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.