Marine News

Many ships do not comply with maintenance requirements

Posted on by News Hound

Man in AMSA jacket conducting planned maintenance on a shipBetween 15 January and 28 February 2022, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) conducted a focused inspection campaign (FIC) on planned maintenance. The shocking outcome is that the campaign has revealed a high number of ships failed to comply with the planned maintenance requirements.

The Planned Maintenance Focused Inspection Campaign (FIC) focused on:
– The level of compliance with the planned maintenance system (PMS) requirements of the International Conventions. This included statutory requirements under SOLAS and mandatory PMS requirements from the ISM Code; Continue reading “Many ships do not comply with maintenance requirements”

2012 Cape Town Agreement must be ratified as soon as possible

Posted on by News Hound
Fishing vessel - Image credit: IMO
Fishing vessel – Image credit: IMO

The 11th October 2022 marked the 10th anniversary since the adoption of the 2012 Cape Town Agreement, the key international treaty applicable to large industrial fishing vessels aimed at providing safety standards. IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, has urged for it to be ratified by Member States.

Despite extensive efforts by IMO Member States, other UN agencies, observers and the IMO Secretariat, the Agreement is not yet in force. As a result, there are, as yet, no globally mandatory requirements for the design, construction and equipment of fishing vessels, including life-saving, fire protection and radio-communications equipment to be carried on board. Continue reading “2012 Cape Town Agreement must be ratified as soon as possible”

New Workboat 3 code from the MCA is open for consultation

Posted on by News Hound
New proposed Workboat 3 code from the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency is open for consultation
New proposed Workboat 3 code from the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency is open for consultation

Rules governing workboats, pilot boats and remotely operated vessels have been revised and remade to support innovation in industry. The revised Merchant Shipping (Workboats, Pilot Boats and Remotely Operated Unmanned Vessels) Regulations 2022 and accompanying Workboat 3 Code is now going out for consultation across the marine industry. Continue reading “New Workboat 3 code from the MCA is open for consultation”

Electrical failure leading to loss of steering on bulk carrier

Posted on by News Hound
Damages of an electrical fire - Background image: J Claverie
Background image: J Claverie

An electrical failure caused a bulk carrier to lose steering and crash into a barge near New Orleans last year, resulting in an estimated $6 million in damages, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report reveals.

The bulk carrier Jalma Topic was transiting upriver on the Lower Mississippi River on July 12, 2021, when it lost steering and struck a stationary barge that was being used for office space. No injuries were reported.

During the voyage, the rudder became stuck at port 10 degrees. According to the report, when the pilot noticed the rudder was not responding he took immediate Continue reading “Electrical failure leading to loss of steering on bulk carrier”

Registered Marine Coatings Inspector standard and qualification set for major relaunch

Posted on by News Hound
Registered Marine Coatings Inspector standard and qualification set for major relaunch
Registered Marine Coatings Inspector standard and qualification set for major relaunch

The past couple of years have presented challenges for the resilient global superyacht industry, not least for those whose role it is to inspect and report on the complex coatings systems. The pandemic and other factors beyond the Registered Marine Coatings Inspector (RMCI) team’s control brought the successful programme to a temporary halt. But recent news from RMCI states that the marine coatings inspector is due for a relaunch.

Continue reading “Registered Marine Coatings Inspector standard and qualification set for major relaunch”

Carnage at sea in August. What’s happened and why?

Posted on by CEO
Superyacht Hooligan pictured. Photo credit - Nomme Rescue Unit, Tallin
Superyacht Hooligan pictured. Photo credit – Nomme Rescue Unit, Tallin

We hear all the time about exciting breakthroughs in new technology and enhanced safety management systems designed to keep lives and assets safe at sea. We read in various reports that, in general, the number of serious incidents and accidents is falling year on year, leading to my use of the phrase ‘carnage at sea’. So, what on earth went wrong in August? It was carnage at sea! If you can help me to make sense of it all, please do so! Continue reading “Carnage at sea in August. What’s happened and why?”

