Annual General Assembly 2004 - Launceton

Session 1B

The Implications Of Shipping Laws And Practices Upon Onboard Operations - An Aspect Of Life-Long Learning For Seafarers

RUAN Wei and KONG Fan Cun

Shanghai Maritime University
Box 1054, 1550# Pu Dong Da Dao, 200135, Shanghai, China
weiruan@mmc.shmtu.edu.cn, fckong@mmc.shmtu.edu.cn

ABSTRACT

The maritime education and training system generally educates and trains seafarers in respect of maritime safety and pollution prevention conventions, seamanship practices, and navigational instrument operations, etc,. However, many maritime disputes arise due to seafarers' insufficient knowledge and experience in observing shipping laws and practices. From the point-of-view of a shipowner, they are the equivalent of "an accident".

It should be realized that the performance of various shipping contracts and the observance of merchant shipping conventions, laws, and rules, and practices binding the carriers relies greatly on the seafarers onboard, particularly the shipmaster. Thus it can be expected that gaining this body of knowledge will become an aspect of life-long learning for seafarers as required by quality shipping.

This essay discusses some key points in shipping laws and practices based on maritime insurance, salvage, chartering, etc,. and their influences upon practical onboard operations, briefing the roles of ship crewmembers in the shipping business, and attempting to illuminate another way of safety management and pollution prevention.

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