Issue 1/2017 Volume XXIV No. 001
The Journal of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners
Livery Company of the City of London Founded 1926, Incorporated by Royal Charter 1930 Contents
Court of the Company Wardens and Court from 1 May 2016
MASTER Captain F K D'Souza FNI
SENIOR WARDEN Captain M Reed RD* RNR
IMMEDIATE PAST MASTER Captain H J Conybeare
WARDENS Captain R B Booth MNI; The Honourable Company Captain W J Barclay AFNI; Captain D Chadburn
of Master Mariners COURT OF ASSISTANTS Commander P R F D Aylott MNI RN; Captain R F A Batt; PATRON Mr M F Burrow; Commander L Chapman RN; Her Most Gracious Majesty THE QUEEN Captain G Cowap FNI; Captain B A Cushing; ADMIRAL Captain G English AFNI; Captain I C Giddings FNI; His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Captain P T Hanton RFA; Mr J Johnson-Allen FRIN; Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, KG KT OM GBE Captain J K Mooney AFNI; Captain R Nosrati BA(Hons); Captain T Oliver; Commander D G Phillips MVO MNI RN; FOUNDER Captain M R Powell FNI; Captain M M Reeves MNI; Sir Robert Burton-Chadwick, Bt. Captain R S Richardson FNI; Captain N F Rodrigues; b. 1869 d. 1951 Captain I A Smith FNI FRNI; Mr I P A Stitt FRIN; Mr T Starr MNI; Captain J R Freestone MNM; Captain J W Hughes FRIN FNI; Captain S S S Judah MBE FNI
CLERK OF THE COMPANY – 0207 845 9871 Contents Commodore Angus Menzies FCMI MNI RN – [email protected] BUSINESS MANAGER – 0207 845 9872 Company News Page 3 Mrs Alison Harris BA (Hons) – [email protected]
FINANCE OFFICER – 0207 845 9875 Latest News Page 12 Mrs Penny Burningham – [email protected]
Ports News Page 22 RECEPTIONIST Position gapped – [email protected]
Features Page 24 HONORARY CHAPLAIN The Reverend Reginald Sweet BA RN Book Reviews Page 29 CORPORATE MEMBERS *Birchtree Limited; J&J Denholm Limited; Fairdeal Group; Furness Obituary Page 29 Withy (Chartering); *International Maritime Pilots' Association; John Swire & Son Limited; Maritime Underwater Securities Merchandise Inside Back Cover Consultants Limited; P&O Ferries; PCA Maritime Ltd; Star Reefers; Stephenson Harwood; The Baltic Exchange; Witherby's Publishing Group; X-PRESS Feeders. (*Tenant company)
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Published by The Honourable Company of Master Mariners, HQS www.hcmm.org.uk Tel: 0207 836 8179 Fax: 0207 240 3082 Wellington, Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment, London WC2R 2PN. Email: [email protected] Company News
The next day was the hundred-year From the Master Anniversary of the award to Captain Bisset We are sorry to re cord the death of Captain F K D’Souza Smith of his Victoria Cross and we were the following members of the privy to a beautiful and National ceremony Honourable Company of Master at Robert Gordon’s School to Mariners: commemorate the event. The school was • Captain Hywell Phillips where Captain Bisset Smith spent a few 1 January 2017 months of his education. We watched a • Captain Roy Ezzard touching film of the SS Otaki’s last brave 5 January 2017 effort as it fought against a German Armed Merchant Cruiser. We then took part in the • Professor Richard Oliver Goss laying of a paving slab in his honour. He 8 February 2017 was one of the only two Merchant Captains who has received a Victoria Cross. the WELLINGTON Trust Education Clyde Outport was our next visit, on 21st Programme for school children, celebrated March. This was well organised by Secretary their 356th anniversary of their founder on Captain Stuart Miller and his wife Fiona at 8th February. A magnificent church service the legendary Anchor Line Club and was held at the Parish of St Botolph, Restaurant. It was wonderful to meet up Aldgate and Holy Trinity in the presence of with one of our associates, Andrew McGurk the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor Alderman Dr along with his Master, Captain Kiran Benny. Parmley. All Livery Masters and senior members processed through Jewry Street. In December, I visited the Hull Trinity House as a guest of the Master Warden for their Later that month, the Worshipful Company Christmas lunch. It was an excellent outing of Arbitrators held their Masters and Clerks By the time this reaches you Spring would to witness both the Trinity House and the Luncheon on board WELLINGTON where I be in the air. The daffodils, cherry blossom City of Hull gearing up for its year as the was invited to speak. This was well and gardens in general are smiling again. UK City of Culture. appreciated and profusely thanked by the On board WELLINGTON too the best time of Master for giving them an insight into the In January, the major dinners were at the rich history of our Company. the year has just begun. Worshipful Companies of Plaisterers, Since I last wrote to you, Christmas was a Shipwrights and Founders. The Drapers The highlight of this quarter was our Court welcome break not only to our hard- Company and the Rector of St Michaels Luncheon on 4th March, a return lunch to working staff but also for the hectic life of Cornhill had an inspiring church service host the Livery Masters and their Clerks the Master. Since then, the usual round of followed by a reception. Each of them who had entertained the Master in his year. formal and informal events has been in full was very welcoming and warm to the This was a house-full event. Our guest of swing. Amongst the several events that I Master Mariner. honour, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councilor Steve Summers spoke extremely have attended, the most memorable have Having taken on the Presidency of the been the visits to our Outports by me and well and was appreciative of our Company’s European Union, the High Commissioner of history and good work. During the lunch, my Mistress along with our gallant Clerk Malta, despite BREXIT, invited us to a and Paula. we awarded our four annual prize winners beautiful Big Band Brothers concert on from the Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, th Bristol Outport in Cardiff in February at the 17 January. This was very nostalgic our sponsored MSc Course at City spectacular Cardiff Bay Yacht Club. The because the music and the songs were all University and London Nautical School. Ladies luncheon was well attended and about the sea and its wonders. welcomed by Chairman Captain David The International Maritime Pilots The Cachalots of Southampton held their Kettlety and the ever-delightful Marilyn. Association (IMPA) celebrated their annual famous Sea Pie Supper at St Mary’s The Hon Secretary, Captain Mike Reeves cocktail celebration onboard with a well- stadium in February. Your Master as usual and his charming wife Penny made sure all attended and very international guest list was treated with high respect at the head were comfortable and enjoyed the organised by their current President table by the new Captain, Robin Plumley. I afternoon. Having loaded my first ship in Captain Simon Pelletier, a senior St thoroughly enjoyed the evening listening to Cardiff with a full load of Hillman Hunter Lawrence Seaway Pilot. the music performed by the City of cars in 1986, it was very special for me to The Modern Liveries of which we are Southampton (Albion) Band and singing be back in port again. number One, celebrated their annual Spring sea shanties lead by Mr David King. It was a Dinner that month and this year it was the Aberdeen next - a city close to my heart well-attended dinner with 500 members turn of the Worshipful Company of due to my various connections in the and guests. Information Technologists to organise the offshore drilling world. The luncheon was The UK Chamber of Shipping annual dinner evening at the Brewer’s Hall. well arranged at the Royal Northern and was next, at the London Hilton. This was University Club and was well attended. The Clothworkers held their annual Masters one of the biggest dinners I had to attend The Secretary, Captain Richard Curtis and and Clerks dinner the next day and it was with a gathering of nearly 800 members his wife Penny were necessarily absent very interesting to learn about their and guests. Their main charity is the visiting their daughter in East Africa but historical background going back to 1528 Mission to Seafarers. all went well under the guidance of as being one of the Great Twelve Captain Ian McDougall. Sir John Cass’s foundation, the donors to Companies. The story of Edward Osborne www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 3 Company News
diving into the Thames to save his Master’s the status of Chartered Master Mariner, Congratulations to the following little daughter and then marrying her when which will be a most prestigious and on being sworn in as: she grew up to be a great heiress and then internationally recognised qualification. In Freeman: Captain Daniel Millett, becoming Lord Mayor of London, I suppose sum, we have much to be proud of and Captain Alistair Ferguson is one of the City’s best known romances. many outputs that merit celebration when Before I close I place my appreciation and a our Company reaches its hundredth year in Member: Mr John Hood, 2026. To that end the Wardens have Mr David Walker big thank you for the whole-hearted support of my Mistress Yasmin, my Gallant formed a Centenary Committee to progress Associate: Owen Evans, Hannah Clerk Angus, our ladies Alison and Penny, the outline of events for our celebration Riekemann, Martin Westgate, Dominic our Chief Engineer Martin and son Joe and year. Members interested in taking part in White, Christopher Whiteley, Clive our Shipkeepers David and Igor and, not that Committee’s deliberations are most Austin, Richard Fearis, Adam Harrison, forgetting Simon, for being there for me to welcome to contact the Clerk who can George Mills, Ian Whipp truly enjoy being your Master. provide more detail. Apprentice: Andrew McGurk At a recent meeting of the centenary Clerk’s Corner Committee is was agreed that to Commodore Angus Menzies RN begin the process of accumulating a Centenary Fund to support events in 2026 a 100 Club should be started in which members, their spouses and kin can participate. The 100 refers to the number of years the Company will have been in operation, not to the number of subscribers. The initial plan is for a monthly contribution of £5.00, by Standing Order, that a significant draw would be made twice a year, as example 2 prizes of £500.00, £250.00, £100.00 etc. More details to follow from the Clerk.
City of London Briefings Freemen and Liverymen are encouraged to attend the City of London briefings which tell you about the City and its structure and are designed for all Liverymen, and indeed On being elevated from Associate to Freemen, Court Assistants, and Wardens (as Freeman: Oliver Chasteauneuf well as their spouses and partners who are very welcome to accompany). All are at On being elevated from Apprentice to Centenary 1700 for 1730 in the Guildhall, and are Freeman: Brendan Gill Our Company formed on 25 June 1926. We over by 1930. Registration and bookings have come a long way in the last ninety are preferred via the website: and a half years. We received our first www.liverycommitteecourses.org Royal Charter in 1930 and in the same year but if this presents difficulties, please our title of Honourable from His Royal contact the Course Administrator at Highness, King George the Fifth. Our Guildhall, Claire Holdgate: Company was granted Livery by the Court [email protected]; of Aldermen of the City of London in 1932. telephone 020 7332 3176. We have been privileged to have had four Royal Masters of our Company; His Royal Committees Highness, The Prince of Wales (1928-1936), The Company operates five Standing His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke Committees (this means permanent and of Edinburgh (1954-1957), His Royal reporting direct to the Court). They Congratulations also go to Captain Highness, The Prince of Wales (1988–1990) generally formally meet four times a year Donald Patrick Cockrill, Secretary and her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and cover the following areas: (2005-2007). General United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ • Finance - all aspects of the Company’s Association, on being appointed an We procured in 1947, and live in, the only investments, subscriptions and accounts; Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of floating Livery Hall in the UK and • Membership - policy on membership the Most Excellent Order of the British introduced a hugely successful Apprentice criterion, recruiting, and numbers; Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s New Year’s Mentoring Scheme, currently over 250 Honours List, for voluntary services to strong. Our Joint Informal Professional • Education & Training - oversight of Maritime Pilotage and the Port Industry. Meetings are highly regarded and our training standards and the Company is in the final stages of awarding Apprenticeship Scheme;
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• Technical - oversight of professional them whenever possible in order to speed arriving after normal working hours to practices in every area of maritime up and improve our service to members. check in and collect your key. business and shipping; Member’s Survey If unable to book onboard, The Vintner’s • Treasures - management of all models, Emma Forbes-Gearey is an Associate Company, Upper Thames Street, art, library and silverware collections. Member having joined our Mentoring London EC4V 3BG (close to Cannon Street or Mansion House District/Circle Line Tube Members are invited to consider joining one Scheme in 2015, serving her sea-time with Stations) offers our members access to or more of these committees and thereby to Anglo-Eastern. She gained her OOW ticket their overnight accommodation; some take part more in the day to day life of our in August 2016 before moving ashore to rooms are en-suite and start at £60 + VAT. Company. Membership will not take up Plymouth University as a final year entry to Contact: much personal time and a great deal of the complete a BSc in Navigation and Maritime [email protected] work is achieved by email. If interested, I am Science She is in her final phase and in the Tel: 0207 651 0748. always delighted to update members on the process of preparing for her dissertation workings of the Committees whose Minutes on: Are long term eating and drinking Members who are still serving, may make are published in the Member’s Area of the habits creating a long-term problem in the use of the facilities of the Union Jack Club Company website. maritime industry? at Waterloo Station, where a single ensuite She is using an online survey to help collect room begins at £72.00 and a double Strategic Plan 2016 ensuite room begins at £126.00. Contact: (The Passage Plan) information on food and lifestyle choices/options and would be very grateful Daiva Sobole, Advance Reservations The Honourable Company’s Strategic Plan if any members can assist her with any Manager ([email protected]); Tel: 0207 for 2016 – 2020 was approved by the Court information you may have on this subject. 902 7379: Fax. 0207 620 0565; Union Jack Assistants at their meeting last October and The link to her online survey is: Club, Sandell Street, London SE1 8UJ. you are strongly encouraged to study it. www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CZ9F55L Income Tax Relief on Annual The Plan is available on the Company Members are encouraged to assist Emma if Subscriptions and Livery website; hard copies can be obtained from Quarterage the Clerk. you possibly can. Merchant Navy Memorials Honourable Company of Master The Honourable Company is approved by Mariners and Howard Leopold Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for the Every year memorial Services are held Davis Charity purposes of Section 334 of the Income Tax throughout the world and the UK, (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (which dedicated to all those who have served not Members are reminded that our associated HCMM & HLD charity is focussed on the replaces the previous legislation). Where a only in the Armed Services but the member is employed in a marine or marine Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets as well. support of needy Merchant Navy Deck Officers and their dependents. Any member related occupation, the Annual Subscription Once the evasions are over, the memorials and Livery Quarterage is allowable as a are left with their own memories and the knowing of a mariner or widow in need should contact the Clerk. deduction from earnings for tax purposes company of many wreaths lay at their feet. (but not Freedom or Livery Fines). Section However, through time some memorials are Our Charity also oversees our presentation 334 is limited to earnings from neglected and unfortunately left to the at Christ’s Hospital School. The presentation employment, but members who are self- sometimes-unkind weather conditions and covers all fees, uniform and equipment at employed receive relief under Schedule D. other elements. the School for the full secondary course. This presentation is currently not filled and Social If one looks on the internet there is very little a suitable candidate is being sought, details information concerning memorials dedicated The team is currently working up towards: from the Clerk. Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, purely to the Merchant Navy. With this in • Curry Lunches on: Friday 26 May 2017 West Sussex RH13 0YP; mind, a page on the Merchant Navy [CURRENTLY FULLY BOOKED], Monday Tel: 01403 211293; Fax: 01403 211580; Association website is being constructed and 26 June 2017 (for City Liverymen also, Email: [email protected] populated, dedicated to such Memorials. which follows Common Hall voting for Good quality photographs from not just the The Royal Hospital School at Holbrook the Sheriffs), Friday 30 June 2017 UK but worldwide are sought. Ideally any offers generous bursaries to the sons or [CURRENTLY FULLY BOOKED] and Friday photograph should not contain any people in daughters or the grandchildren of male or 28 July 2017 [CURRENTLY FULLY order to show their best aspect. Also, the female officers of the UK Merchant Navy. BOOKED]. Members are reminded that photograph should be personally taken in The School also offers generous guests should conform to our Curry order not to break any copyrights. Scholarships in four areas: Academic, Arts, Lunch dress code of jackets and ties. A and Sports and, Sailing. The Royal Hospital The website page is located at: stock of maritime type ties is held at School, Holbrook, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2RX; www.mna.org.uk/wp/mn-memorials/ Reception. Also, that set tables and Tel: +44 (0)1473 326200 individual groups will be called forward The designer, Captain Terry Hughes FNI [email protected] by the Catering Manager when they FRIN MN, can be contacted at Accommodation should rise to select their curry lunch. [email protected] There are two ensuite cabins one double • The Installation Court Dinner on Friday Office Direct Line Telephone and one twin in WELLINGTON for the use 28 April 2017 is the second formal event Numbers of members (£50 single, £60 double of the year and a celebration of the The direct telephone numbers for Company occupancy). Both cabins have colour installation of the new Master for 2017- staff are listed on the inside cover of the televisions, digital radios and full Wi-Fi 2018. Dress is sombre Black Tie to allow Journal and you are encouraged to use facilities. Please let us know if you will be all our Ladies to outshine us. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 5 Company News
