IIMS News

Scrap metal fires and the IMSBC Code

Posted on by News Hound
Photo credit: Gard P&I club
Photo credit: Gard P&I Club

Gard P&I Club has highlighted the issue of serious scrap metal fires and questions if the IMSBC Code is adequately addressing the risks. According to Gard, most of its cases and those reported in accident investigations appear to concern scrap metal declared by shippers as Group C, which under the IMSBC Code is cargo which is neither liable to liquefy (Group A) nor to possess chemical hazards (Group B).

Images and accounts of scrap metal fires associated with such non-hazardous declarations paint a more concerning risk picture. Accident investigation reports speak of rapidly developing fires with intense heat and heavy smoke threatening harm to the crew, shore fire fighters as well as local residents. Continue reading “Scrap metal fires and the IMSBC Code”

IACS publishes new recommendation on onshore power supply systems

Posted on by News Hound

IACS Logo

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has released recommendation, Rec. 182 to support onshore power supply systems (OPS).
The new recommendation provides detailed guidance on integrating OPS systems into both newbuilds and retrofits, while addressing the technical and operational challenges associated with its implementation. Continue reading “IACS publishes new recommendation on onshore power supply systems”

Transport Malta: crewmember death after steam valve failure onboard Chemical Hunter

Posted on by News Hound
An able bodied seafarer (AB) on board Chemical Hunter was severely scalded by steam
An able bodied seafarer (AB) on board Chemical Hunter was severely scalded by steam

On 28 January 2024, an able bodied seafarer (AB) on board Chemical Hunter was severely scalded by steam. The accident happened during cargo tank washing and steaming operations. Chemical Hunter had just left the port of Altamira, Mexico when the accident occurred. The vessel returned to port where the injured crew member was transferred to a hospital. Despite the first aid given on board, and the more specialised treatment in hospital, the injured crew member succumbed to his injuries about two weeks after the accident.
The safety investigation determined that the failure mechanism of the steam inlet valve to the cargo tank cleaning water heater was most Continue reading “Transport Malta: crewmember death after steam valve failure onboard Chemical Hunter”

ABS: new offshore rules 2025

Posted on by News Hound
ABS announced major changes to its 2025 Survey After Construction of Offshore Rules that became effective 30 January this year.
ABS announced major changes to its 2025 Survey After Construction of Offshore Rules that became effective 30 January this year.

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) announced major changes to its 2025 Survey After Construction of Offshore Rules that became effective 30 January this year.
The new Offshore Rules 2025 consolidated and replaced the MOU, FPI and OI Rules and incorporated mandatory requirements from Facilities Rules.
Survey requirements for Offshore Units can be found in these parts of the OR:
• Part 7A Mobile Offshore Units – Surveys (old MOU Part 7)
• Part 7B Site Specific Units – Ship Type and Other Floating Installations – Surveys (old FPI Part 7) Continue reading “ABS: new offshore rules 2025”

Danish Shipping adopts biofouling management policy

Posted on by News Hound
Danish Shipping has adopted a new policy on biofouling management where it recommends that its members follow IMO guidelines
Danish Shipping has adopted a new policy on biofouling management where it recommends that its members follow IMO guidelines

Danish Shipping has adopted a new policy on biofouling management, where it recommends that its members follow IMO guidelines, which are currently not mandatory.
So-called biofouling on the hulls of ships is not only a potential threat to vulnerable marine ecosystems, but it also causes increased fuel consumption, when there are things stuck to the hull (due to the increased friction).
Proper biofouling management reduces fouling, bio-security risks and fuel consumption. Danish Shipping recommends its members follow IMO guidelines and keep records of their adherence to the guidelines. Continue reading “Danish Shipping adopts biofouling management policy”

Bureau Veritas guidance on IACS CIC on emergency power supply testing

Posted on by News Hound
Bureau Veritas says that IACS has decided to launch its own CIC
Bureau Veritas says that IACS has decided to launch its own CIC

IACS has decided to launch its own CIC to record results of testing of emergency power supply on individual ships, according to Bureau Veritas.
With the release of a Bulletin on the subject, the Tokyo MoU has informed ship operators, shipmasters, classification societies, maritime administrations, their officers, investigators and technical advisors of the potential risk of testing of automatic start of emergency source of electrical power and connection to the emergency switchboard (SOLAS Ch. II-1 Regulation 42 / 43) using simulated Continue reading “Bureau Veritas guidance on IACS CIC on emergency power supply testing”

Ocean Business 2025 announces cutting-edge technology Training and Demonstration programme

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Ocean Business 2025 Training & Demonstration Programme
Ocean Business 2025 Training & Demonstration Programme

