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Pak Master of oil tankers brings credit to country

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Captain Intizar Mehdi, a Pakistani expert, master of oil tankers transport, had been selected by the International Maritime Orgnisation (IMO) to act in an international video documentary film made on tank cleaning operations.

The IMO, which wanted to release a new maritime education film on tank cleaning operations, had requested International Shipping Corporation (MISC) of Malaysia to allow it to shoot the film on the latter's new chemicals tanker. The MISC, in turn, requested Captain Intizar, who was in command of the Malaysian oil tanker M.T. Bunga Melati Dua to contribute his expertise of tank cleaning for the development of education programme.

Accordingly, a Videotel team, under the supervision of film director George Bekes, made the film on tank cleaning from January 30 to February 6, 2000. Captain Mehdi not only guided the filming team but also contributed from his experience of tank cleaning. This is for the first time that a film has been made on cleaning operations of a chemical tanker with a Pakistani captain in the lead role.

Captain Mehdi won another honour for his country when his oil tanker M.T. Bunga Melati Dua was selected for film shooting by the Hamburg State Control Inspections department which wanted to video-record port state control inspections of chemical tankers for very strict and stringent ship's vetting visits.

Captain Intizar had also organised a course on 'Chemical Tankers' in May last year in Pakistan. In July last year he saved lives of 12 Indonesian sailors from the sinking ship in the Straits of Mallacca. He received a commendation certificate from the Marine Department of Malaysia which had also recommended to the government of Pakistan for decorating him with a gallantry award in recognition of his dedication to safety of life at sea.