International News

Fire safety onboard ships remains a continuous concern warns Gard Club

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Aftermath of fire engine - Photo credit: Gard Club
Aftermath of fire engine – Photo credit: Gard Club

The Gard Club has provided useful information and guidance about fire safety onboard ships, stressing that fire accidents remain a continuous cause for concern.

In April 2022, the US Coast Guard released its Port State Control (PSC) Annual Report 2021. Findings related to inadequate fire safety systems and arrangements on board visiting ships top the PSC’s list of causes for detainable deficiencies. It is a requirement of SOLAS Reg. II-2/14 that all fire protection equipment shall be kept in good order and readily available for use. It is also a requirement of SOLAS Reg. I/11 that any defects which affect the safety of the ship or its continued compliance with statutory requirements are to be reported to class and the flag administration says Gard Club on its website. Continue reading “Fire safety onboard ships remains a continuous concern warns Gard Club”

Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2022 published

Posted on by News Hound
Allianz have released their 2022 Safety and Shipping Review
Allianz have released their 2022 Safety and Shipping Review

Shipping continued its long-term positive safety trend over the past year but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the growing number of costly issues involving larger vessels, crew and port congestion challenges resulting from the shipping boom, and managing challenging decarbonization targets, means there is no room for complacency, according to the Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2022.

The 2021 loss total is made more impressive by the fact that there are an estimated 130,000 ships in the global fleet today, compared with some 80,000 30 years ago. Such progress reflects the increased focus on safety measures over time through training and safety programs, improved ship design, technology and regulation. Continue reading “Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2022 published”

New report published to enhance FPSO safety

Posted on by News Hound
FPSO safety is the focus of a new report
FPSO safety is the focus of a new report

ABS has published industry best practices to address the challenges posed by an aging global Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) safety.

Enhancing Safety on FPSOs: Operations and Maintenance is the output from an ABS-led working group consisting of Chevron, Shell Trading (U.S.) Company, Petrobras, MODEC and SBM as well as The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry, and the U.S. Coast Guard 8th District. Continue reading “New report published to enhance FPSO safety”

Certain ship’s tanks could be subjected to severe microbial attack

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Microbial attack is a concern on some ships says Lloyd's Register
Microbial attack is a concern on some ships says Lloyd’s Register

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has said that certain ship’s tanks could be subjected to severe microbial attack, causing significant losses in plating thickness. According to LR, this is a result of biological action where the fluid in the tank has been stagnant during an enforced period of reduced operational status. Tanks likely to be affected are those that may have higher biological loads, such as Grey Water and Treated Black Water. Also vulnerable are Distillate (MGO) Tanks, which, if not used, could exhibit this phenomenon due to the presence of condensation. Continue reading “Certain ship’s tanks could be subjected to severe microbial attack”

Fatal fall accident during a wire change operation

Posted on by News Hound
The Swedish Club have described a fatal fall where an AB lost his balance during a wire change
The Swedish Club have described a fatal fall where an AB lost his balance during a wire change

The Swedish Club  has described a fatal fall incident in its latest monthly safety bulletin about how an AB lost his balance during a wire change operation, resulting in him falling onto the hatch cover from a height of about 8 metres and losing his life.

It was an early spring morning with clear skies and calm seas and the vessel was sailing in the open seas. The Chief Officer had assembled the deck crew in the deck office and instructed them about the planned job for the day which was to change the wire of one of the deck cranes. All members were designated a job and the risk assessment Continue reading “Fatal fall accident during a wire change operation”

Gard recommends vigilance about liquefaction of solid bulk cargoes

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Gard warns about liquefaction risk of solid bulk cargoes
Gard warns about liquefaction risk of solid bulk cargoes

Gard P&I Club has recently been notified of new incidents where solid bulk cargoes classified as Group A, liable to liquefy, have been loaded with moisture content in excess of the transportable moisture limit (TML). Gard reminds its members and others to remain vigilant when loading such solid bulk cargoes.