With Ocean Business 2025 less than three months away, details can now be revealed about the Training and Demonstration programme, one of the main attractions of the global technology and science exhibition for marine industries
The three-day show, which runs from April 8-10 at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, UK, is open to all visitors for free.
This year’s Training and Demonstration programme, featuring the most exciting developments in the ocean sector, is bigger than ever, with 180-plus hours of new technologies demonstrated in the dockside waters, onboard vessels and in the classroom. Continue reading “Ocean Business 2025 announces cutting-edge technology Training and Demonstration programme”

Liberia Maritime Authority advice on ships using low-flashpoint fuels

Posted on by News Hound
Liberia Maritime Authority has published guidance on compliance with the requirements for ships using low-flashpoint fuel
Liberia Maritime Authority has published guidance on compliance with the requirements for ships using low-flashpoint fuel

The Liberia Maritime Authority has published guidance on compliance with the requirements for ships using low-flashpoint fuel.
Marine notice SAF-017 Rev. 1/25 applies to ships using low-flashpoint fuels:
• for which the building contract is placed on or after 1 January 2017;
• in the absence of a building contract, the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 July 2017; or
• the delivery of which is on or after 1 January 2021.
It also applies to a ship, irrespective of the date of construction, which converts to using low-flashpoint fuels on or after 1 January 2017, or to a ship using low-flashpoint fuels, which, on or after 1 January 2017, undertakes to use low-flashpoint fuels different from those which it was originally approved to use before 1 January 2017. Continue reading “Liberia Maritime Authority advice on ships using low-flashpoint fuels”

Special campaign in China on illegal enclosed space entry

Posted on by News Hound
Huatai Marine circular announces the start of a special campaign against illegal enclosed space entry onboard ships.
Huatai Marine circular announces the start of a special campaign against illegal enclosed space entry onboard ships.

P&I club Britannia has highlighted a Huatai Marine circular announcing the start of a special campaign against illegal enclosed space entry onboard ships.
The nine-month campaign, launched by the China Maritime Safety Administration (China MSA), began on 15 January and is intended to run until 14 October 2025. The campaign appears to target areas such as:
• The crew awareness of the dangers of enclosed spaces
• The identification and marking of enclosed spaces onboard
• The efficient and safe control of entry to enclosed spaces by permit Continue reading “Special campaign in China on illegal enclosed space entry”

IMCA publishes summary of safety incidents in 2024

Posted on by News Hound
A review of all IMCA Safety Flashes 2024 have been published
A review of all IMCA Safety Flashes 2024 have been published

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has released a review of all the safety incidents and events reported last year.
The 24 Safety Flashes covered 88 individual incidents or events shared by IMCA members. A further 33 incidents or events from information already in the public domain, from different trade bodies and/or regulators, were shared as being of interest. It should be noted that Safety Flashes are intended to be read by IMCA’s members’ offshore crews, and by office-based safety professionals. Continue reading “IMCA publishes summary of safety incidents in 2024”

ITOPF oil tanker spill statistics 2024 report

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Ten oil spills of more than seven tonnes were recorded from tanker incidents in 2024, the same number as in 2023.
This brings the decade average to 7.4 tanker spills per year, which is a dramatic reduction from the numbers reported in earlier decades but currently slightly higher than the average for the 2010s (6.3 spills per year).
The total volume of oil lost to the environment from tanker spills in 2024 was approximately 10,000 tonnes.
Most oil spills (>7 tonnes) recorded between 1970 and 2024 were caused by allisions/collisions and groundings.
ITOPF maintains a database of oil spills from tank vessels, including combined carriers, FPSOs and barges. This contains Continue reading “ITOPF oil tanker spill statistics 2024 report”

DGS India investigation report into M T Patriot tanker explosion

Posted on by News Hound
Figure 1: Main deck area of M T Patriot after the explosion. Source: DGS Mumbai, India
Figure 1: Main deck area of M T Patriot after the explosion. Source: DGS Mumbai, India

The Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai has issued a casualty circular into the death on board a tanker while undergoing repairs at berth.
The circular highlights an incident on Indian-registered tanker M T Patriot that resulted in the loss of one life and injuries to three shore-contracted personnel on board.
The casualties occurred due to an explosion inside the port-side Slop tank while cutting of nuts and bolts, using hot work, was being carried out on the Inert Gas line at the main deck.
The tanker was undergoing repairs that included renewal of sections of the Inert Gas (IG) pipeline on main deck at the Port of Chennai at repair berth since 30th October 2023 after taking the necessary permissions Continue reading “DGS India investigation report into M T Patriot tanker explosion”

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