How to choose the right marine surveying professional development course for you (and guidance on what to watch out for)

Take time to assess marine surveying professional development course providers before jumping in is the advice
Take time to assess marine surveying professional development course providers before jumping in is the advice

Has your chosen education provider achieved an internationally recognised standard? Today, it seems easy to get duped by seductive marketing and one International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) member is urging others to do their due diligence when signing up for a marine surveying professional development course.

A few years ago, the member in question decided to add another specialisation to their skillset at significant expense. Once they had Continue reading “How to choose the right marine surveying professional development course for you (and guidance on what to watch out for)”

IACS adopts two new unified requirements on preventing the loss of seaborne containers

IACS has adopted two new Unified Requirements, UR C6 and UR C7, to enhance the cargo securing arrangements of container ships.
IACS has adopted two new Unified Requirements, UR C6 and UR C7, to enhance the cargo securing arrangements of container ships.

In response to the increasing concerns over the number of containers lost at sea in recent years, IACS has adopted two new Unified Requirements, UR C6 and UR C7, to enhance the cargo securing arrangements of container ships.

Container ships play a vital role in global trade, facilitating the transportation of goods across vast distances. However, the safe transport of this cargo type poses unique challenges, particularly with regards to stowage and securing of containers on onboard vessels. By Continue reading “IACS adopts two new unified requirements on preventing the loss of seaborne containers”

Mental health struggles amongst yacht crew highlighted in ISWAN YachtCrewHelp 2023 Annual Review

The ISWAN YachtCrewHelp 2023 Annual Review highlights growing mental health issues for yacht crew
The ISWAN YachtCrewHelp 2023 Annual Review highlights growing mental health issues for yacht crew

Data from the ISWAN YachtCrewHelp 2023 Annual Review indicates that yacht crew were more likely to contact ISWAN in relation to mental health concerns or experiences of abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence (ABHDV) than seafarers working in other maritime industries, particularly merchant shipping.

In 2023, the proportion of contacts relating to ABHDV on YachtCrewHelp was more than double the level received by SeafarerHelp, accounting for 7.3% of all issues raised compared to 3.1% on SeafarerHelp. Women were more than five times more likely to report an Continue reading “Mental health struggles amongst yacht crew highlighted in ISWAN YachtCrewHelp 2023 Annual Review”

IIMS marine surveying training receives international seal of approval

IIMS marine surveying training receives international seal of approval
IIMS marine surveying training receives international seal of approval

The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) has been awarded the globally recognised ISO 9001 standard for quality management of its training services.

ISO 9001 is the most widely used quality management standard with more than one million certificates issued to organisations around the world.

There are seven guiding principles of ISO 9001, which are customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making and relationship management. Continue reading “IIMS marine surveying training receives international seal of approval”

Design flaw caused Staten Island ferry fire is report finding

Design flaw caused Staten Island ferry fire is report finding
Design flaw caused Staten Island ferry fire is report finding

The design of a new passenger ferry’s fuel oil return system and inadequate follow-on training for engineering crewmembers led to the 2022 fire aboard the Staten Island Ferry Sandy Ground, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

The fire broke out in the engine room of the Sandy Ground in New York Harbor with 884 persons aboard on December 22, 2022. The crew’s actions to contain and extinguish the fire, combined with a quick response from good samaritan vessels, resulted in the safe evacuation of all onboard. Damage to the vessel totaled $12.7 million. Continue reading “Design flaw caused Staten Island ferry fire is report finding”

Heavy cargo items require extra attention

Siemens Schottel azimuth thrusters. Photo credit: Wikipedia
Siemens Schottel azimuth thrusters. Photo credit: Wikipedia

The Nautical Institute has composed a case study on an incident where a multi-purpose cargo vessel was transporting six azimuth thrusters in its hold. Each thruster weighing 60 tonnes. Stowage calculations based on the voyage instructions and stowage plan were made by an officer and checked by the Master before loading. The results were sent to the office for approval.

