Health & Safety

Beware of fuel oil quick closing valve deficiencies

Posted on by News Hound
A fuel oil quick closing valve
A fuel oil quick closing valve

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has published a technical alert aimed at highlighting some major deficiencies related to fuel oil quick closing valves, which it has observed during Port State Control inspections. These deficiencies are considered of importance and often lead to detention.

Quick closing valves are fitted to oil tanks so that in the event of a fire they can be safely closed from a remote location to stop the supply of fuel to the fire. These valves may be operated remotely by pull wires, hydraulics, compressed air, etc.

Continue reading “Beware of fuel oil quick closing valve deficiencies”

Wire failure results in fatality onboard Sydney Trader

Posted on by News Hound
The Sydney Trader
The Sydney Trader

The Marine Safety Investigation Unit has issued an investigation report on the fatality of a crew member on board the Maltese registered container ship, Sydney Trader, off Port Limits Anchorage, Hong Kong that occurred in September 2016. The report, (which can be downloaded below), provides a description of what happened and the safety conclusions and recommendations.

The incident
The Maltese registered container vessel Sydney Trader had been anchored OPL at Hong Kong, China since 19 June 2016, awaiting orders for the next charter. At 0730, on 02 September 2016, the chief mate instructed the bosun to continue routine maintenance work in cargo hold no. 2. The chief mate also confirmed that all the Safety Management System (SMS) risk assessments and Permit to Work forms had been completed and signed before the bosun left the bridge at 0750. Continue reading “Wire failure results in fatality onboard Sydney Trader”

IMO highlights hazard of bauxite ship cargo

Posted on by News Hound
Container Ship - Picture credit IMO
Picture credit IMO

According to a new warning issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), it says that bauxite could become unstable when carried in bulk onboard a ship, potentially resulting in the vessel capsizing.

Bauxite is one of the world’s major sources of aluminium with around 100 million tonnes transported annually by sea. In 2015, a bulk carrier sank while transporting, with the loss of 18 seafarers. Research presented this week to an IMO Sub-Committee found that certain forms of bauxite with a large proportion of smaller particles could be subject to a newly-identified phenomenon of “dynamic separation” when there is excess moisture in the cargo.

Continue reading “IMO highlights hazard of bauxite ship cargo”

IMO updates guidelines for abandon ship drills using lifeboats

Posted on by News Hound
Lifeboat ready for deployment
Photo credit: Riley Huntley/wikipedia.org

At the 98th Session of its Maritime Safety Committee earlier this year, IMO plans to enshrine a range of amendments in to the guidelines relating to abandon ship drills using lifeboats with the aim of reducing related accidents.

The Committee approved the Guidelines on safety during abandon ship drills using lifeboats, following the amalgamation of annex 1 to the Measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats and the Interim Recommendation on conditions for authorization of service providers for lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear in the Requirements for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear.

Continue reading “IMO updates guidelines for abandon ship drills using lifeboats”

MAIB report into carbon monoxide poisoning on Vasquez

Posted on by News Hound
The Motor Cruiser, Vazquez
The Motor Cruiser, Vazquez

The MAIB has published its report and findings into a carbon monoxide poisoning incident onboard motor cruiser Vasquez moored in Cardiff Bay, which led to loss of life.

At approximately 1200 (UTC) on 12 November 2016, the owner of the 7.75m motor cruiser Vasquez fell unconscious after being overcome by carbon monoxide (CO) that had been emitted from failed rubber bellows that formed part of the inboard engine’s wet-exhaust system. Although rescuers came to his aid, it was not possible to save his life. The boat’s engine had not been regularly serviced and there was evidence that the exhaust system of the engine had been modified during the boat’s life. Continue reading “MAIB report into carbon monoxide poisoning on Vasquez”

Standard P&I Club publishes a guide to enclosed space casualties

Posted on by News Hound
Enclosed Space Entry guide by Standard P&I
Enclosed Space Entry guide by Standard P&I

The Standard P&I Club says that investigation into enclosed space related casualties has shown that most are caused by poor training and knowledge of the correct entry procedures, or a total disregard for them. As a consequence, the Club has published a comprehensive guide to address all key issues and to help anyone to enter enclosed spaces safely. The Standard P&I Club guide highlights shortfalls in individual company procedures in equipment, training and onboard practices.

Firstly, Standard Club enlists incidents related to enclosed spaces which have been already reported to the Club, illustrating different ways in which a seafarer can put himself in danger in these areas onboard. Analysis of these incidents have helped the Club to address key factors that contribute to enclosed space casualties as follows:
• poor training
• failure to follow proper procedures for enclosed space entry
• failure to recognise the danger of an enclosed space
• tendency to trust physical senses and forego testing or checks
• attempts to save a co-worker leading to short cuts and failure to follow procedures
• failure to manage safely any shore workers on board. Continue reading “Standard P&I Club publishes a guide to enclosed space casualties”

Effectiveness of lifejackets called into question by MAIB report on the foundering of fishing vessel Louisa

Posted on by News Hound
Photograph of Louisa recovery
Photograph of Louisa recovery

Early on 9 April 2016, the fishing vessel Louisa foundered, with the loss of three lives, while anchored close to the shore in Mingulay Bay in the Outer Hebrides.

