And another one...

[Mirelle]

Here is a little item from the merchant shipping Press:

Seafarer arrested for hit and run
PIRAEUS port police have arrested the second mate of the
containership CMA CGM Elbe following investigation of a
hit-and-run accident in which the Italian fishing vessel
Louisa sank. On the night of 16 February the fishermen
reported that their vessel was rammed by an unidentified
cargo ship and was sinking 32 n-miles off the Pylos port on
the western Peloponnese. The Turkish dry cargo ship Paksoy
1 picked up all five shipwrecked men safely and transferred
them to Elefsis where they were hospitalised. The
Greek-flagged containership, which arrived at Piraeus
yesterday, was a prime suspect based on a description by an
eyewitness and because its sailing schedule placed it close
to accident scene when it happened. The investigating
authorities established its involvement in the accident,
which led to arrest of the second mate who was on watch
duty at the time of the collision.
Lloyd's Register - Fairplay web links
Piraeus
CMA CGM Elbe

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[ParaHandy]

has this been an unusually bad year for merchant shipping? shipping rates have risen to bonanza levels which might mean that the fringes of merchant shipping are running with crews and vessels which are inadequate? and would that result in a shortage of deck officers higher up the chain?

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[Mirelle]

There is some truth in that - good freights are associated with more insurance claims, and the shipping industry has not seen a boom like we have now for many years - certainly not for the last 30 - but another factor is the increase in size and speed of containerships - you will notice it is nearly always containerships in these cases - they are now typically running at 24 knots as against 14 for a tanker or a bulk carrier, and they don't slow down in fog or rain.

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