Health & Safety

MCA issues MGN 543: Safety of Navigation: Offshore Renewable Energy Installations

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Offshore Wind turbines
Offshore Wind turbines

The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency has issued guidance note MGN 543 to highlight issues that need to be taken into consideration when assessing the impact on navigational safety and emergency response (search and rescue, salvage and towing, and counter pollution) caused by offshore renewable energy installation developments. It applies to proposals in United Kingdom internal waters, Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone.

Offshore Renewable Energy Installations (OREI) include offshore wind farms, tidal energy converters (including tidal range devices), wave energy converters and any associated infrastructure with the potential to affect marine navigation and emergency response, proposed in United Kingdom (UK) internal waters, Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

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Closer inspections for corrosion of kill cord metal components essential

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Surveyors are urged to make close inspections to identify weakening of this vital piece of equipment
Surveyors are urged to make close inspections to identify weakening of this vital piece of equipment

One third of skippers have experienced kill cord or kill switch failure, according to the results of a recent survey. The survey also showed that closer inspection of the emergency engine cut-outs is needed to reduce the likelihood of failure.

The majority of respondents stated that they had never experienced a kill cord or kill switch failure, however a third described experiencing a failure of either the kill cord, kill switch or both, with problems occurring across the board in terms of engine size (sub-4hp to 150+hp) and with 73% of problems reportedly occurring in engines aged 2-10 years.

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Skuld P&I Club warns of dangers of entering an enclosed zinc concentrate cargo hold

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Man in an enclosed space
Man in an enclosed space

Recently the Skuld P&I club noted a crew fatality incident caused by entering an enclosed zinc concentrate cargo hold. A chief officer of a bulk carrier was found lying unconscious in the cargo hold after he entered the hold alone without ventilation and tragically lost his life. It was later established that the cause of death was asphyxiation. Measurements performed the day after the accident showed that the level of oxygen in the air at the stairwell was 2.6%.

Due to the cargo’s nature of oxidation, ventilation and atmosphere tests are vital before entering holds and breathing apparatus is needed. At sea-level, humans require air that contains minimum 19.5% oxygen. Below that an Continue reading “Skuld P&I Club warns of dangers of entering an enclosed zinc concentrate cargo hold”

MAIB report on deck collapse on St Helen

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St Helen the ship
St Helen the ship

The report relates to the MAIB’s investigation of the collapse of a mezzanine deck on the Wightlink ferry St Helen, at Fishbourne ferry terminal, Isle of Wight, on 18 July 2014. The passengers and vehicles on board the cross Solent roll-on roll-off passenger ferry St Helen were in the process of disembarking at Fishbourne ferry terminal on the Isle of Wight when the vessel’s starboard forward mezzanine deck collapsed. The deck collapsed because one of its steel wire lifting ropes parted. The lifting rope parted because it had not been routinely lubricated and the mezzanine deck had not been properly maintained.

A crewman and 11 cars, with their seated passengers, were on the deck when it collapsed. The crewman suffered a minor head injury and was temporarily rendered unconscious; several passengers suffered minor impact related injuries. The mezzanine deck was structurally damaged and was later removed from the vessel.

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EU releases new operational guidelines for ships in need of assistance

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Ruined container ship - suffering from burns
Ruined container ship – suffering from burns

The European Union has released new operational guidelines for ships in need of assistance at the Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas (SEARICA) Intergroup meeting in European Parliament.

The guidelines were developed by a committee comprising of Member States’ competent authorities with additional support from industry stakeholders.

It aims to promote better integration and coordination among the maritime authorities involved in response to an incident concerning a ship in need of assistance.

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New measures proposed following accident caused by leaking hatch covers

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Swedish P&I Club makes new proposals following an accident caused by leaking hatch covers
Swedish P&I Club makes new proposals following an accident caused by leaking hatch covers

The Swedish P&I Club has issued its Monthly Safety Scenario for February 2016 that relates to an accident caused by leaking hatch covers. As a result it recommends preventive measures.

About the accident

The vessel comprised loaded up wire coils. When loading was complete the crew taped across the transverse beams of all the cargo holds with Ram-Nek. During the vessel’s transit it sailed through heavy weather that lasted for about two days. During this time the vessel was pitching and rolling and the cargo hatches were covered in water.

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Measuring methane gas levels in cargo holds

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A shovel with coal in it
A shovel with coal in it

The West of England P&I Club has issued loss prevention bulletin to advise on measuring methane gas levels in cargo holds when uploading coal cargoes.

Some coal cargoes can produce methane (CH4). Since methane is a flammable gas, the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code requires vessels loaded with coal to monitor the concentration of methane inside the cargo holds via external sampling points. Portable gas detectors are carried for this purpose. However, in the Club’s recent experience it would appear that some crew members may not be aware that the readings for methane may be incorrect if the amount of oxygen inside the hold is low.

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North P&I Club publishes loss prevention guide on bulk cargoes

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North P&I Club has released a new loss prevention guide on bulk cargoes
North P&I Club has released a new loss prevention guide on bulk cargoes

The 175 million GT, ‘A’ rated North P&I Club has published a major new guide for the international shipping industry on how to reduce losses when carrying bulk cargoes by sea. The 280-page Bulk Cargoes: A Guide to Good Practice adds to North’s comprehensive portfolio of guidance provided about different cargo types and is the first to be made available in both print and e-book formats.

Bulk Cargoes explains the basic rules to be remembered on every occasion during loading, carriage and unloading of bulk cargoes. It describes where various regulations, recommendations and general guidance can be found, and discusses procedures, preparations and good seamanship practice for appropriate and safe carriage of cargoes in bulk. It also describes the problems and recommended procedures associated with particular types of bulk cargo and sets out the points to be remembered during passage planning and the voyage itself.

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CASCADe project to improve bridge efficiency and prevent accidents ends

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Simulation of the Cascade Project
Simulation of the Cascade Project

An EU funded project that has been funded for three years called CASCADe is coming to a close this month. The project has developed new methodologies in which information is shared and displayed on a ship’s bridge, helping to improve efficiency on board and contribute towards the prevention of accidents at sea.

Drawing directly from the experience of seafarers, the CASCADe project has developed a new adaptive bridge design methodology that treats both human agents and electronic equipment as parts of a cooperative system. This allows for the sharing of information to be optimised.

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Out of water survival craft FAQ’s published by USCG ahead of new policy

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Out of water survival craft FAQ's have been released by USCG ahead of a new policy in February 2016
Out of water survival craft FAQ’s have been released by USCG ahead of a new policy in February 2016

The US Coast Guard has published a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about out of water survival craft to answer questions raised ahead of its new policy that takes effect from 26 February 2016.

Question: What laws require me to change my current survival craft?
Answer: Section 609 of the 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act (Public Law No. 111-281 – OCT. 15, 2010), when it added section 3104 to Part B of 46 U.S. Code. This new section prohibited the approval of survival craft unless the craft “ensures that no part of an individual is immersed in water.”

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Marine Installation Safety Training: Diesel fuelled heating

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The safety of diesel fuelled heating systems in boats is challenged as never before
The safety of diesel fuelled heating systems in boats is challenged as never before

The history

For over 40 years diesel fuelled heating has enjoyed a faultless safety record within the marine industry. This has been achieved despite being largely ignored by most regulating bodies.

So why are we writing this? Heaters are safe right? Well, yes, if installed and maintained correctly, diesel fuelled heating is still one of the safest forms of heating you can use.

Unfortunately, in recent years a worrying trend has started to develop, fuelled by a glut of cheap second hand vehicle diesel heaters and dubious internet knowledge.

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Fuel hoses for petrol inboard engines

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workboat on fire
Workboat on fire

The context of this article is in relation to improving the safety of operators and crew of existing inboard petrol powered vessels including auxiliary petrol motors and fuel hoses from the possibility of explosion resulting in death or injury.

As one of our clients stated: “This vessel has only exploded once in all my 40 years of fishing. The explosion throwing me backwards onto the net board, so my vessel is perfectly safe!”

This particular case was the result of the fuel tank breather line falling off the fuel tank connection with the resulting fumes allowing free passage through the open boat structure as no bulkheads were included in the construction of the vessel finally allowed to gathering in the bilge under the motor. This nearly resulted in a personal space shuttle, he was lucky.

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