Fishing vessel sinking caused by poor maintenance and lack of regulatory surveillance

Photo: Tibbie Adams via TSB
Photo: Tibbie Adams via TSB

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published its investigation report into the August 2020 sinking of the fishing vessel Arctic Fox II near Bamfield, British Columbia. The incident resulted in the death of two crewmembers.

On August 11, 2020, when Arctic Fox IIs master departed for the fishing grounds on the occurrence voyage with two other crew members on board, both he and the vessel’s owner perceived that the risks of the planned fishing operation had been addressed sufficiently. Their perceptions of risk were likely influenced by economic incentives, approvals and certificates, and many successful voyages. Continue reading “Fishing vessel sinking caused by poor maintenance and lack of regulatory surveillance”

Marine safety concerns about firefighting at Canadian ports

Transportation Safety Board of CanadaThe Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its investigation report regarding a fire incident that occurred aboard a bulk carrier near Windsor, Ontario in 2019. The TSB said the report raises a board safety concern regarding firefighting resources at some Canadian harbours and ports.

On December 15, 2019, a fire ignited in the engine room of the bulk carrier Tecumseh while it was transiting the Detroit River off Windsor, Ontario with 16 crew members on board. The crew attempted to extinguish the fire with the CO2 fixed fire suppression system. The investigation found that the onboard fire originated following the failure of a flexible fuel hose assembly supplying fuel to the ship’s port main engine. Continue reading “Marine safety concerns about firefighting at Canadian ports”

‘Recovery of Persons in Water, a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels’ published

Tug boats at dockThe British Tugowners Association has released its latest guidance to industry, Recovery of Persons in Water (PIW), a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels.

“The persons in water guide looks to debunk and demystify various myths and fallacies within the industry, spurring on open debate and discussion with the intent being to save lives,” said BTA chairman and Svitzer Head of Marine Standards Scott Baker.

The intent of the guide is not limited to tugs but applicable across the small boat sector, whether crewboats, pilot boats, workboats or tugs, many of which share similar characteristics and equipment. Continue reading “‘Recovery of Persons in Water, a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels’ published”

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2022

Captain Andrew Moll OBE shares some safety critical advice with boat users to mark the start of carbon monoxide awareness week 2022, reminding them of the hazards posed by this poisonous gas.

Many of us take steps in our homes to stay safe from carbon monoxide by installing CO alarms and having an annual boiler service, but are the same precautions being taken when out on the water?

The Marine Accident Investigation Continue reading “Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2022”

Admiralty court finds three vessels at fault in Suez collision

Map of the Suez collisionAn admiralty court in London has found fault with all three vessels involved in a collision on the Suez Canal in 2018, including a bulker that struck two vessels within the span of a single day.

On July 16, 2018, the bulker Panamax Alexander was moored in the southern stretch of the Suez Canal, near the 150-km milepost in one of the narrowest sections of the waterway. She had been damaged the day before in a collision and grounding with the bulker Sakizaya Kalon, and her rudder stock and propeller blades were bent. Due to the damage, she was awaiting a tow to the Great Bitter Lake. In the meantime, the crew had made fast to bollards on the side of the canal with six lines. Continue reading “Admiralty court finds three vessels at fault in Suez collision”

Update on survival craft equipment requirements

USCG LogoThe US Coast Guard has announced it is updating the type approval requirements for certain types of equipment that survival craft are required to carry on U.S. flagged vessels. The purpose of this rule is to update the requirements for 12 types of equipment required to be carried onboard survival craft on certain U.S. flagged vessels:

– Bilge pumps
– Compasses
– First-aid kits
– Fishing kits
– Hatchets
– Jackknives
– Signaling mirrors
– Emergency drinking water
– Sea anchors Continue reading “Update on survival craft equipment requirements”

Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published

Following the surprise runaway success of the first edition of the Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium, published in January 2022 by the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), and subsequently downloaded many thousands of times, Edition II has been launched covering the period January to October 2022. It is now available to download and read in pdf or eReader formats.

