Professional Biography

Index of Shipping Articles

Note

The purpose of the following is to support the other articles of the site, their content and the opinions expressed.
Real safety is not easy to sell nowadays. When no accident happens, safety proves its efficiency but it appears useless as the insurance industry almost always pay the a few small damages (and raise the premium thereafter to save its profits). But the insurance and even the best compensation cannot pay for the human suffering caused by an accident.
The consequence of this kind of a passive approach is that a good deal of the efforts of the crew are dedicated to minimize the liability exposure of the shipowner through a huge build up of paperwork instead of preventing accidents to happen in the first place.
The risk perception of a dedicated officer is increasing proportionaly to his experience and helps him to detect hazardous situations well before they become critical. Of course he needs to be informed about the new risks, but an excess of procedures and check lists ticking can induce a false sense of confidence which, together with the administrative work load, will dangerously erode an essential and permanent re-assessment of his priorities.
In some industries profit can aslo receive an higher priority than in transport as the risks could be minimal if something goes wrong, often just a loss of earnings. However the shipping industry can put at risk a lot more than the persons on its vessels. It can threathen the health of many people ashore and destroy their environment because by the dangerousity of the products carried. It must also be kept in mind that the smallest boat could be a menace for the largest vessels loaded with thousands of tons of polluting products.
Some shipping gurus are saying that fundamentaly ships are sailing because somebody must make profit with them. This is hardly true. Ships are sailing because goods must be moved, the world needs it just like an human organism needs blood to survive. If suddenly all the corporations financing shipping would take back their investment, fresh money will quickly be found to support this essential service.

Facts

1945 March 16
Born in NAMUR Belgium

1950 September
Enter Primary school of Notre Dame in Laeken (Brussels).
This school was run by the Friars of Christian schools who were renowned for the strength of their mathematical studies.

1955
Start secondary general studies in Private College St.Pierre in Jette (Brussels)
Their strong points were Latin and ancient Greek but I was not interested in these old languages. After one unsuccessful year I moved to a section more oriented towards mathematics, but where Latin was still part of the program.

1961 Spring
Read a book from the French author Edouard PEISON " The salt of the sea". In this book, the crew of a freighter has to cope with a broken propeller shaft in storm. I found this combination of intellectual activity applied to a real challenge quite interesting and decided to join the merchant marine.

1961 July/August
About one hundred candidates participate in the selection for the coastal trade nautical school in Ostend.
During and hitch-hiking trip to France, Brittany and Normandy, learned in Fécamp that I was lucky to be among the 20 selected candidates.

1961 September
Join the nautical school in Ostend.
One week-end out of two we made a small in the North sea on an old pilot vessel.

1963 July
Finished the Ostend nautical school leading the French speaking section.
The usual next step was to join the training ship for one year and then go to the Nautical College in Antwerp for the Foreign Going certificate. However the students of the previous year who went to the training ship told us they were very disappointed. As the vessel was not ready, they stayed 3 months in a Naval base re-learning all what they knew thereafter for 6 months they made boring trips on a bulk carrier between Chili and Japan. Instead I choose the individual training of 24 months on commercial vessels.

Note : When a vessel is listed, her name will be followed by the type and GRT.

Sailing as APPRENTICE OFFICER

For the Gulf Oil Marine Agency sa Antwerp

"m/v Good Gulf riding the heavy swell of huricane FLORA near the Flemish Cap"

1963 Aug. 23/Oct. 24 GOOD GULF tanker 7905 Holland, Denmark, US Gulf

For the CMB (Compagnie Maritime Belge nv)

"m/v Mokambo in Pointe Noire"

1963/4 Dec.12/Feb.24 MOKAMBO cargo 8877 W.Europe, Morocco (Casablanca, Agadir), Canary islands, Central Africa
1964 Feb.29/May 20 MOKAMBO cargo 8877 W.Europe, East Africa
1964 Jul.12/Nov.11 LINDI cargo 7608 W.Europe, USA, Central Africa
1964/5 Nov.24/Feb.02 LUKALA cargo 8695 W.Europe, S.America East coast
1965 Feb.20/Jun.15 MOANDA cargo 8856 W.Europe, East Africa
1965 Sep. 9/Oct.20 ELISABETHVILLE cgo/pass 10740 W.Europe, Central Africa

1965/1966
1st year at the Antwerp Nautical College.

