March 2012 |
nautilusint.org | telegraph | 05 APictured left is the 4,500TEU Safmarine Chilka, the first of
three new Safmarine ‘Wafmax’ containerships to join the A.P Moller- Maersk fleet in 2012. The ship — which has a crew complement of nine — is also the first of a new series from Hyundai Heavy Industries to be fitted with super-long-stroke main engines and a waste heat recovery system to reduce emissions and save fuel. The vessel operates with a crew complement of just nine and has been deployed on the Far East-Africa trade.
Maersk cuts back Asia-Europe capacity AMaersk Line is cutting 9% of its vessel capacity on the Asia-Europe trades in a bid to
prop up freight rates. Complaining that over-capacity has pushed rates
down to ‘unsustainably low levels’, the company announced last month that it will achieve the cutbacks through a vessel sharing agreement with
the French container shipping line CMA-CGM. ‘The Asia-Europe trade remains the world’s
busiest trade lane; however, the supply of vessels currently operating on this trade simply outweighs the demand. We are therefore rationalising our service by taking out vessel capacity and thereby reducing costs,’ said Maersk Line’s Vincent Clerc.
The company said that ‘where commercially
appropriate’ it will also consider additional opportunities to reduce capacity — including redelivery of time charter tonnage, the use of lay- ups and slow-steaming. Maersk also confirmed that it will not exercise its option for the last 10 18,000TEU ‘Triple E’ vessels.
EU state aid rules are up for review P
Nautilus is taking part in an impor- tant consultation on the future of the European state aid guidelines for
shipping.
Brussels announced last month that it is seeking stakeholder views on possible changes to the existing state aid rules for the maritime sector, which were last amended seven years ago.
First adopted in 1989, the guidelines set
out the measures that EU member states can take — such as tonnage tax and support for maritime training — to encourage shipping companies to remain under national flags and to employ European seafarers. The guidelines — which also set out com-
mon criteria to ensure support measures do not create distortions of competition — were amended in 1997 and 2004. The European Commission says it will
analyse the submissions received in the current consultation before deciding whether the current rules require modification and
A badge of honour for Dover LO
CP&O Ferries liaison officer Paul Dilks has been presented
with a silver badge to mark 40 years’ membership of the Union. He is pictured right receiving the award from Nautilus industrial organiser Jonathan Havard, along with fellow liaison officers Nick Ingleby, Micky Smyth, Stuart McWilliam and Alistair Butlin.
Mr Dilks joined what was then
the Merchant Navy & Airline Officers’ Association in Southampton in 1971, when he began his seagoing career as a cadet with P&O Lines. He went on to serve with P&O Cruises
and Princess Cruises before joining P&O Ferries in 1997. Now serving as chief officer
onboard Pride of Canterbury, Mr Dilks has been chairman of the liaison officers committee in Dover since 2005. He says he became an active
member of the Union through a desire to see ‘fair play’ in the workplace. ‘I want to make sure that things
are done properly, that people get what they are entitled to and that nobody is taken advantage of,’ he added.
— if so — to come forward with proposals for change that will be put out for further con- sultation. Competition policy commissioner Joaquín
Almunia said: ‘In 1989, the Commission adopted its first guidelines on state aid to maritime transport with the aim of encour- aging shipping companies to do business in and from Europe. Seven years have passed since the last revision and it is time to check the guidelines’ validity against market devel- opments.’
EU member states and stakeholders have
been asked to provide feedback and data about the effect that the maritime guidelines have had on the industry or the ‘evolution of business models’. The Commission is also interested in infor-
mation about possible shortcomings of the guidelines that could be addressed in the future. The three-month consultation dead- line is 14 May. Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson
NAUTILUS AT WORK shortreports
INTRADA RETHINK: Nautilus has turned down an offer of 2.5% on behalf of members employed on vessels operated by Intrada Ships Management. Alternative proposals were made in respect of either a one-year or longer-term deal over two or three years, and industrial organiser Jonathan Havard said the company is currently considering these. Members will be informed when a formal reply is received.
ST HELENA REJECTION: Nautilus has rejected a pay offer on behalf of members employed by Andrew Weir Shipping onboard RMS St Helena. The initial offer was for a pay increase of 3% and industrial organiser Jonathan Havard said this was considered not to be fair in the current economic climate. The company is reviewing the claim and members will be notified when a revised offer is received.
MAERSK INCREASE: a pay offer including a 3% increase in basic pay has been accepted by members employed by Maersk Offshore Guernsey and serving on tankers. The increase is effective from 1 January 2012 and the Union has requested that the company implement the new rates as soon as possible.
PNTL CLAIM: Nautilus has submitted a pay and conditions claim on behalf of members employed by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd. The Union is seeking a pay increase over and above the Retail Price Index and additional leave to bring members closer to working 1:1.
PG PAY: members employed by Bibby Ship Management and serving on PG Tankers have accepted a revised offer of a 4% increase in salaries in conclusion to the 2012 pay review. The increase will be paid in February salaries and backdated to 1 January.
Nautilus calls for closer links between support and seafarer employment
commented: ‘The review of state aid guide- lines is an important opportunity to remind the European Commission that the core objec- tive of state aid to the maritime industry is to create jobs for European seafarers. ‘Whilst much good has come from the existing arrangements — especially in the UK and in the Netherlands — more needs to be done and stronger links could be made between the support provided and the out- comes,’ he added. ‘This review therefore represents an impor-
tant opportunity for all stakeholders who are concerned about the future supply of Euro- pean seafarers and the health of the wider maritime cluster to remind the Commission that without strong commitments to educate, train and — most importantly — provide decent and secure employment, it is all point- less.’
gThe consultation is on the website:
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012
SHELL SUBMISSION: members’ pay aspirations have been submitted to Shell International Shipping Services. The company has acknowledged receipt of the claim and industrial organiser Derek Byrne hopes to meet management later this month.
PRINCESS SALARIES: Nautilus has decided not to pursue a claim for salaried pay for members employed by Fleet Marine Services on Princess Cruise Line vessels, following an ‘extraordinarily low’ response to a membership consultation on the issue.
WYNDHAMS DEAL: members employed by Wyndhams Management Service have voted to accept a three-year pay deal. The package includes a 3% increase in 2012, a 2.5% increase next year and a 3% increase in 2014.
MADOG OFFER: members serving with P&O Maritime Services on Prince Madog are being consulted on what the company describes as ‘a very attractive offer’ of a 3% salary uplift with effect from 1 April 2012.
Workplace reps can cut employers’ costs
FNautilus has backed a new report from the TUC which
shows that union representatives in workplaces could be saving employers as much as £2m a day. The report — Facility Time for
Union Reps: Separating fact from fiction— explains that workplaces with union reps negotiating on behalf of their colleagues save money by achieving a more productive and better trained workforce, safer working environments, and less expenditure on recruitment and retention. General secretary Mark Dickinson
welcomed the report and added: ‘Our lay representatives work incredibly hard on behalf of our members, often
supporting them when they are at sea and unable to access immediate support from the Union. ‘They also provide invaluable
support to our full-time officials, attending pay and conditions meetings, dealing with disciplinaries and grievances and ensuring that their colleagues are able to go about their work in the knowledge they have this essential support.’ The report was published in
response to pressure on the government to limit the amount of time union representatives can spend improving workplace conditions and negotiating with employers, which the TUC claims are often the result of inaccurate and exaggerated figures.
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