Wardroom Notes John Johnson-Allen Honorary Wardroom Mess Secretary
• The Annual Company Church Service at available when Bob the chef is on duty, St Michael’s, Cornhill, is at 1100 on please check beforehand). Friday 16 June 2017, followed as usual at The menu on offer is: I wrote in my last column that in this year, 1245 by the Ladies’ Lunch. These are Hot - all priced at £7.50 Company events and an opportunity to in my view, we shall be in for a bumpy ride. Grilled Chicken or Steak Baguette involve our ladies. I am still of that view and just reiterate with shoe-string Fries & Salad that we have the sanctuary of the • The Summer Reception is at 1830 on Sausages and Mash & Onion Gravy Wardroom to which we can retire from the Wednesday 7 June 2017 and provides an pressures of the world outside. excellent opportunity for an upper deck Roy’s Special Fish ’n Chips focussed drinks Reception with finger Cold - priced from £3.00 The Christmas lunch was as usual a great food, before perhaps you move ashore to Poached Salmon Salad (£7.50) success and great fun. The guests had gone to great efforts with the dress theme. that special dinner or the theatre? Roy’s HCMM Special, the ‘Master’s’ There were two options given the theme of • The 13th London Maritime Ball is on Club Sandwich (£5.00) going for gold: either gold or Olympics. Friday 14 July 2017 and is invariably A full range of sandwiches on brown The gentleman winner was a Norwegian fully booked so you should get your or white bread (£3.00) guest who had come in an outfit name on the list early. Theme this year is Members are reminded that during bar comprising almost completely of FRANCE (post BREXIT and Bastille Day). opening hours any formal business Norwegian flags and Olympic medals. • Now an annual fixture, the third of our meetings underway in the Wardroom must Father Christmas had a more difficult task Outport Ladies Lunches is on Friday 21 be put on hold and, that dress for members with the annual limerick competition as July 2017. This Lunch is aimed at all and their guests in the Wardroom is jacket some of the tables did not have a firm members of the Company and their (optional in the summer) and tie. A stock of grasp of what comprises a limerick. wives with a particular theme to attract spare maritime ties is held in Reception. I set out below a limerick which satisfies Outport Members and their Ladies and Library an opportunity for the Outports to get the parameters very adequately and together and to meet the Master and New publications received recently are: which although funny will not, I trust, the Wardens and other Members – • Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea (the appear inappropriate for the pages of our book early to secure a place. loss of the SS Central America) august Journal. Wardroom Gary Kinder There was a young lady from Riga ISBN-0-316-64714-4 The Wardroom is available for members and Who smiled as she rode on a tiger; (donated by Captain Ian Giddings) their private guests from 0900 until 1700 They came back from that ride, either to relax during busy visits to London • Old Rope With the lady inside or to conduct business, and it is helpful if Roy Talbot And the smile on the face of the tiger. you can advise if you will be onboard, to (donated by Captain John Hughes) We are now starting to prepare for the prevent over-crowding. The bar opens from • Reminiscences of my Sailing-Ship days next Maritime Charity Ball which this year 1230 to 1430, when the Chief Steward, Captain E Worlidge MBE will be on 14 July. As you will, I'm sure, all Simon, serves a full range of drinks and (donated by E Worlidge and D Worlidge, be aware, this is the date of the French cold and hot food (hot food should be current master of the Worshipful commemoration of Bastille Day, so the ordered 24 hours beforehand and is Company of Ironmongers) theme of this year’s Ball is a French theme.
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This will give an excellent opportunity for We have embarked on minor improvements into the realms of fantasy was kept nicely all sorts of interesting costumes, both male and a refurbishment to the tenant galley to in check by the presence in the audience of and female. At the committee meeting at overcome potential food hygiene issues and a contingent of his former Thames Pilot which this was decided there were various also taken the opportunity to relocate the colleagues. HCMM member David Parry‘s suggestions ranging from onion sellers to reception desk to opposite the front door for October presentation, A Baltic Escape, cancan dancers! This year’s charity is improved security and monitoring of visitors. featured a small but important part of the Seafarers UK which is celebrating its The whole ship paint was achieved last history of the British Mercantile Marine. centenary – and we have already been year before the wet winter weather The outbreak of war in August 1914 found advised that their Director General will be arrived. So looking good when the new 95 British-owned ships trapped in the attending, hopefully with other Trustees. Lord Mayor visited. Baltic. The story of their escape and the masterminds behind it was both well told If you wish to have a meal in the On the future project we are still in limbo and well-illustrated. Dr Vanessa Jenkins, a wardroom, please remember to book 48 awaiting the decision over the Garden seasoned cruise ship lecturer and Liveryman hours in advance. Prices (so far) have been Bridge, though we have now taken the of the Worshipful Company of held for another year. Details will be found precaution of getting a quote to repair our Apothecaries, brought to the fore, in elsewhere in the Journal. If all you require a current dolphins, should the Garden Bridge amazing detail, the Allied invasion of Sicily sandwich it would still be helpful if you can not happen. (Operation Husky, July 1943) a large contact the ship in advance. I have had talks with the new team at amphibious and airborne operation that Heritage Lottery Fund, including a tour of was followed by a six-week land battle; the The Wellington Trust the ship, and they remain convinced that beginning of the Italian Campaign. this is a heritage asset worthy of their Captain Guy Brocklebank RN support. We will have to reshape our bid In December, our very own John Johnson- Chairman of the Trustees though and the timeline will extend. Allen, maritime historian, author, lecturer and Chairman of the Institute of Seamanship, gave a talk on the forgotten The Wellington Trust part of a remote maritime campaign fought in Mesopotamia from 1914 - 1918, Heritage Evening the first to be triggered by the need to Lectures secure essential oil supplies. Mr Richard Fitzwilliams’ January talk on Captain Bligh Glyn Evans was presented in a highly theatrical and Co-ordinator - Wellington Trust entertaining fashion, bringing back to life Heritage Evening Lectures the leading characters from both sides of Season 2016 – 2017 the mutiny on HMS Bounty. Richard is a PR nd consultant, Royal commentator, film critic As I write (22 February 2017) my first and former editor of the International season as Co-ordinator of the Wellington Who’s Who. This was his first visit to HQS Trust Heritage Evening lectures is drawing Wellington and he later spoke warmly of to a close with the final evening scheduled th the friendly reception he received from for Monday 13 March. This will feature Wellington Trust and HCMM members. the return of the popular and erudite speaker, Rear Admiral John Lang, with his Lt Cdr Sam Beattie and the Raid on St Wellington Trust is in good shape and presentation, Covert Operations at Sea Nazaire was the subject of our February financially improving though costs still out during WWII, highlighting the support evening, presented by one of his four sons, perform income by a small margin so we given to resistance movements working Nick, himself a former Royal Navy officer remain dependent on gifts and donations behind enemy lines. and now Chairman of the St Nazaire Society. For his part in the raid, as Commander of each year to break even. While my predecessor, John Johnson-Allen, HMS Campbeltown, Sam Beattie was had left the season’s programme largely in The Education programme continues to awarded the Victoria Cross, notification of place, this could not cater for the flourish with good achievements at the award being given to him by the unfortunate demise of our scheduled primary and secondary and development Commandant of the German Prisoner of th speaker for February, Martyn Heighton, of 6 form Science Technology War camp in which he was held until 1945. who died suddenly on 6th November 2016. Engineering and Mathematics is on track Nick Beattie was as surprised as everyone Martyn was a stalwart figure in the thanks to generous additional funding else to learn from a member of the audience maritime heritage community - latterly from the Sir John Cass Foundation. that evening, John De Rose, (guest of Nigel Director of the National Historic Ships UK We have had £47000 HLF funding for this Mathews) that their fathers had been unit and founding member of the years exhibition, Abandon Ship, which will prisoners together in the same camp. tell the stories of the WW1 survivors of International Congress of Maritime Otaki and WW2 survivors of Richmond Museums’ International Traditional & Season 2017 - 2018 Castle. Design work has started and we Historic Ships panel. Subject to final confirmation and any plan to open on Sunday 21st May and run Lamp-swinger extraordinaire, Captain John changes that may be required, the through to Monday 6th November, Freestone, started our season off in Wellington Trust Evening Lectures for the opening on Sundays and Mondays as for September with a look back at his Season 2017 - 2018 will be as the table on previous exhibitions. experiences as a Thames Pilot. His entry the next page. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 7 Company News
Heritage Evening Programme 2017 Date Speaker Subject 11 September 2017 Ian Dear Rescue Tug Service in two World Wars
09 October 2017 John Almond Wireless at Sea 1880 - 1950s
13 November 2017 Chris Roche Cape Horn Sailor in Soren Larsen
11 December 2017 Stuart Lawrence Navigation & Seamanship in Ice
Heritage Evening Programme 2018 Date Speaker Subject
08 January 2018 Geoff Hunt Royal Society of Marine Artists
12 February 2018 Richard Woodman Ships of the Honourable East India Company
12 March 2018 Dave Brooks Voyages of the Thames Sailing Barge Cambria
Currently under consideration is an certain aspects of our Company publicly password, go to the log in option and click additional lecture, Women and Children First available. For this reason, it is imperative the option Lost Password - the loss of HM Troopship Birkenhead to be that all our members register as users of To register complete the form and submit. given by Glyn L Evans in August 2017 (date the website. Persons not registered will not The Business Manager will email you to to be confirmed) in conjunction with the have access to the more sensitive pages or confirm that your registration has been Wellington Trust Exhibition Abandon Ship. articles within the site designed for approved. You may now log in and have members only. full access to all sections and pages within PDC Column Many members will already be registered. If the website. you were registered on the old website, The website is designed for use on any Geoff Cowap then your username and password will be device, desk top, tablet, smart phone and Professional Development automatically transferred to the new can be accessed with most of the Consultant (PDC) website. If you never registered with the commonly used browsers. The Website old website, then I strongly recommend that when you first visit the new website The main menu contains links to the five I am pleased to report that the new that you register. main sections: About HCMM – Events - Company website is well advanced and will The log in/Register link can be found at Mentoring Scheme – Chartership - be going live on the launch date of Friday Membership 28th April. Can I ask ALL members, the top right hand corner of EVERY page. Liverymen, Freemen, Associates and Click on the coloured link Log in/Register Each section contains a submenu to several Apprentices, to log in to the website over and complete the form. If you have secondary pages. On your desktop, the the weekend commencing Friday 28th April. forgotten your original log in user name or menu links are visible across the top of each The website address remains as www.hcmm.org.uk The website is designed to attract and inform visitors from all walks of life and different groups of people will be looking for a range of content within the website. Members will be interested in the business and governance of the Company as well as the several events and activities both within and without the Company whereas visitors who are not members will be more interested in an overall picture of who we are and what we do. The website includes a considerable amount of content in order to satisfy the requirements of these different categories of visitors. Much of the content is directed specifically at our own members and in some cases, we would not wish to make
