News

Corroded pipe led to oil spill

Posted on by News Hound

In its latest safety bulletin The Swedish Club has highlighted and analysed an incident involving a corroded pipe that caused an oil spill.

The 15 year-old bulk carrier was in dry dock completing its third special survey. As usual there were also many other maintenance tasks being carried out at the same time, including the replacement of a section of a de-aeration pipe in the cargo hold. The Chief Officer had discovered during a cargo hold inspection a month earlier that the de-aeration pipe appeared to be corroded. This pipe led from the sea chest, passing through the cargo hold, then through a heavy fuel oil (HFO) tank and finally out through the vessel’s shell plate. Continue reading “Corroded pipe led to oil spill”

AMSA provides Information on biofouling and in-water cleaning requirements

Posted on by News Hound
Image credit: AMSA
Image credit: AMSA

In a recent Marine Notice published by AMSA, the agency has given general information to vessel owners, operators, ports and marinas on the Australian biofouling management requirements, the Anti-fouling and in-water cleaning guidelines, the Australian in-water cleaning standards, and the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2011 Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species (the Biofouling Guidelines).

New requirements for managing biofouling on international vessels arriving in Australia began on 15 June 2022. Continue reading “AMSA provides Information on biofouling and in-water cleaning requirements”

Repeated removal and reinstallation of furnace’s burner causes engine room fire

Posted on by News Hound
Photo credit USCG
Photo credit USCG

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its accident report about an engine room fire on the Roger Blough during the dry bulk carrier’s winter layup at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding facility at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

The Roger Blough had a fixed carbon dioxide (CO2) fire-extinguishing system to suppress fires in the engine room; the system was disconnected during winter layup due to the risk of an accidental discharge with workers in the space. Six portable B-II fire extinguishers and one semiportable CO2 fire extinguisher were also in the engine room. Continue reading “Repeated removal and reinstallation of furnace’s burner causes engine room fire”

Further action required following the Conception fire lessons

Posted on by News Hound
Conception. Image credit SeaWayBoats
Conception. Image credit SeaWayBoats

Three years after the fire onboard the Conception dive boat in the US, more progress is needed on the safety recommendations the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued as a result of the investigation.

The Conception was anchored in Platts Harbor, off Santa Cruz Island, California, when it caught fire in the early morning of Sept. 2, 2019. The vessel burned to the waterline and sank less than 100 feet from shore. Tragically, the 34 people asleep below deck were trapped in the bunk room: 33 passengers and one crew member lost their lives. Continue reading “Further action required following the Conception fire lessons”

Lithium-ion batteries: Fire risks and loss prevention measures in shipping

Posted on by News Hound
Allianz have released a bulletin outlining fire risks and providing loss prevention measures while transporting lithium-ion batteries.
Allianz have released a bulletin outlining fire risks and providing loss prevention measures while transporting lithium-ion batteries.

Given the many difficulties in suppressing battery fires, particularly at sea, focusing on loss prevention measures is crucial, whether batteries are transported within EVs or as standalone cargo, according to a new risk bulletin published from marine insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).

Captain Rahul Khanna, Global Head of Marine Risk Consulting at AGCS, said, “Shipping losses may have more than halved over the past decade but fires on board vessels remain among the biggest safety issues for the industry. The potential dangers that the transportation of lithium-ion batteries pose if they are not stored or handled correctly only add to these concerns, and we have already seen a number of incidents.” Continue reading “Lithium-ion batteries: Fire risks and loss prevention measures in shipping”

New policy for assessment and certification of novel vessels issued by AMSA

Posted on by News Hound
New policy for assessment and certification of novel vessels issued by AMSA
New policy for assessment and certification of novel vessels issued by AMSA

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has set out a new policy statement for the assessment and certification of what it terms ‘novel’ vessels. If operators are planning to build or buy a vessel within one of the vessel types set out in the policy, they should contact AMSA for advice on whether it is considered novel and the best certification pathway for the vessel.

