Cargo Integrity Group calls for risk-based measures to prevent pest contamination

The international freight transport organisations of the Cargo Integrity Group are calling for urgent action from actors in global supply chains to reduce the risk of pest transference through international cargo movements. The five partners in the Cargo Integrity Group, known as CIG, recognise the vital importance of focusing on the threat of invasive pests to natural resources across the world, and of the urgency in crafting risk reduction measures that address the situation.

This call to action follows the intentions by pest control experts under the auspices of the International Plant Protection Convention Continue reading “Cargo Integrity Group calls for risk-based measures to prevent pest contamination”

Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG

Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG
Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has issued inspection guidance for Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), Chiefs of Inspection Division (CID), and Marine Inspectors for the small passenger vessels (SPV) risk-based inspection program.

USCG continues to conduct statutory inspections on the SPV fleet in accordance with 46 U.S. Code § 3301; however, data analytics provide a new tool and modernized approach to the marine inspection program to prioritize marine inspection resources. Using various computational methods, machine learning-enabled software, and a database of deficiency and casualty information, the Coast Guard developed a model to categorize SPVs based on potential risk for an undesirable outcome.

The CVC-WI-028 “Small Passenger Vessel Risk Based Inspection Program” issued by the USCG Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CVC) on 14 June says:

Continue reading “Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG”

MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels

MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels
MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels

Surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels across the UK. The unannounced inspections are being carried out as part of ongoing work around fishing vessel safety in an industry recognised to be one of the most dangerous in the world.

Since November 2020, there have been eight deaths –that’s more than ten per cent of the total for the previous ten years. Between 2011 to 2020, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), reported 60 fatalities from UK fishing vessels. The MCA says it has worked solidly with the fishing industry, reinforcing the messages about the requirements of legislation around standards of safety for crew and for vessels. Surveyors regularly carry out surveys and inspections of fishing vessels and detain those that do not meet the requirement of the law, until those deficiencies are corrected. Continue reading “MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels”

AMSA to consider Conception fire NTSB findings when reviewing commercial vessel regulatory requirements

Photo credit: Ventura County Fire Department - AMSA to consider Conception fire NTSB findings when reviewing commercial vessel regulatory requirements
Photo credit: Ventura County Fire Department – AMSA to consider Conception fire NTSB findings when reviewing commercial vessel regulatory requirements

Following the NTSB investigation into the fatal fire and loss of the passenger vessel Conception off California in September 2019, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has identified key points of concern for Australian vessels. As a consequence they have said it will consider the NTSB report in full when reviewing the current domestic commercial vessel regulatory requirements, including the standards for fire safety and accommodation.

The US-flagged passenger vessel Conception was at anchor off Santa Cruz Island, California, when a fire broke out in the early morning hours of 2 September 2019. Five crew members were asleep in the crew berthing area on the upper deck. One crew member and all 33 passengers were asleep in the bunkroom below. Continue reading “AMSA to consider Conception fire NTSB findings when reviewing commercial vessel regulatory requirements”

MAIB’s Annual Report 2020 published

MAIB's Annual Report 2020 published
MAIB’s Annual Report 2020 published

“I am pleased to introduce MAIB’s annual report 2020. It was another busy and successful year for the Branch improving safety at sea by our sustained output of safety investigation reports, safety digests, and safety bulletins despite lock-down conditions affecting work for much of the year. The Branch raised 1,217 reports of marine accidents and incidents and commenced 19 investigations in 2020,” said Capt Andrew Moll in his opening statement.

In 2020, the MAIB published two investigation reports into the collapse of container stacks on large container ships, both of which were transiting the North Pacific Ocean in heavy weather at the time. Such accidents are challenging to investigate due to the multiple inter-related factors involved and that critical evidence could be lost overboard during the accident. There have been more accidents involving Continue reading “MAIB’s Annual Report 2020 published”

Report issued by MAIB on fatal crush incident during transfer from workboat Beinn Na Caillich to a feed barge

Report issued by MAIB on fatal crush incident during transfer from workboat Beinn Na Caillich to a feed barge
Report issued by MAIB on fatal crush incident during transfer from workboat Beinn Na Caillich to a feed barge

