NeoCrews

30/01/2013

12/10/2012

U.S. District Judge Henry Lee Adams, Jr. sentenced Linda Gayle Wilson (46, Baldwin) today to 12 months in federal prison for providing false information/hoaxes involving a bomb report to law enforcement.

07/10/2012

Immediate Job Opening

26/09/2012

Holland America cruise ship fails health inspection
By Gene Sloan

Dirty ice machines. Malfunctioning refrigerators and dishwashers. Flies in areas where food is prepared and stored.

It's just the tip of the iceberg in a long list of sanitary problems that U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention inspectors discovered last month on Holland America's Veendam.

In what is a rare occurrence for modern-day cruise ships, the health agency failed the 1,350-passenger vessel during the surprise inspection, which took place on Aug. 19.

As part of its Vessel Sanitation Program, the CDC conducts unannounced inspections of passenger ships docking in U.S. ports twice a year and grades them on a 100-point scale. A score below 86 is considered failing.

The CDC gave the Veendam a score of 77.

The CDC report on the inspection cites dozens of violations including several that suggest a breakdown of management on the ship. Inspectors noted they observed managers in a galley area failing to stop the use of a malfunctioning dishwasher that was being dripped on by a leaking water line, resulting in the contamination of clean dishes after they were sanitized. There also was brown liquid leaking from the deckhead onto the left corner of the clean landing of the machine, and workers were observed taking the contaminated dishes and putting them into clean storage racks.

"Several managers were observed in the area, but they did not shut down the outboard flight-type conveyor warewash machine for repair before the inspector arrived," the report notes.

In a statement sent to USA TODAY, Holland America says the failing score was an aberration.

"The score resulted largely from one area of the ship's overall operation," the line says in the statement. "All the issues raised in the report were immediately addressed and have now been corrected. We have also ensured that our management and training practices in this area have been refocused to ensure continued success."

Holland America notes that the Veendam has received a passing score in 32 other CDC inspections since the vessel's debut. "While unacceptable for Holland America Line, the unsatisfactory score is highly unusual and an aberration," the company says. "We are confident that this will not occur again, and that Veendam's (CDC) scores in future will return to their consistently high levels."

Only two other ships from a major line, Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas and Cunard's Queen Mary 2, have failed a CDC inspection over the past three years, according to a search of CDC records. Over the same period dozens of ships have scored a perfect 100 during inspections.

Built in 1996, the 16-year-old Veendam is one of the oldest of Holland America's 15 ships.

13/08/2012

Report: Officials suspect cruise ship behind sewage on beach

Officials in the coastal town of Nahant, Massachusetts suspect a cruise ship is to blame for sewage and other debris found on a local beach, according to local news outlets.

The Daily Item of Lynn, Massachusetts reports a room tag from Holland America's Maasdam was found among a concentrated amount of sewage discovered Saturday on Nahant's Pond Beach, leading officials to believe the ship may have dumped the waste in the Atlantic during a recent voyage.

The Maasdam sailed northward out of nearby Boston in mid-July on a 35-night "Voyage of the Vikings" that includes calls in Greenland, Iceland and Norway. The route would have taken the ship off the coast of northern Massachusetts.

The Daily Item says Nahant's harbormaster found the waste while walking the beach on Saturday morning, describing it in an e-mail to the town administrator as "what appears to be macerated sewage and other possible holding tank waste." The news outlet quotes the head of a Massachusetts environmental group as saying the debris contained a mass of rubber gloves, dental floss, contraceptive, personal hygiene items and a urinal cake. "Huge masses of brownish foam" and toilet paper also were reported.

Boston's NBC affiliate WHDH, which reported Wednesday night on the finding, shows video and a photo of the debris on its website.

A spokeswoman for Holland America tells USA TODAY the line doesn't think its ship is to blame for the waste.

"We do not believe the debris is from ms Maasdam," says spokeswoman Sally Andrews, noting that the ship hasn't been in Massachusetts since July 14. "However, we intend to look into the matter further."

Andrews adds that Holland America's ships comply with all international environmental guidelines concerning waste treatment and disposal.

International regulations allow cruise ships to discharge sewage and certain types of garbage at sea. The Cruise Lines International Association says on its website that member lines treat all sewage on board ships before discharging it either at an approved shoreside facility or at sea. The association says at-sea discharges are done at least four miles from shore or in accordance with local and international regulations. The association says garbage is discharged at sea only after being incinerated, grinded, compacted or crushed.

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

26/07/2012

Hmm... How would it feel to shower at the new Cantilevered shower on Celebrity Cruises ship?

06/06/2012

Can we become No. 1?

04/06/2012

10 Professional Mistakes Seafarers Should Never Make Onboard
By Mohit

There is no dearth of stress on board ships. Ask a seafarer and you will know what it takes to work on board. It is the ultimate test of both physical and mental strength.