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window and the submenus are visible in the DUKE where, during a North Atlantic right-hand column. On your smart phone Ship affiliations deployment, he experienced post-civil war the main menu are accessed by clicking on Sierra Leone during Operation Keeling and the universal menu icon of three short HMS SUTHERLAND one of the largest narcotics hauls in the horizontal lines which will be visible from Captain Christopher Laycock Caribbean basin. the home page just below the crest. As usual, HMS SUTHERLAND has continued He subsequently commanded HMS Secondary pages have sub menus with the her active role in nearby waters as reported SCIMITAR in Gibraltar, charged with label Subnavigation. in two updates from both the outgoing maintaining the integrity of British Each page includes a header with HCMM and incoming XOs. We are still hoping to Gibraltar Territorial Waters and providing crest (click on the crest in the header to see a little more of our affiliated warship force protection to RN and NATO Ships and return to the Home Page from wherever over the coming months now that she is Submarines. Initial Staff Course and PWO you may have navigated to), a footer which into a maintenance and further training Course followed before qualifying as a includes quick links to the more widely period from her home port of Plymouth. Principal Warfare Officer (Underwater). used pages, News items and contact details. We now extend a special welcome to the Joining HMS LANCASTER as Operations Throughout the website, you will see links new CO of SUTHERLAND, Cdr Andrew Officer in December 2006, he experienced a to other pages, articles or posts. Links are Canale MVO RN, and the XO, Lt Cdr Carlos further North Atlantic and Caribbean identified in a different colour from the Garreta RN; we look forward to meeting deployment, live anti-submarine operations, main text them very soon aboard Wellington and Operation Telic oil platform protection in SUTHERLAND when circumstances permit. the Northern Arabian Gulf and counter In accordance with modern website practice, piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. and to be compatible with smart phone Commander Andrew Canale MVO RN Returning from the Gulf in December 2008, users, our new website makes use of vertical he joined Flag Officer Sea Training as a scrolling. If you don't immediately see what Staff Warfare Officer responsible for you may be looking for…scroll down. training underwater warfare and East of In designing this website, the many Suez tactics to deploying warships. comments and suggestions from the survey He was also a Towed Array Response Team that was sent to all our members has Leader. He then joined HMS LIVERPOOL as wherever possible, been taken into account. Second-in-Command in September 2010. I’m sure you will agree that if I were to ask During an eventful 18-months in the 10 people what is the objective of the veteran Destroyer he deployed to Libya on website, I would get 10 different answers. Operation Ellamy before overseeing the I have focused on those areas where there Ship's decommissioning from service as the were multiple responses of a similar Senior Naval Officer. nature. It is important that the He then served as Equerry to Her Majesty administration and maintenance of the The Queen between 2012 and 2015, website is high on the agenda when an assignment considering what facilities and what sort of functionality is possible. One such that proved uniquely rewarding during a consideration was the facility for members fascinating period in our Monarch’s reign. to make online booking of social events, Having been promoted to Commander and including the very popular curry lunches. selected for sea command in 2013, he has After much discussion, it was thought that spent twelve months on the Directing Staff such a facility would be impracticable to Andrew Canale joined the Royal Navy in of the Advanced Command and Staff incorporate at the present time. 1996. After initial training, he completed Course at the UK Defence Academy prior to assuming command of HMS SUTHERLAND There are a number of functions that will Fleet training in the minesweeper HMS in January 2017. be installed, some of which are not Ledbury and the frigate HMS Chatham. The complete at time of writing. There will be a latter appointment included the unique news item available and accessed from the experience of the handover of Hong Kong HMS SUTHERLAND – NEWS link in the footer of each page. The to China in 1997. Following a number of a year in review (2016) news item will list the various less short courses, he was appointed to the prominent features of the website and act Dartmouth Navigation Training Ship HMS Despite spending most of her time around as a guide to navigating around the site. ORWELL as Navigating Officer. the UK, 2016 was a busy year for SUTHERLAND, spending 208 days at sea and In September 1999 he joined the Advanced The advantage of the new website is that it travelling 32,422 nautical miles, equivalent French Course at the Defence School of is built on a platform that is very flexible to circling the globe one-and-a-half times! Languages in Beaconsfield. This was and there is a wide range of options that The year was mainly dedicated to Anti- followed by an eighteen month can be easily incorporated at some time in Submarine Warfare exercises and operations appointment to the Belgian Navy as the future. The website can be adapted to and in January we conducted the Towed meet our future needs with minimal or Navigating Officer of the frigate BNS Array Patrol Ship (TAPS) duty, using our often no additional expense. WIELINGEN. Qualifying as a Frigate towed array sonar. January also saw the I hope that you find our new website easy Navigating Officer in 2001, he was supersession of the Commanding Officer, as to use and easy to navigate. appointed as Navigator of HMS IRON Cdr Patricia Kohn RN assumed Command. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 9 Company News
Jutland, during the 100-year anniversary of the battle. In addition to providing the Guard of Honour for a commemoration in the local church, SUTHERLAND laid a wreath above the position of HMS NATAL, sunk in 1915. During May, SUTHERLAND escorted the Russian warship ADMIRAL GRIGOROVICH as she passed through UK waters, part of the RN’s commitment to provide reassurance both at home and to our NATO allies. July saw a return to specialist ASW training, as the Ship practiced working with her Merlin helicopter (named Macallan in homage to our affiliated distillery!). After taking well-earned summer leave, the opportunity was also taken to practice gunnery off the South Coast, utilising the Ship’s 4.5” Medium Calibre Gun. SUTHERLAND then visited the Isles of Scilly, acting as Guardship for the Islands’ first ever regatta, followed by a visit to Amsterdam in September. The year ended as it began, as SUTHERLAND headed back to the Arctic Circle to conduct ASW exercises off Norway with Macallan and our NATO allies, followed by TAPS duties in October and November. A visit to Tromso was greatly enjoyed by the Ship’s Company, with whale-watching and the appearance of the Northern Lights providing some truly memorable highlights. In December, SUTHERLAND headed back February saw participation in the challenging close in-shore navigation. Later south, and escorted the Russian Warships multinational exercise Cold Response, off in the month SUTHERLAND was again busy, VICE ADMIRAL KULAKOV and YAROSLAV the coast of Norway in challenging Arctic supporting the Royal Netherlands Navy MUDRY through the Channel in quick weather conditions. In March, SUTHERLAND Submarine Command Course off the coast succession, before the Ship’s Company took took part in Griffen Strike, the of Scotland. leave over Christmas and New Year. multinational rollout of the Combined Joint In April, the Ship took the opportunity to 2017 promises an equally busy schedule. Expeditionary Force (Maritime), led by the visit Invergordon and strengthen ties with Already this year, Cdr Kohn has transferred French Navy. This provided an opportunity our affiliated county of Sutherland and our Command to Cdr Andrew Canale MVO RN, to not only exercise our traditional ASW affiliated Army unit, 4th Battalion, The who will lead the ship through a role, but also to take part in amphibious Scottish Regiment. More poignantly, the maintenance and work-up package, operations, with the covert landing of 60 visit provided an opportunity to pay including a period of Operational Sea Royal Marines and the conduct of some respects to the fallen of the Battle of Training in May under the auspices of the FOST organisation. We will also support a wide range of other tasks and exercises, all aiming to get us in the best possible state to deploy towards the end of the year for a 9-month deployment. As ever, The Company’s support and encouragement is gratefully received by all onboard. The knowledge that our endeavours are keenly followed by those ashore is much appreciated, even when many of those activities must, for understandable reasons, remain undisclosed. Thank you again and we look forward to sharing SUTHERLAND’s exploits with you as we generate this year and deploy in 2018.
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special Centenary events around the UK raise awareness of the need for, and Calling all seafarers: during 2017, in Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow existence of, training and job S-Mode survey and London. opportunities in the maritime sector, On 28 March, exactly 100 years to the day and in helping those still serving, but launched since the first meeting was held in 1917 in increasingly veterans and ex-seafarers, The latest issue of The Nautical Institute’s the City of London to discuss the who have fallen on hard times, and their magazine The Navigator, published on 1 formation of the charity (previously known families.” February 2017, hopes to raise awareness of as King George’s Fund for Sailors), For more details about booking to attend the future of navigation technology. The Seafarers UK will hold a Centenary the Seafarers UK Centenary Dinner at Nautical Institute is working to introduce a Celebration Dinner at Guildhall. Guildhall on 28 March 2017, or information standard setting (S-Mode) for all on other Seafarers UK Centenary events navigational systems and is inviting and projects, please visit www.seafarers.uk seafarers to contribute to a short online or send an email to survey. S-Mode would help navigators [email protected]. operate and understand navigation functions on all vessels. Royal Naval The S-Mode survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Nav-Funct. The Volunteer Reserve results will be included in a report that will be presented to the IMO. Yacht Club - Emma Ward, Editor of The Navigator, said: Volunteer "Imagine going to the bridge of a ship Volunteer, the yacht of the Royal Naval as a new arrival and finding that you’re Volunteer Reserve Yacht Club (RNVRYC) is unfamiliar with the ECDIS or Radar owned and run on behalf of the club by systems. This could seriously affect Admiral Lord West of Spithead with Sea Volunteer Yachting Limited, which was competence and safety. That is why The Cadets at Seafarers UK’s Annual Meeting established specifically for the purpose of Nautical Institute is joining with other last year owning and chartering the yacht to club organisations to urge the IMO to The evening, sponsored by Ruffer LLP, will members of the RNVRYC and other establish a single set of S-Mode interested parties. guidelines, and why the topic of S-Mode involve a drinks reception, a splendid three- is thoroughly explored in this issue of course dinner, music by the Band of Her The Navigator.” Majesty’s Royal Marines, speeches and a special auction. Former Head of the Royal David Patraiko, Director of Projects for The Navy, Admiral Lord West of Spithead is the Nautical Institute, added: celebrated after-dinner speaker; he says: "This survey is your chance to shape the “Congratulations to Seafarers UK on future of navigation systems. There are reaching its Centenary’ said Lord West. ‘I no wrong answers, so please use our am honoured to speak at this very special survey to tell us what you think. But event at Guildhall and to help highlight first, read this issue of The Navigator to and mark 100 years of welfare support learn about the current issues for seafarers in need, and their families, surrounding S-Mode.” by the leading charity for the entire The Navigator is produced by The Nautical maritime sector.’ Volunteer is a Benetequ First 40.7 and is Institute with support from the Royal The make-up and capability of the UK’s fully coded to Cat 2 MCA and RYC training Institute of Navigation. It is available free maritime sector has changed vessel. Based at Port Solent near Portsmouth, in printed format or as a pdf, digital dramatically since 1917, and whilst we Volunteer is available to charter by any magazine or App on The Nautical Institute are still very much an island nation, suitable qualified person, although there are website. A supporting blog can be found at with serving seafarers in the Royal Navy, preferential rates for both RNVR YC and www.nautinst.org/NavInspire Merchant Navy and the Fishing Fleets, RNSA members as well as for members of the numbers of those actively involved is associated yacht clubs who may wish to reducing every year. And I fear that with Lord West to charter her, such as members of the HCMM the continued lack of investment in our as an associated club. highlight state of UK Royal Navy, and the ever-reducing number of UK cadets entering the The RNVR Yacht Club is a services yacht Maritime Sector at increasingly global Merchant Navy, the club taking it members from the RNR, RN, Seafarers UK UK will be left behind as other major RMR, RM, RFA and other MOD departments nations build up their maritime and interested marine personnel. Centenary Dinner capabilities, unless more is done to To find out about chartering go to On 1 January 2017, the maritime charity, reverse this decline. volunteeryachting.com or talk to the yacht Seafarers UK, celebrated the start of its Within this context, there is a very admin on 07747 513380 and talk to Cdr Centenary Year. To mark this anniversary, important and continued role for Alan Waters RNR, or Nigel Collingwood Seafarers UK is holding a number of Seafarers UK to play, both in helping to Commodore RNVRYC on 07966 932890. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 11 Latest News
Like Bligh's men they have battled brutal He told invited guests: Mutiny for Freddy storms and treacherous reefs. They braved “Well I am going to present you with a 230 years ago, the British navy ship HMS the furnace of Northern Australia's shark challenge to identify the key trade and Bounty was sailing from Tahiti to the West infested waters, and the challenge of export opportunities and what you Indies. During its 17 month voyage a landing on remote tropical islands to hunt think you need from this government to poisonous rift developed between its crew for vital supplies. The crew were constantly make them happen. Of course the and its tough young captain - William challenged by raging seas, hunger, and the gateway for our exports is through our Bligh. In the middle of the South Pacific, confined space of the boat. ports and what we buy comes that way rebellion broke out. The programme recently aired on Channel 4. too. So it’s not enough to get goods off It would go down in history as the Mutiny the ships, we have to get them to where on the Bounty. Captain Bligh and a handful they are needed.” of loyal men were forced into a tiny open Latest News He said the time was right for an boat and left to die. Instead they managed assessment of where the industry and to navigate 4000 miles to safety, through Britain’s maritime Government is on the recommendations some of the world's most remote and relating to all aspects of the Maritime unforgiving seas sector can be Growth Study. It remains one of the greatest survival feats ‘greater than “I want to make it quite clear that this is in British history. we imagined’ not a case of redoing work that’s already Now for the first time, 9 men have set out been done. I always envisaged the study as to make the same gruelling journey in a The UK Government’s purpose is for Britain’s a ‘living document’; a ‘starting gate’ not a replica 23ft wooden boat, with the same maritime sector to be as great as it can be ‘finishing line’. It is right in any event to look rations, facing the same conditions - to and to be “greater than we imagined again at the recommendations from the measure themselves against history. possible over recent years,” according to the study a year or so on, to be sure we had our UK’s Shipping & Ports Minister. priorities right. Certainly, leaving the EU obliges us to consider those priorities And he issued a challenge to the industry afresh. I want you all to be involved in that to identify the key trade and export assessment process,” he said. opportunities and what it thought it needed from this government to make Focusing on one of the Study’s initiatives – them happen. skills – the Minister said that the UK prided itself on producing many of the best- trained officers and crew serving on ships around the world. As well as those with expertise in areas such as law, insurance, finance and the logistical skills for Mutiny boat (courtesy Channel 4) managing ships and ports. “An incredible For company, they have Bligh's own words skills base that supports the whole - in the form of a detailed Journal he kept maritime sector,” he said. which remarkably survived the voyage. The He added: Journal will help them uncover the secrets of survival and to get a closer “Our pride in all we are, and confidence understanding of Bligh's epic feat. Addressing a reception of Government and in all we can be, must be measured maritime leaders at the Houses of against increasing competition we face, The men bring skills that mirror those of Parliament, in January 2017, John Hayes, especially from the Far East. To develop Bligh's crew. Amongst them are a carpenter, CBE, MP praised the work being undertaken the right strategies and support to a doctor, and several specialist sailors. by Maritime UK in implementing the maintain and enhance our existing Anthony Middleton, of SAS: Who Dares recommendations of the UK’s Maritime reputation for high quality. Wins is stepping into Captain Bligh's shoes Growth Strategy and said that “we are in as leader of the expedition. Included in the The government currently supports the right place, at the forefront of the crew is 23- year-old Freddy Benjafield, maritime training through the £15 efforts to secure the best deal for the UK as HCMM Junior Associate. million support for maritime training we leave the EU. budget. This covers just over a third of “However, as Benjamin Disraeli so the cost. We are reviewing the provision eloquently put it, the secret of success is of that support and are talking to you in constancy to purpose. Constancy means the maritime industry about options. we cannot afford to relax; we must You will already know that the make the best of every opportunity. government is also committed to Constancy means we must commit to increasing the quality and quantity of working together both now and right up apprenticeships; three million to the time when the UK exits the apprenticeship starts by 2020. The European Union and long beyond. maritime sector has a very strong record Constancy means we must be absolutely on apprenticeships, and I’m delighted to confident that the world knows we are see new opportunities being developed,” Freddy Benjafield (courtesy Channel 4) ready to grasp these opportunities.” he told guests.
