Stories that caught my eye over the past few weeks

Three stories that caught my eye over the past week - two serious, one frivolous - that I wanted to share.

Industry groups warn of serious shortage of seafarers by 2026

Now this is an alarming story and founded on the findings of a solid report too it seems. The ramifications go much deeper than ships just not having any crew to sail the vessels. We should all be concerned if there are no ship’s crew to transport the daily needs that we rely on.

The report suggests that the growing demand for standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping (STCW) certified officers could mean a further 89,510 officers are required by 2026 to operate the world merchant fleet.

The new Seafarer Workforce Report by the International Chamber of Shipping and BIMCO estimates that 1.89 million seafarers currently serve the world merchant fleet, operating over 74,000 vessels. And according to the published data, there is also a current shortfall of 26,240 STCW certified officers, indicating that demand for seafarers in 2021 has outpaced supply.

In addition, some officer categories are in especially short supply. There is a shortage of officers with technical experience, especially at the management level. In the tanker and offshore sectors, there is a shortage of management level deck officers, the report reveals.

“To meet the future demand for seafarers it is vital that the industry actively promotes careers at sea and enhances maritime education and training worldwide, with a focus on the diverse skills needed for a greener and more digitally connected industry,” Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping noted.

“The insight and data contributions from shipping companies, national maritime administrations, and maritime education and training institutions to the new report is invaluable in gaining a picture of what our industry must prepare for in the future of seafarer recruitment and retention,” BIMCO Secretary General & CEO, David Loosley, added.

So what is the solution to what is clearly a serious issue? How does the shipping industry market itself as one that offers good career prospects and makes crewing and live onboard a ship more desirable? I for one have no idea but remain a concerned bystander and observer.

Three individuals to face criminal charges over 2018 Stretch Duck 7 sinking?

This is the most distressing story and sharply focuses the mind. Picture the scene on Missouri’s Table Rock Lake on the morning of 19 July 2018. No-one involved could have imagined the looming disaster that was to unfold later that day resulting in the death of 17 people.

I watched the video on YouTube - it was a harrowing watch - as the drama unfolded when U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison dramatically announced on television a total of 63 charges against Scott McKee, the boat’s Captain, and Operations Supervisor Charles Baltzell and General Manager Curtis Lanham.

For the record, the captain of a World War II era duck boat and two other employees at Ride the Ducks Branson have been served with criminal charges in relation to the sinking of the Stretch Duck 7.??

According to a probable cause statement, the vessel was under the command of McKee when it entered Table Rock Lake during a severe thunderstorm warning and later encountered severe weather and rough winds, causing the boat to take on water and sink.?

The probable cause statement alleges that Scott McKee, the Captain, failed to exercise his duties as a licensed Captain by entering the lake during a severe thunderstorm warning, and failed to follow policies and training by not having passengers affix flotation devices as the boat took on water.

McKee was charged with 17 counts of First Degree Involuntary Manslaughter, a Class C Felony, 5 counts of First Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A felony, and 7 counts of First Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class D felony. Baltzell and Lanham were each charged with 17 counts of First Degree Involuntary Manslaughter, a Class C Felony.

This is a distressing case and will probably end with a custodial sentence being handed down. It is surely right that people who contravene the regulations in such a manner are made to pay. We rely on people for their experience and knowledge when we board a tourist boat to keep us safe. As I said, I have no doubt that the captain never started that fateful day at work imagining how it would end. One can but only have compassionate thoughts for those who perished and for those they left behind in what was an accident that should have never happened.

The humble weevil to the rescue

Now, who would have thought that the humble weevil could play such a big part in cleaning up the waterways? An army of 2mm-long weevils has been called in to prevent the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal from being overcome by a problematic water weed. Over 3,000 weevils have been released into the water at locations along the canal in the hope that they will eat the invading Water Fern.??

Azolla is a voracious grower and can multiply rapidly, covering the surface of a waterway with thick mats in a matter of weeks. The mats reduce light and oxygen levels in the water, harming fish and other wildlife, as well as affecting how boaters can use the canal.?

Individually the weevils consume a relatively small amount of Azolla, however they breed to produce very large populations which, together, will feed extensively, until sections of Azolla start to die and sink to the bottom, where it is further decomposed. Given time to reproduce and spread throughout a mat of Azolla, the weevil is capable of clearing entire lakes or canals within a matter of weeks.

All hail to the mighty weevil!