Safety Alert focusing on the dangers related with improper tank cleaning
The Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis has recently published a Marine Safety Alert, focusing on the dangers related with improper tank cleaning and gas freeing operations. Following several investigations on a tanker barge which exploded during cargo tank cleaning, USCG makes recommendations to avoid such incidents.
MCA surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report on the investigation into an accident where a tug’s chief engineer lost his life boarding his vessel. The MCA has instructed its surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills following the MAIB report.
The accident highlights the forever-present dangers seafarers including tug crews face in carrying out everyday tasks and the difficulties reacting to incidents despite the presence of well-prepared procedures and equipment.
‘Book it right and pack it tight’ guide collaboration
At the start of 2020, the latest version of the IMDG Code, Amendment 39-18, came into force. The UK P&I Club has collaborated with TT Club to produce and publish ‘Book it right and pack it tight’ guide – a collaboration 108 page set of guidelines. It offers an insight for all involved and responsible for preparing unitized consignments for carriage at sea.
At 0633 on Tuesday 18 December 2018, the roll-on/roll-of (ro-ro) passenger ferry European Causeway rolled heavily in very rough seas and very high winds during its voyage from Larne, Northern Ireland to Cairnryan, Scotland. Insufficient cargo lashings have been found to be a key factor in the incident.
The violent motion caused several freight vehicles to shift and nine to topple over. This resulted in damage to 22 vehicles, some damaged severely. At least six freight vehicle drivers had remained in their cabs on the vehicle decks
during the crossing and four were found in cabs of vehicles that had toppled over. One driver was trapped and had to be freed by the emergency services when the ship arrived in Cairnryan. Continue reading “Insufficient cargo lashings caused European Causeway incident”
OLAS Guardian is a new wireless engine kill switch released by Exposure Lights. It acts as a virtual ‘kill cord’ by stopping an engine within two seconds of a person going overboard. For RIB and powerboat drivers OLAS Guardian means their boat will stop in an instant should the skipper, or a crew member, get separated from the boat.
OLAS Guardian works by wirelessly logging up to 15 crew members to an engine’s kill switch via small, wearable transmitters, the OLAS wrist Tags or OLAS Float-On light.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a Marine Accident Brief about the fire on the offshore supply vessel Grand Sun, noting that substantial use of combustible wood paneling and drapery contributed to the extent of the fire.
The Grand Sun was transiting the Chandeleur Sound in the Gulf of Mexico, about 15 miles from the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, on October 8, 2018, when she caught on fire. The four crewmembers aboard attempted to fight the fire but were unsuccessful. They remained on the stern of the vessel until they were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. The fire burned itself out, and the vessel was later towed to port. No pollution or injuries were reported. The vessel, valued at $1.6 million, was deemed a constructive total loss.
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued an alert to towboat operators about safety hazards associated with retractable pilothouses. These specialized hydraulic systems are sometimes used on towing vessels designed for low air draft restrictions.
Retractable pilothouses give towboat operators on waterways with fixed bridges the ability to lower the house and pass underneath, then raise the house to get a clearer view over their barge tows. While useful, when a pilothouse is being lowered, it presents a crushing hazard to personnel below. Some retractable pilothouses may also be operated in an “emergency mode” that increases the rate of descent and provides less time for workers to recognize the situation and get clear of the danger zone.
At present, there is no explicit requirement for the hydraulics systems operating these retractable pilothouses to be fitted with fail-safe features. Absent a fail-safe device, the failure of the hydraulic cylinder or other system component may not provide enough time for a crew member to recognize the hazard, exit the danger zone and avoid a catastrophe. Some retractable pilothouses may also lack any alarms that would warn of emergency mode operation, increasing the risk to personnel. Continue reading “USCG warns of potential crushing hazard underneath retractable pilothouses”
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 Dong Won 701 report cited issues with structure and safety standards”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a Marine Accident Brief about the capsizing and sinking of the fleet towboat Miss Roslyn, citing the company’s lack of effective hull inspection and maintenance program.
On October 9, 2018, at 1630 local time, the Miss Roslyn was traveling downbound at mile 142 on the Lower Mississippi River near Reserve, Louisiana, when she began to flood and list to starboard. The three crewmembers abandoned the towboat onto a moored fleet barge and a Good Samaritan vessel. The Miss Roslyn capsized and sank on her starboard side. Continue reading “Towboat sinking blamed on ineffective hull maintenance says NTSB report”
The National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has published an accident report on a vessel fire that took place on the fishing vessel Jeanette which at the time of the incident was pier side at the American Samoa Government (ASG) container facility in the Port of Pago Pago, Tutuila Island, American Samoa, with 18 crewmembers and one shoreside vessel representative on board.
At about 1130 local time on December 5, 2018, one of the duties the crewmembers had to conduct was to remove wasted sections of the overhead frames on the wet deck and weld in new sections. Three crewmembers were responsible of conducting this task; two who would conduct the welding, or “hot work,” and one who would serve as the fire watch. The welders reported to the assistant engineer, and the fire watch reported to the deck boss. Continue reading “NTSB report blames vessel fire on lack of hot work training”
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has released an accident report into the fatal injury of an oil tanker electrician, who was electrocuted onboard the vessel STI WINNIE.
On 2 May, 2019, the oil tanker STI WINNIE, owned by Scorpio Marine Management, was sailing in the Arabian Gulf with a final destination the Ras Laffan, Qatar. While the electrician of the vessel was trying to maintain the inert gas (IG) scrubber pump starter panel, he was exposed to high volumes of electrical energy and lost his life.
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.
