The failure of a component on the hydraulic system for on-deck fishing equipment likely led to a fire aboard a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Maine, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. On August 11 last year, the fishing vessel Three Girls was fishing in the Gulf of Maine when a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room.
The five crewmembers and a National Marine Fisheries Service observer abandoned the burning vessel and were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. No injuries or pollution were reported. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $1.3 million. Continue reading “NTSB investigation into fire on fishing vessel Three Girls”
On November 27, 2024, approximately 100 nautical miles off the coast of Virginia, a bulk carrier shipping a type of coal called “Bailey High Vol Coking Coal” experienced consecutive explosions in the two forward cargo holds. While still under investigation, the explosions are likely a result of the accumulation of methane gas that created an explosive atmosphere and resulted in significant damage to the two associated cargo holds. It was soon discovered that the other five cargo holds also had highly elevated levels of methane that were 
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has reported an increase in the number of commercial vessel incidents in the past year. A total of 1,154 incidents were registered on commercial vessels in 2024. Half of these were accidents and the other half were near misses. This represents an increase of about six percent in incidents compared to 2023, according to Vegar Berntsen, Section Manager, Risk Management and Analysis, Norwegian Maritime Directorate. According to Berntsen, smaller vessels are primarily the ones that sink, with the majority being fishing vessels.
Safety inspections of ships are a crucial and mandatory part of maritime operations, ensuring compliance with international regulations and safeguarding crew, cargo, vessels and the environment. Understanding how the process of safety inspections of ships is undertaken and maintaining readiness is essential to avoid deficiencies and ensure smooth operations. A well-prepared master plays a vital role in ensuring successful safety inspections. Masters should conduct regular self-inspections to identify and rectify potential deficiencies, maintain an updated checklist covering all inspection areas, and train crew members on emergency procedures and regulatory 
