NAUTICAL LOG



From the NAUTICAL LOG PR folder comes this gem, an anti-piracy simulation.  The Transas® Group well known for training equipment and programs has developed an anti-piracy simulation training program.  The idea is to make nautical students aware of what pirates off the Horn of Africa look like, techniques to avoid attacks and being hijacked.  While it most certainly serves a training purpose it does nothing to prevent piracy or being hijacked - why?  The program continues the current political approach and says nothing about armed response.  It covers the range of the pirates known weapons, changes of speed and course, best angles of approach, and speed and courses for closing and engaging pirates.  Engaging them with what?  Since a no weapons response is recommended by the UN-IMO NAUTICAL LOG wonders just what is the point of this training. 


Hopefully, because thats all we have at present, by the time these students become Masters the issue will have been solved.  It is the present …

This week NAUTICAL LOG has been catching up on his reading including a series on Celestial Navigation in another maritime themed blog.  It is quite interesting to see the different approach taken by today's navigators to the way we were trained.  For example when NAUTICAL LOG served with the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (1959-1961) the cargo vessels were not fitted with either gyro compass or radar.  The TSS Tamahine (Built 1925) ferry carrying passengers, cars and PMG mail also did not have gyro or radar in spite of running across Cook Strait between Wellington, North Island to Picton, South Island daily, with some night transits at weekends.


The point that caught my eye was the article about Ex-Meridians which included remarks about Amplitudes.  This Post is not meant to be critical (well maybe just a little bit) of the Article titled "Ex-Meridians for USCG exams" but to show the difference between today's  OOW/navigator, who apparently uses Celestial Navi…

With the death of CAPT. William Cummins one of the Waterford 'boys' who went to sea with Irish Shipping Ltd. (ISL) one is reminded that we are a passing generation.  Also we are a unique generation coming from a variety of schools across Ireland ranging from Clongowes to the Christian Brothers.  Not that it really mattered where ones parents sent us to get our education it was the same for all due to the Irish education system in which every student did the three national examinations of Primary, Intermediate, and Leaving Certificate.  Thus when competing for a place in University or employment all were equally qualified.  For those of us who chose to go to sea there was ISL and for the first time the Irish could sail under their Tricolour as all the ISL ships were registered in Irish ports.


When we sailed overseas many times Irish families would arrive to visit the ship never having seen a vessel flying the National Colours of Ireland on the stern.  Many of the Irish religious…

From our correspondent CAPT. John Molloy, William Street, Waterford, Ireland comes news of the death of CAPT. William Cummins, Viewmount Park, Waterford at the Waterford Regional Hospital.  As was NAUTICAL LOG he was a Deck Apprentice in Irish Shipping Ltd. joining the SS Irish Poplar in November 1956.  It turns out we had things in common, his first Master was CAPT. E.C.G. Horne and he was the Master when NAUTICAL LOG joined the SS Irish Elm in December 1953, and we both had an interest in the Law.


CAPT. Cummins after serving in ISL obtained his Master's Certificate of Competency and settled into the coastal passenger vessels between Ireland, and the United Kingdom.  He received a command in B+I Line and ended up commanding in turn all their vessels.  When B+I Line went the way of ISL he found his position with Irish Ferries which took on the inter-island passenger service. He went on there to command one of the largest, 34,00 tonnes, ferries in the world and the largest vessel to…

The saga of the MS Rena continues in New Zealand as salvage operations progress the main operation being the removal of oil from her tanks.  The crew were removed ten days ago and on October 12, 2011 the Master was charged under NZ's Maritime Transport Act Section 65 with "for operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk".  It is likely that as the overall operation and investigation proceeds there will be additional charges laid.  NAUTICAL LOG understands the Second Officer, who was OOW at the time of impacting Astrolabe Reef, has also been detained.  We further understand that both the Master and Second Officer are Filipino Nationals however since we are 'Forbidden' by our server from access to Marine Cafe Blog (MCB) cannot use this first hand information source, it would seem both Officers are products of the 'Pinoy Seafaring Factory' to usethe MCB term.  CAPT. Alex van Wijngaarden the NZ National OSC said about 200 tonnes of fuel …

NAUTICAL NOTES is a new feature of NAUTICAL LOG which will be added too from time-to-time.

There is a M-Notice MIN 417 (M) issued by the UK-MCA regarding the survey of carbon fibre masts and spars in Large Sailing Yachts.  NAUTICAL LOG would suggest to Operators of such vessels to inspect this equipment prior to an official survey.  The standards of managing and operating STV's is clearly in need of Auditing.  The knowledge of STV Masters and Officers in Ship Stability and its associated calculations from the vessel Stability Book is clearly in need of assessment and testing.   Operators, Managers, Masters, Officers and crews would do well to read, study and take-to-heart the Report on the knockdown and sinking of STV Concordia by TSB Canada.  Lack of a Designated Person Ashore (DPA), as required by the ISM Code, for the Operators caused complications after her abandonment. Lack of Stability knowledge by her Master and Officers led to her knockdown and sinking off Brazil.  Those Or…

As a Navigator NAUTICAL LOG was always fascinated by bird migrations and how they found their way coming to the conclusion, several decades ago, that it was by following the Earth's magnetic field.  Of course it is not quite that simple as one size does not fit all there are several types of bird movement some quite short.  However some migrate from Northern Canada to Southern South America - now there's a thought wonder if such birds tweet in french, English and Spanish.  Seriously living here in South Florida we are on a major migration route and this is evident this month as the NAUTICAL LOG patio bird feeders are extremely busy.  Florida lies between an Agonic Line and Isogonic Line 10° so it seem to make sense that the long distance migratory birds do make use of the Earth's magnetic field.  The short distance migratory birds likely use the Sun as a compass as most fly by day and rest at night.  However Warblers are night fliers so they reinforce for NAUTICAL LOG the …

The following M-Notices are available at www.dft.gov.uk/mca/  If you experience any problems call the M notice Administrator at 023 8032 9391


MIN 415 (M)  Changes to Requirements for Inland Waterways Non-Passenger Vessels in the UK


MIN 417 (M)  Large Yachts:  Examination and Inspection of Carbon Fibre Masts and Spars Survey of Composite Masts and Spars Used on Large Yachts


MGN 436 (M+F) WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION: Guidance on Mitigating Against the Effects of Shocks and Impacts on Small Vessels




Good Watch

We remain hopeful that the 400 of our fellow seafarers held captive by Somali pirates well soon be rescued.

Lace Line   A line used to secure a sail to its yard or spar


Larboard  The old name for 'Port' or the left side of a vessel


Lateen  A trangular fore-aft sail on a long yard


Lazarette   A small hold or locker usually in the stern used for stowage


League  An old measure of three nautical miles


Letter of Marque   A Royal license authorizing a non-naval vessel to act as a 'warship' under the Royal flag


Lewis Bolt   An eyebolt socketed and wedged under deck for extra strength.  Usually fitted when a breakbulk cargo vessel had a heavy-lift derrick


Limbers  Holes   Holes in the frames at bilges level to allow drainage


Loblolly  A porridge usually served to sick crew


Loblolly Boy  A surgeons assistant in a naval vessel


Lobscouse   A hash served to crews


Long Stay  A term used for a long anchor rode


Loof  The taper of the hull toward the bow and stern


Lubber  An ackward or not to bright sailor


Lubber's Hole  The hole in a square-rigger through which the shroud heads pass to the mast





Lyle …