IIMS News

New ‘smart yacht’ forum planned for Monaco

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A new event focusing on smart yachts from 24m (79ft) and above is scheduled to be held from March 23-24 at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM).

The 1st Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous is being organised by M3 (Monaco Marina Management), a Monegasque consultancy specialised in eco-marinas, and follows on from the success of its Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous held in advance of the Monaco Yacht Show 2022.

With this new event, M3 wants to promote sustainable solutions for superyachts, Continue reading “New ‘smart yacht’ forum planned for Monaco”

IMB Piracy Report January-December 2022

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The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) calls for efforts to be sustained worldwide as maritime piracy and armed robbery attacks reached their lowest recorded level in almost three decades.

The IMB’s annual piracy report recorded 115 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2022 – compared to 132 in 2021 – with half of them occurring in Southeast Asian waters, particularly in the Singapore Straits, where incidents continue to rise. Continue reading “IMB Piracy Report January-December 2022”

Announcing the Ian Nicolson Lecture: Your invitation to attend

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Image credit: The Helensburgh Advertiser
Image credit: The Helensburgh Advertiser

One of the more interesting nonagenarians you are likely to meet is Ian Nicolson C.Eng. FRINA HonMIIMS, a marine surveyor based in Scotland, who is not your average ninety-plus-year-old. For one thing, he has been marine surveying for over 70 years – in itself a remarkable feat.

IIMS is delighted to be hosting the Ian Nicolson Lecture “Lessons learned from 78 years of marine surveying” live on Thursday 13th April between 10.30 and 12.30 (UK time). The lecture is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Continue reading “Announcing the Ian Nicolson Lecture: Your invitation to attend”

Great care should be taken when containers are loaded on vessels

Posted on by News Hound
container losses are the focus of a recent communiqué from the American Club
Container losses are the focus of a recent communiqué from the American Club

In a recent communiqué from the American Club, it focuses on container losses in general. This is a phenomenon that is much too common the Club says and needs addressing.

Containers are routinely being lost at sea from container ships, from barges, and from non-cellular vessels carrying containers. There are several causes including incorrect container weight declarations by shippers, improper weight distributions in the stow, cargo misdeclarations, inadequate packing of cargo inside the containers, inadequate stowage plans, and inadequate cargo securing. Continue reading “Great care should be taken when containers are loaded on vessels”

New report reveals that the use of digital tools onboard is positively perceived

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As part of this project, the two partners, The European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) and the Euopean Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) wanted to investigate the increased use of digital tools on board and the possible benefits and /or improvements to shipboard safety and welfare. As a result of the survey, there are a number of recommendations made which are summarised at the end of this article.

The research starting point was a desk-based exercise to map out and analyse existing research findings. To get detailed insights as regards life on board, and the impact of increased digitalisation, the research targeted those with first hand experience through online surveys. Continue reading “New report reveals that the use of digital tools onboard is positively perceived”

Warning: Crane components must comply with manufacturer recommendations

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The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has published details of a potentially serious near-miss recently which occurred on a Gulf of Mexico energy facility. While using the platform crane to suspend a wireline lubricator, the pin holding the hook on the crane stinger backed out, resulting in the hook and lubricator falling.

The incident investigation found that the cotter pin at the end of the hook pin had sheared, which allowed the washer to fall and the pin to back out. Continue reading “Warning: Crane components must comply with manufacturer recommendations”

Water flood in cargo hold case study

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There was a water flood into a cargo hold after crew washed the main deck
There was a water flood into a cargo hold after crew washed the main deck

According to the Swedish Club’s latest monthly safety scenario, water was flooding from the cargo hold, after the crew of a containership were washing down the main deck and cargo hatches. Here are the learnings.

