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The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute (ID: 30332)
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The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute - NI New Zealand The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute is comprised of those members of the Nautical Institute who live in New Zealand and the local region. The Branch holds regular meetings in Auckland, provides a regular newsletter to keep members in touch with local events and has a number of nominated Port Liaison Officers in various NZ ports who offer to act as a contact point for members living in the area or visiting the port. The Branch cooperates with other professional bodies and is often asked to provide professional input at a national level. The principal purpose of this website is to allow Branch members to remain in close touch with the branch and events, and for other NI members to be able to get in touch with local members when visiting New Zealand as a part of their seagoing employment or otherwise. What's New ? Check this page to see what is new here (you may like to bookmark the page and check periodically) IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz Nautical Institute NZ Branch - Text based version The Nautical Institute, New Zealand Branch Text-based version (especially suitable for those with slow connections and those connecting from sea) - please bookmark this page Home (this page) About Us Committee Contact Us Port Liaison Officers Membership News Links To Full Site The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute is comprised of those members of the Nautical Institute who live in New Zealand and the local region. The Branch holds regular meetings in Auckland, provides a regular newsletter to keep members in touch with local events and has a number of nominated Port Liaison Officers in various NZ ports who offer to act as a contact point for members living in the area or visiting the port. The Branch cooperates with other professional bodies and is often asked to provide professional input at a national level. The principal purpose of this website is to allow Branch members to remain in close touch with the branch and events, and for other NI members to be able to get in touch with local members when visiting New Zealand as a part of their seagoing employment or otherwise. What's New ? Check this page to see what is new here (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute - NI New Zealand The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute is comprised of those members of the Nautical Institute who live in New Zealand and the local region. The Branch holds regular meetings in Auckland, provides a regular newsletter to keep members in touch with local events and has a number of nominated Port Liaison Officers in various NZ ports who offer to act as a contact point for members living in the area or visiting the port. The Branch cooperates with other professional bodies and is often asked to provide professional input at a national level. The principal purpose of this website is to allow Branch members to remain in close touch with the branch and events, and for other NI members to be able to get in touch with local members when visiting New Zealand as a part of their seagoing employment or otherwise. What's New ? Check this page to see what is new here (you may like to bookmark the page and check periodically) IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz News from the New Zealand branch of the Nautical Institute The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links NEWS FROM THE NZ BRANCH November Happenings .... Two events for our members this month ... NEXT MEETING 16 November 2004 Volunteers Room, NZ National Maritime Museum, Viaduct, AUCKLAND The papers are signed, the deadline has passed and most ports and ships are in compliance, or are they? At our November meeting we will focus on: the ISPS code Initial & Ongoing impact on operations Jim Begg , Acting General Manager Maritime Security, MSA will talk on the challenges that MSA faced for a timely implementation of the code, with an update to current state of affairs. Michael Gladman , Ports of Auckland Port Facility Security Officer, will give us an impression of the impact of the ISPS code on the operations in the Port of Auckland . Mike McDonnell , Master ms Saga Wind will tell us how the ISPS code has affected the onboard operations. The meeting will be held on 16 November 2004 , 18.00 for 19.00. Venue: Volunteers Room, The New Zealand National Maritime Museum, Hobson Wharf , Auckland . Entry via The Waterfront cafe where bar and refreshments are available You are invited to a free seminar with Malcolm Lowle "Loss due to the Human Element" Malcolm, a former Master with Shell Tankers, is currently safety advisor to Silver Fern Shipping. He came ashore in 1987 first as Head of Ship Inspections for Shell and later as Safety Advisor. After several prominent tasks and functions within Shell he finally became HSE Manager for Shell International Trading & Shipping (STASCO). Most recently he was a major participant in the recent development and publication of the ICS code on Ship Recycling. The seminar will be held on 26 November 2004 from 10.00 - 15.30 