According to the calculations, each thruster would require 10 lashings. To be on the safe side, the Master and crew decided to use 12 or Continue reading “Heavy cargo items require extra attention”

NTSB conclude crew’s quick action limits fire damage to towing vessel Desperado

The Desperado in Lake Salvador after the fire. (Source: U.S. Coast Guard)​
The Desperado in Lake Salvador after the fire. (Source: U.S. Coast Guard)​

A ruptured hydraulic hose spraying fuel on a hot engine led to a fire aboard Desperado, a towing vessel in Louisiana’s Lake Salvador, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday.

The fire broke out in the engine room as the towing vessel Desperado​ was transiting near Bayou Perot, Louisiana, on 17 February 2023. The three crewmembers aboard could not extinguish the fire with portable extinguishers. So they secured ventilation and fuel to the engine room and evacuated to a good samaritan vessel. Continue reading “NTSB conclude crew’s quick action limits fire damage to towing vessel Desperado”

U.S. Coast Guard 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Report

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published its 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Annual Report. This report highlights U.S. domestic fleet inspection, deficiency, and marine casualty statistics and serves as a powerful tool that highlights trends, identifies key performance indicators, and draws attention to findings over the past calendar year.

The report presents information reflecting the U.S. Flag fleet including barges, cargo vessels, passenger vessels, vessels operating on the Outer Continental Shelf, research and school ships, fishing vessels, and towing vessels. Continue reading “U.S. Coast Guard 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Report”

NTSB issues report on Qualifier 105 passenger vessel fire in Homer, Alaska

NTSB issues report on the fire on Qualifier 105
NTSB issues report on the fire on Qualifier 105

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its report on the investigation of a 2023 fire aboard the passenger vessel​ Qualifier 105 last year in Alaska.​

On 19 January 2023, the small passenger vessel Qualifier 105 was being stored ashore for the winter in the Northern Enterprises Boat Yard in Homer, Alaska when a fire started in a stateroom below the main deck. The local fire department extinguished the fire and no Continue reading “NTSB issues report on Qualifier 105 passenger vessel fire in Homer, Alaska”

Update on emergency power supply testing non-compliance issued by Tokyo MoU

Update on emergency power supply testing non-compliance issued by Tokyo MoU
Update on emergency power supply testing non-compliance issued by Tokyo MoU

The Tokyo MoU has released a Safety Bulletin as an update on the emergency power supply non-compliance, it states that numerous observations by Port State Control Officers (PCSOs) where the “simulated blackout” testing of the Emergency Generator is demonstrated as fully functional, but during an actual power blackout, the system does not meet the requirements of SOLAS Ch. II-1, Reg. 42 / 43.

PSCOs have observed an alarming number of ships that were able to demonstrate a satisfactory test of the emergency generator utilizing a Continue reading “Update on emergency power supply testing non-compliance issued by Tokyo MoU”

Loss of propulsion of ro-ro cargo vessel Mazarine: Transport Malta Report

The vessel Mazarine dramatically stuck on Wolf Rock
The vessel Mazarine dramatically stuck on Wolf Rock

Transport Malta’s Marine Safety Investigation Unit has published an investigation report into the loss of propulsion and subsequent grounding of the Maltese-registered ro-ro cargo vessel Mazarine, on Wolf Rock off Land’s End, UK on 10 July 2023.

At about 1040, the Maltese-registered, ro-ro cargo vessel, Mazarine ran aground on Wolf Rock, UK. The vessel sustained structural damage to the underwater section of the hull. In addition to the hull perforations, several deformations were observed, mostly on the port Continue reading “Loss of propulsion of ro-ro cargo vessel Mazarine: Transport Malta Report”

InterManager issues call for industry-wide accident reporting

Captain Kuba Szymanski, InterManager Secretary General
Captain Kuba Szymanski, InterManager Secretary General

Accidents onboard ships are not decreasing, according to latest accident statistics submitted to the International Maritime Organization by InterManager.

The Association says the number of seafarers injured in falls has remained fairly consistent year on year, as has the number of injuries resulting from rescue and survival craft accidents. However, the Association warns that the casualty rate for enclosed space accidents has almost doubled. InterManager has submitted its figures, which span several decades, to the 10th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee Continue reading “InterManager issues call for industry-wide accident reporting”

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