Workboats

Lack of risk assessment contributes to sinking of fishing vessel says MCIB report

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The Marine Casualty Investigation Board of Ireland (MCIB) has published its report on the sinking of FV Aztec, which took place off Duncannon on 11 January 2021.

The FV Aztec sailed from Duncannon Pier, Co. Wexford to fish sprat in Waterford Estuary alongside its paired trawler the “FV Western Dawn”. There was no risk assessment or method statement for this type of fishing arrangement included in the vessel’s safety statement.

The FV Aztec shot its net first and hauled fish at 09.30 hrs. These fish were stowed in pounds in the fish hold divided by boards. It was Continue reading “Lack of risk assessment contributes to sinking of fishing vessel says MCIB report”

50 Vessels join the Fishing First Safety Management Project

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The Seafarers’ Charity is pleased to report that the project to develop safety management onboard fishing vessels to the standard of the Fishing Safety Management (FSM) Code is well underway.

The new service called Fishing First Safety Management System by SafetyFolder, is being developed to improve safety in the UK fishing fleet and, at the same time, increase supply chain transparency.

50 fishing vessels have joined the project which started in the South West of England and are receiving professional support to develop Continue reading “50 Vessels join the Fishing First Safety Management Project”

Cygnus 1 ultrasonic thickness gauge certified to Class 1

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Cygnus Instruments Ltd - Cygnus 1
Cygnus Instruments Ltd – Cygnus 1

The Cygnus 1 ultrasonic thickness gauge is certified to Class 1, Div 1 (“Zone 0”) for ATEX, IECEx and CSA-US. The Cygnus 1 is specifically designed for measuring metal thickness to determine wastage or corrosion in Zone 0, Zone 1 hazardous and potentially explosive environments. It has a highly durable, shock-proof and splash-proof (IP65 rated) construction – this heavy-duty unit is supplied ready to use, and offers up to 12 hours continuous testing before recharge is necessary, with no plant shutdown or hot work permit required.

The exterior houses a set of components, viewed via a bright LED display with polarised filter, in either metric or imperial measurement to suit the user’s preference. These features include an echo strength indicator to aid measurement, measurement self-verification to ensure Continue reading “Cygnus 1 ultrasonic thickness gauge certified to Class 1”

First build ruling for offshore wind support vessels published by US Coast Guard

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Photo credit: Robert Allan
Photo credit: Robert Allan

The US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center has published a new ruling regarding the construction of crew transfer vessels (CTVs). This is the first guidance issued on the construction of the many offshore support vessels that will be required to construct and maintain thousands of power generating wind turbines intended to be installed off the US coast.

To provide services to an offshore wind farm in US waters, a CTV must be considered “built in the United States” as required by US coastwise laws (commonly referred to as the “Jones Act”). For a vessel to be considered US built, it must meet two basic tests – “all major components of its hull and superstructure” must be US “fabricated;” and the vessel must be “assembled entirely in the United States.” Continue reading “First build ruling for offshore wind support vessels published by US Coast Guard”

Fishing vessel pilot highlights new safety management project

Posted on by News Hound
Image used for illustration purposes only
Image used for illustration purposes only

Leading provider of grants and support to the maritime community, The Seafarers’ Charity, has received funding for a pilot project to develop safety management onboard fishing vessels to the standard of the Fishing Safety Management (FSM) Code. The new service, Fishing First Safety Management by SafetyFolder, aims to improve safety in the UK fishing fleet.

The Seafarers’ Charity’s chief executive, Catherine Spencer says: “I am delighted that funding has been secured for this pilot project as the addition of an auditable safety standard that will transform vessel safety in the fishing industry. The Seafarers’ Charity is improving the lives of seafarers every day and ensuring fishers can work and return home safely from voyages without experiencing harm or accidents is Continue reading “Fishing vessel pilot highlights new safety management project”

Sobering man overboard lesson

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Image used for illustration purposes only
Image used for illustration purposes only

At the recent Seawork Connect online event, the Workboat Association and British Tugowners Association Safety Forum at Seawork Connect gave details about a real-life man overboard (MOB) incident. Shaun Mansbridge, Safety Manager at Williams Shipping, described a situation that occurred within Willliams’ pilot vessel fleet, fortunately with a happy outcome, but which could have gone the other way.

A 13m pilot launch with two crewmembers aboard – skipper and deckhand – was delivering onsigners to a ship at the Nab Anchorage in the Solent, UK. It was Autumn with fine weather and light seas and an estimated water temperature of 13-15 degrees Celsius. The onsigning crew all safely ascended the pilot boarding ladder to the deck. The deckhand started passing the suitcases up while the pilot boat’s skipper Continue reading “Sobering man overboard lesson”

Preventing wet cargo damage

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Preventing wet cargo damage - Image: Swedish Club
Preventing wet cargo damage – Image: Swedish Club

Claims relating to wet cargo damage are all too frequent. Many of these can be avoided entirely with a robust pre-loading condition checking procedure. While humidity and condensation are inevitable challenges through the supply chain, pre-existing CTU damages should be an easy check.