hrs, at the New Zealand Maritime School , level 3, 132 - 138 Quay Street , Auckland . RSVP to your secretary (secretary@.........................) FUTURE MEETINGS CALENDAR 15 February 2005 19 May 2005 (AGM) LAST MEETING We joined with the NZ National Maritime Museum's Tuesday evening lecture on the Union Steamship Company in the museum's Entrance gallery. The speaker was David Graham, former purser and Shore Manager with the company. OTHER NEWS 11 August 2004 to 15 February 2005 ... The Southern Octopus - The Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (1875-2000) exhibition at the NZ National Maritime Museum A Day in the Life ... an article was written for SEAWAYS by the Chairman of the NZ Branch, Commander D N Hedgley FNI RNZN, and published in the August 2004 issue How do we contact you? Related to the new website is our drive to obtain every member’s email address. If you do have an email address I would like to hear from you at nznisec(at)xtra.co.nz Other than receiving the quarterly newsletter via email, you will be updated on other activities and information that involves the Institute, quite often on very short notice. An advantage of emailing the newsletter is that it can follow you to your ship. The onus will be with each member to update me on your change of address upon embarking and disembarking from the ship. Initially there will be duplication, a hard copy as well as an email copy of the newsletter will be mailed out to you. If you do no longer wish to receive the hardcopy please let me know, in order to safe the Branch some money for printing and postage. IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz The Committee of the New Zealand Branch, the Nautical Institute The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute - The Committee Chairman David Hedgley FNI email: chairman@ telephone: please contact Hon Sec as Chairman may be at sea Hon. Secretary Kees Buckens FNI email: secretary@ telephone/fax: +64 (0)9 522 0518 Committee Members Robert (Bob) Hawkins FNI Mark Longstaff MNI Mike MacDonnell MNI Alex More MNI Margaret Pidgeon MNI Mike Smith MNI Robert Weber MNI Trevor Whelan MNI Please contact committee members through the Hon Secretary Port Liaison Officers Please contact Port Liaison Officers through the Hon Secretary Webmaster Larry Robbins FNI email: webmaster@ IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz Nautical Institute - Port Liaison Officers, New Zealand The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute has a number of Port Liaison Officers. These members, living in the main NZ Ports, act as the Branch's first point of contact for visiting members, they keep the Executive Committee informed of activities in their area and are 'ex officio' members of the Branch committee. They would be pleased to meet NI members visiting their ports. The NZ Branch has liaison officers in the ports shown in the diagram. As not all have email please contact them through the Branch Secretary in the first instance IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz Contact the NZ Branch, Nautical Institute The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links Contact the New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute Mail Address: NZ Branch, The Nautical Institute c/- 86 Koraha Street Remuera Auckland New Zealand Hon Secretary: Telephone: +64 (0)9 522 0518 Fax: +64 (0)9 522 0518 Email: Secretary@ Website www.nautinst.org.nz IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz NAUTICAL INSTITUTE MEMBERSHIP The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links Membership of the Nautical Institute The Branch welcomes new members. Please contact the Hon Secretary to discuss. Please visit the NIHQ site for membership categories etc. IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz About the NZ Branch of the Nautical Institute The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links About the New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute ................ As only the second branch outside of the United Kingdom, the inaugural meeting of the New Zealand branch was held in October 1983. To be able to represent members throughout the country, the New Zealand branch initiated the Port Liaison Officers in all major port areas of the country. t is our goal to provide a New Zealand focus on the objectives of the Institute by conducting regular meetings, with guest speakers, and by facilitating communication with members throughout the country. The Committee members and the Port Liaison Officers (PLO) conduct a central function enabling the exchange of views and experiences of members throughout New Zealand. Individual members are encouraged to share ideas and observations through the local PLO or directly to the NZ B ranch S ecretary . The New Zealand branch is committed to use and maintain its website to uphold and promote local issues & views, and email to facilitate communications among branch members and beyond. All members will be kept informed of branch activities through the “News and Views” newsletter that will be sent via email, to follow you around the world, or via regular mail to your home address IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz The Nautical Institute - New Zealand Branch The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institut