Poor maintenance the key cause leading to sinking of Ms Nancy C says report

Photo by Frank Kammerer, towboatgallery.com
Photo by Frank Kammerer, towboatgallery.com

The NTSB has published its investigation report into the flooding and sinking of the towing vessel ‘Nancy C’ on Lower Mississippi River, near Dyersville, Tennessee, in March 2018. The investigation has identified poor maintenance as the principle cause of the incident.

On 6 March 2018, about 1630 local time, the uninspected towing vessel Ms Nancy C was moving and positioning cargo barges while operating in Everett Lake, a tributary of the Mississippi River, when a deckhand discovered water in a void at the stern of the vessel. While the captain and deckhand attempted to dewater the vessel, it sank in 15 feet of water. Both crew members disembarked to a barge prior to the sinking without injury. Damage was estimated at $667,306.

Continue reading “Poor maintenance the key cause leading to sinking of Ms Nancy C says report”

IMO introduces new safety signage standard

The ISO Committee on Graphical Symbols had been working to devise a consistent system for safety signage for both maritime and on-shore applications
The ISO Committee on Graphical Symbols had been working to devise a consistent system for safety signage for both maritime and on-shore applications

Since 1st January 2019, hundreds of new International Maritime Organisation (IMO) compliant signs entered into force as part of the new IMO Resolution A.1116(30) Escape Route Signs and Equipment Location Markings. The assembly of the IMO recalls resolutions A760(18) as amended by resolution MSC82(70), and A952(23).

It has agreed to adopt the safety symbols of ISO 7010 and ISO 24409-2 and, subsequently, all escape route signs, equipment location markings and other safety signage aboard a vessel must be compliant and brought into line.

Continue reading “IMO introduces new safety signage standard”

Reducing the risk of incidents due to systemic failures booklet published

The guide ‘Reducing the risk of incidents due to systemic failures’ is based on the partnership between Bureau Veritas, TMC Marine and the London P&I Club. It offers guidance on decreasing onboard systemic failures and highlights the challenges in shipping with the aim of preventing injury, loss of life and damage to ships and cargo.

Essentially the booklet focuses on enhanced onboard systems so that they are in line with the requirements of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code’s Safety Management Systems to reduce risk and develop a culture of continual improvement.

The publication provides an insight into systemic failures on board ships in response to a global trend of increases in system deficiencies related to the requirements of the ISM code.

Continue reading “Reducing the risk of incidents due to systemic failures booklet published”

UK MAIB issues amended guidance to MGN 564 on marine incident reporting

The MAIB investigates marine casualties involving UK vessels worldwide and vessels of any flag in UK territorial waters with the aim of preventing further avoidable accidents from recurring in the future. The UK MAIB has published amended guidance on marine incident reporting – what who and when an incident should be notified – with modifications made to MGN 564.

Who must report
The master/skipper, or senior surviving officer of a UK ship must notify the MAIB of any marine casualty or marine incident.

The master/skipper of any ship must notify the MAIB of any marine casualty or marine incident if:
– the ship is within UK waters and carrying passengers to / from the UK, or
Continue reading “UK MAIB issues amended guidance to MGN 564 on marine incident reporting”

MCA safety bulletin issued for all mariners who use GPS equipment

Credit: Vic Drosso
Credit: Vic Drosso

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued a special safety bulletin to all mariners that use GPS to prepare for a rollover event that will occur on 6 April 2019.

On April 6 navigation data from some older GPS systems might become inaccurate due to the ‘week number’ rollover event.

This could cause stand-alone GPS receivers and systems using GPS chips, to produce data that is 19.7 years either in the past or future, therefore generating errors in both the GPS position and time. However, if onboard equipment has been installed after August 1999, or has regular firmware updates from the manufacturer, there should be minimal Continue reading “MCA safety bulletin issued for all mariners who use GPS equipment”

Guidelines on cyber security onboard ships

Ships are increasingly using systems that rely on digitisation, digitalisation, integration and automation, which call for cyber risk management on board. As technology continues to develop, information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) onboard ships are being networked together – and more frequently connected to the internet. This brings the greater risk of unauthorised access or malicious attacks to ships’ systems and networks. Risks may also occur from personnel accessing systems on board, for example by introducing malware via removable media.

To mitigate the potential safety, environmental and commercial consequences of a cyber incident, a group of international shipping Continue reading “Guidelines on cyber security onboard ships”

Campaign for greater container safety must focus first on dangerous goods

Fire crews tackle a container blaze onboard Maersk Honam in 2018
Fire crews tackle a container blaze onboard Maersk Honam in 2018

The recent reports of container ship fires has once more focussed those in the container supply chain on safety issues related to the incorrect processing of dangerous goods. The nascent Cargo Integrity campaign initiated by the international transport and logistics insurer TT Club has, as a consequence, gained renewed impetus.

