Health & Safety

Correct use of hydrostatic release units safety alert issued by AMSA

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Correctly fitted HRU on a life raft
Correctly fitted HRU on a life raft

The publication by the Australian Marine Safety Authority (AMSA) of Safety Alert: 02/2021 aims to raise awareness of the correct use of hydrostatic release units, for both float-free life rafts and float-free EPIRBS.

The Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU) is designed and approved to automatically deploy a life raft or EPIRB in the event of a vessel sinking. HRUs operate between 1.5 and 4 metres of water depth, to release the securing mechanism for the life raft or EPIRB.

AMSA inspectors often identify circumstances where HRUs are incorrectly fitted. In 2021, AMSA has issued over 100 deficiencies in relation to deficient HRU Continue reading “Correct use of hydrostatic release units safety alert issued by AMSA”

EMSA 2021 report notes 466 less casualties in 2020 compared to the previous year

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The European Marine Safety Agency (EMSA) has published its 2021 Annual Overview of Marine Casualties and Incidents consisting of analysis of marine casualties or incidents accidents reported until 31 December 2020 by the EU Member States in the European electronic database (EMCIP).

2020 was a positive year considering the decrease or stabilisation of most of the indicators, such as the number of occurrences, ships lost, fatalities or injuries. However, consequences of COVID pandemic are very likely to have affected the area of marine casualties and incidents, taking into consideration its significant impact on shipping in 2020: reduced traffic in general, cruise ships and ferries activities heavily disrupted, etc. Continue reading “EMSA 2021 report notes 466 less casualties in 2020 compared to the previous year”

Report finds failure to properly disconnect vehicle batteries led to fire

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Improperly disconnected vehicle batteries led to fire, report finds
Improperly disconnected vehicle batteries led to fire, report finds

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published its report on the fire aboard vehicle carrier Höegh Xiamen that resulted in $40 million worth of damage.

On June 4, 2020, about 1530 eastern daylight time, the crew of the 600-foot-long, Norwegian-flagged roll on/roll-off vehicle carrier Höegh Xiamen were preparing to depart the Blount Island Horizon Terminal in Jacksonville, Florida, en route to Baltimore, Maryland, when they saw smoke coming from a ventilation housing for one of the exhaust trunks that ran from deck 12 (the weather deck) to one of the cargo decks. Continue reading “Report finds failure to properly disconnect vehicle batteries led to fire”

Report reveals diesel generator engine failure led to fire onboard offshore supply vessel

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Damaged section of the engine (left) from where the connecting rod from the no. 3 DG (right) was ejected. (Credit: Oceaneering International)
Damaged section of the engine (left) from where the connecting rod from the no. 3 DG (right) was ejected. (Credit: Oceaneering International)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published a Marine Accident Brief on its investigation into a diesel generator engine failure and fire onboard an offshore supply vessel near Honolulu, Hawaii, last year. The incident took place on the Ocean Intervention on December 19, 2020. No pollution or injuries to the 16 crew members were reported in connection with the mechanical failure, which resulted in a fire in the engine room. The crew isolated the fire before it could spread throughout the vessel.

Damage to the Ocean Intervention came to more than $3 million. Continue reading “Report reveals diesel generator engine failure led to fire onboard offshore supply vessel”

Excessive reliance is placed on procedures for enclosed space entries, research says

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University of Tasmania, Australian Maritime College
University of Tasmania, Australian Maritime College

Enclosed space deaths continue to be one of the biggest occupational hazards aboard ship, says the Human Element Industry Group (HEIG), which has set up the Enclosed Space Project.

Several years ago, InterManager launched a survey on enclosed space deaths, to which 5000 seafarers responded. A number of issues were raised, in particular:
– Procedures often seem to seafarers, difficult to understand, confusing, and do not take account of the resources, equipment and time available aboard the vessel.
– Investigations of fatalities point to failures in the victims and in particular their failure to follow procedures. Continue reading “Excessive reliance is placed on procedures for enclosed space entries, research says”

Frequent failures of thermal oil circulation pump leads to fire says report

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The Bahamas Maritime Authority published its report on the ro-ro passenger ferry Pride of Hull, which suffered a fire due to a thermal oil circulation pump failure. On the 20th October 2020, in the Humber Estuary, UK.

