Health & Safety

Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report

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Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report
Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report

Between 2016 and 2025, 17 bulk carriers of more than 10,000 deadweight tonnes were reported lost, with the tragic loss of 71 seafarers’ lives, according to an INTERCARGO annual report.

And cargo liquefaction remains the greatest contributor to loss of life with 37 lives – 52.1% of the total loss of life in the past ten years.

INTERCARGO’s annual Bulk Carrier Casualty Report examines the safety performance of bulk carriers over a rolling 10-year period in order to identify risks and improve safety for seafarers and vessel operations. Continue reading “Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report”

Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding

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Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding
Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a safety alert after a prototype component used in a mechanical shaft-seal system failed onboard a USCG inspected deep draft vessel.

In February 2026. a U.S. flagged crude oil tanker transiting near Delaware Bay experienced simultaneous failures of its port and starboard shaft seals, resulting in substantial seawater ingress. The crew subsequently deployed emergency collars supplied by the seal manufacturer and used the vessel’s emergency bilge system to remove the water. Continue reading “Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding”

Responding to an engine high temperature alarm

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Responding to an engine high temperature alarm
Responding to an engine high temperature alarm

According to the U.S Coast Guard, a fire aboard a small passenger vessel resulted in the death of one passenger, injuries to multiple passengers, and the total loss of the vessel. The investigation into the cause of the fire yielded several findings that warrant immediate review by all vessel operators.

While underway, in response to a high jacket water-temperature alarm, the master shifted Continue reading “Responding to an engine high temperature alarm”

Turning embarkation and disembarkation regulations into safe practice

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Turning embarkation and disembarkation regulations into safe practice. Photo credit: C.Olavo Vieira & Capt Jorge Gonzales
Turning embarkation and disembarkation regulations into safe practice. Photo credit: C.Olavo Vieira & Capt Jorge Gonzales

A single defective ladder step, improperly secured gangway, or poorly rigged pilot ladder can turn a routine transfer operation into a serious accident within seconds as embarkation and disembarkation regulations have been neglected.

Ship operators need to always remember that safe embarkation and disembarkation operations depend not only on compliant equipment, but also on a well-implemented Safety Management System (SMS), effective crew training, and a strong safety culture onboard.

Safe embarkation and disembarkation operations remain Continue reading “Turning embarkation and disembarkation regulations into safe practice”

Guidance for the safe carriage of cocoa butter in containers

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Updated guidance on the carriage of cocoa butter in containers has been published. Photo credit: CINS
Updated guidance on the carriage of cocoa butter in containers has been published. Photo credit: CINS

The International Safe Containerised Cargo Organisation (CINS) has published revised guidelines for the safe carriage of cocoa butter in containers, updating industry practices for one of the sector’s most temperature-sensitive cargoes.

Developed by a working group of CINS members, the updated guidance is aligned with the principles of the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code), which sets out international standards for the safe packing and handling of containerised cargo. Continue reading “Guidance for the safe carriage of cocoa butter in containers”

Minister of Transport calls for proposals to improve boating safety across Canada

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Minister of Transport calls for proposals to improve boating safety across Canada
Minister of Transport calls for proposals to improve boating safety across Canada

More than 12 million Canadian adults participate in recreational boating every year, but preventable accidents continue to result in injuries and fatalities on the water. To help improve safety, Transport Canada is supporting education and awareness initiatives that promote safe boating practices and behaviours on the water.

As part of the Safe Boating Awareness Week, the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, announced a call for proposals under the Boating Safety Contribution Program. The application period is open until 21st September 2026. Continue reading “Minister of Transport calls for proposals to improve boating safety across Canada”

Latest guidance for shipping lithium-ion cells and batteries in containers

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Guidance for shipping lithium-ion cells and batteries in containers has been published
Guidance for shipping lithium-ion cells and batteries in containers has been published

In response to the growing risks associated with the maritime transport and shipping lithium-ion cells and batteries, the following guidance for shipping lithium-ion cells and batteries in containers has been published. Lithium-ion cells are the core components of batteries and come in various forms, as they are widely used in portable electronics and electric vehicles because they can efficiently store and release energy through the movement of lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes. However, due to their chemical properties, lithium-ion cells and batteries are classified as dangerous goods and must be handled with care. Released against a backdrop of rising concern, the guidance comes as battery-related incidents at sea become both more frequent and more severe. Continue reading “Latest guidance for shipping lithium-ion cells and batteries in containers”

How to document PFOS free fire extinguishing foam on board

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How to document PFOS free fire extinguishing foam on board
How to document PFOS free fire extinguishing foam on board

DNV has provided a short summary of how to document compliance at the first safety equipment survey after 1 January 2026, given that all fire extinguishing foams on board must be PFOS free, and this must be verified by the attending surveyor.

From January 1st, 2026, the use or storage of fire-extinguishing media – including firefighting foams – containing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is prohibited. This applies to both fixed and portable systems and equipment.The requirement to document PFOS free fire extinguishing foams applies to all types of foam on board, i.e. both fixed systems and portable equipment. Continue reading “How to document PFOS free fire extinguishing foam on board”

IACS finds common failure modes in emergency generator systems

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IACS finds common failure modes in emergency generator systems
IACS finds common failure modes in emergency generator systems

After the loss of power leading up to the MV Dali Francis Scott Key Bridge strike, marine casualty investigators noted an extended delay in the automatic start-up of the ship’s emergency generator. While the small generator was not sufficient in itself to run most major systems, it could provide low-speed hydraulic power to turn the rudder slowly – and could have provided that vital capability much sooner if it had started within standard time parameters, illustrating the importance of automated emergency power start-up. Continue reading “IACS finds common failure modes in emergency generator systems”

Safety helmets: When standards fail stevedores and crews

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Stock image from Pexels
Stock image from Pexels

On 2 May 2019, a twistlock fitted to one of the bottom corner fittings of a container fell out of the fitting while the container was being restowed aboard the container vessel MOL Bravo, in the port of Manzanillo, Mexico. The twistlock landed on the second officer who was on deck, struck his safety helmet and caused fatal injuries.

The investigation report by the Marine Department of Hong Kong noted the following:

– The second officer failed to follow the company safety procedures Continue reading “Safety helmets: When standards fail stevedores and crews”

Britannia P&I Club guidance on transporting cement

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Correct way of hooking FIPC bags. Source: Britannia P&I Club
Correct way of hooking FIPC bags. Source: Britannia P&I Club

The volume of seaborne cement traded continues to grow, with the most recent annual figure estimated to be over 145 million tonnes.

Cement is carried on board ships either in bulk or in bags. And Britannia P&I Club’s loss prevention team has provided guidance on the carriage of cement.

Bulk cement

Risk factors of loading cement in bulk include solidification of the cargo due to water ingress, mainly through hatch covers or the Continue reading “Britannia P&I Club guidance on transporting cement”

Warning sent out on counterfeit GMDSS batteries

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Warning sent out on counterfeit GMDSS batteries
Warning sent out on counterfeit GMDSS batteries

The Norwegian Maritime Authority has sent out a warning following a significant increase in the marketing, sale and installation of counterfeit batteries for Jotron GMDSS products in recent years.

Affected products include Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), radar and AIS-SART devices, as well as handheld GMDSS emergency VHF radios. Continue reading “Warning sent out on counterfeit GMDSS batteries”

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