CORRECTION - In the March 12 edition of this story, it was stated that Mr Nick Cutmore, Secretary General of International Maritime Pilots Association, and Erin Ferguson of BMPA met with Minister of Labour Shane Gibson. Mr Cutmore and Mr Ferguson met with the director of labour at the ministry's office. In the story, reference was also made to IMO Resolution A916. It should have read IMO Resolution 960. The Tribune apologises for any inconvenience caused.
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
FREEPORT – An official at the International Maritime Pilots Association expressed serious concerns over the absence of proper structure for pilotage services in Freeport. Nick Cutmore, Secretary-General at IMPA, says Grand Bahama has had quite a few incidents and wake-up calls, and is only one incident away from a major maritime catastrophe.
“There is clearly no transparency, and most of what we see in other nations is missing in terms of structure from the top to the people on the ground doing their jobs,” he said.
Mr Cutmore was speaking at the Bahamas Maritime Pilot’s Association forum on Best Practices, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Standards, Insurance Requirements, and Safety and Training Guidelines on Monday evening at Pelican Bay Resort.
“Having been here… I have to say I am shocked at some of the things I’ve heard that sort of make your teeth curl. There is an absence of a great many things that the shipping community might be expecting to find here,” he said.
Erin Ferguson, of BMPA, said there is no competent pilotage authority in the Bahamas.
He believes that the harbour at Freeport is unsafe, and that the establishment of independent pilotage will result in a safer port, and ensure ongoing training for marine pilots.
Mr Cutmore and Mr Ferguson met with the director of labour on Monday about their concerns regarding the number of incidents at anchorage and the lack of training for pilots in Freeport.
“I did ask about standards and training, and again I was shocked.
“I am shocked by the accidents and when we talked with the Minister in Nassau, he spoke of providence being on the side of the Bahamas. “You have had incredibly good fortune – for a laden tanker to be broadside on the beach for two weeks and not spill any oil – you are only a hair’s growth away from catastrophe,” he said.
“I pleaded with him…please do something – you have had so many wake up calls. When you have a big accident that will be too late – something needs to be done now,” Mr Cutmore warned.
The IMPA official was also surprised by the lack of training for marine pilots.
Some pilots, he said, have not been on a training course for five years.
Mr Cutmore said that there are conventions at IMO that are very important, such as the Standards for Training, Certification, and Watch keeping (STCW), and Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS).
The IMO Resolution A960, he said, is also significant because it deals with training, certification, and operational requirement for marine pilots.
“There is a great deal in A960 that is missing from what I can see here. It is a big gap and it is very hard to reconcile the Bahamian registry performance at IMO,” Mr Cutmore said.
“Your administration should hang their heads in shame, or the companies. I don’t know who to point the finger at because there is no structure (here).”
“There is a big hole in the necessary structure to effectively run pilotage service. It is quite apparent there is no one authority with oversight, and nobody is managing the situation.”
Mr Cutmore said IMO has mandated that pilots receive ongoing training.
He said many cruise ships now coming into port do not carry paper charts, and pilots need to be trained on how to use electronic charts.
He also noted that cruise ships have complex control systems that pilots must know how to operate.
“Piloting a ship is not like learning to drive a car. Shipping is a dynamic business and people need training on all these new technologies.
“You have people in the shipping community moving their ships around the world, trying to manage their assets as best as possible with minimal waste, they would never dream that training here could possibly involve risks that they might find in more obvious places,” he said.
Mr Cutmore said the two-week grounding of the Formosa Falcon off Grand Bahama in October is the kind of thing that politicians in the UK would lose their jobs over.
“Your politicians need to get a grip on things. To hear of a laden tanker broadside on a beach for two weeks is absolutely, staggering.
“In Europe, politicians would lose their jobs for something like that – they would resign voluntarily or be thrown out of the post - that is unimaginable.
“And to have other instances and have a succession of them, as we said to the good minister, ‘you are riding providence a bit hard here’ – something has got to give,” he said.
He commended the BMPA for what they are doing to improve port safety, and standards and training for pilots in Freeport.
Mr Ferguson said there are some 18 pilots in Grand Bahama.
He said the resignation of some 14-BMPA member pilots in Freeport on March 28 will leave only four qualified pilots at the harbour.
Mr Ferguson said the four pilots would not be able to handle the current traffic at the harbour.
