Sunday, June 10, 2007

Motor Tanker "Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon PVC"

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Relief appeal

To: Capt XXXXXXXX, DGM FP, M&M
Cc: Mr XXXXXXXXXXX, Mgr, FP, M&m
Cc: Mr XXXXXXXX, GM, FP

Dear Sir,
This is about my strong urge to get a leave after over 4 months of service in the light of changing times and personal attempts to adjust to it.
Sir, I would want to tell you that in past three years I have successfully avoided any service tenure of over 6 months because of mounting stresses in the prevailing security scenario, increased ship surveys and ameliorated technology.
From year 2004 onwards I have given up on obtaining NRI status, deserted the vessel, all in extreme want of short tenures.
Such personal objectives have often prompted me to join most other better relief providing companies, but I still chose to be with you considering the fact that I started career with you and then it was my turn to pay you back.
But it seems like there would be no end to it then. Relief for all the ranks is not a new problem in the SCI. I have seen it right from cadet years to this day. But the SCI's miseries have gone on and on.
In 2001, the WTC attack brought about the ISPS code in implementation world over. Seafarer's shore leave and family carrying got ill-affected by that. I suffered no-shore-leave in port of Singapore.
Then with rapid changes in technology, in a self-witnessed time period of 1 year, China's unloading cranes were replaced by bigger and faster ones. The turn around time reduced from 3 days to 8-10 hours. Shore leave was again most seriously affected. I saw that while on board M.V. Pataliputra and Murshidabad.
Australia always had this state-of-the-art loader which performs full ship loading in 8-10 hours.
But SCI's sea-service tenure has always remained the same. Last year during an interview with Shell's Capt Richard Miller, I was asked as to why I would join them. I found it difficult to explain to him how a person from an over-populated country like India working on virtually over-populated ships of manning order 40-45 people was complaining about poor relief.
I have also taken up further studies to know and understand my trivial status in this fast changing world. In the past I have utilized my leaves as Sabbatical with same purposes.
There is again one such hour where I need a leave to, both, let off the steam and pursue my objective. I would want a very positive action on my appeal, and no cold comforts, to help me sustain myself longer for sea-services.

Regards,
Manish Singh
Ch/Off, M.T. Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon PVC.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

29th May 2007
Demise of Lokesh
This is one of the most gloomy day yet. Buddy Lokesh passed away in a road accident last night-- another victim of Delhi’s despicable and mounting road rage.
What a bonjour he was.