Tragic Death of CRPF personnel - the Nation should mourn !!!!

Dear (s)

It was gory carnage of killing of 27 CRPF personnel in Narayanpur Dist of Chattisgarh committed by the brutal naxals. There was news in the Press but no paper considered it a matter to have an editorial, primarily because those killed were poor low ranking personnel who earn a pittance and perhaps not worthy of a National mourning, as generally given to any politician.

Many of them were from Assam - it is reported that from the 90s the no. of youths selected from Assam to different paramilitary forces and to Army has risen. These people like their counterparts from other States come from low income groups, have a desire to do something for the Nation also to take care of their family by earning a Govt employment.

What is the Nation doing in return for them. In whole of their service they would only have earned a pittance and little or no saving at all - they have left behind aged parents, young wife, tender aged children. The family will suffer in chill penury to fight the odds of life - all because these courageous jawans chose to do a job of defending their fellow citizens.

They certainly deserve much better treatment and very high compensation.

With grief - Sampathkumar.
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Sometimes beautiful meaning of words have no relevance – a place which means abundance of roses is where there is eternal conflict – worst that even in so called peace times, people suffer. More about this at the end.

Maoists are ideologists following thoughts of Mao Zedong, widely applied as the political and military ideology of Communist party of China. The maoist insurgency is a conflict rooted in many Indian states, which the PM once described as the single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country. The Naxalite-maoist reportedly are supported by the poorest of rural population and frequently target tribals, police and Government workers in what is termed as a fight for improved land rights and more jobs for neglected poor. There is a group which support all their actions. Arundati Roy stated that she viewed the death of 76 CRPF personnel in Dantewada as "tragic” and elaborated that they were pawns in a war of the rich against the poor.

Dantewada is a sleepy nagar panchayat in the State of Chattisgarh which was in news due to the ambush and killing of more than 75 security personnel on Apr 6 by maoist cadres. The CRPF personnels were caught in the explosives and were fired from hilltops around. The Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said. "They seem to have walked into a camp or a trap." What was the compensation given to these jawans and how well are the families of these martyrs taken care of by the State ?

Naxal violence has claimed the lives of over 10,000 civilian and security personnel in the last five years. Three months after Dantewada massacre, the CRPF suffered another massive loss in Bastar: 26 of its men were killed when the Maoists attacked a road opening party in Narayanpur district. The casualties may even be higher.

Look at it this way !!

The men who lost their lives are people who had joined the Security forces and were serving the Nation.
In any sporadic event of dissent to a political leader (be it black flag or a stone thrown at him), it is mayhem and blood bath follows. Supporters cannot tolerate anything against their leaders but not many tears are shed for these poor persons who went in pursuit in trying to protect and serve the Government’s policies framed by the politicians. When they die, it is State mourning, flags fly half mast and holidays declared for some.
The Nation which rejoices Cricket, football, V TV, cinema and all other inane entertainment is not jolted – even the muted response is only for a short and transient period; then the familiar tale of complacency and forgetfulness.

How many of us have ever thought of the lives of Army jawans who give their lives for our tomorrow. Tens of thousands of soldiers fight in -50 degree bitter cold at Siachen glacier. Due to corruption and improper policies, they get flimsy gear which certainly does not provide them relief at such weather.
The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalaya Mountains east of the Line of Control between India-Pakistan. India controls all of the Siachen Glacier itself, including all tributary glaciers. At 70 km (43 mi) long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and second-longest in the world's non-polar areas. It falls from an altitude of 5,753 m (18,875 ft) above sea level at its head at Indira Col (pass) on the China border down to 3,620 m (11,875 ft) at its terminus.

Sia" in the Balti language refers to the rose family plant widely dispersed in the region. "Chun" references any object found in abundance. Thus the name Siachen refers to a land with an abundance of roses.

The Kumaon Regiment, India’s specially equipped and trained snow warriors, scaled the lofty heights of Siachen Glacier at about 20,000 feet above sea level and occupied it on April 13, 1984. At highly inclement Centigrade the task was next to impossible, but they accomplished it and made history. SIACHEN IS one of the toughest areas in which Indian soldiers perform their duty — battling not just the enemy, but also the inhuman weather in the endless glacier. Oxygen in the air is 30 percent less than normal, as a result of which soldiers have to wear an oxygen mask at all times. Frostbite, snow blindness, pulmonary and cerebral edema take a huge toll on the soldiers. Due to high altitude, soldiers lose their appetite. Even when hungry, not much stays edible for too long — oranges freeze to the hardness of baseballs and potatoes cannot be dented with a hammer. Soldiers invariably end up losing up to 20kg of their weight in just a three month tenure. According to official figures, 670 soldiers have lost their lives in the glacier till date due to cold weather. The actual figures could be much high; many suffer loss of hearing, eye sight, memory loss, , nightmares and hallucinations.

Whilst everyone else has pay hikes arising out of inflation and get high pay pockets, the soldiers get an extra allowance, a measly pittance.

Many of those joining services and para military forces come from rural villages and hail from poor economic background. Their services, martyrdom is not properly remembered, recognized and compensated.

It is the duty of the Nation to compensate them adequately, care for them and the common man must display their sense of anguish when they suffer. It is our collective duty to honour those in services who toil for our good. Remember that what people earn and enjoy in the city is fully due to the toil, hardship and sacrifice of those who come to serve the Nation.

The death of CRPF personnel is to be mourned nationally ; the State, big Corporates and every one need to ensure that their families are taken care of properly.

With profound grief at this untimely death  – Sampathkumar.

Cargo carried in Ships and the controll exercised by Governments of various States

This luxury liner which has restaurants, café, lounge, disco, swimming pool, bars, spacious decks, boutique – and offers unlimited entertainment was in news for no fault of it but due to its sharing name with another vessel caught in Indian waters.

Marine trade has existed for long.. in olden days, goods from one country to another was consigned in wooden sailing boats. The owner was one and loss or profit went straight to him – there were not many middle men. The modern trade is so complex that there are so many parties involved – so also the sailing is not from one place to another – there are very many ports wherein some part of cargo gets loaded or off loaded.


Vessels do regularly call at Indian Ports, though not all the cargo may be meant for India. The US model is to be appreciated and followed in many ways.

There is a document known as Cargo Manifest. In US, an ocean cargo manifest is required from each leading terminal for each port of discharge. The manifest must contain a detailed listing of all shipment units loaded by each POE. After the 26/11, things became more stringent and US Customs introduced “24 hour Advance Cargo Manifest Declaration Rule”. Effective 2002, all Ocean carriers or NVOCCs are required to submit complete cargo manifest to US customs at least 24 hours prior to cargo loading if that vessel is calling a US port direct. The rule extends not only to US Imports but also to cargo transitting US ports and remaining on board the vessel for subsequent discharge at a non-US port. Details of cargo manifest must be based on actual declaration of cargo by the shipper, and must be submitted no later than the OOCL cargo declarations cut off deadline at cargo origin.
Failure to comply with this rule could result in cargo hold at origin port, significant penalties against the carrier or NVOCC, along with the removal of container for inspection by US customs and/or the denial of permission to unload vessel cargo and the possibility of returning the cargo to the load port.

Thus the State has knowledge of the types of cargo entering US Ports and exercises control over the movement of cargo and vessels. Whilst legitimate cargo would be released without much hassles, the Govt can check and prevent entry of smuggled weapons of mass destruction and ammunition. Bulk Carrier Services are exempt from this.

Last year (Sept 2009) in the midst of heightened activities, the Somalian pirates had a jackpot when they captured Ukrainian (Belize-flagged) vessel M/V Faina, on a mission to Kenyan port of Mombassa. The vessel was carrying 33 soviet-made T-72 tanks, tank artillery shells, grenade launchers and small arms. The vessel had deliberately taken a route far from the coast of Somalia, where pirates are known to be rampant. It was reported in the media that Pirates first made a demand of US $ 35M as ransom. One of the reasons for reduction could even have been the lurking fear of keeping such dangerous cargo.

And there are others who are soft on terror – in Dec 1995, an Antonov AN 26 aircract dropped large consignment of arms including hundreds of AK47 rifles and million rounds of ammunition over a large area in the villages of Purulia District of West Bengal. Several days later, when the plane re-entered Indian airspace, it was intercepted by the Indian Air Force MiG-21 and forced to land in Mumbai. As has happened in many high profile cases, details of the incidents remain wrapped in mystery.   The crew of the aircraft consisted of five Latvian citizens and Peter Bleach, a British citizen. They were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. Following the intervention of Russian authorities, the Latvian crew (who gained Russian citizenship while in Indian custody) were later pardoned and released in 2000. Peter Bleach, too, was released on 4 February 2004, via a presidential pardon. With all the main characters involved in the episode either free or absconding, many of the details of event are still unknown, and may never be known.

With this lengthy background, read about the RO-RO vessel Aegean Glory which was stopped by security agencies at Diamond Harbour and brought to Kolkatta Docks recently. The ship reportedly has deadly military cargo and whether the documents clearly manifest them and whether this information was made available to Indian Govt. are the questions ?
There are reports that the UN mission in Liberia has written to the Indian government, confirming that the ship was carrying military equipment belonging to peacekeeping contingents from Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Any sovereign State needs to ensure that no goods especially arms are smuggled into its territory. The ship unloaded a part of its military cargo first at St. Louis and then at Cox Bazar port near Chittagong in Bangladesh and then set sail for Kolkata dock to unload some military cargo that belongs to the Nepal Army. The declaration and verification all become very necessary especially when the cargo destined for Nepal would get offloaded at Kolkatta and move from there.



Reports also suggest that the Agent failed to declare the nature of cargo whilst filing documents at Kolkatta Port Trust – military cargo needs to be declared even when not meant for Indian consignee. This type of gearless vessel could not unload on its own and requires the Port handling equipments.


When the vessel with consignment of arms and ammunition was intercepted by Security foces in Hooghly river channel near Diamond Harbour, the Port Trust, Navy, Coast Guard were seemingly unaware of the nature of cargo. It was 551-ton military cargo containing smoke bombs, anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers, loaded in Monrovia with a call at Karachi port. All the 19 crew members of the ship hailing from Romania, Greece and Ukraine and its captain, a citizen of Greece, were interrogated.

In another unrelated incident at Cyprus a German freighter Santiago was detailed for carriage of illegal arms. The ship was anchored off the southern city of Limassol under police guard with a suspected military cache that would contravene a 2004 UN embargo on arms sales and deliveries to Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.

The state government has asked the company to explain if the omission on its part was intentional. Is it only a failed or miscommunication or any deliberate attempt to suppress facts is an area of concern !!!


Regards - Sampathkumar S

It is not "Bolts alone" which fall from the sky - what is Blue Ice ?

Strange things occur at sea and that makes marine all the more very interesting.


Recently, I had shared something on a flying cow sinking a boat – a Japanese trawler, a not so believable version of Russian airforce having stolen a cow, unable to manage, then pushing it out from a very high altitude as they hovered over Japan. Recently, there was some discussion in ‘India Insurance Forum of Linked in” on this.


It was reported that the dazed crew of a Japanese trawler were plucked of the Sea of Japan clinging to the wreckage of their sunken ship. Their rescue, however, was followed by the imprisonment of the boat's crew once authorities started to question the sailors on their ship's loss. They all maintained that a cow, falling out of a clear sky, had struck the trawler amidships, shattering its hull and sinking the vessel within minutes. No one believed them, suspecting them of drunkenness or worse and so they remained in prison for several weeks, until the Russian Air Force reluctantly informed Japanese authorities that the crew of one of its cargo planes had apparently stolen a cow wandering at the edge of a Siberian airfield, forced the cow into the plane's hold and rather rashly then taken off for home. Unprepared for live cargo, the Russian crew was ill-equipped to manage a now rampaging and fed-up cow within its hold. To save the aircraft and themselves, they pushed the animal out of the cargo hold as they crossed the Sea of Japan at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
The cow story is an urban legend that may have started as long ago as 1965.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Brookie/The_bizarre")


This one from SKY is more nauseating. Way back in 1985 on June 27, a large piece of ice (6 ft long and 8 inches thick) fell from the sky – reportedly ice that had gathered outsie a malfunctioning airline ice craft. A nasty feeling indeed !!

 This phenomenon is known as “Blue Ice” – the frozen material formed by leaks in commercial aircraft lavatory waste tanks, a mixture of human waste and liquid disinfectant that freezes at high altitude. The name comes from the blue color of the disinfectant, and is a sardonic reference to the Blue Ice line of products used for cooling ice chests and similar applications.

Airlines are not allowed to dump their waste tanks in mid-flight, and pilots have no mechanism by which to do so; however, leaks reportedly do occur. There are some documented incidents of blue ice impacts in the United States and elsewhere, These were incidents which happened near airport landing path as the mass warms sufficiently to detach from the plane during its descent.

One report in www.tc.gc.ca – mentions of people living near wooded areas of Montreal having noticed strange purplish stains on their homes, cars and lawn furniture. They thought this to be stemming from airplanes dumping toilet waste as they approach the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau airport. Transport Canada denied stating that airplanes are equipped with watertight reservoirs designed to be emptied using specialised equipment. One report had it that these were actually bird droppings of birds having ingested wild berries – blue fruit of Virginia creeper, chokecherries and pin cherries.

The blue ice phenomenon does occur, though the washrooms of airplanes not made to be emptied in flight, either voluntarily or accidentally. It is possible that a malfunctioning valve could cause the contents of the reservoir to leak. This generally happens when an airplane is flying at high altitudes. The liquid escaping from the faulty valve freezes and sticks to the airplane's outer surface. Upon preparing for landing, when the airplane approaches the ground and the temperature rises, the ice formed by the escaping liquid begins to melt and detaches.

In the last several years, however, aircraft have begun using a new toilet system that uses compressed air and hardly any water, making the phenomenon even less likely to occur.  Way back in 2004, there was a post in www.airliner.net of air toilet ice crashing into a garden. That was in Austria, of a chunk of ice from a jet liner toilet breaking free.

There is another recorded event : http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=LAX85IA206&rpt=fi of American Airliners Boeing 727-227 (File no. 5025 04/16/1985) which states that “ whilst cruising at flt level 350 in clear smooth air, a loud noice was heard. Subsequent investigation disclosed that the forward lavatory was leaking deodorant fluid and water. Deodorant stains existed along the right side of fuselage and this leakage was due to a damaged o ring in drain valve.

There was another reported news in Canada ( http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/02/07/ice-roof.html#ixzz0s8xtDXX4) – Feb 2008 of chunks of ice coming from the lavatory of airplane smashing through a Calgary woman’s roof.  Firefighters found two to three 15-centimetre chunks of ice on a bed inside the home, along with pieces of shingles, plywood, drywall and insulation. The falling ice broke a hole about 30 centimetres wide in the roof.

The person reportedly said "That's life. This is a one-in-a-million chance of something like this happening," he said. "I've heard of it in other places, but this isn't something that's going to happen often."


BUT the very thought of such a thing falling from the sky will make ordinary mortals look to the sky in awe and disgust, perhaps every time we are near any airport


Regards – Sampathkumar S

FIFA WORLDCUP - WHO WILL LIFT THE CUP ? UPDATE

The most watched event of the Universe – 2010 FIFA World Cup is hotting up. Who will be crowned on 12th July (IST) is the Q in everybody’s mind.

In a total of 64 matches, 52 have been completed and the remaining 12 are perhaps the most important ones. The Round 16 is presently halfway through (2 over and 2 remaining). The defending Champion Italy did not qualify for R 16; Mexico and England are out after R16 matches. Here is the R 16 line up with results thus far:

Argentina and Germany have qualified for QF and will meet at Cape Town on 3/7; at Johannesburg Uruguay will take on Ghana. The other two QF matches will be decided between : Nederland V Slovakia; Brazil V Chile; Paraguay V Japan; Spain V Portugal. This table illustrates the line up and oncoming schedule.

England’s tale of woes were complete when they were eliminated 4 : 1 by Germany. One statistics has it that Miroslav Klose has scored 50 goals now following Gerd Muller who had 68 in 62 appearances. Klose has 12 in WC equaling Pele and 3 behind Ronaldo’s 15. Another intriguing one is that Jermain Defoe has represented England 43 times but not once he has completed the full 90 minutes.

Happy viewing and any predictions of the winner from among : Aregentina, Germany, Uruguay, Ghana, Nederland, Brazil, Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, Slovekia and Chile ????

Regards – Sampathkumar.

Source : www.fifa.com

NADANTHAI VAZHI CAUVERY - FINAL VERDICT - Feb 2007

In future, wars would be fought not for land but for water is a statement I read somewhere and thought of writing a piece on dispute of sharing of river water; but at this juncture reproducing an article shared with my group on 5th Feb 2007.


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Dear (s)-  The Kaveri River is one of the major rivers of India, which is considered sacred in this country.The river originates at Talakaveri in the Western Ghats in the state of Karnataka, flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern Deccan plateau through the southeastern lowlands, emptying into the Bay of Bengal through two principal mouths.

The Kaveri River basin is estimated to be 27,700 square miles with many tributaries including the Shimsa River, the Hemavati River, the Arkavathy River, Honnuhole River, Lakshmana Tirtha River, Kabini River, Bhavani River, the Lokapavani River, the Noyyal River and the Amaravati River. Rising in southwestern Karnataka state, it flows southeast some 475 mi (765 km) to enter the Bay of Bengal.

It is a supreme irony that this river of life should remain a bone of contention. It is not only here, disputes between lower and upper riparian states have been existent from the days of lore. The history of the Cauvery dispute dates back to 1892 when the first agreement was signed. An award was given by Sir.H.D.Griffin in 1914 which was rejected by the then Madras Presidency. The summer arrives, and water emerges as a major theme in drought-prone India. Shortage of water is a global phenomenon, an ever-growing problem. With exploding population and excessive demand on a limited supply / availability of water, stresses and strains were bound to emerge between these riparian states..

The 1924 agreement provided for re-opening certain provisions with a view to sharing surplus waters, if any, after 50 years. Tamil Nadu avers that after 1924, Karnataka violated the spirit of the agreement by impounding and utilising waters from the rivers so as to extend its irrigation far in excess of its entitlement, and has caused injury to established irrigation in Tamil Nadu. In litigation, there can be no winner. Even if a court order is secured, it would be counter-productive to try and coerce a state into compliance.

Today is a landmark day, as Cauvery tribunal awarded TN 419 tmcft & 270 to Karnataka. The Tribunal, set up in 1990, had in its interim order given 205 tmc ft of water to Tamil Nadu. Headed by retired Justice N P Singh, the three-member Tribunal had arrived at the total availability of water at 740 tmc ft. In the much-awaited final verdict, the Tribunal has also awarded 30 tmc ft of Cauvery river water to Kerala and 7 tmc ft to Puducherry, the other parties to the dispute.

However, Karnataka will actually release only 192 tmc ft of water to Tamil Nadu in a year. But sources have state that TN will effectively get 217 tmc ft of water as it will be measured further upstream. This is more than what Tamil Nadu was getting so far.

Nevertheless, Monday's decision has fallen short of what both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had demanded. TN had originally asked for 562 TMC ft of water while Karnataka had demanded 465 TMC ft. Both the states have the right to appeal against the verdict, which affects at least 80 lakh farmers across south India. The actual release of 192 tmc ft will take place as measured at the Biligundlu reservoir on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.

WE fervently hope that in the National interests, the saner elements prevail; finally the farmers are back to their halcyon days, the delta turns green, granaries start flowing full with copious production of rice. Smile should be back on the delta farmers and eventually happiness pervades all the people of this great land.

With regards - S Sampathkumar.

IRS ACCEPTED INTO IACS FOLD - What is the impact for Marine Insurer ?

23 Jun 2010 is a day of great significance to Maritime industry of India as the Nation’s classification society has become a full member of the International Association of Classification Societies.


The Nation’s own classification society IRS (Indian Register of Shipping), established in Mar 1975, had been an associate IACS member since 1991, but that category was abolished in October 2009 when the association introduced single-class membership. The conferring of Full member status at the meeting of IACS Council in Hamburg assumes extra significance when you know that there are only 10 members in this elite group and IRS is 11th of the prestigious association of most advanced ship classification societies of the world. The membership according to IACS, is a reflection of the quality philosophy and high quality standards imposed by the IRS.

the defining moment - IACS chairman with IRS chairman

Polish Register has also been pushing hard for an entry after the acceptance of IRS which in effect is the first new member of IACS after the introduction of new membership rules introduced last year in the wake of a European Commission competition investigation. IRS with its long association with IACS as an associate member was the most likely candidate to be considered for full membership. Brussels closed its 22-month antitrust investigation into IACS membership last year after IACS agreed to a series of legally binding commitments as part of the case settlement which included an opening up of its membership rules.


For enjoying this new found status, you need to know something about classification and its impact in Insurance.


WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION and who are IACS :


The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is a gathering of ten classification societies, headquartered in London. It was founded on September 11, 1968 in the city of Hamburg . Dedicated to safe ships and clean seas, IACS makes a unique contribution to maritime safety and regulation through technical support, compliance verification and research and development. More than 90% of the world's cargo carrying tonnage is covered by the classification design, construction and through-life compliance Rules and standards set by the ten Member Societies and one Associate of IACS.


IACS is a non-governmental organisation which is allowed to develop guidances for the International Maritime Organization(IMO). The classification societies are involved at the design, construction and through-life compliance rules and standards. The mission of classification societies is to contribute to the development and implementation of technical standards for the protection of life, property and the environment. Classification societies establish and apply technical requirements for the design, construction and survey of marine-related facilities, principally ships and offshore structures. These requirements are published as classification rules. Classification societies maintain significant research departments that participate in the on-going development of technical safety standards.

Classification rules are developed to contribute to the structural strength and integrity of essential parts of the ship’s hull and its appendages, and the reliability and the function of the propulsion and steering systems, power generation and those other features and auxiliary systems which have been built into the ship in order to maintain essential services on board for the purpose of safe operation of the ship. Classification societies are not guarantors of safety of life or property at sea or the seaworthiness of a vessel because the classification society has no control over how a vessel is operated and maintained in between the periodic surveys which it conducts.

The owner of a ship that has been designed, built and tested in accordance with the appropriate rules of a class society may apply for a certificate of classification from that society. The society issues this certificate if it is verified, upon completion of relevant plan approval and surveys, that the ship complies with the rules. All classification surveys are carried out by qualified surveyors using mainly visual inspection and sampling techniques.

A ship is maintained in class provided that, in the opinion of the class society concerned:
- the ship has been presented for surveys in accordance with the classification rules;
- the surveys confirm that the condition of the hull, machinery, equipment and certain appliances remain in compliance with the applicable rules at the time of the survey.


INSURANCE IMPLICATIONS :


Cargo Policies have their terms and conditions going by the clauses attached. When the transit is by sea, the coverage is governed by Institute Cargo clauses A / B / C – these do not make any comments / restrictions on class of the vessel but there would be a specific mention which would state that ‘this contract is subject to the Institute Classification Clause’.


This is an express condition though classification of vessel is almost a fundamental requirement of commercial shipping and virtually all vessels would be classed.


There are two clauses that were being used by the cargo insurer.


1) The Instt Classification Clause 1/8/97 stated that the marine transit rates agreed for the insurance would apply only to cargoes and interests carried by mechanically self propelled vessels of steel construction, classed by one of the societies which were named as : Lloyds Register, Americal Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, China Classification society, Germanischer Lloyd, Korean Register of Shipping, Maritime register of shipping, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, Regisro Italiano. Again there was link to the type of vessel and its age.


But this had more to do with the premium as non-classification attracted a loading of 0.10% (for long……..)



Significantly, vessels registered with IRS were exempt from non-classification extra by Indian Insurers - any vessel with Indian flag was exempt from 'non-approval' extra, as all Indian vessels were treated as approved by the erstwhile GIC


2) The other clause that is being used by most Insurers is Instt. Classification clause 1/1/2001. This unlike the earlier one does not mention the approved Registries but states that the coverage would apply only when the vessel is classed with a society which is a member or Associate member of the IACS or a National Flag Society which is further defined as a Society which is domiciled in the same country as the owner of the vessel in question which must also operate under the flag of that country.


Here those approved were not listed out but insured persons were directed to refer to the website of IACS for finding out those societies which were its members. 


This clause makes a categorical submission that if the carriage is not by such vessels, it must be notified to Underwriter for rates and conditions.


But these may not be practicable in small loads and containerised cargo, where the shipper may not have any control on the ship and for small values it would be difficult beyond a point to check or confirm whether the carriage does comply with the requirements.


Again, here vessels IRS classed were exempt as IRS was associate member of IACS.


3) However, in Hull Insurance, this is significantly different as the Institute Time Clause contains express provision that           “Unless the Underwriters agree to the contrary in writing, this insurance shall terminate automatically at the time of change of the Classification Society of the Vessel, or change, suspension, discontinuance, withdrawal or expiry of her Class therein, provided that if the Vessel is at sea such automatic termination shall be deferred until arrival at her next port. It is also expressed that cover shall terminate automatically upon any change, voluntary or otherwise, in the ownership or flag, transfer to new management, or charter on a bareboat basis, or requisition for title or use of the Vessel, provided that, if the Vessel has cargo on board and has already sailed from her loading port or is at sea in ballast, such automatic termination shall if required be deferred, whilst the Vessel continues her planned voyage, until arrival at final port of discharge if with cargo or at port of destination if in ballast.


Sure this would generate some interest for those interested in Marine insurance and Indian Maritime industry. As usual look forward to your feedback


Regards
Sampathkumar S

FIFA - Football World Cup 2010 - What is Offside ??

