IIMS News

IMPA safety campaign on pilot ladders reveals ongoing persistent non-compliance

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IMPA Safety Campaign on pilot ladders highlights there is still a lot of work to do
IMPA Safety Campaign on pilot ladders highlights there is still a lot of work to do

This year’s International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) Safety Campaign on pilot ladders highlights there is still a lot of work to do as the requirements of SOLAS regulation V/23 (Pilot transfer arrangements), its associated IMO Assembly resolutions, and the ISO 799 series standards are considered as the bare minimum requirement and not an aspirational target according to IMPA as the safety campaign revealed pilot ladders reveals ongoing persistent non-compliance.

The IMPA publishes and shares the results of its Safety Campaign annually. Ports and pilotage providers are requesting information from ships on the age and certification of their pilot ladder. IMPA is aware of reports of pilots refusing to board ships due to non-compliance with Continue reading “IMPA safety campaign on pilot ladders reveals ongoing persistent non-compliance”

Gibraltar updates its guidance for servicing fire protection system

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Fire stock image
Guidance updated for periodic servicing and testing of every fire protection system

The Gibraltar Maritime Administration has issued a revised Shipping Guidance Notice (SGN) regarding periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire extinguishers, compressed gas cylinders, and fixed fire-extinguishing systems and other fire protection system onboard Gibraltar registered vessels. This SGN superseded SGN 028, 028(a), and 028(b) and was published on January 26th, 2023.

Fire Extinguishers (extinguishers include portable and semi-portable units of all types) should be examined annually by a competent person. The hydraulic test period for all types of portable fire extinguishers should be conducted at intervals not exceeding 10 years unless the extinguisher is found to be defective during an inspection. Continue reading “Gibraltar updates its guidance for servicing fire protection system”

Failure of fire hose couplings case study

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Corroded valvesA recent Safety Flash published by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) focuses on an incident in which a fire hose couplings failed at the neck of the stub inserted into the hose during routine pressure/leak testing.

As part of annual testing of the fire hydrant hoses, two crew were assigned to conduct leak testing of the main deck fire hoses. A Number 3 hose (20m x 52mm (2”)) was connected to a fire hydrant valve and nozzle and visual inspections of the hose and valve conducted prior to testing. During the test it was noted that one end of the fire hose had disconnected. The test was stopped, and further investigation was conducted. Continue reading “Failure of fire hose couplings case study”

Early detection key to preventing electric vehicles fires

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Ship in the water - Photo for illustrative purposes only
Photo for illustrative purposes only

Following several high-profile ship fires involving electric vehicles (EVs), Survitec has produced some valuable advice for operators of vessels transporting hybrid and EVs, such as ferries, ropaxes, RoRos, PCCs and PCTCs, on how best to prevent and control fire onboard ships involving lithium-ion battery powered vehicles.

According to Survitec there are a number of ongoing initiatives within the industry to improve safety in this area. There is a desire to develop early fire detection systems to better monitor and protect car decks and lithium-ion batteries installed in vehicles onboard. Continue reading “Early detection key to preventing electric vehicles fires”

USCG: Avoid loading EV’s onto ships with damaged lithium-ion batteries

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The stricken Felicity Ace photographed before sinking. Photo credit: Portuguese Navy
The stricken Felicity Ace photographed before sinking. Photo credit: Portuguese Navy

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a warning to the shipping industry about the extreme risk of loading electric vehicles (EV) with damaged lithium-ion batteries onto commercial vessels.

Marine Safety Alert 01-23, published by USCG, addresses the issue and provides recommendations to vessels, ports, shippers and regulators. The safety alert comes just a few months after Hurricane Ian made landfall in South Florida. In the aftermath of the intense and destructive storm, first responders encountered numerous EV fires where investigations have subsequently determined were caused by exposure of the lithium-ion batteries to saltwater. Continue reading “USCG: Avoid loading EV’s onto ships with damaged lithium-ion batteries”

GOS makes recommendations for USCG to lessen fishing vessel fatalities

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Deck of a fishing vessel, covered in fish
Image for illustrative purposes only

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has identified several actions that the US Coast Guard (USCG) needs to take to help prevent future fishing vessel losses and related fatalities and has made six key recommendations. According to GAO, USCG hasn’t fully implemented 17 of 22 statutory requirements to improve commercial fishing vessel safety and the USCG needs to lessen fishing vessel fatalities.

