Misdeclared cargo needs urgent action says Digital freight forwarder iContainers

Fire caused by dangerous misdeclared cargo
Fire caused by dangerous misdeclared cargo

On the back of a spate of incidents in which has been the source on fires onboard container vessels, the digital freight forwarder iContainers highlighted that the shipping industry needs to pay attention to increasing misdeclared cargo.

Over the past two years there has been a noticeable, sharp increase in the number of container fires directly resulting from shippers’ dangerous misdeclared cargo.

Klaus Lysdal, vice president of operations at iContainers, has identified this is a vital Continue reading “Misdeclared cargo needs urgent action says Digital freight forwarder iContainers”

Container ship Washington loss of 137 containers: MAIB investigation report published

Container ship
Container ship

At 0127 on 20 January 2018, the UK flagged container ship CMA CGM G. Washington unexpectedly rolled 20° to starboard, paused for several seconds then rolled 20° to port. The ship was experiencing heavy seas in the North Pacific Ocean while on passage from Xiamen, China to Los Angeles, USA. As the sun rose later that morning, it was discovered that container bays 18, 54 and 58 had collapsed; 137 containers were lost overboard and a further 85 were damaged.

The MAIB investigation concluded that the collapse of all three bays probably occurred during the 20° rolls. The amplitude of the rolls exceeded the container  ship’s estimated roll limits and was almost certainly the consequence of parametric Continue reading “Container ship Washington loss of 137 containers: MAIB investigation report published”

Santa Isabella: English Court clarifies owner route and cargo ventilation and care obligations

Santa Isabella image courtesy of shipspotting.com
Santa Isabella image courtesy of shipspotting.com

The English Commercial Court has provided a ruling in the case of Alianca Navegacao e Logistica Ltda v Ameropa SA (The Santa Isabella) [2019] EWHC 3152 (Comm) which provides useful guidance on:
– the legal test for a usual and customary route; and
– owners’ obligation to ventilate and care for cargo.

Key facts in the case
Alianca, the disponent owner of the bulk carrier Santa Isabella, chartered the ship in 2016 to Ameropa to carry a cargo of corn and maize in bulk from Topolobampo, Continue reading “Santa Isabella: English Court clarifies owner route and cargo ventilation and care obligations”

World Bora collision with the RABA: DMAIB releases accident report

DMAIB releases accident report
DMAIB releases accident report

On February 19, 2019, the Cypriot-flagged cargo ship RABA, sailing from Copenhagen to Szczecin, collided with the Danish-flagged ‘World Bora’, which was sailing towards the Viking wind farm in the Exclusive Economic Zone. Consequently, the Danish Marine Accident Investigation Board has published an accident report to determine the factors that caused the collision.

The master of RABA was responsible for observing the traffic onboard the vessel and did not identify any ships as a risk of collision. On the starboard side, the other vessel World Bora was seen crossing RABA’s course but wasn’t considered as a danger that could cause a collision. Thus, the master didn’t pay closer attention. Continue reading “World Bora collision with the RABA: DMAIB releases accident report”

Maritime NZ issues a safety update on the risks of fixed gas fire extinguishing systems on vessels

Pallets on fire - Photo credit: Maritime NZ
Photo credit: Maritime NZ

Maritime NZ (New Zealand) has produced a safety update to advise of the potential problems and risks that can occur from fixed gas fire extinguishing systems on vessels, focusing on CO2 systems.

A fixed gas fire-extinguishing system is a gaseous substance (often CO2) in a cylinder separate from, but connected to, a protected space and is used to fight a fire. Commonly fixed systems are installed for engine rooms and pump rooms. After air vents are closed and the area sealed, the gas is released in bulk quantity to flood Continue reading “Maritime NZ issues a safety update on the risks of fixed gas fire extinguishing systems on vessels”

CMA CGM launch alternative propulsion research initiative

The Jacques Saade (image courtesy CMA CGM)
The Jacques Saade (image courtesy CMA CGM)

At the French Maritime Economy Conference in Montpellier, CMA CGM CEO Rodolphe Saadé stressed his firm’s commitment to LNG as a marine fuel but left the door open to new propulsion technology.