Dear Sports Lover

The football mania is on and millions over the world are glued to the TV watching the premier tournament. The Football WC is perhaps the biggest sporting event next only to Olympics. The governing body is Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) The 2010 FIFA World Cup which is 19th WC – there would be more heat as the R16 would commence on June 26th. Already Uruguay, Korea Republic, Argentina and Mexico are assured of a place in that round. The others are sweating for the remaining 12 spots.

Unlike Cricket (the unofficial official game of India) played only by a handful of countries, more than 200 countries tried to break into this final event. This is the first time the tourney is hosted by an African nation – with South Africa edging out the other contending african nations of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Morocco.
The nuances of the game of cricket is easily understood ; football ofcourse has a set of rules. Elementary Dear, this is a game played using a single round ball between two teams of 11 players. The ball is spherical, made of leather, of circumference of note more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less than 68 cam (27 ins); weighing note more than 450 g and not less than 410 g and has prescribed pressure level. The duration is two 45 minutes with a break of 15 minutes in between.

The other primary rule is that the players (other than the goal keepers) should not intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms during the play (a throw-in is different) – use of head, body is allowed. Each side has 11 players and cannot go on with fewer than 7.
All keep running and the ball is kicked to go into the goal post – that is the goal, the striker rejoices in novel ways. A goal is scored when the ball passes over the goal line between the goal posts and under the cross bar. The team that scores more goals at the conclusion of the game is the winner. Simple and enjoyable action !!

In the last edition held in 2006 at Germany – Italy and France vied for the top honours – in the early stages with score 1-1, Luca Toni of Italy hit the bar – Italy ahead one screamed but there were some signs and one informed friend interpreted that the goal had been disallowed for offside.
Disallowed ! Offside !!! what – ball into the goal post is a goal – is that not the rule ??? The scores were even after the extra time and then there was penalty shoot out (!!) Italy won 5-3; Germany finished 3rd and Portugal 4th. That jolts your understanding of the game. FIFA publishes the laws of the game in English, French, Germany and Spanish. Here is some basic on the ‘offside’ which is an infringement and when the referee blows the whistle stopping the game.


Offside position : It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside position. A player is in an offside position if: he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. However, the exemptions are – he will not be in offside position if:
• he is in his own half of the field of play or
• he is level with the second-last opponent or
• he is level with the last two opponents


Offside position becomes an offence and would be penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, the player is involved in active play by :
• interfering with play or
• interfering with an opponent or
• gaining an advantage by being in that position


As one understands, the game is about passing the ball from player to player, getting into the opponents’ area, beating all including the goalie and placing it inside the goal. By simpler imagination, there should always be a player near the goal area of the opponent so that a long pass is sent to him and he would try and sneak the ball in. This offense of offside maybe spotted by the Central or side line referees. The central referee would blow the whistle to stop the play or the sideline referee will signal by raising a red flag. The ball will be placed at the point of interaction and the opponent will get an indirect free kick from that position where offside is called.


This at times turns out to be controversial, especially because the referee has some freedom of interpretation. By another explanation, a player is in an offside position if he is in the other half of the field and closer to opponent goal line than both the ball and all but one of his opponent. It has three components :
1) player must be in the opposite half of the arena
2) player must be in front of the ball
3) there must be fewer than 2 opponents between him and goal line.


The goal keeper would always be counted as one player for these purposes. This rule is applied not at the moment the ball is received by a player but at the moment the ball is passed. Thus if a player in ‘on side’ position running unnoticed to receive the pass will not be off side.


Offside would not be an offence if a player receives the ball directly from:
• a goal kick
• a throw-in
• a corner kick


If you feel, you have understood something defenders sometimes resort to ‘offside trap’ – a strategy where defenders try to draw an offside penalty by running forward right before a potential pass, thus drawing furthest forward to the offender. This is fraught with potential danger, as the defender may not get ahead of the player before the pass is made. If they are at level, there will not be any offside.


Here are some graphic illustrations of offside offence :

-no offside as the player is after the ball

 offside as he has crossed the ball and closer to goal post

offside - only the goal keeper is before this player

 no off side as players are level

no offside when the player is in his own half.

With regards – Sampathkumar.

Thankfully acknowledge : http://www.fifa.com/ (the official website for the graphics)

Presenting our June 2010 issue of BLISS

Dear (s)


Presenting our June issue.  Bliss 0610


BLISS was started primarily to serve the interests of the members of SYMA. This being a newsletter, we were to provide details of our forthcoming programmes and communicate to them in detail of our various actitivies.


I have been publishing my articles on Sports and other common interest also. This month our issue is replete with our activities only. This issue contains :


 Kidney disease detection camp organized by us on 23/5/10
 Success story of SYMA Growth – our own tuition centre which produced 100% result in + 2 examination and 95% success in 10th standard public examination
 Details of the Blood donation Camp to be held on 27th June 2010
 Invitation for the Educational Aid Function to be held on 4th July 2010


This year NK Thirumalachariar Boys’ High School tasted success in 10th standard examination as 63 of its 77 candidates passed. The school authorities organized a function to distribute the mark sheets in the hands of the correspondents. Rich accolades were paid to SYMA for having contributed to this success by way of encouragement provided to the school students and for the Growth run there. Yours Truly attended the function and spoke to the students on the need for discipline and proper guidance which will shape their career.


This month the Q is about the famous talk show which went on air in Sept 2004, in which all 276 audience members were pleasantly surprised. Do you know what was this about. Read our issue


Thanks for your patronage and the donation to SYMA for the Education Aid. As usual look forward to your feedback.


Yours truly,
Sampathkumar – Editor

the man with strong will power who moved mountain - Dashrath Manjhi... the hero

கருமமே கண்ணான ஒரு உயர்ந்த இந்தியனின் உண்மை கதை.  - தசரத் மன்ஜ்ஹி - மலையை தகர்த்த மன உறுதி.

This is many ways is not a recent one – but worthy to recall (I felt) – paean to a man who is no more but would be remembered for very many years - Dashrath Manjhi (perhaps some of you have earlier read of his extraordinary contribution) . A straight lift from a popular movie – Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked this septuagenarian from Gaya to occupy his chair for a little over five minutes. Nitish said that was one way of acknowledging the greatness of the great deed.

