News

Sounding pipes should be clear of debris or cargo

The Swedish Club has provided lessons learned from an incident where water had entered cargo hold 1 of a bulker, causing wet damage. as part of its ongoing series into hatch cover incidents.

A bulk carrier had a full cargo of zinc concentrate on board and was sailing from the west coast to the east coast of South America. When the vessel passed Cape Horn it experienced heavy weather of Beaufort scale 9 with green sea covering the cargo hold covers 1, 2 and 3. This continued for four days as the vessel battled the waves. The vessel had no weather routeing.

When the weather calmed down the Master asked the Chief Officer to inspect the cargo holds. Continue reading “Sounding pipes should be clear of debris or cargo”

The importance of inspecting hatch covers to ensure their weathertight condition highlighted

The Swedish Club has highlighted the importance of securing and inspecting hatch covers and checking that they are in good condition. In presenting a case study, the Club explains how seawater may ingress into cargo holds in bad condition can cause serious damage.

The incident
A bulk carrier had been fully loaded with grains. The vessel had side rolling cargo hatch covers. For six days, the vessel encountered heavy weather at Beaufort scale 9 which caused it to pitch and roll heavily. During the voyage the cargo hatch covers were washed over by seawater.

When the vessel was at anchor and waiting for an available berth the hatch covers were opened. This was to ensure the vessel Continue reading “The importance of inspecting hatch covers to ensure their weathertight condition highlighted”

River Canal Rescue’s callouts set to reach an all-time high by the end of the year.

The inland waterways rescue organisation, River Canal Rescue, says figures up to September 30 are already 3318, ahead of 3235 logged for 2021, and 2850 rescues in 2020.

The callouts have generally been for electrical, fuel and engine issues, flat batteries, over-heating and gear box failures, with River Canal Rescue saying the rise is due to the high number of people unable to visit and maintain their boats during lockdown, resulting in minor niggles now becoming larger problems.

“Figures are currently at an unseasonable high and we still Continue reading “River Canal Rescue’s callouts set to reach an all-time high by the end of the year.”

Report analyzes role of ship fuel oil assessment and quantity verification

Report analyzes role of ship fuel oil assessment and quantity verification
Report analyzes role of ship fuel oil assessment and quantity verification

A new report from Thetius and Lloyd’s Register analyzes the role of ship fuel oil assessment and quantity verification during “uncertain times.”

Variations in bunker fuel quality have been a pressing issue for some time and lobbying for tighter bunker licensing and chain of custody schemes aimed at improving supply chain transparency have increased in recent years. But as operators and insurers are witnessing, the problem of off-spec and poor quality bunker fuel is at constant risk of resurgence. Changes to the geographic orientations of global bunker fuel markets are another influential factor.

According to the report, to meet growing local demand, Europe Continue reading “Report analyzes role of ship fuel oil assessment and quantity verification”

New interim Chief Executive of Maritime and Coastguard Agency appointed

Damien Oliver has been appointed interim CEO of the MCA
Damien Oliver has been appointed interim Chief Executive of the MCA

Damien Oliver has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). He begins his new role on Monday 17 October, following the retiremet of MCA Chief Executive Brian Johnson.

MCA Chairman and board member Christopher Rodrigues said: “Damien has had a number of high-profile roles within the MCA since joining in 2001 and he will bring a wealth of maritime experience and knowledge.

“Damien has been responsible for major projects and programmes, procurement, commercial management and innovation, maritime business development which includes the UK Shipping Register and Shipping Concierge within the MCA. Continue reading “New interim Chief Executive of Maritime and Coastguard Agency appointed”

Marine Engineer Gives Time to Maritime Volunteers

MVS members onboard Melita with Glen Jones form DOCKSPEC Marine Ltd. (The Bigger Picture Agency)
MVS members onboard Melita with Glen Jones form DOCKSPEC Marine Ltd. (The Bigger Picture Agency)

Glen Jones, a marine engineer who has worked all over the world on some of the largest vessels afloat has relocated his business to the North East and pledged his expertise and support to a local nautical charity.

Originally from the shipbuilding town of Barrow in Furness, Glen studied for his qualifications from apprentice to Chief Engineer at South Shields Marine College, a career spanning more than 30 years in the marine industry. His career from sea to shore took him through deep sea voyages, shore side placements in Singapore, Cyprus and latterly Dubai, where he worked for Drydocks World Dubai Continue reading “Marine Engineer Gives Time to Maritime Volunteers”

Safer Seas Digest 2021 published by NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its 96 page Safer Seas Digest 2021, highlighting the most important lessons learned from 31 maritime tragedies that took place over the course of last year including capsizings, contact, collisions, fires, flooding and groundings.

Among the key investigations included in the report are the sinking of Scandies Rose, where five lives were lost, and the capsizing of Golden Ray, one of the most expensive marine accidents in history.

In brief, some of the key lessons learned from the Safety Digest are: Continue reading “Safer Seas Digest 2021 published by NTSB”

New proposed Workboat 3 code from the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency is open for consultation

New proposed Workboat 3 code from the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency is open for consultation
New proposed Workboat 3 code from the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency is open for consultation

Rules governing workboats, pilot boats and remotely operated vessels have been revised and remade to support innovation in industry. The revised Merchant Shipping (Workboats, Pilot Boats and Remotely Operated Unmanned Vessels) Regulations 2022 and accompanying Workboat 3 Code is now going out for consultation across the marine industry. Continue reading “New proposed Workboat 3 code from the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency is open for consultation”

Canal & River Trust Annual Report 2021/22 published

The Canal & River Trust 2021/22 Annual Report & Accounts document a continued rise in use of the towpath with nearly 800 million individual visits across the year and a record summer for boating once the waterways were able to re-open in May 2021 for unrestricted navigation. It is also the second year to be severely affected by Covid-19.

Accounting for variances relating to the pandemic, income for the year remained broadly stable, and the Trust was able to increase the amount spent on core maintenance and repair works Continue reading “Canal & River Trust Annual Report 2021/22 published”

AMSA: Effective and regular vessel maintenance can prevent machinery failures

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has published a Maritime Safety Awareness Bulletin to highlight that a lack of planned maintenance can have a significant impact on the safety of the vessel, the people, and the marine environment.

Maintenance related issues do not always receive the attention they deserve, as these are often difficult to detect and can be regarded as entirely technical matters, unrelated to safety and pollution prevention. As a result, maintenance matters may not be reported or addressed Continue reading “AMSA: Effective and regular vessel maintenance can prevent machinery failures”

MAIB safety digest 2/2022 published

Andrew Moll OBE, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents at the Marine Accident Investigation Branch writes, “Welcome to MAIB’s second Safety Digest of 2022. I will start in the usual manner by thanking Julian Hughes, Jim Portus and Rachel Andrews for their respective introductions to the merchant, fishing and recreational sections of this edition. Each is an expert in their own field, and their industry insights to safety help bring contemporary context to the cautionary tales in the following pages. I hope you will find time to read the whole edition – there is something here for every mariner – but please do read the section introductions. And, when you have finished, please pass the digest on so others can benefit too. Continue reading “MAIB safety digest 2/2022 published”

Dutch tall ship accident resulting in three deaths caused by wood rot says investigation

three deaths caused by wood rot says investigation
three deaths caused by wood rot says investigation

An investigation into the fatal accident onboard the Amicitia where its mast broke and killed three people has revealed wood rot as the cause. The Dutch Safety Branch report revealed that there was no maintenance plan for the mast in question. The mast certificate issued in 2012, which was valid until 2018, caused the captain to think that this safety critical part of the ship met all safety requirements.

”In order to guarantee the safety of passengers, the historic ships sector must professionalise. With the commercial growth of the past decades, a backlog has been built up in knowledge and expertise about the safe maintenance of these special ships,” said the report. Continue reading “Dutch tall ship accident resulting in three deaths caused by wood rot says investigation”

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