e What is new in this site? 6 November 2004 - Second part of article on RNZN Tanker CO's day added 11 Aug 2004 - News page updated. Includes meetings calendar, notice of next meeting etc. July 2004 - site comes alive IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute - NI New Zealand The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute is comprised of those members of the Nautical Institute who live in New Zealand and the local region. The Branch holds regular meetings in Auckland, provides a regular newsletter to keep members in touch with local events and has a number of nominated Port Liaison Officers in various NZ ports who offer to act as a contact point for members living in the area or visiting the port. The Branch cooperates with other professional bodies and is often asked to provide professional input at a national level. The principal purpose of this website is to allow Branch members to remain in close touch with the branch and events, and for other NI members to be able to get in touch with local members when visiting New Zealand as a part of their seagoing employment or otherwise. What's New ? Check this page to see what is new here (you may like to bookmark the page and check periodically) IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz About the NZ branch of the Nautical Institute The Nautical Institute, New Zealand Branch Text-based version (especially suitable for those with slow connections and those connecting from sea) - please bookmark this page Home About Us Committee Contact Us Port Liaison Officers Membership News Links To Full Site About the NZ Branch of the Nautical Institute As only the second branch outside of the United Kingdom, the inaugural meeting of the New Zealand branch was held in October 1983. To be able to represent members throughout the country, the New Zealand branch initiated the Port Liaison Officers in all major port areas of the country. t is our goal to provide a New Zealand focus on the objectives of the Institute by conducting regular meetings, with guest speakers, and by facilitating communication with members throughout the country. The Committee members and the Port Liaison Officers (PLO) conduct a central function enabling the exchange of views and experiences of members throughout New Zealand. Individual members are encouraged to share ideas and observations through the local PLO or directly to the NZ B ranch S ecretary . The New Zealand branch is committed to use and maintain its website to uphold and promote local issues & views, and email to facilitate communications among branch members and beyond. All members will be kept informed of branch activities through the “News and Views” newsletter that will be sent via email, to follow you around the world, or via regular mail to your home address . (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz The Committee of the NZ Branch, Nautical Institute The Nautical Institute, New Zealand Branch Text-based version (especially suitable for those with slow connections and those connecting from sea) - please bookmark this page Home About Us Committee Contact Us Port Liaison Officers Membership News Links To Full Site IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. The Branch Committee Chairman ... David Hedgley FNI email: chairman@ telephone: please contact Hon Sec as Chairman may be at sea Hon. Secretary ... Kees Buckens FNI email: secretary@ telephone/fax:+64 (0)9 522 0518 Committee Members Robert (Bob) Hawkins FNI Mark Longstaff MNI Mike MacDonnell MNI Alex More MNI Margaret Pidgeon MNI Mike Smith MNI Robert Weber MNI Trevor Whelan MNI Please contact committee members through the Hon Secretary Port Liaison Officers Please contact Port Liaison Officers through the Hon Secretary Webmaster ... Larry Robbins FNI email: webmaster@ (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz Contact the NZ Branch of the Nautical Institute The Nautical Institute, New Zealand Branch Text-based version (especially suitable for those with slow connections and those connecting from sea) - please bookmark this page Home About Us Committee Contact Us Port Liaison Officers Membership News Links Contact the NZ Branch of the Nautical Institute Mail Address: NZ Branch, The Nautical Institute c/- 86 Koraha Street Remuera Auckland New Zealand Website: www.nautinst.org.nz Hon Secretary: Telephone: +64 (0)9 522 0518 Fax: +64 (0)9 522 0518 Email: Secretary@ IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid spam, email addresses are not shown in full in this site. Please complete email addresses by adding nautinst.org.nz after the portion of the address shown. