Category: Martin’s Blog Entries

March 28, 2016

Is the neighbor’s green grass lacking morality?

Some time ago, I received an interesting email, using the term “morality”, or the lack thereof, in describing the offshore oil and gas industry. Morality is not often used in shipping, but maybe it ought to. I thought it was in interesting wording by a young professional, and in itself provided some insight in our maritime industry in general and...

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March 15, 2016

CTA Review – my comments to Canada’s Minister of Transport

Dear Minister Garneau, I am writing to you, to express my disappointment in the recent submission of recommendations under the Marine Section of the Canada Transportation Act Review (CTA), submitted to you, in December 2015, by the review panel’s chair, Hon. David Emerson. A little about me; I am a Transport Canada Marine Safety certified Marine Engineer; I completed a...

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March 12, 2016

Canadian transportation review: painting a target on Canadian seafarers

In December 2015, the Hon. David Emerson submitted his report to the Minister of Transportation on the state of transportation affairs in Canada – well, mostly rail and air, and some other stuff, like shipping. Some may recall Mr. Emerson, Vancouver based, Economist by trade, elected as a Liberal MP, only to cross the floor shortly after the election, to...

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March 8, 2016

Western Maritime Institute in expansion mode… again

You would think Capt. Kitching would be enjoying the good life after passing on the bulk of his responsibility to the new owners of Western Maritime Institute (WMI), but you would be wrong. With no parking spot available the other day, when I visited, I quickly realized, there was obviously big things going on at Western Maritime. The Parking lot...

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March 6, 2016

The Monitor gets an extensive refit

It may have seen like I abandon the blog portion of my website, as it was neglected for the past year, the reasons are numerous – family demands, health concerns, tough work environment, but probably a fair bit of burn out was involved. The blog area – The Monitor, online since late 2005, explores the business of being a seafarer....

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July 4, 2015

Karma is nice

Charles Leeuwenburg wears many hats, being charitable to visiting sailors is just one more. (Picture by CL) Some people think I make a fortune off my marine engineering website. I don’t get that comment so much these days, but back when I started in 2000, there was this expectation that everybody with a website was a millionaire. No, far from...

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May 23, 2015

A day at the port: Quebec City

Quebec City is always such a great place for ship lovers. It’s a bustling port, with lots of action to admire, and neat iron plying about. Today, I had the opportunity to visit some berth mates before I signed off, here are some pictures. River traffic is constant, above is Umiak 1 leaving for its monthly trip to northern Quebec,...

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March 21, 2013

World Class BS

PM Harper – from the wikipedia Our dear leader’s has taken yet another clumsy step in softening the ramming of a pipeline down the throats of British Colombians. The press release starts with “Harper” and included a press conference by no less than two cabinet ministers in Vancouver, last Monday. The high profile plan / announcements makes no real sense...

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