Report by TAIC into fatal burst nitrogen cylinder published

February 2017, on board the passenger cruise ship Emerald Princess, a nitrogen cylinder burst resulting in one fatality.
February 2017, on board the passenger cruise ship Emerald Princess, a nitrogen cylinder burst resulting in one fatality.

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has published its report on the accident in Port Chalmers, Dunedin in February 2017, on board the passenger cruise ship Emerald Princess. A nitrogen cylinder burst resulting in one fatality. The core of the report highlights a lack of global minimum standards for inspection, testing and rejecting pressure cylinders for stored energy systems on lifeboat launching installations, a common system on cruise ships.

On February 9, 2017, while the Bermuda-flagged passenger vessel ‘Emerald Princess’ was berthed at Port Chalmers in Dunedin, its crew was conducting maintenance procedures on one of the lifeboat launching systems.

As the maintenance was completed the crew was putting pressure on Continue reading “Report by TAIC into fatal burst nitrogen cylinder published”

Guidelines for safe carriage of divinylbenzene in containers are published

According to the guidelines, the transport of DVB without any temperature control generally relies on the DVB being at a low enough temperature when shipped.
According to the guidelines, the transport of DVB without any temperature control generally relies on the DVB being at a low enough temperature when shipped.

The Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS), the International Group of P&I Clubs and the TT Club have published industry guidelines for the carriage of Divinylbenzene (DVB) in containers.

DVB is a chemical prone to polymerization (a form of self-reaction). When shipped in bulk, DVB polymerization can lead heat and flammable gas to be generated. Thus, the stowage of containers carrying DVB aboard vessels can present a risk of explosion and fire, if they are not properly presented for carriage.

As a series of polymerization incidents took place from the carriage of DVB by sea in 2018 the IMO approved changes to the way that polymerizing substances, like DVB, are carried, by amending the IMDG Code. These changes are included in amendment 39-18 of the IMDG Code, which will be mandatory from 1 January 2020, but may be applied voluntarily from 1 January 2019.

To ensure the safe carriage of DVB in containers before 1 January 2020, these guidelines Continue reading “Guidelines for safe carriage of divinylbenzene in containers are published”

Malta MSIU report confirms damaged valves in BWTS lead to engine room flooding

The MSIU were notified of the accident on 26 December 2017
The MSIU were notified of the accident on 26 December 2017

Transport Malta’s MSIU has published its investigation report into a serious incident concerning the Maltese-registered capsize bulk carrier ‘Capri’ that arrived at Dampier anchorage, Australia on 22 December 2017. The ballast system’s valves were damaged, causing approximately 1,100 tonnes of seawater flooding the engine room.

The Incident
Capri, a bulk carrier, was scheduled to load 164,000 tonnes of iron ore for China. On December 24, while the vessel was anchored, it deballasted ballast nos 1 and 4 aiming to Continue reading “Malta MSIU report confirms damaged valves in BWTS lead to engine room flooding”

Several IMO amendments have entered into force from 1st January 2019

The data collection system is one of the measures taken which will support the implementation of IMO’s Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, adopted in 2018.
The data collection system is one of the measures taken which will support the implementation of IMO’s Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, adopted in 2018.

As of 1st January 2019, amendments to the bunker delivery note have entered into force, relating to the supply of marine fuel oil to ships, which have fitted alternative mechanisms to comply with the IMO’s 2020 sulphur cap. Other amendments that have come into force this year include the IMSBC Code 2017 amendment and the amendments to designate North Sea and Baltic Sea as ECAs, while the data collection on fuel oil consumption has also commenced.

Bunker delivery note

Bunker delivery note amendments enter into force only a year before the limit for sulphur in fuel oil will be reduced to 0.50% m/m outside emission control areas (ECAs), from 3.5% currently. In ECAs, the limit will remain at 0.10% m/m.

The amendments to Appendix V of MARPOL Annex VI are intended to address situations where the fuel oil supplied does not meet low sulphur requirements, but has been supplied to Continue reading “Several IMO amendments have entered into force from 1st January 2019”

NTSB publishes its official report on Island Lady fire off Florida

NTSB determines that the probable cause of the fire onboard Island Lady was Tropical Breeze Casino Cruz’s ineffective preventive maintenance program and insufficient guidance regarding the response to engine high-temperature conditions.
NTSB determines that the probable cause of the fire onboard Island Lady was Tropical Breeze Casino Cruz’s ineffective preventive maintenance program and insufficient guidance regarding the response to engine high-temperature conditions.

The NTSB has released the official investigation report on the fire onboard the small passenger vessel ‘Island Lady’ on the Pithlachascotee River, near Port Richey, Florida, on 14 January 2018. NTSB held a public meeting in mid-December where it identified insufficient preventative maintenance program and lack of guidance for responding to engine high-temperature conditions as key causes of the accident.

About 1600 on the afternoon of 14 January 2018, a fire broke out in an unmanned space on the small passenger vessel Island Lady near Port Richey, Florida, during a scheduled transit to a casino boat located about 9 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. 53 people were on board the Island Lady. After receiving a high-temperature alarm on the port engine, the captain turned the Island Lady around to return to the dock. During the return trip, smoke began filling the lazarette, main deck, and engine room. The captain deliberately Continue reading “NTSB publishes its official report on Island Lady fire off Florida”

Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) management committee set to introduce new CO alarm requirements from April 2019

Strong support for the changes was demonstrated in the responses to the consultation with 84 per cent in favour of introducing a requirement for suitable working CO alarms.
Strong support for the changes was demonstrated in the responses to the consultation with 84 per cent in favour of introducing a requirement for suitable working CO alarms.

