Adversity, thy name is opportunity

Criminalisation of seafarers is another subject that has recurred in past CMA conferences. At this year’s event, it came to life thanks to two presenters.

Nicholas Pappadakis of Intercargo brought up an example that has seldom been discussed in a public forum: the different worlds that airline crews and mariners inhabit.

Pappadakis speaks at CMA

Airline crews walk in and out of immigration and security at crowded airports, through special lanes provided for them. Occasionally, there are news stories that hint of an airline pilot’s “bravery” after dumping excess fuel into the ocean before landing. It is a fair assumption that this pilot simply walks out of the airport, and goes home.

Mr Pappadakis cited the latter example, and asked the CMA audience: “It is considered routine operating procedure for the airline pilot to dump extra fuel into the sea. Can you imagine this being the case with ships?”

The question was linked with the larger issue of how to attract young mariners to seagoing careers, when all around them are messages that they would not be allowed shore leave, and would go to jail for accidents that may have little to do with them.

In this context, InterManager chairman Roberto Giorgi surprised even the most jaded thinkers with the example of a maritime college in Chennai, whose dean told him that the publicity surrounding the Hebei Spirit duo had seen applications skyrocket.

“The students were happy to know that the owner would fight for them, and this caused them to apply,” he said.

Lotuses grow only in the slush.