Meghna launch accident
Govt needs to increase monitoring
Thursday's motor launch accident in Meghna river in Brahmanbaria is yet another instance of utter callousness of the river vessel operators towards human life.
We are deeply shocked at the loss of so many lives (33 by latest count) and convey our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families.
The circumstances of the foundering of MV Bipasha bound for Jamalganj from Bhairab at Char Kakoria after it hit a sunken stone-laden trawler follow a very familiar pattern. The number of passengers the launch was carrying was more than its capacity. It was plying at night, though, given its age- it was about 30 years old- it should have operated only during daytime.
What should baffle any observer is that the fated launch blindly crashed against the submerged trawler. Was there no marker showing the location of the sunken trawler as a warning to other vessels plying that particular river route?
Evidently, there was no proper monitoring by the river transport authority in place. Which is why, the launch operators could flout the rules so easily. So, the responsibility for the unnatural death of so many people goes both to the operators of the vessel and the monitoring department of the river transport authority.
This latest launch tragedy only adds to some 535 mishaps that occurred between 1985 and 2010, according to a survey. The government even formed some 863 committees to probe the accidents during that period. Recommendations like increasing the number of ship surveyors and inspectors, monitoring of fitness-checking procedure, formation of river police and waterway safety committee, etc were also made by those probe bodies. So far, no progress has been made to implement those recommendations.
The government has now formed a probe committee to look into the latest launch mishap. We hope it will be able to identify the causes of the mishap and arrange for bringing those to blame to justice.
The government should now lay more emphasis on putting a proper river vessel monitoring system in place as well as implement other recommendations from previous probe bodies to avert future launch tragedies.
Expatriate bank in operation
Efficiency and honesty will be crucial
A long overdue step has at last been taken. We commend the government for delivering on a promise that seemed consigned to back burner. Happily, it has kicked off with a paid up capital of Tk 100 crore which for the tasks it has set itself sounds rather meagre. A lion's share of the initial capital comes from the expatriate welfare fund.
The specialised fund is to serve three purposes: one, it will extend loan to workers obtaining jobs to migrate to their place of work with the job serving as collateral. Two, the bank through its branches in Bangladeshi manpower recipient countries will help channeling remittances of the workers to their relatives in Bangladesh. Aside from these two functions, the bank has plans to provide loans to expatriate workers to enable them to set up business at home on return.
Like any other bank it will function and grow depending on the deposits by the subscribers. Let's not forget that the rationale behind setting up this bank is to save the intending migrant workers from the clutches of money lenders or obviating the need to sell landed property to procure travel and visa-related funds. They fall an easy prey to deception and exploitation both at home and in host countries due to their helplessness and inherent vulnerabilities. This is where we think the bank should be more focused rather than on channeling remittances although quite understandably that is also the service the workers should like to utilise for safe remittance.
In other words, we want the bank headquarters in Dhaka to be really dynamic in providing loans to intending migrants to enable them to join their posts. Of course, the sooner the Expatriate Bank opens the required number of branches abroad and its capital swells in keeping with demands for funds, the better it will be. The bank would need to be provided with properly qualified hands who must also be honest, sincere and competent to do a good job of their assignment.
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Breakdown Inspection of Material during Yacht repair Inspection.
There are different types of materials used in structures and how structures are put together to resist the forces. All of the above has been based on the supposition that the materials remain and function in accordance with their normal properties. However, in practice all materials are subject to degradation over time from a variety of different sources. some examples of materials used for yachts noted in their several years of experience by constellation marine inspectors are as under:-
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Wood and dhows Repair Inspection
Timber that has been well seasoned and that is kept in a uniform state of moisture (neither too wet nor too dry) when properly ventilated will remain stable and with no significant degradation for many hundreds of years. However, as a naturally occurring material, wood has naturally occurring enemies which come in the form of fungus (mould), worms and beetles which need to be inspected carefully.
Common Rot noticed by constellation marine surveyors during detailed Yacht/Boat condition inspection and surveys.
This is manifested by the presence of external yellow spots on the ends of the timber and is often accompanied by yellowish dust especially where the pieces of timber are in contact. The main cause is poor ventilation of the timber.
What is Wet Rot and how significant is it to be noticed during Yacht repair inspection?
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