The skipper and crew, who had been working long hours before anchoring late the previous evening, had woken suddenly as the vessel was sinking rapidly by the bow. They were able to escape to the aft deck, activate the emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), and to don lifejackets. However, they were unable to inflate the liferaft as they abandoned the vessel.

Continue reading “Effectiveness of lifejackets called into question by MAIB report on the foundering of fishing vessel Louisa”

Improperly tightened bolts on fuel inlet flange the probable cause of fire on Carnival Liberty

Posted on by News Hound
A fuel inlet flage
A fuel inlet flage

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable cause of the engine room fire on the Carnival Liberty as improperly tightened bolts on a fuel inlet flange.

On the morning of September 7, 2015, the Liberty was alongside at the Charlotte Amalie cruise terminal on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. At 1133 hours, fuel pressure alarms and fire alarms went off for the Liberty’s #4 diesel generator, located in the aft engine room. The third engineer activated the space’s HI-FOG fire suppression system within one minute of the alarm, and the second engineer switched the ship’s electrical load over to the #2 generator, which is located in the ship’s forward engine room. Shortly thereafter, the chief engineer arrived at the control room and authorized the closure of fuel and lube oil shutoff valves for generators #4-6. By 1137, the engineering team had also closed off fans and dampers to the aft compartment.

Continue reading “Improperly tightened bolts on fuel inlet flange the probable cause of fire on Carnival Liberty”

Safety warning issued by MAIB following a fatal boiler explosion on ship Manhattan Bridge

Posted on by News Hound
The Manhattan Bridge. Photo credit: Ron van de Velde
The Manhattan Bridge. Photo credit: Ron van de Velde

The engine room oiler, Manhattan Bridge, suffered fatal injuries and the second engineer suffered severe burn injuries when a furnace explosion occurred on the vessel’s auxiliary boiler. The oiler and engineer were attempting to restart the boiler after it had suffered a flame failure cut out.

The boiler had tripped out several times due to flame and ignition failures earlier in the day and had been successfully restarted by the second engineer.

Following the accident, waxy deposits, sufficient to cause intermittent fuel supply problems, were found in the boiler’s distillate fuel supply filter.

Continue reading “Safety warning issued by MAIB following a fatal boiler explosion on ship Manhattan Bridge”

Ditch the rudimentary liquefaction can test advises the Association of Bulk Terminal Operators

Posted on by News Hound
The Association of Bulk Terminal Operators has warned about the use of the can test method
The Association of Bulk Terminal Operators has warned about the use of the can test method

The Association of Bulk Terminal Operators has called for a complete overhaul of the cargo sampling and liquefaction testing protocols for raw ores and less common cargoes, such as nickel ore, fine wet coal and bauxite.

Professor Mike Bradley, a member of the advisory panel to the Association of Bulk Terminal Operators and head of Greenwich University’s Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, said the current measures in place to test cargoes for potential liquefaction are inadequate, especially for raw ores and variable materials being loaded in ports where conditions are inclement.

Continue reading “Ditch the rudimentary liquefaction can test advises the Association of Bulk Terminal Operators”

Lack of routine maintenance led to three injured crew due to collapse of accommodation ladder

Posted on by News Hound
An accommodation ladder attached to a ship
An accommodation ladder attached to a ship

Once the 190m-long bulk carrier was moored alongside, the three crewmen were sent to rig its starboard accommodation ladder. The accommodation ladder was in its stowed position and needed to be unstowed, lowered to the quayside and rigged ready for use.

The top of the accommodation ladder was hinged onto a turntable, which in turn was mounted on a platform attached to the ship’s deck. The access platform at the bottom of the ladder was fitted with a set of collapsible handrails on either side.

Continue reading “Lack of routine maintenance led to three injured crew due to collapse of accommodation ladder”

MAIB report published about the fire on board fishing vessel Ardent II

Posted on by News Hound
The wrecked fishing vessel Ardent II
The wrecked fishing vessel Ardent II

At approximately 0500 on 16 August 2016, a fire started in the crew mess room of the fishing vessel Ardent II while alongside in Peterhead. The three crew sleeping on board escaped without injury but the vessel was extensively damaged and later declared a constructive total loss.

The MAIB investigation identified that:
– An electrical fault or failure of a multi-socket adapter in the crew mess was the most likely cause of the fire
– There was no smoke detector fitted in the crew mess room and it was fortunate one of the crew awoke and discovered the fire

Continue reading “MAIB report published about the fire on board fishing vessel Ardent II”

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