Health & Safety

Belgium’s Federal Bureau for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents (FEBIMA) has issued its report following a serious incident onboard the MTS Central Park, when a mist of sulphuric acid came into contact with the AB. The seafarer suffered second degree burns on his back, on the back of his neck, on his arms and his face.

On May 31st, 2021, MTS Central Park was on her way to the port of Antwerp to load a cargo of sulphuric acid, a corrosive product. Around 10:00 hours, a cargo operations meeting was held in the cargo control room. The meeting was organised by the Chief Officer and attended by all crew involved in cargo operations. Continue reading “Valve of cargo line caused injury aboard MTS Central Park”

Belgium’s Federal Bureau for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents (FEBIMA) has released its investigation report into the fire that broke out on board TSHD UILENSPIEGEL resulting in damage to the engine room caused by contaminated insulation panels.

On 26 January 2021,TSHD UILENSPIEGEL was moored at pier 0 at Lisnave shipyard, Setubal, Portugal. The vessel was afloat again after a period in dry dock where maintenance had been carried out, including an overhaul of the vessel’s main engines. The ship’s crew had been involved in the overhaul task, together with shipyard personnel and a service engineer from MAN, the manufacturer of the main engines. On the morning of 26 January, the running in of the main engines commenced. Continue reading “Insulation panels contaminated with oil caused fire”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its 96 page Safer Seas Digest 2021, highlighting the most important lessons learned from 31 maritime tragedies that took place over the course of last year including capsizings, contact, collisions, fires, flooding and groundings.

Among the key investigations included in the report are the sinking of Scandies Rose, where five lives were lost, and the capsizing of Golden Ray, one of the most expensive marine accidents in history.

In brief, some of the key lessons learned from the Safety Digest are: Continue reading “Safer Seas Digest 2021 published by NTSB”

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has published safety recommendations to the managers and parent company of the cargo ship BBC Rhonetal, following an investigation into a fire in the hold of the vessel at Port Hedland, Western Australia in March 2021.

1 Origin of the fire

Shortly before smoke was observed rising from the lower hold, the bosun had been cutting fastenings with a plasma torch in an area on the tween deck which was located above a vibrating screen assembly stowed in the lower hold. Continue reading “ATSB issues report into fire onboard the BBC Rhonetal”

AMSA has published a marine notice to remind shipowners, operators, masters, crews, recognised organisations, marine pilots and pilotage providers of the obligation to provide safe pilot transfer arrangements. AMSA has noted with concern that since November 2017 several pilots’ lives have been placed at risk in six separate incidents where ropes have parted, or securing point have failed. In addition, AMSA regularly receives reports and complaints about non-compliant pilot transfer arrangements.

Shipowners, operators, masters and crews are reminded that pilot transfer arrangements, including pilot ladders, must comply with Marine Order 21 (Safety and emergency arrangements) 2016 (MO21). Continue reading “Safe pilot transfer arrangements vital for safe operations is key message in AMSA marine notice”