Our post last week, ‘Alternative maritime glossary for the times,’ has turned out to be one of our most popular. We, therefore, thought of adding a few more entries to the list. We hope that the small collection of maritime terms will drive home the message that there’s often a wide gap between language and reality. As a result, all of us would do well to look beyond the standard definitions of the words and phrases we use.
Competency Based Assessment (CBA) – The process of determining competency by asking the individual to demonstrate his or her ability to perform certain tasks according to established procedures. Only effective when the assessor is competent
Day of the Seafarer – International event celebrated every 25th June and characterised by an orgy of speeches and slogans to show that everyone cares about seafarers
International Maritime Organization (IMO) – A publishing house which holds the copyright to the IMO conventions. Also refers to the specialised agency of the United Nations whose primary mission is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping
On Board Training (OBT) – Training on board a real ship as opposed to training on a simulator. OBT slots are so hard to come by that many maritime cadets in the Philippines never get to graduate from maritime college and end up working as waiters, security guards and janitors
Private Maritime Security Provider (PMSP) – A company that provides protection to merchant ships and either conforms to the International Code of Conduct for Security Providers or not. Those that do not are more accurately called ‘Marsec Wannabes’
SOLAS – The international convention which has helped enhance sea safety, thanks to the seafarers who train hard and shipowners who are conscious of their duties (the credit goes to them and not to maritime bureaucrats in dark gray suits)
Sustainable Shipping – Shipping that promotes the growth of a wide range of enterprises whose mission is to make shipping ‘sustainable’ – e.g., manufacturers and distributors of new generation ship engines and emission control systems
~Barista Uno
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ROTFL, you had me in stitches…… seriously…
We have more up our sleeve, Johnny. But we think we’ll stop with Part II lest we cause uncontrolled cachinnation in some readers of the blog. 😀
Loving this alternative glossary and looking forward to more new definitions for industry TLA’s (Three Letter Abbreviations).
In this brave new world of instant communications, the deal makers’ favourite term “P&C” has surely completed the transformation from Private & Confidential to Publish & Circulate.