Shipping

Mis-declared dangerous cargo cause of KMTC Hong Kong fire

Posted on by News Hound
KMTC on fire
Photo credit: Reuters

Port Authority Director of Thailand, Kamolsak Phromprayoon, has reported that the fire onboard the ‘KMTC Hong Kong’ containership was due to mis-declared chemical cargoes of calcium hypochlorite and chlorinated paraffin wax.

More than 130 people were transferred to hospital after an explosion and fire onboard the South Korean container ship ‘KMTC Hong Kong’ while berthed in Thailand’s eastern Laem Chabang port.

The port Authority inspected 35 containers at the centre of the blaze and more than half of them contained chemical products.

Continue reading “Mis-declared dangerous cargo cause of KMTC Hong Kong fire”

Swedish Club publishes booklet on preventing wet damage to cargo on bulk carriers

Posted on by News Hound
Foam on a ship
Foam on a ship

The Swedish Club has highlighted how to avoid wet damaged cargo on bulk carriers in a 32 page pdf booklet, which can be downloaded below. The Club says that heavy weather in combination with leaking hatch covers is the most common cause of wet damage on cargo. However, the main concern is the incorrectly applied and poorly maintained cargo hatch covers and sealing systems.

As a result of information collected from its claims handling, many cargoes of steel and steel coils, grain, peas and solidified cement were damaged by sea and rainwater enabling the report to be produced. In fact, 34% of all insured bulk carriers suffered a cargo claim in 2017 and this has increased by 75% since 2014. For 2017, the average cargo claim on a bulk carrier was almost USD 70,000.

Continue reading “Swedish Club publishes booklet on preventing wet damage to cargo on bulk carriers”

Improper operation of crane leads to fatal accident

Posted on by News Hound
The investigation found improper operation of the shoreside crane was the direct cause of the mishap.
The investigation found improper operation of the shoreside crane was the direct cause of the mishap.

The US Coast Guard has published its report into the crane accident in the Coast Guard buoy yard in Homer, which resulted in the death of Chief Warrant Officer Michael Kozloski.

The investigation found improper operation of the shoreside crane was the direct cause of the mishap.

On 31 January 2019, at the USCG Cutter Hickory buoy yard in Homer, Alaska, numerous crewmembers were carrying out several yard clean up, maintenance and repair and organization tasks before a planned underway period.

A two person team was operating the Shuttlelift crane car, the Mishap Crane (MC), to move four distinct loads of Aids to Navigation equipment from the top of Container Express boxes to a location on the ground where they were subsequently moved via forklift to alternate locations. Continue reading “Improper operation of crane leads to fatal accident”

Fire onboard Chipolbrok Moon was due non-compliance with SMS

Posted on by News Hound
Chipolbrok Moon at sea
Chipolbrok Moon at sea

The NTSB has published its report on the fire that took place on board the cargo ship Chipolbrok Moon on 23 May 2018. The fire occurred while the ship was moored at the Industrial Terminal West in Greens Bayou in the Port of Houston, Texas.

The incident

On May 21, the Chipolbrok Moon arrived at Industrial Terminal West in Houston. After the ocean voyage and before offloading the cargo, the steel sea fastener tabs used to secure the turbine components had to be removed by cutting, using an oxygen/acetylene torch.

The next afternoon, a marine chemist tested the atmosphere in cargo holds no. 2 port, no. 3 port and starboard, and no. 4 starboard for oxygen content and presence of flammable vapors to determine if it was safe to carry out hotwork.

Continue reading “Fire onboard Chipolbrok Moon was due non-compliance with SMS”

Future and emerging trends in the world of salvage and wreck removal

Posted on by News Hound
The successful wreck salvage of a ship
The successful wreck salvage of a ship

Sam Kendall-Marsden, head of claims for The Standard Club, has given an insight into the future and emerging trends and significant issues in the world of salvage and wreck removal.

Mr Kendall-Marsden focuses on five key areas which are mega boxship casualties, waste management, technology, the changing nature of the salvage industry and wildcards.

1. Mega boxship casualties

This part focuses on casualties involving very large container vessels in which Mr Kendall-Masden articulates that the size increases the risk of accidents. A major casualty involving big vessels could easily lead to environmental disasters and significantly increase a company’s financial exposure.

Continue reading “Future and emerging trends in the world of salvage and wreck removal”

First judgement of Hague and Hague Visby rules tested in the English courts

Posted on by News Hound
Coffee beans
Coffee beans

Britannia P&I Club referred to the English supreme court that presented its first authoritative judgement in English law, addressing the question of whether it is the carrier or cargo interests who bears the burden of proof under the Hague and Hague-visby rules.

The case had to do with a low value claim for condensation damage to coffee beans.

In the first trial the judge ruled in favour of the cargo deciding that where goods shipped in apparent good order and condition show loss or damage on discharge, there is an evidential inference that the loss or damage is caused by the fault of the carrier.

The carrier then has the burden of showing that it has not breached any of its obligations.

