News Hound, Author at The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS)

Design flaw caused Staten Island ferry fire is report finding

Posted on July 31, 2024April 23, 2025 by News Hound

The design of a new passenger ferry’s fuel oil return system and inadequate follow-on training for engineering crewmembers led to the 2022 fire aboard the Staten Island Ferry Sandy Ground, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

The fire broke out in the engine room of the Sandy Ground in New York Harbor with 884 persons aboard on December 22, 2022. The crew’s actions to contain and extinguish the fire, combined with a quick response from good samaritan vessels, resulted in the safe evacuation of all onboard. Damage to the vessel totaled $12.7 million. Continue reading “Design flaw caused Staten Island ferry fire is report finding”

Heavy cargo items require extra attention

Posted on July 30, 2024February 5, 2025 by News Hound

Siemens Schottel azimuth thrusters. Photo credit: Wikipedia

The Nautical Institute has composed a case study on an incident where a multi-purpose cargo vessel was transporting six azimuth thrusters in its hold. Each thruster weighing 60 tonnes. Stowage calculations based on the voyage instructions and stowage plan were made by an officer and checked by the Master before loading. The results were sent to the office for approval.

According to the calculations, each thruster would require 10 lashings. To be on the safe side, the Master and crew decided to use 12 or Continue reading “Heavy cargo items require extra attention”

NTSB conclude crew’s quick action limits fire damage to towing vessel Desperado

Posted on July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 by News Hound

The Desperado in Lake Salvador after the fire. (Source: U.S. Coast Guard)

A ruptured hydraulic hose spraying fuel on a hot engine led to a fire aboard Desperado, a towing vessel in Louisiana’s Lake Salvador, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday.

The fire broke out in the engine room as the towing vessel Desperado was transiting near Bayou Perot, Louisiana, on 17 February 2023. The three crewmembers aboard could not extinguish the fire with portable extinguishers. So they secured ventilation and fuel to the engine room and evacuated to a good samaritan vessel. Continue reading “NTSB conclude crew’s quick action limits fire damage to towing vessel Desperado”

Importance of emergency beacons reminder after AMSA rescue three from sinking boat

Posted on July 26, 2024October 16, 2025 by News Hound

emergency beacons reminder issued by AMSA

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) have issued an emergency beacons reminder after they coordinated the rescue of three people after their recreational vessel sank near Block Reef, nearly 90km north-east of Airlie Beach.

At 10.15pm (local time), 25 July 2024, AMSA detected the vessel’s emergency beacon, tasking the Cairns-based Challenger rescue aircraft and two rescue helicopters – CQ Rescue helicopter from Mackay and QG Air Rescue helicopter from Townsville – to the scene. Continue reading “Importance of emergency beacons reminder after AMSA rescue three from sinking boat”

MCA releases MGN 548 (M+F) Amendment 1 – Servicing Requirements for SOLAS Inflatable Life-Saving Appliances

Posted on July 26, 2024October 16, 2025 by News Hound

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published an amended MGN 548 (M+F) Amendment 1 that details how SOLAS-certificated life-saving appliance servicing stations can gain the necessary approval from the UK Secretary of State to act as a UK Approved Service Station. It also provides some essential considerations for vessel owners.

Before submitting a SOLAS-certificated inflatable life-saving appliance (LSA) to a service station, owners, masters, or skippers of Continue reading “MCA releases MGN 548 (M+F) Amendment 1 – Servicing Requirements for SOLAS Inflatable Life-Saving Appliances”

UK MCA issues MIN 709 (M) with 2024 amendments to the ESP Code for bulk carriers and oil tankers

Posted on July 23, 2024October 16, 2025 by News Hound

The MCA have published MIN 709 (M) with the 2024 Amendments to the ESP Code

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published MIN 709 (M) with the 2024 Amendments to the ESP Code. The document details significant updates to the Enhanced Survey Programme (ESP) Code for bulk carriers and oil tankers. These amendments, effective from 1 July 2024, were established through the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) resolution MSC.525(106) in November 2022.

