Four years after the fire aboard the Conception dive boat claimed 34 lives, the National Transportation Safety Board renewed its call for the US Coast Guard to require safety management systems (SMS) policy for passenger vessels.
The recommendation for the SMS policy, which the NTSB reissued following its investigation of 2 September 2019 into the fire aboard the Conception, remains open. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy sent a letter to the Coast Guard Commandant emphasizing the need to issue the regulations within 30 days. Continue reading “NTSB renews call for passenger vessels to need an SMS policy”
There are growing concerns within the shipping community, including marine underwriters, about fires breaking out on car carriers and ro-ros with the assertion that many of these fires are attributable to electric vehicles. In response, the International Union of Marine Insurance (
A commercial yacht manning advisory has been issued by the Maltese Merchant Shipping Directorate (MMSD) to remind all yacht owners about manning responsibilities.
Bananas, though said to be the world’s most transported and consumed fruit, are also among the most sensitive cargoes that can be carried on a ship according to Skuld. Before a banana ends up on the shelves it has been exposed to numerous external factors which all have a bearing on how the fruit is finally presented.
In a bid to bolster the safety of maritime transportation of electric vehicles (EV) at a time of major concern for the shipping industry, ClassNK has unveiled a set of new guidelines guidelines on the safe transportation of electric vehicles.
This overview of cargo claims has been provided by The Swedish Club. The Swedish Club has released a detailed analysis of grains and soya beans cargo claims review having reviewed 200 bulk carrier claims. To be included in the statistics the claims had to have generated a cost of at least $5,000 and have been made between 2018 and 2022.
At 0918 on 4 August 2020, the liquefied petroleum gas/ethylene carrier Moritz Schulte suffered an engine room fire while discharging a cargo of ethylene alongside the port of Antwerp, Belgium. The newly promoted third engineer, who was working on an auxiliary engine fuel filter, had not effectively isolated the fuel system and both he and an adjacent auxiliary engine’s hot exhaust were sprayed with fuel under pressure. The fuel spray penetrated the exhaust insulation and ignited.
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has issued a Marine Guidance Note (MGN) amending the guidance on the safe carriage of electric vehicles on board passenger ferries. The MGN was released on 7 August 2023.
The Sub-Committee on the Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) 9th session took place 31 July to 04 August 2023 where, among other things, the draft amendments to the Procedures for Port State Control were finalised.
Allianz has highlighted that battery fires on vessels remain one of the biggest safety issues facing the shipping industry. There have been a number of serious fire incidents in recent years where Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have been reported as the source of, or contributing to fires on vessels. Allianz experts Capt. Rahul Khanna, Captain Randy Lund and Captain Anastasios Leonburg, share their thoughts on how electric vessels may impact safety onboard.