The Danger of Narrow Marginal Safety

As the shipping industry grows exponentially and fierce competition between ship operators and ship owners, charter rates are lowered to keep the ship “ON-HIRE” not loosing huge amount of money. Ship that were unchartered (OFF-HIRE) looses huge amount of money by the thousand of dollars per day ( e.g. USD $20,0000.00). It is very sad experience that certain company’s safety management system (SMS) are just writings doodles and always by passed for the company’s confidence of saving more money. The SMS are doctrines to make a covenant to protect Life, Property and the Environment.

By cutting off ship’s budget on operation expenses are already a habit of narrowing further more, affecting marginal safety of ship operation. Ship operators reducing abroad expenses on ship operation covers crew on board salary, crew on board food budget, ship maintenance and ship spare parts.

On board spare parts which that are needed in case of emergency becoming scares due to suspended or halted delivery, planning for a strategic bulk delivery of all spare parts, store and food to save further money on chandlers and agents. Thus ship’s machinery running hours are exceeded further said to save money for the time being. Unhealthy food are prepared and served due to scarce of fresh fruits and vegetables. Mostly stored on are processed preserved meats and processed instant food meals which are much cheaper.

Crew’s on-board wages are also halted promised to give it to much latter part of the contract thus affects the crew to buy personal fresh fruits and vegetables. Worst is the medical welfare of the crew which is shouldered by the crew rather than the company.

This are most of the example of passive events that could lead to an active event to a devastating accident.

Hypocrite Companies tells you to stay healthy and work safely but cutting off your budget that affects your welfare and ship safety operation for their own intention of earning more. Its so hard for on-board ship management level crew (Master, Chief Engineer and Chief officer) to put their license at risks in operating the vessel on a narrow marginal safety. Thus proper black-in-white communications and recorded satellite conversations are practice on-board ships to clearly indicate that the crew is doing its job right on the ship and to put the blame, in case of incident happened, to the land base hypocrite ship management companies.

I tell you not all companies are hypocrites most still stand and abide to their SMS as their covenant keeping the welfare of the crew and ship. 

INSPIRED and LOVE

I was inspired by this woman, seeing her on a social site was love at first site. We were not strangers, back then, we where neighbours but it has been a very long time then for not seeing each other. I courted her, trying winning her love developing trust and confidence with each other. Every time we talk she always tell her secret stories sad ones and good ones, trusting so much was an advantage and a privilege.

Then the day come, I have to leave because of my work and she cried. I promised her that I will call her time to time to continue our special relationship. I told her to made it an open relationship, and  she was be honest to tell me everything. Then the time when other guys tried courting her. I asked her are the other guys much worthy than me, then she cried. She told me the problem, having financial problems, she got so sick due to stress that she was sent to the hospital. She telling me that She is wishing that I was there to comfort her in times of her trouble. When she was in the hospital, she couldn't trust anyone. I was silence. In that situation the other guy courting took the advantage of helping her. She repay the other guy for what was spent in the hospital.  I tried to speak with her on the phone and try to find a way to resolve her financial crisis until I return home where everything is settled.

By that time her work became hectic had to meet with me only in given opportunity. There was a time we meet up together with other folks, the buzz in the air was Marriage. She open her thoughts and she told us she wasn't ready for such commitment, she wanted more of her career. I was impress, by then the time came that I have to leave again for my work. I arrange a last meeting with her still on a shorted period of time due to her work. There we talked, I told her how much I love her, but she answered trying to stop me, I noticed something not right.  I ask her to be honest to our relationship, she wanted me to treat her as a sister of mine. A sibling, to love her as part of my family. A special bond relationship that may last forever until broken by betrayal. Only few close friend I treat like as my siblings. And I agreed, but still I want her to get out of her crisis so she could move on and further hoping to bring back my money or winning her love again in the end. It was a selfish thought but whats really over all is still I love her. I knew she's one-of-a-kind woman, surpasses all of her obstacles in life by her own. Until the day we meet. She also told me that she's accepting the other guy as her boyfriend to ease their tension. I was not jealous about it. Keeping an open mind, I was happy for her.

