Frequency of containerised cargo fires shows no sign of decreasing

Frequency of containerised cargo fires shows no sign of decreasing
Frequency of containerised cargo fires shows no sign of decreasing

Despite the important steps that shipping has taken to address the problem of containerised cargo fires, Gard estimates that so far in 2020, there has been one fire involving containers every two weeks. Are Solum, Senior Claims Executive at Arendal, indicates there has been no shortage of smaller fires, near misses on-board and fires taking place in containers within terminal areas.

Statistics suggest that the frequency of containerised cargo fires occuring is not decreasing. By Gard’s count and on average there has been roughly one fire every two weeks so far in 2020. Continue reading “Frequency of containerised cargo fires shows no sign of decreasing”

Canadian Government publishes new Marine Navigation Safety Regulations to improve maritime safety

Canadian Government publishes new Marine Navigation Safety Regulations to improve maritime safety
Canadian Government publishes new Marine Navigation Safety Regulations to improve maritime safety

The Government of Canada has published new Marine Navigation Safety Regulations 2020, which now apply to commercial vessels of all sizes, including fishing vessels, workboats, water taxis and ferries.

The regulations represent a consolidation of nine existing sets of marine safety regulations into a single one that:
– provides clearer and more up to date language on required navigational safety equipment;
– requires vessel owners to have equipment to help reduce the risk of collisions that could cause pollution, like oil spills, and threaten endangered marine life, such as Continue reading “Canadian Government publishes new Marine Navigation Safety Regulations to improve maritime safety”

USCG to update type approval requirements for survival craft equipment

 A life raft survival kit - USCG to update type approval requirements for survival craft equipment
USCG to update type approval requirements for survival craft equipment

The US Coast Guard (USCG) is proposing to update the type approval requirements for survival craft equipment required to carry on U.S. flagged vessels. The proposed rule is deregulatory and would remove US Coast Guard type approval requirements for nine of these types of survival craft equipment and replace them with the requirement that the manufacturer self-certify that the equipment complies with a consensus standard.

Comments and related material must be received by the US Coast Guard on or before December 4, 2020.

The US Coast Guard proposes to amend several approval and carriage requirements Continue reading “USCG to update type approval requirements for survival craft equipment”

Accelerated by disruption; shipping’s digital revolution in the pandemic era

Accelerated by disruption; shipping’s digital revolution in the pandemic era
Accelerated by disruption; shipping’s digital revolution in the pandemic era

Accelerated by disruption; shipping’s digital revolution in the pandemic era.

It has been a year of disruption for shipping. With COVID-19 altering supply chains and exerting unexpected pressures on our operations, the industry now finds itself at a turning point, caught between mitigating current challenges and thinking about how to build back better in the new normal we face.

In terms of the digital domain, there has been a significant acceleration over the past year in how various segments within shipping are using data and new technologies. Many are arguably seeing these innovative solutions as miraculously Continue reading “Accelerated by disruption; shipping’s digital revolution in the pandemic era”

Poor oversight of regulatory requirements led to the Conception fire

Aftermath of the conception dive boat fire
Aftermath of the conception dive boat fire

Following an investigation into the California dive boat fire that killed 34 people in 2019, the National Transportation Safety Board has called for major safety improvements to small passenger vessels, including interconnected smoke detectors and a USCG inspection program. The 75-foot recreational diving vessel, Conception, with 33 passengers and six crew aboard, was anchored in Platts Harbor, off Santa Cruz Island, when it caught fire in the early morning of 2 September 2019.

All 33 passengers and one crewmember died of smoke inhalation after they were trapped in the berthing area while a fire raged on the deck above. Both exits from the berthing area led to the fire and smoke filled enclosed area above. Continue reading “Poor oversight of regulatory requirements led to the Conception fire”

Cause of Maersk Honam fire is inconclusive reveals report

Maersk Honam fire - cause is inconclusive
Maersk Honam fire – cause is inconclusive

The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) of Singapore has published its report on the fatal Maersk Honam fire which occurred in March 2018. The report concludes that the actual cause of the fire was not conclusive.

On 6 March 2018, during fine weather, the Singapore registered container ship Maersk Honam, which was carrying 7860 containers, while en route from Singapore to Suez Canal, experienced a severe fire that started from no.3 cargo hold when the ship was in the Arabian Sea, about 900 nautical miles west of the coast of India.