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz Port Liaison Officers The Nautical Institute, New Zealand Branch Text-based version (especially suitable for those with slow connections and those connecting from sea) - please bookmark this page Home About Us Committee Contact Us Port Liaison Officers Membership News Links To Full Site PORT LIAISON OFFICERS The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute has a number of Port Liaison Officers. These members, living in the main NZ Ports, act as the Branch's first point of contact for visiting members, they keep the Executive Committee informed of activities in their area and are 'ex officio' members of the Branch committee. They would be pleased to meet NI members visiting their ports. As not all have email, please contact them through the Hon Secretary There are NI PLOs in the following NZ ports: AUCKLAND/ONEHUNGA BLUFF DUNEDIN/PORT CHALMERS LYTTELTON NAPIER NEW PLYMOUTH TAURANGA/MOUNT MANGANUI WELLINGTON WESTPORT (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz Nautical Institute Membership The Nautical Institute, New Zealand Branch Text-based version (especially suitable for those with slow connections and those connecting from sea) - please bookmark this page Home About Us Committee Contact Us Port Liaison Officers Membership News Links To Full Site Membership of the Nautical Institute The Branch welcomes new members. Please contact the Hon Secretary to discuss. Please visit the NIHQ site (www.nautinst.org) for membership categories etc. (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz NEWS - NZ Branch Nautical Institute The Nautical Institute, New Zealand Branch Text-based version (especially suitable for those with slow connections and those connecting from sea) - please bookmark this page Home About Us Committee Contact Us Port Liaison Officers Membership News Links To Full Site NEWS FROM THE NZ BRANCH November Happenings .... Two events for our members this month ... NEXT MEETING 16 November 2004 The papers are signed, the deadline has passed and most ports and ships are in compliance, or are they? At our November meeting we will focus on: the ISPS code Initial & Ongoing impact on operations Jim Begg , Acting General Manager Maritime Security, MSA will talk on the challenges that MSA faced for a timely implementation of the code, with an update to current state of affairs. Michael Gladman , Ports of Auckland Port Facility Security Officer, will give us an impression of the impact of the ISPS code on the operations in the Port of Auckland . Mike McDonnell , Master ms Saga Wind will tell us how the ISPS code has affected the onboard operations. The meeting will be held on 16 November 2004 , 18.00 for 19.00. Venue: Volunteers Room, The New Zealand National Maritime Museum, Hobson Wharf , Auckland . Entry via The Waterfront cafe where bar and refreshments are available You are invited to a free seminar with Malcolm Lowle "Loss due to the Human Element" Malcolm, a former Master with Shell Tankers, is currently safety advisor to Silver Fern Shipping. He came ashore in 1987 first as Head of Ship Inspections for Shell and later as Safety Advisor. After several prominent tasks and functions within Shell he finally became HSE Manager for Shell International Trading & Shipping (STASCO). Most recently he was a major participant in the recent development and publication of the ICS code on Ship Recycling. The seminar will be held on 26 November 2004 from 10.00 - 15.30 hrs, at the New Zealand Maritime School , level 3, 132 - 138 Quay Street , Auckland . RSVP to your secretary (secretary@......................... FUTURE MEETINGS CALENDAR 15 February 2005 19 May 2005 (AGM) LAST MEETING We joined with the NZ National Maritime Museum's Tuesday evening lecture on the Union Steamship Company in the museum's Entrance gallery. The speaker was David Graham, former purser and Shore Manager with the company. OTHER NEWS 11 August 2004 to 15 February 2005 ... The Southern Octopus - The Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (1875-2000) exhibition at the NZ National Maritime Museum A Day in the Life ... an article was written for SEAWAYS by the Chairman of the NZ Branch, Commander D N Hedgley FNI RNZN, and published in the August 2004 issue How do we contact you? Related to the new website is our drive to obtain every member’s email address. If you do have an email address I would like to hear from you at nznisec(at)xtra.co.nz Other than receiving the quarterly newsletter via email, you will be updated on other activities and information that involves the Institute, quite often on very short notice. An advantage of emailing the newsletter is that it can follow you to your ship. The onus will be with each member to update me on your change of address upon embarking and disembarking from the ship. Initially there will be duplication, a hard copy as well as an email copy of the newsletter will be mailed out to you. If you do no longer wish to receive the hardcopy please let me know, in order to safe the Branch some money for printing and postage. LINKS The Nautical Institute, New Zealand Branch Text-based version (especially suitable for those with slow connections and those connecting from sea) - please bookmark this page Home About Us Committee Contact Us Port Liaison Officers Membership News Links To Full Site LINKS (caution: full sites will open) Nautical Institute, The main Institute website NI ... SE Australia Branch New Zealand National Maritime Museum International Sailors Society Auckland (Inc) Web4U - managers of this site NZ Maritime Safety Authority Land Information New Zealand International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK) Fairplay, shipping publication Ports of Auckland Ltd Porthole Cruise Magazine British Chamber of Shipping Shipping Facts Transport Accident Investigation Commission NZ Coastguard Please report any failed links to the webmaster (c) 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Nautical