Recalls for personal floatation devices sold in Australia and New Zealand issued

Recalls for personal floatation devices sold in Australia and New Zealand issued
Recalls for personal floatation devices sold in Australia and New Zealand issued

Product safety recalls have been issued for two personal flotation devices sold on the local market due to concerns about their effectiveness in an emergency situation.

Following testing by Maritime Safety Victoria (MSV), Jarvis Walker has issued a voluntary recall of its Adult Block PFD Type 1 which was sold under two brands as three separate codes:

– Single unit code 241050 Platinum brand, sold from July 2011 to December 2015
– Single unit code 56000 JW Brand, sold from January 2012 to December 2015
– Twin pack code 241300 JW Brand, sold from August 2014 to October 2017
Regardless of the brand, all have the single unit marking of “PFD TYPE 1”

According to MSV, it tested a single lifejacket batch and model number and identified a suspected Continue reading “Recalls for personal floatation devices sold in Australia and New Zealand issued”

Maritime UK has established a Taskforce to increase the number of women within the UK maritime sector

Maritime UK has established a Taskforce increase the number of women within the UK maritime sector
Maritime UK has established a Taskforce increase the number of women within the UK maritime sector

The Taskforce brings together leaders from across the maritime sector to identify practical steps to increase the number of women in maritime, and crucially within senior roles across its shipping, ports, marine and business services industries.

Achieving a balanced workforce at all levels in the maritime sector will undoubtedly improve culture, behaviour, outcomes, profitability and productivity.

During London International Shipping Week, then Maritime Minister Rt Hon John Hayes MP called for industry to address gender imbalance in the sector. Government are represented on the Taskforce.

The Taskforce will make a series of recommendations and utilise Continue reading “Maritime UK has established a Taskforce to increase the number of women within the UK maritime sector”

Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage

Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage
Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage

Writing in the latest publication by UK P&I Club, Captain David Nichol cites a case history describing a cargo damage case involving a bulk carrier caused by insufficient maintenance of the bilge system valves and the crew’s wrong estimation of the ingress alarm system.

The incident
Prior to loading a full cargo of bulk minerals the cargo holds were cleaned and tested successfully for watertight integrity. In addition, the efficient operation of the cargo hold bilge pumping system and water ingress alarms was also verified. A few days after departure from the loading port, the water ingress alarm for no.2 cargo hold was activated. However, when the hold bilges were sounded by the crew, they appeared to be dry and it was therefore assumed that the ingress alarm system was defective. Daily hold bilge soundings continued to give no cause for concern. At the discharge port, wet cargo was revealed at Continue reading “Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage”

British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy

British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy
British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy

The British Ports Association has launched a video highlighting the importance of ports to the UK’s economy. The film uses new economic impact study data produced for Maritime UK – an umbrella group promoting the industry – to highlight the value of the UK ports industry. The figures show that collectively the industry employs 101,000 people, handles almost 500 million tons of freight and contributes £7.5 billion ($7.9 billion) to the economy.

The Chief Executive of The British Ports Association, Richard Ballantyne, said: Continue reading “British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy”

Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers

Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers
Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers

The International Group of P&I Clubs (IG Clubs) and the shipping line members of the Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) have issued a revised version of the guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers.

The Guidelines were first issued in May 2016, with version 2.0 of the Guidelines issued in January 2017 to take account of the package limit of 100lb drums under US measurement as well as the package limit of 45kg net weight.

The Guidelines can be considered Continue reading “Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers”

Auxiliary engine damage is mostly caused by human error says Swedish Club

Auxiliary engine damage is mostly caused by human error says Swedish Club
Auxiliary engine damage is mostly caused by human error says Swedish Club

The majority of all auxiliary engine damage takes place immediately after maintenance work according to an investigation by The Swedish Club. A key finding in their investigation is that 55% of casualties occur within only 10% of the time between overhaul corresponding to the first 1,000 hours or so of operation after overhaul. In most cases, the damage occurs only a few hours after start up, the Club noted.

