The US Coast Guard (USCG) has published a safety alert addressing the importance of visually inspecting lifeboat and davit installations prior to testing with crewmembers onboard, and ensuring crew familiarity with company policy related to lifesaving equipment testing. As USCG said, the remote control wire may be overlooked, yet weaknesses within the linkages or poor spooling of the wire itself can lead to catastrophic failures in the lifeboat launching systems. Continue reading “Visually inspecting lifeboat prior to testing crucial”
Shipping
Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2022 published
Shipping continued its long-term positive safety trend over the past year but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the growing number of costly issues involving larger vessels, crew and port congestion challenges resulting from the shipping boom, and managing challenging decarbonization targets, means there is no room for complacency, according to the Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2022.
The 2021 loss total is made more impressive by the fact that there are an estimated 130,000 ships in the global fleet today, compared with some 80,000 30 years ago. Such progress reflects the increased focus on safety measures over time through training and safety programs, improved ship design, technology and regulation. Continue reading “Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2022 published”
Gard recommends vigilance about liquefaction of solid bulk cargoes
Gard P&I Club has recently been notified of new incidents where solid bulk cargoes classified as Group A, liable to liquefy, have been loaded with moisture content in excess of the transportable moisture limit (TML). Gard reminds its members and others to remain vigilant when loading such solid bulk cargoes.
In the first case, the vessel was loading copper concentrates in Peru. The cargo was partially loaded when the Master observed pooling of free water in the holds and cargo spatter; i.e., cargo splashing up on the sides of holds when dropped from grabs. Both of these are considered red flags when loading Group A cargo. Continue reading “Gard recommends vigilance about liquefaction of solid bulk cargoes”
Impact of digital technology on maritime sustainability is the subject of the The Optimal Route report.
The Optimal Route report examines strategies to reduce greenhouse gases in shipping, offers guide to decarbonisation role of digital technologies. Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, has published a new decarbonisation report entitled the Optimal Route to explore the impact digital technology can make on shipping’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Compiled by maritime innovation consultancy Thetius, and sponsored by the Inmarsat Research Programme, The Optimal Route – The Why and How of Digital Decarbonisation Continue reading “Impact of digital technology on maritime sustainability is the subject of the The Optimal Route report.”
IACS publishes unified requirement for remote classification surveys
The significant impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the maritime industry resulted in an increase in the deployment of remote classification surveys by IACS Members to ensure the maritime industry was able to continue functioning in as smooth and efficient a manner as possible.
Noting many IACS Members introduced remote survey aspects prior to the pandemic, advancements in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) together with the experience and knowledge gained during Continue reading “IACS publishes unified requirement for remote classification surveys”
Parametric rolling responsible for Maersk Essen loss of containers says DMAIB report
The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board (DMAIB) has published its report on Maersk Essen, the ship that lost approximately 250 containers on 16 January 2021 while the ship was en route from China to Los Angeles. The number of lost containers was later adjusted to 750.
At approximately 0600, some of the crew were woken by the sound of cups and laptops sliding and falling off tables in their cabins as the ship took a few heavy, slow rolls. On the bridge, the chief officer saw from the inclinometer that the ship had rolled 15° to each side. The Continue reading “Parametric rolling responsible for Maersk Essen loss of containers says DMAIB report”
Investigation report resulted in fatality onboard SEOUL EXPRESS
The German Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation published its interim investigation report (BSU report) about an accident with subsequent loss of life on board the Containership SEOUL EXPRESS, on 27 March 2021. On 27 March 2021, the container ship SEOUL EXPRESS was about 52 nm off the Mexican coast en route from Manzanillo, Mexico, to Long Beach, USA. The vessel was operating on a liner service between various ports in the Mediterranean, Central America and the west coast of North America. Continue reading “Investigation report resulted in fatality onboard SEOUL EXPRESS”
New requirements for fuel oil sampling – MARPOL
New requirements for fuel oil sampling and testing have entered into force under the MARPOL Convention Annex VI, supporting the implementation and enforcement of the IMO 2020 0.50% limit for sulphur in ships’ fuel oil.
According to the International Maritime Organization, the amendments are intended to support Port State Control and other environmental authorities, particularly those tasked with fuel sampling and testing, Continue reading “New requirements for fuel oil sampling – MARPOL”
CHIRP Maritime Feedback edition 66 published
CHIRP Maritime Feedback, an independent and confidential reporting system for the maritime industry, has published its latest ‘Feedback Maritime’ publication (February 2022) to provide lessons learned and raising awareness of safety issues. Among others in this edition, CHIRP Maritime Feedback highlights an accommodation ladder failure whilst the ladder was being recovered after a pilot had boarded and discusses important issues related to maintenance, design and human factors.
In addition, this issue of CHIRP Maritime Feedback demonstrates poor safety standards upon a floating armoury vessel – many issues, both regulatory and good practice are focused upon. There are also reports concerning a near-fatal fall from a quayside, unsafe lifting Continue reading “CHIRP Maritime Feedback edition 66 published”
Updated IMO procedures for Port State Control: What’s new?
IMO has published updated guidance procedures for Port State Control (PSC) with IMO Resolution A.1155 (32), which was adopted on 15 December 2021. SQE MARINE explains what’s new in the revised resolution, which replaced the previous version Resolution A.1138 (31).
What are the IMO Procedures for PSC?
IMO procedures for PSC provide detailed guidance to Port State Authorities, featuring the following :
1. Chapter 1 – General
Includes provisions for PSC general information, ships of non-Parties, ships below convention size, definitions, professional profile of Continue reading “Updated IMO procedures for Port State Control: What’s new?”
Container loaded with discarded lithium batteries catches fire
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a safety alert and is warning about the hazards of transporting discarded lithium batteries after a container illegally loaded with them caught fire while en route to the Port of Virginia, where it was set to be loaded onto a ship.
Thankfully the container was not loaded on a ship at the time. Rather, the container was being transported on a chassis from Raleigh, North Carolina when the discarded lithium batteries caught fire on the highway on August 19, 2021, resulting in loss of the cargo and significant damage to the shipping container. Continue reading “Container loaded with discarded lithium batteries catches fire”
Consortium set to assess and report on containership fire safety for EMSA
A consortium led by the Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology (DBI) will deliver a Formal Safety Assessment study on containership fire safety to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The project aims to identify cost-effective risk control options for cargo fires on board container vessels.
Considering the constant increase in containership sizes and the frequency of fire originating in containers, the study will quantitatively assess the fire risks on board such vessels and Continue reading “Consortium set to assess and report on containership fire safety for EMSA”