For example, USCG hasn’t developed a training program for commercial fishers or re-established an advisory committee on industry safety issues. In addition, USCG doesn’t have a detailed plan to guide their efforts to fully implement the outstanding statutory requirements. Continue reading “GOS makes recommendations for USCG to lessen fishing vessel fatalities”

Electrical component failure causes flame discharge

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Ship on the water - Photo credit: ATSB
Photo credit: ATSB

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has published its investigation report on the liquified hydrogen (LH2) carrier Suiso Frontier. According to the report, the failure of an incorrectly-fitted electrical solenoid valve led to the brief propagation of flame.

While berthed on the evening of 25 January 2022, the chief mate and cargo engineer made plans to start the ship’s gas combustion unit or GCU (see the section titled Gas combustion unit and Figure 1) to burn excess boil-off gas (BOG) from the LH2 cargo tank. 2 They notified the wharf operator and followed standard Continue reading “Electrical component failure causes flame discharge”

Condemned fire extinguisher must be discarded

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Fire Extinguisher - Image shown is for illustrative purposes only
Image shown is for illustrative purposes only

The Nautical Institute has shared some lessons learned from an incident that involved a corroded fire extinguisher, which had been condemned and subsequently its malfunction proved fatal and the overall message that condemned fire extinguisher must be discarded.

A handheld cartridge-type dry chemical powder fire extinguisher was condemned during an annual third-party inspection due to corrosion. It was subsequently discharged, essentially for demonstration purposes. When the internal carbon dioxide cartridge was activated to pressurise the fire extinguisher, the unit ruptured at the base. The person activating the extinguisher was struck in the head by pieces of flying metal which proved to be fatal. Continue reading “Condemned fire extinguisher must be discarded”

AMSA published its Compliance Strategy 2023/27

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AMSA Compliance Strategy 2023-7The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has published its Compliance Strategy 2023/27. It builds on the modern regulatory foundations laid out in its predecessor and sets out six key elements. It is a data-driven, risk-based and proportionate approach to compliance that minimises impact on industry while maximising safety and environmental outcomes.

On a practical level, the strategy is implemented through AMSA’s annual National Compliance Plans which detail specific inspection and education focus areas for a given 12-month period. AMSA Executive Director of Operations, Michael Drake, Continue reading “AMSA published its Compliance Strategy 2023/27”

Safety alert issued after flare explosion fatality

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Prop flares - Image for illustrative purposes only
Image for illustrative purposes only

The Dutch Safety Board has published an urgent Safety Alert following a recent flare explosion fatality. The incident happened on board a Dutch sailing ship in the Pacific Ocean.

Complying with the flare’s requirements and instructions, the experienced sailor fired the flare. The flare did not launch as intended, but exploded immediately leading to the flare explosion fatality. Continue reading “Safety alert issued after flare explosion fatality”

Unrivalled hands-on demo opportunities at Ocean Business 2023

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Model boat demonstration at Ocean BusinessWith less than three months until Ocean Business 2023, more details have been revealed about the Training and Demonstration programme, one of the main attractions of the global technology and science exhibition for marine industries. This year’s Training and Demonstration programme marks a year of exciting progress and development in the ocean environment.

The three-day show, which runs from April 18-20 at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, is open to all visitors for free by registering online. Continue reading “Unrivalled hands-on demo opportunities at Ocean Business 2023”

Smooth Sea 22 was not the ship it claimed to be

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Smooth Sea 22 fire aftermathWhen Thai-flagged oil products tanker Smooth Sea 22 (IMO 9870991) suffered an explosion and a subsequent fire on 17th January, few realised that the event would expose a case of potential ship-identity fraud.

On January 24th the International Maritime Organization was reported to have declared the ship’s IMO number to be non-valid after it emerged that the ship that was masquerading as 2018-built ship was in fact built in 1986 and was suspected of previously being known as the 4,4821 gt Hai Zhou 168 (IMO 8514045), and before that as the Smooth Sea 28. Continue reading “Smooth Sea 22 was not the ship it claimed to be”

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