Out of water survival craft FAQ’s have been released by USCG ahead of a new policy in February 2016
The US Coast Guard has published a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about out of water survival craft to answer questions raised ahead of its new policy that takes effect from 26 February 2016.
Question: What laws require me to change my current survival craft?
Answer: Section 609 of the 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act (Public Law No. 111-281 – OCT. 15, 2010), when it added section 3104 to Part B of 46 U.S. Code. This new section prohibited the approval of survival craft unless the craft “ensures that no part of an individual is immersed in water.”
The safety of diesel fuelled heating systems in boats is challenged as never before
The history
For over 40 years diesel fuelled heating has enjoyed a faultless safety record within the marine industry. This has been achieved despite being largely ignored by most regulating bodies.
So why are we writing this? Heaters are safe right? Well, yes, if installed and maintained correctly, diesel fuelled heating is still one of the safest forms of heating you can use.
Unfortunately, in recent years a worrying trend has started to develop, fuelled by a glut of cheap second hand vehicle diesel heaters and dubious internet knowledge.
The context of this article is in relation to improving the safety of operators and crew of existing inboard petrol powered vessels including auxiliary petrol motors and fuel hoses from the possibility of explosion resulting in death or injury.
As one of our clients stated: “This vessel has only exploded once in all my 40 years of fishing. The explosion throwing me backwards onto the net board, so my vessel is perfectly safe!”
This particular case was the result of the fuel tank breather line falling off the fuel tank connection with the resulting fumes allowing free passage through the open boat structure as no bulkheads were included in the construction of the vessel finally allowed to gathering in the bilge under the motor. This nearly resulted in a personal space shuttle, he was lucky.
Ocean Signal has been recognised for world’s smallest man overboard device
The innovative rescueME MOB1 by British company, Ocean Signal, has been nominated for a prestigious DAME Design Award.
Developed by UK communication and safety at sea specialist Ocean Signal as the world’s most advanced Man Overboard locating device, the rescueME MOB1 has been selected by the DAME Awards Jury in the ‘lifesaving and safety equipment’ category.
The MOB1 incorporates both AIS and DSC technologies within the most compact product on the market at 30% smaller than similar products. The easy-to-use device has been designed to integrate into a life jacket, ensuring the best chance of rapid rescue for an MOB in extreme conditions.
A new Joint concentrated initiative is being launched to familiarise crew on enclosed space entry
The Maritime Authorities of the Tokyo and the Paris Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control will launch a joint concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) on crew familiarisation for enclosed space entry.
The aim of the CIC is to ensure effective procedures and measures are in place to safeguard seafarers on board ships when entering and working in enclosed spaces and to check compliance with the applicable requirements of the SOLAS Convention.
The GPS Battler has been the subject of two separate MAIB investigations as a result of two fatalities
This reports two MAIB’s investigations of the deaths of crewmen from the workboat GPS Battler while the vessel was operating in Spain.
On 13 August 2014, the vessel’s master drowned soon after the open tender returning him from the marina in Almeira to the anchored workboat was overwhelmed in choppy seas. The tender flooded rapidly and started to submerge. The master initially swam clear but soon lost consciousness and could not be revived.
On 5 January 2015, a crewman joining GPS Battler as mate fell into the water from quayside in Marin while waiting for the access arrangements to the vessel to be made safe. The mate was soon motionless and was recovered from the water by the Spanish Coastguard.
Mooring line failure on board LNG tanker, Zarga – MAIB issues urgent safety notice
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), has issued a safety bulletin to highlight urgent safety lessons that have arisen in the early stages of its investigation into the mooring line failure on board LNG tanker, Zarga.
Zarga was working alongside South Hook LNG terminal, Milford Haven, when the mooring line failure resulted in serious injury to a deck officer on 2nd March 2015. The mooring line parted during a berthing operation and resulted in the deck officer being struck and obtaining severe head trauma.
The IMO and Bangladeshi Government has agreed to collaborate to improve ship recycling standards
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh have signed a landmark agreement to work together to improve safety and environmental ship recycling standards in the country.