The recent fire aboard ‘Yantian Express’, details of the final judgment on the ‘MSC Flaminia’ explosion in July 2012, and the ongoing investigation of the ‘Maersk Honan’ fire are currently making headline news. Then just days ago news has come in of ‘Grande America’ sustaining a container fire in the Bay of Biscay and subsequently sinking. These perilous incidents not only frequently cost lives, millions Continue reading “Campaign for greater container safety must focus first on dangerous goods”

DNV GL rolls out remote surveys for all vessels

The Maritime Operational Centre in Høvik from where remote surveys are being carried out.
The Maritime Operational Centre in Høvik from where remote surveys are being carried out.

Leading classification society DNV GL announced today that all DNV GL classed vessels are now able to utilize the possibility of remote surveys for some inspections through the Veracity data platform. This means that for a range of surveys, a DNV GL surveyor will not be required to travel to the vessel.

Instead, by using an online connection or video streaming link, a dedicated team of remote surveyors can provide support to vessels anywhere in the world with documentation, images, video (streaming or recordings), and input provided by the customer and crew.

“This is another big step forward in using the power of digitalization and increased connectivity to deliver smarter and more efficient services,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime.

Continue reading “DNV GL rolls out remote surveys for all vessels”

Danish Maritime Authority gives approval to innovative new survival craft

With four independent electric engines at its corners, each Survival Craft is highly manoeuvrable.
With four independent electric engines at its corners, each Survival Craft is highly manoeuvrable.

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) has officially approved the LifeCraft Survival Craft by Viking as a Novel Life-Saving Appliance.

The device now meets the requirements for replacing conventional lifeboats on passenger ships and advancing progress toward greater safety in large-scale ship evacuation emergencies.

The approval, awarded on March 8, 2019, is the culmination of a long development and approval process including heavy weather trials in November 2018. Viking claims that the DMA approval marks the first time a truly ‘Novel’ Lifesaving Appliance (LSA) has been approved anywhere in the world. Continue reading “Danish Maritime Authority gives approval to innovative new survival craft”

Windfarm crew transfer vessels are getting larger

MHO Gurli and MHO Esbjerg are operated from the third deck, where the wheelhouse and workstations enjoy uninterrupted vision of the turbine tower and surrounding working areas.
MHO Gurli and MHO Esbjerg are operated from the third deck, where the wheelhouse and workstations enjoy uninterrupted vision of the turbine tower and surrounding working areas.

Tasmanian high speed catamaran designers Incat Crowther recently announced the delivery of the 39m Multipurpose Crew Transfer Vessels ‘MHO Gurli’ and ‘MHO Esbjerg’.

The vessels were built by PT Bintang Timur Samudera in Indonesia and delivered to MH-O & Co to be operated in European waters for Orsted in their Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm.

The vessels, designed by Incat Crowther, are the largest Wind Farm Support Vessels to enter service to date anywhere in the world. They draw on Incat Crowther’s experience with larger offshore fast catamarans operating in the oil and gas industry.

The platform was specifically designed to deliver exceptional seakeeping, stability and comfort, whilst accommodating a highly redundant quad-engine / quad-jet propulsion package.

Continue reading “Windfarm crew transfer vessels are getting larger”

Wärtsilä moves towards remote guidance for vessel repair and maintenance

Wärtsilä’s remote guidance service also proved successful during a demonstration in the TT-Lines office
Wärtsilä’s remote guidance service also proved successful during a demonstration in the TT-Lines office

Wärtsilä has successfully tested its remote guidance service, so claiming to have created ‘an entirely new dimension in vessel repair and maintenance operations’.

Through real-time communication using voice-controlled Augmented Reality (AR) wearables and remote guidance software, ship crew members, field service engineers and shipyard personnel can communicate with shore-based experts anywhere in the world.

The tests were carried out onboard the Huckleberry Finn, a RoRo ferry operated by TT-Lines, while sailing between Trelleborg, Sweden and Travemünde, Germany.

Simulated remote guidance service situations were carried out on the ship’s navigation equipment on the bridge and on the shaft line seals and bearings in the engine room.

Continue reading “Wärtsilä moves towards remote guidance for vessel repair and maintenance”

New commercial shipyard facility opened by Fairline at Hythe

Altogether it is hoped 65 boats will be built at both sites in 2019, with the core range from 40 – 60ft built in Arundel and the larger boats built in Hythe.
Altogether it is hoped 65 boats will be built at both sites in 2019, with the core range from 40 – 60ft built in Arundel and the larger boats built in Hythe.

Fairline Yachts has opened a new commercial shipyard facility in Hythe, Southampton.

The shipyard is able to accommodate vessels of up to 950 tonnes and 11.5m beam, which can be removed from the water via the slipway and stored undercover.

The site has more than 10,000sqm of covered working halls with workspace for crew or contractors to carry out required works.

“Opening this new facility is an exciting step for Fairline Yachts,” said Fairline Yachts commercial manager, Robert Hammond.

The shipyard is also capable of berthing vessels from 10m to 100m.

The move follows on from Fairline CEO David Tydemann admitting boatbuilding has been slower than desired at Hythe, largely due to problems recruiting the workforce resulting in a production challenge.

Continue reading “New commercial shipyard facility opened by Fairline at Hythe”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine