circumnavigation
New member
For reasons of clarity and not to place emphasis on the one incident that prompted the thread "La Rochelle Disaster", it has been indicated to me, from those that have much to learn and gain from the world of "Deliveries", to bring this out in to the open as a specific thread. To achieve this I set it out below.
It is important, irrespective of the different and controversial points of view that will be made, that an open and balanced debate is given to the subject of the delivery of vessels.
Whatever your point of view and the direction from which you are coming from, much will be gained from this process, while at the same time it will become an information centre to enable a study of all aspects associated with Deliveries.
Whether you are a vessel owner, delivery company, skipper or crew. Insurer, lawyer, coastguard, maritime authority or politician, from wherever you are in the world, let this debate be open to all.
There are many issues to be raised, where areas of concern and responsibilities are loose and have no legal base. The ramifications of the poor or lax and sometimes non-existent regulation of deliveries are slowly emerging, but only from when disaster strikes. History is full of incidents, other than in sailing, when something positive is done, but only after a number of deaths have occurred. Does it have to take a death to secure a recognised set of regulations to oversee a particular type of business? The answer of course is no, but then we are in the real world and subject to whatever regulations, laws and terms and conditions that are laid before us or often not, imposed upon us.
Those that go about their normal daily commercial business, undertaking deliveries to the four corners of the earth, will not mind some form of regulation, if it is there to protect all concerned. There will be those that will seek out the loopholes, thus placing in jeopardy those who unknowingly take part in the activity and, thus, may not be protected. There will be reputations at stake as well. What of the new yachts, straight off the production line, hence to be delivered to some near or distant part, which but for the builder's reputation, is taken at face value not knowing if there is a fault on one of them. Minimum equipment levels is just one other concern and the list of what should be looked at is only the tip of the iceberg.
The clock has started ticking on this debate. Are you really concerned about the vessel delivery industry? Whatever level this may be from, whether commercial delivery company or self employed delivery skipper, to the owner seeking someone to deliver to your boat. Or are you an insurer, finance company or bank having an interest in the said vessel, or the lawyer that will be saddled with looking at the small print (if there is a contract involved).
The regulars of these forums that write prolifically within them and, those many, many readers that are sometimes bemused with what is being requested on them, perhaps you have something to say. There are many who read these forums that will have a profound interest in what is being said here, but cannot enter into comment for fear of ridicule, or wish to protect their identity. I ask all of you to have your say. The UN agency responsible for maritime affairs the International Maritime Organisation - IMO is based in London, the only main agency to be based within the UK. This Forum is UK based, but the users of them are from around the globe with an interest in sailing from different points of view. The boat delivery industry is international, for there to be an international standard, it would mean that each country would have to adopt and incorporate in to national legislation whatever legislation was prescribed. This process is long, but is it needed or should individual countries take their own actions. This is something to be looked at when we get an understanding of where the industry is today.
Please, have your say and encourage others to have theirs.
Martin
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mpcee.co.uk/katoema'sworld.htm>http://www.mpcee.co.uk/katoema'sworld.htm</A>
It is important, irrespective of the different and controversial points of view that will be made, that an open and balanced debate is given to the subject of the delivery of vessels.
Whatever your point of view and the direction from which you are coming from, much will be gained from this process, while at the same time it will become an information centre to enable a study of all aspects associated with Deliveries.
Whether you are a vessel owner, delivery company, skipper or crew. Insurer, lawyer, coastguard, maritime authority or politician, from wherever you are in the world, let this debate be open to all.
There are many issues to be raised, where areas of concern and responsibilities are loose and have no legal base. The ramifications of the poor or lax and sometimes non-existent regulation of deliveries are slowly emerging, but only from when disaster strikes. History is full of incidents, other than in sailing, when something positive is done, but only after a number of deaths have occurred. Does it have to take a death to secure a recognised set of regulations to oversee a particular type of business? The answer of course is no, but then we are in the real world and subject to whatever regulations, laws and terms and conditions that are laid before us or often not, imposed upon us.
Those that go about their normal daily commercial business, undertaking deliveries to the four corners of the earth, will not mind some form of regulation, if it is there to protect all concerned. There will be those that will seek out the loopholes, thus placing in jeopardy those who unknowingly take part in the activity and, thus, may not be protected. There will be reputations at stake as well. What of the new yachts, straight off the production line, hence to be delivered to some near or distant part, which but for the builder's reputation, is taken at face value not knowing if there is a fault on one of them. Minimum equipment levels is just one other concern and the list of what should be looked at is only the tip of the iceberg.
The clock has started ticking on this debate. Are you really concerned about the vessel delivery industry? Whatever level this may be from, whether commercial delivery company or self employed delivery skipper, to the owner seeking someone to deliver to your boat. Or are you an insurer, finance company or bank having an interest in the said vessel, or the lawyer that will be saddled with looking at the small print (if there is a contract involved).
The regulars of these forums that write prolifically within them and, those many, many readers that are sometimes bemused with what is being requested on them, perhaps you have something to say. There are many who read these forums that will have a profound interest in what is being said here, but cannot enter into comment for fear of ridicule, or wish to protect their identity. I ask all of you to have your say. The UN agency responsible for maritime affairs the International Maritime Organisation - IMO is based in London, the only main agency to be based within the UK. This Forum is UK based, but the users of them are from around the globe with an interest in sailing from different points of view. The boat delivery industry is international, for there to be an international standard, it would mean that each country would have to adopt and incorporate in to national legislation whatever legislation was prescribed. This process is long, but is it needed or should individual countries take their own actions. This is something to be looked at when we get an understanding of where the industry is today.
Please, have your say and encourage others to have theirs.
Martin
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mpcee.co.uk/katoema'sworld.htm>http://www.mpcee.co.uk/katoema'sworld.htm</A>
