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

Failure of emergency stop on rescue boat davit winch alert

Posted on February 24, 2021February 24, 2021 by News Hound

A failure of the winch remote control and emergency stop during recovery of a rescue boat to the davit onboard has been recorded by IMCA in its regular publication of safety issues. Investigation revealed that the davit winch was being repeatedly switched on and off for very short time intervals, causing a burn out. The incident occurred on completion of rescue boat testing in good weather. The personnel in the small boat were disembarked at sea level and used a ladder to access the main deck.

The AB started recovery of the boat using a remote control. When close to the final stowage position, the remote control failed and the limit switch did not activate as designed. The main power supply switch was then operated to isolate the power supply to the winch. Continue reading “Failure of emergency stop on rescue boat davit winch alert”

CWind launches world’s first hybrid surface effect ship CWind Pioneer

Posted on February 23, 2021February 23, 2021 by News Hound

CWind Pioneer is the world’s first hybrid powered Surface Effect Ship (SES) and has been delivered by CWind, a leading provider of project services, CTVs and GWO-accredited training courses to the offshore wind industry.

Named the CWind Pioneer to demonstrate its position at the forefront of crew transfer vessel innovation, the vessel was developed in response to an industry-wide push to develop and deploy innovative technologies that reduce CO2 emissions, while cost-effectively servicing windfarms located further offshore. The CWind Pioneer achieves this through a hybrid diesel and battery electric power system which enables the vessel to operate purely on battery power while in harbour or at standby in the windfarm, resulting in a decrease in fuel burn and CO2.

Continue reading “CWind launches world’s first hybrid surface effect ship CWind Pioneer”

Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather that led to eight fatalities

Posted on February 23, 2021February 24, 2021 by News Hound

Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather - Image courtesy of JTSB — Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather – Image courtesy of JTSB

Japan Transportation Safety Board (JTSB) has published an investigation report on the foundering of JIA DE the cargo ship sinking due to heavy weather in Kanagawa Prefecture, which led to fatalities of 8 crew members in October 2019.

The cargo ship JIA DE, with 12 crew onbaord, was anchoring at K1 anchorage point of Keihin Port on the way to proceed to Song Dang Port, Vietnam, when it encountered winds and waves due to the typhoon No.19 (Asian name “Hagibis”) approaching, and heeled to the starboard side.

The ship subsequently rolled over and took on seawater into the interior of the cargo holds, and thereby foundered around the anchorage at around 21:39 on October 12, 2019. The master and three crewmembers were rescued, but eight crewmembers died.

Continue reading “Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather that led to eight fatalities”

DNV GL white paper looks to close looming safety gap

Posted on February 17, 2021February 17, 2021 by News Hound

DNV GL, the world’s leading classification society, has released a white paper – “Closing the safety gap in an era of transformation”. The white paper identifies a looming “safety gap” between shipping’s existing approach to safety risks and its ambitions for greater digitalisation and the adoption of alternative fuels.

The maritime industry is undergoing a rapid transition to a decarbonised, digitally smart future. However, the new technologies and fuels that the industry is banking on to meet the challenges of the next decades are also creating a new risk landscape and demanding a new approach to safety. If shipping is able to adapt and implement the new safety paradigm identified in the white paper – the end result could be a maritime industry that is not only more efficient and sustainable – but safer as well.

“To close the safety gap, we will need a collective, ongoing effort,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime. “As a class society, we can play a leading role by acting as trailblazers for regulators, gathering expertise, partnering with industry and Continue reading “DNV GL white paper looks to close looming safety gap”

Engine failure caused fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report

Posted on February 15, 2021May 27, 2021 by News Hound

Engine failure causes fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an investigation report on the engine room fire aboard the towing vessel City of Cleveland on the Lower Mississippi River in February 2020. The investigation has identified that catastrophic engine failure caused fire along with crankcase breach of the port main engine.

On 26 February 2020, the towing vessel City of Cleveland was pushing 18 dry cargo barges (15 loaded and 3 empty) upbound on the Lower Mississippi River, approximately 15 miles south of Natchez, Mississippi, when the vessel experienced a main engine failure followed by an engine room fire. All nine crew members safely evacuated to the barges and were rescued by nearby Good Samaritan vessels, which worked to extinguish the fire. The City of Cleveland was later towed to the operator’s facility in Rosedale, Mississippi. There was no pollution or injuries. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $2 million.

Probable cause Continue reading “Engine failure caused fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report”

Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device

Posted on February 15, 2021February 15, 2021 by News Hound

Hong Kong Marine Department has shared the findings of a serious fire accident, which took place onboard the accommodation of a Hong Kong registered bulk carrier whilst at anchorage. The investigation showed that the fire was most probably caused by a faulty electrical device or its accessories in a crew cabin, which led to a short circuit with the heat and sparks igniting the materials placed beside it.

The vessel was at anchorage, when a fire broke out in an unattended cabin of the vessel at night. A laptop computer was being charged in the cabin, and the electric source also supplied power for the lighting and refrigerator. The crew tried to put out the fire, but to no avail. All crew mustered at amidships of the vessel. The fire died down by itself about five hours later.

As a result, the accommodation on D deck and the bridge wings of the vessel were seriously damaged. There was no personal injury or oil pollution.

