The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) in collaboration with Lloyd’s Register Foundation has launched the first-ever Global Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Systems Review in order to understand, evaluate and help strengthen maritime SAR systems worldwide.
This strategic review will assess the current effectiveness of SAR capabilities at local, national and international levels, as well as identify Continue reading “IMRF and Lloyd’s Register Foundation to review SAR systems”
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a alert on fire detection systems on towing vessels that are not type-approved by the Coast Guard but are instead certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).
According to the USCG, even though fire detection systems may be accompanied by Continue reading “USCG issues alert on fire detection systems on towing vessels”
As the offshore wind sector across the world witnesses growth, there is a rise in safety concerns for personnel and vessels involved. Last week, the G+ Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organization released its 2024 incident report, revealing rising safety risks in the offshore wind industry.
The data contained in the report is compiled from G+ member companies, comprising lead operators and owners of offshore wind farms Continue reading “Safety risks highlighted in the rising offshore wind industry”
West P&I Club has published a loss prevention bulletin addressing the issue of cargo contamination claims and highlights best practices on sampling procedures.
According to West, cargo contamination claims are a major risk for tanker operators, often resulting in expensive disputes. Properly taken, sealed, and stored samples are essential to prove cargo quality at the time of loading. As tanker cargoes are loaded through closed systems, pre-loading inspection is not possible. Samples are the shipowner’s main defence in off-spec claims as they provide critical evidence to identify when and where contamination occurred, reducing claim costs and response time and are crucial to sampling procedures. Continue reading “Best practices and insights on sampling procedures”
The industry bodies of the Cargo Integrity Group expand on their concerns relating to cargoes that can catch fire and cause significant damage and casualties under certain conditions. Circumstances created by an alignment of mistakes, oversights, or failed controls can turn a minor incident into a major event.
Following its identification of ‘cargoes of concern’, the Cargo Integrity Group (the Group) now focuses on the issues that may commonly compromise safety by initiating or proliferating fire under certain conditions. Continue reading “Hidden dangers of fire initiating cargoes explained”
In the vast expanses of the world’s oceans, a silent yet pervasive threat is taking shape: plastic nurdles. These tiny, pre-production plastic pellets, measuring between 2 to 5 millimeters in diameter, are fundamental to the plastics industry, serving as the building blocks for a myriad of plastic products. However, their small size belies the significant environmental and potential health hazards they pose. Continue reading “It’s time for shipping to properly regulate plastic nurdles”
The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission has warned against deferred ship maintenance after a ship lost control containership Shiling lost control at Wellington Harbour on 15 April 2023.
What happened
On 15 April 2023, the container ship Shiling was under pilotage outbound from the port of Wellington and had just initiated a turn into the Wellington Harbour entrance channel when it suffered a blackout that caused the main engine to stop. Continue reading “TAIC warns against deferring ship maintenance after Shiling accident”
A landmark new report The Value of Shipping 2025 from the UK Chamber of Shipping reveals the powerful economic, social, and environmental contributions of the shipping industry to the UK.
The Value of Shipping 2025 report shows that:
– The UK shipping industry employs over 98,000 people directly and supports over 728,000 jobs across the wider economy. Continue reading “The Value of Shipping 2025: the industry’s vital role in powering global trade”
Demand for advanced propeller retrofits and energy saving devices (ESDs) has nearly quadrupled since 2020 as shipping owners and operators look to enhance energy efficiency to meet tightening emissions regulations. However, according to a new Lloyd’s Register (LR) report: Energy saving devices retrofit report: Applying advanced propeller designs to ships, while high-efficiency propellers can deliver fuel savings of between 3-10%, and popular devices such as rudder bulbs can achieve 3.5% reductions, only 1.74% of the global fleet currently features the rudder bulb, the most popular device, from newbuild. Continue reading “LR: Propeller retrofits surge but adoption remains limited”
According to DNV’s latest report, Maritime Safety Trends 2014-2024 – Preparing for future risks, the number of maritime safety incidents increased by 42% between 2018 and 2024, while during the same period the global fleet grew by just 10%. Driven mainly by an ageing fleet and machine damage/failure, the findings highlight the risks connected with operating older ships, often more prone to faults, groundings, and fire-related incidents. Continue reading “DNV on increasing maritime safety incidents and ageing fleet”
The report Maritime Electrification: Maritime Battery Systems and Onshore Power Supply, published by Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore in May 2025, takes a critical look at the regulatory framework for shipboard energy storage systems (ESS) and onshore power supply (OPS) solutions. At a time when lithium-ion batteries are becoming central to the electrification of the world fleet, the document points to standards that are still fragmented, often optional, and insufficiently binding. This gap could compromise crew safety and slow down the adoption of these technologies. Continue reading “Marine battery systems: are current standards enough?”
The system for responding to incidents in the North Sea needs to be put in order as soon as possible. That will require improved communication and information sharing between the Coastguard Centre and its cooperating organisations on shore. This is the conclusion of the Dutch Safety Board in its investigation of the emergency response to the fire that broke out on board the car carrier Fremantle Highway during the night of 25 to 26 July 2023. Continue reading “Investigation report released on Fremantle Highway disaster”
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