The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published its investigation report into the bottom contact of the passenger vessel Island Queen III near Whiskey Island, Ontario, in August 2017. In addition, TBS has issued three safety concerns relating to the carriage of lifejackets, the evacuation of passengers during an emergency, and specialized training for crew members who are responsible for managing passengers during an emergency.
In the early afternoon of 8 August 2017, the passenger vessel Island Queen III left port for a planned three-hour cruise in the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River, sailing out of Kingston, Ontario with 290 people on board. Almost immediately after departing, the vessel encountered three separate fleets of local sailing school dinghies, causing it to deviate from the planned route. As the vessel moved through a narrow portion of the route, it strayed into shallow water and struck bottom, Continue reading “Island Queen III: Three safety concerns after bottom contact of passenger vessel issued by TSB”
Over the years there have been many incidents in the shipping industry involving leakage of flammable and toxic gases into pump rooms, void spaces, engine rooms and other compartments. A mixture of gas in the air beyond certain concentration levels can be life threatening for crew entering these spaces and pose a serious fire risk. The International Gas Carrier Code (IGC Code) states that gas detection equipment shall be installed to monitor the integrity of the cargo containment, cargo handling and ancillary systems, and should be tested in accordance with recognized standards. To ensure that the fixed gas detection system operates effectively, timely and accurate calibration of the sensors is critical.
With the current COVID-19 pandemic forcing the country into lockdown, the Royal Yachting Aassociation has received a considerable number of enquiries from concerned members who are not able to gain access to their boats now that most marinas have controlled access.
