Too true Cap Ted, i joined the british merchant navy in 79 and that was the start of the GP system ,1 week deck,1 week engine 1 week watch 1 week spare hand,regardless what type of ship.I sailed tankers bulk etc for twenty years and still crews were kept being cut .thats why a lot of accidents happen especially on the smaller cargo ships and like you say 13 is still too many.

Ted, this picture is symbolic for today's shipping world!

Steve
good point,,but unfortunately some think that those 13 are still too much. You can see it in a lot companies in this business,,offices ashore around the globe are expanded like crazy and first thing you hear in a crisis (self created crisis that is)that too much crew on the ships,, I hear that since almost 40 years and I am sure I will hear that the last years too.

Why does everybody forget that the crews have been drastically reduced to save money on all ships even the older ones.this surely plays a major part in shipboard upkeep.Example EMMA MAERSK class designed for 13.

Hopefully she sees paint for her next ABS drydocking.

@Paulo
not so fast on that in general and that statement
I met ships in the last 6-12 month which did not get ANY supplies from the companies side because of the companies financial state. Container ships have beside that admittingly a hard time to do special hull maintenance because in 90 % of the ports painting is for environmental reasons not allowed and time they don,t have at anchorages seldom. So in these cases ,,most probably not the fault of the Capt and crew,,more likely the fault of not having the means to do it

Of course she looks like this if they run her across the ocean non-stop. Some ago I saw pics of the newly built CFL PROGRESS, all rusty after few trips across the Atlantic. It's not like they care that much about the looks that they will paint every time they spot a tiny rust like it's on Braren's ships.

The look of a ship is the mirror of the captain and is crew, so this one is in very bad shape, only because they dont take care of him. Shame on those people !!!

The look of a ship is the mirror of the captain and is crew, so this one is in very bad shape, only because they dont take care of him. Shame on those people !!!

Hugh
they have plenty under charter,, but this one is under management from Maersk Singapore. who the technical management does,,that,s another story. Usually the ships managed via Denmark,,never saw one really down like this one but Maersk Singapore does not look too good in that matter. As charter ship ,there are also preambles in a CP where it is clearly outlined how the ship has to look and when I was in Maersk charter in 2003-2005 they were clearly kind of picky with it. They even send every now and then there own inspector to check on the ships conditions

I am seeing more and more Maersk ships with rather poor hull conditions on this site. Their fleet is massive so I suppose it's not surprising that a few slip through the cracks. I understand that some are getting long in the tooth or under charter but there's no excuse really.

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1850997
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1090631

@ Orcine
depends a litte bit where you work,, on container ships you are now a bus driver,,at best,, on bulkers it,s a little different,,not that you choose ports,,but one is longer times in ports,, I am now in CTG since 28-Aug and sailing about 10-Sept. also the cargo quantities are set by the master and not by shore/charterer. Another thing is paper works, Bill of Ladings are still signed by Masters on bulkers on Containers you don,t even see them anymore, which of course is also not really more possible because there might be easy 8-10000 of them,,for each container at least one, and signing them would take forever. also the stowage of cargo,,bulkers solely at discretion of the Master,, on container shore guys doing it all. So it really depends where you are, what routes you going and what type of ships
and yes Denis,,knowledge of law is a must or at least a big plus

Pardon, I thought captains are lawyers today..?

In 20 years the job of a captain has changed. He used to be a master now he is a truck driver

Oricine
yes,, but then,,10-20 years ago you would be fired as Capt if your ship looked like that, by the very company (ies) which now seemingly do not care too much

Ships are working horses and "sweat" when they work.
Maybe MOL Confort had perfect paint work when she sank, but we dont know as she is no longer around. For me this boat looks like she is alive.

@ Bendt
I noticed a few times with big container lines or container ships owners that when they don,t come major ports, special R-dam/HH and other European pors they are much more often kind of neglected,,at least it seems it has to do with that,,the route they running. Or now just no time,,all concentration is on the Triple-E ?

Ooooh yes Captain Ted she's not a pretty sight, sad to see.
Best Regards
Bendt

Not too long ago this was called a greek rust bucket !!!