“Safety first to avoid the worst “ - KLSM

The shipping industry is undergoing constant technical and legislative improvements with upcoming new developments pertaining safety measures to be implemented by seafarers at sea. “Safety” is paramount and cannot be compromised. Updating, upgrading and training of seafarers to achieve the goal of Zero accident are essential.

Working towards this K Line Ship Management (India) Pvt. Ltd. (KLSM) recently conducted a two day seminar for their sailing staff at Goa’s lavish beach resort – Bogmallo on 14th and 15th November. The seminar aimed the focus on safety, broadening its scope, human element and a shift to a more holistic safety skill approach at KLSM.

Capt. S.K. Goyal, CEO & Managing Director, KLSM welcomed all the seafarers, delegates and all senior Management from Tokyo, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta. For KLSM, the seafarers are the biggest asset. This annual meet is the right forum for the seafarers to meet their peers and the senior top management to discuss ideas, share knowledge, interact and know the company better” expressed Capt. Goyal.

The seminar opened on a brief update on the recent development at KLSM and it performance in the last year by Mr. Iwane Ogawara, Managing Director, KLSM, Tokyo. The seminar aimed to propagate the message “Safety first to avoid the worst”.

Safety always needs to be reinforced given the importance attached to it. Individual competence and behavior will always be key elements in managing safety. At KLSM, safety is not a procedure, it’s a culture” opined Mr. Ogawara.

Capt. P.N. Bhaumik, QCG, KLSM Tokyo, and Capt. Rai, MSG, KLSM presented a case study on a cargo oil-spill incident. “Case studies are excellent learning tools. They help you to avoid making mistakes by studying other’s mistakes “said Capt. Bhaumik.

Another case study was discussed by Capt. Pranshu, SGP, KLSM on an oil-spill incident case study during bunkering.

The various case studies discussed incident investigation, corrective action, and guidance as proactive approach to avoid accidents. It received tremendous participation from the audience and was excellent learning for all.

KLSM, one of the leading ship management companies globally, has always focused on having a “Proactive Safety Culture” o board. It always has insisted on keeping their seafarers alert to fix the problem before an accident. We work on small problems that we still find, and on the safety measures to be practiced on board to ensure safety voyages.

Human element is the major cause of accidents on board. Thus eliminating the cause of human elements is the key to avoid accidents. Elaborating further on this was the brain storming session by Capt. Juvale and Capt. Rele, SGP, KLSM.

Post lunch, Capt. Bhaumik presented a video session on an incident in restricted visibility. Specially made by K Line for training, the video presented ways to prevent accidents during such navigation.

Few more case studies were discussed on High Duty compressor damage, deck and cargo incidents and machinery incident investigation during seminar.

Day 1 of seminar mainly focused on discussing, case studies of various incidents/ accidents/ troubles by KLSM representatives from different departments and branch offices.

Day 2 of seminar commenced with a voluntary CSR activity in the true spirit of the K Line policy, of keeping the environment clean. A total about 69 volunteers of K Line staff and their family with kids participated in a clean – up of the beach activity wherein the entire Bogmallo beach from one end to the other was cleaned up. All kind of garbage totaling about 2 CbM was collected and neatly placed to be picked up. The key message was passed to the next generation through the kids to feel responsibility to act and ethically and considers their impact on the community.

Day 2 focused on the table top exercise emergency preparedness in case of oil spill and understanding the role of various stakeholders, like the PSC inspectors, SIRE, charter etc. this was an exclusive session for the Captains and Chief Engineers and was conducted by Capt. Bhaumik and Capt. Rele.

Capt. Mathur SGP, KLSM presented his papers on KLSM’s new promotional and training enhancements program through CMS.

Capt. Rele, ADPA, QCG, KLSM Tokyo, also updated the seafarers on vetting results. He highlighted Vetting KPI’s, high risk observations and bench marking results with the industry. The KLSM success of achieving the higher position in DNV-Qatar Gas’s “Safety Enhancement Project” was shared with the fleet.

Keeping in line with maintaining good standards of health and Company’s active Health Campaign, Ms. M. Tsuruta from Tokyo, CWG gave a wonderful presentation on Healthy living, passive smoking and Giving up smoking. Although all smokers know off the pitfalls, valuable insights were expressed in the presentation, which was very useful for all, especially the smokers who would have gained encouragement from the contents to end-up a non- smoker before it’s too late.

There was brief open forum at the end of seminar – to express their views, opinions, grievances, and suggestions with senior management. It formed the right platform where officers can clear their doubts, voice their thoughts and be heard. The open forum was held to discuss and garner seafarers’ views, suggestions and areas, of improvement ant KLSM. The feedback from the seafarers is taken very positively by the company, thus encouraging a healthy working atmosphere at KLSM.

The seminar closed with the concluding remarks by Capt. S. Fukuda, K-Line, Singapore, who appreciated the efforts of all the seafarers onboard and cheers their spirits up.

It was a moment of rejoicing for the seafarers and the company. Adding extra joy to the seminar was the honor of long service award conferred on few KLSMites by Capt. T. Saito, President, KLSM.

The company has always in believing credits to its employees for the efforts they put in. Taking this legacy ahead, this year KLSM honored a few seafarers with long service loyalty awards, at the seminar for completing 7 and 15 years with the company. It was indeed a proud moment for both the seafarers and the company, thereby making the end to yet another successful seminar by KLSM.

The two day seminar ended with gala night followed by cocktails and dinner for the officers along with their families for both the days to celebrate the grand success of the seminar.