SIMS: “A WORLD CLASS TRAINING CENTRE...”
Mr. Bob Malone, Chief Executive BP Shipping Limited.  

Inside this issue

An impressive list of shipping personalities from all over the world graced the grand occasion of the official inauguration of Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies (SIMS), on 17th March 2004, Wednesday.

Mr. Bob Malone, Chief Executive of BP Shipping formally inaugurated the institute in a traditional Indian style by lighting a "diya".

A high powered delegation from BP shipping comprising of Mr. David Williamson – Director Operations, Mr. Hew Griffith – Executive Assistant and Capt Andrew Keith Cassels – Manager Fleet Commercial services and Mr. Clyde D’Mello, head of BP India accompanied him to take part in the celebration.

We had on the other hand, Director-General of shipping services, govt. of India Mr. G.S. Sahni and his deputies including Mr. Ajoy Chatterjee, Chief Surveyor & Chief Examiner of Engineers and Capt. M.M.Saggi, Nautical Adviser to Govt. of India who enthusiastically joined the celebration. 

They were shown around the modern and sophisticated equipments and real life gadgets of ship installed for training purpose. 

They also visited our Guest house located at the adjacent Runwal Centre and appreciated the excellent boarding facilities for the crewmembers coming for training at SIMS.

SIMS Inauguration by Mr. Bob Malone.

The dignitaries were unequivocal in their opinion that SIMS is the most modern and best equipped post-sea training centre presently in India and were in no doubt that it is among the very best seafarers training institutes in the world. It will go a long way in training Indian seafarers to the international standard.

We are carrying an additional four-page supplement on the SIMS inauguration to give you a brief account of the event.

Safety Moment-Apr
Courses in SIMS-Apr

2

Two vessels were proceeding on nearly parallel, easterly courses. Vessel "A" was slightly north of vessel "B". "A" was the faster of the two vessels and was in the process of overtaking "B". When "A" was 0.6nm astern of "B" and two points abaft her beam, "B" made a previously planned alteration of course to the North. Approximately three minutes later they collided. 

A short while before the alteration of course by "B", the radar sets on "A" had been turned off to enable some work to be carried out on the radio antennae. At this time vessel "B" was fine on the starboard bow and the OOW had predicted a CPA of 0.8nm. The OOW on vessel "A" was talking to another vessel on the VHF when the lookout pointed out to him that vessel "B" had altered course to port.

The OOW immediately changed to hand steering and put the helm hard to starboard, at the same time ordering the AB on watch to start the second steering motor. As vessel "A" started turning to starboard the Master came on the bridge, saw vessel "B", ordered hard to port and slowed the engines. The vessels collided just over a minute later.

What went wrong:

1. OOW on vessel "B" altered course without first checking on the position of other vessels in the vicinity, particularly vessel "A", which he should have been aware was overtaking him.

2. When the situation was developing, the OOW on " A " was talking to another vessel on the VHF. Thus he never saw when " B " actually altered course.

3. The apparent action of the Master on vessel "A" of countermanding the helm order made by the OOW without first making a full appraisal of the situation led to the actual collision.

Lessons learnt:

1. It is imperative to check the situation before altering course even if you are on the stand-on vessel.
2. This brings home the old dictum that VHF should be only used for official purpose.
3. It is extremely dangerous for anyone to come on to the bridge, even if he is the Master , and give collision avoidance orders without first checking what is going on.