Health & Safety

Reported loss of containers overboard from Maersk Essen containership in the Pacific

Posted on by News Hound
Reported loss of containers overboard from Maersk Essen
Reported loss of containers overboard from Maersk Essen

News of yet another incident involving the loss of hundreds of containers overboard from a containership will surely raise yet more questions about why this is happening at seemingly regular intervals. The probable cause of the loss of around 750 containers from Maersk Essen in the North Pacific was heavy weather.

The incident happened on January 16. The Maersk Essen case is the third such occurrence recently reported in the Pacific as well as other high profile incidents elsewhere in the past six months. According to sources at WK Webster, it seems likely that some containers will have collapsed, or have been damaged in the affected stacks, but remain on board. These containers will need to be removed or repositioned. Continue reading “Reported loss of containers overboard from Maersk Essen containership in the Pacific”

Cargo snagging during lifting operations safety alert issued

Posted on by News Hound
Cargo snagging during lifting operations safety alert issued
Cargo snagging during lifting operations safety alert issued

The Marine Safety Forum has issued a safety alert in which it describes a case of cargo snagging during lifting operations. The incident has highlighted the need for improvement in deck space management and planning.

A vessel was engaged in deck cargo operations at an offshore location. A number of lifts had been successfully discharged and backloaded which led to limited space on deck. The crane operator advised the next lift would be the 25ft basket on the starboard side which was duly connected to the crane hook. The vessel deck crew moved to a safe place and confirmed to the crane operator that he was clear to hoist.

As the crane operator began to lift the basket off the deck, the vessel bridge team noticed a corner of the basket had Continue reading “Cargo snagging during lifting operations safety alert issued”

Singapore cracks down after marine surveyor is infected with COVID-19

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MPA Singapore logoSingapore’s Ministry of Health is tightening its COVID-19 control measures for its maritime workforce after a marine surveyor working for a leading class society and a harbor pilot tested positive for the disease.

The surveyor, who works for a prominent class society and was employed inspecting vessels at the Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard, tested positive on December 30. Two of his family members also tested positive on New Years’ Eve. The harbor pilot, a 55-year-old Singaporean national, tested positive on December 31, along with two of his relatives. Continue reading “Singapore cracks down after marine surveyor is infected with COVID-19”

Limiting liquefaction

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Limiting liquefaction - Photo credit: London P&I Club
Limiting liquefaction – Photo credit: London P&I Club

Although the IMO provides the official regulations and guidance notes on cargo liquefaction, P&I Clubs such as The London P&I Club offer complementary advice to ship’s masters to raise awareness of the issue and to suggest practical steps to reduce the danger.

IMO has identified 75 bulk cargoes that have the potential to liquefy under certain conditions – these are known as Group A cargoes. If the Moisture Content (MC) of a Group A cargo exceeds the Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) then vibration and the motion of the vessel might cause that cargo to behave as a liquid rather than a solid when it is being transported in the hold. When in liquified form, and in a heavy sea, the cargo can easily flow from one side of the hold to the other. This affects the vessel’s stability and can lead to a vessel capsizing. Therefore it is vital that the crew are fully aware of this issue and are able to spot warning signs as early as possible.

Continue reading “Limiting liquefaction”

Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB

Posted on by Rosie Burton
Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB
Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB

MAIB has released a report on the fatal accident on board the trawler Sunbeam. On 14 August 2018, a second engineer on board was asphyxiated and died in one of the vessel’s refrigerated saltwater tanks. The report found that entering Sunbeam‘s tanks without safety precautions had become ‘normalised’ by the crew and had been done ‘without consequence’ over a period of many years.

Sunbeam was in Fraserburgh getting ready for a refit and the refrigerated saltwater tanks had been emptied of water in preparation for cleaning. Entry into the tanks, which were enclosed spaces, was routine business for the crew, both when operating the tanks at sea and during maintenance in harbour.

The second engineer was found collapsed inside a refrigerated saltwater tank. The available evidence, says MAIB, strongly indicates that he’d entered the tank to sweep away residual water. When he was found, three of his crew mates went into the Continue reading “Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB”

Cargo fumigation incident leads to one fatality

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Cargo fumigation incident leads to one fatality
Cargo fumigation incident leads to one fatality

Cargo fumigation remains a challenging operation onboard. An investigation by the Bahamas Maritime Authority found that the crew had been exposed to the fumigant gas – which had been used to treat a cargo of corn – after positive pressure in the accommodation was lost when the ventilation system was stopped by a large wave flooding the galley and store through the ventilation trunking.

Due to the fumigant gas leak, one seafarer died and three others had to be evacuated from their ship after exposure to hydrogen phosphide gas, it has prompted calls for a radical overhaul of the rules governing fumigated cargoes.

In addition to the checks after the accident it was found that the door between the hydraulic room and cargo hold was mounted incorrectly Continue reading “Cargo fumigation incident leads to one fatality”

MAIB report published about capsize and full inversion of self-righting keelboat RS Venture Connect

Posted on by Rosie Burton
Report on capsize and full inversion of RS Venture Connect
Report on capsize and full inversion of RS Venture Connect

MAIB has published a report about the capsize and full inversion of self-righting keelboat RS Venture Connect. On 12 June 2019, Blackwell Sailing’s self-righting RS Venture Connect keelboat sail number 307 (RSVC 307) suffered a capsize and full inversion while sailing on Windermere, England. The boat was crewed by an experienced disabled sailor at the helm and a local sailing instructor who was acting as crewman.