Institute www.nautinst.org.nz A day in the life of a replenishment tanker captain The Nautical Institute New Zealand Branch "To provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence." - Nautical Institute Council's Mission Statement Graphic-free version for those with slow connections or at sea Home News & Meetings Committee Port Liaison Officers Contact Us Membership About Us Links This article was written for SEAWAYS by the Chairman of the NZ Branch, Commander D N Hedgley FNI RNZN, and published in the August 2004 and October 2004 issues A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE RNZN REPLENISHMENT TANKER 0600-1300 “ Captain sir, Officer of the Watch” “Captain” “Good morning sir, it’s six o’clock , calling you in accordance with your night orders. Both frigates are in their sector, the ship is on track and we are on time to make the rendezvous for the replenishment at 0900”. Thus begins the day for this Captain of HMNZS Endeavour, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 10,000 tonne fleet replenishment tanker. The role of a Naval Commanding Officer is often seen as less complicated or bound by administration than those Masters who ply their trade commercially. Although this is true to some extent it is important to understand some of the pressures and responsibilities which affect the Commanding Officer (CO) of a Naval Vessel. While we have a good idea of life on board a fast container vessel I think there is less comprehension of what life is like in the Navy of today. The days of steaming the ocean on passage from one cocktail party to another are confined to fiction. We spend most of our time training for “operations” or other contingencies and as servants of the sovereign government we are required to ply our “trade” conscious of the National interests. In this article I hope to provide a generic insight into some aspects of life in the Grey Funnel Line. “Good morning Sir, would you like to see the signals now” “Yes Please” “Signals” are the radio teletype messages which arrive in the ship during the course of the day. The number of messages varies in accordance with the activity being undertaken at the time but they can range from 30 a day to 500 or even more. Reading the signals over breakfast is not quite the same as the morning newspaper but it does serve to bring you up to date with what is going on during the “exercise”, at home and around the world. Administrative requirements or requests are often initiated by signal and for the Captain, it is important to ensure that appropriate action is taken by stated deadlines. That said, email correspondence is now becoming much more important in our day to day life at sea and the ability to be able to communicate in a near real time environment does reduce the feeling of isolation which one has experienced in the past. The days when the mail call on arrival in port was often the first inkling that something may be amiss at home or an update on the latest Fleet policy on a particular issue have long gone. Frequent access to fast communications has alleviated many of these problems. However with such access comes a whole new suite of issues which need to be addressed. For example, Fleet Headquarters are keen to answer the press queries about the incident of alleged poor behaviour of one of your sailors during the recent goodwill visit to New Caledonia. Questions immediately spring to mind. Firstly “what incident?” then “which Sailor?” followed by “how did the press know before me?” finally ending up with “have we got the truth behind the story to pass on to Headquarters?”. Investigations into this hypothetical situation may then determine that one of your sailors emailed home with a story of how he went to the support of a fellow member of the ship’s company who was being harassed outside a night club and the language barrier precluded a full understanding of the situation which resulted in raised voices and a subsequent refusal of entry to the club. The story is emailed to a relative or friend “back home” then embellished in the subsequent telling and reaches the ears of a reporter from the local newspaper. The headline “Navy Sailor thrown out of club in argument over woman!” certainly grabs the readers’ attention but does not give a true reflection of the situation. The damage that this can cause to the outcome of a “goodwill visit” is considerable and the responsibility for that ultimately lies with the Commanding Officer. But first, the overnight passage brief from the Navigating Officer who asserts that the ship has made good speed and will be on time for the planned arrival time at the next port. Good news but.. we have just received by signal, a requirement to advance the ETA by 8 hours in order to be available as the venue for a rescheduled exercise planning conference. The Navigating Officer is despatched to assess the possibility of meeting the new deadline and to liase with the Operations Officer to assess the impact on the training programme for ourselves and consorts and … answers please by lunchtime! Captain sir, Officer of the Watch” “Captain” “Sir, I believe we have HMAS CANBERRA in sight, our consort for the replenishment, and I request permission to exchange identities”. “Approved – Are we ready for the replenishment