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The Minister said that he wanted to see the number of trainees – both ratings and officers – increase and that he was “open to exploring innovative options at how we do this when it comes to supporting trainees in the further development of their careers.” “And let us be clear, I want to be sure that we are looking across the board at the skills and opportunities our sector needs. From those working on inland waterways, to those working in our ports and onboard ship. We have to think not just of opportunities at sea but ensuring that we make best use of that skills and experience on shore,” he said In its report, IMB recorded 191 incidents of crewmembers were kidnapped in three Looking forward to what he described as piracy and armed robbery on the world's attacks on vulnerable slow-moving tugs the flagship event that is London seas. Pottengal Mukundan, Director of IMB and barges. International Shipping Week 2017, the whose Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) has Minister concluded by saying: “Britain has monitored world piracy since 1991 said: IMB advises charterers and owners to an extraordinary maritime history. So many "The continued fall in piracy is good consider avoiding the Sulu Sea by routing triumphs, so strong. And we have so many news, but certain shipping routes vessels West of Kalimantan. strengths today. A strong flag; competitive remain dangerous, and the escalation of The Gulf of Guinea remained a kidnap maritime services; world-leading expertise. crew kidnapping is a worrying trend in hotspot in 2016, with 34 crew taken in nine We have clear and shared commitment to some emerging areas. separate incidents. Three vessels were work together to do more, to be still "The kidnappings in the Sulu Sea hijacked in the region. There was a greater; to broadcast UK maritime’s between East Malaysia and the noticeable increase in attacks reported off successes and significance; to promote our Philippines are a particular concern.”. Nigeria: 36 incidents in 2016, up from 14 in maritime sector to the rest of the world. Worldwide in 2016, 150 vessels were 2015. These included nine of the 12 vessels “A place that is open for business. To boarded, 12 vessels were fired upon, seven fired upon worldwide in 2016. Some were recognise and to celebrate our strengths were hijacked, and 22 attacks were thwarted. almost 100 nautical miles from the coastline. and build on them. A continuing The number of hostages fell to 151. competitive advantage; to identify and Meanwhile, Indonesian piracy incidents fell overcome the barriers to success. Maritime kidnappings, however, showed a from 108 in 2015 to 49 in 2016. Although Finding new ways to attract maritime threefold increase on 2015. Pirates the overwhelming majority were low-level businesses to the UK’s shores, and kidnapped 62 people for ransom in 15 thefts, vessels were boarded in all but three continuing to support the best and the separate incidents in 2016. Just over half of the incidents. brightest to reach their potential in their were captured off West Africa, while 28 were kidnapped from tugs, barges, fishing IMB recorded two incidents off Somalia. maritime careers. That is what we all Pirates attempted to attack a container want. A nation that can be proud of our boats, and more recently merchant ships, around Malaysia and Indonesia. vessel in the Gulf of Aden in May, and fired maritime sector. Proud of the glory of on a product tanker in the Somali basin our maritime past. Of what was then. IMB is urging governments to investigate some 300 nm from shore in October. For Still more proud of what we can be in and identify the kidnappers and punish IMB, this latest incident demonstrates that the future. Of what we will be then.” them under law. the capacity and intent to attack merchant He added: “We will reach beyond our Mr Mukundan said ships should stay shipping still exists off Somalia. doubts. Stretch further than our hopes. Do vigilant in high-risk areas: our best. Be the best.” "Shipmasters should follow the latest Peru reported 11 incidents – 10 of them at best management practices and where the country's main port of Callao – possible take early action to avoid being compared to zero in 2015. The number of Sea kidnappings rise boarded. They should inform the IMB incidents in Vung Tau, Vietnam dropped PRC or regional counter piracy centres from 15 in 2015 to seven in 2016. in 2016 despite for help and advice.” Bangladesh also witnessed a welcome decrease, down from 11 in 2015 to three plummeting The kidnapping of crew from ocean going in 2016. merchant vessels in the Sulu Sea and their global piracy transfer to the Southern Philippines The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre is the More crew were kidnapped at sea in 2016 represents a notable escalation in attacks. world's only independent 24-hour manned than in any of the previous 10 years, In the last quarter, 12 crew were kidnapped centre to receive reports of pirate attacks despite global piracy reaching its lowest from two cargo vessels underway and an from around the world. IMB strongly urges levels since 1998, the ICC International anchored fishing vessel, and in November a all shipmasters and owners to report all Maritime Bureau's (IMB) annual piracy bulk carrier was fired upon but pirates were actual, attempted and suspected piracy and report for 2016 has revealed. not able to board the vessel. Earlier in 2016, armed robbery incidents to the IMB PRC. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 13 Latest News
New Director for it globally competitive for the 21st Findings of the report include: century and Doug’s appointment will Fatigue’s effect on Masters undoubtedly drive the register forwards.” UK Ship Register A Master’s place on a ship is central to its The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the performance, a claim which many would appointed a new Director of the UK Ship Maritime & Coastguard Agency, comments: agree with. The project confirmed this and Register (UKSR). Doug Barrow, former chief “This marks a really exciting time for us found a number of reasons for how a executive of Maritime London – where he as an Agency. The MCA’s aim is to make Master’s role differed from that of other has been promoting the UK as a centre of the UK Ship Register both more crew members, including that Masters: commercially attractive and more maritime excellence for business – says he • Have more weekly work hours is honoured to be taking on the role and responsive to ship owners. This will looking forward to leading the team. create the right conditions to grow the • Feel that work in port is less demanding UK-flagged merchant fleet and help than work at sea boost the UK’s wider maritime economy. • Are far more fatigued at the end of a The UKSR team under acting director contract Richard Pellew has worked tirelessly • Are slightly more overweight compared towards shaping a more competitive offer to ship-owners. We’re now looking to others onboard forward to welcoming Doug Barrow, • Suffer from mental fatigue, compared to whose wealth of experience and physical fatigue suffered by other knowledge will continue to drive that seafarers work forward.” Fatigue’s effect on performance The performance of seafarers onboard is MARTHA Fatigue paramount to a vessel’s operation and Report launched efficiency. The study found: • During interviews, seafarers pointed out that not being relieved on time was The appointment is part of a wider at IMO having an effect on motivation commitment to generate growth in the InterManager, the trade association for in- maritime sector, encourage greater house and third party ship managers, • 48.6% of participants felt stress was investment in the UK and promote the UK together with The Warsash Maritime higher at the end of a voyage flag as a world-class register that attracts Academy, has presented the findings of its • Sleepiness levels vary little during the quality ship owners. fatigue study, Project MARTHA, to The voyage, suggesting there are International Maritime Organization (IMO). opportunities for recovery while As UK Ship Register Director, Doug Barrow onboard will play a leading role in championing the Speaking at the presentation, Captain Kuba UK flag and building on recent growth in Szymanski, Secretary-General of Fatigue and the cultural the register. Doug explains: InterManager urged the maritime industry perspective “Having started my career sailing for to take notice of the findings as the The cultural differences Project MARTHA seven years under the Red Ensign, it will industry recruits aspiring seafarers. sought to examine threw up some be a great honour to take on this role. interesting results and clear divides I’m incredibly enthusiastic about between European and Chinese seafarers working with a first-class team to were found: ensure the UKSR is the register of choice • European seafarers worked fewer hours for quality owners. than their Chinese colleagues I will bring a commercial input into the • Chinese seafarers on dry bulk carriers register gained from 30 years in the worked an average of 15.11 hours a day bunker industry – and, having spent the compared to European seafarers who last 11 years promoting the UK as the worked an average 10.23 hours a day world’s premier maritime business centre, I will be bringing those skills to • There is evidence of higher levels of bear on my work with the register.” fatigue and stress in Chinese seafarers, The Rt. Hon. John Hayes CBE MP, Minister rather than European seafarers of State for Transport, says: Addressing IMO delegates and invited “I’m delighted with this appointment guests, Captain Szymanski said: and with all the commercial experience “I sincerely hope the results of our that Doug will bring to the UK Ship research will be read and acted upon by Register. We already have a great deal ship managers and ship owners who will to be proud of in our UK maritime The report highlights growing levels of go on to revise their attitudes and sector, which provides a strong and fatigue, particularly among Masters and procedures. There are a number of low resilient backbone to the economy. The Watchkeepers, and noted that motivation hanging fruits which, with a little Government is committed to was a major factor in fatigue experienced adjustment, could make a big difference. transforming the Ship Register to make by seafarers. These are not necessarily costly changes
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- such as having seafarers relieved on incidents. Six medium-sized spills (7-700 time and organising work onboard with tonnes) were also reported in 2015, humans and not regulations in mind involving cargoes of asphalt, naphtha and and engaging sea staff in decisions - slurry oil, as well as bunker fuel. but empowering seafarers to take care of their lives more than it is today. The total amount of oil lost to the environment through tanker incidents in Our people are our assets and we need 2015 was approximately 7,000 tonnes, the to develop a strategy whereby shipping majority of which can be attributed to the is once again seen as a career of choice two large spills. for tomorrow’s young talented people. Bill Gibbons, director Discover Ferries said: “Nearly 8.8 million car journeys are now There is no avoiding the fact that the This continuing trend in low numbers of large oil spills annually is encouraging news made by ferry within the UK and to the global fleet is increasing and more near Continent and Ireland with a total for tanker operators and governments alike manpower is needed. However, we are of 38.6 million passengers travelling by as they continue to work to improve demanding more from current seafarers car, coach and on foot. The sustained standards of operations in sea-borne rather than recruiting even more cadets growth in car carryings is particularly transportation. into the market. Attracting new good news for the sector as we see more seafarers and retaining them will test people recognise the advantages of the industry, but we cannot ignore these Further details on the number and quantity of spills from tanker accidents since 1970, simply hopping into their own car and findings in making the industry an enjoying the flexibility, value and freedom attractive place for aspiring seafarers.” together with figures and tables, are available from of a break by sea rather than the The full report can be downloaded from: http://www.itopf.com/knowledge- pressure of travelling through an airport.” http://findresearcher.sdu.dk/portal/files/123 resources/data-statistics/statistics. Discover Ferries confirmed that the biggest 513095/martha_final_report.pdf growth in ferry travel in 2016 came from an increase in domestic travel within the Ferry industry UK. Total passenger ferry journeys within Downward trend celebrates fourth the UK increased from 16 to 16.7 million in tanker spills and the number of car carryings increased successive year from 3.7 to 3.9 million year-on-year. continues of growth for car Travel in Scotland, particularly in Western Over half-way into this decade and the Scotland, performed particularly well in downward trend in oil spills from tankers travel by sea 2016 with the number of passengers continues, according to the International travelling by ferry increasing from 5.9 to Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited The number of cars taken by ferry has 6.5 million, together with 1.79 million cars. increased from 8.6 million in 2015 to nearly (ITOPF). For the last three and a half The Isle of Man (557,000 passengers and 8.8 million in 2016, a 1.7% increase. This is decades the average number of incidents 177,000 cars) and the Isle of Wight (8.8 the fourth successive year of growth, involving large oil spills, i.e. greater than million passengers and 1.8 million cars) also according to the annual results of the ferry 700 tonnes, from tankers has progressively saw strong traffic. More than 300,000 industry published recently. reduced and since 2010 stands at an people also visited the Channel Islands with average of 1.8 per year. 2016 Ferrystat figures, released by Discover 84,000 car journeys by sea last year. In 2015 two spills of oil over 700 tonnes Ferries, the industry body for ferry Ferry travel between Great Britain to from tankers were recorded; one a crude oil operators, reports that growth for car travel Ireland and Northern Ireland totalled 4.7 spill in Singapore and the other a spill of by sea is up by 473,000 in the past four million passengers last year and 1.2 million naphtha in Turkey. ITOPF provided technical years; up from just 8.3 million car crossings cars (1.3% increase). Coach travel to Ireland advice to the vessels’ insurers in both by sea in 2012. and Northern Ireland also increased from 22.9 to 23.5 million– a 2.5% increase. More passengers travel between UK and France by ferry (14.6 million) compared to flying (10.8million) according to the report which includes an analysis of CAA 2016 provisional data. In total, ferry travel accounts for one in ten travellers to Western Europe. The Netherlands welcomed more than 1.8 million passengers by sea in 2016, while Belgium and Spain both welcomed more than 310,000 and 320,000 respectively. Last year 3.65 million cars were carried on ferry routes between the UK and the near continent accord to the report published today. More than two million of these cars www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 15 Latest News
