, don't wait to express your appreciation - in detail and if possible, in person.

5.Learn to forgive Let go of anger and resentment by writing a letter of forgiveness to a person has hurt you or wronged you. Inability to forgive is associated with persistent rumination or dwelling on revenge, while forgiving bolsters positive feelings about your past and gives you peace of mind.

6.Invest time and energy in friends and family.

Where you live, how much money you make, how rich you are, your job title and even your wealth have surprisingly small effects on your satisfaction with life. The biggest factor appears to be strong personal relationships.

7.Take care of your body Getting plenty of sleep, exercising, stretching, smiling and laughing can all enhance your mood in the short term. Practiced regularly, they can help make your daily life more satisfying.

8.Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardships.

There is no avoiding hard times. Religious faith has been shown to help people cope, but so do the secular beliefs enshrined in axioms like “This too shall pass” and “That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger”. The trick is that you have to believe them.

NOTE. Please read our issue W-15, page 8 “The Authentic Happiness”.

Ed.

- pg 6 -

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a highly fatal disease that continues to haunt the international community as the incidence of this killer disease continues to rise in many parts of the world.

AIDS is not a single disease but rather a syndrome, comprised of several serious manifestations of the breakdown in the body's immune system. It is the most serious illness that occurs to people who have been infected with the human immune deficiency virus (HIV). Although the exact group of diseases included in the syndrome of AIDS is evolving, the most common ones are opportunistic infections such as pneumocystis, a severe form of pneumonia, and toxoplasmosis, which develops as brain infection.

Also common are certain cancers such as Kaposi's sarcoma, which affects the skin throughout the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, and lymphoma, cancer of the lymph glands.

Other manifestations of AIDS include direct effects of HIV on the brain causing declining mental function, wasting or severe weight loss and reduction of muscle mass.

Early signs and symptoms are heavy sweating, fever, fatigue, prolonged and recurrent fungal infection of the oral cavity (thrush).

Today, there is yet no known cure of HIV infection. At best, medical science could only delay the inevitable with a combination of very expensive medication, which may at a time exacerbate the sufferings of the afflicted.

Our biggest hope against this killer disease lies in prevention. Prevention is possible because the retrovirus human cell lymphocyte virus has already been isolated and identified. Also highly sensitive laboratory methods are available for screening HIV infected individuals, to identify carriers and to allow appropriate medical care.

M

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PREVENTING

M AGE ENT I N AN

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The more advanced the more alone

HIV TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTION In 15-30% of cases, it is transmitted by blood products through intravenous needle use and transfusion. All blood used must be tested for antibodies to avail the slightest risk of HIV. To some who are planning elective surgery, they give some of their own blood weeks before use at the time of surgery. Not sharing needles to shoot drugs is the safest way to avoid getting the virus.

Health care workers, working with blood, are advised to use special care around human fluids by using gloves and taking other sanitary precautions.

In majority of cases, 70-75%, HIV is contracted through sexual contact with a person infected with HIV among heterosexuals and homosexuals.

Most poignant way in which HIV is transmitted is during pregnancy and childbirth in less than 3% of AIDS cases.

Mothers who are HIV positive and have non-infected babies are counselled not to breastfeed their babies and cease all at risk AIDS behaviours.

There are many rumours and myths around of how one can catch AIDS. Actually AIDS is very difficult to get because it requires transfer of blood semen, vaginal secretions. Most everyday activities put you at no risk of getting HIV. One cannot contract the virus form beds, breathing, chatting, sneezing, cough, combs, hairbrushes, drinking fountains, door knobs, hugs, kissing, nail files, shaking hands, silverware, tears, toilet seats, touching towels, sharing food or drinks, swimming fools, hot tubs.

Many approaches have been taken to reduce the risks of coming in contact with HIV. Among these have been bleach bits for disinfecting intravenous needle paraphernalia's and the practice of safer sex, which evolves either the proper use of condoms and spermicidal or monogamous sexual relationships.

Very little is given to one of the best preventives for handling HIV and AIDS crisis; that is to maintain the biblical attitude toward sex. The concept of marital fidelity in a monogamous relationship is something that many “modern” people consider an antiquated concept. Yet adhering to this ideal sexual relationship one is offered protection from all the sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. God's way is always the best.

Editorial opinion: The AIDS crisis is about evil. It is about the sanctity of life. It's about disproportionate suffering. It's about trust, fear, weakness, traditions and temptation none of which can be fully addressed by externals. It can be addressed only by the language of ought, by fixing behaviour. In suffering Africa by people who understand local beliefs about ancestors and the supernatural; which is spoken by an elder and a neighbour - who knows your name. Do governments and aid organisations speak it? It's a language that has to be spoken by people who connect words like “faithful” and “abstinent” to some larger creed. We read and watch of impressive levels of medical expertise but sense depressive lack of moral, sociological, psychological and cultural expertise.