Vessel types AMSA consider to be ‘novel’:

– Submarines
– Passenger-carrying submersibles
– Dynamically supported vessels (including fully foil-born, and vessels that are partially foil supported)
– Wing-in-ground effect (WIG) vessels Continue reading “New policy for assessment and certification of novel vessels issued by AMSA”

Advice on safe operation when carrying mineral cargoes

Posted on by News Hound

This cargo advice has been prepared by The Swedish Club in collaboration with Burgoynes – David Robbins (UK), Darren Holling (Singapore) and Jim Mercurio (Dubai). The advice relates to cargo advice on carrying mineral cargoes, including sodium metabisulphite.

According to Swedish Club, a number of serious incidents have occurred in recent months involving mineral compounds (i.e. inorganic chemicals) in bags carried as general cargo. Continue reading “Advice on safe operation when carrying mineral cargoes”

AMSA to increase focus on planned maintenance as part of PSC inspections

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA to increase focus on planned maintenance as part of PSC inspections
AMSA to increase focus on planned maintenance as part of PSC inspections

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is highlighting to vessel operators the importance of planned maintenance in ensuring safe operation of ships, and says it will increase its focus on planned maintenance during Port State Control (PSC) inspections.

Recent incidents have demonstrated the potentially serious consequences of a lack of effective maintenance of main engines and power generation systems that can pose serious risks to the safe and pollution-free operation of vessels. Continue reading “AMSA to increase focus on planned maintenance as part of PSC inspections”

Marine surveyor handed a jail sentence over bunker theft scheme

Posted on by News Hound
Image used for illustrative purposes only. Image credit: Port of Zeebrugge
Image used for illustrative purposes only. Image credit: Port of Zeebrugge

An Indian marine surveyor has been sentenced to more than three months in jail for his role in a long-running bunker theft ring in Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub. Kumunan Rethana Kumaran, 40, was one of 12 surveyors charged with taking bribes from former Shell Bukom employees who ran an illegal scheme to siphon off fuel oil from Shell’s physical bunker operations in Singapore.

The surveyors were third-party contractors, hired by Shell to inspect vessels during legitimate bunker deliveries. They allegedly took bribes to look the other way and falsify the amount of the delivery as the conspirators loaded more than the contracted amount aboard the Continue reading “Marine surveyor handed a jail sentence over bunker theft scheme”

Marine Casualty Investigation Board call for applications for appointment as an Expert Marine Consultant

Posted on by News Hound

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) of Ireland invites applications from suitably qualified marine consultants to enhance the technical skills within the MCIB Secretariat, support investigations and investigators, and provide technical advice to the Board as required.

As an Expert Marine Consultant to the Board, you will be required to:

• Provide expert technical advice to the Board on a broad range of diverse Marine Casualties.
• Co-ordinate a panel of investigators ensuring that marine casualties are investigated in accordance with the relevant legislation. Continue reading “Marine Casualty Investigation Board call for applications for appointment as an Expert Marine Consultant”

MCA consultation on requirements for fixed aerosol fire extinguishing systems in small vessel machinery spaces

Posted on by News Hound

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has opened a public consultation seeking views and opinions for MGN 657 (M+F) Requirements for Aerosol Fixed Fire Suppression Systems for use in Small Vessel Machinery. The draft MGN publishes the test requirements for future approvals of these systems and requires that tests are witnessed by an Approved Body appointed by the MCA. Continue reading “MCA consultation on requirements for fixed aerosol fire extinguishing systems in small vessel machinery spaces”

CO2 system left non-operational after servicing

Posted on by News Hound

The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) has issued a safety alert and shared some lessons resulting from an incident where the safety pins of the fixed CO2 system flexible hoses had not been removed and were still in place. An MSF member vessel had undergone a firefighting equipment survey. All equipment was fully inspected and any faults or discrepancies were rectified. The fixed CO2 system flexible hoses were renewed as the system had reached its 10 years of service life.

To allow the survey to be conducted in a safe manner the safety pins had been Continue reading “CO2 system left non-operational after servicing”

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