All the 27 crew responded to fight the fire by conducting boundary cooling and subsequent release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the cargo Continue reading “Cause of Maersk Honam fire is inconclusive reveals report”

Fatalities caused by carbon monoxide poisoning

The Moored Diversion cruiser after the carbon monoxide poisoning
The Moored Diversion cruiser after the carbon monoxide poisoning

On 4 December 2019 two men returned to 9.18m privately owned motor cruiser Diversion, which was moored on the river Ouse in York. The diesel fuelled heater had been leaking exhaust fumes into the boat’s cabin while they were ashore, and both men were overcome by a high level of carbon monoxide poisoning and died shortly after they entered the boat’s cabin.

Safety Issues

1) no carbon monoxide alarm was fitted;

2) the cabin heater had been installed by the vessel’s owner, but the installation had not been professionally checked and no servicing had been carried out. Continue reading “Fatalities caused by carbon monoxide poisoning”

Loss of towline shackle pin led to tugboat Mangilao sinking reveals NTSB accident report

Tugboat Mangilao (Photo: Cabras Marine Corporation / NTSB)
Tugboat Mangilao (Photo: Cabras Marine Corporation / NTSB)

The loss of a towline shackle pin and deteriorated watertight fittings caused tugboat Mangilao to sink in the Pacific Ocean about 800 miles northwest of Guam, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed in a Marine Accident Brief.

The 114 foot US flagged tugboat Mangilao sank on August 5, 2019 while being towed to a drydock in Subic Bay, Philippines by the 97 foot US flagged tug Chamorro. Both vessels were owned and operated by Cabras Marine Corporation. No one was aboard tugboat Mangilao and there were 10 crew members aboard the Chamorro.

No pollution nor injuries were reported in connection with the sinking. The 1982-built tugboat Mangilao, which was estimated to be worth Continue reading “Loss of towline shackle pin led to tugboat Mangilao sinking reveals NTSB accident report”

NTSB accident report concludes that incomplete safety procedures led to barge explosion

NTSB: incomplete safety procedures led to barge explosion
NTSB: incomplete safety procedures led to barge explosion

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published Marine Accident Report 20-34 detailing the findings of its investigation involving the explosion of a barge at the Illinois Marine Towing Heritage Slip on the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal, Illinois on the 4 November 2019.

The barge explosion occurred when the IB1940 was being prepared for cleaning after its cargo of acetone had been unloaded. No injuries or pollution were reported in connection with the explosion. The barge, however, was declared a total constructive loss, valued at $1.75M. Continue reading “NTSB accident report concludes that incomplete safety procedures led to barge explosion”

Machinery failure caused by lubrication contamination case study

Machinery failure caused by lubrication contamination
Machinery failure caused by lubrication contamination

The Swedish Club has described an incident of machinery failure onboard due to lubrication contamination in their system. An investigation showed that the engine had been operated on a high thermal load for a long time and the turbocharger’s efficiency had been affected by fouling, while the lubrication oil had been contaminated for some time.

The vessel concerned was at anchor, in ballast, awaiting further instructions. The weather deteriorated after seven days and the vessel’s anchor dragged. The anchor was heaved up and the vessel started to slow steam in the area. After about 24 hours, the differential pressure alarm of the main engine duplex lubrication oil filter sounded in the ECR. The crew found aluminium and other Continue reading “Machinery failure caused by lubrication contamination case study”

Varkan Ege: COLREGs implementation called into question after vessels collide reveals MCIB investigation

MCIB report on 'Varkan Ege'
MCIB report on ‘Varkan Ege’

Ireland’s MCIB has published an investigation report on the collision between the tanker ‘Varkan Ege’ and the sailing vessel ‘Medi Mode’ in Irish waters during August 2019. The investigation attributed the incident to a mix of misunderstanding, inefficient lookout and poor knowledge of COLREGs.

On Saturday, 22 August 2019 at 10.45 hrs, the sailing vessel ‘Medi Mode’ departed from Arklow and was on route to Kilmore Quay. A decision was made to change the destination from Kilmore Quay to Howth as the weather had deteriorated, and due to an impending night arrival in Kilmore Quay.

At 17.45 hrs on 22 August, abeam of Rosslare, a course was set for the home port of Howth. The vessel Continue reading “Varkan Ege: COLREGs implementation called into question after vessels collide reveals MCIB investigation”

MCA: Bilge water alarms consultation under way

MCA: Bilge water alarms consultation under way
MCA: Bilge water alarms consultation under way

The Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) have released information about their new proposed regulation for Bilge Water Alarms.

Consultation is due to begin on draft legislation that intends to reduce the risk of an accident arising as a result of water coming into a vessel without the crew knowing it is happening.

The new regulations would mean that all vessels greater than 24 metres in length but less than 500 gross tonnage would have to be fitted with bilge alarms.
Owners of vessels less than 500 gross tonnage would still have to formally assess the risks to crew Continue reading “MCA: Bilge water alarms consultation under way”

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