travel via Dover, one million via Western requirement for maritime professional Channel ports, including Newhaven, expertise, in law, finance, broking and Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth and insurance. Those professions need high Weymouth and a further 450,000 cars are quality British Master Mariners. carried via Hull, Harwich and Newcastle. So when we talk about promoting Bill Gibbons added: Maritime Jobs at Sea and Ashore, and “We’re delighted to report strong Sea Ports for Prosperity, we see many consumer travel by ferry. Our mission as diverse employment opportunities for an industry is to ensure that new men and women, especially talented generations of travellers understand the young people, beyond our traditional value and joy of starting their holiday From left to right: Commodore Barry Merchant Navy.” by easily driving on board a ship with Bryant CVO RN, Director General, Seafarers Following presentations by David Dingle, the heaviest luggage they like, safely UK, Drew Brandy, Senior Vice President Chairman, Maritime UK and Drew Brandy, packed in their own car or caravan. Market Strategy, Inmarsat Maritime, David Inmarsat Senior Vice President Market We want people to understand they can Dingle CBE, Chairman, Maritime UK Strategy, Commodore Bryant continued by highlighting the importance of Seafarers also travel as foot passengers on rail Addressing the official Seafarers Awareness Awareness Week: and sail packages, or consider the Week launch event at sponsor Inmarsat’s options for coach or caravan and London HQ, Commodore Barry Bryant CVO “We believe it is good for the whole UK motorhome touring. Over the past RN, Director General of Seafarers UK, maritime world to benefit from raised decade our ferry members and partners underlined that despite recent reports by public awareness of the contribution we have constantly innovated and invested the Department for Transport about collectively make to the UK economy. To to ensure travel by sea is as superb declining UK seafarer numbers, there was do this we will disseminate positive experience and it’s exciting to see the cause for optimism following the UK messages about newsworthy maritime results of that work coming through in Maritime Growth Study recommendations activities, from public events and school our 2016 results.” and Maritime UK becoming the visits to ports, to college open days and promotional body for the whole UK other sources of information about Two new themes maritime industry, bringing together for maritime and marine job opportunities. the first time shipping, ports, marine and Seafarers Awareness Week is a solid launched for business service sectors. platform on which just about any Seafarers Awareness Said Commodore Bryant: positive news, campaign or PR activity “Our island nation is dependent on a can be promoted to a media audience Week diverse range of seafarers: that goes far beyond the maritime trade press.” Announcing the themes Maritime Jobs at Fishers, deep sea, offshore, and Sea and Ashore and Sea Ports for nowadays including those who take to Maritime individuals, businesses and Prosperity, Seafarers UK has launched this the sea to farm fish. organisations were urged to support the year’s Seafarers Awareness Week (24-30 week by sharing news, engaging on social Skilled workboat skippers and crews, June 2017) campaign, with the focus on media and organising events throughout whose services are in high demand promoting maritime career opportunities, the week. in growth areas such as offshore both at sea and ashore, including in the wind power. UK’s thriving port industry. Maritime pilots and harbourmasters, Seafarer Projections More than 150 maritime professionals providing an essential link between land Review published came together on 9 February 2017, to and sea. celebrate the launch of the seventh The Department for Transport has published Merchant Navy Officers and Ratings on Seafarers Awareness Week campaign, the Seafarer Projections Review which was cruise ships, where the huge number of organised by the charity Seafarers UK. The one of the recommendations from the hospitality workers are now also week-long campaign will provide a Maritime Growth Study. platform for national and regional counted as seafarers. The following summary is provided courtesy promotions and events intended to engage Superyacht captains and crew members, of the Maritime Skills Alliance (MSA) - media and raise public awareness, with where our seafarers are a vital part of www.maritimeskills.org. However, those individuals, businesses and organisations the UK’s success story in that most working together to raise the profile of jobs buoyant of maritime markets. who are interested in the subject should within the whole UK maritime industry, read the full report which can be And finally let’s not forget that the UK downloaded from: including seafaring. and London in particular has a huge https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sys tem/uploads/attachment_data/file/583822/ seafarer-forecasts-report.pdf This report by Oxford Economics (OE), published in January 2017, responds to the recommendation in the Maritime Growth Study (September 2015) that the Department for Transport should refresh its
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assessment of the requirement for seafarers Nationality mix be an ample supply of former seafarers in the UK maritime sector. becoming available to take up such roles in An important characteristic of the UK fleet the years ahead”. has been the increasing employment of non-UK seafarers: only 40% of officers, All of the forecasts are dependent on how 30% of non-hospitality ratings, and 20% of companies respond to prospective hospitality ratings are now UK nationals. If shortages, and in particular the mix of UK the UK fleet continues to employ non-UK and non-UK seafarers they employ. nationals in line with recent trends, “the Assumptions and cautions supply of both officers and ratings could increase over the next decade”. Oxford Economics carefully sets out its assumptions and provides a number of Roles ashore cautions where the evidence is not as OE reaches quite different conclusions to strong as it would like. Notably: (1) the those of the most recent review of numbers limitation of key datasets, and responses to required ashore: it estimates demand for its own surveys; (2) demand for seafarers is “onshore roles requiring a former seafarer” primarily determined by the prospects for to be 4,300, compared with 15,000 world trade, and prospects for China’s estimated in 2003. The authors explore why economy are a major influence on that; (3) there might be a difference and say that the UK’s share of global demand for their conclusions should be “treated with seafarers stabilises at 3.5% of global caution”. They conclude that “onshore demand; (4) there’s limited impact from Main points requirements have fallen over the last 10- disruptive technological change in the 15 years”. Some of that may be because years to 2026; (5) it makes no allowance Global demand for officers is rising faster companies are adapting roles so they can for any impact from implementation of the than that for ratings, probably because be undertaken by non-seafarers. Growth Study or for leaving the EU. of the increasing technical complexity of vessels. Demand for officers now exceeds UK-v-non UK seafarers that for ratings, and that trend will continue. The report has an interesting discussion North P&I Club Global demand for officers could increase to (Chapter 7) about the “extent to which publishes new almost 1.1m in 2026 (from 790,500 in 2015), requirements need to be met by UK and 865,000 (754,500 in 2015) for ratings – seafarers”. Demand for UK seafarers is guidance on increases of 39% and 15% respectively. strong, especially for more senior officers and those with specialist skills, reflecting minimising risk from OE points out that these estimates are very the strong reputation of the UK’s training dependent on its assumptions about system – though some respondents Ro-Ro fires international trade: if growth is lower by suggested that as training improves North P&I Club has published a new loss one percentage point, the total for officers elsewhere the difference is diminishing. prevention briefing on how to prevent, would fall by 90,000 (or conversely, rise by detect and fight fires on roll-on-roll-off 90,000 if growth is one percentage point More than 40% of those employing officers at sea or former seafarers ashore said they (ro-ro) vessels and car carriers. Such vessels faster than forecast). OE discusses the are twice as likely to catch fire as other effect of technological change on would “like to employ” more UK seafarers if they were available. The greatest barriers to ships and vehicle-deck fires are notoriously requirements for seafarers, reducing their difficult to contain and put out. numbers, and increasing requirements for doing so are lack of suitably qualified technical knowledge, as well as the impact seafarers, and higher training and The new 10-page briefing explains the risks of increased real-time remote monitoring employment costs for UK seafarers. of ro-ro and car carrier fires in detail. It of ships from headquarters ashore. The balance of supply and demand then sets out a comprehensive series of recommendations covering training, Despite decline in the UK fleet from 2009- There is likely to be a shortage of 3,800 maintenance, vigilance, reaction and 15 the number of officers and non- deck and engine officers by 2026 (peaking procedures. hospitality ratings remained constant, at 4,400 in 2023). Closing the gap would primarily because of growth in the require increasing the annual inflow to Deputy loss prevention director Colin relatively labour intensive cruise sector. 1,500-1,600 pa. Gillespie says: “We continue to see fires developing on UK demand for seafarers (of all nationalities) The number of technical officers, by by 2026 could be 148,000, of which: ro-ro vessels that can quickly get out of contrast, is “forecast to be greater than control, putting lives at risk as well as • Officers: 38,000 (down from a peak of the industry’s requirement over the causing significant damage to the vessel 38,700 in the early 2020s) coming decade”. and cargo.” • Non-hospitality ratings: 30,000 For ratings the gap could gradually Vehicle fires collectively account for a large • Hospitality ratings: 80,000 (if the UK increase to a shortage of 2,700 by 2026. number of fires but there are different cruise sector continues to grow its Closing the gap for UK deck ratings would sources of ignition. Electrical fires in market share) - up 20,000 from 2015. require increasing the annual inflow from vehicles are common, with increasingly There is also some analysis of other 122pa to 470. sophisticated electronics – particularly in specialist sectors: LNG, offshore, yachts, and By contrast, for roles ashore, the modelling hybrid and electric cars – meaning new inland waterways. suggests “there should, at least in theory, cars can be just as hazardous as used ones www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 17 Latest News
unless properly isolated. Fires in vehicle cabs are also common, while other causes include hot engines, discarded cigarettes and fuel leaks. “As in every incident where fires are involved, early detection is key,’ says Gillespie. “Modern, well-maintained fire- detection systems are capable of identifying the location of smoke and fire to a reasonable degree of accuracy. It is important that the crew understand these systems and that alarms are properly investigated.” Once detected, North says it is vital to contain a fire, which means making sure all ventilators are properly closed – particularly if a carbon dioxide suppression system is being used. “Just a small gap in one louvre housing can render the system ineffective” says Gillespie. “And if water drenching systems or fire hoses are used – including for boundary cooling – it is vital to check the water is draining away and not destabilising the vessel through free- surface effects.” North says that a well-maintained vessel manned with a well-drilled crew who are familiar with all aspects of the fire-fighting equipment and response on board will minimising the damage a fire may cause. “Our new briefing discusses how to positively react to a fire, problems that may be experienced when fighting fires and what can be done to prevent them starting in the first place” says Gillespie. Commission Vice President responsible for Galileo Initial Services are fully interoperable the Energy Union Maroš Šef ovi said: with GPS. With Galileo satellites working in Downloadable from: “With Galileo, Europe gains its own conjunction with GPS, there are more www.nepia.com/media/632737/ satellite navigation system that will satellites available, allowing for: LP-Briefing-Ro-Ro-Fire.PDF improve a range of everyday services for • more accurate and reliable positioning our citizens and strengthens Europe’s for end users Galileo begins strategic autonomy.” • increased positioning and accuracy, delivery of Initial With the launch of Initial Services, Galileo particularly important for navigation in officially transitions from a system in testing cities, where satellite signals are often Services to a system in service. As Europe’s link blocked by tall buildings • Galileo’s Search and Rescue service As of 15 December 2016, for the first time between space technology and user needs, improves the locating of distress ever, people around the world are being the European Global Navigation Satellite beacons, reducing response time from up guided using the positioning, navigation Systems Agency (GSA) has been delegated to three hours to just ten minutes and timing information provided by the responsibility for the Galileo service Galileo’s global satellite constellation. provision by the European Commission. • Galileo’s excellent 30 nanosecond timing accuracy enables more resilient With 18 Galileo satellites in orbit and the The GSA will have the core task of ensuring synchronisation of banking and financial supporting ground station infrastructure a return on investment from Galileo in the transactions, telecommunication and working, Galileo, Europe’s global satellite form of clear, across-the-board services and energy distribution networks, helping navigation system (GNSS), is now available applications for end users. them operate more efficiently. for use. The first services offered by Galileo “The centre of gravity for the Galileo Galileo stands alone as the world’s only include the Open Service, Public Regulated programme is now the user, meaning option for GNSS under civil control. Initial Service (PRS) and Search and Rescue Service European citizens, businesses and Services – a combined effort of the GSA, (SAR). All services are free of charge. entrepreneurs can benefit from the and European Space Agency (ESA) – is the The announcement was made at a special many innovative opportunities created first step toward full operational capability, Galileo Initial Services event held in by European GNSS,” said GSA Executive which will occur when the Galileo Brussels. Speaking at the event, European Director Carlo des Dorides. constellation is complete in 2020.
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From that day onwards, the ship has The Rovers were renowned for their End of an era as RFA provided steadfast support to the Royal reliability – one reason why Black and GOLD ROVER reaches Navy on a wide variety of global operations. GOLD ROVERs both served more than 40 Captain Jonathan Huxley, GOLD ROVER’s years, while Blue Rover continues to serve end of service last ever Commanding Officer said: the Portuguese Navy, and the oldest, Green Rover, still flies the Malaysian flag as KRI After 43 years supporting Royal Navy “Throughout her time GOLD ROVER has Arun… 48 years after first pumping fuel operations around the globe, RFA GOLD been a force for good in the world. ROVER has reached the end of her lengthy into the tanks of a British warship. She has been a regular visitor to the and distinguished career. South Atlantic and was always well Proudly flying her paying-off pennant, the loved by her crew and warmly welcomed Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship arrived in by friends across the globe.” Portsmouth n 22 February 2017 ahead of During her decades of service, GOLD ROVER her official end of service ceremony on 6 has taken part in evacuation duties during March 2017. the partition of Cyprus (1974) and Liberia (1996). She has undertaken flood relief operations in Jamaica (1986) and delivered humanitarian aid at Tristan da Cunha (2007) resupplying medical stores after 271 people in the British Overseas Territory suffered a viral infection. In 2006, en route to Nigeria with Type 23 frigate HMS ARGYLL, GOLD ROVER was involved in a £60m cocaine bust after intercepting 1.8 tonnes of the drug off West Africa. She has also been involved in eight rescue missions involving the saving of lives at sea. During her eventful career, it is estimated that GOLD ROVER replenished ships at sea 8,256 times. It marks the end of four decades of service After over 4 decades of service to the Royal from the RFA tanker which has supported Fleet Auxiliary, delivering Maritime drugs busts, humanitarian relief missions Operational Support around the globe, RFA Captain Nick Pilling RFA, GOLD ROVER’s and sea rescues in addition to her core role GOLD ROVER brought to a close a long and chief engineer on her final voyage of replenishing the Royal Navy’s fleet. distinguished career on the evening of 06 explained: The single hulled tanker makes way for the March when an End of Service “The Rovers were built on sound, simple double-hulled RFA TIDESPRING and her commemoration, concluding with commercial design principles. Their three sisters – TIDERACE, TIDESURGE and ceremonial sunset, took place at HM Naval reliability can be attributed to a strong TIDEFORCE. TIDESPRING will formally enter Base Portsmouth. simple straightforward design of service later this year. Commander Naval Operations (COMOPS) equipment and purpose, maintained by Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant RN and RFA Head Commodore Duncan Lamb, the head of professional seagoing personnel, well of Service Commodore Duncan Lamb RFA the RFA. supported by a focused RFA and “This is a significant period in the attended the end of service event. Also in commercial shore team with a wealth of history of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and attendance at the ceremony, officiated at operational experience at sea.” perhaps a moment to reflect as we by RFA Padre Reverend Mike Hills, were Throughout GOLD ROVER’s career she reach the end of the Rover Class. former and present Commanding Officers maintained strong ties and her namesake of RFA GOLD ROVER. It is also an opportunity to look to the Sea Cadet unit in Greenock, a relationship Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant said that like the future at the Tide Class ships. These forged back in 1973 by the very first CO rest of her class, GOLD ROVER had been versatile and hugely capable new vessels Captain Barry Rutterford. Those links led to “small, simple and effective.” will significantly enhance the global a number of Greenock cadets going on to operational output currently provided by He continued: have successful careers in the RFA. the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.” “Her departure heralds the end of an era Source: RFA GOLD ROVER, the last of the Rover as she represents the last of her class; a http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and- Class small single hull fleet tankers, was class, which has given a significant latest-activity/news built at Wallsend in Newcastle by Swan contribution to the Naval Service. Editor’s note: I have very fond memories of Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd. Ordered in GOLD ROVER has proven herself a my time as a Second Officer in GOLD November 1971 and launched on 7 March capable and versatile asset who will be ROVER, from standby in build to her 1973, GOLD ROVER was accepted into sorely missed by the Royal Navy and maiden voyage and an unexpected service with the RFA just over a year later the numerous people’s lives she extended deployment to Cyprus during its on 22 March 1974. positively affected." partition in 1974. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 19 Latest News
