Health & Safety

IMO agrees to ban perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid from firefighting systems on board ships

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Perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid is to be banned under IMO regulations
Perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid is to be banned under IMO regulations

The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE) has finalized prohibition of perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid from fire-fighting systems on board ships.

This prohibition will protect the crew against exposure to dangerous substances that are used in fire-fighting systems and will minimize the negative consequences on the environment.

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) sub-committee on ship systems and equipment (SSE) met for the 8th session from 28 February to 4 March. It is important Continue reading “IMO agrees to ban perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid from firefighting systems on board ships”

Container loaded with discarded lithium batteries catches fire

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Photo of the fire damage caused by the burnt discarded lithium batteries taken by the U.S. Coast Guard
Photo of the fire damage caused by the burnt discarded lithium batteries taken by the U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a safety alert and is warning about the hazards of transporting discarded lithium batteries after a container illegally loaded with them caught fire while en route to the Port of Virginia, where it was set to be loaded onto a ship.

Thankfully the container was not loaded on a ship at the time. Rather, the container was being transported on a chassis from Raleigh, North Carolina when the discarded lithium batteries caught fire on the highway on August 19, 2021, resulting in loss of the cargo and significant damage to the shipping container. Continue reading “Container loaded with discarded lithium batteries catches fire”

AMSA launches campaign to improve construction barge safety

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Construction barge safety is the focus of a new campaign by AMSA. Photo credit: AMSA
Construction barge safety is the focus of a new campaign by AMSA. Photo credit: AMSA

AMSA has launched a new construction barge safety campaign focused on the importance of regularly reviewing risks as part of the safety management system to protect lives on these types of vessels.

All domestic commercial vessels are defined as workplaces in Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws. This includes construction barges which must meet the risk assessment requirements of state and territory WHS regulations, as well as the risk assessment requirements under the National Law administered by AMSA.

“These barges undertake different and high-risk activities daily Continue reading “AMSA launches campaign to improve construction barge safety”

MAIB issues safety warning after discovery of blocked fixed CO2 fire extinguishing system pilot hoses

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Picture for illustration purposes
Picture for illustration purposes

On 19 September 2021, a fire broke out in the auxiliary engine room on board the Finland registered roll-on/roll-off cargo ship Finnmaster while departing Hull. In an attempt to extinguish the fire, the ship’s crew activated the machinery space’s carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishing system, but only half of the system’s gas cylinders opened. The initial investigation identified that one of the CO2 system pilot hoses was blocked due to a manufacturing defect. Several coupling leaks were also found in the pilot lines.

Safety Issues

– The quality assurance processes of the pilot hose assembly supplier failed to identify that the hose couplings had not been fully bored through Continue reading “MAIB issues safety warning after discovery of blocked fixed CO2 fire extinguishing system pilot hoses”

Significant number of ships do not comply with basic navigation safety requirements is finding from the AMSA FIC

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Vessel image for illustrative purposes only
Vessel image for illustrative purposes only

AMSA conducted a Safety of Navigation Focused Inspection Campaign (FIC) over the period 1 August to the 8 September 2021 and, extremely concerning, they found that a significant number of ships failed to comply to basic navigation safety requirements.

The campaign focused specifically on:
– The level of compliance with the safety of navigation requirements of International Conventions;
– The familiarity of the master and officers with their processes for ensuring safety of navigation. Continue reading “Significant number of ships do not comply with basic navigation safety requirements is finding from the AMSA FIC”

NTSB report determines probable cause in Miss Dorothy vessel towing fire

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NTSB report determines probable cause of fire
NTSB report determines probable cause of fire

An engine room fire aboard a towing vessel started when diesel fuel spray hit an uninsulated section of the engine’s exhaust system, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report has revealed.