1966 Jun.30/Aug.25 ALBERTVILLE cgo/pass 10733 W.Europe, Central Africa
1966 Aug.30/Oct.12 ALBERTVILLE cgo/pass 10733 W.Europe, Central Africa

1966/1967
2nd year at the Antwerp Nautical College.

1967 Aug.13/Nov.26 MOHASI cargo 8856 W.Europe, East Africa

As 4th OFFICER

1967/8 Dec.19/Nov.29 MAURICE MPOLO cargo 8877 W.Europe, Central Africa, USA
Stayed nearly one year on this Congolese vessel managed by the CMB on behalf of the CMC.
1968 Nov.30/Dec.12 JORDAENS cargo 10551 USA, W.Europe
1969 Jan.14/Apr.01 MOANDA cargo 8856 W.Europe, East Africa



As 3rd OFFICER

1969 Jun.14/Oct.05 MOBEKA cargo 8856 W.Europe, East Africa
1969 Oct.31/Mar.23 ANVERS cargo 7671 W.Europe, US Gulf, Mexico
1970 May 16/Sep.02 MOLIRO cargo 8877 W.Europe, East Africa

As 2nd OFFICER

m/v MONTENAKEN

1970 Sep.09/Dec.25 MOLIRO cargo 8877 W.Europe, East Africa
1970 Dec.31/Mar.04 MINERAL SERAING ore carrier 32868 Belgium, Mauritania
1971 Jul.26/Jul.27 GAND cargo 8877 Amsterdam to Antwerp
1971 Aug.04/Jan.16 MONTENAKEN cargo 11561 W.Europe, South Africa
1972 Apr.02/Nov.08 MONTENAKEN cargo 11561 W.Europe, Daman, Shatt el Arab, Koweit, South Africa
1973 Apr.04/May.10 MINERAL OUGREE bulker 20150 Belgium, Jacksonville, Tampa
1973 Jun.06/Feb.03 MONTSALVA cargo 11748 W.Europe, South Africa
1974 Feb.21/Jun.16 MONTSALVA cargo 11748 W.Europe, South & East Africa

As Chief OFFICER

1974 Aug.08/Mar.13 MOBEKA cargo 8856 W.Europe, Central Africa: during the return trip from Angola an heavy swell provoked intensive rolling to the ship loaded to its mark. Three frames broke in the largest hold, luckily the swell disapeared off Morocco.
1975 Jun.16/Jul.21 MINERAL MARCHIENNE bulker 35912 Belgium, Lower Buchanan, Narvik
1975 Jul.22/Aug.26 MINERAL SERAING ore carrier 32868 Belgium, Mauritania,Seven Islands

The two next ship were owned by the CMZ and register in Zaire.
1975/6 Oct.17/Sep.10 PRESIDENT KASAVUBU cargo 7324 West, Central, South & East Africa, Far East
1976 Nov.11/Feb.03 LUMUMBA cargo 9948 Mediterranean, Central & West Africa, USA
1977 Jun.03/Jan.07 MONARCH cargo 11379 W.Europe, East & South Africa
1978 Jun.03/Oct.26 MOKARIA cargo 10850 W.Europe, Far East
1978 Nov.29/May 11 MONSOON cargo 11379 W.Europe, S.America West coast
1979 Aug.17/Jan.28 BREUGHEL cargo 10550 W.Europe, Far East, W.Africa
1980 May 06/Aug.22 BREUGHEL cargo 10550 W.Europe, S.America West coast, Punta Arenas

Left the CMB because the promotion were too slow.
Joined Sea Lanes / ABC Container nv (Antwerpen)

"m/v RUTH at Weipa"

One trip as Chief officer.