The updates focus on improving safety and inspection standards to ensure the structural integrity Continue reading “UK MCA issues MIN 709 (M) with 2024 amendments to the ESP Code for bulk carriers and oil tankers”

U.S. Coast Guard 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Report

Posted on July 23, 2024April 24, 2025 by News Hound

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published its 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Annual Report. This report highlights U.S. domestic fleet inspection, deficiency, and marine casualty statistics and serves as a powerful tool that highlights trends, identifies key performance indicators, and draws attention to findings over the past calendar year.

The report presents information reflecting the U.S. Flag fleet including barges, cargo vessels, passenger vessels, vessels operating on the Outer Continental Shelf, research and school ships, fishing vessels, and towing vessels. Continue reading “U.S. Coast Guard 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Report”

MAIB report: Contact of chemical tanker Ali Ka with Oikos Jetty

Posted on July 19, 2024September 29, 2025 by News Hound

At 0436 on 25 October 2022, the Malta registered oil and chemical tanker Ali Ka made contact with the westernmost section of Oikos Jetty 2 at Canvey Island on the River Thames, England. The vessel was departing the berth under compulsory Port of London Authority (PLA) pilotage and without a tug in attendance. The impact caused minor damage to the ship but severe damage to the jetty. Ali Ka grounded close to the pier. Two tugs were deployed and Ali Ka was successfully recovered to Oikos Jetty 1. No one was injured and there was no pollution. It took eleven Continue reading “MAIB report: Contact of chemical tanker Ali Ka with Oikos Jetty”

Hong Kong SAR issues note after collision of vessel and tugboat

Posted on July 17, 2024April 24, 2025 by News Hound

The Marine Department of the Hong Kong SAR has urged those within the shipping industry to take heed of lessons learnt following a collision of a vessel with a tugboat in the Suez Canal.

A Hong Kong registered liquefied gas carrier collided with a local tugboat during their northbound transit in the Suez Canal. The incident resulted in the sinking of the tugboat and the death of a crew member on board. This Note draws the attention of shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, Continue reading “Hong Kong SAR issues note after collision of vessel and tugboat”

NTSB issues report on Qualifier 105 passenger vessel fire in Homer, Alaska

Posted on July 17, 2024July 17, 2024 by News Hound

NTSB issues report on the fire on Qualifier 105

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its report on the investigation of a 2023 fire aboard the passenger vessel Qualifier 105 last year in Alaska.

On 19 January 2023, the small passenger vessel Qualifier 105 was being stored ashore for the winter in the Northern Enterprises Boat Yard in Homer, Alaska when a fire started in a stateroom below the main deck. The local fire department extinguished the fire and no Continue reading “NTSB issues report on Qualifier 105 passenger vessel fire in Homer, Alaska”

Update on emergency power supply testing non-compliance issued by Tokyo MoU

Posted on July 16, 2024February 5, 2025 by News Hound

The Tokyo MoU has released a Safety Bulletin as an update on the emergency power supply non-compliance, it states that numerous observations by Port State Control Officers (PCSOs) where the “simulated blackout” testing of the Emergency Generator is demonstrated as fully functional, but during an actual power blackout, the system does not meet the requirements of SOLAS Ch. II-1, Reg. 42 / 43.

PSCOs have observed an alarming number of ships that were able to demonstrate a satisfactory test of the emergency generator utilizing a Continue reading “Update on emergency power supply testing non-compliance issued by Tokyo MoU”

Loss of propulsion of ro-ro cargo vessel Mazarine

Posted on July 16, 2024September 29, 2025 by News Hound

The vessel Mazarine dramatically stuck on Wolf Rock

Transport Malta’s Marine Safety Investigation Unit has published an investigation report into the loss of propulsion and subsequent grounding of the Maltese-registered ro-ro cargo vessel Mazarine, on Wolf Rock off Land’s End, UK on 10 July 2023.

At about 1040, the Maltese-registered, ro-ro cargo vessel, Mazarine ran aground on Wolf Rock, UK. The vessel sustained structural damage to the underwater section of the hull. In addition to the hull perforations, several deformations were observed, mostly on the port Continue reading “Loss of propulsion of ro-ro cargo vessel Mazarine”

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