Continue reading “Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device”

Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion reveals report

Posted on February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 by News Hound

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its investigation report on the fire and explosion which occured onboard the towing vessel Susan Lynn off Lousiana in October 2019. The investigation has identified a catastrophic engine failure as the key cause of the accident.

On 8 October 2019, at about 0600 local time, the Susan Lynn was docked and in layup status at Tom’s Marine & Salvage yard on the Barataria Waterway in Lafitte, Louisiana, when a fire started in the engine room. The vessel’s watchman could not contain the fire and evacuated the vessel. Local firefighters extinguished the fire. No pollution or injuries were reported. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $1,350,000.

Probable cause
The NTSB determines that the probable cause of the fire onboard the Susan Lynn was a catastrophic engine failure resulting in an oil reservoir breach and an ensuing fire Continue reading “Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion reveals report”

Cruising Association says boat owners are caught ‘in perfect storm’

Posted on February 10, 2021February 10, 2021 by News Hound

Boat owners caught in a perfect storm post Brexit. Photo: Cruising Association

Robin Baron, chairman of the Cruising Association RATS committee, has said that cruising yachtsmen are in the middle of ‘a perfect storm’. His words come at the end of months of COVID-19 restrictions, a VAT ‘trap’ and new visa rules exacerbating everything. Amid a surge of enquiries about Brexit which has seen the Cruising Association run a seminar and respond to multiple questions from members in unfolding territory, Baron has settled on a plan to at least help members negotiate visa arrangements. He’s looking to exert pressure from within.

Since 1 January 2021, people can only stay 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area. The 180-day reference period is not fixed. It is a moving window, based on the approach of looking backwards at each day of the Continue reading “Cruising Association says boat owners are caught ‘in perfect storm’”

Physical surveys: Keep ‘boots on deck’ for better inspections, surveys and crew morale says Idwal

Posted on February 9, 2021February 9, 2021 by News Hound

Importance of physical surveys - Idwal Chief Executive Officer Nick Owens (pictured) — Importance of physical surveys – Idwal Chief Executive Officer Nick Owens (pictured)

The pandemic has demonstrated the value of remote working but the industry must recognise the importance of physical connection to the ship. Idwal, a provider of ship inspection services, is calling on the industry to recognise the positive contribution that physical surveys make to vessel quality and crew morale.

Idwal provides blended remote and in-person vessel surveys on behalf of shipowners, banks, owners, brokers and charterers and believes that over-reliance on remote inspection technology creates risks for operators and worsens conditions for already over-stretched crews.

Last year saw a sharp rise in enquiries to deliver ‘internal inspection’ campaigns for owners and managers, suggesting owners wish to keep a closer eye on their vessels’ condition while their own people can’t travel. But the impact on crews of more remote inspections is increasing and the results are not always positive. Continue reading “Physical surveys: Keep ‘boots on deck’ for better inspections, surveys and crew morale says Idwal”

Sustainable Shipping Initiative publishes white paper for the use of new marine fuels

Posted on February 9, 2021February 9, 2021 by News Hound

A new white paper from the Sustainable Shipping Initiative sets out 13 sustainability issues and principles surrounding low and zero carbon marine fuels which are under consideration as part of shipping’s energy transition.

The paper, defining sustainability criteria for zero and low carbon marine fuels, says attention must be paid to the lifecycle sustainability of bunker fuels, and its principles are intended to feed into the development of industry standards and third-party certification schemes ‘to assure and facilitate the selection of – and demand for – sustainable marine fuels’.

The sustainability principles and criteria are intended to be used by stakeholders across the shipping value chain ranging from shipowners; fuel producers and suppliers; Continue reading “Sustainable Shipping Initiative publishes white paper for the use of new marine fuels”

New chief executive appointed by Inland Waterways Association

Posted on February 8, 2021February 8, 2021 by News Hound

The Inland Waterways Association has appointed Phil Hornsey as its new chief executive. Hornsey is an experienced leader with a strong strategic, development and marketing background. He has a 20-year career across corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

As director of membership and community at British Rowing, Hornsey led the national delivery of programmes to engage, support and grow the sport, achieving record levels of participation, paying members, and unrestricted income for the organisation. Prior to joining British Rowing, Hornsey held senior management positions at O2, EE and Betfair.

“I am delighted to take on the role of CEO at the Inland Waterways Association,” says Hornsey. “IWA has a critical role to play in the future of the waterways for all users and, having spent many years on and around rivers and canals in Continue reading “New chief executive appointed by Inland Waterways Association”

Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication

Posted on February 5, 2021February 12, 2021 by News Hound

Transport Malta has published its investigation report on a crew fatality in the pump room of the crude oil tanker MT Valtamed, while at Ceyhan OPL Anchorage, Turkey, in February 2020. The autopsy found that the pump man died by n-Butane intoxication. The investigation believes that the presence of H2S in the bilge space may have also contributed, by either causing panic or unconsciousness.

Whilst Valtamed was at anchor awaiting berthing instructions, pre-arrival tests of the high-level alarms of the vessel’s cargo tanks, and the forepeak store and pump room bilges were being conducted by the crew members.After testing the atmosphere of the vessel’s pump room, the pumpman proceeded to the bottom platform to test the space’s bilge alarms.

Although the port side bilge alarm was successfully tested, the chief officer noted that starboard side bilge alarm had not activated within Continue reading “Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication”