Have you ever wondered why incidents and accidents seem to come in clusters and often by type? I have. It is a strange phenomenon and one that I have no idea how to explain. Recently there were several enclosed space accidents hitting the news in quick succession and, sadly, with deaths to report. Then there was a spate of incidents within days of each other involving containers flying from ships into the seas. In some cases, it was just a handful, but in others, much larger numbers reported. And now, it seems, there has been a cluster of devastating fires, both at sea and on shore that have hit the headlines in recent weeks resulting in multiple Continue reading “IIMS July News Bulletin published”
News
ClassNK releases comprehensively revised structural rules
Leading Classification Society ClassNK released a comprehensively revised version of Part C of its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships setting the requirements for hull structures on 1 July 2022.
ClassNK is constantly revising its Rules and Guidance in order to reflect the latest results from relevant research and development projects, feedback from damage investigations, requests from industry, as well as changes made to the relevant regulations such as international conventions. Continue reading “ClassNK releases comprehensively revised structural rules”
UK boating numbers on canals and rivers increase
The UK Canal and River Trust’s national boat count shows an increase in boaters using the canals across England and Wales over the last three years. The last full annual boat count took place in 2019, with the pandemic affecting the counts scheduled for 2020 and 2021. The count reveals that the number of boaters rose by 3.3 per cent across England and Wales and there was also a licence compliance rate of 94.1 per cent.
Over the course of the last three years the survey shows a slight drop in the percentage of licensed boats, down from 96.5 per cent in 2019 to 94.1 per cent this year, together with an increase in boats taking a licence without a home mooring Continue reading “UK boating numbers on canals and rivers increase”
Improperly maintained fluids in well control equipment systems
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has informed the industry about several recent offshore incidences where fluids used in well control equipment systems have been improperly maintained.
According to BSEE, two identified fluid contamination issues include the following:
– Nickel leaching into demineralized water in well control equipment, fluid systems.
– Calcium soap build-up in some control fluid systems, potentially caused by mixing the liquid concentrate with a chemical Continue reading “Improperly maintained fluids in well control equipment systems”
Reported injuries due to stored energy in slings
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has issued advice and lessons learnt following injuries sustained by offshore crew working with slings. By issuing this information, BSEE hopes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
There have been multiple instances across the Gulf of Mexico in which offshore personnel have sustained injuries to the face while working with slings. These incidents resulted from stored energy in the slings. Recent incidents include the following:
– December 2021: A contract roustabout slid a sling off a joint of drill pipe, which left a double loop in the sling. While unhooking the shackle Continue reading “Reported injuries due to stored energy in slings”
What’s new with SOLAS 2024?
A set of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the associated Codes enter into force on 1 January 2024. This statutory news from DNV highlights the changes that have been adopted for the 2024 update of SOLAS and its associated Codes.
The SOLAS Convention is regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships. Amendments to the technical provisions generally follow a four-year cycle of entry into force. This news highlights Continue reading “What’s new with SOLAS 2024?”
First electric flying ferry set to transform Stockholm’s waterborne public transport
The world’s fastest electric ship, the Candela P-12 Shuttle, is set to hit Stockholm’s waters next year, heralding a new era of transport. The innovative hydrofoiling electric ferry will reduce emissions and slash commuting times and the city believes it will make waterborne public transport more attractive than trains, buses and cars.
The marine technology company Candela released the first pictures of what will be the world’s fastest, longest-range and most energy efficient electric ship ever. The Candela P-12 Shuttle, as the innovative vessel is called, will be shuttling citizens between the sprawling Stockholm suburb of Ekerö and the city center in the coming year. Continue reading “First electric flying ferry set to transform Stockholm’s waterborne public transport”
World’s largest containership this week in Shanghai
A subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) is reported to have delivered the world’s largest containership in Shanghai. Named Ever Alot, the vessel has a carrying capacity of a massive 24,004 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), which gives her the unofficial world record-holder title. The vessel measures 400 meters long by 61.5 meters wide and a draft of 17 meters.
Ever Alot was delivered by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of CSSC, to a subsidiary of Taiwanese shipping company Evergreen Marine Corporation. Continue reading “World’s largest containership this week in Shanghai”
Marshall Islands investigation into cargo fumigation incidents launched
The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator is conducting marine safety investigations following two different incidents involving in transit cargo fumigation.
One of these incidents resulted in the death of a crewmember soon after removing fumigant from the cargo holds prior to arrival at the discharge port. The other resulted in the hospitalization of a stevedore after being exposed to fumigant that had been applied by the crew prior to departure from the loading port. Continue reading “Marshall Islands investigation into cargo fumigation incidents launched”
Another serious lifeboat accident illustrates continued risk in drills
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has released a report on yet another serious lifeboat-drill accident, illustrating the continuing hazards of this routine SOLAS safety exercise. A failure of a lifeboat launch system on a merchant vessel can result in a fall from height, ending in injuries or fatalities.
On December 1, 2020, the crew of the bulk carrier Blue Bosporus were carrying out a free-fall lifeboat drill at anchor in English Bay, British Columbia. After the four wire rope slings for lowering away the free-fall lifeboat were attached, the third mate and an AB went aboard the boat to conduct a test launch. Continue reading “Another serious lifeboat accident illustrates continued risk in drills”
Capsize and sinking of whelk potter Nicola Faith with loss of 3 lives report published
On 27 January 2021, the whelk potter Nicola Faith capsized and sank 1.9 miles north of Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales with the loss of its three crew members. The vessel had been extensively modified during its life which had significantly reduced its margin of positive stability. On the day of the accident the Nicola Faith had been loaded with catch and retrieved strings of pots to the point of instability, which resulted in the capsize and subsequently sinking of the vessel. Nicola Faith had not been fitted with a mandatory emergency beacon to alert to the capsize, and it was not reported as overdue until 1000 the next day. Following its salvage by the MAIB, a thorough inspection of the vessel was carried out to determine possible modes of capsize Continue reading “Capsize and sinking of whelk potter Nicola Faith with loss of 3 lives report published”
MAIB issues report into fatal capsize and sinking of scallop dredger Joanna C
Early in the morning on 21 November 2020, the scallop dredger Joanna C capsized south of Newhaven, England; only one of the three crew survived. Joanna C’s crew was hauling the gear when they noticed that the starboard dredge bar had become snagged on a line of whelk pots. The snag caused a heel to starboard from which the vessel could not recover, and it capsized rapidly.
The MAIB’s investigation found that through-life modifications, culminating in extensive alterations in 2019, had reduced Joanna C’s previously good stability to a state where it had very low reserves of positive stability and increased vulnerability to capsize. The detrimental effect of the modifications was unknown to the crew and regulator alike because, Continue reading “MAIB issues report into fatal capsize and sinking of scallop dredger Joanna C”