Hidden corrosion can cause dangerous failures

Posted on by News Hound

Examples of hidden corrosionThe US Coast Guard (USCG) has shared lessons learned from a recent marine casualty that resulted in a severe injury to a crewmember onboard a cargo vessel. The incident brought to light a dangerous and potentially fatal situation involving hidden corrosion involving D-ring lifting points.

While positioning a removable hatch cover on the vessel, three of the four D-ring securing straps failed, causing an uncontrolled snap-back of the lifting sling assembly that struck the crewmember in the head. The three fractured securing straps showed similar failures with a significant amount of corrosion beneath the paint and on the underside of the straps. It is likely that just one D-ring failed initially, which Continue reading “Hidden corrosion can cause dangerous failures”

New policy for assessment and certification of novel vessels issued by AMSA

Posted on by News Hound
New policy for assessment and certification of novel vessels issued by AMSA
New policy for assessment and certification of novel vessels issued by AMSA

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has set out a new policy statement for the assessment and certification of what it terms ‘novel’ vessels. If operators are planning to build or buy a vessel within one of the vessel types set out in the policy, they should contact AMSA for advice on whether it is considered novel and the best certification pathway for the vessel.

Vessel types AMSA consider to be ‘novel’:

– Submarines
– Passenger-carrying submersibles
– Dynamically supported vessels (including fully foil-born, and vessels that are partially foil supported)
– Wing-in-ground effect (WIG) vessels Continue reading “New policy for assessment and certification of novel vessels issued by AMSA”

Marine surveyor jailed over bunker theft scheme

Posted on by News Hound
Image used for illustrative purposes only. Image credit: Port of Zeebrugge
Image used for illustrative purposes only. Image credit: Port of Zeebrugge

An Indian marine surveyor has been jailed for three months for his role in a long-running bunker theft ring in Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub. The jailed marine surveyor is Kumunan Rethana Kumaran, 40, was one of 12 surveyors charged with taking bribes from former Shell Bukom employees who ran an illegal scheme to siphon off fuel oil from Shell’s physical bunker operations in Singapore. Continue reading “Marine surveyor jailed over bunker theft scheme”

Marine Casualty Investigation Board call for applications for appointment as an Expert Marine Consultant

Posted on by News Hound

MCIB Expert marine consultant applicationThe Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) of Ireland invites applications from an expert marine consultant to enhance the technical skills within the MCIB Secretariat, support investigations and investigators, and provide technical advice to the Board as required. Continue reading “Marine Casualty Investigation Board call for applications for appointment as an Expert Marine Consultant”

Joint industry initiative to tackle microbial corrosion issue

Posted on by News Hound
Pipelines - Image credit: DNV
Image credit: DNV

DNV has joined ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company and Microbial Insights, Inc in a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop the next generation of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) detection, monitoring and mitigation technology.

With global costs of corrosion estimated at USD 2.5 trillion, the project aims to significantly enhance detection and monitoring methods of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). MIC poses a significant problem in numerous industries, and taking early action to mitigate its effects can protect the environment and safe operations by reducing the risk of costly pipeline failures. Continue reading “Joint industry initiative to tackle microbial corrosion issue”

Lithium-ion batteries – should we be concerned?

Posted on by CEO
Six stacks of battery modules in one of the battery rooms. Illustration: The battery contractor
Six stacks of battery modules in one of the battery rooms. Illustration: The battery contractor

I have written this short article following the publication of a report into a Lithium-ion battery fire onboard the ‘MS Brim’ which generated the investigation by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority. The vessel in question is the ‘MS Brim’, a 2019-built all-electric excursion catamaran offering excursion tours in the Norwegian fjords. Although not a technical man, I am troubled by some of the report findings, and forgive me as I have cherry-picked the bits that concern me most from a lengthy report. Continue reading “Lithium-ion batteries – should we be concerned?”

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