Clay Maitland

On a quest for quality in shipping

The sad story of the oily water separator

Everyone seems to have noticed, as Lloyd’s List’s leader of March 26 puts it, that “the unfairness to seafarers in the magic pipe cases in the US has been brought to light again”. Very true. Continue reading

The growing trait of inertia

Some years ago, a famous personality named Malcolm Muggeridge, who at various times was an agent of MI6, editor of the now departed Punch, and general curmudgeon, entitled his memoirs “Chronicles of Wasted Time.” Continue reading

Investment in cadet training needed now

Roberto Giorgi, president of V.Ships, who is also president of Intermanager, in a recent interview with Lloyd’s List , has called for a compulsory requirement for facilities on newbuildings, for cadets. Continue reading

All talk and no action

A great deal has been said, at the seemingly numberless conferences on (a) piracy, and (b) the Year of the Seafarer, that (c) there is a shortage of qualified seafarers; (d) that “criminalisation” of the seafarer is a growing problem; that (e) better training is needed; and that (f) we of the shipping community must do something about these problems. Continue reading

Seafarers must be educated on new regulations

I am currently in Abu Dhabi where I have had the pleasure to take part in a conference about the Maritime Environment and the role Flag states will play in the implementation of the new IMO regulations i.e the new Audit Scheme. Continue reading

Follow the Greek lead on ship finance

As I get set to leave Athens after yesterday’s execellent turnout at the Capital Link forum I am reminded that many of us will return here in June for Posidonia, the shipping industry’s largest and most famous conference and trade fair. My first Posidonia was in 1976. Continue reading

Don’t rely on the BDI for market forecast

I’ve just arrived in Athens fresh from the excellent Mare Forum in Houston and ready for Capital Link’s seminar on the capital markets and I thought I would give you a snapshot of my take on what happens next in the shipping markets. Continue reading

NAMEPA Part II: Working in partnership

Although NAMEPA is a young organization, it has already become a significant interlocutor between local government and environmental groups in sensitive coastal areas. Continue reading

NAMEPA Part I: It’s good to talk…

I am off to Houston this week for MareForum USA, where I have been asked to talk about the development of NAMEPA[North American Marine Environment Protection Association], so I thought this would be a great time to share this information with my blog readers. Continue reading

Clarifying the STCW issues

In June, delegates to the Revision Conference of the International Maritime Organisation on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping will meet in Manila to take up 13 draft resolutions dealing with such issues as recruitment and retention, crewing levels, and the like. Continue reading

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