A systematic approach to maritime risks

Billowing smoke clouds - A systematic approach to maritime risks
Billowing smoke clouds – A systematic approach to maritime risks

Operating a maritime business is inherently risky. This is so for inland commerce, open ocean navigation, and everything in between. Not only are maritime professionals subject to the whims of Mother Nature, but much of the work itself is dynamic, involving massive vessels, heavy machinery, and hazardous materials. Accordingly, anyone engaged in the maritime industry – from deckhands, machinery operators, and engineers to captains, shoreside support staff, and corporate officers – must be ready to respond to a crisis at a moment’s notice. Because an ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure, leaders of maritime businesses should expect that crises will occur and train their workforce for the inevitable, a systematic approach is needed to maritime risks. Continue reading “A systematic approach to maritime risks”

Engine room fires are still a major concern

Thermal image of main engine max temperature
Thermal image of main engine max temperature

Gard saw five fires originating in the main and auxiliary engines in the first month of 2025 alone. Tragically, some of these engine room fires resulted in fatalities and serious injuries to seafarers. While it is too early to draw any conclusions about how the rest of the year will go, it may be helpful to review experiences from recent years. Although the main cause of these fires may not be identical, there are certain similarities in the underlying patterns of the fires. Continue reading “Engine room fires are still a major concern”

Things surveyors cannot find

Sunset over a harbor - Things a surveyor cannot find
Sunset over a harbor – Things a surveyor cannot find

The marine surveying industry has changed dramatically over the almost 50 years we’ve been boating. Back in the early days there were not any standards or certifying organizations for surveyors. Those that had industry experience and connections just ‘hung out their shingle’. Some were very good and some were very bad! Continue reading “Things surveyors cannot find”

Coal Cargoes: Avoiding Explosion and Self-Heating

Coal cargoes
Coal cargoes

Coal is a fossil fuel with varying properties, depending on its source and handling before it is loaded aboard ship. Some coals can self- heat, and some emit methane – characteristics that can create fire and explosion risks to the crew, vessel and cargo making coal cargoes dangerous. Continue reading “Coal Cargoes: Avoiding Explosion and Self-Heating”

Do you know when fire protection systems onboard should be inspected?

Fire protection systems
Fire protection systems

All fire protection systems and appliances should at all times be in good order and available for immediate use while a ship is in service. A helpful recent Marine Notice by the Palau Ship Registry highlights and gives guidance about the requirements of their inspection regime.

Fire protection systems need to be inspected weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually, as follows to ensure proper functioning. Continue reading “Do you know when fire protection systems onboard should be inspected?”

Lightning protection at sea

Lightning breaking across the dark sky
Lightning breaking across the dark sky

Venturing across the expansive open sea is an exhilarating yet unpredictable experience, with ever-changing weather patterns constantly threatening the safety of boats, their crew and passengers. Among the most dreaded natural occurrences faced by boat owners are lightning strikes. Fortunately, the advent of advanced technologies, like the Sertec CMCE (Compensador Múltiple de Campo Electroatmosférico) Lightning protection de-ionising technology, now offers boat owners a dependable solution to shield their vessels from the destructive impact of lightning strikes. A technology that does not allow the conditions for a lightning strike by de-ionisation, creating a protected area into a balanced stable state, so that no build-up of opposite charge exists even in the most severe storm and while under motion; a technology that is passive and requires no power. Continue reading “Lightning protection at sea”

Brookes Bell: Why Are There So Many Soya Bean Claims?

In 2023, the global soya bean market (also known as soybeans and soyabeans) was valued at over USD 200.37 billion, and it is projected to grow to USD $259 billion by 2032.The shipping industry plays a significant role in supporting this global industry, but behind these impressive figures lies a perilously narrow window for safe ocean transport. Despite being loaded in sound condition and carried by well-maintained vessels on unexceptional voyages, soya beans continue to arrive in a deteriorated condition far too often. Claims related to spoilage frequently run into millions of dollars, exposing shipowners, operators, and marine insurers to significant financial risk. Continue reading “Brookes Bell: Why Are There So Many Soya Bean Claims?”