veterans and those still serving under very refurbishment, as well as Royal Navy bomb HRH The Princess different conditions of service today.” disposal experts responsible for safely Royal officially The Royal Navy is supporting a number of disposing of historic ordnance. WRNS100 celebratory events including the A number of wartime devices have been launches the unveiling of a Commemorative Stone in recently uncovered by dredging work in WRNS100 Centenary Portsmouth Cathedral in November and a preparation for the arrival of the two new London reception at the Old Royal Naval aircraft carriers. HRH The Princess Royal officially opened College Greenwich where Wrens served and The Portsmouth Naval Base Commander, the exhibition Pioneers to Professionals: trained for many years. Women and the Royal Navy exhibition at Commodore Jeremy Rigby, hosted the visit the National Museum of the Royal Navy in HRH The Princess Royal held the honorary by The Princess Royal. As Commodore-in- Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard on the position of Chief Commandant of the Chief for Portsmouth, she is a frequent afternoon of 8 March 2017, officially Women’s Royal Naval Service from 1974 visitor to the naval base and takes a keen launching the WRNS100 centenary until 1993. interest in activities there. celebrations. The formation of the Women’s Royal Naval “It was a privilege to welcome Her Royal The exhibition opening was attended by Service in 1917 was an important milestone Highness back into the naval base to officially name this historic jetty,” Cdre current serving Royal Navy personnel, for the history of women and the Royal Rigby said. “Work continues at a pace to WRNS veterans, including members of the Navy. The service allowed women to work in get our naval base ready for the arrival WRNS100 Project Team and museum an official capacity in shore-based roles thus of HMS Queen Elizabeth later this year officials who were introduced to The releasing men to work on the ships. The and the excitement builds as we now Princess Royal as she toured the exhibition. pioneering work of these women paved the way for women in the Royal Navy today. enter the final stages of work, testing and training ahead of her arrival.” In 1993 the WRNS were integrated into the Royal Navy, since integration The Princess The jetty, parts of which date back over 90 Royal has held the position of Chief years, has been refurbished in addition to Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy. the dredging of the approach channel, inner harbour area and berth in order to Source: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/ make them deep and wide enough for the news-and-latest-activity/news new ships, moving three million cubic metres of clay, sand and gravel from an Princess Royal names area the size of 200 football pitches. “The work on The Princess Royal Jetty is Serving women in the Royal Navy with new jetty for Navy’s a fantastic example of how we are HRH The Princess Royal at the exhibition giant aircraft carriers investing in the future of the Royal launch in Portsmouth Navy and is the culmination of £100m The opening took place on International Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has of infrastructure upgrades in Women’s Day, (8 March 2017) coinciding officially named the jetty which will house Portsmouth in preparation for our two with a Royal Navy ship visit to London the Royal Navy’s giant new aircraft carriers new aircraft carriers,” said Minister for where HMS ST ALBANS presence helped to in Portsmouth. Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin. mark the achievements of women in The Princess unveiled a plaque at “The Queen Elizabeth class carriers, today’s Royal Navy during a number of Portsmouth Naval Base on Monday 20 together with our F-35 jets will engagements in the capital. March 2017 officially naming the vast transform our ability to project power berth as The Princess Royal Jetty. around the world.” Pioneers to Professionals’ champions the early pioneers who fought for equal rights Bespoke navigational lights, a high-voltage in the Royal Navy and tells the story of electrical supply and specialist carrier- how women’s role and service in the navy specific gangways, known as brows, are has changed. also being provided as part of the £100m programme of works. The Defence The exhibition celebrates women’s Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has contribution to the Naval Service over the worked with VolkerStevin and BAE Systems last 250 years. to deliver the package of infrastructure Commodore Inga Kennedy, the most senior needed for the carriers. female officer in the Naval Service said: It will be home to the Royal Navy’s two The previous week, the giant American “The formation of the Women’s Royal new 65,000-tonne Queen Elizabeth class supply ship USNS ROBERT E PEARY tested Naval Service 100 years ago was a really aircraft carriers. Formerly known as Middle the strength of the new jetty by coming important milestone in the employment Slip Jetty, the berth has been upgraded and alongside in Portsmouth. The US ship, of women within the Royal Navy. strengthened to support the carriers as part which despite its mammoth size is still Their achievements laid the foundations of a raft of infrastructure upgrades taking 200ft shorter than the Queen Elizabeth for the integrated naval service that we place ahead of the arrival of the first ship – carriers, was the first vessel to use the jetty have today. HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH – later this year. since its completion. We are delighted that HRH The Princess Her Royal Highness met some of the Source: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/ Royal was able to meet so many of our workers involved in the jetty’s two-year news-and-latest-activity/news
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The act has been used to offer protection waiting for them and their haul was Great War wrecks to to HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse, sunk sequestrated. " by the Japanese off Malaysia in 1941, all be protected from The wrecks now added to the 1986 act's Royal Navy vessels lost in the Falklands in 'protected places' list are: unscrupulous 1982 and many of the wrecks of the Battle of Jutland. In all, 78 sites fell under the – HMS Hogue, Aboukir and Cressy salvagers and act's jurisdiction. – HMS Pheasant, destroyer sunk by mine souvenir hunters Renewed interest in the Great War as a in March 1917 off the Orkneys with 88 men lost Three of the most hallowed sites in Royal result of the centenary and illegal salvaging Navy history will be protected from of some of the more accessible wrecks, – HMS Moldavia, armed merchant cruiser torpedoed off Beachy Head in May 1918; plunderers - as the Government takes steps including the Hogue, Aboukir and Cressy, 56 American personnel died to safeguard 13 Great War shipwrecks. led to calls for more sites to be covered by the 1986 act. – HMS E49, submarine mined off Shetland More than 1,450 men died when the cruisers in March 1917. All 31 hands lost HMS Hogue, Aboukir and Cressy were sunk – HMS Viknor, armed merchant cruiser, lost in the space of an hour by a single German to a German mine off Donegal, submarine in September 1914. May1915, with 295 crew – HMS E47, submarine lost in the North Sea in August 1917, cause unknown. All 31 crew lost – HMS Falmouth, torpedoed off Flamborough Head in August 1916. All crew rescued HMS Aboukir The 13 additional ships - and the 2,516 The wrecks of HMS Aboukir and HMS bodies in them - now under the act's Hogue have become protected sites umbrella include submarine E49, lost with The loss of the three outdated warships all hands off the Shetlands in 1917, the while patrolling the North Sea off the former liner Laurentic which hit a mine off Dutch coast provoked outrage a century the Northern Ireland coast that same year, ago and earned the vessels an unfortunate taking gold bullion worth about £1.5bn in HMS Falmouth - Postcard. nickname: The Live Bait Squadron. today's money and 354 men to the bottom. Courtesy WD Cocroft Kent and London suffered particularly Henk van der Linden, chairman of the Live HMS Laurentic, armed merchant cruiser heavily; six in every seven men who Bait Squadron Society, who was recently mined off Lough Swilly, January 1917. 354 drowned were from the Chatham Port awarded the British Empire Medal for his men lost, 391 saved. Division - 1,264 of the 1,459 souls lost. decade-long efforts to ensure the men of the three cruisers are properly remembered The three wrecks lie about 100ft down in the UK and his native Netherlands, said some two dozen miles off The Hague. After he was "very glad" that the three wrecks a century only about 30ft of the three were now protected. warships protrude from the seabed, which is littered with shells, cordite charges and "They are still regarded as war graves and personal effects such as shoes. deserve to be respected as such. Nevertheless, the underwater site has No wreck is intact thanks to the ravages of developed into a popular diving location, the initial torpedo strikes, effects of the not least because of the precious new weather and salvaging - pre-1945 steel is fauna and flora that came into being in HMHS Anglia sinking off Folkestone. particularly highly valued as it is not and around the wrecks," he continued. Taken by the Assistant Paymaster of tainted by radioactive particles from HMS Hazard, November 1915 "Divers are generally known to show great nuclear explosions. consideration for the sunken ships - the HMHS Anglia, hospital ship mined off Some lawful salvaging of the wrecks took site has developed into a popular diving Folkestone in November 1915 with the loss place half a century ago - but in more location, not least because of the precious of 134 men recent decades both the public and new fauna and flora that came into being HMS Lady Patricia, 'Q ship', torpedoed by government have taken a dim view on any in and around the wrecks," he explained. U46 off Skellig Island, May 1917. All 31 disturbing Royal Navy shipwrecks around "The same can't be said, however, of the crew lost the globe. so-called salvagers whose dismantling SS Armenian, horse transport, torpedoed Any salvager now faces prosecution as the actions caused a lot of commotion off Trevose Head, June 1915, with the loss sites now come under the 1986 Protection although eventually their destructive acts of 29 men and 1,400 mules of Military Remains Act - but it does not were brought to an end - one day, when prevent divers from visiting the wrecks, as the wreck salvagers were putting into port Source: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/ long as they 'look but don't touch or enter'. in the Netherlands, the authorities were news-and-latest-activity/news www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 21 Ports News
Ports News Senior Management IMO Maritime Day Port of Tyne Changes at PD Ports theme launched at After over 10 years of being Chief the Port of appoints new Executive Officer of PD Ports, David Harbourmaster Robinson has accepted a position with Felixstowe Brookfield Asset Management. He will be The theme for the International Maritime The Port of Tyne has appointed Steven working from the London offices and will Clapperton as Harbour Master. Organisation (IMO) World Maritime Day become Director of Operations within the 2017 has been launched by the IMO Brookfield Infrastructure European team, Secretary General, Kitack Lim, during a visit with an initial focus on the UK and to the Port of Felixstowe. European Ports Assets.
A Master Mariner with 20 years' experience in the maritime industry, Steven joins the Port from the oil and gas consultancy Connecting Ships, Ports and People has as sector where, amongst other high profile key objectives improving cooperation projects, he was responsible for managing between ports and ships and developing a upstream marine operations for a major UK closer partnership between the two sectors. oil company. Prior to this he was a Pilot at It will seek to raise global standards for the the Port of Tyne having previously been at safety, security and efficiency of ports, and sea as Senior Officer on-board various for port and coastal state authorities, as offshore construction vessels with Subsea7 well as standardising port procedures by and others. identifying and developing best practice With a Master Mariners' Certificate, He will also take up the position of guidance and training materials. qualifications in Nautical Science and a Chairman of PD Ports, so will remain Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Diploma in Port Management, Steven heavily involved in the future strategy and the Port of Felixstowe and Managing brings a wealth of knowledge to the Port. developments of the business with a real Director of Hutchison Ports Europe, said: Andrew Moffat, Port of Tyne Chief focus on continuing its growth agenda in a "We are delighted to welcome Mr Lim Executive Officer, said: number of sectors. and to support the IMO in the important "It is great to welcome Steven back to David Robinson said: work it does to maintain and improve the Port of Tyne where he was a Pilot for “It has been a great privilege to standards across the international eight years. undertake the role of the CEO in this shipping industries. Hutchison Ports is Bringing a lot of experience, Steven is an fantastic business and to say the least committed to the highest principles of excellent appointment that will further it has been a very interesting period. I both operational efficiency and strengthen our team and I look forward am particularly pleased about the levels environmental stewardship and, in that to working with him in his new role." of investment that been injected into regard, our philosophy is closely aligned our infrastructure over this period, with with that of the Secretary General." Steven said: over £1bn of direct and indirect "I am delighted to be appointed Harbour Mr Lim said: investments have been secured, which Master to the Port of Tyne as one of the "The maritime sector, which includes will ensure that PD Ports remain a UK's busiest commercial ports and to be shipping, ports and the people that market leading business into the future. coming back to the River Tyne with its operate them, can and should play a rich heritage and thriving maritime I would like to take this opportunity to significant role helping Member States community. thank you for support to the business to create conditions for increased employment, prosperity and stability Although I am originally from Scotland, and you can be assured that the team ashore through promoting trade by sea; having lived in the North East for the are very determined and focused to enhancing the port and maritime sector past 10 years, I understand the continue the progress we have made as wealth creators both on land and, importance of the Port to the North East during this period and provide you with through developing a sustainable blue regional economy, to river users and to an excellent level of service.” economy, at sea. all of our other stakeholders and this Frans Calje becomes Chief Executive Officer will help me meet the challenges of the PD Ports and Jerry Hopkinson Chief Ultimately, more efficient shipping, post and hit the ground running." Operations Officer and Vice Chairman. working in partnership with a port
