Seawheeling by David Savage

Below is a wonderful piece of hope from a worthy promotor of improving life at sea...

Dear Colleagues.

Apologies for spamming you all with a begging letter. I was hoping to provided individual emails that would explain in a personal way, what I am up to, but time is running short and I need to let you know as a matter of urgency about the above event so will come straight to the point.

We are now more than half way through 2010, designated by the IMO as the “Year of the Seafarer” – a noble idea to remind the world who it is who keeps the lights on,the food on our shelves and petrol in our tanks. I’ve looked hard for evidence of support and am a bit depressed at what I see. If you Google “Year of the Seafarer support” or similar you will see what I mean. There may be dozens of efforts of support going on, and you might be involved with efforts of your own, but if there are, they aren’t very widely published.

Former Editor Michael Grey wrote a mid-year report last month in Lloyds List and as usual, eloquently hits the nail on the head. He wrote
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IT IS just about midsummer, the age of austerity is almost upon us, and in a few days the nights will be drawing in, the latter point usually earning me a kick in the leg from my wife when I mention it each year about now.
But we are also half way through The Year of the Seafarer, so I thought a half-term audit might be worth the effort.
When it was announced by the International Maritime Organization last year, I raised a glass to the idea with some acclamation. Goodness, it was overdue, with the workforce of arguably the world’s most essential industry (remember, without ships we freeze in the dark and starve) almost invisible, marginalised and generally unappreciated.
Treated as lepers by some of the authorities that clump up their gangways, and as potential terrorists by many others, seafarers and their lot on the world stage was well overdue a lift when secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos announced 2010 would be thus commemorated and invited others to respond.
It was never going to rival the World Cup for headlines, but, I reasoned, it could just make a bit of a difference if governments, maritime employers, the maritime establishment and a few others spent a little time and effort in what my grandchildren call “bigging up” the profession of seafaring.
It was, after all, a matter of vested interest that they did so, as the recession would not last for ever and seafarer shortages were likely to emerge sooner rather than later. It would not be just a matter of some creative public relations; the reality of seafaring as an occupation worth pursuing required some real substance.
So how have we done so far? On the debit side, we still see the criminalisation of people who have made mistakes, or have been very unlucky, in a dynamic and hostile environment, in places where one might have thought a more humane and liberal regime might have applied.
I do not necessarily want to single out places when ill-treatment is so widespread, but I would have thought better of Norway, for its jailing of the two officers of Full City, which grounded in a storm on a lee shore.
It is very easy for smooth law officers, who have never taken a risk in their lives, to appease the local greens, and with the wisdom of perfect hindsight, tell somebody what they ought to have done aboard a ship in extremis, and throw them in prison because they saw the situation rather differently.
And I do not think we have seen much improvement in the ludicrous treatment by immigration authorities in certain ports of the US, making it nigh impossible to relieve a crew safely in a US port, and still selecting seafarers for rough treatment in airports.
Customs authorities, which in my day made themselves pretty unpleasant when rummaging merchant ships, do not seem to have exactly graduated from charm school, as they wake up people who are trying to get some sleep, and like to indulge in fishing expeditions through seafarers’ personal computers on the off-chance there might be some porn on them.
There are no reports that the authorities in corrupt places where officials make a living from extortion on the waterfront have suddenly seen the error of their ways and are leaving their seafaring visitors alone.
But let us not be too critical. We can be heartened by the stance that shipmanagers, in particular, are taking on these issues, with some senior officers at the world’s biggest management companies really making a noise in support of their employees, and against this petty discrimination of seafarers on so many different fronts.
Good for them all. Unions, professional associations, employers’ organisations and the leaders of many of the shipowning and shipping organisations seem to have forgotten their reticence on these matters and are also speaking out.
I have been told the huge injustice of the treatment of the highly professional officers of the damaged Hebei Spirit was a catalyst that has focused attention on these matters, but The Year of the Seafarer might have, as they say, given it legs.
Long may it continue, because the people who bring you your bread and your biscuits deserve more positive recognition.
Otherwise, you hear of a few heartwarming gestures. The Philippines, where seafarers perhaps have a more public profile, has launched a search for outstanding seafarers who will be given star treatment by the government.
All sorts of awards are dished out these days and it is good to see any sort of official recognition.
Highly relevant is a chat I had with a shipmaster not that long ago. He was getting fed up with what he called the fault-finder generals constantly marching on board his ship trying to find something wrong with it. When his ship was discovered fault-free, some of these folk would stump ashore in a bit of huff. “Why can’t they ever tell us how well we have done?” he asked.
Now there is an idea, for The Year of the Seafarer: giving some praise where it is due.
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I was taken in particular, with the final paragraph and squirmed a bit at the expression “fault-finder generals” Gulp...

When I needed to contemplate life after OCIMF, the idea of a full UK coast bike ride seemed to offer an interesting diversion and fill in the hole. I joined the Board of Trustees of the Apostleship of the Sea three years ago and recognised for the first time and close up, the extraordinary efforts that are made by port Chaplains and ship visitor volunteers to look after the welfare of seafarers calling to UK ports.

In Dec 2008 I rode from Liverpool to Hull to raise cash for an AOS fundraising reception after a request was turned down. I decided to look for the money elsewhere and thought that Liverpool to Hull in a day was a decent enough challenge! Thanks to so many of you who helped to raised an incredible £17k. This ride “Seawheeling – UK Coast Ride for Seafarers” has a target of £100k. I am fold that this is ridiculous, but hope you might help to fund the AOS welfare efforts that are so important to visiting seafarers to our ports. Impossible challenges will remain impossible if you don’t try!

The Seawheeling ride starts in Hull at the Seafarers Centre at King George Dock (or at a safe point close to the gate) on 3 Sep. at 10:00 hrs. If you live locally and want to come along on your bikes for an hour or so, it will add greatly to the sense of occasion and the event is expected to have TV and Radio coverage. I’m told by the AOS Fundraiser that there will be a “Star celebrity” to see us off. I fear the worst and in particular since she is a friend of John Prescott!! Even if you don’t plan to ride, it will be good to have a good crowd to wave us off either in Hull or at any of the daily start points along the route. The Day 1 ride is from Hull to Mablethorpe and the spreadsheet attached gives details of the day to day rides. It will be great if you might want to come along for a spin, do your own bit for the Year of the Seafarer and maybe meet old friends as we pass by your own neck of the woods.

If you want to learn more, join in, or would like to help out as we pass by, take a look at my new blog at http://seawheeling.blogspot.com or on the Justgiving site at www.justgiving.com/seawheeling or give me an email or call 07801559850. It will be great to have your support.

Thanks for taking the time to read this far, all the best and Oh yes, this will be the very last time I ask you to help out!

With warm regards,

David



Wingfield Marine Services
13 Crescent Road
Netherton
Huddersfield
HD4 7HG
West Yorkshire

Tel:+44-(0)1484-667851
Mob: +44-(0)7801-559850
Email: wingfieldmarine@gmail.com

2010 - The Year of the Seafarer! On 3 Sep, and starting in Hull, a 5,000k bike ride on behalf of the Apostleship of the Sea will set off around the UK coast. If you want to participate for an hour, a day or more, please contact me or look at the www.justgiving.com/seawheeling website.