Due to a mishap from improper testing of a vapor pressure relief valve on a compressed air system, the Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) reminds all those concern of the risks and best practices in conducting or witnessing the testing of relief valves. While this information is based on testing compressed air systems using vapor relief valves, the guidance is also relevant to safety valves in other pressure systems, except boilers.
The Hong Kong Marine Department has issued an information note about a fatal accident that happened on a Hong Kong registered general cargo ship caused by semi-coke cargo. Two stevedores and one bulldozer operator were found collapsed inside the stair trunk after they entered the enclosed space without following the proper procedures. The cause of death was due to the oxygen depletion atmosphere inside the stair trunk.
This incident draws the attention of the shipping industry to the dangers associated with the characteristics of semi-coke cargo. Parties concerned should treat the space inside stair trunk to cargo hold as an enclosed space and take appropriate safety precautionary measures before entering such space.
Continue reading “Enclosed space deaths caused by semi-coke cargo says findings”
New Zealand’s maritime safety authority (NZ) has announced it will implement the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) by early next month, in order to protect local and international seafarers. The move is also expected to improve the safety and well being of seafarers on board both foreign-flagged and New Zealand ships.
MLC was established in 2006, and mandates ship owners to bear the expense of shore-based medical care for seafarers who need hospitalisation or medical care while overseas on a ship.
Continue reading “New Zealand will apply Maritime Labour Convention next month”
ENGIE, Fluxys, Mitsubishi Corporation and NYK have taken delivery of the world’s first purpose built LNG bunkering ship from Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction in Busan, Korea.
She will run on LNG for her maiden voyage, after a few days of loading LNG delivered by trucks at the shipyard.
Zeebrugge in Belgium will be the home port of the vessel, which has been named ENGIE Zeebrugge accordingly. From there, the 5,000m3 LNG capacity vessel will supply LNG as a marine fuel to ships operating in Northern Europe.
Continue reading “First purpose built LNG bunkering ship has been delivered”
DNV GL presented its new standard, reliable dynamic positioning capability assessments, for assessing the station keeping capability of dynamic positioning (DP) vessels at the European Dynamic Positioning Conference which was held in London in February.
The ability to assess and compare the dynamic positioning capability of a ship equipped with DP technology is vital during the planning and design phases, and provides valuable operational decision support. The DNVGL-ST-0111 standard is the first to provide a unified approach to these assessments, ensuring verifiable results and increasing transparency in the market.
Continue reading “New DNV GL standard ensures reliable dynamic positioning capability assessments”
On 3 December 2015, the Panama registered pure car carrier City of Rotterdam collided with the Danish registered ro-ro ferry Primula Seaways on the River Humber, UK. Both vessels were damaged but made their way to Immingham without assistance. There was no pollution and there were no serious injuries. It is now being advised architects should adhere to ergonomic bridge design.
The MAIB investigation identified that the outbound City of Rotterdam had been set to the northern side of the navigable channel and into the path of the inbound ferry, but this had not been corrected because the pilot on board had become disoriented after looking through an off-axis Continue reading “Naval architects should adhere to accepted ergonomic bridge design”
Albwardy Marine Engineering and Damen Shipyards Sharjah have officially brought both brands together under one umbrella – Albwardy Damen. The newly-named venture, it says, will continue to provide its services with the same values as before – putting safety, quality and reliability at the forefront of its offering. The change represents the venture’s drive to maximise the efficiency of its operations and enhance its leading position during these challenging times for the maritime industry.
The United Arab Emirates based shipyard will continue to construct newbuild steel and aluminium vessels as well as provide the same trusted ship repair services to its marine and oil & gas customers in the Middle East. The announcement coincides with the 3 year anniversary of Damen Shipyards Sharjah.
Continue reading “Albwardy Marine Engineering and Damen Shipyards create a new brand identity”
Transport Malta has issued its safety investigation report into the mooring equipment failure and subsequent fatality of a shipyard worker on board the Cyprus registered ro-ro passenger ferry GALAXY in Valletta, Malta on 18 January 2016.
The incident
On 09 December 2015, MV Galaxy arrived in Malta under tow on a single, ballast, unmanned voyage from Piraeus, Greece to the Shipyard. Repairs commenced soon after, with the vessel afloat. On 08 January 2016, she was transferred to graving dock number 4 for underwater hull inspections and repairs. She was subsequently re-floated and pulled out of the dry-dock on the morning of 18 January 2016 at around 0900 to continue repairs afloat alongside Boat House Wharf.
The first of three ethane-fueled engines has been delivered for a trio of ships on order for Germany’s Hartmann Reederei on order at China’s Sinopacific Shipbuilding. They will be pioneers for ethane fueling, believes René Sejer Laursen, promotion manager at MAN Diesel & Turbo.
The ships will each carry 35,000m3 of the gas so have an obvious source of fuel, but Mr Laursen has a bigger vision: “we see potential for all ships to use ethane gas in the future,” he said during a presentation about the company’s multi-fuel engines during the Danish Maritime Days in October.
Continue reading “A waste product from shale gas production offers ethane-fueled engines”
Britannia P&I Club has reported a recent case where a cargo of pressure boiler parts was physically damaged during transportation in moderately heavy weather en route from Hong Kong to Houston, supposedly due to poor packaging.
The ship encountered high seas and winds of Beaufort scale 9. The master had adjusted speed and course so as to minimise rolling and pitching but despite his actions, inspections carried out by the master in the cargo holds revealed the cargo stowed in hold no. 2 had been damaged.
Continue reading “Physical damage caused to cargo due to poor packaging”
DNV GL has noticed an increase in the number of reported incidents involving aft propeller shaft bearing damage. With this in mind, they have issued technical advice with their opinion on the contributing factors to this damage. Much of the damage in the reported cases has developed within a short period of time, typically a few minutes to an hour.
Typical damages observed and their consequences
The observed trend is not specific to a vessel type – rather, it reflects operation of the affected vessels in areas with limitations on the draft of the vessel or loading conditions, without suitable precautionary measures to limit the RPM/power of the engine.
Continue reading “DNVGL issues bulletin following propeller shaft bearing damage”
The Shipowners P&I Club has a survey requirement when it comes to laid up vessel, which is deemed to be key, especially if a vessel has been decommissioned for many months.
Of course the extent of re-commissioning work depends on whether the laid up vessel was under hot or cold layup, the length of time the vessel was laid up and the extent of maintenance carried out during the laid up period. So there are many steps to be considered when preparing to re-commission the vessel after a layup. The following is a non-exhaustive guide for layup reactivations.
Continue reading “Steps to be taken when bringing laid up vessel back into service”
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