Sinking of 'Vasa': Historical lesson for Teamworkers

 
 

Frigate "Vasa" in Vasa Museum (Stockholm)
Photo: Wikipedia

'Vasa' was a powerful warship built in the 17th century on the order of the King of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus. He understood the potential of ships as gun platforms and ordered a series of vessels with two full gundecks and much heavier guns. Vasa was to have the largest number of cannons and the tallest masts of any other ship at sea. Renowned shipbuilders and naval architects Henrik Hybertsson and Arendt de Groote were entrusted with constructing the ship at the Stockholm shipyard.

Despite recognizing that a ship with so many guns and high masts would not be stable, the shipbuilders, supervisors, commissioners, and other experienced project members dared not to challenge the King's vision. The ship was dangerously unstable, but no one spoke up. When the first architect dropped out of the project due to age and disability, another one, who took over also did not challenge the King's wishes. The King, leading the army in Poland, was eager to see 'Vasa' take up her station as the flagship in the Stockholm Archipelago. His subordinates lacked the courage to discuss the ship's problems or to postpone her maiden voyage.

As a result, the ship sank within minutes of setting out on her maiden voyage, causing significant loss of property, money, time, and reputation. An inquiry by the Swedish Privy Council sought to find those responsible for the disaster, but no one was punished. The council accepted that fear of the King's authority prevented the team from being challenging and assertive.

The sinking of 'Vasa' illustrates the Power Distance problem, imbalance between too High Authority and Low Assertiveness in a team, leading to an accident with significant loss. It also demonstrates that even in the 17th century, there was a hint of fairness in judgment that has evolved over centuries into the modern concept of Fairness, no Blame, and Just Culture.

Effective and balanced teamwork, unhindered and professional communication, other resource management essentials are key to prevent accidents. It is also an investment into maintaining safe working environment and finding solutions to daily challenges in business processes.

Various training courses, such as Global Resource Management (GRM), Maritime Resource Management (MRM), HELM (Human Element Leadership and Management), Command and Leadership (C&L), etc. cover the issues in the teamwork. The training cannot be a single life experience, but requires re-iteration. The Iterative learning allows participants to re-fresh knowledge, re-consider gained experience, and to up-scale the skills for the future application. Thus the training cycles may be considered a "vaccination" program for the staff, enabling them with a set of concepts and techniques to pre-empty incidents, find optimal solutions, be resilient in their line of duty.

For your information I offer among others the GRM, MRM, and C&L courses for my Business Customers.

ChatGPT AI in the crewing process - a humble example

In Internet there are many examples of using ChatGPT for Python coding, data processing, math. The AI is known for its ingenuity as well as for its extraordinary "creativity". As any tool it has own realm of advantage, and scope of limitations. Nevertheless, it is a powerful tool closely mimicking human to human interaction backed up by a huge knowledge base. Why not to consider it for the crewing process?

Human beings are finite in their knowledge. They cannot know everything about their jobs, despite the job description's saying the opposite. Especially for those who gain experience in a new field.

One can agree that junior inexperienced ranks make rather many mistakes in their learning curves. This way they get mature. Although at a cost, which for a business process may be considered just a loss in the short term. A loss in efficiency and an 'installment' into a cumulative loss for the enterprise.

Productive use of an AI can be considered another way of clearing doubts, getting a 'third party' opinion.

Being a consultant, I see the use of the AI as if engaging an assistant who knows much. From the AI I need getting support, often in a form of a substantiated summary.

I would like to provide an example of how ChatGPT had already helped to clear confusion in the line of crewing process (hiring a seafarer) communication regarding sufficiency of a ship particulars data.

There was a product tanker position open for a professional with the previous ships' experience in so called "COP" pumps. Ambiguity arose in interpreting what type of the pump system is hidden under the abbreviation COP.

Client's executive, who did not understand the difference much, insisted on hiring the right experience. The receiving side, who got request for the COP profi, could not understand if the data was enough and sufficient. Doubt was expressed to the Client. Provided clarification stated that COP stands for the "centrifugal oil pumps" used on oil tankers, not a Framo or a Marflex system used on chem tanker vessels. Questions to the Client's clerk, whether the abbreviation actually stands for the "cargo oil pump turbine" (should had been described COPT), did not clear the situation.

