A catalogue of failures left navy personnel unprepared to fight USS Bonhomme Richard fire reveals investigation report

The Engine room fire aftermath - Photo credit: US Navy
Photo credit: US Navy

A scathing report extending to more than 400 pages by the US Navy into the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard in 2020 has concluded that the loss of the ship was “completely preventable” and that there were major failures within the military chain of command that allowed the fire to destroy the warship.

USS Bonhomme Richard fire on 12 July, 2020, and burned for four days. The report identifies 36 sailors, including five admirals, as having contributed to the loss of the ship. The report concluded that there were “four categories of causal factors that allowed for the accumulation of significant risk and led to an ineffective fire response: the material condition of the ship, the training and readiness of the ship’s crew, the integration between the ship and supporting shore-based firefighting organisations, and the oversight by commanders across multiple organisations”. Continue reading “A catalogue of failures left navy personnel unprepared to fight USS Bonhomme Richard fire reveals investigation report”

ABS Port State Control Quarterly Report for Q3 2021 published

ABS Quartly control report Q3 2021The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Quarterly Report on Port State Control (PSC) provides information to owners on deficiencies identified on ABS vessels during inspections carried out by the various PSC regimes globally during the 3rd Quarter of 2021.

The report is being made available to assist owners by providing awareness of potential areas of concern that have been identified on ABS classed vessels.

Port State Control inspections have proven to be an effective tool for eliminating substandard vessels that may be in operation, which may impact maritime safety and the marine environment. A ship is regarded as substandard if the hull, machinery, equipment, or operational Continue reading “ABS Port State Control Quarterly Report for Q3 2021 published”

Maritime New Zealand report highlights recreational boating accidents between 2015 and 2020

Maritime New Zealand report highlights recreational boating accidents between 2015 and 2020
Maritime New Zealand report highlights recreational boating accidents between 2015 and 2020

Each year a number of people die in recreational boating accidents, an activity pursued for enjoyment, or for the benefit of friends or family. Each accident is tragic and has its own unique set of circumstances, but the common factors across these accidents can help highlight ways that similar deaths may be prevented in the future.

This report by Maritime New Zealand is intended to give an overview of fatal recreational boating accidents between the beginning of 2015 and the end of 2020, and to provide additional insight into a number of key characteristics and identified patterns. Continue reading “Maritime New Zealand report highlights recreational boating accidents between 2015 and 2020”

Guidelines for securing road vehicles onboard Ro-Ros published

Trucks coming off a ro-Ro ferryThe ro-ros ship should carry a Cargo Securing Manual, while the decks of a ship intended for road vehicles should be provided with securing points. The arrangement of securing points should be left to the discretion of the shipowner provided that for each road vehicle or element of a combination of road vehicles there is the following minimum arrangement of securing points:

– The distance between securing points in the longitudinal direction should in general not exceed 2.5 m. However, there may be a need for the securing points in the forward and after parts of the  ro-ros ship to be more closely spaced than they are amidships.
– The athwartships spacing of securing points should not be less than 2.8 m nor more than 3 m. However, there may be a need for the securing points in the forward and after parts of the ship to be more closely spaced than they are amidships. Continue reading “Guidelines for securing road vehicles onboard Ro-Ros published”

Superyachts must do more to raise on-board safety says Lloyd’s Register

Lloyd's Register logoLloyd’s Register, the world’s largest yacht classification society, is calling on the industry to step up enforcement of superyachts on-board safety at sea rules.

“The number one priority of any yacht should be to provide a quality service, but with safety being one of the most dominant values,” said Thomas Zeferer, manager of marine training services for Northern Europe at Lloyd’s Register.

“A culture of behaviour-based safety must start from the top (and) filter down to the guests. Setting the right example means providing quality service, but also telling guests when they are doing something that is fundamentally unsafe.” Continue reading “Superyachts must do more to raise on-board safety says Lloyd’s Register”

ICOMIA Sustainability Guide, formerly the Environment Guide, updated and republished

ICOMIA Sustainability Guide, formerly the Environment Guide, updated and republished
ICOMIA Sustainability Guide, formerly the Environment Guide, updated and republished

ICOMIA has released an updated Sustainability Guide which was previously known as the Environment Guide. Highlighted in blue are the areas that have changed or had new information added in this edition.

The ICOMIA Sustainability Guide features clear and concise outlines of the latest environment legislation affecting the EU, US, Asia and Australia, plus international organisations such as the International Maritime Organisation. In simple terms, the guide explains what the legislation is, why it has been imposed, when it will take effect, who it may affect and how. The Sustainability Guide is an invaluable tool for anyone who is operating in the global recreational marine industry. Continue reading “ICOMIA Sustainability Guide, formerly the Environment Guide, updated and republished”

Report analyzing the impacts of underwater noise in Europe published by EMSA

Report analyzing the impacts of underwater noise in Europe published by EMSA
Report analyzing the impacts of underwater noise in Europe published by EMSA

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has commissioned a study to consolidate information on the subject of continuous Underwater radiated noise (URN) from shipping, in order to derive recommendations for a future multi-stakeholder strategy within Europe. The 103 page report is now available to read.

