Rohav: Lack of securing devices on hatch covers leads to death of a crew member reveals investigation report

AIBN report on Rohav
AIBN report on Rohav

The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) has published its report about the incident on 10 September 2018, when a crew member died in an work related accident on board Rohav LLUZ in Bergsfjorden, Senja.

On Monday 10 September 2018 Rohav had just been unloaded and was waiting for instructions for the subsequent order. In the meantime, the motorman was to prepare the holds for new cargo.

Before preparing the hold, he planned to replace a hose in the hydraulic system that operated the cargo hold hatch. When the motorman disconnected the hose, the oil leaked and the hydraulic pressure dropped, Continue reading “Rohav: Lack of securing devices on hatch covers leads to death of a crew member reveals investigation report”

American Club issues guidance for loading steel products when a surveyor is prevented from attending

American Club issues guidance
American Club issues guidance

The American Club has published helpful guidance specifically when third party surveyors are prevented from attending vessels about to load finished steel products.

All systems and equipment should be checked to make sure they are operational. During the voyage to the load port, ballast tanks adjacent to cargo holds should be pressure tested prior to loading, but only if the holds are free of cargo and safety permitting in every respect.

Caution should be taken when washing down holds with brackish river water, which may include saltwater chlorides. A freshwater flush and drying should be performed before loading, and tarpaulins can be laid on the tank top and lower sides of cargo holds, used in addition to dunnage, to provide a physical barrier Continue reading “American Club issues guidance for loading steel products when a surveyor is prevented from attending”

Pilgrim, the Replica ship, sinks in Dana Point Harbor

Replica ship Pilgrim: Photo image by Francine Orr, Los Angeles Times
Replica ship Pilgrim: Photo image by Francine Orr, Los Angeles Times

One of the first times the replica ship Pilgrim was mentioned in the Los Angeles Times, it was under the headline “Vagabond Youth.” It was 1974, and a group of young Southern Californians had answered an ad in the paper from Capt. Ray Wallace, who offered them the experience of a lifetime if they’d pay $1,000 and fly overseas to help him on a boating trip from the Spanish and Portuguese coast all the way back to Monterey — maritime experience recommended but not necessary.

Though the journey was a one-off for the Pilgrim and its crew, the vessel and that trans-Atlantic trip imbued all who spent time on it with a classic sense of adventure.

But after nearly 40 years anchored in in Orange County’s Dana Point Harbor, where hundreds of thousands Continue reading “Pilgrim, the Replica ship, sinks in Dana Point Harbor”

IMO Secretary-General asks for pragmatic approach in response to COVID-19

Kitack Lim
Kitack Lim

IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, has issued a statement and broadcast a video (see below) on COVID-19, stressing the essential need to maintain commerce by sea and protect seafarers’ welfare.

The IMO secretary-General said, “The spread of the coronavirus has placed the entire world in an unprecedented situation. To slow the spread of the disease and mitigate its impacts, travel is being curtailed and borders are being closed. Transport hubs are being affected. Ports are being closed and ships denied entry.”

He added that, it is crucial that the flow of commerce by sea should not be unnecessarily disrupted. At the same time, the safety of life at Continue reading “IMO Secretary-General asks for pragmatic approach in response to COVID-19”

School boat for children in remote Pacific atoll of Fakaofo launched

New school boat for children in remote Pacific atoll
New school boat for children in remote Pacific atoll

Children on the remote atoll of Fakaofo in Tokelau will soon be travelling to school in style on a new school boat built in Christchurch with support from the Pacific Maritime Safety Programme. The Director of Maritime NZ Keith Manch said the boat will provide safe, reliable transport for around 50 children who must cross a lagoon to get to school each day.

The design and construction of the vessel, by ICON Custom Boats in Christchurch, was jointly funded by the Government of Tokelau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The 12.5m school boat has been named Te Kaniva, a name describing the traditional Continue reading “School boat for children in remote Pacific atoll of Fakaofo launched”

Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers

Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers
Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers

EU transport ministers held a meeting in Croatia and adopted a declaration on guidelines for the development of EU maritime policy, calling for an emissions trading scheme to cover ships from all countries with a target of achieving a carbon-neutral and zero pollution waterborne transport sector.

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations has expressed its support, saying, “The declaration clearly shows that the ministers place a huge importance on the competitiveness of the European shipping sector, in view of the vital and strategic role it plays in the EU economy, global trade and the common market.” Continue reading “Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers”

MV Leopold LD: Total loss of power while underway linked to poor crew familiarization says Transport Malta report

The harboured leopold LD
The harboured leopold LD

Transport Malta has published its investigation report on the total loss of power of the bulk carrier MV Leopold LD following the failure of the auxiliary engines and the emergency generator while underway in March 2019. The investigation identified lack of crew familiarization with the correct operation of the compensation damping tank.

