REINVENTING INDIAN SHIPMANAGEMENT

Yes, reinvent the wheel. For, it is not a flywheel like lungs are to body as in spirituality. True, we have fared very well since ship management evolved out of owners’ cost cutting ‘80s crash, and we are dominant in both quality-quantity. Please note that from dominance the curve heads south. So what are we gonna do?

True too that we are in manning for promoting employment of seafarers and management was and is an upgraded version. Nonetheless, hasn’t competition been gnawing us with fids for insertion at right time and place? With due respect to those gainers at our loss appreciate their success and focus on probabilities so as not to lose more quantum. Think of Blue Funded Green operations under Poseidon Principles!

Be aware that autonomous is on the way, getting underway and will gain pace very slowly perhaps. That’s doesn’t mean we should be sleeping dogs not protecting our market share. Yes, Deck officers’ positions are in firing line first, with `Master’ required as a legal hero. It has been since engineers came on board, from sailing ships to steam and motor, H&M itself of such add on!

Engineers for sure can’t be jettisoned (pun unintented -spelling intended) even by Master, as machineries have to be overseen and maintained, whereas navigation can be delegated to AI, Alexa, Cortana, Siri or Google lady who will voice command, provided insurances accept it. Cargoes being loaded by machines with AI; it all can be delegated as most is anyway FIO, less of FOB and outsourced to terminals, stevedores with liability cover etc with Master on box ships literally unable to influence stowage -due time-cost overruns.

Caveat but. Due diligence is one term that cannot be wished away, contracted, delegated or whatever. Tried indeed it was. Port Capt/Supdt lashing cargoes on chartered out cargo ships with such clauses, sadly didn’t pass the test of law. Clubs moaning. So there.

Back to square one. Even autonomous ships will need engineers -with robots?- ready to fly out in choppers or whatever to board ships to repair/set right unless towing even from deep sea is a choice to continue and complete laden voyage, with General Average (high hopes ye got! More on it in next piece), ballast voyage a different one of `Particular Average’ crises.

Back to topic. Reinvent ship-management and not redefine. Rebuild with strong foundation. Start with intakes. Ask does STCW minimum standards suffice or is the way to go (or out, pack up I mean). Can quality conscious committed biggies having learned lessons and improved practices set trends? More focused inhouse training to suit challenges afloat and ashore. Retrain as IT industry ‘been doing to retrain Eng grads. Learn, unlearn, relearn!

Incentive: for superlative performance, skipping festive season rush leaves, extended tenure in difficult relief conditions, non-alcoholic and non-smoking (exhaust!) trend-setting as liquor banning is incorrect and unfair under personal rights, DPAs and SSC answering calls without breathalyser tests etc etc. It’s only fair that Indians get leave for festivals and timed family events as special consideration for ‘branded’ service!

Paid `floating salary’ for Supdts/auditors who were stuck aboard abroad during Covid travel imbroglio? Me lost 5000$ rejoining bonus on swallowing anchor. Are Floating staff treated and dealt respectfully as first line of workers in marine atmosphere? Can go on…, but word count doesn’t permit. Paying ‘sneaks’ for firsthand spied info? Heard some do!

Let marine engineers qualifying or in service do training period in Dry Dock (not Port Trust) and major Service providers’ Workshops. Yes they will be lost to shore jobs and migrate as NRIs too. So modify rules to facilitate upgrade `sailor’ type Firemen of yore and ER ‘Ratings’ as la Support level of STCW level to Operator levels, if not management strata too.

Drastically alter qualifying and trainee levels in MET institutes. Well known that most are below par and there are unacceptable methods, procedures and means employed despite heavy unemployment, recruiters deployed to circumvent RPSL who liable behalf of owner without right in rem but. Jobs can’t be created when shipping is derived demand of trade subject to vagaries most time. As such, such diktats are not workable -paving way for malapropism. Charging intakes -even for training cost recovery- is uncouth to say the least.

Has `administration’ overseeing the system under it turned ‘oversight’ and ineffective, and beyond reproach? Has selected `bodies’ to audit, `competent’ in our own lingo? Has vetting system delivered as expected or need to deliver? Have cases -foisted or not- been learning curves, overcome with trepidation and responded correctively on constructive criticism? Vexatious they may have been but in management parlance has need been identified by making choice from assertive, aggressive and manipulative ways and means with and against those employing such tactics.

Why `Trust’ for METs? Overhaul the whole system before becoming amphibians abandon marine jobs afloat and land ashore looking for new greener pastures. Yes, few will be required in digital control rooms to monitor autonomous ships afloat from ashore. Take care till then. Amen.

Marex Media