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sector supported by governments, will refinery site now redeveloped as a fuel attended by local business people. They be a major driver towards global terminal. At the Port of Tilbury, a new were told that Martin Putman had helped stability and sustainable development chilled store for NFT was opened and the make Portsmouth International Port one of for the good of all people." acquisition of land for port expansion was the busiest Ports in the country, had The aim of the latest World Maritime Day is completed. DP World London Gateway brought millions of pounds into the local to build on the theme for 2016, Shipping: handled increasing numbers of ultra large economy and secured hundreds of jobs. indispensable to the world, by focussing on container ships - operating between Asia Martin was characteristically humble about helping Member States to develop and and Europe - benefiting from its operational the award, and was shocked to win. He said: implement maritime strategies to invest in resilience in bad weather, as well as securing “The success of the business at the Port a joined-up, interagency approach that additional central and south American and was secured by a huge team so it seems addresses the whole range of issues, Oceania services; testing of facilities on strange to be here on my own. including the facilitation of maritime Berth Three at the deep-sea port also Everybody who wants to achieve transport and increasing efficiency, started at the end of 2016. business excellence needs a good team navigational safety, protection of the behind them, as I did. That team also marine environment, and maritime security. Former Port Manager included Portsmouth City Council, all the customers who decided to bring their Port of London trade steps into retirement ships to Portsmouth and of course, on a with lifetime personal note, the support of my wife jumps more than 10% and my family.” Trade in the Port of London in 2016 achievement award After a successful career at sea, Martin reached the highest this decade, rising 10% Martin Putman, the recently retired Port moved to Portsmouth in 1988, starting as to top 50 million tonnes for the first time Manager at Portsmouth International Port, Assistant Harbour Manager. Since arriving since 2008. has been honoured with a Lifetime he has overseen important changes to the business, and has been responsible for The strong performance reflects continued Achievement accolade at “The News Business Excellence Awards”. investments in new facilities to benefit growth at terminals along the Thames. The ferry, cruise ships and cargo operations. volumes of oil, containers and building Martin, who had worked for 28 years at materials all rose markedly. Prior to 2016, Portsmouth International Port before Promoted to Harbour Master in 1991, port throughput had been increasing at retiring at the end of 2016, was nominated Martin took the helm as Port Manager on between two to three percent, year-on-year. for the award by business leaders in April 1st 1995, just as the ferry industry began to face competition from the newly PLA chief executive, Robin Mortimer said: Portsmouth and former colleagues at opened Channel Tunnel. In the ensuing "Our long-term Vision is for 60 to 80 Britain’s Best Connected Port. years he has striven to keep Portsmouth million tonnes of cargo to be traded International Port competitive and flexible, every year through the Port of London - and has helped deliver a facility that is more than at any time in the Thames' truly fit for the 21st century. history. Passing 50 million tonnes in 2016 is a major milestone towards this goal.” Martin is now enjoying retirement with his wife and family. His successor is Mike Sellers, who has spent most of his career with ABP in the East of England. Mike officially started at Portsmouth International Port in January 2017. Port of Liverpool welcomes largest Editor of The News Mark Waldron, Martin Putman, and Lucy Grey, from Trethowans, containership to The tonnage of cargo handled at terminals lead sponsor of The News Business date on the Thames last year was 50.4 million Excellence Awards. (Credit: Habibur tonnes, five million tonnes (or 11%) up on Rahman, The Portsmouth News) The largest containership to ever call at 2015. Growth was principally in oil trades The award is a reflection on nearly three the Port of Liverpool arrived on Monday which rose by 22% from 10.9 million decades of hard work, with Martin playing a 6 March. tonnes in 2015 to 13.3 million tonnes in key role in keeping Portsmouth International The 6,552 TEU HS PARIS berthed at the 2016. Containers and trailers (unitised Port competitive in an everchanging Liverpool2 deep-water container terminal traffic) was up 7% to 18 million tonnes; maritime market. He was responsible for at 04:30. aggregates and cement increased again leading a multi-million pounds programme Previously, the Port of Liverpool’s existing from 10.7 million tonnes (16%) up to 12.4 of redevelopment, that resulted in a container terminal could only million tonnes. Cereal volumes also stunning new terminal building and accommodate vessels up to 4500TEU. The increased by 15% to one million tonnes. improved facilities for shipping. HM PARIS is the first post-Panamax vessel 2016 saw the first cargoes delivered to the The awards were organised by The News, to call at Liverpool following the phase 1 Thames Oil Port, the former Coryton oil Portsmouth’s daily newspaper, and were opening of Liverpool2 in November 2016. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 23 Features
future looks bright for the area’s businesses, conditions for communities and thanks to increased opportunities for trade businesses to thrive and the Bay and growth. Gateway is another transport Work on a new link-span bridge at the Port infrastructure landmark that will not only benefit the local area but the whole of Heysham is well underway and is set to county. It is also one of many strategic increase throughput by allowing it to economic initiatives that we are accommodate larger RoRo vessels operating delivering with business partners across on the Irish Sea. The £10m investment, due Mark Whitworth, Chief Executive of Peel Lancashire to develop new growth and for completion in October, will create a Ports Group, said: investment opportunities with businesses fourth berth for freight and passenger “This is a huge milestone for Peel Ports already established here and those we traffic and help operators to respond more and the Port of Liverpool. The whole are aiming to attract to the county. team is delighted to welcome HS Paris effectively to growing demand. to the city for the first time. While we The Bay Gateway, which created 3000 The opening of the Bay Gateway in March, a jobs in the construction phase, is have the capacity to handle vessels up 4.8km route linking the Heysham peninsula to 20,000 TEU, smaller post-Panamax already benefiting business and it is directly to the M6, cuts the journey time for exciting to visit the Port of Heysham ships are still very much part of our goods traded between the UK and Ireland by overall strategy and it’s essential that and see the real impact of our 30 minutes, offering a significant cost saving investment on the ground." can accommodate those too. We can to cargo owners and hauliers. now do that thanks to our £400m investment at Liverpool2, providing a In addition to the local infrastructure Features shorter route to market for UK importers improvements, Peel Ports also say that its and exporters, which reduces their costs, recently opened Liverpool2 container Jotting Monthly congestion and carbon emissions.” terminal will open up new opportunities for exports from, and imports to, the region. Glyn L Evans Peel Ports recently announced that it had The £400m investment, which is big secured 150 advocates for its Cargo200 enough to accommodate the world’s Paintings by Kenneth initiative. The campaign calls on importers largest container ships, offers cargo owners and exporters whose goods begin or end the chance to reduce costs, congestion and D Shoesmith their journey in the north of the UK to carbon emissions by shipping closer to “In the private collection of...” switch delivery of ocean freight from market, avoiding longer inland journeys. south-east ports to the centrally-located The tantalising phrase “In the private Port of Liverpool. It’s estimated that the Warren Marshall, Peel Ports’ Group collection of...” sometimes seen as the initiative could save UK plc up to £200 Planning Director said: caption to a published picture, gives no million by 2020. It also aims to cut freight “The past few years have been a time of indication as to the extent of the said mileage by 200 million miles by 2020. transformation for Lancashire and the collection. Is it large or small? Are the wider North West. With a shared vision paintings all by the same artist? For for increasing capacity for trade and members of the Honourable Company of Bright future investing in infrastructure, Peel Ports Master Mariners I am happy to set out here and Lancashire County Council are the answers to those questions concerning predicted for confident that recent these my own private collection. Lancashire economy developments have strengthened the Firstly, I should explain that the word position of the region and future- private indicates only that it belongs to me. Port investments at Heysham and Liverpool, proofed it for many years to come. combined with the new Bay Gateway, promise I am more than happy, in fact delighted, to to herald a new era of improved economic This recent activity also underlines the share the pleasure of looking at and prospects for Lancashire, according to business case for the Northern Powerhouse as a admiring my collection with anyone who and community leaders. means to help rebalance the UK economy. wishes to do so. Secondly, collection seems to indicate many pictures arranged on the Our own investment in Liverpool and panelled walls of a baronial hall or perhaps Heysham highlights our unwavering in the Long Gallery. In my case, you must commitment to seeing the North West imagine the collection scattered thinly lead the UK as the region of choice for around various rooms in a modest detached international and Irish Sea shipping.” house in rural South East Kent. County Councillor Jennifer Mein, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "The opening of the Bay Gateway signals real change in Lancashire. In the Warren Marshall, Group Planning Director few months that traffic has been using and County Councillor Jennifer Mein, the Gateway we have seen the benefits Leader of Lancashire County Council at the for local people and businesses, in terms site of the £10m expansion works at Port of reducing travel times and congestion of Heysham and improving the reliability of journeys The operators of Heysham port, Peel Ports, by road. and Lancashire County Council say the We are committed to creating the
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Apart from some prints of no great value, other than that of sentimentality (in which category I would include this one by Odin Rosenvinge). There are three originals that are not by K D Shoesmith. The first is a pencil drawing of a Whitstable oyster dredger by Patrick Donovan, bought with raffle prize money at the annual exhibition of the Royal Society of Marine Artists in the Mall Galleries, London quite some years ago.
sailing barge restored, preserved and in use Now I can reveal to you that my collection today thanks to the Cambria Trust. of Kenneth D Shoesmith original paintings amounts to just four. Perhaps I should say The third non-KDS original I have is one just four at present, although the chances that I commissioned especially from the of adding to the collection are pretty slim artist Sean Bolan, a long-standing friend as most other Shoesmith originals seem to from the time when my wife and I lived in be in private collections! the Cotswolds. Sean worked as a railway signalman for many years and from his Let me tell you how they came into my everyday observation of the trains passing possession. A bit like London buses - none his signal-box window he began painting at all then two come at once. I was trawling railway scenes. through a Google search under Shoesmith which has a great wealth of sites wanting That he was proficient in this may be to sell you copies of his better-known gathered by the fact he became President posters. After two or three pages of search, I met the artist at the time and we have of the Society of British Railway Artists. A become firm friends. Since that first full-time job and a painting side-line might meeting Pat has suffered a stroke affecting be enough to keep anyone busy you might his painting hand and has had to re-learn think, but Sean also formed, managed and his artistic skills using his left, non-painting led on his cornet, The Charleston Chasers hand, something he is doing with grim Jazz Band, playing in the UK, Europe and determination and to good effect. It was the USA. therefore with delight I learned from Pat Illness forced a change of pace and Sean last year that he had been elected as a full now paints full time, on commission and member of the RSMA, and I take great with great accuracy, scenes of army life, pleasure in adding those initials after his mainly for the various Guards Divisions of name when I write to him at his home the British Army. overlooking St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover. His watercolour painting for me is of a The second original painting is also by Pat disgruntled RN rating who, having just given who, even after suffering a second stroke, the quarterdeck of HMS Hero its morning has continued to persevere with his scrub, finds the footsteps of the midshipman enforced left-handed technique which, for of the watch besmirching his handiwork. him, doubles up as a form of occupational therapy. This is an acrylic paint on canvas It makes me smile every time I look at it. showing the tug, Sandwich towing the How much did I pay for that? No money Thames sailing barge, Dorcas. Apart from changed hands; in exchange for this fine the fact it reminds me that I shall never be painting I gave Sean my de-activated able to paint as well as this even with my Mark I Lee Enfield .303 service rifle which right hand, the painting also resonates with he now uses as a prop to achieve even the fact that our house name is Cambria, a greater accuracy in his paintings of the name it shares with the 1906 Thames old guardsmen. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 25 Features
the initial plethora of such sites dwindled to transatlantic steamship passenger service to a lesson never to be forgotten. I received an trivialities or repetition and there was US and Canadian ports. email out of the blue from a lady who seemingly little point in continuing. attached the image of a small Shoesmith Quite how the scene fitted into this context watercolour in her possession and asked for However, on this particular day I stuck it is difficult to imagine even though, following my opinion as to its value. It was a charming out and, on reaching page thirteen, I saw an the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the painting of what seemed like a pirate crew advert from an art gallery in Dunkeld, Company added services to Egypt, Bombay swarming round the threatening-looking Scotland offering two Shoesmith originals and Calcutta. It might, however, explain how figurehead of their ship. for sale. How did they end up there? The the original painting ended up in Scotland. gallery owner, when I spoke with him on Many fine artists of the day were employed Not being qualified in the realm of art the telephone, could not answer that but, by Anchor Line for their prolific output of valuation, I resorted to a comparative after a long conversation, we struck a deal; I advertising posters, a large collection of pounds (£s) per square inch. Knowing the posted him a cheque for, if I recall correctly, which are in Glasgow Museums. dimensions of the two paintings mentioned £650, and a few days later, heavily bubble- above, knowing also the price I had paid wrapped, the two paintings arrived. The smaller original painting from that for them, I worked out a PSI and applied Dunkeld gallery is in the same style and that to the dimensions of this lady’s As I already knew, the glass in one painting with a similar theme. It measures 11” high was broken but the painting itself was painting; 6” high by 10”. Based on the by 6.5” and again has the trademark resulting figure of around £300, I suggested undamaged and, as I wished to have them Shoesmith small boat in the foreground re-mounted and framed, this was of no to her that at auction it might sell for with the faces of its occupants largely between £250 and £350. Thus, a fair consequence. Making use of Sean Bolan’s hidden from view. friendly framer, the job was soon done at a valuation in my opinion would be £300. By most modest cost and the two pictures now return I had an email from her offering to look as good as the day they were painted, sell it to me for £300 and of course, probably at some time in the early 1930s. wanting the painting, I could hardly haggle. Lesson! If you are not qualified in art The larger painting measures approximately valuation, don’t offer a valuation. 13” high by 12” and features galleons of the Elizabethan era on a brilliant emerald green sea.
As you will see below from my acquisition of the fourth painting, there are other ways. The painting put me in mind of John Masefield’s poem, The Tarry Buccaneer but, while that spoke of ‘…. an island in the Spanish Main beyond the setting sun….,’ I felt somehow that what we were looking at were Barbary pirates who operated off the coast of North Africa in the 17th Century. It is very much in the style of Shoesmith’s Perhaps the answer might lie in the identity twelve murals depicting the Defeat of the of the ship, a fact that could possibly be Spanish Armada, painted to adorn the walls ascertained by first identifying the person of the first Lord Vesty’s dining room. In The unusual portrait format suggests it was represented in the figurehead. typical Shoesmith format we see a small tailor-made for a particular purpose, boat in the foreground lending scale to the perhaps the front of a ship-board menu. Based on my Barbary hunch and a quick scene. Also, the painter shows his However, I have not yet seen it used in any Google search, I found that the most feared reluctance to reveal his self-admitted Anchor Line or other shipping company’s of the Barbary pirates was Hayreddin inability to paint faces with any degree of promotional material. Both paintings raise Barbarossa. An image of this gentleman, reality; the oarsmen in the boat face away the question as to whether a particular shown here, confirmed my view. theme was requested of him or whether from the viewer, while a wide-brimmed hat While the first three paintings are in what I Shoesmith painted whatever took his fancy, and deep shadow partially hide the facial would term Shoesmith’s later romantic style, later submitting the finished article to the features of the man at the tiller. the fourth is certainly in his early realistic publicity department of various shipping It came as a surprise to me a while later to style and is dated 1918, a time when he was companies and leaving it to them to find the picture had been used as part of painting exactly what he saw. That year was choose if and how they might use it. Anchor Line’s promotional material, Shoesmith’s tenth at sea as a deck officer especially as that Company, formed in 1856 The third Shoesmith painting came into my with Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the was based in Glasgow, offering a collection at a cost of £300 and the cost of latter half of that period being spent in ships
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taken up from trade and used for troop transportation. In this role, Shoesmith found his ship, Cardiganshire, caught up in the Dardanelles campaign and the evacuation of troops from Gallipoli to Mudros on the island of Lemnos.
