Shows
How did it make sense?Ep.4 - Abhijith Balakrishnan. Crimes of Obedience: Well-meaning auditors in dysfunctional systemsIn today’s episode Gareth and Abhijith delve into the complexities of maritime safety, focusing on the audit process and its implications. They discuss the dichotomy between first and second stories in safety management, emphasising how audits often fail to capture the true dynamics of operations at sea.
The conversation highlights the challenges faced by auditors, the influence of regulations on safety practices, and the need for a shift towards a more nuanced understanding of safety that goes beyond mere compliance. Abhijith shares insights from his experiences in ship management and safety, advocating for a more holistic ap...2024-11-2241 min
Even KeelEpisode 14: In conversation with Chirag Bahri, ISWANChirag was in pirate captivity for over 7 months in 2010. Here he shares his trauma and torture while they had to live with pirates who beat them up. Leaving behind the trauma, Chirag focusses on the welfare of seafarers working with MHPRP and now ISWAN.
Here we discuss his days in captivity, what motivates him to do what he is, fradulent agencies, how easy is to get seaman books and how that may be adding complexities on board. Senior officers may have to deal with less than capable seafarers which adds to concerns on mental wellness as also on safety. We a...2021-05-231h 00
Even KeelEpisode 13 : In conversation with Joanne Rowley and David Hammond , Human Rights at SeaThis is the first episode where Even Keel had two guests. Joanne Rowley and David Hammond. Jo is on the advisory board of Human RIghts at Sea, of which David is the founder and CEO.
In this episode, Jo discusses Sexual Harassment at sea while David discusses Abandonment.
Human Rights at Sea is a civil society advocacy for human rights founded in 2013. Jo calls upon everyone who has the privilige and resources to speak up for seafarers who don't. David mentions that it took a civil society group to bring attention to human...2021-05-021h 21Even KeelEpisode 12 : In conversation with Capt. Vivek Menon on Maritime Anti Corruption NetworkSeafarers are often placed in situations where they have to make difficult choices. In this episode, I speak to Capt. Vivek Menon on Mairitime Anti Corruption Network to understand what seafarers can do and what MACN does.
https://macn.dk/
MACN works towards its vision through three objectives that are elaborated in the MACN Mission: Capability Building, Collective Action, and Culture of Integrity
What are the outcomes on MACN's collective action
What are the outcomes?
MACN’s collective actions have generated major outcomes, including for example: re...2021-04-221h 34Even KeelEpisode 11: In conversation with Capt. Richard Madden on container ships and CanalsContainer ships sizes have increased dramatically without any change in number of crew. The ports may have spent billions of dollars to optimise existing infrastructure to enable these very large vessels to enter. The ships may not get any larger but the changes may already have stretched the crew to their limits of adaptability. While the size kept increasing, there has not been any significant change in the number of crew. Almost a similar number of crew have to manage lashings on a vessel that carries 10000 container or 20000 containers. Something will have to be compromised somewhere and this could...2021-04-1140 minEven KeelEpisode 10 In conversation with Nyari Nain on her book and life at seaNyari is a second engineer who has written "Anchor My Heart". She has a sequel lined up. She is writing a third book which she descirbes as a Nautical Fantasy.
In this podcast, we speak about writing. We also pick up bits from her book and link that to life at sea. Nyari is also a TEDx speaker. The link to her TEDx talk is in the show notes below. She speaks of how seafarers are generally reluctant readers. We touch upon patriarchy and how life at sea for a woman seafarer generally is.
2021-04-0348 minEven KeelEpisode 9: In Conversation with Capt. Anuj Velankar on P&I ClubsIn this episode, we discuss what P&I Clubs do, what it takes to make a career in a P&I Club and even discuss Mental Wellness.
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abhijith-balakrishnan/message2021-02-211h 03
Even KeelEpisode 8: In conversation with Helen on Mental Wellness at sea.Helen is a chiefofficer on container ships. She in interested in mental health and here she shares her own experience seeking professional help.
