Q4. As a marine surveyor, what are your areas of specialization and what challenges do they raise when working in the Chattogram port area.
A4. Chattogram is a very busy port. During my diploma in Commercial Ship Marine Surveying by IIMS, my specializations were in Marine Incident Investigation, Insurance Damage Surveys for Hull Surveys and Marine Warranty Surveys. Most of the incidents at Chattogram occur at the anchorages in the open sea and as such travelling and boarding the vessels in Monsoon weather is challenging due to the unavailability of suitable boats at reasonable costs. Donning of proper PPE, ensuring preparation of appropriate boarding arrangements by ships and careful embarkation and disembarkation procedures are always a priority.
Q5. I was genuinely interested to learn more about the peculiarities of the port and had no idea that by far the vast majority of Bangladesh’s imports come in via Chattogram. I understand the need to lighter ships is essential so they can make their way up the Karnaphuli River to the port. What special challenges does that process throw up for you as a surveyor?
A5. In fact challenges are more for the vessels doing the STS lightening operations. The tidal current at Chattogram is very strong and reaches over 6-7 Knots during the spring tide. With low under keel clearance at the anchorages, anchor dragging of loaded vessels during
the STS are very common and efficient use of a vessel’s engines in proper time is very important. Contact damages at the time of STS operations during Monsoon season or squally weather are also common.
A number of Master Mariner surveyors with their local knowledge and expertise are employed onboard bulk carrier vessels as Port Captain and Independent Pilots to assist the vessels dealing with these challenging issues.
Q6. Marine surveying is an unregulated profession around the world as a general rule, but that is not quite the case in Bangladesh, which might surprise some readers of the Report, as it did me. Please tell me more about how a marine surveyor is permitted to operate locally.
A6. Unlike many countries, to practice as a marine surveyor in Bangladesh, one needs to have a Certificate of Ship Surveyor from the office of the Director General of the Department of Shipping, Government of Bangladesh.
In order to ensure the quality and standard of marine surveys, the Department of Shipping of Bangladesh made it is a prerequisite for the applicants of the certificate to be a Master Mariner or Chief Engineer with a minimum two years of experience in the ranks, to be a member of the MSAB and to get specific training under the supervision of experienced surveyor members. Only surveyors holding
the Certificate of Ship Surveyor are allowed to conduct Cargo and Commercial ship surveys onboard ocean going vessels at the ports of Bangladesh. The certificate is to be renewed every two years and for the revalidation of the certificate the surveyors need to undergo a medical examination and obtain medical fitness certificates from authorized medical centers.
Q7. How important is the role of the Bangladesh Department of Shipping in helping to further the cause, standards and safety of the surveying profession in Bangladesh?
A7. The role of the Bangladesh Department of Shipping in respect of the marine surveying profession is vital. In addition to issuing the Certificate of Ship Surveyor and keeping control over this profession, this office is also responsible for the safety of the vessels, crew and personnel attending onboard the vessels. In this regard, the unavailability of standard motorboats for transportation of surveyors to and from vessels at anchorages and Kutubdia Roads where deeper vessels anchor is a matter of concern. The MSAB can approach the Department of Shipping for necessary directives so that properly designed boats for plying during the Monsoon season, having means for safe embarkation and disembarkation to and from ocean going vessels are available for the surveyors.
The Department of Shipping can enhance the standard of marine surveying profession to the
Inspection of hatch covers of a vessel
Writing inspection report
onboard
134 | ISSUE 106 | DEC 2023 | THE REPORT
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