Before that can you connect Sir David Paradine Frost ? Cine buffs would easily recall the hit movie of Shankar – Mudhalvan (1999) a tamil film starring Arjun, Manisha Koirala and Vadivelu. This was later remade in Hindi as – Nayak, the Real Hero. The story is about the CM being interviewed live by Pughazhendhi, an ambitious cameraman, who tries to expose the CM’s unwillingness to take strong action to quell violence. The CM challenges stating that his a tough job and whether he can even sit for a single day. The spark for this theme reportedly was the honorary Mayorship for a day given by Niagara City by to Shivaji Ganesan in 1962; the other recipient being Jawaharlal Nehru.

Actually, the cine story was inspited by Frost / Nixon interviews that were broadcast in US in 1977. Sir David Paradine Frost) is a British, journalist, comedian, writer and media personality, best known as a pioneer of political satire on television and for his serious interviews with various political figures. He hosts Frost over the world on Al Jazeera.

Now coming to our real hero who died in 2007, at AIIMS New Delhi after fighting cancer of gall bladder. He was accorded state funeral. The reason ……………

Dashrath Manjhi was born in 1934 into a poor labourer's family in Gahlour village near Gaya in Bihar. He fought a lengthy battle against the mountain – not out of any grudge but for a social cause. Not many social reformers have changed the way of life of a particular region or locality. This man dared. He was ridiculed in 1959 when he started hewing a way through the Gahlaur Ghati hills of Bihar’s Gaya district, some 150 km from Patna. People ridiculed his efforts and thoughts stating after ages also they may never come true. He relentlessly pursued his dream single handed. He worked alone with tools of chisel, hammer and shovel trying to make a road in the mountain. Age, health, bereavement nothing deterred him – as he carried on with grit for 22 years and made a reality 360ft-long, 30ft-wide road across the mountain. What was once a precarious passage just a foot wide became wide enough to accommodate cyclists and motorcyclists – helping locals hailing from nearby villages with ease. This road also reduced the distance between Gaya’s Atri and Vazirganj subdivisions from 50km to just 10km. Children from Manjhi’s own Gahlaur and other nearby villages could attend school without the turmoil of walking eight km one way for attending school. From 1960 to 1982 it certainly was a long journey but the accomplishment of herculean task made him happy.

Naturally, people of the region had approached all politicians and bureaucrats for a proper road through the hill, no body heeded. When all others would have returned home for watching television serials, this man thought of making it happen by his efforts. The village which was in isolation, turned different. Manjhi himself had had a personal tragedy when his wife Faguni Devi was seriously injured while crossing the hill. Manjhi who was a farm labourer thought to take on the hills and change the destiny. He quit his wage earning work, his family suffered and he also went without food. When he accomplished his wife had passed away. Today, the villagers have nothing but gratitude for Gaya’s mountain man, known now as Sadhuji.

He had no comforts of life, no lands, nothing was bestowed easily but fought in a region where the literary rate is low and people struggle for their livelihood.

His family continued in chill penury; he was never awarded any grant or award – was given a State burial on 18/8/2007 when he passed away at 80. How much of this helped him or his family is too well known !!

We salute this great son of Bharat. Lives of such great man is the inspiration for the next generation.

Regards – Sampathkumar.

Launch of Navistar - set to change the way of transportation in India

Recently at Pune, the first Mahindra-Navistar truck MN 25 rolled off the assembly line. Here is something on lorries which will facilitate better understanding of this giant.

As one steps on highway, there are trucks everywhere. Lorries with different types of loads – you may not like them – but they are the ones which connect villages to cities; factories to people; Nation to other countries. The all important means of transportation, the cargo carriers without which things could come to a standstill. They are the reason why the price of brinjal goes up with rise in petrol (diesel). A lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo; they vary in size, power and configuration. For somebody who has watched with interest, there are bodies made up of steel, aluminum and composite; based on the style of construction (not factory made by manufacturer but constructed on basic cowl) differentiated as Punjab bodies, Namakkal and Vijayawada.

Goods carriers as they are commonly called were monotonously regular with capacity of 10 tons, (GVW of 16200 kgs ; axle weights of 6000 & 10200 kgs). Many a times, they would be carrying weights beyond the specified / permitted limits. Of recent origin are those of 25000 kg laden weight which have load capacity of around 16860 kgs. From the Insurance perspective, one of the determinants is the GVS which was divided in to 5 categories of : Not exceeding 7500kgs, 7500-12000 kgs, 12000-20000kgs, 20000-40000kgs and exceeding 40000kgs.

In a way, the identification by GVW is not internationally standardized. In some countries, a ten ton truck is one that carries 10 tons; in Britain and most parts of Europe, it is the one of GVW, which in effect is the weight of the complete vehicle, including the body, the load, fuel and those on the cabin !
What the vehicle will carry depends on the manufacturer’s design, the maximum weight of the vehicle and the maximum weight permitted. In India, we have the Permit issued by the RTA (Transport Department) which specifies the type, capacity, the nature of goods to be carried as also the areas where the vehicle can operate.
Some of the conditions of National Permit include:
a) painting in a dry leaf brown color with 30 cm broad white borders with words “National Permit” inscribed on both sides (different for a tanker carrying dangerous or hazardous cargo)
b) board with inscription of National permit valid in the states of…. With blue letters on white in the front side top of the vehicle.
c) Vehicle shall have two drivers and shall be provided with a seat across its full width behind the driver’s seat providing facility for the spare driver to stretch and sleep.

Then there are articulated vehicles where the weight would be composite; there are multi axled vehicles; the more the axles, the greater the weight allowance. For those with less automobile knowledge, axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. They are integral structural component of a wheeled vehicle and maintain the position of the wheels relative to each other and to the vehicle body. They bear the weight of the vehicle plus the cargo that is loaded on.

Ashok Leyland & Tata Motors have been the mainstay in the market and wide range of trucks ranging from 10 tonnes to 75 tonnes being available in the market. India’s infrastructure has been improving and it is making possible for transporters to reap the benefit of trucks with higher power, speed and carrying capacity.

Mahindra Navistar Automotives Ltd., is a joint venture between Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Navistar of the U.S. On June 15th (2010) Mahindra-Navistar Automotives Ltd. (MNAL) announced the start of production as its first truck offering, the 25-ton capacity MN25, rolled off the assembly line in Chakan, Pune, India. It is priced at Rs.14.99 lakhs (ex-showroom, Pune) The launch is described as a major step in their attempt in becoming a full range commercial vehicle player. MN 25 is claimed to be one of the most powerful, fuel-efficient, rugged and comfortable 25-tonners to launch in India. It comes with a world-class cabin, spacious and ergonomically designed to suit Indian drivers for continuous long hauls and is powered by a 7.2-liter diesel engine. The Chakan plant has capacity to produce 50000 trucks per year.
Here is its technical specs; Similarly MN 49 which is in the offing has GVW of 49000 kgs.

