Health & Safety

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

Posted on by News Hound
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

Posted on by News Hound

The 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

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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

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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”

Fire on RoRo linked to accidental fuel spill says accident report

Posted on by Rosie Burton
Fire on RoRo linked to accidental fuel spill says accident report
Fire on RoRo linked to accidental fuel spill says accident report

Transport Malta has published an investigation report into the engine-room fire onboard the Maltese-registered RoRo cargo vessel Eurocargo Trieste, following departure from the port of Livorno in November 2019. The investigation identified an accidental fuel spill onto a hot surface as the most likely cause of the incident.

At around 0123 on 21 November 2019, ro-ro cargo, motor vessel Eurocargo Trieste had left Livorno for Savona, Italy. There were 25 crew members onboard and the vessel was laden with trailers.

At around 0220, shortly after dropping off the outbound pilot, a fire broke out around the starboard main engine. The engine-room crew initially tried to fight the fire but soon had to vacate the space. The crew members were then mustered, and the firefighting team tried to enter the engine-room to fight the fire.

Due to thick smoke and difficulties to enter the space, the fire-fighting team retreated, and the master decided to flood the engine-room with CO2. The gas was released at Continue reading “Fire on RoRo linked to accidental fuel spill says accident report”

MAIB Chief Inspector, Capt Andrew Moll, makes a statement at the start of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2020

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Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2020 aims to keep this issue in the minds of surveyors and the public
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2020 aims to keep this issue in the minds of surveyors and the public

MAIB recently published a safety bulletin about the tragic deaths of two sailors on board Diversion due to carbon monoxide poisoning. As we continue our investigation it is vital that we remain alert to the silent danger carbon monoxide poses to the maritime community and the steps we can take to protect ourselves.

Over the past ten years MAIB has investigated six incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning resulting in the tragic loss of ten lives. The majority of these incidents occurred on board motor cruisers used for recreation. In this time safety action has been taken and MAIB has made 12 safety recommendations focussed on preventing further, needless loss of life.

Continue reading “MAIB Chief Inspector, Capt Andrew Moll, makes a statement at the start of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2020”

Inspection and maintenance guidance for ship cranes issued by Shipowners

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Shipowners Club would like to thank Captain Purnendu Shorey, Director of Offing Marine & Offshore Consultants for his invaluable contribution to this article. Offing Marine specializes in a range of maritime activities including surveys, towage approvals and casualty investigations and in this circumstance guidance on ship cranes.

Both the Club and the wider maritime industry have observed a rise in crane related incidents, with both the number and cost of claims contributing to this increased figure. The root causes for many of these incidents have largely been attributed to inadequate maintenance. Shipboard procedures, on board practices and crew training have evolved over the years switching from generic, to equipment specific; with the widespread introduction of ship specific procedural systems. Despite these enhanced systems, crane incidents continue to occur, often ranging in severity and involving numerous ship and crane types.

Continue reading “Inspection and maintenance guidance for ship cranes issued by Shipowners”

Four key safety issues identified after fatal Conception fire in the final report

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Following months of complex and forensic investigation, the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has published its official report on the fire onboard the small passenger vessel Conception in September 2019 off California, which killed 34 people. It has highlighted poor oversight by the company and USCG regulatory issues as key areas of concern which were revealed in a recent preliminary report. There is a long list of recommendations for the USCG to adhere to following this most harrowing accident.

About 0314 on 2 September 2019, the USCG received a distress call from the Conception, a 75-foot-long small passenger vessel, anchored in Platts Harbor on the north side of Santa Cruz Island, California, reporting fire. When Continue reading “Four key safety issues identified after fatal Conception fire in the final report”

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