The MAIB have issued a report into the fatal crush incident involving workboat Beinn Na Caillich. At about 1510 on 18 February 2020, the Ardintoul fish farm assistant manager drowned after falling into the water from a feed barge access ladder during a boat transfer. He stepped from the deck onto the ladder while Beinn Na Caillich was still moving forward and was crushed between the boat and the barge. A fish farm technician on board the barge attempted to stop the injured assistant manager from falling in to the water by holding onto the back of his personal flotation device and oilskin jacket, but the severely injured casualty slipped out of them. Despite the assistant manager being recovered from the water and the determined efforts of the fish farm workers, emergency services, and medical staff, the assistant Continue reading “Report issued by MAIB on fatal crush incident during transfer from workboat Beinn Na Caillich to a feed barge”

River Canal Rescue wins award for Bilgeaway pollution filter

River Canal Rescue wins award for Bilgeaway pollution filter
River Canal Rescue wins award for Bilgeaway pollution filter

River Canal Rescue has won the British Safety Industry Federation’s Water Pollution Award for its Bilgeaway pollution filter. The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) is the UK’s leading trade body for the safety sector and its annual Safety & Health Excellence Awards cover four categories; product innovation, safety solutions, customer service and water pollution prevention (the latter added in 2020).

For its entry, River Canal Rescue (RCR) explained how Bilgeaway – the world’s first environmentally-friendly bilge discharge filter – was developed to address a well-known pollution problem. Launched in January 2019, Bilgeaway traps contaminants before they’re discharged overboard by automatic bilge pumps, rendering the filter’s contents non-reactive so they can be safely disposed of, instead of going to landfill. Continue reading “River Canal Rescue wins award for Bilgeaway pollution filter”

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

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

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”

Lube oil contamination due to forgotten rubber membrane seals

Lube oil contamination due to forgotten rubber membrane seals
Lube oil contamination due to forgotten rubber membrane seals

In a recent publication, the Swedish Club describes a case of lube oil contamination caused by forgotten rubber membrane seals in the engine room of a chemical/oil tanker.

The ship was at anchor off Tenerife. During overhaul work, a large amount of seawater entered the engine room bilge from the inert gas system overboard drain line. This was later estimated to be around 25 cubic metres. Unfortunately, the crew had no knowledge of the problem until one of them rushed into the engine control room and said that he had seen water in the engine room bilges.

The Chief Engineer said, “I was surprised to find out that the inert gas system abnormality alarm had been disabled by a member of my Continue reading “Lube oil contamination due to forgotten rubber membrane seals”

Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects

Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects
Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects

DNV has launched a new collaborative research project to develop an automated data processing procedure for verification of detected wind turbine blade defects, with the aim of building trust and generating broader acceptance of automated data processing techniques across the industry and to inform future regulation.

The research project, which is being conducted in partnership with the University of Bristol and Perceptual Robotics, will investigate the automated verification, validation and processing of inspection data, collected by autonomous drones, to improve inspection quality and performance. The project aims to contribute to the development of the UK automated inspection industry.

Continue reading “Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects”

New London Maritime Arbitrators Association terms announced

New London Maritime Arbitrators Association terms announced
New London Maritime Arbitrators Association terms announced

With reports of 3,010 arbitrator appointments, 2020 recorded the highest number of London Maritime Arbitrators Association arbitrator appointments since 2015, thus confirming that the LMAA remains a popular forum for dispute resolution in the shipping industry.

The London Maritime Arbitrators Association has published a new set of terms for all of the ‘full’ procedures (the LMAA Terms 2021), the LMAA Intermediate Claims Procedure 2021 and the LMAA Small Claims Procedure 2021. All take effect from 1 May 2021 and will apply to new arbitrations commenced after that date.

Though certain amendments are simple fine tuning of the rules, others are particularly important in view of the recent challenges arising from by the COVID 19 pandemic. The amendments have again been spearheaded by David Owen QC, and the revised full terms and procedures can be found on the London Maritime Arbitrators Association website. Continue reading “New London Maritime Arbitrators Association terms announced”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine