Maritime Reporter, February 2001

<BODY> <div> Editor's Note M: ind boggling" is the only phrase to describe recent events in the marine market. Last month the industry was front-page mater- ial for most major consumer press publi- cations, which is rarely a positive sign. At press time, salvage operations were underway aboard Castor to prevent the vessel from splitting open and spilling thousands of tons of gasoline into the western Mediterranean. The ship, which developed a 60-ft. crack in its deck during a voyage through rough weather in late December 2000, has become a lightning rod for the debate on safe haven for damaged ships carrying volatile cargo. Attempts to bring the ship into Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco were repeatedly thwarted (see story, page 27). In another incident, the 835-ton Jessica ran aground just off of Ecuador's famed Galapagos islands — islands famed for hous- ing some of the world's rarest species and serving as inspiration for British naturalist Charles Darwin's theory of natural selec- tion. While Mother Nature and quick action helped to mitigate the effects of the 160,000 gallon spill — and it appears that the environment will make a full and rather rapid recovery — the wreck will not soon be forgotten and will surely serve as fuel for activists' fire. Jessica's 58-year-old captain has claimed sole responsibility for the accident, claiming he misjudged his entrance into the aptly named "Shipwreck Bay." In times of crisis, the fact is lost that more than 99 percent of the world's petrol products are moved safely, without incident. But it is these incidents, combined with other recent and histor- ical accidents, that cumulatively help to shape the industry's future. While it is impossible to gauge the exact impact on future vessel design, equipment, training and support functions, it is a sure bet that regulators on the international, national and regional fronts will seek new measures designed to financially penalize rule-breakers while ensuring "safer" shipping. Perhaps it is time for the marine industry to adopt the philosophy depicted above Celebrity's Demetrios Kaparis on page 32: "Eternal Vigi- lance is the Price of Safety." MARITIME REPORTER AND ENGINEERING NEWS NEW YORK 118 E. 25th St., New York, NY 10010 Tel: (212) 477-6700; Fax: (212) 254-6271 e-mail: mren@marinelink.com Internet: www.marinelink.com FLORIDA 215 NW 3rd St., Boynton Beach, FL 33435 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Gregory R. Trauthwein • trauthwein@marinelink.com EDITORIAL Associate Editor Regina P. Ciardiello • ciardiello@marinelink.com Technical Editor David Tinsley Editorial Consultant James R. McCaul, president, International Maritime Associates Manager of Information Systems Susan Cosme • cosme@marinelink.com MARKETING Marketing Assistant Angelica Rivera • arivera@marinelink.com PRODUCTION Production Manager Sharon Griffin • griffin@marinelink.com Asst. Production Manager Oksana Martemy • martemy@marinelink.com CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Dale L. Barnett • barnett@marinelink.com ADVERTISING SALES Vice President of Sales Lucia M. Annunziata • annunziata@marinelink.com National Sales Manager Robert C. Howard • howard@marinelink.com Tel: (561) 732-3001; Fax: (561) 732-6984 Regional Sales Manager Jennifer Truman • truman@marinelink.com Regional Sales Manager Brett W. Keil • bkeil@marinelink.com Tel: (561) 732-1185; Fax: (561) 732-6984 Regional Sales Manager/Electronic Product Sales • @marinelink.com Tel: (561) 732 4368; Fax: (208) 575-3217 Assistant to the Vice President of Sales Tina Angelino • angelino@marinelink.com Classified Sales Tel: (212) 477-6700 PUBLISHER John E. O'Malley John C. O'Malley • jomalley@marinelink.com Chief Financial Officer Al Adinolfi Mm? Mooted Publications ootoiM fctooooG IPmSmi Electronic Products & Services MarineNews www. marinelink. com trauthwein@marinelink.com MarineNews Published 18 times per year, MarineNews is the acknowledged provider of information and analysis for the North American inland/offshore shallow draft market. Maritime Week Published weekly, Maritime Week provides unequalled financial insights, reports, news and statistical analysis on the trends driving the international maritime business. iSSi www.maritimetoday.com Customized e-mail news service deliv- r^Zi; ered twice a day, including the latest contracts, casualties, people & compa- ny reports. www.maritimejobs.com The marine industry's recruiting & ft employment resource. www.marinelink.com The Internet largest marine website, recording more than 270,000 "hits" per month. Daily news, data & statis- tics, industry directories. Looking for service reliability, we deliver it. ABB Turbochargers ABB New York/NJ, Miami, Houston, Seattle/Tacoma, L os Angeles - email: turbochargers@us.abb.com Circle 201 on Reader Service Card </div> <span id="lblContents"></span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.digitalwavepublishing.com/" title="Digital Magazine">Digital Wave Publishing</a> </BODY>