The Container Ship Safety Forum (CSSF) has released a statement to call for a reinvention of the lifeboat onboard cargo vessels so safety can be improved. According to CSSF, over the years, many seafarers have been injured – some of them fatally – while launching the lifeboat during evacuations or evacuation drills. This has nothing to do with the lifeboats not being compliant with safety standards, but simply because the launch of a lifeboat is a dangerous task to perform.
“For way too long, we have seen able seafarers being injured when launching lifeboats even though crews have been trained and the lifeboat is modern and fully compliant,” said Aslak Ross, Chairman of the CSSF. Continue reading “Cargo ship lifeboats need to be reinvented”
The Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (Low Carbon GIA) and Arcsilea Ltd. have developed a series of videos on the latest major amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, adopted by the IMO, namely the Energy Efficiency eXisting Ship Index (EEXI) and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).
Portable fire extinguishers are pressure containers that require correct maintenance. The marine environment can be harsh and special care is needed to ensure long-term safe operation.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) has published some safety recommendations for vessels featuring battery systems in order to protect them against humid, salty air and seawater intrusion.
The US Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published the U.S. Port State Control Annual Report for 2022. USCG reported that the total number of ships detained in 2022 for environmental protection, safety, and security related deficiencies increased from 63 to 78.
The UK Chamber of Shipping has established an ad hoc working group to gain a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with lithium ion batteries (LIBs). The group is to examine various aspects of batteries, including how to guard against such batteries going into thermal runaway and catching fire.
Maersk continues the build toward the introduction of the world’s first methanol fuelled containership. The shipping company released a short video showing the float out of the vessel from the building dock in South Korea reporting that work remains on schedule for delivery this summer.
An incredible £1 million donation has been given anonymously in support of the TS Queen Mary’s journey back to the River Clyde. The 90-year-old ship, built in Dumbarton, carried 13,000 holidaymakers and was famously visited by the Queen Mother and King George VI. This anonymous gift will “turbo-charge” the refurbishment project as it brings donations to the halfway mark of the £10 million estimate.