No mariner is born smart! One has to learn the ropes of the game, avoid the pit falls, and play it safe.
In this difficult job market, a mariner must know what not to do in order to prevent any kind of professional trouble.
But every sea going professional knows that under excessive work pressure at sea, mistakes are bound to happen. So how does one save work related trouble?

It is by keeping note of basic yet important things while working on board ship. Here are ten mistakes a professional seafarer should never want to make on ship.

1.Never follow Illegal or Irrelevant Orders
Whether you are a rating, an operational level officer, or a management officer controlling the ship’s operations, there will always be a boss ordering you from the top.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, make sure that you know all the important regulations of the sea including SOLAS, MARPOL, COLREG, ISPS, STCW etc.

Never oblige to an order which violates all these important laws as it may land you in prison and can even end your career. If you think that the orders asked to follow are dangerous for your ship or ship’s personnel, do clarify again with your seniors before proceeding.

2. Never Hide a Problem or a Mistake
Everyone makes mistake, and unless it is not repeated several times, it is usually forgiven. The same applies to every mariner on ships. If you make a mistake, of whatever kind, don’t hide; instead report it to your superior so that necessary steps can be taken immediately by the onboard team. Hiding mistakes can lead to bigger problems or emergency situations later on.

3. Make Correct Paper Work Entries
In today’s shipping industry, documentation has become the primary concern for all shipping operators, who keep a track of each and every operation of the ship. These records are used as a proof for authorities that the ship is operating as per all international regulations.

It also helps them in tackling future problems (as the documents are used as references) and most importantly, they are used for insurance claim survey if any damage or accident occurs. Thus make sure that all the entries you make in your documents (e.g-Log books) are correct to avoid any mishaps in the long run.

4. Don’t Ignore Alarms – Every Alarm is a Sign that Something is Wrong
Different types of alarms (audible and visual) are fitted onboard ships to warn crew members of any emergency, so that immediate actions can be taken to tackle the same. It does not matter if the alarm is genuine or just meant for a drill; one must treat every alarm as an emergency and act on the dedicated duties as soon as possible.
Don’t use your brain to judge a situation when an emergency alarm is given; just act! Sometimes even a second delay can lead to severe consequences and loss of life.

5. Don’t allow Anyone to Have Access to Your Cabin
Your Cabin in ship’s accommodation is your own private place and you are solely responsible for all the holdings inside it. Never allow any one (from ship or outside) to enter your cabin without your consent or presence.

Custom authorities of different countries have their own rules for carrying particular objects in their countries. If caught carrying object which is prohibited in a country, the ship can be held or arrested and you can land in prison or prosecuted.

6. Don’t be a “Parcel Boy”
When joining a ship or signing off after finishing up a contract, you may be in a jolly mood and ready to help your mates. Sometime you may be asked (requested) to carry a parcel and hand it to his/her family or vice-versa. Never carry any such things from your crew members or their families without completely checking the parcel and knowing the custom regulations of the country you are flying to.
Companies and agents will be responsible only until you enter the airport, after that, it would be solely your responsibility. Hence avoid any kind of trouble to yourself and to the company.

7. Never Get Involved in Physical Fights- Be Calm
On a ship there are people from different nationalities working together. This may sometime give rise to a conflict. Never make an issue big enough that it leads to physical fights. Such behaviour may lead to your suspension from sea career or imprisonment in some countries as per the severity of the matter. It is important to maintain your cool while working onboard as injury of any kind at mid sea can become dangerous because of non availability of special medical assistance.

8. Don’t Drink and Drive – Not even a Ship
The basic rule on land applies to ships as well. Whether you work in the engine room or keep watch at the bridge, never carry out your duties under the influence of alcohol.

If you have been drinking or find that the person came to relieve you is in drunken condition, do not take over or allow him/her to take over the watch. Always make sure you follow drugs and alcohol policy of your company. Violation of this policy is a serious offence which can cost you two years of suspension from the job. Working in drunken condition can even lead to accidents and emergencies.

9. Be on Time, Don’t Miss Your Ride
The ship is the only place you are safe. It is your temporary home when sailing in international waters. When you go for a shore leave, make sure you note down the shore leave expiration timings and also come back on time to avoid embarrassment of getting left behind and being a liability to the company.

10. Ship is Not Your Private Property
When signing off from the ship, many professional seafarers take home ship’s property (from computers to printer stationary; yes it’s true!) along with their luggage. Such behaviour is not at all ethical as crew replacing you will need those resources to carry out daily operations of the ship after you are gone.
Selling of ship spare or bunker is another practice carried out for personal gain. Such activities can lead to suspension of your job, along with penalty and legal consequences under theft case.

Being a professional seafarer means a good track record of work with correct attitude. Make sure you note the above mentioned practices to avoid unnecessary trouble.
So what practices do you follow to avoid trouble on ship? Do you have any advice?