Allianz Risk Barometer 2025: Cyber risk climbs to the top

Cyber incidents are the top global risk for 2025 and by a higher margin than ever before – making it the fourth year in a row that cyber is ranked as the number one risk across industries, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2025.

Top global risks overview
Cyber incidents consolidate their position as the most important risk – with 38% of responses, a record 7% points ahead. Notably, the risk impact of new technologies and developments in artificial intelligence (AI) is a new entrant in the top 10 global risks at #10. Closely interlinked to cyber, business interruption is ranked #2 (31%), just ahead of another related risk, natural catastrophes at #3 (29%). Continue reading “Allianz Risk Barometer 2025: Cyber risk climbs to the top”

China Maritime Safety Administration launches action plan to prevent equipment failure

China Maritime Safety Administration launches action plan
China Maritime Safety Administration launches action plan

The China Maritime Safety Administration has issued a notice announcing a special safety inspection period to prevent the failure of ships’ mechanical and electrical equipment from 7 April 2024 until 31 October 2024. Lloyd’s Register issued an article to provide details about this period of extra scrutiny for ships entering Chinese ports and shipyards, advising foreign classification societies in China to enhance and improve:
– Survey, inspection and testing during new construction
– Survey of conversion, renewal or repair of mechanical and Continue reading “China Maritime Safety Administration launches action plan to prevent equipment failure”

NTSB Investigation: Flooding and sinking of Carib Trader II

Image credit: Gordon Dalzell, shipspotting.com
Image credit: Gordon Dalzell, shipspotting.com

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an investigation report on an incident where the towed cargo vessel Carib Trader II flooded and sunk in March 2022 in the Bahamas.

The Incident

​On March 6, 2022, about 1620 local time, near the Magallanes Bank, about 25 miles northwest of Santo Domingo Cay, Bahamas, the uncrewed general cargo vessel Carib Trader II took on water and sank while being towed by the towing vessel Capt. Beau, which had five crewmembers aboard. A small debris field was reported. There were no injuries. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $752,700. Continue reading “NTSB Investigation: Flooding and sinking of Carib Trader II”

MV Mona fire: Transport Malta issues the report

MV Mona was transiting the Aegean Sea when a fire broke out in the engine room
MV Mona was transiting the Aegean Sea when a fire broke out in the engine room

Transport Malta has published an investigation report about an incident that took place on 14 September 2022. The vessel MV Mona was transiting the Aegean Sea, en route to a dry dock in Tuzla, Türkiye, when a fire broke out in the engine-room. Flames were observed rising above the main engine’s cylinder unit no. 2.

On 11 September 2022, MV Mona departed in ballast condition from the port of Ashdod, Israel, bound for a scheduled dry docking in Tuzla, Türkiye. On 14 September, the vessel was transiting the Aegean Sea, between the Greek islands, and was expected to arrive at Tuzla the next day. The voyage had been uneventful until around 1715 Continue reading “MV Mona fire: Transport Malta issues the report”

Addressing the surge in engine room fires on container ships

statistics show that between 2019 and 2021, there was a sharp increase in engine room fires on container ships.
statistics show that between 2019 and 2021, there was a sharp increase in engine room fires on container ships.

According to DNV, statistics show that between 2019 and 2021, there was a sharp increase in engine room fires on container ships. Preliminary data gathered from public sources indicate that this trend applies to the global fleet – and that for 2022 to 2023, the number of engine room fires remains at the same level as in 2021.

The increase in engine room fires on container ships cannot be seen separately from the increasing number of findings related to dirty engine rooms, missing insulation and screening of oil piping being reported by class surveyors. This is also reflected in the number of PSC detentions related to these issues. Continue reading “Addressing the surge in engine room fires on container ships”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Show details
Performance & Marketing Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. This also helps us optimise our marketing campaigns. User data sent to Google Analytics may be used for ad personalization and measurement of our ad campaigns. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Show details