Attempted googling brought to surface many references without giving any coherent answer: just loads of text and videos, which described different types of pumps used on tankers. 

Processing the technical information definitely was not the fastest way for a non-technical operator. Making a conclusion required a consultant confident in the field. Such a consultant could be also an AI. We tried it out, and in this question obtained sufficient 'consulting' support within just few minutes.

Below is my dialogue with ChatGPT clarifying the doubt about "COP":

Human: In the ship particulars it is said that the type of the Cargo pumps on a product oil tanker is "COP". How can we decipher the abbreviation? What is the type of the cargo pump?

AI: COP stands for "Centrifugal Oil Pump". It refers to a type of cargo pump commonly used on product oil tankers to transfer liquids such as crude oil or petroleum products. Centrifugal oil pumps use a rotating impeller to increase the velocity of the fluid, which is then converted into pressure by a volute casing to move the fluid through the pump.

Human: Then what is the driver for the COP: is it the steam turbine, Framo hydraulic system, Marflex electric system, any other?

AI: The driver for a Centrifugal Oil Pump (COP) can vary, and the specific type of driver depends on the ship and the pump system installed. Some common drivers for COPs on product oil tankers include:

• Steam turbine: This is a type of driver that uses steam to power the pump. It is often used in older ships or in ships with steam turbine propulsion systems.
• Framo hydraulic system: This is a hydraulic drive system specifically designed for use with cargo pumps on tankers. It utilizes hydraulic power to drive the pump, making it a reliable and efficient option.
• Marflex electric system: This is an electric drive system that uses an electric motor to power the pump. It is a popular option on modern ships due to its reliability and ease of maintenance.

So the abbreviation COP does not determine the specific type of driver. The actual driver used would be specified elsewhere in the ship particulars.

The above explanation received from AI was enough to remove doubts and to convince the hesitents that "COP" was not a sufficient description in the requirements for the open position. One can see that AI returned to me the same phrases I used like "Steam turbine", "Framo hydraulic system", "Marflex electric system". The AI understood what I wanted from it and responded the correct way.

The dialogue became really an encouraging experience of using ChatGPT for our processes. Try it out.

Alexey O. Chepok

This post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Original text is available at https://alexeychepok.blogspot.com/2023/02/use-of-chatgpt-ai-in-crewing-process.html

Happy New Year 2023!

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Electronic certificates in Maritime

The IMO Facilitation Committee approved circular, FAL.5/Circ.39/Rev.2 - Guidelines for the use of electronic certificates, at its 40th session in April 2016.

Section 7 of FAL.5/Circ.39/Rev.2 provides that port State control officers and other stakeholders should accept electronic certificates that contain the features identified in section 4.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), has agreed that a certificate may be considered as "original" or "authentic" while containing an "authorized" electronically applied signature or stamp.

QUOTE

UNQUOTE

BTM for PCC - it is one month old!

10th of March 2021 my Principles launched the specialized Bridge Team Management course for car carriers. That became possible as the result of collaboration with one of the world class simulation providers, pioneering in the cloud simulation.

As the author of this course, I focused on the exercises which match typical challenges for the bridge team of a 6000 CEU PCTC: windy Northern Europe locks, weathery anchorages and ports, unknown elements to compensate for, the pilots and tugs that are not magic...

This 3-day course has been aimed at developing teamwork ability, enhancing shiphandling and bridge team management techniques with reference to a car carrier specifics, i.e.: high windage area, high elevation and forward navigating bridges, high power to dwt ratio, egg-shaped underwater body, etc.

During the simulation, participants are expected to make effective use of Navigational procedures and checklists, apply COLREGs, practice MRM and BTM concepts, observe requirements of the STCW code and other relevant industrial guidelines and regulations.

The first batch of trainees were exceptionally experienced officers, who contributed lots to the simulation exercises development by their feedback. Now, one month after its birth, the course lives and gets stronger.

As it is always with a new project launched, it grows being de-bugged, developed and updated to suit the needs of the car carrier teams. I feel honoured to have it in my hands and see the results in front of my eyes. Hope for making a difference in better awareness, skills and safety for the PCC officers.

