Awareness and alertness are vital
At the beginning of this month we had Seafarers Awareness Week, a communications campaign promoted by Seafarers UK, a leading charity, aimed at enlightening the public about the vital role of mariners, shipping and the sea services. Continue reading
Problem wrecks and their cargoes
The past century of commerce and warfare has left a legacy of thousands of sunken vessels along the U.S., Canadian and European coasts. Continue reading
Italy needs a MEPA
As we observe National Maritime Day honoring seafarers, we also recognize the need for them to ply their trade in an environment that is healthy. Continue reading
Why we need an international convention on piracy
Yesterday was my regular press briefing in the fabulous surroundings of the Caledonian club in SW1, London and the topic of piracy and in particular armed guards was very much to the fore. Continue reading
Don’t forget our NAMEPA Seminar
One year after the Gulf oil spill, and amid daily reports of piracy and needless accidents at sea, the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) of which I am chairman will be offering a seminar “Environmental Intelligence in Shipping: Safety at Sea, featuring an emergency preparedness & response regulatory update, as well as a panel on piracy, STCW update, and terminal access for seafarers. Continue reading
How we can make the seafarer’s lot better
This week I found myself on the Amalfi coast for the excellent Mare Forum VII entitled Italy and the World – Quo Vadis? Continue reading
Following the old Silk Road
In 1998, in Indonesia, a few sea-cucumber divers made a discovery that has changed how we think about the history of seaborne trade, and the background of China’s maritime commerce.
The divers had come upon what is now known as the Belitung shipwreck, named for the island where it was found.
Dating from the ninth century, the wreck, an Arab vessel, was in effect the Maersk, or APL or NOL, containership of its day; it held more than 60,000 commercial objects.
The cargo, made and shipped from Tang Dynasty China, was bound for Baghdad, then the capital of the Abbasid empire.
The Belitung ship and choice items from its fabulous cargo, are, thanks to the government of Singapore, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., and a number of sponsors, now… Continue reading
Three schools with fantastic stories
Uplifting stories are fairly rare in any industry these days, and shipping is no exception.
However, at the recent Connecticut Maritime Association trade fair and annual meeting, and at the IMO, startling, hopeful and
positive signs of spring have been visible.
At CMA, amid the various booths, stands and shipbrokers, and endless chatter on piracy, there appeared two new and inspiring things: the maritime training school in Simonstown South Africa (proper name: the Lawhill
Maritime Centre) and the cadets of the Baltimore, Maryland Harbour School
(or to give it its correct name, the Maritime Industry Academy).
At the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and in Malmo, Sweden, the World Maritime University opened in 1983, has established itself as a unique and internal maritime post-graduate maritime university.
But… Continue reading
A logistical bridge over troubled waters
Sometimes, great events reveal important facts. Logistics, also known as the supply chain, is more and more important on reliable carriage of goods by sea. Continue reading
My Piracy speech from CMA
Piracy – the Scourge Worsens (Guy E.C. Maitland) from MTI Network on Vimeo.… Continue reading
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