Containers

RMI recommends all immersion suits to be checked rather than spot checks following a number of defective items

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RMI recommends all immersion suits to be checked rather than spot checks following a number of defective items
RMI recommends all immersion suits to be checked rather than spot checks following a number of defective items

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has published a Marine Safety Advisory notice. In it RMI stresses the importance of properly inspecting and maintaining all immersion suits, following a number of recent cases of defective equipment found onboard RMI flagged vessels.

Since 2019, when RMI shared a marine safety advisory focusing on the importance of following the manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining immersion suits, there have been multiple additional instances of defective or improperly maintained suits on RMI-flagged vessels, one of which resulted in a PSC detention by the US Coast Guard. In that case, “29 of 32 immersion suits were unserviceable due to unsealed seams,” and these suits were only five years old.

On a second occasion during a flag State inspection, an inspector found 38 out of 39 immersion suits not fit for use. In this case, the Continue reading “RMI recommends all immersion suits to be checked rather than spot checks following a number of defective items”

What to know about hatch cover maintenance

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What to know about hatch cover maintenance
What to know about hatch cover maintenance

In association with McAusland Turner, The Shipowners Club has published advice on effective hatch cover maintenance for dry cargo ships including preventative action against ingress of water. According to the Club, one of the key requirements in cargo vessel operations is ensuring that the cargo is delivered to the discharge port in the same condition in which it was loaded. Despite improvements in the methods for ensuring that hatch covers are weathertight, claims for wetted cargo that has resulted from water ingress through hatch covers are still being experienced.

In order to ensure that hatch covers are closed sufficiently it is vital that the correct procedures are followed every time the hatches are closed and opened. This can be achieved by ensuring that crew are duly familiar with the manufacturer’s operating instructions, the company’s on board operation procedures, risk assessments and any other relevant policies related to these operations. Occasionally, Continue reading “What to know about hatch cover maintenance”

Fatality of crew member after head trapped in hatch cover panel report published

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Fatality of crew member after head trapped in hatch cover panel report published
Fatality of crew member after head trapped in hatch cover panel report published

The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) has published its report into the death of a boatswain while the cargo vessel FIRST AI was mooring off Kyoto in September 2019 when his head was trapped in a hatch cover panel while performing hatch cover closing duty.

A master, Officer A, a chief engineer, a boatswain, and six other crew members boarded the Vessel. While the ship was mooring at Maizuru Port in Kyoto, at around 10:45 on September 9, 2019, Officer A and the boatswain began closing the hatch covers in preparation for departure after finishing the unloading tasks.

While visually checking the condition of the hatch cover on the port upper deck during the closing of the hatch cover, Officer A noticed that the rubber packing 2 for sealing the hatch cover near the Arm that had been temporarily repaired during the previous navigation had flaked. Hence, he instructed the boatswain, who was operating the closure at the hatch cover handling stand on the starboard side of the Continue reading “Fatality of crew member after head trapped in hatch cover panel report published”

Are your containers fit for purpose?

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TT Club's Mike Yarwood
TT Club’s Mike Yarwood

At a time of container supply imbalance leading to shortages, international freight transport insurer TT Club warns against cutting corners when it comes structural integrity, cleanliness and cargo-worthiness of those that are loaded. The responsibilities of container operators providing empty boxes and those packing them with cargo should not be forgotten in a period when such equipment is in short supply and temptations to forego security and safety measures are strong.

Containers have numerous touch points in any given supply chain, becoming the responsibility for shorter or longer periods with a variety of stakeholders. During these unprecedented times, TT’s continued message to all parties is one of resilience and continuity of robust practices. This challenging period, for those reliant upon the container, provides an opportunity to reflect on the roles and responsibilities Continue reading “Are your containers fit for purpose?”

Report published on the a fatality due to improper crane lifting

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Report published on the a fatality due to improper crane lifting
Report published on the a fatality due to improper crane lifting

Belgium’s FEBIMA has published an investigation report into the fatality of a crew member onboard the general cargo ship ATLANTIC PROJECT II while in the Port of Antwerp in February 2021. The investigation stressed that the contingency plan on crane lifting operations was not fully implemented.

On February 8th, 2021, stevedores were unloading the MV ATLANTIC PROJECT II while moored at the Port of Antwerp. When tween-deck cargo hold N°3 on PS was empty, the tween-deck pontoons had to be removed by the ship’s crew, using ship’s gear, to allow access to the cargo stowed below.

After the first pontoon was hoisted and moved using the ship’s crane to its stacking position at the aft part of the Continue reading “Report published on the a fatality due to improper crane lifting”

Med Tuncer: Fire in enclosed lifeboat while testing batteries report issued

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Med Tuncer: Fire in enclosed lifeboat while testing batteries report issued
Med Tuncer: Fire in enclosed lifeboat while testing batteries report issued

Transport Malta has published an investigation report on the fire on a lifeboat while carrying out tests onboard the Maltese-flagged tanker Med Tuncer in May 2020. The investigation identified a very high short circuit current within the batteries as a probable cause of the incident.

