Health & Safety

Fire caused by moving cargo

Posted on by News Hound
One of the containers came loose and hit one of the flat racks with jerry cans.
One of the containers came loose and hit one of the flat racks with jerry cans.

The Swedish Club has released details about a cargo fire caused by moving cargo due to inclement weather conditions. The case has highlighted the importance of detailed planning and discussions among Master, Chief Officer, technical manager or charterer, when it is about critical cargo operations.

The RoRo vessel was underway and expected to sail through heavy weather with up to Beaufort scale 10 winds and eight metre high waves. The cargo onboard consisted mainly of vehicles, containers and jerry cans with fuel on flat racks.

Before loading, the Chief Officer went ashore to inspect the cargo. He inspected the jerry cans that were secured with quick lashings through the handles of each row and secured to bars on the flat racks.

He was concerned that the jerry cans were placed on flat racks and not in containers, as there were no walls around the racks to protect the jerry cans. The flat racks and containers were Continue reading “Fire caused by moving cargo”

Report issued by MAIB on the grounding of general cargo vessel Celtica Hav

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Hull damage caused to the Celtica Hav
Hull damage caused to the Celtica Hav

At 1438 on 27 March 2018, the Bahamas registered general cargo vessel Celtica Hav grounded on a stone training wall in the approach channel to the River Neath, Wales.

The vessel had a harbour pilot on board at the time who had control of the steering and speed. Celtica Hav was quickly re-floated and manoeuvred clear of the training wall.

It suffered extensive shell plate damage to the bottom of its hull, which resulted in water ingress to several ballast tanks and flooding in the engine room.

The flooding was contained using the vessel’s bilge and ballast pumps, and submersible salvage pumps provided by the harbour authority.

There were no injuries to personnel and no damage to the environment. Continue reading “Report issued by MAIB on the grounding of general cargo vessel Celtica Hav”

Non adequate fire protection on boats is a concern says Sea-Fire

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“In many ways, it is understandable that fire suppression on board is overlooked. The actual percentage of boat fires in relation to boat usage is very small”.
“In many ways, it is understandable that fire suppression on board is overlooked. The actual percentage of boat fires in relation to boat usage is very small”.

Most marine insurance policies state that boats must have adequate fire protection says Sea-Fire’s Richard Duckworth.

But he says many boatbuilders are fitting the minimum protection they can get away with and crossing their fingers it will never be put to the test.

“For the last 20 years, major production boat builders have recognised they have a duty of care to protect their customers and to fit as standard a comprehensive engine room fire suppression system using fully tested and marine approved components,” says Richard.

“Unfortunately, this is not mirrored across all the industry.”

And he said safety and fire suppression should Continue reading “Non adequate fire protection on boats is a concern says Sea-Fire”

RCR cites lack of vessel maintenance as reason for increasing number of call outs

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RCR engineers frequently come across vessels with no smoke or CO alarms that have fire risks and ventilation issues.
RCR engineers frequently come across vessels with no smoke or CO alarms that have fire risks and ventilation issues.

River Canal Rescue (RCR) is urging boaters to pay more attention to vessel maintenance and safety following an increase in the number of call-outs for faults caused by what it describes as a general lack of maintenance.

In 2016, this amounted to 948 call-outs, in 2017 there were 1031 and in 2018 RCR had 1081 call-outs due to lack of maintenance and safety, together with continuing fires and CO poisoning incidents.

“Boaters who fail to maintain their vessels or pay attention to boat safety put themselves and others at risk,” said RCR operations director, Jay Forman.

He said, “With Continue reading “RCR cites lack of vessel maintenance as reason for increasing number of call outs”

Report by TAIC into fatal burst nitrogen cylinder published

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Posted on by News Hound
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”

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