Guidance published for hold cleaning of bulk vessels

The Swedish Club in association with CWA International has produced a practical guide to help operators with the hold cleaning of bulk vessels. According to the guide, the preparation and cleaning of a vessel’s cargo holds for the next intended cargo is a vital part of bulk carrier operations. Hold cleaning requires clear planning, preparation and efficient execution.

Failure to carry out the proper hold preparation prior to loading can lead to cargo claims relating to cargo contamination, overflowing bilges, as well as contractual claims relating to delay, failed surveys, loss of hire and further charterparty disputes. Continue reading “Guidance published for hold cleaning of bulk vessels”

Fire onboard bulk carrier caused by fuel hose failure

Flexible fuel hose assembly on the inboard side of the starboard main engine (Source: TSB)
Flexible fuel hose assembly on the inboard side of the starboard main engine (Source: TSB)

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its report into the engine room fire onboard the bulk carrier Tecumseh while transiting the Detroit River off Windsor, Ontario.

On 13 December 2019, the Tecumseh departed Thunder Bay, Ontario, for Windsor, Ontario, loaded with 19 667 tonnes of canola seed in bulk. At 1406, the engineering assistant was carrying out a routine round of the engine room and the third engineer was re-entering the engine room from the steering gear flat when they both observed that a fire had ignited near the port main engine. They immediately proceeded to the ECR, where the third engineer called the bridge and reported the fire to the master. Continue reading “Fire onboard bulk carrier caused by fuel hose failure”

Fire due to misdeclaration of container: Case study

Aftermath of the fireThe recently published Casebook by The Swedish Club’s highlights an incident when the Master of a ship noticed smoke coming from the forward part of the vessel. At the same time the fire detection system for cargo hold 2 sounded on the bridge. The Master described the smoke as being white at first and then greyish. The Chief Officer, however, described the smoke as being “dark grey, almost black”.

The ventilation fans for the cargo holds were stopped. The fans for cargo hold 2 were not operating at that time but natural ventilation was being provided for the holds as the covers for the vents were open. Crew members closed the covers of the vents for cargo hold 2 and no crew member entered the cargo hold. Continue reading “Fire due to misdeclaration of container: Case study”

Cargo lights ignited cargo onboard bulker: Case study

Fire on the shipIn a recently published casebook featuring four case studies, The Swedish Club has shared information about an incident where floodlights caused a cargo fire on a bulk carrier.

A bulker had loaded sugar beet pellets in all three cargo holds with the operation taking 27 hours. When loading was completed the ventilation hatches and all other access points to the cargo holds were secured. In cargo hold 1 there were two metres of space between the cargo and the cargo hatch. In cargo holds 2 and 3 the cargo was almost up to the hatch coaming. Continue reading “Cargo lights ignited cargo onboard bulker: Case study”

Fishing vessel sinking caused by poor maintenance and lack of regulatory surveillance

Photo: Tibbie Adams via TSB
Photo: Tibbie Adams via TSB

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published its investigation report into the August 2020 sinking of the fishing vessel Arctic Fox II near Bamfield, British Columbia. The incident resulted in the death of two crewmembers.

On August 11, 2020, when Arctic Fox IIs master departed for the fishing grounds on the occurrence voyage with two other crew members on board, both he and the vessel’s owner perceived that the risks of the planned fishing operation had been addressed sufficiently. Their perceptions of risk were likely influenced by economic incentives, approvals and certificates, and many successful voyages. Continue reading “Fishing vessel sinking caused by poor maintenance and lack of regulatory surveillance”

Marine safety concerns about firefighting capabilities at Canadian ports raised in report

Transportation Safety Board of CanadaThe Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its investigation report regarding a fire incident that occurred aboard a bulk carrier near Windsor, Ontario in 2019. The TSB said the report raises a board safety concern regarding firefighting resources at some Canadian harbours and ports.

On December 15, 2019, a fire ignited in the engine room of the bulk carrier Tecumseh while it was transiting the Detroit River off Windsor, Ontario with 16 crew members on board. The crew attempted to extinguish the fire with the CO2 fixed fire suppression system. The investigation found that the onboard fire originated following the failure of a flexible fuel hose assembly supplying fuel to the ship’s port main engine. Continue reading “Marine safety concerns about firefighting capabilities at Canadian ports raised in report”

Admiralty court finds three vessels at fault in Suez collision

Map of the Suez collisionAn admiralty court in London has found fault with all three vessels involved in a collision on the Suez Canal in 2018, including a bulker that struck two vessels within the span of a single day.