“With the choice of liquefied natural gas, the CMA CGM Group is a pioneer in the energy transition of the maritime industry. To meet the challenges ahead, we must go even further and work together: maritime, air and land carriers, logisticians, energy companies and motorists, in Europe and around the world,” Saadé said.

To illustrate its position, CMA CGM released a new promotional video on the Continue reading “CMA CGM launch alternative propulsion research initiative”

TAIC trawler fire report cited issues with structure and safety standards

TAIC trawler fire report
TAIC trawler fire report

The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its report into the accommodation fire on board fishing trawler Dong Won 701 in April 2018, citing issues with the structure of the vessel and crew firefighting efforts.

The fire started in the vicinity of a rubbish bin next to the desk in the First Engineer’s cabin on the officers’ deck while the vessel was moored at the port of Timaru. The crew tried but couldn’t put out the fire. The fire eventually took eight days for Fire and Emergency NZ to extinguish, and destroyed the accommodation structure on the vessel. Continue reading “TAIC trawler fire report cited issues with structure and safety standards”

Global marine insurance market 2019 analysis published by IUMI

IUMI analysis of the global marine insurance market
IUMI analysis of the global marine insurance market

The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) has released its 2019 statistical report, IUMI Stats, noting that while the market seems to have bottomed out in 2019, major losses are beginning to return.

There were nine major cargo vessel fires in 2019 which resulted in loss of life, injury and environmental damage. These fires had a strong economic impact, causing high costs to both the hull and cargo sectors. Recent statistics from the Nordic Association of Marine Insurers (Cefor) show that the larger vessels are most Continue reading “Global marine insurance market 2019 analysis published by IUMI”

Container certification guide for safely securing cargoes published

ABS issues guide for the certification of container securing systems
ABS issues guide for the certification of container securing systems

ABS has issued a guide for the certification of container securing systems advising that when special containers are used for unique cargoes that have reduced or increased load capacities, limitations should be considered when stowing them onboard ship and when determining permissible tier and container stack weights.

Surveyors are advised to undertake all surveys on container securing systems upon request, with adequate notification, of the owners or their representatives, and are to report to the Committee. Adding to this, if there is a need for further Continue reading “Container certification guide for safely securing cargoes published”

The securing of containers on deck of a container ship

Container ship
Container ship at dock

There are six different ways in which ships move in the sea, primarily pitching, heaving and rolling.

Lateral rolling motion represents the greatest challenge for stacks of containers. If containers are to be transported safely on the deck of a container vessel, they must be firmly connected to the ship. This is done with the aid of what are known as twistlocks. These twistlocks are inserted into the corner castings of the containers. These corner castings have elongated holes in which the rotating lug of the twistlock engages, locking the containerstogether. In addition, the bottom two layers of the stacked containers are connected to the ship with lashing rods. Initially, it was common practice to stow stacks of containers on deck in such a way that the individual stacks were connected to each other Continue reading “The securing of containers on deck of a container ship”

Testing standards are vital to ballast water compliance

Ballast water management statement
Ballast water management statement

Carried in ships’ ballast water, invasive aquatic species have had a significant economic impact throughout the world. Specific ballast discharge events have been held responsible for disasters such as outbreaks of deadly disease, complete collapse Continue reading “Testing standards are vital to ballast water compliance”

Transport Malta: Failure of engine room lashing led to fatal injuries

Accident report about the Maersk Jaipur published by Transport Malta
Accident report about the Maersk Jaipur published by Transport Malta

Transport Malta has published an accident report about the Maersk Jaipur, a vessel which faced navigation challenges in rough weather conditions. Work was suspended due to the bad weather, but equipment in the engine room broke and fatally injured two crewmembers.

On 08 October 2018, Maersk Jaipur was sailing through heavy weather conditions, heading to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The vessel was rolling in the heavy seas.

At about 0900, the crew conducted a heavy weather checklist and resulted in the Continue reading “Transport Malta: Failure of engine room lashing led to fatal injuries”

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