accept it without some financial accuracy capable of enabling a navigator of consideration. I sent him a cheque for £100 even moderate skill to determine his and I think we were both happy with that. I ‘longitude by chronometer’. know I was! Barbarosssa It had all been initiated in 1714 by the If you have an original painting by Kenneth establishment of a Board of Longitude The painting depicts a scene of around that D Shoesmith and wish it to have a good which held out a reward of £20,000 for the time with HMS Queen, Flagship of the Rear home where it will be appreciated, do let entrepreneur who cracked the conundrum, nd Admiral of the 2 Squadron, at anchor in me know. Similarly, if you would like a free but – naturally – made difficulties for poor Mudros harbour. valuation, merely send me an image of the benighted Harrison to get his deserts owing Shoesmith’s trademark little ship, a steam painting with its dimensions and I will be to prejudice. When he did so, and when the pinnace, is in the left foreground while to happy to apply my magic formula. I should chronometer became widely available, the the right we see repairs being carried out warn you, however that, based on past world owed much to the plucky chap. It is on a shell-damaged naval vessel. In the experience, this has recently been modified a good story and is substantially true - as background can be seen a merchantman from PSI to PSI over 2. far as it goes. However, what it has come to painted in Dazzle colours, the scheme obscure is another method of determining devised by the artist Norman Wilkinson to The ‘Longitude longitude which enjoyed a long popularity reduce the chances of successful torpedo among British merchant mariners until attack by enemy submarine. HMS Queen Problem’ surprisingly late in the day: that of longitude by lunar distance. was built at Devonport Dockyard, Richard Woodman commissioned in 1914 and was the 10th Britain was not alone in seeking to crack Royal Navy ship to bear that name. Adapted and abridged from the author’s the problem; the Spanish, French and the history of the East India Company’s How, you may ask, did this delightfully Dutch, were all offering vast rewards. The Maritime service, A LOW SET OF French had pursued an idea originating accurate 8” high by 11” painting come into BLACKGUARDS, Volume Two. my possession? Was it another valuation from Galileo’s discovery of Jupiter’s satellite perhaps? The owner emailed to say he was History, as it is remembered in the popular moons from which longitude might be wishing to dispose of the painting, having mind, has a habit of being reduced to determined. This notion was considered by owned it for many years, and asked if I simple, memorable, cause-and-effect lines the Dutch and Spanish and it became used knew of a good home for it. Of course, I of argument. It is rarely so and, on close in land-surveying, but remained unsuitable knew of a good home for the painting, I examination, reveals layer upon layer of for sea-service owing to numerous practical was living in it! However, cautious after my complexity. A good example of this insofar difficulties. In 1687 the publication of last foray into the world of art valuation, I as mariners are concerned is that of the Newton’s theory of universal gravitation enquired of the gentleman how much he ‘Longitude Problem’. suggested predicting the moon’s motion wanted in payment. To my surprise and This, as we all know, was satisfactorily and using this. delight, he said that he merely wanted it to solved by a certain gritty Yorkshireman However, it was 1755 before a proposal for go to someone who would appreciate it named John Harrison. After several false this ‘lunar method’ was laid before the and was not seeking any payment. Thus, it starts, this stolid man invented a Board by a Professor Tobias Mayer of came into my possession but, having a ‘chronometer’ of such cunning design that Göttingen. Mayer had drawn-up tables for rough idea of its value (based on my PSI it could be carried and maintained in a this complex method which, besides formula) I could not, in all conscience moving ship at sea, maintaining an requiring certain conditions, needed four www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 27 Features
observers to carry out. Using the motion of Longitude at sea and land, within a degree, that the distance is taken by the principle the moon round the earth as the hand of a by observations of the distance of the observer. The other assistant with his clock, the sun, planets and stars act as time Moon from the Sun and Stars, taken with watch, marks the time of these markers. The position of the moon relative Hadley’s Quadrant’. Meanwhile, as Harrison observations to the second. When all were to the markers, is dependent upon the undertook the first sea-trials of his ‘time- ready: ‘then all are to begin to observe at position of the observer, owing to the piece,’ Maskelyne’s assistant, Robert the same time, and when the principal parallactic movement of the moon. Owing Waddington set-up a school of navigation observer has brought the nearest limbs of to the proximity of the moon to the earth, in the City of London, intended for the the sun and moon, or the enlightened limb the direction of the moon seen by an officers of the East India Company. It was of the moon and a star into contact [in observer on the earth’s surface is naturally because Maskelyne got to the winning-post the mirrors of his quadrant or sextant], he different from a theoretical observer at the before Harrison that the horologist had is to ask the other observers, if they are all earth’s centre – the difference being such problems extracting money from the ready; and being answered in the parallax. Observations of the moon are also Board of Longitude. affirmative, then, as soon as he had affected by atmospheric refraction, but On 9 February 1765 Maskelyne presented obtained a perfect coincidence of the corrections can be made for the effects of his idea of the publication of his Nautical limbs of the objects, he is to make it parallax and refraction. The longitude of Ephemeris to the Board. He was supported known to his assistants, by calling out… the observer is resolved by angular by four Commanders of East India The person having the watch is measurements made between the nearer Company ships who testified as to the immediately to write down first the second ‘limb’ of the moon to one of a number of practical utility of the lunar-distance and then the minute of [the time of the] planets or first magnitude stars selected by method. Two in particular, Charles Mears observation, the hour being previously the compiler of the predictions – Mayer – of the Egmont and James Dewar of the marked; the principal observer is to read as being usefully east or west of the moon. Speaker, presented the navigational work- off the [lunar] distance…which he is to communicate to the time-assistant, that it Some of the difficulties in the lunar books of several of their officers, Chief Mate John Lauder of the Egmont, and may be wrote after the time of distance method had been solved as early observation.’ This was followed by as 1731 by John Hadley with his invention Third Mate Robert Scott and Sixth Mate James Stephens of the Speaker. This was recording the observed altitudes of the of the reflecting quadrant. The astronomer heavenly bodies above the horizon. Edmund Halley had realised that such powerful advocacy when added to the measurements had to be extremely testimony of others, Captains Richard Having obtained this data through the accurate. An error in the observation of Doveton of the Glatton, John Mitford of complexities of a sailing ship’s sails and one minute of arc led to an error of thirty the Northumberland, and William Smith of rigging, the whole process was repeated up minutes in the calculated longitude. the Houghton. to five times to resolve a mean. However, Hadley’s quadrant, measuring half a minute The upshot was a state-grant to Maskelyne; Mackay concluded, ‘even this method is of arc over ninety degrees, was a great the first edition of The Nautical Almanac attended with a calculation that is, by advance. Matters improved when, following and Astronomical Ephemeris was published many navigators, thought troublesome, the suggestion of Captain John Campbell for the year 1767. Among other data, the various ways have been proposed, to of the Royal Navy, the instrument-maker Almanac gave the lunar distances from shorten, as much as possible, the operations John Bird produced the sextant in 1757. several conspicuous stars and the sun for for reducing the apparent to the true This measured an arc of one hundred and every three hours at Greenwich. There were distance; and it is now accordingly reduced twenty degrees to an accuracy of one tenth now appearing a number of navigational to a tolerably simple computation. By this of a minute: accurate lunar distances could instruction books, all of which combined method the longitude may, in most cases, now be taken. One final component for the with Waddington’s enthusiasm to ensure be determined within half a degree, which method, that of taking short time-spans, the lunar distance method became at sea is esteemed no very great error.’ was resolved by the pocket-watch made commonplace in the East India Company’s Notwithstanding this further difficulty, possible by Christian Huygens’ invention in ships, so much so that Dewar of the ameliorated by the production of pre- 1675 of the spiral balance spring. Its ability Speaker could declare that ‘the method of calculated ‘reduction tables,’ evidence exists to measure time accurately for a few hours finding longitude at sea by observations of that this remained the commonly preferred meant that the interim times during which the moon, as explained by Dr Maskelyne’s method for many years. The reason for this the series of observations of lunar distances book has been practiced by the officers on was the expense of chronometers. With a entailed, might be made. board this ship with the greatest success.’ quadrant costing ‘seventeen shillings and By his tabulations, Mayer had simplified the By 1772 a further twenty-two Company sixpence’ and a sextant about a guinea, the necessary calculations and the third ships were employing the method. average sea-officer could not find the cost Astronomer Royal, James Bradley, found However, despite his protestations to the of a ‘time-piece’ – twenty guineas in 1780. them correct. The practical production of contrary, Maskelyne’s method was not While John Harrison’s chronometric watch data for use at sea was introduced by the ‘easy’. In his The Theory & Practice of known as ‘H4’ was copied by Larcum fifth Astronomer Royal, Nevil Maskelyne. Finding the Longitude, the publication Kendall and Kendall’s ‘K1’ was ‘proved’ by Maskelyne had experimented with the date of which – 1810 – is evidential of the James Cook on his first voyage (1768 – taking of lunar distances on a voyage to St very slow adoption of Harrison’s 1771), cost delayed the adoption of Helena to observe the transit of Venus in chronometer, Andrew Mackay provides a ‘longitude by chronometer’ for some time. 1761. On his return, Maskelyne published full description of the necessary procedure. In 1812 The Naval Chronicle bemoaned the British Mariner’s Guide which Three assistants were necessary, two of that: ‘Every man who has associated with contained ‘the complete and easy whom observed the altitudes of the moon, naval officers for the last thirty years, must instructions for the Discovery of the and of the sun or star, at the same time have heard their complaints of the want of
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good chronometers’. There were also those Mates, which had run to 5 editions, and towards a paper chart… His place is in the who remained dubious. The distinguished Principles and Practices of Navigation, a real world around him and not in the grip Liverpool mariner, ex-privateer captain, standard work which was reprinted many of a computer”. The anecdotes one has assiduous observer of tides and harbour- times over the last half-century. This heard of young officers spending all their master at Liverpool thought they gave ‘too edition reflects the changes in training for time looking at a screen, rather than much confidence to the vain and positive certificate of competency within the STCW looking out of the bridge window make part of men’. Code, whereby certification can be this a very valuable comment. However, there were those then, as now, obtained through NVQ or SVQ unit The second section is on Celestial who embraced new technology with achievements, with an oral examination by Navigation and starts with the basics of the enthusiasm. From Spithead in 1773 prior to MCA. This edition has therefore excluded celestial sphere, the Nautical Almanac and his ship’s sailing for India, Captain Charles much theoretical knowledge as it is not the concept of time. It goes on to deal with Mears of the East Indiaman Egmont wrote now examined. An addition has been the compass errors by astronomical to his chronometer-maker John Arnold. inclusion of a section on radar information. observations, celestial position lines and Whilst at anchor Mears had meticulously position circles, Marcq St Hilaire, and recorded the longitude obtained from his Longitude by Chronometer, coupled with astronomical observations. By this means noon position incorporating meridian Mears had ‘rated’ Arnold’s chronometer altitude. prior to his voyage, a very sensible and All these computations are of course seamanlike precaution, finding a constant undertaking using calculators. Norie’s increase of thirteen seconds a day. Mears Nautical Tables are long gone, as is the may have been unusual among his haversine formula. colleagues for, although this voyage of the Egmont is regarded as the first on which a Each module has worked examples and chronometer was used on a mercantile exercises, with further revision exercises. voyage, there is evidence that he trialled Appropriate extracts from the Nautical one three years earlier. Another practitioner Almanac and the Admiralty Tide Tables are of the new skill was Captain Nicholas included. Skottowe of the Indiaman Bridgewater The book is clearly written and is well who sailed for Madras (Chennai) a few days illustrated with understandable diagrams. It before Mears. Skottowe’s chronometer was is now a standard work which should be on found ‘to lose one and a half seconds a day any navigator’s bookshelf. It is hard backed uniformly,’ and this ‘is always to be allowed with a wipe clean cover. in the observations’. John Johnson- Allen, FRIN, MIoS. Nevertheless, evidence that the lunar distance method enjoyed a long popularity It was reassuring to note that, in the exists as late as 1881 when Captain Lecky, Obituary author's words “...while it is obviously in his Wrinkles in Practical Navigation, Adam Kerr 1933 - 2016 wrong to reject the benefits of declared ‘Lunars are out of date,’ warning technological advances it is professionally that reliance upon the method ‘requires a inept to rely on such devices to the really first-class observer, and constant exclusion of basic principles and practice’. At about this time the American techniques tried and tested over many master-mariner, Joshua Slocum, was, with a decades. It is also detrimental to the self- sextant and a ‘tin alarm clock,’ engaged in esteem of the navigator to be dictated to the first small-boat circumnavigation in his by computer-generated information.” yacht Spray. As for the data and the reduction tables, these were retained in the The book is set out in two sections within British Nautical Almanac until 1908. which are separate subject modules. The first section is coastal navigation. The very Richard Woodman © first module sets out the basics of latitude and longitude and uses of charts. All Book Reviews traditional methods of coastal navigation are still described and explained, for Practical Navigation for example rising and dipping distances, running fixes and the use of horizontal sextant angles to fix position. Tidal heights, Officers of the Watch In 1947, at the early age of thirteen and a including computations of Secondary ports A. Frost, BSc, Master Mariner half, Adam was sent to HMS Conway, are also included. Brown, Son &Ferguson Ltd leaving two years later as Senior Cadet Port This section also includes modules on radio Forecastle and carrying off the prize for ISBN 978 – 1 – 84927 – 06/9 navigation automatic plotting aids and Seamanship. After various sailing This is the second edition of this work first ECDIS. The author's views on this are also adventures, he joined Alfred Holt’s Blue published in 2003.It replaced two previous reassuring “the navigator must develop an Funnel Line sailing in 1950 for the Far East titles, Practical Navigation for Second attitude towards the ECDIS as he would in his first ship, Machaon. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 1/2017 • Page 29 Obituary
financial backing that came with this The Honourable suggestion did not materialise. However, the writer of the review, Dr Robert Bruce- Company of Master Chwatt and myself decided that the project Mariners deserved to reach fruition. With that in mind and after putting in the time and Editorial effort, Robert has written a short biography of J L Kerr and I have done the same for the The views expressed in articles or in book’s illustrator, Patrick A Jobson RSMA. correspondence appearing in the Journal are those of the writer and are not necessarily endorsed by the Honourable Machaon Company of Master Mariners. Adam spent five years with Blue Flue Items appearing in the Journal may during which he was mentored as a Cadet not be reproduced without the of the Honourable Company of Master consent of the Editor. Mariners, becoming a full member in 1963, having obtained his Master’s ticket in 1958. The Editor will be pleased to receive He sailed as 2nd Mate for the Falkland correspondence from Members intended Island Dependencies’ Antarctic survey in for reproduction in the Journal. Shackleton and after two years joined the Committees Canadian Hydrographic Service for work in Arctic Canada. Education and Training Committee Chairman: Commander Peter Aylott RN Adam’s period of charting polar seas was core to a much wider activity which Finance and Risk Committee involved the development of new Chairman: Mr Iain Stitt navigational technology. During his career, Membership Committee he lectured widely and wrote over forty Chairman: papers on subjects ranging from Oceanic Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh GCB Cartography through Chart Design Vice Chairman: Considerations for the Navigators of Today Commander L Chapman and Tomorrow and on to A Worldwide Database for Digital Nautical Charts. His Technical Committee appreciation of fine art saw him serve as Chairman: Captain Ian Giddings President of the Lamorna Society in All correspondence, books, documents Cornwall, while, through his continuing or enquiries relevant to the work of love of the sea, he was captain of the 130- In November 2015, I had the pleasure of the Technical Committee should be year old Cornish dipping lugger Barnabus meeting Adam Kerr who was delighted at addressed to the Secretary, Mrs Alison of the Cornish Maritime Trust. It was on the prospect of his father’s book being re- Harris c/o HQS Wellington. this vessel that Adam suffered a fatal heart published and promptly wrote the attack in August last year. th Treasures Committee Foreword for it. On 24 May last year Chairman: Captain Graham Pepper, FNI Adam wrote Joint Informal Meetings Dear Glyn, Honorary Secretary: Mr Matt Burrow Here is a copy of my little book* that Wardroom Mess Committee might amuse you. Anything further on Chairman: Mr John Johnson-Allen “Seamanship for Passengers?” The Journal All best Editor Adam Commodore David Squire, CBE ‘Trees’, 45 Esp Lane, Barnoldswick, Ps A word or two in the Hon Coy Journal Lancashire BB18 5QQ might stimulate sales!
Tel: 01282 814998 Barnabus *Adam’s book Charting Polar Seas was reviewed by myself in the HCMM Journal, All correspondence, articles and Issue 4/2014 of the HCMM Journal carried a Issue No. 2/2016. Whether or not it reports for the Journal should be sent review of the book, Seamanship for stimulated sales I cannot say. What I can to the Editor’s home address, or by Passengers published 1949, by the author, say is that I mourn the passing of this email to [email protected] Gavin Douglas, pen name of James Lennox master mariner, the more so as I was Copy for Issue 2/2017 of The Journal Kerr, Adam’s father. Following this review a unable to fulfil his wish to see the should be sent to the Editor by suggestion was put forward that the book re-publication of his father’s book. Friday, 19 May, 2017 might be re-published with profits going to the Wellington Trust. Unfortunately, the Glyn L Evans
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