Phew! Ain't it just classy that I did my disappearing act again right after the last post? Hey but don't crucify me yet. I got tons of excuses. Let's try some.
First since February 24th when I last posted, I completed my LL.M (Maritime Law) from National University of Singapore by writing Take Home Examinations and Research Papers in three different countries! Each lasted for a minimum of Twenty Four Hours and had the most convoluted tales of Maritime shenanigans you can dream up. That surely was an experience!
Then I hopped on to my wizard's broom...
and flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Finished a Research Paper there that I started in Singapore). Then on to Melbourne, Australia in March. Actually wrote one of my exams-The International Regulation of Shipping there. It was a funny feeling because Melbourne is three hours ahead of Singapore and it was my first time in Australia. I managed to enjoy the experience though. Then back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (For a few days of street roaming and sightseeing) Then back to Singapore for a day. Then to Doha, Qatar. Then to Johannesburg, South Africa. Arrived on the 3rd of April and was stuck pursuing my other interest (Human Rights!) at the Legal Resources Center, Johannesburg. Great experience it was. Met so many wonderful people and made friends I hope would last for a lifetime.
Enjoyed especially working with George and for my efforts I got an autographed piece from George of an Op-Ed I helped him prepare for the World Editor's Forum; an autographed copy of his book, "No one to Blame?";
and tons of anecdotes, lessons and wisdom. Not to talk of an insider's recount of the Rivonia Trial and defending Nelson Mandela!
Then in June after my stint at the LRC, I took me (okay! Not exactly accurate. A dear friend was generous enough to pay) for a trip to beautiful beautiful beautiful Cape Town, South Africa where I visited breathtaking places like Table Mountain and the infamous Robben Island.
At Robben Island I came in contact with very poignant revelations about a whole lot of issues including Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. Our tour guide was Yasin Mohammed the first General Secretary of Pan African Congress (PAC). On discovering I was Nigerian, Yasin recounted in his humorous and witty narrative during the tour, the efforts and role Nigeria as well as other nations played to end Apartheid.
I got to discover through Yasin's methodological narrative that the first political prisoners were held in Robben Island starting in the mid 17th century, with some coming from Dutch colonies as far away as Indonesia and the most popular being of course Nelson Mandela who spent 18 years out of the approximately 27 years he was in prison on this island. But even non-political prisoners and hardened criminals also once called the Island home. The Island had been many things in the course of it's history including a quarantine station, a leper colony, a “lunatic” asylum, a whaling station, abode of feral cats, Australian rabbits and ignominious host to the indefatigable Robert Sobukwe.
I stood in front of the vacant cell number 7, Nelson Mandela's cell and took this picture
Now how about that for a lengthy excuse? Aint an excuse which is simply a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense just wonderful? I hope the ones I have given by way of a narrative of what warranted the unjustifiable neglect of this blog in the past three months would suffice? If it doesn't then how about 'I am sorry?' Thanks!
While I was gone the waves flowed on in the lovely oceans of the word and the wheels of civilization progressed.
So permit me to quickly bring you all up to speed on developments since the Concordia sank.
First what has become of the infamous Captain Schettino?
Well Schettino has been under house arrest since Jan. 14. Schettino potentially faces charges of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship before all of her passengers were evacuated. No date for the trial has been set. As at April 11, 2012 the Italian Supreme Court ruled that Francesco Schettino, must continue to be under house arrest pending the conclusion of investigations and the commencement of trial.
How about the Costa Concordia?
The fallen beauty is on the verge of being aroused from her unfortunate sideways slumber. "On 21 April, 2012 it was announced that Florida-based marine salvage and wreck removal company, Titan Salvage, with its partner company, Micoperi, an Italian firm specializing in subsea engineering solutions,had been awarded the contract by Costa Crociere to refloat and tow away the Costa Concordia to a port on the Italian mainland. The salvage operation will use the port of Civitavecchia as its base. It began in early May and is estimated to take about 12 months. Once in port the Concordia will be demolished (cut into pieces), and the materials sold as scrap."
Curious about what is being proposed as regard the salvage and some of the myriad issues that go into consideration? Don't worry I got your back. Watch.
The Rock that sank the ship.
The killer 80 ton rock that sank the ship and got Captain Schettino into a whole lot of hot water is being proposed to be used as part of a memorial to the now assumed total of 32 persons who lost their lives.
Other matters arising from the Concordia
Let's talk money. Predictably the disaster hit the cruise sector and prices for cruises dipped. As a New York Times article reveals after a shipwreck, cruise lines try to win passengers back with discounts (obviously).
For as little as $64 per night you could get a night on a cruise ship at these times. It may be worth considering. Cruise Accidents are very few and far between so no need to cower!
Lessons to be learned from the Concordia
The Concordia incident is replete with lessons to be learned that transcend the gamut of shipping! (Aint that one of the reasons I am in love with shipping and the seas? There is always something to learn). We would just take six. You can add up the rest.
First a crisis is the acid test of leadership.
Unpleasant consequences attends a leadership deficit. Schettino's travails teaches that much.
Second a risk is not worth taking if the utility to be derived therefrom is marginal and the peril if unsuccessful great!
For Pete's sake what was the Captain (in consonance with line management as he claims) thinking when he ventured too close to shore all for the sake of putting up a show? The marginal utility of giving people at the mainland a spectacle viz the real threat of an accident was simply not worth the hassle.
Be loyal to your duties.
Many people simply snooze on the job. Loyalty to your job demands that you fill up your role effectively and not try to cut unnecessary corners or cheat your employer of the value of the wages he pays you.
Always have an eye for detail.
It pays to be organized wherever and in whatever you do. Know your environment. Be proactive. Try to keep your head when others about you are losing theirs. Pay attention to safety procedures. You never know when they may come in handy.
Organizational pro-activity is essential.
It's amazing how organizations devote so little a time as to understanding what can possibly go wrong in their businesses and planning a structured response in advance. Even in the midst of a resurgent global economic crises there is so much a firm can do to ensure that it is crises primed. Things as simple as occasional meetings premised on Murphy's law can go a long way in bridging the crisis deficit gap in most organizations.
Finally “Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats"
Voltaire's famous words rings even truer today. No matter how glum a situation may be there is always the silver lining in the clouds. There is a whole lot of perspective, direction, gratitude and exhilaration to be gotten from an attitude of singing in the lifeboats!
You can always turn that situation around.
That is the winning attitude!
Ciao!
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