1981 Jan.21/May 13 RUTH bulker 36785 Narvik, Indonesia, Singapore (Jurong dry dock), Weipa, PtoVesme

As MASTER

1981 Jul.11/Dec.03 RUTH bulker 36785 Japan, California, Australia NSW
1982 Feb.12/Jul.14 MARTHA bulker 36785 US Gulf, Japan, Korea
1982 Sep.01/Sep.15 ANTWERPEN conbulk 24453 Germany, Italy
1982/3 Nov.30/May.15 MARTHA bulker 36785 Long Beach, Japan, US Gulf,W.Europe
1983 Sep.09/Jan.28 DELORIS conbulk 23422 Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA
1984 Mar.13/May.30 MARTHA bulker 36785 Rostock, Gdansk, New Orleans, Ghent.
1984 Jun.05/Aug.15 DELORIS conbulk 23422 Italy, Australia, New Zealand, USA
1984/5 Nov.11/Jan.24 MARTHA bulker 36785 Turkey, Parana river, Rio Grande, Germany
1985 Mar.01/Jul.07 HELEN conbulk 23422 Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA
1985 Aug.20/Nov.29 MARTHA bulker 36785 Rotterdam, Baie Comeau, Karachi, Richards Bay, Antwerp
1986 Feb.11/Jul.15 RUTH bulker 36785 Montoire, New Orleans, Japan, G.Eylandt, Cape Town, Ghent, Rotterdam
1986/7 Oct.17/Mar.03 YAFFA bulker 36785 Europe, US Gulf, Japan, California
1987 Aug.09/Oct.27 CORNELIS VEROLME conbulk 26173 Round the world trip.

The company ask me to disembark in Gulfport in order to become nautical superintendent.

1987 - 1990 Nautical superintendent
In charge of all nautical equipment, maintenance, steel repairs and dry docking for 10 vessels


Dry docking

As nautical superintendent I was in charge of all rust descaling and coating work, including anti-fouling, all deck maintenance and steel repairs.

Special works

Planning & direction of the installation of an efficient heeling check system on the TNT EXPRESS, CORNELIS VEROLME, ELLEN HUDIG. (Blohm & Voss).
Extensive repairs and upgrades.

1990 September
After the sale of the 3 Panamax bulkcarriers, the company decided that the 2 superintendent engineers will take over the function of nautical superintendent.

1991 March
Completed implementation stability/trim/stress software for the whole fleet.
Resumed sailing as master for the same company.
1991 May.17/Aug.16 CORNELIS VEROLME conbulk 26173 Round the world trip.
1991 Oct.31/Nov.20 BRUSSEL conbulk 25999 Gulfport, US E.Coast, Zeebrugge
1991/2 Nov.20/Mar.22 BRUSSEL conbulk 25999 Round the world trip.
1992 Jun.06/Nov.26 DELORIS bulker 23792 Copenhagen, Poland, Tunisia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Italy, US Gulf, Spain
1993 Mar.27/Jul.21 DELORIS bulker 23792 Houston, Beaumont, Morocco, Gibraltar, Quebec, Pusan
1993 Sep.15/Dec.15 ELLEN HUDIG conbulk 27758 Round the world trip.
1994 Feb.16/Aug.31 DELORIS bulker 23792 Pohang, W.Australia, US Gulf, Jamaica, Texas, Albany, Chesapeake, Pusan.
1994/5 Nov.23/May.23 HELEN bulker 23792 Jamaica, Texas, New York, Korea, Long Beach
1995 Jul.21/Nov.04 ANTWERPEN conbulk 25599 Round the world trip.
1996 Feb.02/Jul.26 ANTWERPEN conbulk 25599 Zeebrugge, Hamburg, Haifa, Singapore.

1996 Nov.20/Nov.23
BIMCO Session on ISM Code in Copenhagen.

1996 Dec.
Writing various articles on Arrest problems and ISM Code.

1997 Feb.
Start training as pilot on canal Scheldt/Brussels.
Attended 77 ships.

1997 May.
Attended International Command Seminar in London in order to support a paper prepared in December: FINANCIAL SECURITIES & ARREST.

1997 Aug.15/Sep.06
Acted effectively as private pilot. However I could not continue longer without leaving the Belgian Pool. Since April, the canal direction studied the possibility to employ the pilots on a contractual basis, however a decision was constantly delayed.

1997 Sep./Dec.
Remaining on stand-by wages of Belgian Pool.
Studying further several, making contacts to develop several projects.

