STEP CHANGE FOR SAFETY GLOBAL SHARING OCT 2013 - DARE TO DARE | Page 7

GLOBAL SHARING MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – NOV. 2013 – DARE TO DARE
BITTER EXPERIENCE OF MASTER WHO DARED TO REFUSE “BAKSHEESH” IN SUEZ
THE INCIDENT –One of our vessels, on her voyage from West Europe to Far East, transited Suez Canal
when the following event unfolded. After the canal pilot disembarked, Ismailia pilot kept insisting that all
vessel's transiting the canal offer 4 to 5 cartons of Marlboro to each pilot. And the Master is solely
responsible for not issuing the required number of cigarette cartons. He kept sulking about the cigarette
instead of concentrating on the job of the pilot. Master Stated that he is not allowed to offer presents to
3rd parties under the company’s COBE (code of business conduct) and the vessel & Master should not be
held for ransom for cigarette. Ismailia pilot refused to pilot the vessel & stated that the agent to be asked
to get another pilot to take the vessel to Suez. Master took over the con immediately and asked the pilot
to rest as his service is no longer required. Office notified of the above situation. Local agent has been
notified of the pilot’s behaviour. Agent has been advised to arrange a new pilot for onward canal transit
from bitter lake to Suez. Vessel anchored at the Great Bitter Lake awaiting northbound convoy to pass
and will resume onward transit thereafter. Harbour Master notified who arrived on board shortly after.
VDR data saved to preserve the recording of the entire Suez canal transit up to the Great Bitter Lake.
Agent informed his inability to book another pilot for onward transit & vessel will have to continue the
canal transit with the current pilot to prevent any delays. Pilot & Harbour Master insisted on deleting all
the photos of the pilot & erased the memory card of the cell phone, while asking master to write an
apology letter to the canal authority exonerating the Pilot of any wrong doing to enable vessel to transit
canal without delays. Agent sent a draft copy of the apology letter to be signed, stamped by Master &
issued to Harbour Master for vessel to resume transit without delay. Anchor aweigh. Vessel resumed
convoy.
Following this incident and other similar situations, the head of QAHSSE department has made a visit to
Suez Canal Authority’s Director of Transit, where among other transit subjects; this incident has been
discussed in detail. The main feedback received was that the gift giving should be gradually reduced,
while any similar incidents, the masters are allowed to directly call the deputy of SCA’s Transit Director,
which in turn will intervene to correct the situation.
LESSON LEARNT – Having an experienced Master, which strictly enforced company’s no gift policy, has
given the right signal to the SCA pilot association and local authorities. Constructive dialogue with SCA
has much helped since then, while our Masters and Chief Officer’s specific Ship Handling Training at the
SCA’s facilities has paid off.
MESSAGE TO INDUSTRY - Applying a no gift policy on Suez Canal Transit, on gradual basis, across all
members, it helps Masters gain confidence and improve on safety of navigation during transit, while
constructive and continuous dialogue with SCA should be more often practiced by the shipping
community, using common message.

4 November 2013

A Shell Marine Contractors Safety Initiative

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