Operators with LPG systems must be aware of appliances listed

Operators with LPG systems must be aware of appliances listed. A gas burner switched on
Operators with LPG systems must be aware of appliances listed. A gas burner switched on

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has released details of an investigation into an incident where the owner and their son were seriously injured in an explosion in the galley of their houseboat due to the LPG systems stove ignitor igniting a gas leak.

On 30 June 2021, a class 4E domestic commercial vessel houseboat used for recreational purposes was at anchor in the backchannel of a Northern NSW river. The owner and their son were onboard and the owner was preparing dinner in the galley at the starboard aft end of the main cabin.

The owner attempted to light a gas-powered stove by a piezo ignition switch when a blast explosion took place causing catastrophic Continue reading “Operators with LPG systems must be aware of appliances listed”

Fire on a motor cruiser exposes possible shortcomings in Irish pleasure craft legislation

Possible shortcomings in Irish pleasure craft legislation exposed by fire
Possible shortcomings in Irish pleasure craft legislation exposed by fire

An investigation by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) into a fire onboard a motor cruiser on the River Shannon in Ireland has exposed possible shortcomings in Irish legislation governing the safety of pleasure craft.

On 6 September 2020, four people set out in X4, a Linssen Grand Sturdy 35.0 motor cruiser rented from boat hire service, Carrickcraft. After around 45 minutes a fire broke out in the engine compartment. The passengers, who had been given training in emergency responses, donned lifejackets and telephoned the Carrickcraft base, from which an emergency crew was immediately dispatched. Gardaí Continue reading “Fire on a motor cruiser exposes possible shortcomings in Irish pleasure craft legislation”

Lack of risk assessment contributes to sinking of FV Aztec

FV Aztec
FV Aztec

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board of Ireland (MCIB) has published its report on the sinking of FV Aztec, which took place off Duncannon on 11 January 2021.

The FV Aztec sailed from Duncannon Pier, Co. Wexford to fish sprat in Waterford Estuary alongside its paired trawler the “FV Western Dawn”. There was no risk assessment or method statement for this type of fishing arrangement included in the vessel’s safety statement.

The FV Aztec shot its net first and hauled fish at 09.30 hrs. These fish were stowed in pounds in the fish hold divided by boards. It was Continue reading “Lack of risk assessment contributes to sinking of FV Aztec”

New one-shot publication from IIMS: 2021 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium

IIMS 2021 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium
IIMS 2021 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium

The International Institute of Marine Surveying has published a special new one-shot, 100-page publication, entitled the IIMS 2021 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium.

Download the compendium: 2021 Safety Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium

The broad aim of this compendium is to showcase incident and accident reports, and loss prevention measures/guidance that were issued in 2021, all easily accessible in one pdf document. Much of the content is distressing and covers carnage, destruction and sadly deaths. This new publication is an essential reference resource for any marine surveyor’s online library as well as those whose work touches the surveying profession and for the wider maritime world. The many links in the publication are clickable, meaning readers can easily access more details about an item of particular interest.

Introductions by Yves Vandenborn, Director of Loss Prevention at Standard P&I Club and Geoff Waddington, IIMS President, add informative and valuable context to the publication. Continue reading “New one-shot publication from IIMS: 2021 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium”

Fatality on lifeboat caused by damaged release cable

Damaged release cable - Photo credit: DNV
Photo credit: DNV

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued its report from its investigation into a fatality on lifeboat on Shell’s Auger tension leg platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in 2019.

The incident took place during a routine lifeboat launch and retrieval drill on June 30, 2019. Two people inside the lifeboat were killed when it fell 80 feet, landing upside down in the water. Another person, who was exiting the lifeboat when it released, was seriously injured.

According to the report, the aft hook on the Auger platform’s Lifeboat No. 6 inadvertently opened as the lifeboat was being winched into the davit following the drill. “The lifeboat, still hanging from the forward hook, swung in a pendulum motion away from the facility. A few Continue reading “Fatality on lifeboat caused by damaged release cable”

EMSA 2021 report notes 466 less casualties in 2020

EMSA Annual overview of marine casualties and incidents 2021
EMSA Annual overview of marine casualties and incidents 2021

The European Marine Safety Agency (EMSA) has published its 2021 Annual Overview of Marine Casualties and Incidents consisting of analysis of marine casualties or incidents accidents reported until 31 December 2020 by the EU Member States in the European electronic database (EMCIP).