While the oil and chemical tanker Med Tuncer was moored at the Oil Tanking Terminal in Antwerp, Belgium, at 0815 on 14 May 2020, the electrician onboard stepped inside the enclosed, freefall lifeboat to carry out tests on the batteries. During the tests, a fire broke out inside the lifeboat. The fire alarm was raised, and the crew swiftly extinguished the fire. Fire and smoke damage were largely restricted to the interior of the lifeboat and control panel. Continue reading “Med Tuncer: Fire in enclosed lifeboat while testing batteries report issued”

Condition survey requirements for tankers carrying HFO as cargo issued by American P&I Club

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Condition survey requirements for tankers carrying HFO as cargo issued by American P&I Club
Condition survey requirements for tankers carrying HFO as cargo issued by American P&I Club

The American P&I Club has published a Marine Circular regarding the condition survey requirements for tankers carrying heavy fuel oil (HFO) as cargo. As part of a concerted industry effort to ensure higher ship standards, the International Group of P&I Clubs continues to implement survey triggers for seagoing vessels of 10 years of age or more carrying HFO.

Consequently, all sea-going vessels aged 10 years or more which have carried heavy HFO as cargo within the previous 12 months will be subject to condition survey, unless:
– the vessel has undergone a P&I club condition survey during the previous 12 months; or
– the vessel has undergone a Special Survey during the previous 6 months; or
– the vessel has a valid Condition Assessment Program (CAP) rating of 1 or 2 with a classification society having membership in the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). Continue reading “Condition survey requirements for tankers carrying HFO as cargo issued by American P&I Club”

IMO set to move on container losses at sea

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IMO set to move on container losses at sea
IMO set to move on container losses at sea

Just under a year ago, the problems caused by containers falling into the sea were in the headlines when the Australian Maritime Safety Authority reported that an APL containership had lost 40 boxes off the coast of New South Wales. Since then the position has worsened dramatically. As a consequence, new measures to mitigate such losses were on the agenda at the May 5-14 meeting of IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 103).

Reporting on the meeting, BIMCO’s Jeppe Skovbakke Juhl notes that containers lost at sea represent a potential danger to maritime safety and is a threat to the environment, particularly with regard to the plastics they contain. Over the course of three months late last year and early this year, almost 3,500 containers were lost in a number of incidents in the Western Pacific. This is far above the numbers usually Continue reading “IMO set to move on container losses at sea”

DNV awards AIP for new LNG fuel tank insulation with leak detection system

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DNV awards AIP for new LNG fuel tank insulation with leak detection system
DNV awards AIP for new LNG fuel tank insulation with leak detection system

DNV has granted an Approval In Principle (AIP) to PASSER Marine for the development of a new LNG fuel tank insulation system. The new concept is designed for prismatic ‘type B’ LNG tanks – which according to IMO rules require a partial secondary barrier – and includes a leakage detection system capable of safely managing and containing fuel leaks.

“The system we have developed is cost-effective and production-friendly,” said Svein Konradsen, COO of PASSER Marine AS. “The pandemic has been challenging for many companies and for the development of this particular design. The required testing has been Continue reading “DNV awards AIP for new LNG fuel tank insulation with leak detection system”

Crew must be familiar with cargo safety information says new note

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Crew must be familiar with cargo safety information says new note
Crew must be familiar with cargo safety information says new note

Hong Kong Marine Department has published a safety note regarding cargo safety following an incident where a cargo hold explosion was caused by hot work on the hatch coaming. A Hong Kong registered bulk carrier fully loaded with coal departed for its discharging port with all hatch covers of the cargo holds and ventilation flaps closed.

On the voyage, the crew carried out hot work in an attempt to dismantle the connection of a leaky hydraulic ram which was attached to the cargo hold forward hatch coaming. During the repair, an explosion in the cargo hold took place, injuring three crew members, who were later taken to the hospital by a helicopter. Amongst the three injured crew members, one of them was the fitter who died two days later. Continue reading “Crew must be familiar with cargo safety information says new note”

Loss of containers off Hawaii due to poor cargo loading procedures

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Poor barge loading resulted in the loss of 21 cargo containers into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in its report on the accident.

The barge Ho’omaka Hou, owned and operated by Young Brothers, LLC, was being towed by the Hoku Loa approximately 6.9 nautical miles north-northwest of Hilo at the time of the accident on 22 June 2020. The accident resulted in $1.6 million in damages, but no injuries.

The NTSB determined the probable cause of the collapse of container stacks onboard the barge was the company not providing the barge Continue reading “Loss of containers off Hawaii due to poor cargo loading procedures”

Updated guidelines for the carriage of seed cake in containers issued

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Updated guidelines for the carriage of seed cake in containers issued
Updated guidelines for the carriage of seed cake in containers issued

The International Group together with the Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) have jointly released an updated version of the “Guidelines for the Carriage of Seed Cake in Containers”.

For reference, the term Seed Cake refers to pulp, meals, cake, pellets, expellers and other similar cargo where edible vegetable oils have been removed from oil-bearing seeds, cereals or commodities with similar properties. The carriage of Seed Cake cargoes continues to cause confusion and the potential for undeclared or misdeclared cargo remains high, with the consequent risk of fire on board container ships.

As the new version of the guidelines notes: It is vital that Seed Cake that is not classified in Class 4.2 of the IMDG Code. In fact, it should Continue reading “Updated guidelines for the carriage of seed cake in containers issued”

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