MV Leopold LD was en route from the port of Saldanha Bay, South Africa, to Hamburg, Germany, carrying iron ore. On 14 March 2019, the only running Continue reading “MV Leopold LD: Total loss of power while underway linked to poor crew familiarization says Transport Malta report”

Cold straightening of bent shafts may save time and money

Cold straightening of bent shafts may save time and money
Cold straightening of bent shafts may save time and money

The Gard P&I club believe cold straightening of bent shafts may save time and money. Some casualties involve damage to machinery parts which are considered very difficult to repair or deemed irreparable. This includes various types of shafts, such as propeller shafts and rudderstock. Large diameter shafts are subject to bending, which can occur during manufacturing, processing or through subsequent use. Such bending can occur in the rough forging of the shaft and when machining to final dimensions. In lively forgings the final cut for a keyway or similar can create bends. In some circumstances, the shafts will become bent after a period of use, or for Continue reading “Cold straightening of bent shafts may save time and money”

IMO agrees to changes to SOLAS guidelines on ship systems

International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has held the 7th session of the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE), held from 2 – 6 March 2020. ICOMIA has released a report from the meeting and the main items of interest to the superyacht and leisure marine industry are as follows:

On board lifting appliances and winches (OLAW)

During this session, minor modifications were made to the SOLAS amendments in order to align with the draft guidelines which were agreed to at this session. The guidelines address the testing, operation and maintenance of lifting equipment and are broadly in line with the guidance contained in the Code of Safe Working Continue reading “IMO agrees to changes to SOLAS guidelines on ship systems”

Tips and advice for marine surveyors about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Caronavirus imageThe International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) is concerned for the health and well-being of its members as well as any marine surveyor, inspector or examiner travelling locally and/or internationally for work whilst Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread globally.

Already there is evidence that the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is having a profound effect on some areas of the marine surveying profession. But the picture is fluid, changing hourly and by the day, so you are advised to check the current status before you travel for work.

How it spreads

When someone who has COVID-19 coughs or exhales they release droplets of infected fluid. Most of these droplets fall on nearby surfaces and objects, such as desks, tables or telephones. It is possible to catch Coronavirus (COVID-19) by touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching the eyes, nose and/or mouth. If you are standing within one metre of a person with Coronavirus (COVID-19) it is possible to catch it by breathing in droplets coughed out or exhaled by them. In other words, Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads in a similar way to flu. Most people infected with Coronavirus (COVID-19) experience mild symptoms and recover in several days. However, some go on to experience more serious illness and may require hospital care. Risk of serious illness appears to rise with age – so far, people over 40 seem to be more vulnerable than those under 40. People with weakened immune systems and people with conditions such as diabetes, heart and lung disease are also more vulnerable to serious illness.

Give yourself the best chance of avoiding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

You are advised to wash your hands more often than usual and for a minimum of 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, or after being in public areas where other people are doing so. Use alcohol based hand sanitiser if that’s all you have access to.
To reduce the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or your sleeve if you don’t have a tissue (but not your hands) and throw the tissue away immediately. Then wash your hands or use only an alcohol based hand sanitising gel.
Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.

Before travelling:

– Make sure you have the latest information on areas where Coronavirus COVID-19 is spreading (see links below).
– Based on the latest information, you should assess and weight up the risks related to your trip.
– If you are at higher risk of serious illness (e.g. older or with medical conditions such as diabetes, heart and lung disease) avoid travelling to areas where Coronavirus COVID-19 is spreading.
– Consider travelling with small bottles (under 100 cl) of alcohol-based hand sanitiser rub, which facilitates regular hand-washing.

While travelling:

– Wash your hands regularly and stay at least one metre away from people who are coughing or sneezing.
– Ensure you know what to do and who to contact if you start to feel unwell while travelling.
– Ensure you comply with instructions from local authorities in the area you are travelling to. If you are told not to go somewhere you should comply with this and comply with any local restrictions on travel, movement or large gatherings.

When you return from travelling:

– Once you are back from an area where Coronavirus is active you should monitor yourself for symptoms for 14 days and take your temperature twice a day.
– If you develop even a mild cough or low grade fever (i.e. a temperature of 37.3 C or more) you should stay at home and self-isolate. This means avoiding close contact (one metre or nearer) with other people, including family members.
– You should also telephone your local healthcare provider or public health department, giving them details of your recent travel and symptoms.

Useful resources:

World Health Organisation questions and answers page about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Myth-busters about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Worldometer update and latest virus statistics

World Health Organisation Situation Reports (updated daily)

Travel and work safely, but remember it is a rapidly changing situation.

Biofouling: a global challenge that needs rethinking

Impact of biofouling
Impact of biofouling

The rapid pace of technological innovation has had a growing impact on the shipping industry. But as owners and fleet managers face increasing pressure to improve environmental performance, new technologies will be necessary to ensure a profitable and sustainable future. The impact of biofouling on ship fuel use and emissions has generated increasing attention. According to the Clean Shipping Coalition, fouled hulls cost the shipping industry as much as $30 billion per year.

Dr. Volker Bertram, Senior Project Manager at DNV GL, notes that a more proactive technology is needed to curb the build-up of marine Continue reading “Biofouling: a global challenge that needs rethinking”

North P&I Club publishes cargo care checklists for nickel ore, grain and coal cargoes

The North P&I Club has published three helpful checklists
The North P&I Club has published three helpful checklists

The North P&I Club has published three different and helpful checklists about the care of nickel ore, grain and coal cargoes giving details of how to deal with these types of shipments.

North P&I Club Cargo Care Checklist for Nickel Ore

Prior to loading documentation received from shipper is needed.
Also, the Club advises that visual inspection should be conducted before it is loaded to ensure it is safe. Continue reading “North P&I Club publishes cargo care checklists for nickel ore, grain and coal cargoes”

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