In the first case, the vessel was loading copper concentrates in Peru. The cargo was partially loaded when the Master observed pooling of free water in the holds and cargo spatter; i.e., cargo splashing up on the sides of holds when dropped from grabs. Both of these are considered red flags when loading Group A cargo. Continue reading “Gard recommends vigilance about liquefaction of solid bulk cargoes”

Lack of stability book knowledge led to landing barge capsize

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Landing barge capsized due to lack of stability book knowledge
Landing barge capsized due to lack of stability book knowledge

On 21 August 2019, a landing barge (operated as a Class 1E and 2D) capsized while transiting from Great Mackerel Beach to Pittwater north of Sydney. AMSA has provided the lessons learnt from this event.

Leading up to the incident the landing barge loaded a vacuum suction truck and secured it to the starboard side of the deck so that the master could maintain forward visibility from the wheelhouse while navigating the vessel. Following, the vessel listed to starboard and subsequently capsized shortly after leaving Great Mackerel Beach. The investigation found at the time of the incident no wind or wave action was present. Continue reading “Lack of stability book knowledge led to landing barge capsize”

Norway inspects vessels with battery installations with low IP rating

Posted on by News Hound
Vessels with battery installations with a low IP rating of less than IP-44 are being inspected.
Vessels with battery installations with a low IP rating of less than IP-44 are being inspected.

As a consequence of the Brim accident on 11 March 2021 and a preliminary report from the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority, the Norwegian Maritime Authority is carrying out inspections on vessels with battery installations with a low IP rating of less than IP-44.

These inspections are ongoing, with surveyors having detected salt in several battery rooms as a result of humid air or water intrusion.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority has received a report from a battery supplier pointing out that there is a significant risk of incidents involving systems that have a low IP rating Continue reading “Norway inspects vessels with battery installations with low IP rating”

DW investigation reveals bilge pump dumping at sea is a bigger problem than most realise

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Ships are dumping oily wastewater illegally by using a bilge pump.
Ships are dumping oily wastewater illegally by using a bilge pump.

The illegal dumping of oily wastewater into the ocean from ships, by using a bilge pump, is likely much more widespread than previously known and largely goes unpunished, according to an investigation from German media company DW. Despite oily waste dumping being prohibited globally under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), it continues to be shockingly common as vessels continue to pollute the world’s ocean with oil wastewater. Continue reading “DW investigation reveals bilge pump dumping at sea is a bigger problem than most realise”

Seafarer lives are being risked unnecessarily during lifeboat drills

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Lifeboat drills are risking seafarers lives unnecessarily
Lifeboat drills are risking seafarers lives unnecessarily

Seafarers are dying needlessly in lifeboat accidents when maritime legislation doesn’t actually require vessels to be manned during drills.

InterManager, the international trade association for ship and crew managers, is raising awareness of this fact by highlighting a legislative change which means that it is not necessary for crew to be onboard when lifeboats are tested.

SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3.3 requires each lifeboat to be launched at least once every three months Continue reading “Seafarer lives are being risked unnecessarily during lifeboat drills”

EU announces allocate €1 billion at Our Ocean Conference

Posted on by News Hound
EU flags
EU flags

During the Our Ocean Conference in Palau, the EU renewed its pledges towards international Ocean governance, by presenting a list of 44 commitments for the 2020-2022 period for an amount of almost €1 billion.

The Our Ocean Conference is a key moment for countries across the world, civil society, and industry to commit to concrete and significant actions to protect the ocean. Continue reading “EU announces allocate €1 billion at Our Ocean Conference”

Canada Safe Boating Awareness Week 21-27 May 2022

Posted on by News Hound
Safe Boating Awareness week 21-27 May 2022
Safe Boating Awareness week 21-27 May 2022

The 2022 Safe Boating Awareness campaign will still be reaching out to Canadian boaters but, may be a little different in many ways.

Boating is not quite into full gear yet, with some areas of the country open and some soon to open. Because many are getting onto the water in time for Canada Safe Boating Awareness week, we want to remind you of not just our 5 key messages for boating safely, we will also want you to keep in mind recommendations related to physical distancing and who should be and not be on your boat. Continue reading “Canada Safe Boating Awareness Week 21-27 May 2022”

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