The Liberian Administration has released guidance on how to comply with the recent focused trend of inspection of machinery spaces by various Port State Control (PSC) regimes to help with PSC firefighting.
There has been an increased focus on the proper operation of PSC firefighting equipment and cleanliness of machinery spaces. Specifically, the following items are consistently noted by Port State Control Officers: Continue reading “Guidance on PSC firefighting and clean machinery spaces”
With growing container ship capacity and threat of cargo losses at sea coinciding, ClassNK has recently published two sets of guidelines to help improve cargo safety at sea.
The recent increase in container ship capacity – a response to the growing demand for freight container transport – has coincided with a sharp increase in the number of containers lost overboard, including some notable examples of stack collapse. While rising stack heights have surely contributed to this trend, other influential factors include wave height and size, the ship’s vertical centre of gravity (CoG), the CoG of the container stack and variability in stowage, and cargo securing equipment. Continue reading “Threat of cargo losses at sea: Fresh guidelines”
The American Bureau of Shipping has published the January 2024 Edition of Guide for Performance Standards for Corrosion Protection.
Corrosion protection requirements are specified in SOLAS Chapter II-1/3-2 for protective coatings of dedicated seawater ballast tanks in all types of ships and protective coatings of double-side skin spaces of bulk carriers, and in SOLAS Chapter II-1/3-11 for protective coatings or corrosion resistance materials of cargo oil tanks of crude oil tankers.
SOLAS Chapter II-1/3-11 specifies additional corrosion protection requirements for the cargo oil tanks of crude oil tankers contracted on or after 1 January 2013. Continue reading “ABS publishes the January 2024 Edition of Guide for Performance Standards for Corrosion Protection”
The UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce report is introduced by Dr Paul Little CBE, Chair of the UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce.
As a seasoned mariner and career academic, and one who strongly advocates for both technological and professional education and higher skills, I was honoured to be appointed as Chair of the UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce.
Now, one year on, as the Taskforce enters its third phase, I am delighted to present our collective UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce Report. Continue reading “UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce report published”
Managers of the two vessels involved in a fatal crew transfer ladder accident off Brisbane, Australia, had not ensured personnel had a common and complete understanding of how the transfer would be conducted, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has concluded.
On 9 August 2021, crew were being transferred to and from the bulk carrier Formosabulk Clement via the launch boat PT Transporter in the Port of Brisbane anchorage, about five nautical miles off the coast.
The operation involved multiple visits from PT Transporter to transfer crew on and off the anchored bulk carrier. Continue reading “Fatal pilot ladder accident has enduring lessons is report finding”
On 7 June 2023, a passenger on a sea safari rigid inflatable boat (RIB) suffered a spinal injury that left them paralysed from the waist downwards. Twelve passengers had boarded the RIB and, once it was clear of the jetty, the two crew gave them a safety briefing and instruction on the wearing of lifejackets. The RIB then proceeded out to sea and was increasing speed in choppy sea conditions when it encountered a steep-sided wave. The boat fell off the wave and slammed violently into the trough, dislodging the passenger from a seat at the forward end of the boat. Continue reading “Safety warning issued by MAIB after serious injury during a sea safari ride”
A new initiative was rolled out and launched in September by Chubb. A new Lloyd’s of London consortium has been created (which Chubb will lead) that is designed to provide insurance coverage for risks associated with the transit and storage of lithium battery.
The consortium was created to address a lack of capacity in the marine cargo market for providing lithium battery transit and stock insurance. It provides a one-stop solution with limits up to $50 million for risk types associated with lithium batteries including transit, stock throughput, standalone stock and warehouse legal liability, and will include excess stock and part orders. Continue reading “Chubb launches Lloyd’s consortium to address lithium battery risk”
On Saturday 16th September 2023, I had the absolute pleasure to attend the one day conference at Hotel Agrabad, Chittagong, Bangladesh, as Guest of Honour, to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Marine Surveyors Association of Bangladesh (MSAB). An audience of more than 100 delegates from the marine surveying profession and wider local shipping industry had assembled to take part in the event. The conference was also broadcast live via Facebook. Continue reading “Marine Surveyors Association of Bangladesh celebrating thirty years”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued an investigation report into the capsizing and sinking of crane barge Ambition that was towed by Karen Koby due to a lack of hull inspection and maintenance.
On 15 June 2022, about 0400 local time, the vessel Karen Koby was towing the crane barge Ambition when the barge capsized and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, about 48 miles southeast of Cameron, Louisiana. There were no persons on the barge, and none of the Karen Koby’s four crew were injured. The Ambition was partly submerged in about 54 feet of water, where it was later salvaged. The sunken barge released an estimated 1,980 gallons of oil. The Ambition and its crane were determined to be a total loss, with damages estimated at $6.3 million. Continue reading “Hull inspection and maintenance insufficiency led to sinking find NTSB”
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its investigation report into the collision between the general cargo vessel Scot Carrier and the split hopper barge Karin Høj.
The collision resulted in the capsize of the barge with two fatalities in the Bornholmsgat traffic separation scheme. On 13 December 2021, the UK registered general cargo ship Scot Carrier and the Denmark registered split hopper barge Karin Høj collided in the precautionary area adjacent to the Bornholmsgat traffic separation scheme, Sweden. As a result of the collision, Karin Høj capsized and its two crew lost their lives. Continue reading “Collision between Scot Carrier and Karin Høj investigation report”
Gard P&I Club Gard P&I Club has highlighted the importance of sampling liquid cargoes properly to protect shipowners’ interests to protect shipowners’ interests, particularly when allegations of cargo contamination arise.
Cameron Livingstone, Claims Executive, Arendal and Robert Skaare, Senior Claims Adviser, Arendal have highlighted that if a cargo is found to be “off-spec” when the vessel arrives at the discharge port, and there is no evidence of contamination from the load port, the vessel could be faced with a potentially large claim even if the vessel is not at fault. Continue reading “Sampling liquid cargoes properly is vital advises Gard”
Devastating consequences of rapidly spreading, and often challenging to extinguish fires involving the lithium-ion batteries particularly in electric vehicles (EV) on board ships, and other parts of the supply chain have been well-documented in recent months. There is however far less awareness of the highly toxic combustion products that are released and their respective impact to the health and wellbeing of those exposed to the gases.
Based on the evidence of past fires the time between the initiation of a failed battery igniting to a discharge of toxic vapour can be measured in seconds rather than minutes. This is due to a process known as thermal runaway. Continue reading “Fire not the only danger with lithium-ion batteries”
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