Germany’s Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) has published the lessons learned following the fire and subsequent foundering of a shrimp cutter vessel.
The exact cause of the fire could not be determined after the shipwreck was salvaged because of the extensive damage done to the vessel in the incident. Continue reading “Lessons learned after fire sinks shrimp cutter”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has published the results into an investigation into the fire and sinking of fishing vessel Elite Navigator.
On 08 July 2024, the Elite Navigator, with the master and 6 crew members on board, departed Valleyfield, Newfoundland and Labrador, to fish turbot. By 17 July, the vessel had caught its quota. At approximately 1830,1 the master used a satellite messenger to notify the owner Continue reading “Canadian transport investigation report into fire on board fishing vessel Elite Navigator”
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has published a report after cargo was lost and damaged off containership President Eisenhower.
The input of incorrect container cargo weight data when developing the cargo loading plan led to the shipping containers falling off a cargo ship and others becoming damaged while the vessel was drifting off the coast of California.
On February 6 2024, the U.S.-flagged containership President Eisenhower lost 23 shipping containers overboard and another 10 were damaged as the vessel was drifting about 94 miles south of Oakland, California, while awaiting a berthing assignment. Continue reading “NTSB reveals cargo on President Eisenhower lost due incorrect cargo weight data”
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board have released the results of a report after the installation of an incorrect valve in a pipe to a diesel oil tank led to a fatal fire aboard a cargo vessel docked in LaPorte, Texas.
On January 8 2024, a fire broke out in the engine room aboard the cargo vessel Stride during bunkering, or fueling, operations while docked at the Barbours Cut Marine Terminal. The fire self-extinguished after crewmembers shut down all ventilation to the engine room. Two crewmembers died as a result of the fire, and one was seriously injured. Continue reading “NTSB investigation after incorrect valve starts fatal fire”
The failure of a component on the hydraulic system for on-deck fishing equipment likely led to a fire aboard a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Maine, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. On August 11 last year, the fishing vessel Three Girls was fishing in the Gulf of Maine when a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room.
The five crewmembers and a National Marine Fisheries Service observer abandoned the burning vessel and were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. No injuries or pollution were reported. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $1.3 million. Continue reading “NTSB investigation into fire on fishing vessel Three Girls”
Lloyd’s Register has highlighted Port State Control inspections in Asia, which have been raising deficiencies against ships where the escape trunk does not proceed all the way to the lowest level of the engine room. Continue reading “Lloyd’s Register on engine room means of escape arrangements”
In recent years, IIMS has published a number of articles about the growing problem of what to do with end-of-life boats and the challenges of recycling them. It remains a thorny subject.
But now it seems the problem comes with the seal of Royal approval. I have read that none other than Prince William, a future King of England, and his Duchy of Cornwall have pledged to address the issue of abandoned boats in rivers and harbours in England’s west country. Continue reading “What caught my eye: February 2025”
On November 27, 2024, approximately 100 nautical miles off the coast of Virginia, a bulk carrier shipping a type of coal called “Bailey High Vol Coking Coal” experienced consecutive explosions in the two forward cargo holds. While still under investigation, the explosions are likely a result of the accumulation of methane gas that created an explosive atmosphere and resulted in significant damage to the two associated cargo holds. It was soon discovered that the other five cargo holds also had highly elevated levels of methane that were Continue reading “USCG Safety Alert: Understanding the explosion hazards of shipping coal”
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has reported an increase in the number of commercial vessel incidents in the past year. A total of 1,154 incidents were registered on commercial vessels in 2024. Half of these were accidents and the other half were near misses. This represents an increase of about six percent in incidents compared to 2023, according to Vegar Berntsen, Section Manager, Risk Management and Analysis, Norwegian Maritime Directorate. According to Berntsen, smaller vessels are primarily the ones that sink, with the majority being fishing vessels.
Additionally, four cargo ships have also sunk. Continue reading “Norway reports increase in commercial vessel incidents”
CMA CGM is revising its steering guidance across the fleet after ambiguous procedures contributed to one of its ships colliding with a navigational beacon in the Yarra River, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
Departing the Port of Melbourne on 25 May 2023 under the conduct of a harbour pilot, containership CMA CGM Puccini contacted the navigational beacon after swinging wide in a turn when its rudder began responding erratically to helm orders. The ship was slowed and returned towards the middle of the channel, before being stabilised with tug assistance and then conducted to nearby Webb Dock. While the ship sustained minor hull paint damage, the beacon was significantly damaged. Continue reading “ATSB says ambiguous procedures led to vessel steering failure”
The Liberia Maritime Authority has published marine advisory 04/2025 on the Voluntary replacement and recall of rocket parachute flares Kokusai Kakoh Co., Ltd / Type: KP-16.
Kokusai Kakoh Co., Ltd recalled the flare due to concerns regarding the specified altitude and burning time when fired.
The item in question:
• Product name/type: Kokusai Kakoh Co., Ltd. Rocket parachute flares Type: KP-16 ➢ Date of manufacture: From February 2021 to July 2024. The Liberian Maritime Authority recommends replacing these flares in accordance with information provided by the manufacturer, “Instructions (for outside of Japan)”. Continue reading “Liberian Registry issues notice on recall of rocket parachute flares”
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch is aware that 16 Red Sea liveaboard dive boats have been lost over the last 5 years. Seven of these losses happened in the last 21 months, and three of these resulted in numerous fatalities including UK nationals.
In line with the principles of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Casualty Investigation Code, the UK has been registered as a substantially interested state in the Egyptian safety investigations into these accidents. Continue reading “MAIB safety bulletin into safety issues on Red Sea liveaboard dive boats”
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