Health & Safety

Checklists for the inspection of ladders and gangways

Posted on by News Hound
Man looking up at a ladder and gangway
Man looking up at a ladder and gangways

A risk alert which highlights that a new regulation refers to the construction, installation, maintenance and testing requirements for ladders and gangways as detailed in MSC.1/ Circ.1331 ‘Guidelines for Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection/Survey of Means of Embarkation and Disembarkation’ has been issued. In May 2008 the IMO adopted SOLAS regulation II1/3-9 concerning the ‘Means of embarkation on and disembarkation from ships’, which entered into force on the 1 January 2010. Continue reading “Checklists for the inspection of ladders and gangways”

Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas

Posted on by News Hound
Department of Transport - Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas
Department of Transport – Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas

In a significant move to strengthen maritime safety across the UK, the Department for Transport has issued an updated version of the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) with clear expectations that marinas and other non-statutory marine facilities bring their safety practices in line with the national framework as the Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas.

Originally introduced in 2000, the PMSC has long applied to statutory harbour authorities. However, the latest revision now explicitly includes all marine facilities, including privately operated marinas, piers, jetties, and terminals, even when located outside of traditional harbour jurisdictions. Continue reading “Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas”

Consultation on changes to requirements for through hull openings following flooding incident

Posted on by News Hound
Cayman Islands Registry issue safety alert
Cayman Islands Registry issue safety alert

The Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (CISR), on behalf of the Red Ensign Group (REG), has released an urgent safety flyer to the yachting industry following a serious flooding incident caused by the hull openings involving a commercially operated 375 GT motor yacht during a routine personal watercraft (PWC) recovery.

The incident occurred during calm sea conditions but escalated rapidly when the vessel, engaged in water sports operations, was struck by a series of large, unexpected waves. At the time, the transom and port side shell doors were open, and the yacht had developed a port list due to lifting operations. The sudden water ingress overwhelmed the bilge system, disabled the hydraulics, and rendered the shell doors inoperable, ultimately forcing the vessel’s Master to beach the yacht to prevent capsize. No injuries or environmental damage occurred thanks to decisive onboard actions. Continue reading “Consultation on changes to requirements for through hull openings following flooding incident”

USCG uncovers significant lack of hazardous material compliance

Posted on by News Hound
Men from USCG checking containers - Photo credit: USCG
Men from USCG checking containers – Photo credit: USCG

US Coast Guard Sector New York personnel conducted three warehouse spot checks at the Port of New York and New Jersey during the last week of April, uncovering a 60% deficiency rate which is a significant lack of hazardous material compliance.

The targeted inspections, driven by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) container screening data, are part of an expanded effort to detect undeclared hazardous cargo before it can pose a threat to port safety or vessel crews. When CBP identifies anomalies or items of interest during targeted container inspections, they now routinely notify Coast Guard Sector New York personnel, who follow up with specialized checks focused on undeclared hazardous materials. Continue reading “USCG uncovers significant lack of hazardous material compliance”

LPG safety on Inland Waterways boats

Posted on by News Hound
River canal boat
River canal boat

The aim, with LPG, was to improve boater safety by reviewing key elements of gas safety, while linking design, commissioning and maintenance together as crucial factors to gas system success. There is scant academic work existing that relates to the inland waterways, and virtually no academic research into gas safety on boats. It is hoped this project will open the debate and encourage other projects and ensure LPG safety on Inland Waterways boats. Continue reading “LPG safety on Inland Waterways boats”

Enclosed Space Entry Joint Workshop meets for the fourth time

Posted on by News Hound

man in an enclose spaceThe fourth Enclosed Space Entry Joint Industry Workshop took place at OCIMF’s London office in late March, where a working group drawn from maritime organisations gathered to identify measures to reduce or eliminate deaths in enclosed spaces onboard vessels.