brief?” “Affirmative sir” “Right, I’ll be up shortly” The Replenishment at Sea or RAS brief is conducted prior to each replenishment serial and it brings together all the key personnel involved in the conduct of the evolution. It is important that issues such as speed, depth of water, sea state, wind, anticipated replenishment course, amount of fuel to transfer, timings and safety matters are all discussed prior to conducting the activity. Such briefings are standard for many evolutions in most navies because they ensure that personnel are fully aware of their own responsibilities with respect to the activity being undertaken as well as the Commander’s intentions. Many an accident has been prevented by having a good brief. The replenishment gets underway at the planned time of 0900. The tanker remains on a steady course and speed with the consort in a “waiting station” at about 500 yards off one of the quarters. Once the “ready” indication has been given in both ships, the approach is made. A “fast back-down” is the preferred approachmethod as this provides the consort with greater manoeuvrability and reduces the time taken to punch through the tanker’s stern pressure wave. Deceleration is critical because it is important not to overshoot and find yourself overlapping and being pushed across the supply ship’s bow. A usual approach distance between ships is 35-45 metres at speeds of 20-22 knots! Once in station the approaching ship reduces to the tanker’s speed (12 – 15kts) and the hose is passed. When fully connected, pumping commences. This whole process will take 12-15 minutes and can be safely conducted in sea states up to 4. With a pumping rate of up to 600m 3 per hour a customer can usually refuel quickly but of course it will always depend on the amount of fuel required. With two ships replenishing simultaneously the transfer rate is reduced but the customer satisfaction is doubled! By 1015 all ships have disengaged and returned to their sector stations. The Navigating Officer can continue her calculations on the revised ETA and the Captain’s Secretary can prepare for the “Requestmen” scheduled for 1030. One of the “management highlights” of Command is the authority to recognise sailors’ professional and leadership achievements by promoting them to a higher rank. The process in the RNZN is formal and has been inherited from the Royal Navy but it allows important interaction between junior members of the ship’s company and their Commanding Officer. The heart warming Divisional Officers’ reports of dedication, determination and professionalism dispel many of the frequently heard negative comments about the “problem with the youth of today”. The success of any military organisation is in its people and it is well established that the average age of personnel in the RNZN is well below 25 years. Just because they like Hip Hop music does not mean they cannot do the job! “ Captain sir, Officer of the Watch” “Captain” “Sir, Shipping Report – At Red 30 range 8 miles I have a large car carrier. We are 30 degrees on her port bow and her bearing movement is drawing slowly right. She has a CPA of 2 cables on our starboard bow and will cross ship’s head at 8 cables. Sir, we are the stand on vessel in accordance with Rule 15 and my current intention is to maintain my course and speed. “Approved, however monitor her movement carefully and if she has not altered by 4 miles call me again” “Aye aye Sir” At last there are about 40 minutes available to tackle the in-tray before a quick lunch. Frequent visitors to this administrative pile are the 6-monthly Personal Performance Reports on members of the ship’s company. All ratings in the RNZN are reported on at 3 monthly intervals and their commanding Officer is required to read and contribute to each six monthly report before submitting it to the Fleet Personnel Organisation. These reports are crucial to ensure that every individual is aware of their strengths and weaknesses and that where necessary, improvements in performance can be made. The RNZN uses the content and grading of each report to build a promotion ladder which will ensure that the right people get promoted at the right time and that they are capable of fulfilling their duties in an assigned posting. With three reports completed there is just time to clear the remaining files when a delegation of the Executive Officer, Operations and Navigating Officers arrive to brief on the implications of the revised ETA at the next port. Apparently the new arrival time is achievable but it will mean that the ship can no longer conduct any training which will delay progress along the passage track. Additionally, preparations will need to be made to equip the Officers’ Wardroom to be ready for the planning conference. This will in turn mean that this area can no longer be used for the Official reception on board and that the hangar will have to be used instead. No problems but we should order the space heaters as soon as possible so that the 75 guests do not get too cold. The Operations Officer states that the planned boarding exercise, where the tanker acts as a suspicious merchantman for the frigates, will have to be postponed and the Navigating Officer is concerned that berthing at the height of the Springs flood tide will be a bit tricky with the limited tugs available. From a Commanding Officer’s point of view, the need for the RNZN to represent New Zealand by making the ship available outweighs some of the negatives incurred. A signalled response to the Naval operating authority confirms the tanker’s availability to meet the new ETA but requests additional help in organising some of the changed logistic requirements. 