“The Ministry of Labour is concerned that there is a national security threat when the pilots’ resignations take effect,” he said.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 2 months ago
Mr. Ferguson needs to accept responsibility for his own actions. How can the pilots resign without an agreement in place? Is this some kind of extortion? I feel for the pilots that resigned based on this man's say so. Dumb move.
If things are not safe you can bet the resignation of so many pilots at one time aint making it no safer....
Commonsense242 10 years, 2 months ago
You are clearly misinformed then. An "offer" was put in place by the 14 pilots who resigned, it is the Port and BORCO who have refused to reach any agreements with the Pilots. NOW, after the government has gotten involved, BORCO is wants to just offering "higher wages and more training" ??? after resignation? tell BORCO and the PORT to GET SERIOUS! People's LIVES are at risks here!
Resigning is the BEST thing to do to make it safe. Why continue working in an UNSAFE and UNREGULATED environment, while exposing themselves to liability and risk, all for the profits of billion dollar companies?
Bahamians FIRST!
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 2 months ago
Well there's this. I cannot call the BMPA to order a pilot. I am forced to call the harbor. So they did in fact jump the gun. What did ya'll expect? Did you think BORCO and the harbour would just say ok then? No! Of course not. Things like this take time and intense negotiations. The process can take friggin years. They jumped the gun. And they made an enemy out of the harbor and BORCO. Seriously immature move.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 2 months ago
Bahamians first? What the hell are you talking about? No foreigner can come in and replace Bahamian pilots. But here is what will happen. You guys lost your jobs. That's now done and over. Replacements will be hired and trained and you guys will now just fade into memory. And it is all your fault for letting this Ferguson guy run you up on rocks. I can see the importance of a pilot association, but I see no need for you guys to just up and quit after YOUR FIRST OFFER was rejected. That is normal man. First offers pretty much always lead to more negotiations and ultimately to an agreement. But no you kids wanna suck ya teeth and walk off the job. Well that's one helluva lesson yinna ga learn now. No jobs and your reps are all destroyed. This aint politics, this is business. And you guys are not gonna slow the wheel one lil bit. Those billion dollar companies will continue to operate just fine without you....
jackflash 10 years, 2 months ago
Erin Ferguson is a loose cannon with wet powder!
The stupid thing about this whole action is that THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EQUIPTMENT!
Pilots need a PILOT BOAT to get to the ship....
inquisitivemind 10 years, 2 months ago
If I'm not mistaken I believe BORCO operates well without a pilot boat. There must be more important factors.
Commonsense242 10 years, 2 months ago
You both sound like Agents of BORCO and FCP ... its obvious they asked/paid you guys to post on their behalf.
pablojay 10 years, 2 months ago
I have a friend who used to work with these same pilots, he however is not one of them, and he says that it is all about greed as some of them make $14,000 per month and that foreign pilots who trained them, were happily working in Grand Bahama for half of that.
inquisitivemind 10 years, 2 months ago
It's so unfortunate that our people and these companies rather wait until a disaster occurs to take action and operate at a higher more conventional standard especially after the matter of lack of safety and international rules and regulations have been brought to their attention.
Why exactly are these companies not interested in negotiations? if this move is proving to be for the better of the people, companies and country.
It seems like a rather bold risky move on behalf of the BMPA to stand up against such big bad scary companies .
The_Oracle 10 years, 2 months ago
Freeport Harbor is a Private Harbor, unique in that respect. However, standards must be observed and adhered to, presumably the regulator is the Port Authority, not the Government, There lies the problem. Once again, the regulator is inept. Not that Govt would be any better.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 2 months ago
Um accidents happen whether BMPA exists or not. Dumb argument. This is not about safety, this is about control.
Even that I really don't care. What erks me is this idiot Ferguson getting them to resign BEFORE he has an agreement in place. Now that was just pure stupidity. Now Freeport is going to have slow pilotage while we wait for them to reset.
All they had to do was to continue to build up allies and negotiate. But no they'd rather extort what they want.
Dumb fools just gave up their livelihood taking advice from this fool...
inquisitivemind 10 years, 2 months ago
You are so right it is about control. These private companies want ALL of the control without giving due consideration to higher safer standards. In that proving exactly why pilotage should be independent of the companies influences. Regardless to say all of that is clearly outlined in international rules and regs. Unless Freeport, Bahamas and the Freeport Harbour are exempted from these rules and regs?
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