Edition II builds on the success of the launch publication and extends to 160 pages. The simple aim is to highlight the dangers of working in the maritime industry, the ensuing accidents and some of the prevention measures available to mitigate disasters at sea. The publication blends a mix of incident and accident reports with essential loss prevention advice generated over the year. One significant new feature is a calendar, featuring some of the many accidents that have occurred during 2022, catalogued month by month. Continue reading “Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published”

Fire-fighting techniques have proven inadequate to stop container ship fires

TSS Pearl - Photo credit: Saudi Press Agency
TSS Pearl – Photo credit: Saudi Press Agency

The freight transport and logistics insurance specialist insurer, TT Club is continuing its battle to convince cargo interests, supply chain professionals and enforcement agencies that the responsibility for mitigating container ship fires is shared by numerous entities involved from end to end of the entire global supply chain. With its estimated sixty-day average occurrence of serious incidents being maintained by the Zim Charleston fire in August and the TSS Pearl in the Red Sea in early October, TT is once more urging a more comprehensive approach to arresting the trend. Continue reading “Fire-fighting techniques have proven inadequate to stop container ship fires”

New report values benefits of UK waterways

Uk waterways benefits valued in new report
UK waterways benefits valued in new report

The UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Waterways has published a headline report setting out the economic and social value of its 250-year-old waterway network.

Presenting the report to MPs, chief executive, Richard Parry, announced that the combined annual economic and social value of the waterways amounts to £6.1 billion. This includes £1.5 billion annual economic value from water-based tourism and jobs, and annual social value of £4.6 billion, which includes £1.1 billion cost saving to the NHS from active use of the waterways and the towpaths. Continue reading “New report values benefits of UK waterways”

Containership strikes crane due to faulty propeller: A case study

Containership strikes crane due to faulty propeller: A case study
Faulty propeller causes containership to strikes crane

The Swedish Club has published its latest monthly safety scenario in which it describes how a faulty propeller caused a vessel to strike a quay and a crane. The container vessel had finished its cargo operation and the pilot had boarded. Two tugs werer standing by to assist the vessel during departure. It was a clear summer day with no strong winds or currents.

The two tugs pulled the vessel clear of the berth and the propeller pitch was then set to Stop (Zero). Both tugs were cast off. The pilot ordered dead slow ahead. However, when the Master set the propeller pitch control to dead slow ahead the main engine stopped. The Master called the engine control room to find out why the main engine had stopped and requested the main engine be restarted. Continue reading “Containership strikes crane due to faulty propeller: A case study”

Whitepaper: Transport of lithium-ion batteries – a continuous threat

Brookes Bell, TT club and UKP&I collabThe publishing of a whitepaper by insurance providers TT Club along with its fellow Thomas Miller managed business, UK P&I Club, and technical and scientific consultancy, Brookes Bell, brings greater awareness of the dangers inherent in the transport of lithium-ion batteries, particularly by sea. The increased demand for ‘green power’ for a wide range of portable devices such as mobile phones, mobility aids and recreation, manufacturing and power storage, through to larger products, such as electric vehicles will undoubtedly result in the production and transport of these batteries rising exponentially in the coming years. Continue reading “Whitepaper: Transport of lithium-ion batteries – a continuous threat”

Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death

Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device
Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device

In a tragic accident, the failure by a skipper to wear a personal flotation device, harness and tether, caused his death when he was washed overboard during the 2022 Newport-Bermuda race in June 2022 is the finding from a review by US Sailing.

Colin Golder was racing the Centurion 42, Morgan of Marietta, when he went overboard on 19 June 200 miles off the US east coast. Despite the efforts of the crew, which rescued Colin in challenging seas, he died soon after, most likely from drowning.

US Sailing’s review and subsequent report of the incident attribute his death primarily Continue reading “Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death”

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