Alexey O. Chepok

This post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Suez Canal blockage - human factor?

I saw jokes in Twitter/Facebook posted by seafarers (?) about the blockage of Suez by the 400-m long container carrier. "Experts" gave interviews to media. General public is amused by the 9.6 billion figure of daily losses (what losses? to whom?).

Twitter post example

Just few voices in this mess of information were relevant and referenced the case from the point of view that I share. Well, what is my point of view?

May I quote below an excerpt from SHELL Learning Engagement Tool on Human Performance:

"Often incidents are blamed on people and this gives the impression that people cause incidents. However, most mistakes, actions and decisions happen because of the way the workplace is set up, how work is designed, the type of equipment and control measures being used and how leaders influence the culture of an organisation."

One of the sensible short interviews for general public from Capt. John Konrad (gCaptain) that mentions a link to the problem of huge ships with the 'same' numbers of people and technology. Tribute to Deutsche Welle TV.

USCG notifies: COVID-19 Safety Requirements in the Maritime Transportation System

Original document.

The President of U.S.A. issued Executive Order (13998), Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel that requires masks be worn on all “public maritime vessels, including ferries” to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued order, Requirement forPersons to Wear Masks while on Transportation Hubs, 29JAN2021, requires all persons travelling on all commercial vessels to wear a mask.

This Order requires vessel operators to use best efforts to ensure that any person on the vessel wears a mask when boarding, disembarking, and for the duration of travel. Depending on the circumstances, best efforts may include:

1. Boarding only those persons who wear masks; 
2. Instructing persons that Federal law requires wearing a mask on the vessel and failure to comply constitutes a violation of Federal law;
3. Monitoring persons on board the ship for anyone who is not wearing a mask and seeking compliance from such persons;
4. At the earliest opportunity, disembarking any person who refuses to comply;
5. Providing persons with prominent and adequate notice to facilitate awareness and compliance of the requirement of this Order to wear a mask.*

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*Best practices may include, if feasible, advanced notifications on digital platforms, such as on apps, websites, or email; posted signage in multiple languages with illustrations; printing the requirement on transit tickets; or other methods as appropriate.

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Learning Technologies for Maritime Training

 On 10th of Oct 2020 I participated in 'Learning Technologies' Webinar run by NI. It unexpectedly proved to be very interesting session with Capt. Pradeep Chawla (AngloEastern) and Wärtsilä's representatives: Neil Bennett, Johan Ekvall, and James Lee.

What is the ISO 9001:2015 Internal auditor's certificate validity?

Neither of the ISO 9001, 17001, 19011 standards define the validity period of the certificates for internal auditors. There is an opinion that there is no need for such a certificate at all - no direct requirement - to conduct the internal audits. However that is why all the certificates I saw refer to the fact of completing a relevant training program.

Unless it is specified in the training program by the issuing body, the certificate issued has no expiry. Another source to consider is IATF 16949 that imposes requirements to maintain and improve the competence of internal auditors.

Then if your certificate is issued under the CQI/IRCA auspices, the CQI/IRCA auditor's validity is five years only. To maintain the status one has to do CPD (Continuous Professional Development) and audits.

The charted re-certification procedure can be found at www.quality.org . There is a requirement for minimum number of audits per year performed by auditors.

Ice Navigation, myths, challenges, trends, etc in 'Polar Shipping' webinar by NI

Practical and an eye-opening presentation by Captain David 'Duke' Snider (Martech Polar).

For professional seafarers only!😉

What is ERS? How does it work?

In procedures of a shipmanagement company one may find reference to ERS (Emergency Response Service). So what is that actually?

The title itself gives a hint that it is a service. So ERS is a paid service from a classification society (Class) to perform engineering calculations in case of an emergency. Normally Class has expertise and resources to do such. The calculations use the electronic model of a ship and range from assessing damaged stability to substantiating strengthening of the hull elements.

For further detail I would suggest reading a post ERS: Managing emergencies, preventing disasters on DNV GL site. The post gives example of how it worked in case of  a 14,000 TEU ship damaged after colliding with another ship in Singapore Straight.