In the previous three meetings, the cross-industry working group’s review of prior enclosed space incidents identified operational, commercial, technical and training related issues as recurring contributing factors. This review also included an analysis of incidents to understand the relationship between vessel type, incident location onboard and the rank or role of the victims. Continue reading “Enclosed Space Entry Joint Workshop meets for the fourth time”

Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum publishes guidance on fire response

Posted on by News Hound

Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum 'Fire Response - High Level Guidelines' The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum (VCSF) publishes its second industry good practice guidelines entitled ‘Fire Response – High Level Guidelines’. The VCSF recognises that responding to vehicle fires onboard PCCs, PCTCs, RoRo and Ro-Pax vessels is both dangerous and challenging. These guidelines have been designed to reduce the risk to the safety of crews, passengers, the environment, the vessel and the cargo. The guideline’s sole aim is to assist vessel operators and crews to be better prepared to meet the challenges presented by vehicle fires. Continue reading “Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum publishes guidance on fire response”

Safety alert issued following explosion and fire aboard liftboat

Posted on by News Hound

Aftermath of the explosion and fireThe Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has issued a safety alert regarding an incident where an explosion and fire aboard a liftboat injured workers. ΒSEE has recently investigated an explosion and subsequent fire that occurred on a liftboat during well cleanup and testing operations. Two contract workers suffered second-degree burns.

This event underscores a multitude of critical shortcomings in procedural controls, equipment readiness, and emergency response during offshore oil and gas operations. The explosion was caused by a gas accumulation on the liftboat deck during the draining of fluids from a Continue reading “Safety alert issued following explosion and fire aboard liftboat”

NTSB recommends improving preparedness of land-based firefighters to vessel fires

Posted on by News Hound

Firefighters dosing the ship in waterThe US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that land-based firefighters be better prepared for marine vessel firefighting following a fatal fire on the Con-Ro vessel Grande Costa D’Avorio in Newark, New Jersey, on 5 July 2023. The ship was docked at Port Newark when a vehicle used by shoreside workers to push used vehicles onto the vessel caught fire on an interior garage deck.

The ship’s captain ordered use of the vessel’s CO2 extinguishing system, Continue reading “NTSB recommends improving preparedness of land-based firefighters to vessel fires”

The “E-cars on Board – A Safe Passage” interferry brochure is a vital new resource

Posted on by Alex Ockenden

The Interferry e-brochureThe “E-cars on Board – A Safe Passage” interferry brochure addresses common concerns regarding battery electric vehicle (BEV) safety on ro-pax ferries. It provides clear, concise information based on recent research, including findings from projects such as Lash Fire, in which Interferry actively participated.

Interferry members are advised to take a look at the brochure and make it accessible to their customers in a simple way – for more informed decision-making, clarity and safety. Note: You do not have to be an Interferry member to print and distribute this brochure. Continue reading “The “E-cars on Board – A Safe Passage” interferry brochure is a vital new resource”

BIMCO shares guidelines for ammonia-fuelled ships

Posted on by News Hound
The BIMCO Logo - guidelines for Amonia-fuelled Ships
BIMCO’s guidelines for Amonia-fuelled Ships

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued the Interim Guidelines for the Safety of Ammonia-Fuelled Ships (MSC.1/Circ.1687), marking a significant milestone in regulatory support for alternative fuels.

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) approved the guidelines at its 109th session in December 2024, following their development and finalisation by the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) at its 10th session in September 2024. BIMCO has actively participated in all aspects of the work contributing to these guidelines and to the development of future mandatory provisions. Continue reading “BIMCO shares guidelines for ammonia-fuelled ships”

Lithium-Ion Batteries in Marine applications

Posted on by News Hound

 

Lithium-Ion BatteryThe increase in Lithium-Ion batteries (LIB) technology is affecting every walk of life as we become surrounded by a myriad of differing formats and chemistries. With the millions of batteries already in circulation and the ever-increasing demand, incidents involving lithium-Ion batteries in Marine applications are inevitably, becoming more common place. There is currently a thirst for knowledge around battery technology which means as incidents occur, they are very much thrust into the spotlight. We should however get some perspective around these incidents, acknowledging the quantity of them is still relatively small, and look to rationalise the reasons behind them. Continue reading “Lithium-Ion Batteries in Marine applications”

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