BY ANOOP SINGH 

 

 

BALTIMORE was in the news because of the disaster. The cargo ship brought the bridge down. Was it a calamity or accident? The ship’s master is at the helm of the affairs. He is the ambassador of the company and the ship he is heading. He has a crew of around twenty five people under him. Under him is Chief Officer and the Chief Engineer. These three depend on the crew consisting of cadets and the cook. While the crew comes under the workmen’s rules and has fixed hours of work and rest. The Captain and his officers do not have any fixed hours of rest. The Captain takes care of the ship’s maintenance. Be it the maintenance of the engine or the deck. A budget is allocated for the provisions of the crew and the upkeep of the vessel. The Captain is manning the vessel which is into logistics and delivery of cargo. Time management also comes in as the consignment should reach its destination on time. All companies into the business of logistics have one USP i.e. delivery on time and promise to keep the deadline. The ship is further controlled by a manager or superintendent as the terminology goes.

 

The Captain has to report to the superintendent for the maintenance and repairs of the vessel. He has to report for any damages or repairs as per the rules and also follow the rules in the countries he is sailing and the powers that be. While the ship had a Singapore flag the crew was headed by an Indian captain. At times of disaster the nationality of the master, the international relations and diplomacy comes in place. While the master gives a plan for the ship’s maintenance and repairs and fitness for sailing, the Superintendent has to show his masters his own performance in terms of the budget for the maintenance and frugality. The Captain may be forced to upkeep the ship within a limited budget overlooking the fact of the fitness and sea worthiness of the vessel. As on the land, the laws on sea differ from nation to nation. The nation in question is not a small country but a mighty nation which can turn the tables of the world if need be. In such case the Captain who is a national from an Asian country may be made a scapegoat. (This is just speculation, only experts can comment).

 

The real outcome may come out in a decade or two. Now in this age of and information technology when every detail of a person or place is available on the press of a key. One gets little information on the Baltimore Bridge other than that it was opened in March, 1977. Was the bridge designed with strength keeping in mind the surge in marine traffic over the years? Was the upkeep of the bridge held from time to time keeping in mind the vagaries of nature and nature’s wrath as the country has to face hurricanes. There may be no representation from the master’s side and he has to bear the brunt of the authorities. In the railways in case of accident the first thing to do is to suspend the driver and have his psychology test done as well his eye sight test. No doubt the Captain with a huge cargo and long working hours is under stress. A sailor is away from home for months together. Who will listen to his side of the story? He comes from the land where the law gives weight to Bail and not Jail.