On July 16, 2018, the bulker Panamax Alexander was moored in the southern stretch of the Suez Canal, near the 150-km milepost in one of the narrowest sections of the waterway. She had been damaged the day before in a collision and grounding with the bulker Sakizaya Kalon, and her rudder stock and propeller blades were bent. Due to the damage, she was awaiting a tow to the Great Bitter Lake. In the meantime, the crew had made fast to bollards on the side of the canal with six lines. Continue reading “Admiralty court finds three vessels at fault in Suez collision”

Update on survival craft equipment requirements

USCG LogoThe US Coast Guard has announced it is updating the type approval requirements for certain types of equipment that survival craft are required to carry on U.S. flagged vessels. The purpose of this rule is to update the requirements for 12 types of equipment required to be carried onboard survival craft on certain U.S. flagged vessels:

– Bilge pumps
– Compasses
– First-aid kits
– Fishing kits
– Hatchets
– Jackknives
– Signaling mirrors
– Emergency drinking water
– Sea anchors Continue reading “Update on survival craft equipment requirements”

IIMS 2022 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published

Following the surprise runaway success of the first edition of the Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium, published in January 2022 by the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), and subsequently downloaded many thousands of times, Edition II has been launched covering the period January to October 2022. It is now available to download and read in pdf or eReader formats.

Edition II builds on the success of the launch publication and extends to 160 pages. The simple aim is to highlight the dangers of working in the maritime industry, the ensuing accidents and some of the prevention measures available to mitigate disasters at sea. The publication blends a mix of incident and accident reports with essential loss prevention advice generated over the year. One significant new feature is a calendar, featuring some of the many accidents that have occurred during 2022, catalogued month by month. Continue reading “IIMS 2022 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published”

Containership strikes crane due to faulty propeller: A case study

Containership strikes crane due to faulty propeller: A case study
Faulty propeller causes containership to strikes crane

The Swedish Club has published its latest monthly safety scenario in which it describes how a faulty propeller caused a vessel to strike a quay and a crane. The container vessel had finished its cargo operation and the pilot had boarded. Two tugs werer standing by to assist the vessel during departure. It was a clear summer day with no strong winds or currents.

The two tugs pulled the vessel clear of the berth and the propeller pitch was then set to Stop (Zero). Both tugs were cast off. The pilot ordered dead slow ahead. However, when the Master set the propeller pitch control to dead slow ahead the main engine stopped. The Master called the engine control room to find out why the main engine had stopped and requested the main engine be restarted. Continue reading “Containership strikes crane due to faulty propeller: A case study”

Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death

Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device
Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device

In a tragic accident, the failure by a skipper to wear a personal flotation device, harness and tether, caused his death when he was washed overboard during the 2022 Newport-Bermuda race in June 2022 is the finding from a review by US Sailing.

Colin Golder was racing the Centurion 42, Morgan of Marietta, when he went overboard on 19 June 200 miles off the US east coast. Despite the efforts of the crew, which rescued Colin in challenging seas, he died soon after, most likely from drowning.

US Sailing’s review and subsequent report of the incident attribute his death primarily Continue reading “Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death”

Advice on the safe carriage of hazardous chemical cargoes from the Swedish P&I Club

Advice on the safe carriage of hazardous chemical cargoes from the Swedish P&I Club
Advice on the safe carriage of hazardous chemical cargoes from the Swedish P&I Club

Working in partnership with CWA International, the Swedish P&I Club has produced a guidance document to assist operators in the daily operation of their vessels relating specifically to the carriage of hazardous chemical cargoes.

A wide range of more than 5,000 chemical products and grades are carried on board chemical tankers. These chemical products often have a high minimum purity due to their intended end uses. The contamination of chemical cargoes can often affect the suitability for their intended end use, and this can play a significant role in the value of the cargo. As a result, special consideration should be given towards these sensitive cargoes in order to ensure their proper carriage. Continue reading “Advice on the safe carriage of hazardous chemical cargoes from the Swedish P&I Club”

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