Continue reading “First judgement of Hague and Hague Visby rules tested in the English courts”

Unsafe transfer of wood pellets increases the possibility of fire

Posted on by News Hound
Sand cargo on a ship - Photo by Steve Pomeroy, Empire Shipping Agency, Vancouver, B.C.
Photo by Steve Pomeroy, Empire Shipping Agency, Vancouver, B.C.

Peter Hazell, Assistant Vice President and Head of FDD Skuld, has looked at former coal fired power stations that have started to burn biomass as feedstock in order to enhance sustainability of fuel sources. This results in increased shipments of wood pellets intended to be burned.

Most of these shipments are completed without incident but there are significant hazards associated with the carriage of wood pellets that surveyors should be aware of.

Generally, to have safely transfer wood pellets the Club advises always to follow standard enclosed space entry procedures.

They can include a binder additive but not all do so. Each of these types can self-heat when in bulk form.

Continue reading “Unsafe transfer of wood pellets increases the possibility of fire”

Remote surveying techniques are on the rise

Posted on by News Hound
Remote surveying techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Image courtesy Martek Marine
Remote surveying techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Image courtesy Martek Marine

New technologies such as drones, climbers and robot arms are rapidly entering the marine survey and inspection arena. And, in turn, major classification societies are embracing the so-called Remote Surveying Techniques for their class surveys. If you are looking for the reasons why, it is easy to answer – safer and less intrusive surveys!

Without requiring confined space entry, Remote Surveying Techniques are considerably less expensive than other methods. Likewise, they’re far safer than traditional methods of inspection that involve sending inspectors/surveyors into unsafe conditions. Analytically, the pros of Remote Surveying Techniques in conjunction with class surveys are as follows:
– improve efficiency of inspection techniques
Continue reading “Remote surveying techniques are on the rise”

First freight only Red Funnel Isle of Wight ferry launched

Posted on by News Hound
Red funnel Ferry
Red funnel Ferry

Isle of Wight ferry operator, Red Funnel Ferries, has welcomed its first freight ferry with a traditional ship naming ceremony.

Built at Cammel Laird’s in Birkenhead, Red Kestrel, the newest addition to Red Funnel’s fleet, will be the operator’s first dedicated Ro-Ro freight ship since the company’s inception almost 160 years ago.

The additional freight capacity that the vessel will provide will mean that the company’s ro-pax ferries will have more capacity freed up for non-commercial traffic.

The Great British-themed naming ceremony, which celebrated Red Kestrel being built in the UK, took place in Southampton docks by the Ocean Terminal and was witnessed by some 200 invited guests. Karen George, wife of Red Funnel’s Chairman, Kevin George, had the Continue reading “First freight only Red Funnel Isle of Wight ferry launched”

Big four have formed the Digital Container Shipping Association in joint initiative

Posted on by News Hound
Thomas Bagge is appointed CEO and Statutory Director of the recently formed Digital Container Shipping Association
Thomas Bagge is appointed CEO and Statutory Director of the recently formed Digital Container Shipping Association

Four container shipping heavyweights, Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express, have come together to establish the Digital Container Shipping Association on 10 April 2019 in Amsterdam.

The parties said that the aim of the association is to create common information technology standards to make the industry more efficient for both customers and shipping lines.

The plan to create a neutral, non-profit association for ocean carriers was first announced in November 2018. The association, focusing on driving standardization, digitalization and interoperability in container shipping, is now starting operations with a leadership team made up of industry veterans, including Thomas Bagge (pictured) from A.P. Moller – Maersk, who was appointed CEO and Statutory Director of the Digital Container Shipping Association.

Continue reading “Big four have formed the Digital Container Shipping Association in joint initiative”

Leading maritime capitals of the world report 2019 published

Posted on by News Hound
Leading maritime capitals of the world report 2019 Logo
Leading maritime capitals of the world report 2019 Logo

The Leading Maritime Capitals report for 2019 is out, with fresh insight on which maritime metropolises provide the best support for companies in shipping and related services.

Criteria include soft and hard infrastructure and access to world-class talent and services – all key components that maritime businesses need to thrive in their chosen locations.

Singapore maintained its top position at the head of the 15 leading maritime capitals.

Despite a somewhat weak trade cycle in traditional shipping and offshore oil and gas markets yet to recover, Singapore was able to retain its lead in three of the five pillars of the ranking: Shipping, Ports and Logistics as well as Attractiveness and Competitiveness.

In the two remaining pillars, London is number one in Continue reading “Leading maritime capitals of the world report 2019 published”

Future IMO and ILO legislation planned changes

Posted on by News Hound
IMO logo
IMO logo

There are some upcoming planned changes to mandatory statutory regulations and instruments, including:

– Adopted amendments that are in a transitional period towards full implementation;
– Adopted amendments entering into force on or after 1 April 2019;
– Significant topics which are currently under discussion and development, including meetings up to Maritime Safety Committee 100 (MSC) in December 2018.

This 64 page document will help you make sense of what is happening: Future_IMO_and_ILO_Legislation___April_2019

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