Resources
Having a knowledge of these health stipulations for your own country is probably a very good idea – just to know where you stand. The UK ones can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-approved-doctors-manual
Resources available to seafarers for mental health:
1. Mission to Seafarers: https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/about/our-issues/mental-health
2. ‘The Mission to Seafarers launched the Seaf...2021-01-2543 min
Even KeelEpisode 7 : In conversation with Sanjam Sahi Gupta on a business case for (gender) diversitySanjam is dynamic and perserverant in her cause. She founded MaritimeSheEO and is on her mission to increase the presence of women in leadership positions in the maritime industry. She feels this is what could provide equal opportunities for women at all levels, specially at the entry level. An unwritten rule to not take women in can only be negated with women in leadership positions. She also runs Sita shipping or the Ladies compartment where she walks her talk
In this conversation, she takes us through dinner table conversations at home, her inspiration to set up the...2020-10-1400 minEven KeelEpisode 6: On Bills of Lading and LoI with Capt. Arvind NatrajanThis is a conversation that will interest mariners appearing for their competency certificate examinations. Here Capt. Arvind Natrajan, a Nautical Lecturer with the East Coast College in Suffolk talks about Bills of Lading.
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abhijith-balakrishnan/message2020-10-0400 min
Even KeelEpisode 5. On Gender Diversity: In conversation with Marine Pilot Reshma NiloferIn this episode with Nari Shakti Puraskar awardee, Reshma Nilofer, we talk about a topic that often have people sitting on the fence. We think it is time all of you join in the conversation about diversity and inclusion. In this episode, we talk about gender sensitivity and inclusion in the Maritime Industry.
Title Music: Bipin Nambiar
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abhijith-balakrishnan/message2020-09-201h 17Even KeelEpisode 4: On Pilotage: In conversation with Capt. Rajesh NambiarTo Prosper and Thrive, you needed brave men to venture out. And when men braved the oceans and ventured out to lands unknown, they became legendary. Who hasn't heard of a Christopher Columbus, a Marco Polo or a Vasco da Gama. But who has heard of Juan dela Cosa, Anton de Alaminos, or Ahmad ibn Madjid. These were the men who showed the legendary navigators the way. their pilots.
No matter where you came from the danger lurks when the waters narrow. When a ship would reach the coast, the captain would wait at anchor where he thought it was safe...2020-09-1457 minEven KeelEpisode 3:In Conversation with Capt. Rahul Varma on CriminalisationThis week on Even Keel, I talk to Capt. Rahul Varma. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-varma-57a09589) about Criminalisation and what seafarers could do about it. He speaks of procedural rights and why it is a everyday concern and how seafarers should be empowered to deal with it.
There are enough guidelines out there. The IMO is working on improving their current guidelines for fair treatment of seafarers in an accident to include the treatment of seafarers suspected to be involved in maritime crimes. There is the casualty investigation code. The UNCLOS and MLC...2020-09-0854 minEven KeelEpisode 2 On Entrepreneurship, In conversation with Capt. Arjun Singh Kalra.In this episode, I speak with Capt. Arjun Singh Kalra. Arjun has set up his own business and recounts what he thinks are important for mariners before they step ashore. He tells me that we need to ensure we can sustain our family's needs for atleast 2 years before we take the plunge. We should develop domain knowledge and should be a salesman. We should work with policy of sustainability and scalability. Learning to delegate and manage people are among what he considers as very important skills. All of these skills can be developed. Arjun spend a lot of time learning, r...2020-08-3035 minEven KeelEpisode 1: On Criminalisation and Unfair Media; in conversation with Capt. Abhay KumarIn this Episode,we have a conversation with Capt. Abhay Kumar, Master Mariner with over 25 years experience across various disciplines in the maritime sector. We speak about criminalisation of seafarers and the unfair media. We mention Wakashio and the Beirut Blasts.
Listeners, please send in your voice messages telling us how we could improve and what you would like to hear. And if you think you have a story to share, we could have a conversation.
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abhijith-balakrishnan/message2020-08-2446 minEven KeelEpisode 0: ECDIS Blues with Capt. Vincent FernandesIn this Episode, we have a conversation with author, trainer and Master Mariner, Capt. Vincent Fernandes. We speak about his book and touch upon some features of the ECDIS. And we speculate!
Listeners, please send in your voice messages telling us how we could improve and what you would like to hear. And if you think you have a story to share, we could have a conversation.
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abhijith-balakrishnan/message2020-08-1636 min