MAIB releases its report on the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship

Damaged propeller from the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship
Damaged propeller from the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship

At 1328:21 on 11 May 2015, the Bahamas registered Hamburg cruise ship grounded on charted rocks near the New Rocks buoy in the Sound of Mull, Scotland. The accident caused considerable raking damage to the hull and rendered the port propeller, shaft and rudder unserviceable.

There were no injuries and the vessel continued on its passage to Tobermory.

The investigation found that, having been unable to enter Tobermory Bay on arrival, the passage plan was not re-evaluated or amended. Combined with poor bridge team management and navigational practices, this resulted in the vessel running into danger and grounding. Despite the loud noise and vibration resulting from the grounding, the bridge team did not initiate the post-grounding checklist, no musters were held and neither the managers of the Hamburg cruise ship, nor any shore authorities were notified of the accident.

Continue reading “MAIB releases its report on the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship”

Japan P&I Club warns of increasing ignition during petcoke loading in Venezuela

Japan P&I Club Logo
Japan P&I Club Logo

Petcoke (petroleum coke) is a byproduct of the oil refinery coking process that produces low-cost fuel, often with a high sulphur content. Petcoke may also be known as green delayed coke, sponge coke, needle coke, delayed coke or raw coke-fuel grade. Petcoke is over 90 percent carbon and emits 5 to 10% more carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal on a per-unit of-energy basis when it is burned. As petcoke has a higher energy content, petcoke emits between 30 and 80 percent more CO2 than coal per unit of weight.

Continue reading “Japan P&I Club warns of increasing ignition during petcoke loading in Venezuela”

Death of workboat Carol Anne skipper could have been avoided says MAIB Report

The collapsed crane which caused the death of the Carol Anne skipper
The collapsed crane which caused the death of the Carol Anne skipper

The MAIB has now released its report into the incident in which skipper, Jamie Kerr, died on the Carol Anne when the crane fitted to the vessel collapsed leaving the reader in little doubt that this was an avoidable accident. The installation of a crane to a workboat adds significant challenges for the marine surveyor when assessing the structure as this report highlights.

On 30 April 2015, an Atlas lorry loader crane fitted on the workboat Carol Anne collapsed while being used to offload a net at a fish farm at Balure on Loch Spelve, Scotland. The crane fell directly onto the workboat’s skipper, who was declared dead at the scene. The crane had been in operation since its installation just six and a half weeks earlier. It was not overloaded when it failed.

Continue reading “Death of workboat Carol Anne skipper could have been avoided says MAIB Report”

Coastal deaths at five year high: RNLI warns to Respect the Water

a RNLI Lifeboat
a RNLI Lifeboat

Coastal fatality figures released on 9 June by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) show the number of deaths at the UK coast reached a five year high in 2015, with 168 people losing their lives. The number of near fatal incidents was higher still, with the RNLI’s UK lifeboat crews and lifeguards saving 385 lives in 2015. This has lead to the Respect The Water campaign.

The figures are released as the charity enters the third year of its national drowning prevention campaign, Respect the Water, which aims to halve accidental coastal deaths by 2024.

Continue reading “Coastal deaths at five year high: RNLI warns to Respect the Water”

MED directive for domestic passenger ships and vessels consultation open

Will these life jackets meet the MED Directive? The consultation is open
Will these life jackets meet the MED Directive? The consultation is open

Marine equipment of a safety, or anti-pollution nature (such as lifejackets, fire extinguishers, oily water separators and ships’ radios and radars) installed onboard UK vessels must meet performance and testing standards to ensure it functions as required. Equipment required according to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions is to be of an approved type and in the European Union (EU), this is achieved through Council Directive 96/98/EC2, otherwise known as the Marine Equipment Directive (MED).

Difficulties have been observed in implementing the MED Directive, particularly regarding protection of the EU market against non-compliant and fraudulent equipment and the communication of the applicable testing standards for equipment within the scope of the MED.

Continue reading “MED directive for domestic passenger ships and vessels consultation open”

The importance of fire safety in engine rooms is highlighted

An engine room post fire

DNV GL has been considering the aspects of fire safety in engine rooms with respect to both new-build and ships in service and offers the following advice. Insulation, screening and the routing of pipes cannot be easily addressed in the design and approval phase. As a result, DNV GL are keen to remind people, including surveyors that these aspects require adequate attention during the new-build construction phase.

Insulation and screening deteriorate during the vessel’s operational phase and require extra attention during the vessel’s in service phase. Often, deficiencies within these two aspects are easy to detect during a survey. However, missing insulation or screening is not always easy to identify, especially on relatively new ships. Therefore, it is important that all requirements are met when the vessel is delivered – making follow-up during the ship’s lifetime simpler.

