The Dutch Safety Board has published an urgent Safety Alert following a recent flare explosion fatality. The incident happened on board a Dutch sailing ship in the Pacific Ocean.
Complying with the flare’s requirements and instructions, the experienced sailor fired the flare. The flare did not launch as intended, but exploded immediately leading to the flare explosion fatality. Continue reading “Safety alert issued after flare explosion fatality”
Aluminium phosphide, the precursor compound from which phosphine gas is generated, is available in different forms and can be supplied in aluminium bottles as tablets of about 3g each or as pellets of about 1g. Alternatively it can be supplied in fabric ‘socks’ or strips of cojoined paper sachets which enable the fumigant residues to be easily removed in the situation where it is undesirable to have fumigation residue remaining in the cargo. Generally, and as a rule of thumb, Degesch state that one 3g tablet of aluminium phosphide formulation will generate about 1g of phosphine gas.
Usually, the quantity of aluminium phosphide applied per hold is calculated Continue reading “Risks of in-transit fumigation leading to phosphine gas explosions”
As part of this project, the two partners, The European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) and the Euopean Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) wanted to investigate the increased use of digital tools on board and the possible benefits and /or improvements to shipboard safety and welfare. As a result of the survey, there are a number of recommendations made which are summarised at the end of this article. But to summarise, the use of digital tools onboard is positively perceived.
The research starting point was a desk-based exercise to map out and analyse existing research findings. To get detailed insights as regards life on board, and the impact of increased digitalisation, the research targeted those with first hand experience through online surveys. Continue reading “New report reveals that the use of digital tools onboard is positively perceived”
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has published details of a potentially serious near-miss recently which occurred on a Gulf of Mexico energy facility. While using the platform crane to suspend a wireline lubricator, the pin holding the hook on the crane stinger backed out, resulting in the hook and lubricator falling. New guidelines are being created as a result in which Crane components must comply with recommendations.
The incident investigation found that the cotter pin at the end of the hook pin had sheared, which allowed the washer to fall and the pin to back out. Continue reading “Crane components must comply with recommendations”
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair, Jennifer Homendy, has welcomed maritime safety improvements in the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which the President signed into law at the end of last year. The legislation advances NTSB recommendations for amphibious vessels known as DUKW boats and requires the U.S. Coast Guard to provide an initial response to new NTSB recommendations within 90 days.
“We applaud lawmakers for their bold action to improve DUKW boat safety, something the NTSB has been concerned about Continue reading “New law will improve DUKW boats’ safety, says NTSB chair”
Hong Kong authorities have issued an investigation report following a fatal accident that happened on board a bulk carrier following an incident hatch covers, when it was en route to Port Hedland, Australia to load a cargo of salt in bulk.
During the voyage, the crew of the vessel was engaged with the main deck cleaning work and the cargo hold lime-coating work, while the C/O was co-ordinating the lime-coating operation on the main deck. When the C/O placed his body underneath the partially opened folding type hatch cover to check the condition of the cargo hold and take photos, the hydraulic oil hose of the hatch cover operating system ruptured, resulting in the sudden closure of the hydraulic operated hatch cover. The C/O was crushed to death by the hatch cover on the spot. Continue reading “Onboard training for operating hatch covers is essential”
The German Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) has published its report on the German flagged ferry BERLIN, which suffered a fire en route to Rostock on 13 August 2020 due to a pressure gauge pipe.
At about 0245, when the ferry was in the approach fairway about 2.6 nm off the sea channel, alarms sounded in the engine control room (ECR) and in the workshop. The IMAC Alarm, “gear oil sump level low” sounded first. The ship’s mechanic 1 (SM 1) acknowledged the alarm in the workshop and proceeded to the source of the alarm at main engines (ME) 1 and 2 (the two main engines that drive the controllable pitch propeller together with ME 3, via a common reduction gearbox). There he detected a leakage from a double nipple on top of the gearbox (from the pressure gauge connection). Continue reading “Material fatigue of pressure gauge pipe causes ferry fire”
New Zealand port safety has taken an important step forward when employers, unions, the Port Industry Association and government regulators, working together as the Port Health and Safety Leadership Group, published detailed new port safety guidelines issued by New Zealand for setting up a fatigue risk management system.
‘Building a Fatigue Risk Management System: Good practice guidelines for the ports industry’ focuses on understanding what fatigue is, the science behind it and how to implement a fatigue risk management system. It includes 16 appendices, which are examples and templates that organisations can adapt and use. Continue reading “New Zealand: New port safety guidelines issued by New Zealand”
The risks posed by poor conditions of storage of this common compound, which is used extensively in the Fertilisers and Explosives industries, have been well documented but awareness of the dangers of fire during transportation by sea is less well known. The objective of this guide, entitled ‘Ammonium Nitrate Fire Risk on Board Ships’ is to outline best practice with respect to the management of risk on vessels chartered to ship the compound through ports around the world.
Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃), a white to grey odourless chemical has a melting point of 169 degrees C and decomposes at 210 degrees C. While it does not burn by itself, significantly it will accelerate burning of combustible material, producing toxic oxides of nitrogen and ammonia, which will support combustion, even in the absence of oxygen. Continue reading “Whitepaper Ammonium Nitrate fire risk on board ships”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its investigation report regarding a fire incident that occurred aboard a bulk carrier near Windsor, Ontario in 2019. The TSB said the report raises a board safety concern regarding firefighting resources at some Canadian harbours and ports.
On December 15, 2019, a fire ignited in the engine room of the bulk carrier Tecumseh while it was transiting the Detroit River off Windsor, Ontario with 16 crew members on board. The crew attempted to extinguish the fire with the CO2 fixed fire suppression system. The investigation found that the onboard fire originated following the failure of a flexible fuel hose assembly supplying fuel to the ship’s port main engine. Continue reading “Marine safety concerns about firefighting at Canadian ports”
The British Tugowners Association has released its latest guidance to industry, Recovery of Persons in Water (PIW), a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels.
“The persons in water guide looks to debunk and demystify various myths and fallacies within the industry, spurring on open debate and discussion with the intent being to save lives,” said BTA chairman and Svitzer Head of Marine Standards Scott Baker.
The intent of the guide is not limited to tugs but applicable across the small boat sector, whether crewboats, pilot boats, workboats or tugs, many of which share similar characteristics and equipment. Continue reading “‘Recovery of Persons in Water, a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels’ published”
Captain Andrew Moll OBE shares some safety critical advice with boat users to mark the start of carbon monoxide awareness week 2022, reminding them of the hazards posed by this poisonous gas.
Many of us take steps in our homes to stay safe from carbon monoxide by installing CO alarms and having an annual boiler service, but are the same precautions being taken when out on the water?
The Marine Accident Investigation Continue reading “Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2022”
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