The report, Auxiliary Engine Damage, also finds that container vessels have a significantly higher claims frequency due to Continue reading “Auxiliary engine damage is mostly caused by human error says Swedish Club”

New guide on how to carry charcoal and carbon cargoes in containers safely published

The International Group of P&I Clubs together with The Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) has published a new guide with advise on the safe carriage of charcoal and carbon in containers.

According to data, the local production of wood charcoal and carbon for domestic and export markets is about 53 million tonnes per year. These cargoes need to comply with the IMDG Code compliance and the aim of the guide is to highlight additional precautions to enhance their safe carriage.

Continue reading “New guide on how to carry charcoal and carbon cargoes in containers safely published”

UK P&I Club issues advice on cargo cold treatment failures

UK P&I Club says that it has seen an increase in refrigerated cargo claims for fresh fruit being shipped from South America to the United States due to cold treatment failure. George Radu, Claims Executive at Thomas Miller Americas, comments on this increase and offers prevention solutions.

The process of cargo cold treatment is a more efficient way to exterminate fruit insects than fumigation, as it maintains a sufficient low temperature for a pre-determined period, in order to exterminate insects and larvae in perishable cargo. The period and temperature required are defined in protocols established by the relevant authorities of the importing countries.

Continue reading “UK P&I Club issues advice on cargo cold treatment failures”

Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing – CSS Code – updated by Panama Maritime Authority

The CSS Code provides an international standard to promote the safe stowage and securing of cargoes
The CSS Code provides an international standard to promote the safe stowage and securing of cargoes

Instructions from the Administration of Panama regarding IMO MSC.1/Circ. 1352/Rev.1 Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing – CSS Code Annex 14 – were announced in ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-1097 dated 28 December 2016. The Administration has updated MERCHANT MARINE CIRCULAR MMC-340, including their additional guidance on the application of relevant requirements to existing containerships, as attached.

This Technical Information supersedes the previous ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-1097 dated 28 December 2016.

Continue reading “Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing – CSS Code – updated by Panama Maritime Authority”

A marine warranty surveyor should be engaged to reduce cargo shifting risk says London P&I Club

London P&I Club is calling for a marine warranty surveyor to be engaged to reduce the risk of shifting deck cargoes
London P&I Club is calling for a marine warranty surveyor to be engaged to reduce the risk of shifting deck cargoes

Due to a recent increase in the incidence of deck cargoes shifting in heavy weather, the London P&I Club said it supports a recommendation to appoint a marine warranty surveyor to supervise high-risk marine construction and transportation project operations where appropriate.

“In the past year, LOC has seen many deck cargoes shifting in heavy weather,” Paul Walton, a director with international marine consultant LOC (Hong Kong), said.

Continue reading “A marine warranty surveyor should be engaged to reduce cargo shifting risk says London P&I Club”

New container lashing guide published by ABS

ABS has published a new container lashing guide
ABS has published a new container lashing guide

ABS has published an enhanced Guide for Certification of Container Securing Systems – container lashing guide – and new companion software, ABS C-LASH™, both of which provide resources that could improve safety on board containerships launched. The container lashing guide incorporates a new non-linear lashing analysis procedure with easy-to-use software that simplifies analysis of container lashing arrangements.

“This is a game changer for safety and operational performance in the containership sector,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. “Investing in technology that improves safety is a priority at ABS as we continuously improve the ways we support our mission to promote a safer and more reliable shipping industry.”

Continue reading “New container lashing guide published by ABS”

UK P&I Club advises on white powder deposits on food cargoes

Following a number of incidents involving white powder deposits being found on food cargoes that have been transported in refrigerated containers, UK P&I Club has issues some advice. The presence of aluminium oxide/hydroxide, which appears as white powder deposits on food cargoes, can result in lost transportation revenues, customer rejections, insurance claims and even government mandated destruction of the food cargoes. George Radu, Claims Executive at UK P&I Club, comments on how this cargo loss can be prevented.

Continue reading “UK P&I Club advises on white powder deposits on food cargoes”

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