I keep a regular communication like a brother would do making sure she's fine. Then the time came something very bad happened. She got pregnant, it was a drinking party, she got drank and banged-up by his boyfriend, and things falling apart for her. Both of them unprepared unwanted to have a family because they still have other family commitment to consider also financially low to support. I wanted to scold at her that time, telling her how she betrayed me, how much she shuttered my feelings. but I knew confrontation over the satellite phone is expensive and unproductive. She's pregnant and making her sad, worried and down graded would affect the baby. What I did I gave my positive support giving her financial assistance and moral support to boost her confidence to surpass her pregnancy. But as the days roll-by things were getting complicated. Her pregnancy is very delicate and very fragile that she has to be bed ridden. Worst that she will have an early delivery because of her complications. She left for work, leave with out pay. Alone in the dormitory and sometime assisted the the relative of the boyfriend. Both of them are still in shocked to that day their live had change, neither my life  also. It give me thoughts of abandoning her and leaving both of them. But I can't, I still love her and an innocent child is involve. I believe that pregnancy is a blessing not a curse.

I'm asking for your prayers of support to this time of our uncertainty to enlighten our spirits to seek for forgiveness.


Thoughts to digest:

Marriage is just a piece of paper, it is the commitment of everlasting love that to be enforced by both couple.

If you love some one don't hurt them.

Love is . . . Being happy for the other person when they are happy, Being sad for the person when they are sad, Being together in good times, And being together in bad times.
LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF STRENGTH.

Love is . . . Being honest with yourself at all times, Being honest with the other person at all times, Telling, listening, respecting the truth, And never pretending.
LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF REALITY.

Love is . . . An understanding so complete that you feel as if you are a part of the other person, Accepting the other person just the way they are, And not trying to change them to be something else.
LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF UNITY.

Love is . . . The freedom to pursue your own desires while sharing your experiences with the other person, The growth of one individual alongside of and together with the growth of another individual.
LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF SUCCESS.

Love is . . . The excitement of planning things together, The excitement of doing things together.
LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF THE FUTURE.

Love is . . . The fury of the storm, The calm in the rainbow.
LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF PASSION.

Love is . . . Giving and taking in a daily situation, Being patient with each other's needs and desires.
LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF SHARING.

Love is . . . Knowing that the other person will always be with you regardless of what happens, Missing the other person when they are away but remaining near in heart at all times.
LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF SECURITY.
LOVE IS . . . THE SOURCE OF LIFE!”

Warthogs Dilemma

I some times feel rejected and thought to have friends. Isolated, set aside forgotten and never existed. But its only a feeling, my imagination, assumption or I rally did something very STUPID.

Relationship have its different levels, categories, impression or interpretation. Setting a relationship to someone either a bonding emotional or just acquaintances  may differ in the environment or situation. All I want to say is that there are things I assume but someone misunderstood it. Miss-communication is also another misunderstanding. So its better to have good solid clear communication so you'll not be feeling talking on the other planet

Warthogs Dilemma - when a warthog would like to approach another warthog they just get hurt each other. and that is why they keep distance from each other. Because of the spiky hair on their skin.

Yet I agree to be really be careful to people who we trust. Good Friend are hard to find, you could have a thousand friend in social sites but only a few will be true.  So be civil to everyone, so when a particular will be there for you in good or in bad. You are the riches person in the world for no gold would weigh it compare to a TRUE GOOD FRIEND.

"Be Civil to All. Acquaintance to Many Be Friends to Few. And Enemies to None."

Also Money does not buy Happiness, it buys CRAZY-ASS Happiness. - Eminem

And Last reminder - Stay Always Healthy not getting Chubby!

 end..

Sugar Coated Machineries – What Lies Beneath...

Ship's Crew and Officers who are so called wash paint guys, has one particular objective: “Make the vessel and its machineries look like brand new.” Sounds convincing? But its not entirely safe for a ship to be operated. This kind of people only knew how to clean a vessel. This is only to impress Authorities that ship is maintained properly and nothing further to inspect. They lack knowledge and confidence to put the machineries to the test for safe operation. Not all machineries “newly painted & oil free” are working well some are already in trouble.

I'm not saying not to maintain the cleanliness of the ship but insure inside out of the machinery that it is ship shape ready.

Operating this over-painted machineries have its disadvantages:

• Time consuming, difficulty of of removing, chipping out the layers of paint especially on bolt heads, nuts and screw drive heads. It also leads to misalignment.
• Paint chips easily enters the inside part of the machinery causes clogging and abrasive wear leading to faulty operation and damage.
• Overheating, thick layers of paint on heat exchangers (e.g. motor fins, air cooled plate fins) are having difficulty of removing heat in the machinery.
• During a fire, paint finish burns and produces toxic fumes.