As TT Club regularly articulates, around 65% of cargo damage incidents are attributable in part to the way that goods are packed within the cargo transport unit (CTU). The CTU Code and the more recent ‘CTU Code – a quick guide’ and complementary container packing checklist published by the Cargo Integrity Group, provide invaluable guidance for actors in the supply chain to mitigate such risks. Continue reading “Preventing wet cargo damage”

Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan

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Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan
Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an accident report focusing on the engine room fire aboard fishing vessel Master Dylan. At about 0745 on 1 December 2020, the fishing vessel Master Dylan was trawling for shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico when an explosion occurred in the engine room.

The captain attempted to extinguish the fire, but was unsuccessful. A nearby fishing vessel rescued the crew from the burning vessel. An offshore supply vessel eventually extinguished the fire using water cannons. Master Dustin II, a vessel owned by the same company, proceeded to tow the Master Dylan to the nearest point of land. But in doing so, the Master Continue reading “Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan”

LIFE of a BOAT tells the history of a 90 year old lifesaving boat in a new book

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W&S on acceptance trials in February 1931 by Beken of Cowes. Credit RNLI Archive
W&S on acceptance trials in February 1931 by Beken of Cowes. Credit RNLI Archive

The LIFE of a BOAT is a new book, or as author Graeme Ewens calls it, a ‘Nautobiography’, about a 90-year-old lifesaver comprising tales of shipwreck, heroic rescue, wartime tragedy and its later resurrection.

Ninety years ago, in February, 1931, the RNLI took charge of a new lifeboat, the W&S, which is still surviving after a heroic career and a longer period of retirement. The publication of its ‘nautobiography’ celebrates the boat’s history and will help finance its life support. A share of proceeds will also be donated to the Penlee Lifeboat Station.

The LIFE of a BOAT is the story of a remarkable boat that served the RNLI for 40 years before entering a new life as a pleasure cruiser. Continue reading “LIFE of a BOAT tells the history of a 90 year old lifesaving boat in a new book”

Norman Finlay Memorial Development Scheme launched to discover new talent in the small commercial vessel sector

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Norman Finlay MBE receiving his award from Her Majesty The Queen in 2018
Norman Finlay MBE receiving his award from Her Majesty The Queen in 2018

A new scheme has been established that aims to support the development of talent ashore within the small commercial vessel sector. The Norman Finlay Memorial Development Scheme is designed to increase the amount of small commercial vessel seafarers and those with a passion for these types of craft moving onto advanced careers ashore within the sector.

This includes vessel owner/operator organisations as well as within the supply chain such as manufacturers, regulators, surveyors, inspectors, charterers and professional services. The stakeholders will work together to provide a variety of resources towards the development of small commercial sector seafarers.

Continue reading “Norman Finlay Memorial Development Scheme launched to discover new talent in the small commercial vessel sector”

MAIB and DMAIB publish collaborative report on ECDIS use from the perspective of practitioners

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MAIB and DMAIB publish collaborative report on ECDIS use from the perspective of practitioners
MAIB and DMAIB publish collaborative report on ECDIS use from the perspective of practitioners

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and the Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board (DMAIB) have published a comprehensive 94 page study focusing on the practical application and usability of ECDIS. The study follows a qualitative methodology, primarily based on semi-structured interviews with 155 ECDIS users and observation data gathered between February and July 2018 during sea voyages in European waters on 31 ships of various types.

Challenges
The report showed that while the standardisation and allocation of simple and repetitive tasks (plotting the ship’s position and chart update for example) has brought about tangible benefits, the required user interaction with ECDIS has introduced challenges that cut Continue reading “MAIB and DMAIB publish collaborative report on ECDIS use from the perspective of practitioners”

Safety bulletin issued by MCA over concerns with lifting equipment inspections on fishing vessels

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A chain link used in the lifting equipment of a fishing vessel showing fractures identified during inspection
A chain link used in the lifting equipment of a fishing vessel showing fractures identified during inspection

Following a number of near misses and accidents during lifting operations onboard UK fishing vessels, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published a safety bulletin.

It is a requirement of the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Equipment and Lifting Operations Regulations) 2006 (SI 2006/2184) that the owner and/or employer shall ensure all lifting equipment is thoroughly inspected, as a minimum, at least every 12 months with regular inspections in between. Depending on the findings of the Company risk assessment, in certain applications, the frequency of inspection may need to be increased. Specifically, the attention of the inspection regime, established by the owner, may need to be increased in areas of high load, high wear rates, and high impact. Continue reading “Safety bulletin issued by MCA over concerns with lifting equipment inspections on fishing vessels”

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