An Account of the Seminar

Abstract

During the past four years considerable interest has been displayed in the application of centralised and automatic controls and technological changes in ships, but relatively little to the effect that these might have on seafarers. In 1961, a resolution was adopted by the ILO Joint Maritime Commission requesting the Institute to keep in mind the special position of the shipping industry in developing its work; and the Institute’s first action to that end was to arrange for the Seminar to be held. The project, the first of its kind, was timely considering not only the development, and application to ships of most types, of sophisticated equipment and modern techniques designed to increase operating efficiency and/or the productivity of ship personnel, but also the existence of uncertainty and apprehension regarding how automation and the changes it would necessitate and facilitate might affect the lives of seafarers.