The classification of coal has been amended so that it will be treated as both Group A and B, unless otherwise tested.
On 1 January 2019 amendments to the IMSBC Code will apply. In an article to Gard Club, Penelope Cooke of Brookes Bell LLP, explains the impact of these changes on vessels carrying coal cargoes.
The amendments to the IMSBC Code regard the criteria under which coal cargoes are considered Group A, namely liable to liquefy, in addition to Group B chemical hazards which apply to all coal cargoes. Thus, coal cargoes may need the same TML and moisture certification as other Group A cargoes, such as concentrates, nickel ore and iron ore fines.
The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center published an update to its technical note “Marine Safety Center Review of Rigid Hull Inflatable Vessels.”
The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center published an update to its technical note “Marine Safety Center Review of Rigid Hull Inflatable Vessels.” The document provides an alternative design standard equivalent to certain regulatory requirements found in 46 CFR Subchapters T and S for rigid hull inflatable and rigid hull foam collar small passenger vessels (RHIs).
The alternative design standard presented in the technical note provides consideration of the unique stability and structural characteristics of RHIs. These guidelines do not preclude the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) from approving RHI structures and stability or applying alternative requirements or restrictions.
The IMO has adopted the amendment 39-18 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
The UK MCA has released a Merchant Shipping Notice regarding the transport of dangerous goods and marine pollutants in packaged form by sea on ships within UK waters and on UK ships.
The IMO has adopted the amendment 39-18 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. It will enter into force globally on 1 January 2019, with a twelve month “transitional period” until 31 December 2019.
Two crew members, who were inside the deck slewing crane’s cabin, were seriously injured.
Transport Malta’s MSIU has published its investigation report on the slewing deck crane failure onboard the Maltese-flagged product tanker ‘Bozdag’, while the ship was in the port of Tallinn on 28 November 2017.
The report revealed that the dynamic loading and the sudden halt of the free falling loads were two major contributing factors to the failure of the deck slewing crane.
The London P&I Club together with Paul Willis Senior Associate at Hawkins have published a loss prevention guide regarding the risks of carrying coal cargoes. The report gives special consideration to the issues surrounding gas monitoring and ventilation.
The guide mentions that the management of coal cargoes and the proper use of gas detection equipment are vital to prevent coal fire claims. It also details the basic requirements regarding the installation, use and maintenance of gas detection devices and the different types of sensors involved in their operation.
The International Council on Combustion Engines (CIMAC) has released a statement on marine fuel incidents that have occurred this year highlighting that it is unable to draw any firm conclusions about the cause of the problems.
CIMAC Working Group Fuels – WG7 – made the statement after the unusually large number of ships that experienced marine fuel incidents with seemingly on-spec fuels earlier this year. The statement confirms much of what the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has already said on the issue.
The report team found that the risk clearly depends on the level of congestion.
A new Volvo Ocean Race (VOR)-commissioned report has examined ocean racing at night in areas of high vessel traffic density to establish possible steps to mitigate risk following the death of a fisherman during the race.
The independent Volvo High Traffic Density Report follows the collision between Vestas 11th Hour Racing and a fishing vessel this January, in the final stages of the leg into Hong Kong during the most recent edition of the race. The crews recounted that virtually all the vessels had some form of lighting and exhibited AIS. The fishing vessels were either stationary or travelling at slow speeds of 3-6 knots and they did not form an impenetrable barrier.
Dumping plastics into the sea is already prohibited under MARPOL regulations, which also oblige governments to ensure adequate port reception facilities to receive ship waste.
The IMO has pledged to address the significant problem posed by plastics to the marine environment, with the adoption of an action plan which aims to enhance existing regulations and introduce new supporting measures to reduce marine plastic litter from ships.
The plan was adopted on October 26 by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).
Dumping plastics into the sea is already prohibited under MARPOL regulations, which also oblige governments to ensure adequate port reception facilities to receive ship waste. Under the London Convention and Protocol on the dumping of wastes at sea, only permitted materials can be dumped and this waste – such as from dredging – has to be fully assessed to ensure it does not contain harmful materials like plastics.
For the next phase of construction; the installation of the upper decks to take place, the dry dock needed to be flooded and the hull then towed to the wet dock.
Unique Group’s Buoyancy & Ballast division has recently facilitated a high-profile dry dock initiative in Romania, involving the supply and operation of 840t of Seaflex inflatable buoyancy.
The hull and lower decks of the Australian Antarctic Division’s (AAD) new icebreaker Nuyina were constructed in the dry dock initiative at Damen’s Galati Shipyard.
“Our Buoyancy & Ballast division is truly unique within the market and we consistently bring added value to our clients, working in partnership,” said Chris Sparrow, global sales manager, Buoyancy & Ballast at Unique Group.
The atmosphere in each cargo hold should be monitored, at least on a daily basis, for CO, hydrogen sulphide (H2 S), oxygen (O2) and flammable gas (LEL-methane).
London P&I Club has analysed the problems associated with the transportation of coal in bulk, such as self-heating and flammable gas (i.e. methane) release. Self-heating can lead to fires and the production of carbon monoxide (CO), whilst methane release can lead to an explosive atmosphere being generated in the hold.
Self-heating normally occurs in localised hot spots within a bulk cargo, and temperature measurements are unlikely to identify problems. However, when coal self-heats it produces CO, so measuring the concentration of CO is the most effective method to identify a self-heating cargo.
The atmosphere in each cargo hold should be monitored, at least on a daily basis, for CO, hydrogen sulphide (H2 S), oxygen (O2) and flammable gas (LEL-methane). If the holds are being ventilated, then ventilation should be stopped at least Continue reading “Preventing coal cargo from self-heating”
The FRPD 309 sustained damage to the shell plating and forepeak tank forward of the collision bulkhead. In addition, the port anchor was disconnected from its housing and became wedged in the Evco 60’s hull
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada released its investigation report into the collision of the dredger FRPD 309 with the loaded barge Evco 60, on 5 December 2017, in the Fraser River.
The incident
On 04 December 2017, the dredger FRPD 309 departed a shipyard in Delta, BC, to begin dredging in the Fraser River. The vessel is a conventional trailing arm suction dredger, with the bridge and accommodation located forward and machinery space located aft. Before departure, the crew had carried out pre-departure checks, a safety meeting, and emergency drills.
After arriving at the dredging location, the vessel started dredging sand and sediment from the river bed into the hopper using the 2 trailing arms and a dredging pump. When the hopper was filled, the sand and sediment was pumped ashore via a pipeline. The master left the bridge, handing over the command of the vessel to the officer of the watch (OOW). Two engineers, 2 deckhands, and a pipe operator were also on duty.
On the drawing board is a ship known as Havfarm (“Ocean Farm”), 430 metres in length and 54 metres wide, it will lay at anchor, fixed to the seafloor using the offshore industry’s technological solutions.
In conjunction with Nordlaks, NSK Ship Design has designed an aquaculture ship that could be the beginning of a sustainable revolution in the fish farming industry, named the Havfarm.
There is an air of excitement at NSK Ship Design, because they have been quietly working away since June 2015 on a special project for Nordlaks – a project that can be classified as no less than sensational for the fish farming industry.