The study focussed on four main subject areas, with noise sources, environmental impact and policy providing the basis for the main goal, mitigation. The main source of URN from shipping is broadband propeller cavitation, radiating noise over a large frequency range. Machinery, primarily main propulsion engines, can also have an important contribution. Continue reading “Report analyzing the impacts of underwater noise in Europe published by EMSA”

New report highlights significant acceleration in maritime digitalisation

New report highlights significant acceleration in maritime digitalisation
New report highlights significant acceleration in maritime digitalisation

Inmarsat in partnership with Thetius has published a new report pinpointing the impact of Covid-19 in helping to force the acceleration of global maritime digitalisation. The report, ‘A Changed World: The state of digital transformation in a post-Covid-19 maritime industry’, captures a sector fast-tracking IT based solutions from November 2019. It also characterises Covid-19 as a “universal disruptor and catalyst for digital transformation”.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a large increase in the adoption of digital tools across the industry. But there is more to digital transformation than adopting digital tools; genuine transformation is still some years away. There is zero doubt that the pandemic has accelerated the process given that average daily data consumption per vessel increased from 3.4 to 9.8 gigabytes between January 2020 and March 2021. Continue reading “New report highlights significant acceleration in maritime digitalisation”

Preventing wet cargo damage

Preventing wet cargo damage - Image: Swedish Club
Preventing wet cargo damage – Image: Swedish Club

Claims relating to wet cargo damage are all too frequent. Many of these can be avoided entirely with a robust pre-loading condition checking procedure. While humidity and condensation are inevitable challenges through the supply chain, pre-existing CTU damages should be an easy check.

As TT Club regularly articulates, around 65% of cargo damage incidents are attributable in part to the way that goods are packed within the cargo transport unit (CTU). The CTU Code and the more recent ‘CTU Code – a quick guide’ and complementary container packing checklist published by the Cargo Integrity Group, provide invaluable guidance for actors in the supply chain to mitigate such risks. Continue reading “Preventing wet cargo damage”

Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan

Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan
Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an accident report focusing on the engine room fire aboard fishing vessel Master Dylan. At about 0745 on 1 December 2020, the fishing vessel Master Dylan was trawling for shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico when an explosion occurred in the engine room.

The captain attempted to extinguish the fire, but was unsuccessful. A nearby fishing vessel rescued the crew from the burning vessel. An offshore supply vessel eventually extinguished the fire using water cannons. Master Dustin II, a vessel owned by the same company, proceeded to tow the Master Dylan to the nearest point of land. But in doing so, the Master Continue reading “Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan”

Recycled dead boats – an environmental threat in pictures

Scuppered dreams and recycled dead boats - an environmental threat in pictures
Scuppered dreams and recycled dead boats – an environmental threat in pictures

As long ago as 1999, the US based naval architect, Eric Sponberg, raised the alarm within the recreational boating community with his outspoken article entitled ‘Recycled Dead Boats.’ To quote his actual words, he said: “The industry has ‘shot itself in the foot’ by building boats out of such a durable and almost indestructible material as fibreglass (GRP.)”

Almost a quarter of a century later, the Centre for Aquatic Environments at Brighton University in the UK has picked up the baton and recently produced a video that vividly emphasises the same ongoing challenge. The film features academic research information, and real-life contributions from various stakeholders around the world, clearly making the point; that not enough has been done to address the threats to the environment, or to the future sustainability of boating. Continue reading “Recycled dead boats – an environmental threat in pictures”

Lloyd’s Register and UK P&I Club launch new Port State Control checklist app

Lloyd’s Register and UK P&I Club launch new Port State Control checklist app
Lloyd’s Register and UK P&I Club launch new Port State Control checklist app

Lloyd’s Register (LR) and UK P&I Club have released a new and improved Port State Control (PSC) checklist app. The app helps ensure that ship personnel are trained in how to inspect, maintain and operate life-saving equipment and that equipment is ready for use at all times. The app also includes a list of common deficiencies to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and help reduce the risk of PSC detentions.

The full list of checklists featured include ILO MLC, ISM & ISPS, Life Saving Appliances, Marine Fire Safety, Marine Pollution Prevention and Port State Control into one, easy-to-use app. Checklists on the new and improved app are continuously updated to reflect new or amended legislation as it comes into force, so users remain up to date. Continue reading “Lloyd’s Register and UK P&I Club launch new Port State Control checklist app”

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