At approximately 20:01 on 20 October 2020, Pride of Hull sailed from the river terminal in Hull, UK, on its scheduled service to Europoort (Rotterdam), Netherlands. The bridge team consisted of the master, chief officer and two ABs. The chief engineer was in the engine control room with the engineer officer of the watch (EOOW). Continue reading “Frequent failures of thermal oil circulation pump leads to fire says report”

Life-saving signals leaflet for ships, aircraft or people published by the MCA

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Life-saving signals leaflet for ships, aircraft or people published by the MCA
Life-saving signals leaflet for ships, aircraft or people published by the MCA

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has published a new leaflet for life-saving signals which will be used by ships, aircraft or persons in distress when communicating with life-saving stations, maritime rescue units and aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations. The leaflet includes pictures and descriptive information on the different types of signals you can use when in distress at sea. Continue reading “Life-saving signals leaflet for ships, aircraft or people published by the MCA”

Surveyors beware some diesel heater installations

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Surveyors beware some diesel heater installations
Surveyors beware some diesel heater installations

Recent contact with someone has brought to attention a problem regarding a fault causing potentially life-threatening fumes from his boat’s diesel heater. The heater in question is an Eberspacher for which cheap imported spares are available on the internet. The part in question was a replacement fuel pump which he bought online. Click here to see an example. The part was manufactured in China and on the face of it appears to be very much the genuine article, but there was no CE marking identifiable. The product description stated, “Good replacement – Based on the original factory specifications, a direct replacement for the old or broken one.” Continue reading “Surveyors beware some diesel heater installations”

Incorrect wire rope terminations can lead to catastrophic failure

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Image: USCG
Image: USCG

The USCG has published a Marine Safety Alert to notify interested parties of a potentially dangerous situation involving incorrect wire rope terminations, which can lead to catastrophic failure. The Alert addresses the importance of verifying the condition, manufacturing, and physical specifications of wire rope that was purchased directly from Southwest Wire Rope (SWWR) or fabricated by SWWR and sold through other vendors.

An ongoing safety investigation following the catastrophic failure of a new wire rope provided by SWWR within a month of being newly installed has revealed several discrepancies in the company’s product fabricating procedures and quality management processes. Continue reading “Incorrect wire rope terminations can lead to catastrophic failure”

Improper maintenance procedures can cost lives

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UK P&I Club has released a video describing the dangers of refrigeration machinery and other improper maintenance procedures following an enclosed space casualty. During a third-party survey, the surveyor made a request to test the emergency fire pump, which was arranged with the assistance of the chief engineer. The emergency fire pump was located in a recessed well in the steering gear compartment, approximately 3 metres deep and accessed by an inclined stairway. Continue reading “Improper maintenance procedures can cost lives”

MPC offers advice to personal watercraft regulation consultation

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The Maritime Professional Council (MPC) of the UK has responded to a recent Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on whether personal watercraft (PWC) users should be subject to the same safety obligations that exist for the operators of ships.

In principle, the MPC supports the DfT’s proposals that would ensure PWC come within the scope of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (MSA) and has made a number of constructive observations aimed at achieving regulations that are fit for purpose. Continue reading “MPC offers advice to personal watercraft regulation consultation”

Tristar Safety at Sea Conference – Promoting welfare seafarers

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Tristar Group will host its Third Annual “Safety At Sea” conference on 8th December 2021 (1330 UAE time) at the Dubai Expo Site in the India Pavilion. This continued initiative by Tristar, supported by IIMS, Nautical Institute, and IMarEST, is to draw industry and global attention to crew mental health issues and to improve the general well–being of all seafarers.

As business owners and leaders in the maritime industry, the onus is on us to take a leading role to ensure that the mental health of seafarers is no longer a taboo subject and that we create platforms to discuss and put in place an ecosystem that will enable seafarers to Continue reading “Tristar Safety at Sea Conference – Promoting welfare seafarers”

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