Having been knocked down by gusty winds, RSVC 307 initially lay on its starboard side with its two crew still in their seats. The boat’s liftable keel then slid back into the hull, following which the boat inverted completely, trapping the disabled helmsman under the hull. The crewman was able to swim clear, but with the keel retracted he was unable to right RSVC 307 unaided.

The boat was righted by the Windermere Lake Wardens working with the crew of the sailing centre’s safety boat, and the helmsman was Continue reading “MAIB report published about capsize and full inversion of self-righting keelboat RS Venture Connect”

NTSB publishes its Safer Sea Digest with lessons learned from US marine accident investigations in 2019

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Safer Sea DigestThe National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has published its 104 page Safer Sea Digest in pdf format which can be downloaded at the foot of this article. The Safer Sea Digest shares lessons learned as a result of the Board’s many incident and accident investigations in 2019. The aim of the Digest is to focus those who read it on what can and does go wrong and how it can be prevented in the future.

Organisational oversight

In over a third of all accidents reported on in 2019, insufficient organisational oversight was the primary or a contributing cause. Insufficient organisational oversight was a factor in the cases of the Stretch Duck 7, Buster Bouchard-B. No. 255, John S McCain–Alnic MC, Imperial, Dredge200–R.E. Pierson 2, Miss Roslyn, Jeanette, Ram XVIII, PTC 598, Atlantic Giant II, Jonathon King Boyd–Bayou Chevron, Natalie Jean, Emsworth Locks and Dams, Yochow–OSG Independence/OSG 243, and Ms Nancy C accidents. Continue reading “NTSB publishes its Safer Sea Digest with lessons learned from US marine accident investigations in 2019”

Dangerous Goods containers among 1,900 lost and damaged containers from ONE Apus

Posted on by News Hound
Dangerous Goods containers among 1,900 lost and damaged containers from ONE Apus
Dangerous Goods containers among 1,900 lost and damaged containers from ONE Apus

On the 1st December 2020, the Japanese flagged containership, ‘ONE APUS’ lost a number of containers, some of which are believed to be Dangerous Goods containers, as a result of severe weather conditions on the night of Monday 30th November 2020 at 2315LT approximately 1600NM North West of Hawaii, USA.

“Chidori Ship Holding LLC as owners and NYK Shipmanagement Pte Ltd as managers of the container vessel ONE Apus confirmed that the ship is proceeding to the port of Kobe, Japan with an ETA of December 8, after encountering severe weather on Monday, November Continue reading “Dangerous Goods containers among 1,900 lost and damaged containers from ONE Apus”

New survey set to examine the economic, social and health benefits of boating in the UK

Posted on by News Hound
Survey to examine economic, social and health benefits of boating
Survey to examine economic, social and health benefits of boating

British Marine is inviting members, the wider leisure marine industry and end-consumers to take part in a survey for a major new report alongside the Canal & River Trust examining the economic, social and health benefits of boating and watersports in the UK, and the contribution they make to wellbeing.

Within the industry, the physical and mental health benefits of being on or near the water are already well-known. However, with Government increasingly factoring well-being into their decision making, this piece of research will demonstrate with empirical evidence the contribution that being on the water makes to societal wellbeing. Continue reading “New survey set to examine the economic, social and health benefits of boating in the UK”

World Health Organisation offers free Covid-19 management courses

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World Health Organisation offers free Covid-19 management courses
World Health Organisation offers free Covid-19 management courses

The World Health Organisation has developed two (free access) e-learning courses. The first, Promoting Public Health Measures in Response to Covid-19 on Cargo Ships and Fishing Vessels, will enable learners to describe the public health measures that may protect seafarers throughout their journey to the vessel, on the vessel, and on the way home. It also looks at preventing and managing an outbreak of Covid-19 disease on board a cargo ship or fishing vessel.

This course is primarily for seafarers, shipowners, unions and associations, and competent authorities for health and transport and can be accessed online.

The second WHO course, Operational Considerations for Managing Covid-19 Cases and Outbreaks on Board Ships, will help learners to Continue reading “World Health Organisation offers free Covid-19 management courses”

World’s first battery-powered luxury boat using Williams Advanced Engineering tech

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World’s first battery-powered luxury boat
World’s first battery-powered luxury boat

Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) is working with fellow Oxfordshire-based firm, OXIS Energy Ltd, on the production of ‘cleaner, greener energy’, designed for an all-new 40ft electric battery-powered luxury boat.

The craft, from Yachts de Luxe (YdL) of Singapore and designed by Jean Jacques Coste, will be the world’s first ever battery-powered luxury boat to be powered by Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) cell and battery systems technology. The objective is to achieve a range between 70 and 100 nautical miles at cruising speed – setting new standards for range in electric boats.

WAE will be responsible for the state-of-the-art 400 kWh battery system, which comprises ultra-light, high-power/high-energy density Li-S cells – provided by OXIS Energy Ltd – and the battery management system (BMS). The design and manufacture of the cell modules, the BMS and its installation will be carried out by WAE at its dedicated battery facility in Grove. Continue reading “World’s first battery-powered luxury boat using Williams Advanced Engineering tech”

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