Caring for one another

Almost every day, the ASD is literally subjected to different kinds of risks while working on board. As the picture shows, he is holding on with his PPE while responsibly performing his duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities.

The maintenance job atop the crane requires not only skills and talent but ultimately courage and a strong will against the conditions surrounding him. These elements may include sudden gusts of wind, the movement of the vessel from side to side, hot / humid weather conditions, which make it more difficult to do the job. Moreover, add to that the dizzying height from where he is working. It seems like a task fit only for a circus acrobat. But all of these things are mere distractions to what is more important for the ASD. That he is to be able to provide the needs of his family while working far away from home. That is how the ASD thinks. Worrying is only for the faint of heart because it can only lead to a more serious problem in the end.

Around the world, thousands of seafarers face similar situations. There may be complacency due to long years of service doing the same tasks and sometimes the personnel may neglect their personal safety despite the risks involved. That is why we are thankful to our Company that establishes barriers like Daily Work Planning meetings, Permits, Risk Assessment, LMRAs and SWOs, LOTO, PPE Equipment and promotes safety culture among peers. On the other hand, paper dissemination like memos, circulars and published articles is not an effective way of impressing Seamen to be cautious all the time. This involves a more personal approach that will enable them to act and react accordingly. This is where the Shell initiative, as expressed in Learning from Incidents (LFI), Learning Engagement Tools (LET) and RL (Resilience) sessions comes in to break the behaviour of complacency and make sure our Seamen are always aware and safe. Participating or even watching remotely the topics discussed during Company Forums also contributes to raising safety awareness among Seamen.

Submitted by ETO FAUSTINO Beterbo II while on board M/V Guardian

Seamen should realize every action has an equivalent and equal reaction. Add to this realization his loved ones, family, ambitions, aspirations and dreams in life and you will formulate the steps to prevent incidents or accidents from happening. The mental state on how the crew thinks and responds should also be taken into consideration. Once he realizes that there is more to lose in neglecting such safety barriers, he will be more eager to responsibly and safely handle the situation.

A simple but effective way of preventing complacency is to post a picture of those loved ones and dreams inside their cabins or in a common area, next to safety posters, that will serve as a reminder to diligently strive adherence to safety. This is the same as placing a picture of your family on your desk or inside your wallet for you to remember the reason for your continuous hard work and perseverance. For sure, whatever you feel, despite the stressful and tiring day, when you look at it, this will somehow ignite something inside you to continue forward.

To finish the job is important, but finishing the job safely is even more important. Whatever the cost may be, at the end of the day, going back home to your family in one piece is the goal.

Being a Seaman is a very demanding profession entailing risks. We would like to thank our ETO for describing with vivid colours the aspects of Seamanship and also to congratulate him for his caring attitude, as through his words, he expressed his concern about another rank, that of ASD.

We would like to remind to all our Seamen that while on board, there are a number of safeguards to make their everyday tasks safe.

Let us count them together:

• Procedures

• Daily Work Planning meetings

• Work Permits

• Risk Assessment

• Last Minute Risk Assessment (LMRA)

• Stop Work Authority (SWO)

• PPE (your last line of defense)

Besides no task is to/must ever be performed if it is not safe. After all, the only thing that matters is for you to GET HOME SAFE!

Registries and Countries

Malta

The Registry

The Maltese flag has graced vessels since 1973, when Malta became an ‘open’ registry. Administered by the Merchant Shipping Directorate of the Authority for Transport in Malta, the Flag has experienced a steady growth since its inception. Indeed, it is now the largest in the EU and sixth largest in the world by tonnage. All vessels that sport the iconic flag of a red field bordered in white with a Maltese Cross at its centre have Valletta as their homeport. One of the major advantages of using the Flag is the country’s prime strategic position in the Mediterranean. Others include a customer service orientated policy, wide-ranging maritime services, an available 24-hour, 7-day service and international recognition. Furthermore, the Malta Shipping Registry has gained great respect through its inclusion on the White List of both the Paris MoU and the Tokyo MoU as well as its position of the Low Risk Ship List of the Paris MoU.

In 2019, Malta established a regional shipping office in Athens which was a positive move as Greek-owned vessels make up around 55% of the total tonnage that sails under the Maltese flag. In second and third places respectively follow the UK with just over 4% and Germany with 3.5%. In total Maltese registrations account for just over 5% of the world fleet.

The Country

Situated about 60 miles (100 km) south of Sicily, Malta is by far the smallest country in the EU. The country’s five islands of Malta, Gozo, Comino and the uninhabited Fifla and Kemmunett cover just 122 sq. miles (316sq. km). The population is just over half a million, which makes this country the most densely populated in the European Union.

of improved cultivation techniques there have been increases in the yields of some crops. This has been especially true for horticultural enterprises. Traditionally, potatoes, tomatoes and citrus fruits have been the major crops, while grapes and olive oil have been produced on a commercial scale since the 1990s. As for fishing, which is mainly seasonal, the bluefin tuna is highlyprized export.

Visitors to Malta can get a glimpse into the past as the country is rich in archaeological sites. There is the Hypogeum, a labyrinth of underground chambers that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Borg In-Nadur, a Bronze Age settlement for starters. Other attractions include Hagar Qim (c 3600-3200 BC), Skorba, which contains Megalithic remains and the 472-foot (144-metre) long Ghar Dalam Cave that contains the remains of animals that became extinct at the end of the last Glacial Maximum. Malta is also rich in culture with the capital, Valletta, being the location of the National Museums of Archaeology and the Fine Arts as well as the National Library of Malta, which dates back to the late eighteenth century.

Blue rock thrush: Malta’s national bird

With a rich maritime history, Malta is unsurprisingly dependent on shipping, shipbuilding and repair to generate income. The country also produces toys, cosmetics, detergents and pharmaceuticals that contribute to its GDP. As regards agriculture, shallow soils on limestone are not ideal for cultivating large quantities of any crop. In addition, irrigation systems are difficult to introduce due to the composition of rock and soil. However, thanks to the adoption

Ghar Dalam Cave

As regards wildlife, Malta is home to small mammals like the Sicilian shrew, Algerian hedgehog and several bat species, including the pipistrelle at 1½-2 inches (3.5-5 cm) in length. There are also several species of reptiles such as the Maltese wall lizard and the leopard snake, while the painted frog is the country’s only amphibian. Few bird species breed in Malta, but one that does is the beautiful blue rock thrush, which is Malta’s national bird.

For a country that is about seven times smaller than the second smallest in the EU, which is Luxembourg, Malta has achieved a great deal. It has gained global recognition in shipping, increased agricultural production in adverse conditions and has attracted visitors who wish to delve into its culture and explore its wealth of archaeological sites. Malta and its inhabitants appear to be as resilient as the rocks on which it exists.

Sources: www.hbs.unctad.org, www.guidetoshipregistries.org, www.cbsgroup.com, www.flagport.com, www.nationsonline.com, www.statista.com, www.visitmalta.com, www.naturetrustmalta.org, www.britannica.com, www.data.worldbank.org