Environment

Frequency of total hull losses at its lowest since 1996 reports Cefor

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Cefor Hull Trends 2018
Cefor Hull Trends 2018

The number and impact of major and total hull losses has remained low since 2016, a trend that has continued into the first half of 2018, according to figures by the Nordic Association of Marine Insurers (Cefor).

The overall claims frequency continues its positive trend and stabilizes at a relatively low level, and total loss frequency reached a minimum again in the first half of 2018, and continues thus the last year’s trend with some oscillation at low levels.

Insured values dropped on average 2.5% on 2018 renewals. The improvement compared to the previous years is especially due to some recovery in the supply/offshore segment in 2018, following a recovery in the bulk market in 2017. However, it should be noted that Continue reading “Frequency of total hull losses at its lowest since 1996 reports Cefor”

BMA releases safety bulletin following nitrogen cylinder fatality

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The examination showed that the damaged nitrogen cylinder had suffered significant corrosion at the point of failure.
The examination showed that the damaged nitrogen cylinder had suffered significant corrosion at the point of failure.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority issued a safety alert regarding the potential serious risk for safety on board a ship where nitrogen cylinder are used as a stored kinetic energy system for launching lifeboats. This alert was issued after the authority obtained information from an ongoing maritime incident investigation conducted by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, New Zealand.

The vessel had hydraulically powered davits with six power packs, three on each side of the vessel. A stored energy system consisted of a piston accumulator and a bank of four high pressure (180-210 Bar) nitrogen cylinders were fitted to each lifeboat launching davit.

In February 2017, one of the nitrogen cylinders of a stored energy system onboard exploded while being topped up to maintain the correct pressure. A crew member died as a result of the explosion. The findings of the investigation indicate that significant corrosion affected the structural integrity of the cylinder.

The remains of the exploded nitrogen cylinder and other three cylinders from the same Continue reading “BMA releases safety bulletin following nitrogen cylinder fatality”

ISO updates guidelines for sea anchors on survival craft and rescue boats

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A sea anchor is a vital component to a rescue boat, reducing the likelihood of it drifting away or spinning around, and keeps it steady in the wind.
A sea anchor is a vital component to a rescue boat, reducing the likelihood of it drifting away or spinning around, and keeps it steady in the wind.

As more people are heading out to sea over summer, safety both onboard and overboard is under the spotlight. For this reason, an ISO has been updated for the effectiveness of sea anchors for rescue boats known as ‘ISO 17339:2018, Ships and marine technology – Life saving and fire protection – Sea anchors for survival craft and rescue boats.’

A sea anchor is a vital component to a rescue boat, reducing the likelihood of it drifting away or spinning around, and keeps it steady in the wind. The updated ISO for the performance and safety of sea anchors brings them in line with the IMO’s International Life-Saving Appliance Code.

The International Life-Saving Appliance Code prescribes the carriage and use of sea anchors for survival craft and rescue boats, yet the revised recommendation on testing of lifesaving appliances does not provide requirements of performance and testing procedure for the sea anchors. This document addresses those areas, which the IMO recommendation does not address, in order to enable consistent implementation by maritime Administrations.

The new ISO addresses the performance and testing of Continue reading “ISO updates guidelines for sea anchors on survival craft and rescue boats”

USCG issues fated duck boat’s COI in an unusual move

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The COI reports operational limitations which may have been exceeded while the voyage took place.
The COI reports operational limitations which may have been exceeded while the voyage took place.

The US Coast Guard released the Certificate of Inspection (COI) for the ‘Stretch Duck 07’, the amphibious tour boat that sunk in Table Rock Lake, Missouri on July 2018 with the loss of 17 lives.

The COI reports operational limitations which may have been exceeded while the voyage took place. The limitation included limits on permissible weather and surface conditions.

It also indicates that the boat’s stability letter was issued on March 2009, and its last “drydock” was carried out in January 2017. Its operations were to occur in Table Rock Lake and nearby Lake Taneycomo, and it was not permitted to operate on the water “when winds exceed thirty-five (35) miles per hour, and/or the wave height exceeds two (2) feet”.