Representatives from the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS), a public safety initiative owned by the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency, are urging the industry to take onboard safety seriously following the deaths of three inland boaters.

Ahead of issuing the latest advice on carbon monoxide (CO) detection, communications manager Rob McLean has shared that three boaters died in 2018 as a result of onboard fires whilst several more were taken to hospital following fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.

In light of this and following a public consultation in the autumn, the BSS management committee has decided to introduce new CO alarm requirements from next April.

BSS manager, Graham Watts, thanked Continue reading “Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) management committee set to introduce new CO alarm requirements from April 2019”

The US Coast Guard 2017 Domestic Vessel Annual Report reveals over 21,000 deficiencies found

The US Coast Guard has published its Domestic Vessel Annual Report
The US Coast Guard has published its Domestic Vessel Annual Report

The US Coast Guard has published its Domestic Vessel Annual Report collating data from the USCG’s Marine Information Safety and Law Enforcement (MISLE) database regarding vessel population, inspections conducted, and deficiencies discovered for the 2017 calendar year.

Headline findings

– Of the 18,424 inspections conducted in 2017, 21,629 deficiencies were identified on the 12,189 active vessels in the US fleet of responsibility.

– Passenger vessels account for 81% of those deficiencies. However, based on the overall vessel population, cargo vessels received a higher ratio of deficiencies per vessel, with an average of 5.17.

Continue reading “The US Coast Guard 2017 Domestic Vessel Annual Report reveals over 21,000 deficiencies found”

Independent check of installation could have prevented explosion in construction service vessel Normand Maximus

Normand Maximus on the sea - Photo by: Harald M Valderhaug
Photo by: Harald M Valderhaug

The Accident Investigation Board of Norway (AIBN) has published released its report on the work accident on board the Normand Maximus off the coast of Brazil on 21 February 2017. One person died in the accident, while another one was seriously hurt and a further three sustained minor injuries.

The construction service vessel (CSV) Normand Maximus was hired by Saipem to function as a platform at sea.

In cooperation with Baker Hughes, Saipem was to conduct pre-commissioning tests to verify that all equipment and components are in accordance Continue reading “Independent check of installation could have prevented explosion in construction service vessel Normand Maximus”

Crush incident report involving a falling hatch cover on SMN Explorer published

The accident was the result of procedural inadequacies and a lapse of supervision.
The accident was the result of procedural inadequacies and a lapse of supervision.

A crewman from the Liberian registered general cargo vessel, SMN Explorer, died when he was crushed by a falling hatch cover. The crewman was part of a working party stowing cargo slings used for the discharge of the ship’s cargo. The accident occurred when the crewman climbed up the inside of the open hatch cover after its locking pins had been removed.

The accident was the result of procedural inadequacies and a lapse of supervision. The investigation identified that the vessel’s safety management system was immature and the safety culture on board the vessel was weak. Risk assessments had not been conducted for routine tasks and a safe system of work had not been developed for opening and closing the forecastle (fo’c’s’le) stowage space hatch cover.

Safety issues

– the crewman walked under, and climbed up an unsecured hatch cover;
– the accident occurred because the Continue reading “Crush incident report involving a falling hatch cover on SMN Explorer published”

New Zealand commercial fishing vessel operators must install float free EPIRB distress beacons by 1 January 2019

A sinking ship in a stormy sea - Photo Credit: MaritimeNZ
Photo Credit: MaritimeNZ

The New Zealand’s national regulatory, compliance and response agency for the safety, security and environmental protection of coastal and inland waterways, MaritimeNZ, has reminded operators of New Zealand that they must install float-free EPIRB distress beacons on commercial fishing vessels by 1 January 2019. The regulation applies to vessels between 7.5 meters and 24 meters operating outside enclosed waters.

Domonic Venz, Maritime NZ’s Assistant Compliance Manager for Southern Region, who has experience in commercial fishing, says, “Float-free EPIRBs really do increase your chances of survival because they call for help when you can’t. It’s easy to get one on your boat”.

He added in the Maritime NZ’s reminder Continue reading “New Zealand commercial fishing vessel operators must install float free EPIRB distress beacons by 1 January 2019”

Insufficient maintenance caused fire on the passenger vessel ‘Island Lady’ off Florida resulting in one fatality

The Island Lady on fireIn a recent public meeting, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that an insufficient preventative maintenance program and lack of guidance for responding to engine high-temperature conditions were the key causes of the fire aboard the small passenger vessel ‘Island Lady’ in January 2018, carrying over 50 people, that occurred in the waters of the Pithlachascotee River, near Port Ritchey, Florida.

The incident

On 14 January 2018, the small passenger vessel Island Lady was near Port Richey, Florida, on a scheduled transit to a casino boat located Continue reading “Insufficient maintenance caused fire on the passenger vessel ‘Island Lady’ off Florida resulting in one fatality”

AMSA has revoked its certificate for an unstable livestock carrier

AMSA expects the vessel will be subject to a detailed examination by the operator and classification society.
AMSA expects the vessel will be subject to a detailed examination by the operator and classification society.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has revoked the Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock (ACCL) for the Panamanian flagged livestock carrier, MV Jawan, because the vessel’s approved stability data cannot be relied upon when the vessel is loaded.

The Jawan was (again) scheduled to depart from Portland on a journey from Australia to Pakistan on Monday after the vessel’s classification society Bureau Veritas, on behalf of the flag state, provided their assessment of the ship’s stability.

However, when moved from berth, the ship demonstrated a motion that suggested the ship lacked stability. The master of the vessel requested the vessel Continue reading “AMSA has revoked its certificate for an unstable livestock carrier”

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