Enclosed spaces legal definition

The IMO Resolution A.1050(27) of 2011 defines:
“2.1 Enclosed Space means a space which has any of the following characteristics:

1. Limited openings for entry and exit;
2. Inadequate ventilation; and
3. Is not designed for continuous worker occupancy."

Хроническое беспокойство может быть необходимым

Предлагаю Вашему вниманию отличный учебный ролик от Shell LFI о пользе и необходимости хронически испытывать тревогу на рабочем месте - во имя своей безопасности и безопасности окружающих.

Безопасность человеческой жизни следует рассматривать в аспекте психологии поведения человека. Сотрудников необходимо научить беспокоиться о себе, замечать слабые сигналы, работать правильно, работать в команде.

Если, просмотрев видео, Вы увидите, что Вашей команде необходимо улучшить и без того приемлемый уровень безопасности на рабочем месте, то пишите мне - я готов провести тренировочную (очно либо по сети) сессию для группы до 20 человек, чтобы развить среди персонала понимание проблемы остаточной безопасности и сформировать базисные навыки безопасного подхода в работе.

Переклад сучасних морських термінів

Вперше я пишу в моєму блозі українською. Особисто для мене це маленька перемога.

Я зіткнувся із завданням перекладу декількох морських англійських термінів російською чи українською мовами. З російської це досить нескладно, тому що це одна з мов IMO. Українські еквіваленти іноді треба створювати.

 
Sustainable Shipping = Устойчивые морские перевозки [IMO] = Стійкі морські перевезення [Chepok]

Sustainable Maritime Transportation System = Устойчивая морская транспортная система [WWW] = Стійка морська транспортна система [Chepok]

Sustainability in shipping = Устойчивость морских перевозок [IMO] = Стійкість морських перевезень [Chepok]

Ship recycling = Рециркуляция судов [IMO] = Рециркуляція суден [Chepok]

The UNCTAD Liner Shipping Connectivity Index = Индекс обслуживания линейным судоходством ЮНКТАД [IMO] = Індекс ЮНКТАД по зв’язаності лінійними перевезеннями [Chepok]

... 

What does 'en route' mean for MARPOL Annex V?

I have received the following msg from a ship:

Good afternoon, the ship drifting in the South China Sea, the crew is divided opinion about food waste dumping overboard. We need your expert opinion, as there are differences in the interpretation of the words "enroute" "underway" in MARPOL.
Thank you in advance.

This made me look through certain sources and the answer is as such:

Good day!

Thank you for the question. The answer is multi-step:

1) First of all 'en route' in MARPOL has nothing to do with 'underway' or 'making way through water' in COLREG.

2) By IMO Resolution MEPC 55/23 ANNEX 18 UNIFIED INTERPRETATION TO REGULATION 15.2.1 OF THE REVISED MARPOL ANNEX I for Annex I “en route” was defined as “the ship is underway at sea on a course or courses, including deviation from the shortest direct route, which as far as practicable for navigational purposes, will cause any discharge to be spread over as great an area of the sea as is reasonable and practicable.”

3) Law company Black Rome LLP indicate that Annex I meaning is applied to Annex V as well (http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=5bf88ba3-a196-4164-b58f-28017073c603). Same approach can be seen in the the Dutch Supreme court decision of 2014 for Annex II (http://www.mainportlawyers.com/content/dutch-supreme-court-hands-down-judgment-interpretation-%E2%80%98en-route%E2%80%99-context-marpol-convention).

4) However by the Dutch Supreme court decision of 2014 for Annex II, basis Article 31 of the Vienna Convention,  'en route' should mean not only the above but also that a vessel is at a course at a certain speed causing the discharge to be spread over as great an area of the sea as is practicable.

5) SUMMARY:
For Annexes I, II, and V “en route”  = the ship is underway at sea making a certain speed on a course or courses, including deviation from the shortest direct route, which as far as practicable for navigational purposes, will cause any discharge to be spread over as great an area of the sea as is reasonable and practicable.

