In early January IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu called for halving the number of lives lost at sea to no more than 500 annually by 2015. The IMO had better move fast if it is to reach the ambitious target. The spate of maritime accidents continues with its wrenching toll on life and limb. We hear voices of exasperation – the most recent coming from the ITF (International Transport Workers Federation) and from one of our readers.

Bjorn-Erik Kristoffersen, the ITF’s representative on the lifeboat working group of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee, said about the loss of five lives on 10th February during a lifeboat practice launch on the Thomson Majesty cruiseship:

‘This is a sad and awful accident, made doubly so because it happened during a drill whose whole reason is to safeguard lives. These accidents are all too common, and dramatically show that this is a recurring problem.’

Earlier, the Bangladesh ferry sinking of 8th February drew this comment from Nick Bramley, chairman of the ITF inland navigation section and Nautilus International national secretary in Switzerland:

‘This is another totally avoidable accident that – like so many in Asia and Africa – will doubtless be linked to failing regulation, lack of enforcement, dangerous working and overcrowding.’

Mr Kristoffersen strongly urged the IMO to finalise measures to prevent accidents involving the release system of lifeboats. On the other hand, Mr Bramley underscored ‘the crying need for decent standards for vessels, for proper enforcement, and for training and certification for crew members.’ Such gut reactions are to be expected. The question is, will the introduction of yet more maritime safety regulations lead to a drastic cut in accidents?

One of our readers has summed up the situation now facing many seamen. Commenting on our blog post ‘A bold new take on maritime safety,’ he wrote with a great sense of exasperation:

‘As a former captain and fleet manager and now a class society ISM/ISPS auditor, I have never felt more helpless. We are all stuck in this complicated maze together with many parties all pulling in different directions. The seaman is at the center and I agree his heart is where the aim should be. If you can win the heart the mind will follow. Today’s endless checklists and procedures will just be gentle reminders if we can make today’s seaman feel that he is part of the solution instead of the problem.’

It’s food for thought for the IMO Secretary-General and others pulling their hair over the non-stop train of maritime accidents. ~Barista Uno