Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued a regulatory update stating that, PFOS will be banned in fire extinguishing media from January 2026 – including firefighting foam. This applies to both fixed and portable systems and equipment.
In particular, the IMO developed amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the High Speed Craft (HSC) Codes (1994 and 2000) which were adopted in the following resolutions: Continue reading “PFOS banned in fire extinguishing media from January 2026”
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a safety notice highlighting the risk of green patina build-up on high-pressure water mist nozzles, which can compromise the effectiveness of onboard firefighting systems. According to the notice, while witnessing routine testing of a fixed firefighting system during an annual exam aboard a foreign passenger vessel, the Coast Guard discovered multiple high-pressure water mist nozzles that were incapable of discharging water. Consequently, the firefighting system failed to activate in multiple accommodation spaces. Continue reading “Safety alert issues about green patina build-up on water mist nozzles”
The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has published a report after bulk carrier Achilles Bulker lost its rudder in 2023.
What happened
On 24 July 2023, the fully loaded Achilles Bulker was under pilotage outbound from the Port of Tauranga. Shortly after clearing the harbour entrance, the ship’s heading began to swing to port and deviate from its intended track in the centre of the channel. As the bridge team took corrective action to return the ship to the centreline of the channel, the ship’s rudder broke off and the ship continued out of the Continue reading “Achilles Bulker rudder broke off near Tauranga nearly runs aground”
Given that 90% of international trade is transported across oceans, maritime safety is critical, and the shipping industry has made significant improvements in recent years. During the 1990s, the global fleet lost 200+ vessels a year. This total had halved by 10 years ago and is now down to a record low of 27 as of the end of 2024 is a key finding of the Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2025.
This compares with 35 a year earlier (vessels over 100 gross tonnage [GT]), down by around 20%, with a 75% decline in total losses over Continue reading “Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2025”
DNV has sent out a news update on amendments to the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk, which have been adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.552(108).
The Grain Code amendments enter into force 1 January 2026 and will be applicable to newbuildings with keel laid on or after this date. For existing ships, the amended Grain Code can also be applied to improve loading flexibility and demonstrate compliance with the new requirements. It is expected that there will be an increased attention on this loading pattern by inspectors in the larger grain exporting ports from 2026. Continue reading “International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk update”
UKP&I Club has developed the UKP&I guide to Safe LNG Bunkering Practices (Second Edition) in collaboration with Brookes Bell.
The guide presents a practical resource for the safe and efficient bunkering of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the maritime industry.
In response to global decarbonisation efforts and the growing adoption of LNG as a fuel in transition, this guide explores the physical characteristics of LNG, associated hazards, and recommended best practices for its handling, storage, and transfer. Continue reading “UKP&I guide to safe LNG bunkering practices”
The UK MAIB has released its MAIB annual report 2024. Last year, the MAIB received 1,515 reports on marine casualties/incidents and started 15 investigations – 7 of which involved loss of life.
Overall, the MAIB recorded 1,631 reports of accidents to UK vessels worldwide or any vessels within UK coastal waters during 2024. A total of 1,753 vessels were involved. Continue reading “UK MAIB Annual Report 2024 published”
The Isle of Man Ship Registry has released its Isle of Man Ship Registry’s 2024 Casualty report. It contains an analysis of the data and trends identified from casualty reports submitted to the Ship Registry during 2024.
Over the course of last year, the Ship Registry said there were 53 Accidents, 34 incidents and 7 casualty reports. There was one fatality, 8 serious injuries and 22 minor injuries reported. Continue reading “Isle of Man Ship Registry’s 2024 Casualty report”
This year’s Port State Control Concentrated Inspection Campaign (PSC CIC) will focus on ballast water management, DNV has announced.
The CIC is set to take place from 1 September to 30 November 2025.
Every year, PSC regimes determine a specific focus area during regular inspections. For 2025, the Paris and Tokyo MoUs have agreed to run a CIC on the topic of ballast water management (BWM). It is expected that the majority of PSC MoUs will participate in this year’s CIC. Continue reading “PSC CIC on ballast water management”
ITOPF has studied the potential damage and liabilities arising from a shipping incidents involving Li-ion battery powered vessels.
In its “Fate, Behaviour, Potential Damage & Liabilities Arising from a Shipping Incident Involving a Li-ion Battery Powered Vessel” report, at least half of existing vessels with Li-ion batteries utilise the technology as part of a hybrid system paired with a traditional combustion engine using conventional fuels (or possibly biofuels). Continue reading “Consequences of incidents involving Li-ion battery powered vessels”
Electric propulsion systems are making waves in the world of recreational boating. As technology evolves, these systems bring plenty of perks compared to traditional internal combustion engines. At the same time, they also come with their own set of challenges. Let’s dive into the benefits and hurdles of electric propulsion for recreational boats, giving boating enthusiasts and industry folks a clear picture of what’s on the horizon. Continue reading “The benefits and challenges of electric propulsion for recreational boats”
DNV offers guidance on the matter of corrosion in ballast water & cargo tanks, highlighting that the actual corrosion rate may differ, with factors like temperature and coating condition playing significant roles in the deterioration process.
According to DNV, the actual corrosion rate in ballast and cargo tanks may differ from the assumptions in the rules and the embedded corrosion models. DNV survey data reveals a significant rise in corrosion findings in water ballast and cargo tanks in oil tankers and bulk carriers at the third renewal survey, with a peak at the fourth renewal. That means that for some vessels, Continue reading “Corrosion in ballast water & cargo tanks”
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