USCG issues fated duck boat’s Certificate of Inspection in an unusual move

The COI reports operational limitations which may have been exceeded while the voyage took place.
The COI reports operational limitations which may have been exceeded while the voyage took place.

The US Coast Guard released the Certificate of Inspection (COI) for the ‘Stretch Duck 07’, the amphibious tour boat that sunk in Table Rock Lake, Missouri on July 2018 with the loss of 17 lives.

The COI reports operational limitations which may have been exceeded while the voyage took place. The limitation included limits on permissible weather and surface conditions.

It also indicates that the boat’s stability letter was issued on March 2009, and its last “drydock” was carried out in January 2017. Its operations were to occur in Table Rock Lake and nearby Lake Taneycomo, and it was not permitted to operate on the water “when winds exceed thirty-five (35) miles per hour, and/or the wave height exceeds two (2) feet”.

In addition, the US Coast Guard established a Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) after the sinking of the Stretch Duck 07 boat in Branson, Missouri on July 19. An MBI is US Continue reading “USCG issues fated duck boat’s Certificate of Inspection in an unusual move”

Fire in cargo hold caused by light bulb reveals Maritime NZ report

Maritime NZ describes a fire in the cargo hold of a container ship caused by the heat from a 500 watt light bulb as the ship was berthed in port on New Zealand's East Coast in late 2017.
Maritime NZ describes a fire in the cargo hold of a container ship caused by the heat from a 500 watt light bulb as the ship was berthed in port on New Zealand’s East Coast in late 2017.

Maritime NZ has published its Lookout report. In it they present a range of of maritime casualties, offering some clear lessons that have been learnt. In this incident, Maritime NZ describes a fire in the cargo hold of a container ship caused by the heat from a 500 watt light bulb as the ship was berthed in port on New Zealand’s East Coast in late 2017.

The cargo hold fire incident

The floodlight was unintentionally left on after the hold was filled with timber packs. Some of the timber was destroyed in the fire and other packs charred, but the ship suffered only cosmetic damage. No-one was injured.

The cut timber had been loaded during the day and the 148 metre vessel was due to sail at the change of tide, when the cargo hold fire alarm sounded just before midnight.

Crew donned breathing apparatus to check the site, and reported smoke coming out of Continue reading “Fire in cargo hold caused by light bulb reveals Maritime NZ report”

Warilda: The Hospital ship sinking that shocked the nation remembered 100 years on

His Majesty's Australian Transport (HMAT) Warilda was transporting hundreds of wounded soldiers from the French port of Le Havre to Southampton
His Majesty’s Australian Transport (HMAT) Warilda was transporting hundreds of wounded soldiers from the French port of Le Havre to Southampton

A Southampton-based maritime charity will lower its flag to half-mast today (3 August) to commemorate the sinking of hospital ship (HMAT) Warilda 100 years ago, which caused outrage across the nation when it was torpedoed in the English Channel, killing 123 people.

His Majesty’s Australian Transport (HMAT) Warilda was transporting hundreds of wounded soldiers from the French port of Le Havre to Southampton when, despite being clearly marked with the Red Cross, it was struck by a single torpedo from a German U-boat.
Upon impact the ship’s starboard propeller was disabled, the engine room flooded and the steering gear obliterated. Unable to steer, the Warilda continued moving in a circle at 15 knots – making it difficult for those on board to escape in lifeboats.

The ship remained afloat for almost two hours before sinking into the channel.

Survivors were taken to Continue reading “Warilda: The Hospital ship sinking that shocked the nation remembered 100 years on”

MAIB issues urgent safety bulletin after keel failure to a commercial yacht

The Keeled TygerThe MAIB is investigating the keel failure and capsize of the UK registered commercial yacht Tyger of London while on passage from La Gomera to Tenerife, on 7 December 2017. The five persons on board were rescued from the water by the crew of a nearby yacht.

Tyger of London was a Comar Comet 45S designed by Vallicelli & C and built in 2007 by Comar Yachts s.r.l, at Fiumicino, Italy. In common with other vessels built by the shipbuilder, the Comet 45S could be fitted with a choice of two keels:
Continue reading “MAIB issues urgent safety bulletin after keel failure to a commercial yacht”

Following fatal Platino accident new regulations are introduced

The Platino before the incident - Photo credit: Maritime NZ
Photo credit: Maritime NZ

In the aftermath of the report published into the fatal Platino accident in which two crew members of the yacht Platino died back in June 2016, Maritime NZ has announced regulatory changes. These apply to safety requirements for recreational vessels leaving New Zealand ports and for other recreational vessels operating in New Zealand waters.

The incident

Platino is a 19.78 metre-long sailing yacht built in 1997-98 and extensively refitted in 2015. It was certified to Category 1 standard by Yachting NZ on 11 May 2016 and sailed from Auckland bound for Fiji on 11 June 2016 with five crew on board. Continue reading “Following fatal Platino accident new regulations are introduced”

AMSA sets deadline for float-free EPIRBs to become mandatory

The float-free EPIRBs - Photo credit: AMSA
Photo credit: AMSA

From January 2021, AMSA is imposing regulation that float-free EPIRBs will be mandatory on certain types of commercial vessel. This change to safety requirements is in response to tragic incidents in which commercial vessels sank quickly and the master and crew were not able to deploy their EPIRB in time.