1998 Jan..
IMO/SGS Course on the Transport & Handling & Safety of Chemicals.

1998 Feb..
IMO/SGS Course on the Transport & Handling & Safety of Liquefied Gas.

1998 Apr..
IMO/SGS Course on the Transport & Handling & Safety of Hydrocarbons.

1998 May/June/July..
Studying and preparing needed material for North Sea Pilot license.


1998 July 17.
Examination for North Sea Pilot license.

1998 July 29/August 22.
Sailing as supplementary master on a LPG tanker in order to get a full Liquefied Gas certificate after ten gas loading/discharging operations.

1998 August 23-1999 August 31
While remaining basically stand by Master with the Belgian, started to be available as North Sea pilot to maitain navigation skills. Piloted several type of ships including tankers with deadweight up to 175.000t between Cherbourg, Dunkirk, Scheldth, Maas, Ijmuiden,Weser, Elbe, Skagen, Sunk, Brixham.

m/v Mighty Servant 1 in Seven Island with on deck the 32400t production platform P36 which will be wrecked two years later off Brazil.

1999 September 8-1999 November 23
In order to retain an employee status, I remained however on the stand by wage of Belgian pool for the short periods between two pilotage appointments. The sudden death of the manager of Europilot, Captain Coyne, and the termination of his business, coincided with a request from the Belgian Pool to make a short trip as Chief officer on the semi-sub vessel MIGHTY SERVANT 1. This gave me the opportunity to navigate this special type of vessel with the bridge fore, and an huge wind catching cargo aft. Also I became somewhat better acquainted with the oil rigs as the ship carried two Glomar jack-up rigs and the large production rig Petrobras 36.

1999 November 24 - 2000 February
Holiday from last trip. Tried also to resume activities as North Sea pilot without success, mainly due to concurence of retired masters who can afford to work for a lower fee and also due to the high taxation in Belgium, this while most other European pilots does not need to pay taxes on their earning at sea.
Through BESMA (BElgian ShipMaster Association, the DFA (Derbyshire Family Association) and Internet strong involvement in safety issues regarding structural problems of modern vessel, mainly bulkcarriers but also in depth analysis of the some incidents.

2000 March/April.
Called by a diving repair company to fill up a position for drafting reports of repairs with a vague promize to do some superintendency work. When after two months these failed to materialize, I returned to the Belgian Pool in order to be available for a better opportunity.

2000 May/June.
Sailing as master for the delivery trip of a split dredging barge from Ghent to Abu Dhabi. (J.Denul /Luxembourg Marine Services).

2000 July/August.
After holiday, updated bridge book and set of charts to resume working as North Sea Pilot for DIRKZWAGER Maasluis The Netherlands.

September 2000 until 31 December 2001
End August, at the end of a round trip of the North sea on a car carrier, I was called by the Navigation School CENFLUMARIN of Kallo to start as teacher (Seamanship, meteorology, shipping regulations, MARPOL, IMDG code, GMDSS). I accepted the offer on the basis that I could find a second income to cope with the low wages offered by the Belgian Ministry of Education. However the workload as teacher in Flemish/Dutch combined with a revision of all the nautical courses to adapt them to the last STCW requirements by translating the most recent publications written in English makes it very difficult to free some time for a second activity. As with the above salary I could not possibly sustain my family, I had to give up this interesting work.

1 January 2002 until 31 August 2006 Belgian Maritime Administration: flag state inspector. Carried out some 550 inspections of Belgian ships of all sizes worldwide.

1 September 2006 until 1 August 2009 Belgian Maritime Administration: port state inspector. Carried out some 950 inspections of foreign ships in Belgian ports.

Paper presented at the International Command Seminar in London 1997:
Financial securities & arrests.

Paper presented at the IFSMA annual Meeting in Durban 1999:
Reporting hazardous conditions under the ISM Code
Included in IMO bibliography of ISM Code.

Paper presented at the IFSMA Annual General Assembly held - Lübeck May 2001
MASTERS' ADVISORY PANEL

Paper presented at the IFSMA Annual General Assembly held - Vladivostock June 2002
DERBYSHIRE - CHRISTOPHER: 21 YEARS of UNSEAWORTHINESS for BULK CARRIERS

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