Carried in ships’ ballast waters, invasive aquatic species have had a significant economic impact throughout the world. Specific ballast discharge events have been held responsible for disasters such as outbreaks of deadly disease, complete collapse Continue reading “Consistent testing standards are vital to ensure ballast water compliance”
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has released an accident report into the fatal injury of an oil tanker electrician, who was electrocuted onboard the vessel STI WINNIE.
On 2 May, 2019, the oil tanker STI WINNIE, owned by Scorpio Marine Management, was sailing in the Arabian Gulf with a final destination the Ras Laffan, Qatar. While the electrician of the vessel was trying to maintain the inert gas (IG) scrubber pump starter panel, he was exposed to high volumes of electrical energy and lost his life.
The crew members found the electrician lying with his head and his hands inside a local group starter panel (LGSP) cabinet. They immediately provide Continue reading “STI WINNIE: Report reveals lack of warning signs resulted in electrician’s fatality”
ABS has recently released a Guide for Firefighting Systems for Cargo Areas of Container Carriers, in which it presents guidelines and notations for addressing this high profile issue.
This Guide is for the use of designers, builders, owners and operators in the marine industry and specifies the ABS requirements.
Those ABS requirements focus on fire safety in four key areas:
1. fire-fighting for containers stowed on deck
2. fire-fighting for containers stowed below
3. fire safety of the deckhouse
4. container hold flooding as a measure for fire-fighting. Continue reading “ABS publishes a guide for firefighting cargo areas of container carriers”
Nickel ore liquefaction remains a key point of concern for shipowners and charterers, argues Janice Dao Yeung Yeung, Senior Claims Executive, Lawyer, Skuld P&I Club, who has provided a detailed analysis of the regulatory obligations surrounding the nickel ore cargo from the Philippines and Indonesia for masters, charterers, owners, shippers, as well as insurers.
Liquefaction risks of nickel ore cargoes from Indonesia and the Philippines have been a long-standing prominent issue which require constant vigilance and review by shipowners and charterers.
Since 2010, the liquefaction of nickel ore cargoes has caused the capsize of seven vessels. The recent capsize of MV Emerald Star in October 2017 once again demonstrated the importance of strict compliance with the IMSBC Code (2016 edition) and the other relevant international conventions. Continue reading “The risk of liquefaction from nickel ore cargo remains high”
Container ship fires are a growing concern. Fires, originating from dangerous goods in containers, whether wrongfully declared or not, occur with alarming frequency. During the Gard conference it was revealed that Gard’s cargo claims team determined that on average there has been a fire onboard a container ship weekly during the first half of 2019 and this does not include “near misses”. Obviously, such fires endanger the lives of the crew – a burning ship mid-ocean is a very dangerous place and being tasked to tackle such a fire exponentially adds to the risk.
The Increasing TEU volumes, carried on-board ever larger container ships increase Continue reading “Gard conference promotes the value of industry collaboration on container ship fires”
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published the Review of Maritime Transport 2019 study, presenting in it a fall in maritime trade growth. The report highlights trade policy crosscurrents, geopolitics and sanctions, environmental worries, fuel economics and tensions regarding the Strait of Hormuz, all of which have contributed to slower growth in merchandise trade.
World maritime trade lost its momentum in 2018 due to increased uncertainty, rising tariff tensions between the US and China, as well as concerns regarding other trade policy and political crosscurrents. These relate to a no-deal Brexit, which sent waves through global markets, according to UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Continue reading “UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2019 reveals a fall in maritime trade growth”
Corrosion is a perennial concern for tank container owners and operators. The stainless steel construction is resistant to staining and corrosion, but may be vulnerable to pitting from certain cargoes or certain cleaning and maintenance operations. Visually minor pitting may conceal development of substantial or even catastrophic corrosion below the surface.
It may be expected that UN Class 8 dangerous cargoes (Corrosive Substances) are the predominant challenge where corrosion of UN portable tanks (tank containers) is concerned, although such commodities are not alone in presenting risk. In terms Continue reading “Corrosion nightmare in tanks, and how to mitigate”
The shipping industry has witnessed many fire incidents on container ships this year, some of which have resulted in fatalities and others in significant economic losses. At a recent conference, IUMI took the chance to alert and feedback on the situation and call the shipping industry to improve its onboard firefighting systems and seafarers’ training.
Gard P&I Club organised a conference in Arendal, Norway on 17-18 October 2019. The event attracted many shipping stakeholders, including IMO, flags states, shipowners and insurers. Their aim? To push for more discussions on preventing Continue reading “IUMI says Time to take action on container ship fires”
French company Traxens has led the development of the first standards for smart containers data exchange which have now published by the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business.
Although many smart containers are already in use, there are no global standards in place to capture and communicate consistently and multi-modally the array of data they generate. Initiated in October 2017 under the leadership of Hanane Becha, Innovation & Standards Senior Manager at Traxens, the project aims to provide clear global standards for the exchange of data to ensure interoperability and easy Continue reading “Standards for smart containers data exchange published”
The US Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published ‘Determinations for a Vessel’s Keel Laid Date or Similar Stage of Construction.’ The instruction was updated on September 20, 2019.
This work instruction aims to establish the interpretations of when a vessel’s keel is considered to be laid or the vessel is at a similar stage of construction.
It also provides guidelines for Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMIs) to determine what may be accepted for the purpose of establishing a vessel’s laid date.
Regulatory applicability may depend on a ship’s keel laid date or a similar stage of Continue reading “Keel laid date or similar stage of construction interpretation published”
According to Gard P&I Club, the 2019/20 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug season has arrived and ships arriving in New Zealand and Australia from countries with established stink bug populations must prepare for increased surveillance and inspection. Last season, New Zealand turned away four contaminated vessels from its waters.
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is an agricultural pest that feeds on, and can severely damage, fruit and vegetable crops. The pest has spread from its native range in East Asia to establish populations in North America and Europe but is not yet established in Australia and New Zealand. If the pest were to find its way to Continue reading “Brown Marmorated Stink Bug season requires increased inspection in New Zealand and Australia”
Carriers are cracking down on rogue shippers by threatening significant financial penalties for misdeclared cargo following a series of vessel fires. Evergreen was first out of the gates announcing fines ranging from $4,000 to $35,000, for misdeclarations with Hapag-Lloyd and OOCL following suit.
TT Club risk management director Peregrine Storrs-Fox said, “We welcome such initiatives, following a spate of fires and growing concerns about cargo packing.
“We have been collaborating with stakeholders through the supply chain to highlight ongoing risks arising from poorly packed and Continue reading “More carriers set to impose fines on rogues shippers for misdeclared cargo in containers”
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