The Maritime Industry

In order to keep these 50,000 ships safely trading around the world there is a highly integrated and mature support industry. These include international regulators, insurers, inspectors, charterers, brokers and welfare groups. But how does it all fit together, how does the wheat grown by a farmer in Canada get to the port of Nairobi.

Well a commodities broker buys the wheat and then contacts a ship broker. The broker is the middleman between the cargo owner and the ship owner. The ship is then engaged (chartered) to carry the foodstuff following an inspection by the cargo owner’s representative. The inspector makes sure that the ship is fit for the purpose of carrying foodstuffs and that she complies with all the necessary international regulations produced by the International Maritime Organization.

The ship itself will be crewed by a highly trained and professional group of seafarers sourced from around the world. These seafarers had been previously trained in nautical colleges around the world and kept their training up to date through continuing professional development onboard the ship. The ship will have been built to high standards using steel delivered by sea, incorporating state of the art electronic control systems and be classed by a society such as Lloyd’s Register. The voyage orders are communicated to ship via INMARSAT’s satellite communications systems.

The ship then arrives in Canada to load the wheat which has been transported by train to the port. The Canadian coast guard would then inspect the ship to ensure that it is safe, fit to sail and complies with the stringent environmental regulations. The local agent for the ship ensures that the cargo is available and that visitors may embark at the right time. The seafarers are able to go ashore to stretch their legs and have a friendly chat with the people in the Mission to Seafarers. The loading takes a couple of days and the ship sails from the port with the help of the local pilot who knows every inch of the area.

Across the Atlantic, avoiding the icebergs through radio and satellite reports, she is navigated by the crew through a mix of satellite technology and celestial navigation. As the ship passes the coast of Somalia marauding pirates are driven off by a patrolling ship from the Royal Navy. On arrival off Nairobi, the local pilot comes onboard to help guide the massive vessel in to those who eagerly await the goods.

For more shipping facts click Shipping Facts