It was morning and outside there was a light breeze and some drizzle. The crew of the container vessel was preparing to wash down the main deck and cargo hatches before arrival in port the same afternoon. They had the rare opportunity to do this as there were no containers on deck, only in the cargo hold. Continue reading “Water flood in cargo hold case study”

New law will improve DUKW boats’ safety, says NTSB chair

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Photo: NTSB showing Miss Majestic in Hot Springs, Ark., in 1999, where 13 lives were lost
Photo: NTSB showing Miss Majestic in Hot Springs, Ark., in 1999, where 13 lives were lost

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair, Jennifer Homendy, has welcomed maritime safety improvements in the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which the President signed into law at the end of last year.

The legislation advances NTSB recommendations for amphibious vessels known as DUKW boats and requires the U.S. Coast Guard to provide an initial response to new NTSB recommendations within 90 days.

“We applaud lawmakers for their bold action to improve DUKW boat safety, something the NTSB has been concerned about Continue reading “New law will improve DUKW boats’ safety, says NTSB chair”

Frazer Tintern return line fuel leak causes fire is report finding

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Report on ferry fire aboard "Frazer Tintern" released
Report on ferry fire aboard “Frazer Tintern” released

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB), the Irish government agency for investigating maritime accidents and incidents, has released its report on the ferry fire that broke out onboard the “Frazer Tintern” midway between Ballyhack, Co. Wexford and Passage East, Co. Waterford.

On the morning of 5 August 2021 a deck crewmember of the ferry “Frazer Tintern” reported to the Master that he smelled diesel fumes coming from the No.1/No.4 engine compartment. Upon further visual investigation, a diesel fuel leak was discovered where a fuel return line had become disconnected on the No.1 engine. Continue reading “Frazer Tintern return line fuel leak causes fire is report finding”

Fatality due to cargo hold’s low oxygen concentrations says investigation report

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The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore (TSIB) has released its accident investigation report on the incident onboard the bulker Nozomi when a seafarer died after entering a cargo hold as a result of an from oxygen deficient atmosphere.

On 19 March 2022, Nozomi arrived and anchored at the Tanjung Api-Api (TAA) anchorage, South Sumatera, Indonesia, to load coal cargo. On 1 April 2022, Nozomi waited at the anchorage for cargo export documents, and the departing pilot to embark at about 1200H. At about 1000H, the Bosun asked three ASD’s (ASD1, ASD2 and ASD3) to assist him in carrying out maintenance work (greasing) of the shipboard cargo cranes on the main deck. Continue reading “Fatality due to cargo hold’s low oxygen concentrations says investigation report”

Securing arrangements on deck in a poor state led to the loss of containers from APL England

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The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has published its final report into the loss of containers from the vessel APL England off the coast of Sydney in 2020. One of the key findings noted is the importance of vessel fixtures being regularly maintained to ensure they are secure and stable.

On 11 May 2020, the 5,780 TEU fully-cellular container ship APL England departed Ningbo, China, bound for Sydney, New South Wales. The ship was loaded with 3,161 containers (5,048 TEU), with a forward draught of 11.44 m, an aft draught of 13.32 m, and a GM2 of 1.69 m. The Singapore-flagged ship was technically managed by the CMA CGM International Shipping Company Pte. Ltd (CCISC). Continue reading “Securing arrangements on deck in a poor state led to the loss of containers from APL England”

Onboard training for operating hatch covers is essential

Posted on by News Hound
Photo use for illustrative purposes only
Photo use for illustrative purposes only

Hong Kong authorities have issued an investigation report following a fatal accident that happened on board a bulk carrier, when it was en route to Port Hedland, Australia to load a cargo of salt in bulk.

During the voyage, the crew of the vessel was engaged with the main deck cleaning work and the cargo hold lime-coating work, while the C/O was co-ordinating the lime-coating operation on the main deck. When the C/O placed his body underneath the partially opened folding type hatch cover to check the condition of the cargo hold and take photos, the hydraulic oil hose of the hatch cover operating system ruptured, resulting in the sudden closure of the hydraulic operated hatch cover. The C/O was crushed to death by the hatch cover on the spot. Continue reading “Onboard training for operating hatch covers is essential”

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