- pg 7 -

Never give in! Never, never, never. Never in anything great or small, large or petty --never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.

Sir Winston Churchill The right to be left alone is a preriquisite of a tolerable life.

There are countless ways of achieving greatness, but any road to achieving one's maximum potential must be built on a bedrock of respect for the individual, a commitment to excellence, and a rejection of mediocrity.

Sed Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?

(Who Will Guard the Guards?).

The body goes to the direction of the mind.

The human mind once stretched by new ideas never goes back to its original dimensions.

Oliver Wendell Holmes The eye sees what the mind is prepared to comprehend.

Henri Bergson And for our seafarers in LOVE: Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.

William Shakespeare The best prove of love is Trust.

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible in the eye.

Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does.

Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.

You don't love a woman (man) because she (he) is beautiful (handsome), but she (he) is beautiful (handsome) because you love her (him).

We are all born for love. It is the principle of existence, and its only end.

Love means never having to say you are sorry.

OUR MT “CE-NIRIIS” CONDUCTING STS OPERATIONS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WITH THE LARGEST TANKER OF THE WORLD MT “JAHRE VIKING’

A gas tanker was on a course of 230° and travelling at a speed of 18 knots in the southwest bound lane of the traffic separation scheme in the Dover Strait. The bridge team consisted of the master, chief officer and a lookout. It was dark with good visibility.

Another gas tanker, coincidentally belonging to the same company, was on a course of 320°, travelling at 11.5 knots and crossing the traffic lane, after having passed the MPC buoy.

The bridge team consisted of the chief officer and a lookout, which was manually steering the vessel at the helm.

Both ships were visible to each other; both acquired each other on their ARPAs, and both had been positively identified to each other by AIS. The crossing vessel had the southwest bound vessel 6 points on the starboard bow and the chief officer determined by ARPA that his vessel was going to pass ahead of the other at close range.

When the two vessels were a little over 4 miles apart, the southwest bound vessel called on VHF channel 16 to inquire into the crossing vessel's intentions. This resulted in a prolonged VHF conversation, in which the crossing vessel requested that the southwest bound vessel alter her course to port and pass around his stern.

The reason given by the crossing vessel was that he only had a mile to run until he was out of the traffic lane, at which point he would be altering course to the north. By now the vessels were about 2.5 miles apart, and about 6 minutes away from a very close passing distance.

However, both vessels then decided to take action to avoid collision, with the southwest bound vessel taking a round turn to starboard, and the crossing vessel altering initially to port to parallel the other's course, before altering again to starboard to resume crossing the lane.

The vessels passed each other at a distance of about 5 cables.

other vessel prompted a prolonged conversation between the two vessels to debate a departure from the collision regulations. This debate was ill advised and not least because valuable time was being wasted while a dangerous situation was developing.

2The crossing vessel's chief officer

plan called for a crossing of the southwest bound traffic lane at a point where it is relatively narrow and where ships are funnelled together. An improved passage plan should allow, where possible, for alternative crossing points, in case the first one is busy with traffic.

5After altering course, ARPA has

should not have relied on the VHF to ask the stand-on vessel to alter course for him because of his reluctance to make a large alteration of course to starboard. His responsibilities as the give-way vessel are clear under the collision regulations.

an information processing delay and can give unreliable information for up to 3 minutes, once steady on the new course.

During this time, reference should be made to alternative methods of assessment of risk of collision, such as a series of compass bearings.

3Alterations of course in excess of

6No matter how many times a

100° may be necessary to fulfil the obligations under Rule 15 (Crossing Situation) of the collision regulations.

In this case, the stand-on vessel had to make a 360° turn to avoid a close quarter situation.

navigating officer has undertaken crossings of traffic separation lanes, overconfidence can lead to assistance not being called for when a dangerous situation is developing.

The master is there to be called on and the officer should have no hesitation to do so!

Articles written in this bulletin do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CENTROFIN. DISCLAIMER. The contents provided herewith are for general information purposes only; not intended to replace or otherwise contradict the detailed instructions issued by the owners, flag etc.

NTROF AGEMENT I N AN

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CENTRO-NEWS

1The use of AIS to identify the

4 The crossing vessel's passage

IN

Wavelength

The Lessons

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Narrative

cont'd from pg 5

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Editor: Cmdr Nicholas A. Iliopoulos Staff Captain - Human Resources Manager Tel: +30.210 8983.305 Fax: +30.210 8983.231 E-mail: nai@centrofin.gr Design-Production: www.paradox.com.gr Tel: +30.210 6560.832