In addition, the US Coast Guard established a Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) after the sinking of the Stretch Duck 07 boat in Branson, Missouri on July 19. An MBI is US Continue reading “USCG issues fated duck boat’s COI in an unusual move”

Fire in cargo hold caused by light bulb reveals Maritime NZ report

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Maritime NZ describes a fire in the cargo hold of a container ship caused by the heat from a 500 watt light bulb as the ship was berthed in port on New Zealand's East Coast in late 2017.
Maritime NZ describes a fire in the cargo hold of a container ship caused by the heat from a 500 watt light bulb as the ship was berthed in port on New Zealand’s East Coast in late 2017.

Maritime NZ has published its Lookout report. In it they present a range of of maritime casualties, offering some clear lessons that have been learnt. In this incident, Maritime NZ describes a fire in the cargo hold of a container ship caused by the heat from a 500 watt light bulb as the ship was berthed in port on New Zealand’s East Coast in late 2017.

The cargo hold fire incident

The floodlight was unintentionally left on after the hold was filled with timber packs. Some of the timber was destroyed in the fire and other packs charred, but the ship suffered only cosmetic damage. No-one was injured.

The cut timber had been loaded during the day and the 148 metre vessel was due to sail at the change of tide, when the cargo hold fire alarm sounded just before midnight.

Crew donned breathing apparatus to check the site, and reported smoke coming out of Continue reading “Fire in cargo hold caused by light bulb reveals Maritime NZ report”

Broken valve causes oil spill while bunkering

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The Swedish P&I Club has described a case of an oil spill during a vessel's bunkering operations which led to an oil spill, the cause of which was a broken valve.
The Swedish P&I Club has described a case of an oil spill during a vessel’s bunkering operations which led to an oil spill, the cause of which was a broken valve.

The Swedish P&I Club has described a case of an oil spill during a vessel’s bunkering operations which led to an oil spill, the cause of which was a broken valve. Following investigation, the Club recommended that all involved parties should be informed when tanks are switched and that the crew must always ensure the valves are completely shut and working.

The incident

The vessel was loading in port and had also planned to bunker fuel using shore trucks. The plan was to load the fuel into port tank 2 and fill it 96%, but the chief engineer changed this just before loading and instead wanted to load port and starboard 3 tanks. The plan was to fill these tanks 90%. The number 3 tanks were half the size of the port and starboard 2 tanks.

The bunker system was lined up to bunker the port 3 tank. Deck scuppers were put in place on deck. The chief engineer then met the truck driver to agree on basic hand signals before connecting the Continue reading “Broken valve causes oil spill while bunkering”

Shipowners P&I Club issues loss prevention and fishing vessel safety booklet

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There have been many studies carried out over the years showing that fatalities on fishing vessels remain a real threat.
There have been many studies carried out over the years showing that fatalities on fishing vessels remain a real threat.

On the occasion of the launch of Maritime Safety Week by the UK government running this week, the Shipowners Club issued its fishing vessel safety booklet, summarizing key safety tips for one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. There have been many studies carried out over the years showing that fatalities on fishing vessels remain a real threat.

It is essential that the vessel’s skipper and all crew are fully familiarised with the vessel and its equipment, including any vessel-specific quirks, prior to departing a berth. A pre-sailing checklist should be completed, including:

– The operation and maintenance of the fishing equipment.
– The location and operation of safety equipment, ensuring it is free from obstruction
– The onboard layout of the spaces such as void spaces, engine room and cargo spaces.
– The location and operation of key Continue reading “Shipowners P&I Club issues loss prevention and fishing vessel safety booklet”

ITF: Fatal accidents in Russia and Indonesia were avoidable

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ITF: Fatal accidents in Russia and Indonesia were avoidable
ITF: Fatal accidents in Russia and Indonesia were avoidable

Following two fatal accidents in Russia and Indonesia in recent weeks that have claimed the lives of almost 200 people, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has expressed its deep concern regarding the industry’s procedural and safety compliance, noting that these accidents could have been prevented.

In the first accident, a catamaran, carrying passengers over its capacity, capsized in the Volga River after colliding with another boat, killing 11 people. Russia’s Investigative Committee said the boat’s captain, who was also the owner of the vessel, was drunk and likely to blame for the crash.