Regards – Sampathkumar.

DISTRIBUTION OF MARK SHEETS TO SUCCESSFUL CANDIATES AT NKT BOYS HIGH SCHOOL – SYMA FELICITATED

Tuesday : 15th of June 2010 : It was indeed a proud moment for the 63 boys who had passed their 10th standard examination. NK Thirumalachariar National Boys Higher Secondary School arranged for a meeting to felicitate the successful candidates and for distributing their mark sheets.

The boys had assembled gleefully and whiff of expectation filled the air. The boys were anxiously to celebrate their hour of glory. Indeed a big moment for them to receive mark sheets from their Correspondents.


The podium had august gathering. Mr Venkatadri, the school Head Master, Dr Sarojini Varadappan (Padma Vibushan) President of the NK Thirumalachariyar Educational  Trust, Smt. Leela Sekhar, Vice President  of NKT Trust, Dr M. Arumugam, Secretary of NKT Boys High School, Mrs KN Vijayalakshmi, Retd. HM. Along side were SYMA officials – Secretary (Yours Truly) and Mr BRP Sarathy, Committee Member.    Madam Sarojini Varadappan is a renowned social worker who participated in Indian freedom struggle ; was arrested during the Quit India Movement and sentenced to two years of imprisonment. She is the daughter of former CM, Mr M Bhaktavatsalam. Madam was awarded Padma Shri in 1973 and Padma Bhushan for social service in 2009.

The school Headmaster Mr Venkatadri, welcomed all. He felt ecstatic as the school had produced more than 80% result (82%) as 63 of the 77 candidates who appeared for the Board examination in 10th standard had passed out. By all means a grand achievement, coming as it did after almost 15 years. This gentleman can take all the honours for the hard work, coordination and nurturing the wards towards success. He thanked everybody and had loads of appreciation for SYMA stating that SYMA had helped the school in very many ways and SYMA Growth was responsible for the success. Nice words from a humble person, SYMA felt honoured.

Next it was SYMA’s turn. Me (Sampathkumar) spoke. I started off singing paeans to the visionary who started this group of Educational Institutions and those who are responsible for running the school. Also full praise due to the HM Mr Venkatadri, who is role model for students.


I emphasized the need for discipline in life and at school and the need for respecting teachers and all elders. If only one streamlines one thoughts and actions, there is nothing known as hard to achieve. Quoting Thiruvalluvar I said that it is good discipline which shapes people and lack of it would rue their career. It is also imperative that one associates oneself with those in the higher echelons of discipline, which help them grow. Advised them the need to concentrate on studies, whilst cinema and sports are good pastimes and should not eat into reading time. It is also essential that students plan properly and allocate good time for their studies and ensure that it is adhered to scrupulously. 


Very happy that the students listened with rapt attention. Spoke in brief about the activities of SYMA and how we have initiated SYMA Growth which is willing to take them and train them. The aim is to dispel the inhibition in the students; when an average student is not able to catch up with what is being taught either due to not knowing or not having the courage to display his doubts, slowly a gap develops. As it widens, the student gets away from studies and this gap would drive them to despair and would eventually ruin their career. Growth is aimed in assisting them in a friendly atmosphere where they can freely communicate to their teachers. SYMA fully acknowledges the role of formal training by trained experts and hence we have only School masters (2 HMs infact) and College professors for teaching students.

Quoted Avvaiyar who says that an educated person is much more important and honoured everywhere even more than a King. Told them about our aim in putting up posters of students who scored very good marks – not only honouring them but more of luring the next generation to get benefitted by our venture.


Dr Arumugam offered good advice. He said that for a good future, sincereity is a pyramid and one needs to do more and be sincere. He advised them to respect each other, shun violence and be courteous to everybody. He shared his experience of his IIT days – of a fellow student who had come to Chennai for the first time for joining the institution, rising to a very higher level of becoming a senior research scholar at NASA. He quoted his friend as following the principle of not fighting with anybody despite any serious provocation. He said famous scientist Edison was sent out of the school for non performance and advised those who had failed not to lose heart and fight it tenaciously. He announced that he would gift bags to all successful students.


The renowned Dr Sarojini Varathappan recalled the efforts of the advocate the great NK Thirumalachariar in starting the group of educational institutions and the toil he underwent in establishing this. She in a gentle way pleaded the students to have belief in their self confidence and shun violence by all means. Madam also announced a cash prize for all successful candidates.
Mark sheets along with gifts were distributed to all successful candidates. Mrs Leela Sekhar spoke briefly. Mrs KN Vijayalakshmi, who had done yeomen service and still continuing to teach the children after her retirement praised all concerned and wondered the ways of SYMA in putting up posters all over Triplicane, thanking the teachers also.

                                  Madam Sarojini Varadappan feliciatated by Mrs Leela Sekhar


The function ended with National anthem.


SYMA is grateful to Mr Venkatadri, Head Master and Mrs Leela Sekhar and other Office bearers of NKT Educational Trust for providing us the venue for running SYMA Growth. We are also thankful to Mr Venkatadri and Mrs KN Vijayalakshmi for the efforts and regularity in conducting tuition classes at our Centre.


It is a moment of pride for the boys of NKT National Boys High School and SYMA justifiably has a role in shaping them towards this success


With regards – S Sampathkumar.

SYMA'S AMBITIOUS STUDENT PROJECT - SYMA GROWTH

Most of us are interested in the welfare of the society and the first tendency of those with kinder hearts is to help the underprivileged children get better education.


Many such good natured persons have the habit of imparting learning by teaching the school syllabus to children in the neighbourhood. It is hard though, it might look very simple but very demanding. Initially one would be carried by emotions but understanding the lessons and teaching them in the manner that the student would understand requires more than mere intelligence and willingness to teach. A teacher is professionally trained to impart education and there cannot be easy substitution.


But what happens in a school room atmosphere can be very different. Over a period of time, the teacher might lose interest or where they exhibit extraordinary interest, the students may not exhibit even the minimum willingness expected of them. There are so many distractions these days for the school children which make them sway away from studies.


In a classroom atmosphere there could be inequalities arising out of various factors. When a student loses focus at the initial stages, suddenly he / she would find themselves being far away, not able to understand what is being is taught and would stay away from the main stream. It is also the innate inhibition, the lack of courage to ask questions or tell the Class teacher about their inability to comprehend that makes them feel aloof.
Such students are most likely to lose track and fail in the examination. Failure is a monster and could potentially destroy the student. A failed student not only loses studies but becomes an object of ridicule, loses self confidence and in the mental pressure to establish, some turn violent and some would even turn anti – social.


A Social Service Organisation’s objective is to help the society. We want better citizens. We want to inculcate in them great qualities and we felt the need for taking care of those students who are on the margin and would not succeed if no personal attention is provided.


It is also a matter of fact, that many of these children hail from economically underprivileged sections and cannot afford to have private tuitions. Poverty, hunger, suffering are all the same – irrespective of caste, creed, community or religion.


We have in our earlier years arranged for tuition closer to examinations to take care of those children who dreaded the examinations but any last minute work is only half good. We have been debating on this and contemplating on providing a secure solution.


Thus our idea of a professionally run tuition centre was born. Here we wanted to have Instructors who are in tune with the modern ways of teaching and are already in touch with the present day syllabus. We also wanted to select students who we felt were average or on the margin – just wanting to be nurtured and cared for.
A couple of years back on 6th July 2008, on a very auspicious day – SYMA Growth was born. It was inaugurated at NKT National Girls Higher Secondary School, Triplicane by Shri R Sekar, IPS, (the then) Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai.


From that day onwards, lots of SYMA volunteers have strained themselves to ensure success of the project. This year we had 100% pass out in + 2 with 6 students obtaining more than 1000 / 1200 – the first getting 1131.


This year the effort continues; we have a dedicated coordinator who would ensure attendance of the students and coordinate with the Instructors. We have necessary wherewithal and more importantly the willingness and dedication of our members.


We pray to Almighty for success of this project and look forward to continued support of you all.


Yesterday Downtown magazine of “The Hindu” (areas : Alwarpet, RApuram, Luz, Santhome, royapettah, Teynampet, Mountroad, Triplicane, Mylapore) carried an article on SYMA Growth titled “Quality education for the poor”

We are thankful to Ms Lalitha Sai, the Hindu and all others.


Regards – Sampathkumar S

Neil Pinner and the new rule on bowling

The name of 19 year old Neil Douglas Pinner who plays for Worcestershire 2nd XI was in news all over England.

Way back in 2003 in a World Cup match Andre Adams was hit for a six by Andy Bichel; but at Mirpur in 2007-08 AB Devilliers was caught and bowled by Mohammad Ashraful.  Steve of Cricinfo once wrote that Iqbal Abdulla of KKR bowled two deliveries against Chennai.

What is the connection and what is the news about these deliveries. The answer is all of them were ‘double bouncers’. After it rained sixers in the T20s each Team were devising strategies to gag the batsmen and have some delivery which will not be hoisted out of the ground. The traditional Yorker is not working any longer.  Neil Pinner, an off-spinner who plays for Worcestershire's second XI, perhaps had the answer. He developed a delivery which bounces twice before reaching the batsman and thus making it harder to be hit out of the ground.

According to law 24.6, the umpire at the bowler's end will only call no-ball if a delivery "either (i) bounces more than twice or (ii) rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease."

It is reported in  Telegraph.Co.Uk  that English Cricket Board has outlawed (reproduced as it is -  double bouncer  )

Warwickshire's idea to start bowling double-bouncing deliveries. The report states “ It is hard to disagree with the old adage that cricket is a batsman’s game following the latest directive from the England and Wales Cricket Board outlawing an innovative double-bouncing delivery being worked on by Warwickshire.

Telegraph Sport has learned the ECB issued instructions to all counties on Wednesday stating the delivery will be called a no-ball even though it does not contravene the Laws of Cricket, which rule the ball must not bounce more than twice or roll along the ground. The delivery, the brainchild of Warwickshire bowling coach Graeme Welch, was being specifically designed for use by seam bowlers in Twenty20 cricket and was due to be trialled for the first time in Wednesday evening's televised match against Derbyshire.

Welch first had the idea when, as a player, he saw Derbyshire off-spinner, Nathan Dumelow, accidently bowl a double-bouncing delivery that bamboozled batsman Darren Stevens, who was then at Leicestershire.  He thought he had stumbled upon a new innovation but after a meeting of its cricket committee on Tuesday, the ECB decided to tinker with the playing regulations of the county game to prevent it being bowled in first or second-team cricket.

An ECB directive to county coaches and umpires stated: “Further to an ECB Cricket Committee recommendation, it is confirmed that the practice of bowling a ball that bounces twice should be disallowed with immediate effect. It is considered inappropriate for the image and spirit of our game.”

The ECB feared a repeat of one of cricket’s most controversial incidents when Australian Trevor Chappell bowled an underarm delivery to Brian McKechnie with New Zealand needing a six off the last ball to win at Melbourne in 1981. That led to the banning of underarm bowling by the ICC. It is argued the difference in this situation, though, is that any part-time player can bowl an underarm delivery, but a deliberate double-bouncing ball requires skilful execution.  But MCC, who are the guardians of the Laws of Cricket, have given the delivery their blessing, meaning it could still be used in tournaments outside the ECB’s control such as the Indian Premier League or World Twenty20. “We don’t think it is against the Spirit of Cricket or contrary to the Laws of the game,” said Keith Bradshaw, the chief executive of MCC. “We see it as the same as the switch-hit and unless it changes the balance between the bat and ball we see no reason to change our view.”

Two years ago after Kevin Pietersen first played a switch hit, when he swaps from a right-hander to left hander’s stance, the MCC deemed it legal on the grounds it takes great skill to execute the shot. Warwickshire feel that has set a precedent. “Not just anyone can do it and it takes skill,” Welch told Telegraph Sport. “The margin of error is small.” Welch believes it is a greater weapon in the hands of a quick bowler who has the element of surprise on his side. “The batsman thinks it is a bouncer and by the time he has realised it is not he has cut down his reaction time,” he said. “You need a bowler who can bowl out of the back of the hand and bounce it as close as he can in front of him so that when it bounces again it is on its way down.

"The trick is getting the pace right on the second bounce. I am disappointed about it [being outlawed]. Batsmen are smacking it out the ground and this is just the way the game is evolving. We are always trying to think of new things. I am a bowling coach and my job is to do that.”  The key to the delivery is getting the length of the second bounce right and Welch says the hardest part for the quick bowlers is bowling the correct line. “They are not used to bowling out the back of their hand so it can go badly wrong,” he said.

The slower ball bouncer was a key weapon for England’s seamers at the recent World Twenty20 and has replaced the yorker as a stock delivery.

Regards – Sampathkumar S