International Maritime organizations

The number of transport vessels has grown and is still growing now very rapidly. By the end of the 20th century the total tonnage of the world's cargo vessels is estimated to be about 500 million tons. To avoid any perils and accidents at sea it became necessary to coordinate their activities.

After the Second World War the Organization of the Uni­ted Nations was faced with this problem. It worked out a spe­cial convention for creating such an organization which was named the Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) (now this organisation is called IMO). The Convention was approved by many countries and came into force in 1958.
Nowadays more than 100 countries are the members- of this Or­ganization.

IMO performs now many functions through its Committees. The main of them are: the Committee of Safety at Sea, the Com­mittee for protecting the sea environment, the Juridical Com­mittee and the Committee for technical cooperation. Each of these committies works out special regulations which are further dis­cussed completed and approved at the Assemblies or Conferen­ces and then, on ratification by the majority of the IMO’s mem­bers, become a compulsory law. Such documents as International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, International Convention on Preventing Pollution at Sea, International Regu­lations for Safety of Life at Sea and others are well known to all the mariners and shall be strictly obeyed in practical na­vigation.

All these regulations impose liability on shipping compa­nies, the vessels and their crews for non-compliance or viola­tion of the rules.

Much attention is now paid to preventing pollution at sea, as its consequences may threaten the vitally important problems of the mankind. The coast and coastal waters polluted with oil or poisonous substances may become uninhabitable or harmful not only for man but for fish, birds, animals, and other living creatures as well as for vegetation.

Under Convention the countries, members of IMO, undertake to see to the effective execution of the rules. To control the strict observance of the Regulations special organizations have been established. The staff of these organizations has been established» The staff of these organizations is entitled to investigate the cause of pollution, to inspect the equipment aboard vessels and to impose a penalty for the violation of the Regulations.

 

II. NOTES:

1. to evolve -развиваться, вызывать

2. to impose -налагать

3. liability -ответственность

4. non-observance -несоблюдение

5. uninhabitable - непригодный для жилья

6. strict adherence - строгое соблюдение

 

III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

 

1. What organization was forced to solve a great number of problems?

2. When do the IMO’s regulations become a compulsory law?

3. On whom is the liability imposed for strict observance of these regulations?

 

Oral presentation 3

 

SEA ROUTES

Sea route is the route from one port to another through open parts of the ocean or sea, and also through natural and artificial narrownesses (straits, canals, rivers, lakes). Main factors, which influence on sea routes formation are аs follows: weather, climate, depth and width of canal's fairways, navigational dangers and regions which have restrictions and are prohibited for merchant ships. Sea routes are subdivided into regional, international and coastal. Regional sea routes are formed in the limits of one continent for provision of transport communications. Marine merchant navigation is arran­ged in two basic forms: tramp (irregular) and linear (regular). Tramp navigation is arranged for Cargo delivery on various sea routes from time to time when necessary. There is no strict schedule. Points of loading and unloading are established in accordance with the voyage assignments per each passage. Linear navigation foresees system Organisation of cargo and passenger lines on definite sea route directions between ports of loading and unloading on fixed schedule. In dependence of the Cargo and passenger volume there may be one or several vessels to work. Coastal sea routes lie between the ports of one and the same state and may be realized between the ports of the same sea or be separated by several oceans, for example, between St. Petersburg and Vladivostok.

 

II. NOTES:

artificial - искусственный

subdivide - подразделять

schedule - расписание

for provision of - для обеспечения

assignment - задание, назначение

 

III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

 

1. What factors influence on sea route formation?

2. What types of routes do you know?

3. What is the difference between tramp and linear navigation, if there is any?

4. What Shipping Companies do you know?

5. What restrictions and prohibitions for merchant vessels do you know?

 

Oral presentation 4

SEA PROTESTS

 

In every case of an evident or suspected damage to cargo during the voyage, the captain of the ship is to note a Sea protest within 24 hours of arrival and before breaking bulk. The Sea Protest is made before a notary public or the consul, or before other local authorities. On noting the sea Protest the Master of the ship is to call in a surveyor to hold a survey on hatches. The Master of the ship also acquaints the receivers of the cargo with this fact in writing. In this case the receivers may appoint a surveyor if they wish.

The hatches should be opened and checked in the presence of the surveyor to prove that they had been properly battened down and covered before the voyage. If the sueveyor’s report states that the hatches were properly covered and secured and the cargo was properly dunnaged and stowed, the ship is discharged from responsibility for the damage.

At court the sworn testimony of the Master and other witnesses should be substantiated by the entries in the logbook. For this purpose extracts from the logbook should be taken and produced. The Harbour Master should make an official announcemenht for the information of all concerned about the Sea Protest declared.

 

II. NOTES:

Sea protest –морской протест

To lodge a sea protest – подавать морской протест

To go to law – подать в суд

To hold a survey on – производить осморт

To appoint – назначать

To give evidence - давать показания

To sworn testimony –показания под присягой

To substantiate – подкреплять доказательствами

 

III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. Under what circumstances is the Master of the ship to lodge a sea protest?

2. What are the main points that should be takenb into consideration while drawing up a sea protest?

3. Within how many hours is the Master of the ship to note a sea protesr?

4. Who signs the sea protest?

5. What data are usually mentioned in the sea protest?

6. Why is the true copy of the logbook required?

7. Why is the Master to call in a survey on board ship?

8. For what purpose should the hatches be opened and checked?

9. What official document is the surveyor to issue?

10. Why is a copy of the surveyor’s report be retained by the Master of the ship?

 

 

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS