MAIB publish latest Safety Digest

Latest MAIB Safety Digest published
Latest MAIB Safety Digest published

The UK Marine & Accident Branch (MAIB) has published a compendium of 25 cases it has investigated over the past months, with details of the incidents and their outcomes.

An extract from Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll’s introduction is as follows:
“I will start my opening comments by thanking Kathryn Neilson, Derek Cardno MNM and Paul Glatzel for the introductions they have written for the main sections of this edition of the MAIB’s Safety Digest. Their individual perspectives provide some insightful comments and, as ever, some useful pearls of wisdom.

Only a year ago, I wrote in my introduction about safe means of access, and that the MAIB had just started Continue reading “MAIB publish latest Safety Digest”

School boat for children in remote Pacific atoll of Fakaofo launched

New school boat for children in remote Pacific atoll
New school boat for children in remote Pacific atoll

Children on the remote atoll of Fakaofo in Tokelau will soon be travelling to school in style on a new school boat built in Christchurch with support from the Pacific Maritime Safety Programme. The Director of Maritime NZ Keith Manch said the boat will provide safe, reliable transport for around 50 children who must cross a lagoon to get to school each day.

The design and construction of the vessel, by ICON Custom Boats in Christchurch, was jointly funded by the Government of Tokelau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The 12.5m school boat has been named Te Kaniva, a name describing the traditional Continue reading “School boat for children in remote Pacific atoll of Fakaofo launched”

Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers

Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers
Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers

EU transport ministers held a meeting in Croatia and adopted a declaration on guidelines for the development of EU maritime policy, calling for an emissions trading scheme to cover ships from all countries with a target of achieving a carbon-neutral and zero pollution waterborne transport sector.

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations has expressed its support, saying, “The declaration clearly shows that the ministers place a huge importance on the competitiveness of the European shipping sector, in view of the vital and strategic role it plays in the EU economy, global trade and the common market.” Continue reading “Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers”

‘Red diesel entitlement to be removed’ consultation announce

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has shared plans to review the current use of red diesel.  The government is set to consult with red diesel users to determine whether continued access to the fuel is justifiable. The consultation will be conducted with a view to remove the entitlement to red diesel use, except for agricultural, rail and non-commercial heating purposes, by April 2022.

Commercial boats on open waters, including ferries and fishing boats, will remain entitled to the Marine Voyages Relief so will not face a charge increase if the entitlement to use red diesel is revoked. Continue reading “‘Red diesel entitlement to be removed’ consultation announce”

Former IIMS member Kelly Tolhurst is appointed as new UK Maritime Minister

Kelly Tolhurst MP is pictured with Prime Minister, Boris Johnson
Kelly Tolhurst MP is pictured with Prime Minister, Boris Johnson

IIMS is delighted at the news that Kelly Tolhurst, an Institute member for ten years when a practicing marine surveyor, was appointed as the new UK Maritime Minister on 13 February 2020. Kelly who has been the Conservative member of parliament (MP) for Rochester and Strood since 2015, relinquished her membership only last year. She takes up this key role at an interesting time with the huge political upheaval currently underway in the UK post Brexit and IIMS would like to congratulate Kelly and wish her much success in her new role.

Prior to being appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Kelly Tolhurst was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from 19 July 2018.

Continue reading “Former IIMS member Kelly Tolhurst is appointed as new UK Maritime Minister”

HS2: Inland Waterways Association pledges to protect UK canal network

IWA pledges to protect UK canal network from HS2
IWA pledges to protect UK canal network from HS2

Following the UK Government’s recent announcement that the High Speed Rail project HS2 will now go ahead, the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) says it will continue their decade-long campaign to protect the waterways from the worst effects of its construction and operation.

IWA has already achieved several changes to the project since 2010 but continues to be concerned about its noise impacts on many waterways and its damaging effects on some canal restoration schemes. Continue reading “HS2: Inland Waterways Association pledges to protect UK canal network”

MOB recovery equipment and drills inspections to be witnessed by MCA surveyors following MAIB report

MCA surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills
MCA surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report on the investigation into an accident where a tug’s chief engineer lost his life boarding his vessel. The MCA has instructed its surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills following the MAIB report.

