Health & Safety

InterManager issues call for industry-wide accident reporting

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Captain Kuba Szymanski, InterManager Secretary General
Captain Kuba Szymanski, InterManager Secretary General

Accidents onboard ships are not decreasing, according to latest accident statistics submitted to the International Maritime Organization by InterManager.

The Association says the number of seafarers injured in falls has remained fairly consistent year on year, as has the number of injuries resulting from rescue and survival craft accidents. However, the Association warns that the casualty rate for enclosed space accidents has almost doubled. InterManager has submitted its figures, which span several decades, to the 10th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee Continue reading “InterManager issues call for industry-wide accident reporting”

How well do you know your lifeboat?

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The American P&I Club has issued guidance highlighting the importance of in-depth training, robust familiarity with the specific lifeboat onboard each vessel, and rigorous maintenance routines to ensure the safety and reliability of lifeboats.

There are several types of lifeboats used aboard ships, each designed to meet specific safety requirements. Open lifeboats, lacking a roof, are the most basic and least safe, typically propelled by hand-operated oars. Closed lifeboats, either partially or fully enclosed, provide a Continue reading “How well do you know your lifeboat?”

£100k fine handed to operator for vessel modification resulting in two deaths

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£100k fine handed to operator for vessel modification
£100k fine handed to operator for vessel modification

A Brixham, UK based fishing vessel operator has been ordered by a court to pay more than £100,000 after a vessel modification caused it to capsize, leading to the deaths of two people onboard. Joanna C had a major refit in 2019, including the addition of a whaleback, extension of the wheelhouse and raised bulwarks being added. That fatal incident happened in 2020 when the vessel’s gear snagged on the seabed. Its lack of stability meant it could not recover, causing the boat to sink rapidly. Only one crewmember of three survived. Continue reading “£100k fine handed to operator for vessel modification resulting in two deaths”

New Zealand Interislander ferry refloated after running aground near Picton

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The Aratere was travelling from Picton to Wellington when it ran aground approximately 1.5nm north of Picton in Titoko Bay
The Aratere was travelling from Picton to Wellington when it ran aground approximately 1.5nm north of Picton in Titoko Bay Photo credit: Marlborough District Council and Skyworks

The Aratere was travelling from Picton to Wellington when it ran aground approximately 1.5nm north of Picton in Titoko Bay. The Ro-Ro ferry ran aground in Titoko Bay, New Zealand following a reported steering issue on 21 June.

It was successfully refloated at high tide the following evening after investigative works confirmed the grounding pressure of the boat and vessel design using divers and with input from naval architects and technical experts. Oil spill booms had also been put in place to protect against any possible environmental effects. The local council’s environmental science team conduct environmental surveys to assess any impact to the site. Continue reading “New Zealand Interislander ferry refloated after running aground near Picton”

Safer Seas Digest 2023 published by the NTSB

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NTSB has released its Safer Seas Digest 2023
NTSB has released its Safer Seas Digest 2023

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its Safer Seas Digest 2023, highlighting the most important lessons learned from 31 maritime tragedies that took place last year involving capsizings, contact, collisions, fires, flooding and groundings.

Among the investigations, the most sobering investigations NTSB conducted involve the loss of human life. In 2023, they completed their investigation of the fatal collision between the Coast Guard cutter Winslow Griesser and the center-console boat Desakata, which took the life of one Desakata crewmember and seriously injured another. Continue reading “Safer Seas Digest 2023 published by the NTSB”

‘Risk of drowning’ alert for some Jeanneau Yachts issued

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The MCA have alerted the IIMS about issues surrounding Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410, 440 and 490 models, which are equipped with Sleipner-Sidepower retractable bow thruster modules.
The MCA have alerted the IIMS about issues surrounding Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410, 440 and 490 models, which are equipped with Sleipner-Sidepower retractable bow thruster modules.

IIMS has been contacted directly by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) to alert us to potential issues surrounding Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410, 440 and 490 models, which are equipped with Sleipner-Sidepower retractable bow thruster modules. These models were built in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The advice from Jeanneau is to immediately stop sailing. The company has issued a Continue reading “‘Risk of drowning’ alert for some Jeanneau Yachts issued”

Enhancing safety in pilot transfer arrangements: a comprehensive look at the new SOLAS amendments

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Photo Credit: BIMCO
Photo Credit: BIMCO

BIMCO has provided a comprehensive look at new SOLAS amendments, which are expected to be adopted later this year.