1300-2300 Fuel Leak, Fuel Leak, Fuel Leak, Fuel leak in the Engine Room, Standing Sea Emergency Party close up in the Machinery control Room. Hands to Emergency Stations, Hands to Emergency Stations, Hands to Emergency Stations, Activate the after Section Base, spare hands muster in the hangar Captain Sir, Officer of the Watch I'm on my way up! Thus begins the major damage control exercise planned for the afternoon. A major fire in the engine room is a worst case scenario exercise for the ship and her 45 crew. The whole ship closes up at emergency stations and quickly don their anti-flash hoods and gloves while 10 previously selected crew members get dressed in full Bristol Fire Suits and breathing apparatus. The fuel vapour catches fire , indicated by the 3 or 4 training smoke canisters which have been set off in the engine room. HQ1 or fire control headquarters is established on the Bridge where the Command team is poised to take control of the situation. Another team is set up in the hangar, now doubling as the after section base. Engine room and machinery space doors and flaps are quickly shut and the Containment Party set up hoses to establish comprehensiveboundary cooling around the compartment. Unfortunately the initial attack fire-fighters were beaten back by the heat and could not tackle the blaze. The Command dilemma is now to initiate the Halon drench system but not to endanger any more lives. Not all members of the ship's company have been accounted for and not all preparations for drenching have been completed. Meanwhile the fire continues to gain control. Pressure is now on the team to confirm, without doubt, that the engine room is clear and that all drenching preparations are complete. One of the stokers still cannot be found, but the fire is almost out of control. The decision to activate the Halon Drench is not taken lightly and the risks of losing multiple lives as well as the ship and her cargo weighs heavily in the Command decision making process. With the order given to drench, the waiting game for temperature reductions in the engine room begins. Fortunately the missing stoker was checking the emergency generator and was confirmed as safe, a relief to the angst of the Commanding Officer. Meanwhile the Navigating Officer is communicating with consorts who are offering firefighting assistance in the form of equipment and personnel. All Naval personnel undergo the same firefighting and damage control training therefore the ability to operate effectively on another ship help makes the command and control of a major situation all that more effective. About 90 minutes into the exercise the temperatures have dropped sufficiently for an entry to be made into the compartment. Once again, the training pays dividends and the fire party make their way in to cool down and clear all hot spots. By now a complete audit of all the firefighting tools and equipment has been made and an initial assessment of the potential damage is underway. Headquarters have been kept informed by either signal or Inmarsat telephone call. The injured and minor casualties have been tended to by the Ship's Medical Emergency Team (SMET) and assessments for ongoing treatment have been passed to the Command. Finally the exercise is declared complete and after about another 30 minutes of clearing equipment, mopping up water and recharging air bottles the debrief is held so that everyone is aware of good points and opportunities for improvement. Captain sir, Navigator Captain Sir, Full propulsion has been restored and the ship will be at operational speed in 20 minutes. I would like to inform the other ships that our exercise is complete and that we are ready to proceed along the navigation track. Approved - How much has this exercise affected our revised ETA? Just working that out now Sir but I think we may still have about 30 minutes in hand for today Thank you, Let me know when you have informed the consorts Aye aye Sir With this small amount of time in hand there is just enough time to test the reactions of the Bridge team and Boats crew with an unscheduled man overboard once the watch has changed over. The majority of Naval vessels have as a member of their crew a recalcitrant sailor usually known as OSCAR . He spends all his time on the upper deck dressed in a pair of scruffy overalls and always lacks any body coordination. Like a CPR mannequin, OSCAR is the man-overboard dummy who will almost daily take a swim for the benefit of the recovery teams. Life-size and often just as heavy as a true member of the crew, his role is crucial to maintaining safety on board and he can be forgiven his slothful performance for the contribution he makes in the particular area. At a predetermined time, OSCAR is flung from the ship and the man overboard alarm is raised. The OOW now has the responsibility to recover the man within the next six minutes. A series of well rehearsed actions take place: the boat's crew is readied to take the boat away, the ship turns hard to starboard to reduce the speed through the water, provide a slick of smooth water into which the boat is launched and at the same time maintain the engine running at optimum power. The medical emergency team; the boat handling party extra lookouts and the shark sentry close up and the stopwatch is started. Touch drills on the smoke markers and lifebuoys are undertaken and the lookouts keep an eye on the man . Meanwhile a full muster of the entire ship's company is undertaken in order to ascertain who the man overboard might be. Within 4 minutes it would appear that, once again, OSCAR is the culprit as everyone else has been accounted for. The coordination of all of these activities is the responsibility of the Officer of the Watch who on this occasion happens to be a 20 year old Midshipman who has been in the RNZN for a little over 14 months. With the sea boat away from the ship in 4 minutes it is time to test the alternative communications method with the boats crew. A large fluorescent wooden arrow is pointed in the direction of the casualty and further instructions are given by pre determined flashing light signals. A member of the SMET team always heads off in the boat so that OSCAR can receive immediate medical attention once removed from the sea. Neck brace and emergency blankets are put in place once he has been secured on the stretcher. Once the boat is recovered from the water the casualty is the first out of the boat, and passed to the awaiting medical team for further treatment . Again, a short debrief takes place so that all involved learn from their experiences and any errors can be corrected for the next time. Time at last for an hour's PT on the upper deck and in the hangar where the gym equipment is stowed. The physical fitness of all sea-going personnel in the RNZN is an important factor for ensuring the crews are capable of meeting the many demands placed upon them. Everyone is required to undertake and pass a 6 monthly fitness test in order to be fit for sea . For some this is a struggle, for others a pleasure but for those who are not fit they could be a liability to fellow crew members and their place at sea is questioned. Fortunately the culture of keeping fit at sea is prevalent and the strugglers are few and far between. After PT there is at last the opportunity to get to grips with the in-tray once again. With the earlier arrival at the next port it is important to ensure that all the administrative work is completed and signed off so that it can be mailed back home at the first available opportunity. Once alongside there may be many commitments, public or private, which will draw one away from the desk and thus thwart the opportunity to complete that last report or letter. C aptain sir, Officer of the Watch Captain Sunset Sir, Navigation Lights are burning brightly, emergency lights are tested and correct. Both radars are operating in medium pulse and there are no contacts forward of the beam with a CPA of 2 miles or less. The gyro was 1 degree high at sunset Thank you. The ship is to be darkened for the night steam in company and can you inform the Navigating Officer that I wish to sign Night Orders by 2100 this evening Aye aye Sir There is now just enough time to grab a bite to eat before the Evening Command Brief. This brief is essentially a get together of the ship's Heads of Department (HODs) with the CO in his cabin to review the day's activities and discuss future plans. An efficient ship thrives on effective teamwork and to ensure that that team knows which direction the Command wishes to move communication at the executive level needs to be fluent. The privacy of the CO's cabin allows frank discussion and sensitive issues to be aired. Topics can vary from the inefficient running of one of the cargo pumps to the quality of the menu and whether the ship's company will be affected by the early arrival at the next port. Knowing how command decisions are likely to affect those to whom they are directed often ensures that difficult decisions are more closely considered. The opportunity to tease out issues with the HODs often works wonders in maintaining team cohesion yet fortunately, never seems to diminish Command respect. The Navigating Officer arrives later with the Night Order book and the charts for the overnight passage. The passage brief for the day reveals that the ship has not quite made good the speed required for the new ETA but that if we forego the delaying engineering drills we should catch up. But No - she had not discussed this with the Engineering Officer who will need to be consulted but will do so and return as soon as possible . The overnight plan is for the ship to follow the track and control the exercise where the frigates will be timed and marked on their accuracy to conduct changes of station on the tanker. The Navigator returns from her meeting with a reluctantly content Engineer and the orders are signed. A morning call time of 0600 is booked and the orders are taken to the bridge for the OOWs of the night watches to read and sign. Finally there is just a little time to drop a few lines home and let the loved ones know that all is well and nothing much really happened today. 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