The accident highlights the forever-present dangers seafarers including tug crews face in carrying out everyday tasks and the difficulties reacting to incidents despite the presence of well-prepared procedures and equipment.

The tug was carrying out typical shiphandling and standby duties at a UK Continue reading “MOB recovery equipment and drills inspections to be witnessed by MCA surveyors following MAIB report”

Container ship Washington loss of 137 containers: MAIB investigation report published

Container ship
Container ship

At 0127 on 20 January 2018, the UK flagged container ship CMA CGM G. Washington unexpectedly rolled 20° to starboard, paused for several seconds then rolled 20° to port. The ship was experiencing heavy seas in the North Pacific Ocean while on passage from Xiamen, China to Los Angeles, USA. As the sun rose later that morning, it was discovered that container bays 18, 54 and 58 had collapsed; 137 containers were lost overboard and a further 85 were damaged.

The MAIB investigation concluded that the collapse of all three bays probably occurred during the 20° rolls. The amplitude of the rolls exceeded the container  ship’s estimated roll limits and was almost certainly the consequence of parametric Continue reading “Container ship Washington loss of 137 containers: MAIB investigation report published”

Santa Isabella: English Court clarifies owner route and cargo ventilation and care obligations

Santa Isabella image courtesy of shipspotting.com
Santa Isabella image courtesy of shipspotting.com

The English Commercial Court has provided a ruling in the case of Alianca Navegacao e Logistica Ltda v Ameropa SA (The Santa Isabella) [2019] EWHC 3152 (Comm) which provides useful guidance on:
– the legal test for a usual and customary route; and
– owners’ obligation to ventilate and care for cargo.

Key facts in the case
Alianca, the disponent owner of the bulk carrier Santa Isabella, chartered the ship in 2016 to Ameropa to carry a cargo of corn and maize in bulk from Topolobampo, Continue reading “Santa Isabella: English Court clarifies owner route and cargo ventilation and care obligations”

Transport Malta: Failure of engine room lashing led to fatal injuries says report

Accident report about the Maersk Jaipur published by Transport Malta
Accident report about the Maersk Jaipur published by Transport Malta

Transport Malta has published an accident report about the Maersk Jaipur, a vessel which faced navigation challenges in rough weather conditions. Work was suspended due to the bad weather, but equipment in the engine room broke and fatally injured two crewmembers.

On 08 October 2018, Maersk Jaipur was sailing through heavy weather conditions, heading to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The vessel was rolling in the heavy seas.

At about 0900, the crew conducted a heavy weather checklist and resulted in the Continue reading “Transport Malta: Failure of engine room lashing led to fatal injuries says report”

IMO increased efforts to fight fake flag registries

IMO HQ London
IMO HQ London

In response to a spike in fake flag registrations, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is seeking to combat “rogue” national flag registries which are operating without the knowledge of governments they claim to represent, according to the insurer Standard Club.

In recent years, IMO has received reports that 73 vessels were unlawfully flying the flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 91 vessels were illegally registered under the flag of Fiji and 150 vessels were unlawfully registered under the flag of the Federated States of Micronesia. (Micronesian law doesn’t even allow international vessels to flag into its national registry.) The vessels involved are typically smaller, Continue reading “IMO increased efforts to fight fake flag registries”

Clean Maritime Plan: Diesel’s days could be numbered for UK domestic vessels and inland waterways

Clean Maritime Plan
Clean Maritime Plan

The diesel engine could be on the way out if the Government carries its recently launched Clean Maritime Plan through to its conclusion.

Part of the Clean Air Strategy, which aims to cut air pollution across all sectors to make the UK “net zero” on greenhouse gases by 2050, the Plan sets out how the Government hopes to achieve ‘zero emissions shipping’. But despite this wording, it doesn’t just affect seagoing craft. The plan also covers inland shipping and recreational boats, and a Call for Evidence has been issued specifically for “domestic vessels and inland waterways”.

This states clearly that “the expectation that the maritime sector will transition away from fossil fuels extends to all parts of the sector, including those vessels on inland waterways”. And a Government announcement accompanying the launch Continue reading “Clean Maritime Plan: Diesel’s days could be numbered for UK domestic vessels and inland waterways”

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