The IMO Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) convened for its 11th session from 4 to 13 June, and finalised the draft amendments of SOLAS, Regulation V/23 and associated instruments to improve the safety of Pilot Transfer Arrangements. The amendments are expected to be adopted at the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 109, in autumn this year, with an entry-into-force date as 1 January 2028. There is also a provision of voluntary early implementation for member states.

– PTAs installed on or after 1 January 2028 shall be designed, manufactured, constructed, secured and installed in accordance with the amended performance standards Continue reading “Enhancing safety in pilot transfer arrangements: a comprehensive look at the new SOLAS amendments”

IMCA annual report highlights inadequate control on confined spaces

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photo credit: IMCA
photo credit: IMCA

Analysis of more than 1,600 vessel inspection reports in year to 1 April this year reveals ongoing safety concerns over confined spaces.

A new report from IMCA has analysed 1,611 standard vessel inspection reports uploaded to IMCA’s eCMID (Common Marine Inspection Document) and eMISW (Common Marine Inspection Documents for Small Workboats) database in the previous year.

The eCMID system provides the marine and offshore industry with standardised formats Continue reading “IMCA annual report highlights inadequate control on confined spaces”

Ship fire safety systems are crucial and must be treated as such

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Ship fire safety systems are the topic of whitepaper
Ship fire safety systems are the topic of whitepaper

Survitec has highlighted the dangers of inadequate maintenance, testing, and inspection of ship fire safety systems in a new white paper, which points to an alarming increase in fire-safety-related deficiencies found during Port State Control Inspections and subsequent ship detentions.

In a white paper released at the Posidonia tradeshow, Survitec highlighted that fire continues to be a leading cause of major shipping incidents, accounting for over 20% of total losses, and the most expensive cause of marine insurance claims. While the highest level of fire safety deficiencies in a decade was recorded by the Paris MoU in 2022, and the Tokyo MoU also reported an increase in detentions, with a staggering 15,562 deficiencies reported in 2023. Continue reading “Ship fire safety systems are crucial and must be treated as such”

BIMCO informs of the dangers of transporting palm kernel shells

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Credit: BIMCOBIMCO informs of the dangers of transporting palm kernel shells
PHOTO CREDIT: BIMCO 

According to BIMCO, recent events at the port of Ishinomaki, Japan, involved two workers found unconscious during cargo operations aboard a bulker ship transporting palm kernel shells. While the incident is under investigation by the Japanese Coast Guard to determine any connection between the cargo and the workers’ condition, it underscores the importance of understanding the hazards associated with transporting palm kernel shells. Continue reading “BIMCO informs of the dangers of transporting palm kernel shells”

Paris MoU 2023 CIC on Fire Safety

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Paris MoU 2023 CIC on Fire Safety
Paris MoU 2023 CIC on Fire Safety

The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) on Port State Control (PSC) carried out a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Fire Safety in collaboration with the Tokyo MOU from 1 September to 30 November 2023.

During the CIC, member Authorities focused on compliance with areas specified by the CIC during PSC inspections.

A CIC questionnaire was devised and approved by the Paris MoU Port State Control Committee. The intention of the questionnaire was to provide a supplementary series of questions to the regular inspection process to specifically address areas where there are reoccurring deficiencies with respect to fire safety. Continue reading “Paris MoU 2023 CIC on Fire Safety”

UK Office for Product Safety and Standards issues product recall alert for Honda Marine Outboards

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Honda Marine Outboard products present a risk of injuries as it has been identified that the actuator link rod may break
Honda Marine Outboard products present a risk of injuries as it has been identified that the actuator link rod may break

The affected Honda Marine Outboard products present a risk of injuries as it has been identified that the actuator link rod may break during use due to a lack of durability. This can then result in a loss of shift operation, leading to a potential loss of control of the vessel. The product does not meet the requirements of the Recreational Craft Regulations 2017. Due to this, the product has been recalled from end users. Continue reading “UK Office for Product Safety and Standards issues product recall alert for Honda Marine Outboards”

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