A Memorandum of Understanding formalizing the cooperation between the two was signed by Mr Nicolaos Charalambous, Director, Technical Cooperation Division, IMO and Mr Md. Ashadul Islam, Additional Secretary, Economic Relations Division of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Bangladesh, on 10 April 2014.
As a result of recent enclosed space deaths affecting seafarers Nautilus is calling for action
Nautilus International is calling for the UK to lead a ‘new and concerted drive to end the appalling litany’ of enclosed space deaths that are currently affecting seafarer.
The Union has written to shipping minister John Hayes following the latest incident, in which two seafarers died in a cargo hold of the Isle of Man flagged Carisbrooke Shipping general cargo vessel Sally Ann C last month.
Investigations into the incident – which took place off the coast of west Africa – are underway, but it is known that the chief officer and chief engineer died after entering a hold where timber was stowed and the second officer had to be rescued after losing consciousness when he went to the aid of his colleagues.
Scottish Minister, Richard Lochhead, calls for funding for emergency towing vehicles to be extended
The provision for Emergency Towing Vehicles should be reviewed immediately and extended beyond March 2016, Richard Lochhead said during the recent national marine plan debate.
This call comes as a result of the recent sinking of the Cemfjord and the grounding of a large cargo ship Lysblink Seaways at Ardnamurchan Point.
The UK Government must reassure maritime industries that emergency tug provision is available across Scotland’s waters including the Western Isles and the west coast of Scotland. Marine industries bring approximately £18 billion into the Scottish economy and there must be adequate provision to protect these interests and the marine environment itself. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the development of Scotland’s seas stay within environmental limits, which is why we have developed this plan. The plan outlines the Government’s vision for the sustainable development and use of the marine environment. It provides clarity and flexibility to developers and decision makers on Scotland’s priorities for sustainable use of the sea.
South Asia still the preferred end of life location says NGO Shipbreaking Platform. Photo: NGO Shipbreaking Platform
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform has released a complete list of all ship owners and their ships sold for breaking last year.
The Statistics
Out of a total of 1026 ships dismantled globally in 2014, 641 – representing 74% of the total gross tonnage (GT) scrapped – were sold to substandard facilities in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh where ships are dismantled directly on tidal beaches. None of the South Asian yards comply with international standards for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling.
End-of-life ships contain toxic materials such as asbestos, heavy metals, PCBs, oil residues and organic waste within their structures – these pollutants can not be contained or safely removed on a tidal beach. The demolition of the largest movable man-made structures is hazardous and must be conducted in a controlled manner using adequate infrastructure such as cranes as well as necessary health and safety provisions – in 2014 the Platform reported 23 deaths and 66 severe injuries due to accidents such as explosions, workers crushed under steel plates and falling from heights on the South Asian beaches.
The recent loss in mid-Atlantic of the a.s.v. CHEEKI RAFIKI and the sad loss of four lives has brought very clearly to public and professional attention the problem of fin or pendulum keel detachment and consequent capsize of many apparently perfectly good boats. Keel failure is a very serious problem from a marine surveying point of view and the author has made a detailed study of a very similar loss that took place in February 2007 in the English Channel.
To put the matter into perspective it was first necessary to look into some published historic data. Because of their concern over the number of reported keel failures, the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) developed a Keel Structure Working Party to investigate and report on the problem. As a starter they produced a data base of known failures and investigated 72 of those that had been reported since 1984 and which involved no fewer than 24 deaths by drowning. The problem with the data, however, is that it records only the worst cases in which the keel had been pulled off or otherwise lost from the hull usually resulting in a capsize and an actual total loss. The marine surveyor investigating such a casualty will frequently find that it is very difficult to establish the prime cause of failure and, in particular, to differentiate between a loss caused by a design and/or manufacturing fault and a casualty resulting from human error such as a collision or a grounding. He must be particularly careful to avoid listening and paying credence to usually ill informed bar room or internet gossip.