Continue reading “The importance of fire safety in engine rooms is highlighted”

MAIB reports on the girting and capsize of mooring launch Asterix

The Asterix
The Asterix

The MAIB report, recently published, into the incident leading to the ultimate loss of Asterix explains the issues surrounding the girting and capsize of the mooring launch while assisting manoeuvring of the small chemical tanker Donizetti at Fawley oil refinery, Southampton UK points to lack of communication and training. The two crew from the launch were rescued, the coxswain having been trapped in the upturned wheelhouse for more than an hour. The launch later sank however there was no pollution and although later recovered, the launch was declared a constructive total loss.

Continue reading “MAIB reports on the girting and capsize of mooring launch Asterix”

Sailors’ Society releases free Wellness at Sea app for seafarers

Sailors’ Society has launched Wellness at Sea app, a free app for seafarers
Sailors’ Society has launched Wellness at Sea app, a free app for seafarers

Sailors’ Society, one of the largest seafarer support charities operating internationally, has launched Wellness at Sea app, a free app for seafarers.

Wellness at Sea app is the next step in Sailors’ Society improving on board health and well-being at sea and puts seafarers’ wellness in their own hands.

Sandra Welch, Sailors’ Society’s deputy chief executive, said: “Sailors’ Society’s Wellness at Sea coaching programme has been well received by the industry and we were keen to take it to the next level by putting the tools to enhance and monitor well-being in the hands Continue reading “Sailors’ Society releases free Wellness at Sea app for seafarers”

European Community Shipowners’ Associations says Alang recycling processes have improved

ALANG shipyard
ALANG shipyard

Ship recycling practices in Alang, India, are gradually improving according to the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA). It says the European Commission should acknowledge this positive development under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation. Adopting an overly restrictive approach will discourage first movers and further delay the entry into force of the IMO Hong Kong Convention.

These are the main messages that European Community Shipowners’ Associations took home from a fact-finding visit held last week in Alang, India. The visit was organised in cooperation with the Indian government, Continue reading “European Community Shipowners’ Associations says Alang recycling processes have improved”

UK MCA issues Marine Guidance Notes MGN 547 and MGN 552

A bunch of dirt
A bunch of dirt

The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued two new marine guidance notices on MGN 547 and MGN 552 in recent days.

MGN 547: Solid bulk cargoes – safe carriage of bauxite.
The purpose of this Marine Guidance Note is to advise the industry of the circular issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, CCC.1/Circ.2, on safe carriage of bauxite and raise awareness of the possible dangers of liquefaction associated with carriage of bauxite.

Continue reading “UK MCA issues Marine Guidance Notes MGN 547 and MGN 552”

DNV GL issues technical guidance for deck cargo on bulk carriers

DNV publishes guidance on deck cargo for bulk carriers
DNV publishes guidance on deck cargo for bulk carriers

DNV GL has issued Technical and Regulatory News including all related information you need when preparing a deck cargo for bulk carriers.

Structural strength
The deck and hatch covers on modern bulk carriers usually have a structural capacity of around 2.0 to 2.5 t/m2 of uniformly distributed load (UDL), without any reinforcements. This load corresponds to the green sea pressure used in the approval of the vessel. With a few minor reinforcements, it may be possible to increase the UDL, especially for the deck area.

Stability documentation
Compliance with applicable stability and longitudinal strength criteria in deck cargo loading conditions shall be shown in updated/amended stability manuals.

In general, intact GM limit curves shall be recalculated taking into account an additional wind profile area from deck cargo.

Continue reading “DNV GL issues technical guidance for deck cargo on bulk carriers”

MAIB report into the Hoegh Osaka grounding published

The capsized Hoegh Osaka
The capsized Hoegh Osaka

At 2109 on 3 January 2015, the pure car and truck carrier Hoegh Osaka was rounding West Bramble buoy in The Solent when it developed a significant starboard list causing some cargo shift and consequent flooding.

With the list in excess of 40°, the ship lost steerage and propulsion, and subsequently drifted onto Bramble Bank, grounding at 2115.

Hoegh Osaka had sailed from the port of Southampton, bound for Bremerhaven, at 2006. A pilot was embarked and there were 24 crew on board. Following the accident, all crew were successfully evacuated from the ship or recovered from the surrounding waters. There was no pollution. A major salvage operation successfully refloated Hoegh Osaka and it was subsequently taken to a safe berth in Southampton on 22 January.

Continue reading “MAIB report into the Hoegh Osaka grounding published”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Show details Hide details
Performance & Marketing Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. This also helps us optimise our marketing campaigns. User data sent to Google Analytics may be used for ad personalization and measurement of our ad campaigns. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Show details Hide details