News

Physical damage caused to cargo due to poor packaging

Container ship
Container ship

Britannia P&I Club has reported a recent case where a cargo of pressure boiler parts was physically damaged during transportation in moderately heavy weather en route from Hong Kong to Houston, supposedly due to poor packaging.

The ship encountered high seas and winds of Beaufort scale 9. The master had adjusted speed and course so as to minimise rolling and pitching but despite his actions, inspections carried out by the master in the cargo holds revealed the cargo stowed in hold no. 2 had been damaged.

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Hempel launches two new epoxy primers

Container ship
Container ship

Denmark-headquartered coatings specialist Hempel is introducing two new coatings; Hempadur Quattro XO 17820 and 17870.

They are being introduced to increase the service life and reduce on-station maintenance requirements of offshore assets. The new high-performance pure epoxy uni-primers presented are claimed to combine excellent corrosion protection with construction flexibility.

Hempadur Quattro XO 17820 / 17870 are part of a series of two-component epoxy primer coatings which provide advanced crack resistance using Hempel’s patented fibre technology. They can be applied in immersed and non-immersed areas of any offshore asset, from offshore platforms and drilling rigs through to support vessels.

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First changes to MLC 2006 since it was adopted come into force

Logo of the Maritime Labour Convention MLC 2006
Logo of the Maritime Labour Convention MLC 2006

The first amendments made to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), which ensure better protection to seafarers has entered into force on 18 January 2017. The amendments were originally approved by the International Labour Conference in 2014 prior to implementation.

The 2014 amendments require that a financial security system be put in place to ensure that shipowners ensure compensation to seafarers and their families in the event of abandonment, death or long-term disability due to an occupational injury, illness or hazard. Mandatory certificates and other evidence will be required to be carried on board ships to establish that the financial security system is in place to protect the seafarers working on board.

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DNVGL issues bulletin following propeller shaft bearing damage

A sharp rise in propeller shaft bearing damage has been noted by DNV GL. Photo credit: DNV GL
A sharp rise in propeller shaft bearing damage has been noted by DNV GL. Photo credit: DNV GL

DNV GL has noticed an increase in the number of reported incidents involving aft propeller shaft bearing damage. With this in mind, they have issued technical advice with their opinion on the contributing factors to this damage. Much of the damage in the reported cases has developed within a short period of time, typically a few minutes to an hour.

Typical damages observed and their consequences
The observed trend is not specific to a vessel type – rather, it reflects operation of the affected vessels in areas with limitations on the draft of the vessel or loading conditions, without suitable precautionary measures to limit the RPM/power of the engine.

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Steps to be taken when bringing laid up vessel back into service

laid up vessels
laid up vessels

The Shipowners P&I Club has a survey requirement when it comes to laid up vessel, which is deemed to be key, especially if a vessel has been decommissioned for many months.

Of course the extent of re-commissioning work depends on whether the laid up vessel was under hot or cold layup, the length of time the vessel was laid up and the extent of maintenance carried out during the laid up period. So there are many steps to be considered when preparing to re-commission the vessel after a layup. The following is a non-exhaustive guide for layup reactivations.

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AMSA to develop new safety standards for shipping liquid hydrogen

A Liquified Hydrogen Flammable Gas holding container
Photo credits: NASA/Kim Shiflett

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Australia and Japan at the headquarters of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in Canberra which will allow liquid hydrogen to be shipped in bulk for the first time.

Ship containment systems are being developed in Japan that will be capable of safely transporting liquid hydrogen in bulk from Australia to Japan as part of a pilot project scheduled to commence in 2020.

Bulk gas cargoes are carried under the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) which is a mandatory code under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention.

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MAIB report into fatality onboard Johanna C during cargo operations

Photograph of the vessel Johanna C taken by Marc Piché, shipspotting.com
Photograph of the vessel Johanna C taken by Marc Piché, shipspotting.com

On 11 May 2016, the chief officer on board the UK registered general cargo ship Johanna C fell from a large steel cargo unit that was being repositioned in the vessel’s forward hold. The chief officer was moved ashore and taken to a local hospital by ambulance, but he died shortly after arrival.