A float-free auto-activating EPIRB can send a call for help within minutes of being submerged in water without any action by the crew. As AMSA General Manager of Standards Brad Groves said, float-free EPIRBs offer significant safety advantages for crew and passengers on vessels in distress.

Continue reading “AMSA sets deadline for float-free EPIRBs to become mandatory”

What next as the International Safety Management Code turns 20?

ISM Code guideCapt Yves Vandenborn, AFNI, Director of Loss Prevention at the Standard P&I Club, based in Singapore, writing in The Standard Club P&I’s bulletin addresses the International Safety Management Code on the occasion of its twentieth birthday. Twenty years and five amendments later after the Code came into effect in 1998, Mr Vandenborn examines its course so far and what, in his opinion, needs to be done in order to become more effective.

Background
The International Safety Management Code was born out of a series of serious shipping accidents in the 1980s, the worst of which was the roll-on roll-off ferry Herald of Free Enterprise which capsized at Zeebrugge in March 1987, killing 193 of its 539 passengers and crew. The cause of these accidents was a combination of human error on board and management failings on shore. The Herald of Free Enterprise public enquiry report concluded that ‘From top to bottom the body corporate was infected with the disease of sloppiness’.

What followed was a much needed change in maritime safety administration. In October 1989, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted new Guidelines on Management for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention giving operators a ‘framework for the proper development, implementation and assessment of safety and pollution prevention management in accordance with good practice’. Following industry feedback, the guidelines became the ISM code in November 1993 and were incorporated in a new chapter IX of the IMO’s 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) in May 1994, and became mandatory for companies operating certain types of ships from 1 July 1998. Continue reading “What next as the International Safety Management Code turns 20?”

London P&I Club, first to declare their strategy in the event of a hard Brexit

A battle ship docked by London BridgeUK maritime insurer London P&I Club is taking out an insurance policy against the business risks of Brexit by opening a subsidiary in Cyprus. The European market accounts for nearly two-thirds of London P&I’s business, and a Cypriot entity would still be able to operate under EU rules with EU clients in the event that a “hard Brexit” impedes cross-channel transactions.

London P&I Club, which has been serving the UK’s maritime sector since the dawn of the steamship era, told Reuters that it is now obtaining the necessary licenses from Cypriot authorities and setting up its new operations in the island state. they are one of the first to openly declare their post Brexit strategy.

Continue reading “London P&I Club, first to declare their strategy in the event of a hard Brexit”

Gale force winds caused container losses from YM Efficiency, says report

A picture of YM effciency with containers lostThe Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released its preliminary investigation report into the loss of containers overboard from the container ship YM Efficiency, off Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia last month.

The 4,300-TEU Liberian-flagged ship operated by Yang Ming Marine Transport lost 81 containers overboard in gale-force weather conditions on June 1, 2018. Another 62 containers were damaged, and there was structural damage to the ship’s gangway, superstructure and lashing bridges. The ship was on a regular service, calling at ports in China, Taiwan and Australia.

At about 0034 on June 1, the ship experienced a period of quick, heavy rolling for about 60 to 90 seconds. The rolling was estimated by the ship’s master as having reached angles of up to 30º to port and starboard. Shortly after the start of the rolling, several engineering alarms sounded and the main engine shut down. By about 0036, the rolling had reduced and the ship’s motion had calmed. The engine was restarted, and the YM Efficiency eventually berthed in Port Botany on June 6. Continue reading “Gale force winds caused container losses from YM Efficiency, says report”

Surveyor raises questions about duck boat design following tragic accident

Aftermath of duckboat tragedyFollowing the appalling recent tragedy that led to multiple fatalities, a private contractor hired to inspect the fleet of “Ride the Ducks” tour boats in Branson, Missouri has raised questions about several duck boat design features that may have posed a potential safety hazard.

Steven Paul, an ex-Army diesel mechanic and private marine surveyor, told CNN that he conducted a pre-sale inspection of the Branson based Ride the Ducks fleet last year. He described a series of potential issues with the vessels and said that he had informed the new operator in a written report.

Continue reading “Surveyor raises questions about duck boat design following tragic accident”

Choose the right CO alarm, but be aware of false claims warns BSS

The several signs of carbon monoxide poisoningFollowing recent media reports about non-working, imported carbon monoxide (CO) alarms sold on internet shopping sites, the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) is cautioning boaters that choosing the right CO alarm is an especially critical decision as boats can fill in minutes, sometimes seconds, with lethal levels of the highly toxic gas.

The BSS has teamed up with the CoGDEM (Council of Gas Detection & Environment Monitoring) to urge boaters to choose one from the list of CO alarms suitable for boats as recommended by the makers of independently certified products. Continue reading “Choose the right CO alarm, but be aware of false claims warns BSS”

RMBIDS unveils revamped online platform for marine equipment auctions

Equipment auction homepageRMBIDS, the world’s first online platform for marine equipment auctions, has launched a new and improved website, expanding its services to promote a new era of fairer maritime trade.

RMBIDS has always prided itself on user discretion – both sellers and buyers have always had the option of being anonymous – and this has been further enhanced in the new site, with additional privacy features available to sellers. RMBIDS’ Private Room function will allow owners who want to auction off their goods confidentially, whilst knowing their potential buyers, to enter a virtual auction space with pre-agreed purchasers only, all of whom sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) to protect the owner’s identity.

Continue reading “RMBIDS unveils revamped online platform for marine equipment auctions”

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