2020 was a positive year considering the decrease or stabilisation of most of the indicators, such as the number of occurrences, ships lost, fatalities or injuries. However, consequences of COVID pandemic are very likely to have affected the area of marine casualties and incidents, taking into consideration its significant impact on shipping in 2020: reduced traffic in general, cruise ships and ferries activities heavily disrupted, etc. Continue reading “EMSA 2021 report notes 466 less casualties in 2020”

Failure to properly disconnect vehicle batteries led to fire

Improperly disconnected vehicle batteries led to fire, report finds
Improperly disconnected vehicle batteries led to fire, report finds

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published its report on the vehicle batteries fire aboard vehicle carrier Höegh Xiamen that resulted in $40 million worth of damage.

On June 4, 2020, about 1530 eastern daylight time, the crew of the 600-foot-long, Norwegian-flagged roll on/roll-off vehicle carrier Höegh Xiamen were preparing to depart the Blount Island Horizon Terminal in Jacksonville, Florida, en route to Baltimore, Maryland, when they saw smoke coming from a ventilation housing for one of the exhaust trunks that ran from deck 12 (the weather deck) to one of the cargo decks. Continue reading “Failure to properly disconnect vehicle batteries led to fire”

Report reveals diesel generator engine failure led to fire onboard offshore supply vessel

Damaged section of the engine (left) from where the connecting rod from the no. 3 DG (right) was ejected. (Credit: Oceaneering International)
Damaged section of the engine (left) from where the connecting rod from the no. 3 DG (right) was ejected. (Credit: Oceaneering International)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published a Marine Accident Brief on its investigation into a diesel generator engine failure and fire onboard an offshore supply vessel near Honolulu, Hawaii, last year. The incident took place on the Ocean Intervention on December 19, 2020. No pollution or injuries to the 16 crew members were reported in connection with the mechanical failure, which resulted in a fire in the engine room. The crew isolated the fire before it could spread throughout the vessel.

Damage to the Ocean Intervention came to more than $3 million. Continue reading “Report reveals diesel generator engine failure led to fire onboard offshore supply vessel”

Thermal oil circulation pump lead to Pride of Hull fire

Bahamas Maritime Authority - Marine investigation report
Bahamas Maritime Authority – Marine investigation report

The Bahamas Maritime Authority published its report on the ro-ro passenger ferry Pride of Hull, which suffered a fire due to a thermal oil circulation pump failure. On the 20th October 2020, in the Humber Estuary, UK.

At approximately 20:01 on 20 October 2020, Pride of Hull sailed from the river terminal in Hull, UK, on its scheduled service to Europoort (Rotterdam), Netherlands. The bridge team consisted of the master, chief officer and two ABs. The chief engineer was in the engine control room with the engineer officer of the watch (EOOW). Continue reading “Thermal oil circulation pump lead to Pride of Hull fire”

Fire spread due to unfamiliarity with fire extinguisher equipment

The American Club Logo
The American Club Logo – unfamiliarity with fire extinguisher led to fire spreading

The American Club has published some lessons learned from an incident where a general cargo vessel’s generator experienced a catastrophic failure while underway resulting in a fire that spread immediately to the bilges under the generator but couldn’t be fixed due to unfamiliarity with the fire extinguisher.

A senior and a junior engineer were in the engine room and both heard a loud bang. The two engineers investigated and saw the fire which quickly spread to the bilges. The automated alarm system sounded shortly after the fire started. The senior engineer saw the fire was in the bilges and knew that the foam fire extinguisher was appropriate to use. Continue reading “Fire spread due to unfamiliarity with fire extinguisher equipment”

Crankcase failure causes two small fires

Crankcase fire
Crankcase fire

The Marine Safety Forum has published an alert focusing on a case where a vessel experienced crankcase failure. The vessel suffered a crankcase failure on one of their four diesel generators (DG) which resulted in two small fires and excessive damage to the pistons, con-rods, and the engine block.

Fortunately, no personnel were injured during this event and due to the swift actions from the crew and additional barriers already in place it made sure that the situation was quickly and effectively controlled within minutes, plus any potential secondary damage to surrounding machinery was prevented. Continue reading “Crankcase failure causes two small fires”

Hong Kong investigates fatality during steel pipe loading

Hong Kong investigation reveals lessons learned from fatality during steel pipe loading
Hong Kong investigation reveals lessons learned from fatality during steel pipe loading

The Hong Kong authorities have concluded and released details of an investigation into a fatality during a steel pipe loading that took place onboard a Hong Kong registered bulk carrier when loading its cargo of steel pipes in various sizes at a pier.

A Hong Kong registered bulk carrier was berthed at a pier to load its cargo of steel pipes in various sizes. During the crane operation, the stack of steel pipes below was displaced by lowering a heavy steel pipe. It caused the nearby stevedores to lose their balance and fall into the gaps between the steel pipes. Although the two injured workers were rushed into the port hospital for medical treatment, one of the stevedores responsible for unhooking the cargo was declared dead the day after the incident, and the other stevedore responsible for cargo securing was seriously injured. Continue reading “Hong Kong investigates fatality during steel pipe loading”

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