The investigation identified that:
• It was inherently unsafe and unnecessary for the chief officer to stand on top of the cargo while it was being lifted; the risks of standing on a load under tension were not recognised.
• The chief officer lost his balance and fell onto the deck following the sudden and unexpected movement of the cargo and/or its lifting slings as the cargo was lifted.
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DMAIB releases its report into the sinking of the Inuk II highlighting deficiencies

The factors leading to the sinking of Inuk II in Greenland have been released in a report by the DMAIB
The factors leading to the sinking of Inuk II in Greenland have been released in a report by the DMAIB

On August 14, 2016, the tour boat, Inuk II, sank in the bay of Ilulissat, Greenland. The 23 passengers were safely evacuated, wet and cold, onto another tour boat. However, the accident highlighted issues with the design and emergency procedures of such vessels.

The accident investigation conducted by the Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board determined that the incident occurred because a hose connecting the aft deck drain to the discharge pipe was removed and then not mounted again. On the day of the accident, Inuk II was transporting the maximum number of passengers which increased the draught to such an extent that the hull discharge pipe was submerged. Inuk II gradually lost all buoyancy as water flowed into the steering gear/storage compartment and subsequently into the engine room.

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VEKA Group set to build the world’s first hybrid trimaran for transporting personnel offshore

VEKA Group set to build the world's first hybrid trimaran workboat
VEKA Group set to build the world’s first hybrid trimaran workboat

Workers on drilling rigs and offshore wind farms can hopefully look forward to a more pleasant commute to work with considerably lower risk of seasickness thanks to a special, innovative ship built by VEKA Group. VEKA will be building two trimarans intended specifically for transporting personnel and freight to offshore wind farms. These are the first hybrid trimarans in the world. Transporting offshore personnel takes place mainly by catamaran. These will be VEKA’s first trimarans.

Most of the innovations are intended to make the so-called workboat more stable and more comfortable, thereby reducing the risk of seasickness. For example, the ships have lower windows than is customary, so that the passengers have a better view. The third bow is designed to ensure additional stability and comfort. There are also innovative stabilisers built into the hull.

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The Amercian P&I Club publishes a book to mark its centenary

The American P&I Club celebrates its centenary in February 2017
The American P&I Club celebrates its centenary in February 2017

The American P&I Club was founded in New York nearly a century ago in February 1917. To celebrate its first 100 years, a book entitled The American Club: A Centennial History has just been published. The book tells the story of the Club across ten decades of maritime and marine insurance history both within the United States and across the world. The book, authored by Richard Blodgett, a former Wall Street Journal reporter.

When the American P&I Cub was formed war was raging in Europe. At that time, P&I insurance was offered primarily from clubs in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. In consequence of UK government trade-related sanctions which had been imposed on certain US shipowners in 1916, the American P&I Club was established to provide a reliable source of coverage in the United States.

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Fully automated electric ferries for Norway

Picture of the yacht Fjord 1
Picture of the yacht Fjord 1

From January 2018, Fjord1 will be operating the two new electric ferries on the 2.4 km route between Anda and Lote on the west coast of Norway and this will be the first ferry connection in Norway where the Road Administration requires the use of zero-emission technology.

Although the Road Administration has allowed for partly hybrid operation, using biodiesel or biogas on the ferries, Fjord1 decided on using fully electric operation of the new ferries. Charging of batteries will be done through fully automatic charging stations at the quayside and battery capacity will be adequate to continue operations for several hours without charging.

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Fully electric propulsion on a passenger ship becomes possible

Picture of a generic cruise ship
Picture of a generic cruise ship

The Norwegian explorer cruise line, Hurtigruten, is to build its two new expedition ships using a new and environmentally sustainable hybrid, electric propulsion technology from Rolls-Royce. The MS «Roald Amundsen» and MS «Fridtjof Nansen» are about to be constructed at Kleven Yard in Norway.

In addition to the hybrid power solution, the vessels will have the latest of automation and control systems, including the Rolls-Royce Unified bridge, the first delivery of two azipull propellers using permanent magnet technology, two large tunnel thrusters, stabilisers, four engines, winches and power electric systems. And of course the Rolls-Royce ship design.

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