On March 17, 2021, the towing vessel Miss Dorothy was pushing 14 barges upbound on the Lower Mississippi River, north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when a fire broke out in the engine room. The eight crewmembers aboard briefly attempted to fight the fire but were unsuccessful and evacuated to the barges. No pollution or injuries were reported and the vessel was declared a total loss at $2.4 million. Continue reading “NTSB report determines probable cause in Miss Dorothy vessel towing fire”

Consortium set to assess and report on containership fire safety for EMSA

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DBI set to lead the consortium to look at containership fire safety
DBI set to lead the consortium to look at containership fire safety

A consortium led by the Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology (DBI) will deliver a Formal Safety Assessment study on containership fire safety to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The project aims to identify cost-effective risk control options for cargo fires on board container vessels.

Considering the constant increase in containership sizes and the frequency of fire originating in containers, the study will quantitatively assess the fire risks on board such vessels and Continue reading “Consortium set to assess and report on containership fire safety for EMSA”

Ban of cybutryne in anti-fouling coating systems effective from 1 January 2023

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Image credit: IMO
Image credit: IMO

The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention) currently prohibits the use of harmful Organotins in anti-fouling paints used on ships. The IMO has published amendments to the AFS Convention, which come into force on 1 January 2023.

These amendments introduce new requirements that ban the future installation of anti-fouling systems which contain a toxic substance Continue reading “Ban of cybutryne in anti-fouling coating systems effective from 1 January 2023”

Mooring buoy failure caused grounding causing damage of $4.5M reveals NTSB report

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SM-3 mooring buoy: failed padeye (with three shackles) that separated from buoy (left), damaged top with padeye missing (center), and undamaged bottom padeye (right). (Source: Alaska Marine Surveyors and Northline Seafoods).
SM-3 mooring buoy: failed padeye (with three shackles) that separated from buoy (left), damaged top with padeye missing (center), and undamaged bottom padeye (right). (Source: Alaska Marine Surveyors and Northline Seafoods).

The fatigue failure of an unrated mooring buoy led to the grounding of a fishing tender during a storm near Bristol Bay, Alaska in 2020, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

On August 30, 2020, the fishing tender barge SM-3 broke free from its mooring buoy in a storm and went aground. No injuries were reported, but the vessel sustained $4.5 million in damage and left a three-mile-long debris field scattered along the waterfront. Continue reading “Mooring buoy failure caused grounding causing damage of $4.5M reveals NTSB report”

Risk alert for container cargo operations issued by Steamship Mutual

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Safe container cargo operations are the subject of a risk alert from Steamship Mutual
Safe container cargo operations are the subject of a risk alert from Steamship Mutual

The Steamship Mutual has issued a Risk Alert focusing on container cargo operations to highlight that training and reinforcement of safe work practices is of paramount importance not only to ensure an individual’s personal safety but also to ensure that the work area remains safe for others.

The Club notes that incidents involving serious injuries and fatalities during ccontainer argo operations on vessels are not uncommon and refers to contributory factors that can led to an incident and lessons learned from previous cases. Continue reading “Risk alert for container cargo operations issued by Steamship Mutual”

MCA publishes new guidance on enclosed space entry

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Enclosed space entry guidance published by the MCA
Enclosed space entry guidance published by the MCA

Seafarers will be better protected as new UK rules come into force to tighten up safety for those involved in enclosed space entry onboard vessels. The updated legislation goes further than that currently required under international maritime law and is part of the ongoing commitment by the UK to seafarer welfare.

Enclosed spaces include chain lockers, cargo holds, duct keels and water tanks – or any area that has been left closed for any length of time without ventilation.

Six people have died over a ten-year period from 2009 to 2019 in UK ports Continue reading “MCA publishes new guidance on enclosed space entry”

How to properly stow and secure cargo containers guidance issued by AMSA

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AMSA publishes stow and secure cargo containers guidance
AMSA publishes stow and secure cargo containers guidance

AMSA has recently published stow and secure cargo containers guidance. AMSA aims to remind operators of the importance of stowing and securing cargo containers, and the potential danger to container ships navigating near intense low-pressure systems that occur off the east coast of Australia.

East Coast Lows are intense low-pressure weather systems that occur off the east coast of Australia. These systems are also referred to as complex lows or Tasman lows. Strong southerly winds, Continue reading “How to properly stow and secure cargo containers guidance issued by AMSA”

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