Marine battery systems: are current standards enough?

BV report Maritime Electrification: Maritime Battery Systems and Onshore Power Supply published
BV report Maritime Electrification: Maritime Battery Systems and Onshore Power Supply published

The report Maritime Electrification: Maritime Battery Systems and Onshore Power Supply, published by Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore in May 2025, takes a critical look at the regulatory framework for shipboard energy storage systems (ESS) and onshore power supply (OPS) solutions. At a time when lithium-ion batteries are becoming central to the electrification of the world fleet, the document points to standards that are still fragmented, often optional, and insufficiently binding. This gap could compromise crew safety and slow down the adoption of these technologies. Continue reading “Marine battery systems: are current standards enough?”

Investigation report released on Fremantle Highway disaster

Emergency assistance Fremantle Highway. Source: ANP/Marco van der Caaij
Emergency assistance Fremantle Highway. Source: ANP/Marco van der Caaij

The system for responding to incidents in the North Sea needs to be put in order as soon as possible. That will require improved communication and information sharing between the Coastguard Centre and its cooperating organisations on shore. This is the conclusion of the Dutch Safety Board in its investigation of the emergency response to the fire that broke out on board the car carrier Fremantle Highway during the night of 25 to 26 July 2023. Continue reading “Investigation report released on Fremantle Highway disaster”

IMCA Safety Statistics Report 2024: Line of Fire incidents leading cause of LTIs

IMCA Annual Safety Stats Report 2024
IMCA Annual Safety Stats Report 2024

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published its annual Safety Statistics Report, showing that ‘line of fire’ incidents remained the leading cause of lost time injuries (LTIs) among IMCA marine contractor Members in 2024, accounting for more than half (52%) of such injuries. The research, which IMCA has published each year since 1996, found that the total lost-time injury rate (LTIR) across its contributing Members’ onshore and offshore operations remained unchanged at 0.3 incidents per million hours worked. Continue reading “IMCA Safety Statistics Report 2024: Line of Fire incidents leading cause of LTIs”

Panama implements new Precheck for vessels joining its registry

The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has implemented an additional safeguard called Precheck, a screening process that aims to ensure only compliant vessels join the Panama Ship Registry. The Precheck process involves a thorough risk assessment of various aspects related to the vessel, its owner, operator, and/or charterer before applying for the entry into the Panama Ship Registry to ensure that the vessel meets the international standards regarding safety, environmental protection, crew welfare, and to promote cooperation and best practices in the maritime industry.

According to the PMA, a key benefit of Precheck is its ability to prevent “flag-hopping”, a practice where vessels jump from one registry to another to avoid compliance, evade sanctions, or engage in illicit activities. Continue reading “Panama implements new Precheck for vessels joining its registry”

Black Sea MoU Annual Report 2024

Port State control in the Black Sea Region Annual Report 2024
Port State control in the Black Sea Region Annual Report 2024

The Black Sea MoU has published its Annual Report for 2024, detailing its actions and presenting key Port State Control (PSC) data. The 2024 reporting period was significantly impacted by the ongoing armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, which continued to pose serious risks to the safety and security of crews and vessels operating in the region, conflicting with the BS MoU’s objectives. Continue reading “Black Sea MoU Annual Report 2024”

Ballast operation and maintenance practice

Ship de-ballasting
Ship de-ballasting

Britannia P&I Club has seen several pollution incidents involving the accidental transfer of cargo into an adjacent ballast water tank. The main causes are pitting or corrosion of cargo tanks which results in cargo being flushed out during ballast water operations. These incidents have highlighted the importance of crew awareness of ballast principles and best practices. In this guidance Britannia Club explores best ballast operation and how to maintain ballast tanks to prevent such claims. Continue reading “Ballast operation and maintenance practice”

The Challenges of Transporting Reefer Containers

A pack of reefer containers
A pack of reefer containers

Reefer containers is a complex piece of engineering and has, over the years, become more reliable, and can be trusted to transport perishable goods vast distances, with little or no impact on quality.

It is easy to forget therefore, that the vessel crew still has an important part to play in ensuring that these fragile cargoes are delivered safely, and that the actions of those on board can make a significant difference to the claims experienced by an operator. Continue reading “The Challenges of Transporting Reefer Containers”

Report comment tips for yacht and small craft marine surveyors

Yacht on the sea
Yacht on the sea

IIMS is often asked by members how much depth and detail they should give when preparing their reports and what should have been inspected and reported on. Remember, you will have carried out a forensic inspection when surveying the vessel, so it is important that your final written report accurately and factually reflects what you have seen. And always write your report in the past tense. The advice below is aimed towards yacht and small craft marine surveyors

So, here is a helpful guide for yacht and small craft marine surveyors with some suggested useful phrases to include in your reports. Continue reading “Report comment tips for yacht and small craft marine surveyors”

Inventory of Hazardous Materials

Run aground ship
Run aground ship – Inventory of Hazardous Materials

The updated Hong Kong Convention will enter into force on 26 June 2025. It will require new ships and existing ships of 500 GT and above – no later than 5 years after the entry into force of the Convention, or before going for recycling, if this is earlier – to have onboard a valid International Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) certificate. Continue reading “Inventory of Hazardous Materials”

Checklists for the inspection of ladders and gangways

Man looking up at a ladder and gangway
Man looking up at a ladder and gangways

A risk alert which highlights that a new regulation refers to the construction, installation, maintenance and testing requirements for ladders and gangways as detailed in MSC.1/ Circ.1331 ‘Guidelines for Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection/Survey of Means of Embarkation and Disembarkation’ has been issued. In May 2008 the IMO adopted SOLAS regulation II1/3-9 concerning the ‘Means of embarkation on and disembarkation from ships’, which entered into force on the 1 January 2010. Continue reading “Checklists for the inspection of ladders and gangways”

MAIB issues interim report on the sinking of the Bayesian

The Bayesian interim report has been published by the MAIB
The Bayesian interim report has been published by the MAIB

The key headline from the Bayesian interim report is that the yacht took less than 15 seconds to heel irrecoverably.

The UK-based Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report is the first official such document to be published into the sinking of the Bayesian which resulted in seven deaths off Sicily, including that of the yacht’s owner Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah in August 2024.

As part of the Bayesian interim report, MAIB investigators have pieced together the sequence of events, the movements of the 10 crew and 12 guests onboard, and the rapid timeline of the sudden tragedy. Continue reading “MAIB issues interim report on the sinking of the Bayesian”

Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas

Department of Transport - Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas
Department of Transport – Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas

In a significant move to strengthen maritime safety across the UK, the Department for Transport has issued an updated version of the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) with clear expectations that marinas and other non-statutory marine facilities bring their safety practices in line with the national framework.

Originally introduced in 2000, the PMSC has long applied to statutory harbour authorities. However, the latest revision now explicitly includes all marine facilities, including privately operated marinas, piers, jetties, and terminals, even when located outside of traditional harbour jurisdictions. Continue reading “Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas”

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