Over painted tubes will have difficulty removing the nuts and takes more time in maintenance. Bits of paint particles could enter the system and  damage, if not properly cleaned.

Removing thick layers of paint 

So prior to painting a machinery make sure that:

• It has already been inspected and maintained.
• That dirt and oil are already wiped off and free.
• Strategically paint on areas that have no effect on machineries and maintenance operation. Especially don't paint on heat removing fins, plates. and ejection ports.
• Use thin coating of paint to cover metal expose surface to prevent rusting.
• Practice patch-up painting.
• Use the correct designation or type of paint to be use, be very aware that paint are flammable materials that very hot surfaces can make regular paint ignite.
• Use your proper personal protective equipment when painting and the area is safe, free from naked flames.
  
  
  
  

  

  
  

  

  Removing thick paint on Motor's cooling fin

  
  

  
  

The Importance of Time...

I gambled, I took the risks, I might lose the battle for the odds are very big.

For now time is against me. The flag of surrender is about to wage, and the conditions of terms is set.

Tear drops are flowing on my face, my heart is beating hard.

I tried to prove my self but I'm not quiting just yet, but time is against me.

They have the upper hand. If God will give me the time, or this is just His plan for me.

I'm a venerable human being, and the chill of loosing getting in to my bones.

If God gives me the time I will fight it and gain it. And said to be worth until to the last breath....

Pag-ibig kong tunay...

Tumibok ang puso ko dahil sa kanya.

Sa mga araw na madilim, siya ang nag bigay ng liwanag ng pag-asa.

Lumayo ako para kumayod at nangako magbabalik para sa kanya.

Boses ko lang ang nakakarating sa kanya, asang magbibigay kaligayahan sa kalungkutan.

Sa mga matinding pagsubok na dumating, na wawalan kami ng pag-asa sa isa't-isa.

Sa pagkakataon kong bumalik, sa bayang sinalangan.

Ang pangako ko'y itutupad ang mga pangako ng pag-ibig at pupunuin ang pagkukulang

O kaya'y haharapin ang katotohanan na wala na siya.

Sinabi ko sa kanya na mahal ko siya. Wag niyang ibase sa utang na loob.

Pag-isipin niya ng mabuti at wag mag desisyon muna.

Sana antayin niya ako at patunayan ko ang pag-big ko.

Ipaglalaban hanggang siya na ang maghuhusga sa aming dalawa.

Handa kong tanggapin ang desisyon ng niya.  

“Ayaw ko sa Seaman!” (I Dont like Seaman!)

I would like to open up this statement for a particular point of view to a particular group of people who I always encounter. It happens when a seafarer is trying court a very particular woman ended up being busted. Unfortunately many filipina now a days would agree not to commit such long distance relationship. I don't have the statistics to how many they are but with the growing numbers of OFW, such numbers of incidents are common. It is not only seafarers are affected with this kind of incident , mostly are OFW or migrant workers who are single at "sa mga gusto pang mag-expand ng lahi".

I said not everyone are included in this incident. Common to this encounters are filipina/women who's parents especially fathers who are OFW's. The lack of fatherhood presence most of the time have great influence to an option not to engage on such long distance relationship. Also with broken family relationship. This also includes some women that are be-friends or relatives with other women who are OFW parents.

Still, some women would not put a seaman in their list of option.

Reason No. 1 – “Away ko ng Seaman-loloko!” (“I don't like a seaman would trick me!”) But most of the time and with the new generation of seafares we end up as SEAMAN-NI-LOLOKO (Seafarers who are tricked)

Reason No. 2 – “Ayaw ko maging Number 12” (“I don't like to be another option!”) This also goes with other statement of: “Ayaw kong maging Wife in the Philippines!” and “Ayaw kong ng may kahate sa allotment!” and so on... hmmmm... some men have the habit of “COLLECT & SELECT”

Reason No. 3 – “Gusto ko laging na sa tabi ko mahal ko sa hirap o ginhawa.” (“I want him at my side in hardships and gains”) With the lack of fatherhood love they will chose is the one who will give them more time, more affection and a lot of attention.

Being on board ship is not a forever career especially if we have love ones left behind. We always dream and and work hard for a better family. But there are things money cant buy. Going on-board is the reason of the only source of income should not be. Find another source during stay on land and always be with your family.

For single seaferes plan ahead and execute them well. Increase your productivity both on board and at land. Start investing for your future. And don't be a one day millionare.