Feature Articles

Coal Cargoes: Avoiding Explosion and Self-Heating

Posted on by News Hound
Coal cargoes
Coal cargoes

Coal is a fossil fuel with varying properties, depending on its source and handling before it is loaded aboard ship. Some coals can self- heat, and some emit methane – characteristics that can create fire and explosion risks to the crew, vessel and cargo making coal cargoes dangerous.

Røyset said that Gard had seen several cases involving problematic coal cargoes, particularly those originating in Indonesia. She said that her particular focus in this article was how to deal with a cargo Continue reading “Coal Cargoes: Avoiding Explosion and Self-Heating”

Transporting Li-ion batteries: identifying and addressing the risks

Posted on by News Hound
Lithium ion (Li-on) battries
Lithium ion (Li-on) battries

The international transportation industry has been looking carefully at the hazards inherent in transporting lithium- ion (Li-ion) batteries and goods powered by them. As has been highlighted recently in the industry press, while Li-ion battery fires are not a common occurrence, their consequences can be devastating.

It has been reported by a major insurer in its 2023 Safety and Shipping Review that battery fires on vessels remain one of the biggest safety concerns Continue reading “Transporting Li-ion batteries: identifying and addressing the risks”

Do you know when fire protection systems onboard should be inspected?

Posted on by News Hound
Fire protection systems
Fire protection systems

All fire protection systems onboard and appliances should at all times be in good order and available for immediate use while a ship is in service. A helpful recent Marine Notice by the Palau Ship Registry highlights and gives guidance about the requirements of their inspection regime.

Fire protection systems need to be inspected weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually, as follows to ensure proper functioning. Continue reading “Do you know when fire protection systems onboard should be inspected?”

Ballast operation and maintenance practice

Posted on by News Hound
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 and other Ballast operation and maintenance practice. 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

Posted on by News Hound
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 and there are numerous challenges of transporting reefer containers.

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

Posted on by News Hound
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

Posted on by News Hound
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

Posted on by News Hound
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”

Lightning protection at sea

Posted on by News Hound
Lightning breaking across the dark sky
Lightning breaking across the dark sky

Venturing across the expansive open sea is an exhilarating yet unpredictable experience, with ever-changing weather patterns constantly threatening the safety of boats, their crew and passengers. Among the most dreaded natural occurrences faced by boat owners are lightning strikes. Fortunately, the advent of advanced technologies, like the Sertec CMCE (Compensador Múltiple de Campo Electroatmosférico) Lightning protection at sea de-ionising technology, now offers boat owners a dependable solution to shield their vessels from the destructive impact of lightning strikes. A technology that does not allow the conditions for a lightning strike by de-ionisation, creating a protected area into a balanced stable state, so that no build-up of opposite charge exists even in the most severe storm and while under motion; a technology that is passive and requires no power. Continue reading “Lightning protection at sea”

Transportation of electric vessels containing lithium batteries

Posted on by News Hound
Boat on fire with the red words EV floating above it
Boat on fire with the red words EV floating above it

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued this safety advisory notice to inform the public and raise awareness of the risks involved in Transportation of electric vessels containing lithium batteries that may have been damaged due to submersion in waters during extreme weather events. When transported in commerce, EVs containing these damaged batteries may present particularly significant hazards to the public, including property damage, injury, and even death. Our intention with this notice is to prevent those things from happening. Continue reading “Transportation of electric vessels containing lithium batteries”

Bills of Lading: Basic concepts and issues

Posted on by News Hound

Introduction to Bills of Lading: Basic concepts and issues

A bills of lading is a contractual document issued by the carrier by sea of goods which such carrier takes possession of and transports. Generally, a bill of lading would contain details about the transported goods such as the type, quantity, weight, value, and date of shipment of such goods. From a definitional perspective, it is difficult to give a precise definition of a bill of lading, but it could certainly be said to possess the following essential attributes:

(i)It serves as a transport receipt which the carrier gives to the seller for transporting his goods;

(ii)It serves as evidence of contract between the carrier and the exporter; and

(iii)It serves as a document of title for the importer or the buyer.

From the above, it is evident that there are the following parties primarily involved: Continue reading “Bills of Lading: Basic concepts and issues”

LPG safety on Inland Waterways boats

Posted on by News Hound
River canal boat
River canal boat

The aim, with LPG, was to improve boater safety by reviewing key elements of gas safety, while linking design, commissioning and maintenance together as crucial factors to gas system success. There is scant academic work existing that relates to the inland waterways, and virtually no academic research into gas safety on boats. It is hoped this project will open the debate and encourage other projects and ensure LPG safety on Inland Waterways boats. Continue reading “LPG safety on Inland Waterways boats”

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