WELFARE Happy WMD With 2010 designated as "Year of the Seafarer", this year's World Maritime Day aimed to draw attention to the unique circumstances within which seafarers spend their working lives, while rendering their indispensable services, but also to make a palpable and beneficial difference.
IMO head honcho Mr. Mitropoulos said, "In selecting the "Year of the Seafarer" theme, our intention was also to use it as an excellent opportunity to reassure those who labour at the "sharp end" of the industry the seafarers themselves that those of us who work in other areas of the maritime community, and yet whose actions have a direct bearing on seafarers' everyday lives, understand the extreme pressures they face and approach our tasks with genuine interest and concern for them and their families". He went on to ask the industry to maintain high standards for staff, request that politicians shouldered the responsibility for policies ensuring companies implemented safe working practices and acceptable conditions. He asked for even handed treatment for seafarers caught up in legal disputes and for educators to stress the range and importance of maritime jobs. To seafarers Mr. Mitropoulos said: "The entire maritime community appreciates you and your indispensable services; is aware of the conditions under which you operate; shows compassion for the sacrifices you make; does care for you; and works to ensure your safety and security, praying that you always have calm seas, fair winds and a safe return home which it wishes you wholeheartedly." Fine words, wonderful sentiments, and a real shot in the arm for all those already at sea...but can this work to bring the next generation on stream and up the gangway? WMD must represent more than just begging for the minimum of respect and decency. It must serve as a beacon to make seafaring "sexy" once more. The fear remains that not only is it dangerous and with a fair chance of jail time, but that the fun has gone. Nowadays, zero feelgood factor = zero interest. We live in an age when people want more and more. Sadly it seems we can only offer them less and less. Fingers crossed we can be a tad more uplifting next year! =========== FM SHIPTALK =========== ------------------------------------ 1. Moderator tidak bertanggung jawab atas kebenaran isi dan/atau identitas asli pengirim berita. 2. ATTACHMENT akan dibanned, krmkan ke pelaut-owner atau upload ke FILE. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelaut/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelaut/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelaut-dig...@yahoogroups.com pelaut-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelaut-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/