Boxing and Dancing: The Challenges of Enforcement in Global Shipping
In recent years, the spread of inspections and other forms of enforcement (audits, surveys, vetting, assurance etc.) has reached
a stage of ‘explosion’ in terms of both scope and frequency. There is a real concern that the enforcement regime, i.e. compliance with rules, regulations and industry standards, has fallen victim to its original intentions of managing safety risks. Many seafarers I have interviewed believe that onboard inspections are merely paying lip service to regulatory and commercial obligations and not necessarily addressing genuine safety risks.
Safety is a joke
Two discrete narratives form the backbone of this paper. Both were triggered by posing a simple question to the crew onboard – how effective are onboard inspections in addressing safety risks? After all, it is the end user whose opinion matters the most – or so it is said. The first response comes from a chief engineer who explained what he felt was the focus of inspectors and his innovative ‘fix’ to the problem: ‘Every time they [inspectors] come onboard they have to find something. So what I do, I will put some paint cans in engine room or remove a fire extinguisher from its location. Makes them happy when they !nd something, very happy – you should see their face. The moment they !nd something they stop looking so that makes
my life easy.’
In another case an infuriated Master had to say this about a recent inspection:
‘After six days of extreme heavy weather I arrived in port and thanked all my crew for their wonderful efforts in running a safe operation.
This guy [inspector] comes onboard and the !rst thing he asks –‘Captain how did you dispose of 20 litres of cooking oil from the galley?’
I felt like banging my head against the wall. Tell me where is the sense?’ These responses are neither exaggerated nor isolated; similar issues have emerged during many discussions with the seafarers and the managers ashore. The managing director in one company explained how a major accident within the #eet brought to surface some serious safety issues despite the vessel ‘#ying through every inspection and audit for the past few years’.