The second incident involved the capsizing of a ferry carrying three times its passenger capacity on Lake Toba, Indonesia, leaving over 190 people dead or missing. The vessel was reportedly operating illegally with Continue reading “ITF: Fatal accidents in Russia and Indonesia were avoidable”

Low speed diesel engines save on claims is the finding of a recent Swedish Club study

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Statistically, a vessel will suffer between one and two incidences of main engine damage during its life time, according to the club
Statistically, a vessel will suffer between one and two incidences of main engine damage during its life time, according to the club

In a recent study the Swedish Club has warned that vessels propelled by low speed diesel engines save on claims with a frequency two and a half times higher than slow speed engines with an average claims cost of about $650,000.

Statistically, a vessel will suffer between one and two incidences of main engine damage during its life time, according to the club. However, the incidence rate varies by vessel class (and engine type).

“Our research shows that bulkers and tankers are the best performers for claims cost,” said senior technical advisor Peter Stalberg. “Most of these vessels have slow speed engines. Conversely passenger vessels/ferries have the highest frequency of main engine claims – 0.066 claims per vessel and year. Often these vessels have multiple medium speed engine installations.”

Stalberg advises that when shipowners have Continue reading “Low speed diesel engines save on claims is the finding of a recent Swedish Club study”

Fire safety on ferries guide issued by the Standard P&I Club

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To raise awareness, the Standard P&I Club has published a 36 page guide about fire risks on ferries.
To raise awareness, the Standard P&I Club has published a 36 page guide about fire risks on ferries.

To raise awareness, the Standard P&I Club has published a 36 page guide about fire risks on ferries. This type of ship presents particular risks due to the cargo onboard, including cars, lorries and refrigerated containers. All of these have combustible material and are fire hazards in their own right.

There are numerous causes of fire but the most relevant ones to ferries are:

– Electrical defects, such as overloaded electrical equipment, damaged cables and poorly formed connections. – Electrical faults in vehicles, especially when engines are hot/running. Reefer containers are major sources of fire.
– Mechanical failure, such as ignition from overheated bearings or a catastrophic engine failure.
– Uncontrolled release of oil or flammable liquid coming into contact with a hot surface, or the release of a low flashpoint fuel, such as petrol vapour, coming into contact with a source of ignition.
– Dry, readily combustible materials (such as wood, paper, textiles) coming into contact with an ignition source, – such as a lighted cigarette, sparks or conducted heat from burning or cutting, highintensity lights or defective electrical equipment.

Things to do Continue reading “Fire safety on ferries guide issued by the Standard P&I Club”

Flexible mobdock repair method for underwater shaft seal repairs developed by Hydrex

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Diver/technician re-welding the rope guard after shaft seal replacement
Diver/technician re-welding the rope guard after shaft seal replacement

Hydrex has developed a flexible mobdock repair method that enables the underwater replacement of all types and sizes of shaft seals. This technology has been successfully used by Hydrex diver/technicians for over a decade. It allows ship owners to keep their vessel sailing, saving precious time and money.

Damaged stern tube seals will cause an increasing amount of oil leaking or water ingress as the damage worsens. By replacing the seals when the damage is first discovered, Hydrex keeps the down time low. The ship can keep its schedule as seal repairs can be performed during cargo operations. This is done by creating a dry underwater working environment around the shaft.

It is not always straightforward to replace seals, because there can be quite a bit of variation in the configurations of the stern tube itself. There can also be complications with the liners, which can be worn down and show ruts. All this is routinely handled by Hydrex teams on the jobs.

In this article you can find a short summary of some of the recent Continue reading “Flexible mobdock repair method for underwater shaft seal repairs developed by Hydrex”

Green light to adopt Methanol given as a sustainable marine fuel

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Topic areas of the project’s final reports include the technical feasibility of converting vessels to propulsion using Methanol
Topic areas of the project’s final reports include the technical feasibility of converting vessels to propulsion using Methanol

The Methanol Institute has welcomed the findings of the Sustainable Marine Methanol (SUMMETH) project, which has backed the increased use of Methanol as a marine fuel.

The research concluded that there are no obstacles to the efficient use of Methanol in a converted diesel engine and that smaller vessel conversion projects are feasible and cost-effective, with levels of safety that easily meet existing requirements.

Switching to Methanol would offer immediate environmental benefits, including close to zero SOx and particulate matter emissions and significantly lower NOx emissions compared to conventional marine fuels or biodiesel.

Continue reading “Green light to adopt Methanol given as a sustainable marine fuel”

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