| There
is widespread condemnation by the shipping industry of the
criminalisation of
seafarers (survivors of an accident at sea), which frequently
leaves them traumatised. “They
become the human pawns of legal games played by lawyers and
authorities” as Michael Grey
aptly put it in his article in Lloyd’s List of 5th April
2004.
This ‘Cad’ Lecture aims to open up a frank debate
between all sectors of the shipping
industry about the practical effect of criminalisation in
shipping. The debate will focus on
making sense of ‘nonsensical’ laws, which endanger
the basic freedoms of individuals
involved in an accident becoming a piece of “knee-jerk
legislation”, and will include the
justification or not of punitive damages being enforced against
shipping companies.
The threat to the industry from such laws directed against
seafarers, company
executives and Classification Societies is enormous and will
engender a gradual decline in
both manpower and investment.
Let us hope that wisdom will prevail on both legislators and
investigators of marine
accidents. Your contribution to this debate will be valuable.
In the light of the immense
importance of the issue involved and as a tribute to the memory
of ‘Cad’, a Donation Form
is attached and you are invited to make voluntary contributions
to the charity of ‘The Mission
to Seafarers’, whether or not you wish to attend the
event.
Should you wish to attend the ‘Cad’ Lecture please
complete the attached Registration
Form and post it to the Centre’s office with your cheque
for £50.00. I trust that you will
support this charity as well as this event.
Dr. Aleka Mandaraka-Sheppard
Founding Director, LSLC
The
members and the Steering Committee of the LSLC are grateful
for the
generosity and support of the sponsors of this event as they
appear in the following categories. |