+

It is very important to mind the below quoted postulates of IMO Resolution MEPC.219 (63) 2012 GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MARPOL ANNEX V, 2.7.1 :

• Although discharge into the sea of limited types of garbage is permitted under Annex V, discharge of garbage to port reception facilities should be given primary consideration.
• In general the discharge shall take place when the ship is en route and as far as practicable from the nearest land. Attempts should be made to spread the discharge over as wide an area as possible and in deep water (50 metres or more).
• Prevailing currents and tidal movements should be taken into consideration when discharging into the sea is permitted.

Hope now you have the best answer.

Thank you and best regards,
Alexey O. Chepok

Sustainability as a standard for Carriers

To answer the question - why the leading Shipping companies re-structure their processes in order to become sustainable - one has to consider not only the social responsibility of the firm or the strive for cost efficiency of operations. It is the client who becomes the primary driver in the metamorphose.

The BMW Carbon Pact from Maersk Line on Vimeo.

Then answer the question: Why, on earth, BMW does it? :)

The Nairobi International convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007 (WRC)

WRC, coming into force on 14 April 2015, regulates the financial liability for the shipwrecks in the coastal state jurisdiction. All vessels 300 gross tons and larger to be insured or have financial security to cover the liability under the WRC.

The following countries are parties to this Convention:

Antigua & Barbuda Bulgaria Congo Cook Islands Denmark

Germany India Iran Liberia Malaysia

Marshall Islands Morocco Nigeria Palau United Kingdom

Vessels flagged in these countries will need to apply for a certificate from their respective flag state.

• Shipowners are financially responsible for the cost of wreck removal with coverage arranged. The most common form of this is from a P&I Club, issuing a “WRC Blue Card” as the documented proof of the cover.
• Applies to the territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

• Ship’s wherever registered must have on board a valid WRC certificate, as evidence of  insurance or other financial security, when entering or leaving the jurisdiction of another State Party. A registry-issued certificate must be presented to port state authorities upon request.

• Shipowners with ships not registered in a State that is a Party to the convention may obtain certificates from any other State that is a Party.

• Certificates issued by any State Party shall be accepted for the purposes of the WRC and shall be regarded as having the same force as certificates issued or certified by them, even if issued for a ship not registered in a State Party.

• Certificates are renewable yearly by February 20^th in line with Civil Liability Certificate (CLC) and Bunker CLC certificates.

Ship Efficiency: The Insight Magazine - January Issue

Churchill's Optimist and Pessimist in 3D

Today I saw the following picture posted by Laurens and could not help commenting :)

Source: Laurens Reinier Korporaal

Sir Winston Churchill was great and brilliant. Therefore the above is a great and brilliant example of rhetoric. My opinion, such a scaling into optimists and pessimists is good for verbal fencing. It is concise, sharp and thus staggering. Say, snappy. But yet it is good for nothing in real life mining the opportunities. Why? Because it is 2D, i.e. "flat", and I would suggest using at least 3D picture of the multidimensional reality and also start allowing for more valuable post factum experience.

People all are wide spectrum and involve dynamic character. Absolute optimism and pessimism are the extreme flanges (such as infra and ultra) of the disposition range. So instead of considering just the two poles: the pessimist and the optimist, I insist on the approach based on at least four poles, namely, the "unhappy" and "happy" optimists and pessimists. If the these are graded by their utility from the worst to the best the lay-out comes as follows:

1. An unhappy optimist = the one who sees the opportunity in every difficulty but every time cannot improve the former because of the scope of the latter. It does mean his/her perception of opportunities is absolutely slant and overly. This associate leads to danger.
2. An unhappy pessimist = the one who sees the same difficulty in every new opportunity. One day the pessimist realises his/her personal restrictions and becomes disturbed. This mate soon becomes a burden.
3. A happy optimist = the one that regularly seizes the opportunities and gets success now and then. This optimist is resourceful especially in the terms of time. Do not learn from him/her - you are wasting your time then. Join him/her.
4. A happy pessimist = the one who is good at finding the difficulty in every opportunity and due to his experience becomes invaluable critic of any project. Listen to him/her but be fast if he/she becomes slow.

I believe the concept should be well clear by now. Although, here is a control question: Why did I put the "happy" pessimist the last in the row?..

Alexey O. Chepok

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

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