Clean Cargo report shows reduction in CO2 emissions
According to a new report by Clean Cargo, carbon dioxide emissions from 17 of the world’s leading ocean container carriers, representing approximately 85 percent of global containerized shipping, continued to fall in 2019. Global industry averages for CO2 emissions per container per kilometer decreased by 5.6 percent and 2.5 percent for Dry and Reefer (refrigerated) indexes, respectively. The annual report indicates that container shipping continues to improve its fleet-wide environmental efficiency whilst ensuring the smooth functioning of global trade.
The 2020 Allianz Safety and Shipping Review shows a decrease in shipping losses last year
The 2020 Allianz Safety and Shipping Review has been published and reveals an improving picture. Given the global shipping industry is responsible for transporting as much as 90% of world trade, the safety of its vessels is critical. The sector saw the number of reported total shipping losses of over 100GT decline again during 2019 to 41 – the lowest total this century and a close to 70% fall over 10 years. Improved ship design and technology, stepped-up regulation and risk management advances such as more robust safety management systems and procedures on vessels are some of the factors behind the long-term improvement in losses.
MAIB have published their report on the container ship Ever Smart. On 30 October 2017, the UK registered container ship Ever Smart suffered a container stow collapse while on passage between Taipei, Taiwan and Los Angeles, USA resulting in containers overboard. The master had changed the ship’s passage plan to avoid severe weather caused by a developing depression east of Japan. The ship continued in heavy seas; rolling and pitching heavily with frequent bow flare slamming. Once the weather had abated, the crew discovered that the container stacks on the aft most bay had collapsed and toppled to port. Of the 151 containers in the stow, 42 containers overboard and 34 were damaged. Superficial damage was caused to the ship. Continue reading “Loss of cargo containers overboard Ever Smart report published”
Barnacle fouling has been exacerbated by the pandemic says whitepaper
More than 40% of vessels were suffering from over 10% hard fouling coverage on the hull even before the idling of fleets caused by COVID-19. This is one of the key findings of hull fouling collection data in a study commissioned by I-Tech AB, the results of which are set out in a white paper entitled ‘Quantifying the scale of the barnacle fouling problem on the global shipping fleet’.
Corrosion has emerged as the arch-enemy of the exhaust gas cleaning systems as the uptake of the technology rose with the entrance into force of the IMO 2020 sulphur cap.
Like with any new technology, scrubber maintenance and operation has been a learning curve for ship owners and operators, especially in the context of preventing failures of the technology and reducing downtime.
“Corrosion mainly happens on the overboard pipes, the last piece from GRE piping and connection to shell plating of the hull, especially near the connections and welding seams, and the area on the external hull around the overboard pipe outlet,” said Manuel Hof, Sales & Production Executive, NACE Coating Inspector Level 2 at Subsea Industries.
Golden Ray Photo by U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer John D. Miller
The team working on the removal of the capsized car carrier Golden Ray is preparing for the final stage of the operation to remove the vessel that has been lying on its side in St. Simons Sound since September 2019.
The twin-hull heavy lift vessel VB-10,000 arrived at the Port of Fernandina in Florida on July 3 for final modifications and function checks before heading to St. Simons Sound. The lift vessel is currently scheduled to arrive at the wreck site by mid-July.
The 255-foot tall gantries of the VB-10,000 made an impressive sight at the docks in Florida. The configuration of the rigging beams underneath the top of the gantries will be modified to prepare for the lifting on the Golden Ray.
National Cargo Bureau white paper calls for urgent action to prevent serious container incidents
A white paper published by the National Cargo Bureau calls for urgent reform to stem the increasing number of container related incidents caused by poorly stowed, undeclared or misdeclared dangerous cargoes. This follows a recent inspection initiative that revealed an alarming number of containers with misdeclared dangerous cargoes that represent a serious safety risk.
Consequently, the National Cargo Bureau, the US inspection body for Dangerous Goods regulations, is calling for industry to adopt a comprehensive, holistic and coordinated approach to address this worrying trend. The inspection initiative also showed that 55% of containers were non-compliant with 43% failing to secure dangerous goods correctly within the container itself. Approximately 6.5% of Continue reading “New white paper by National Cargo Bureau calls for a new approach to address container fires”
The Dutch Safety Board has published an investigation report into the loss of containers from the MSC Zoe in 2019, sharing valuable lessons learned on the shipping routes that pass the Wadden Islands to the north of the Netherlands. The report stressed that minimizing the risks of container loss in the area requires an integrated approach by the container shipping sector, the IMO and the Dutch government.
On the night of 1 to 2 January 2019, the MSC ZOE with more than 8,000 containers onboard was travelling from Sines in Portugal to Bremerhaven in Germany. North of the Dutch Wadden Islands, the MSC ZOE found itself in severe weather. The ship lost 342 containers. The cargo comprised a wide range of items and packaging materials that on the subsequent days washed ashore on the coastline of the Wadden Islands. Continue reading “Dutch Safety Board report: Lessons learned after loss of containers from MSC Zoe”
New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Committee (TAIC) has published an investigation report on the crew fatality during cargo-securing operations onboard the bulk log carrier Coresky OL, while at Eastland Port, Gisborne, in April 2019.
At approximately 2130 on 2 April 2019, the bulk carrier Coresky OL completed loading logs in Eastland Port, Gisborne. Shortly afterwards the crew commenced securing the logs that were stowed on deck.
Underwater examination and survey key requirements
The Marshall Islands Ship Registry has issued a revised marine notice to outline the procedures and circumstances by which the underwater examination/survey of a passenger ship’s hull by divers in lieu of drydocking may be permitted.
Underwater Examination (UWE) is the inspection of the outside of the ship’s bottom while afloat as part of the Passenger Ship Safety Renewal survey while Underwater Survey (UWS) is the inspection of the outside of the ship’s bottom while afloat in lieu of a dry-docking, including measurements of shaft and rudder bearing clearances, as applicable.
Why Underwater Examination and Survey are important
Earlier this year, the International Group and CINS, the Cargo Incident Notification System, jointly published guidelines for the carriage of seed cake in containers. An updated version has been released containing some minor changes to the text including an updated description and some clarification of details following queries received from container ship operators.
On-Off hire condition bunker surveys are a requirement for the commercial trade of vessels in that vessels are hired from their Owners by Charterers who trade the cargo internationally. The survey of the vessel is undertaken either before the vessel is delivered into a Charter, or re-delivered from a Charter. The reports should include a detailed description of the vessel itself, the structural condition of the cargo spaces and main deck areas surrounding the various cargo compartments and hatches, the ship’s hatch covers, the cargo gear and space. Additionally, you will inspect and report on paint coating and cleanliness, the quantity of bunkers remaining on board, verification of the validity with respect to the vessel’s certification, portable equipment and securing materials, container securing equipment and so on are all detailed within the handy guide.
In this handy guide, the twenty third to be published by IIMS in its series entitled ‘What a marine surveyor needs to know about’, Capt Allen Brink brings his many years’ experience into play. At an impressive 244 pages, the publication contains examples of a number of templated reports which the surveyor can adapt for his/her use. There are photos to assist, diagrams and examples of the certification the surveyor needs to inspect and report too. The handy guide also contains a detailed appendix with a selection of marine terms, to assist the marine surveyor when conducting inspections of ships for charter purposes. Continue reading “IIMS publishes ‘What A Marine Surveyor Needs To Know About On-Off Hire Condition And Bunker Surveys’ handy guide”