HEAVY PAPERS

1 In the past few years, shipping industry faced significant changes

and developments. 2Paperworks which is one of the administrative duties of the
officers and captains onboard have dramatically increased throughout the years.
3Brought by new various international conventions and regulations, ship officers
shall comply with these standardsthat is, more papers to review, fill up and to
sign. 4As an effect , officers and captains have focused more on these
paperworks and neglected more important jobs onboard. 5In relation to this,
some officers even bring their paperworks on the bridge during their watch.
6Because of this, many accidents happen due to the loss of focus of officers on
safe navigation.7Thus, the entire ship safety is at risk. 8 Also, working with lot of
paperworks can be tiresome to seafafers onboard.9Stress due to paperworks can
eventually pose as a risk of safety in their work and in the environment.10 As an
evidence, M/T Ficus, a 44,788 dwt. product tanker grounded off Bahamas coast in
which investigators found out that the paperworks was the underlying cause. In
the final analysis, paperworks onboard are indispensable and probably,
international maritime community can improve paperworks with more efficient
procedures without impairing the safety of the crew, the ship and the
environment.