Dangerous goods on containerships: New safety guidance for stowage

Container ship fires originating from dangerous goods
Container ship fires originating from dangerous goods

Containership fires are a growing concern. Fires, originating from dangerous goods in containers, whether wrongfully declared or not, occur with alarming frequency. Such fires endanger the lives of the crew, harm the environment and cause damage to cargo and property.

The Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) has published a new safety guidance for the stowage of classified dangerous goods onboard containerships. The “Safety Considerations for Ship Operators Related to Risk-Based Stowage of Dangerous Continue reading “Dangerous goods on containerships: New safety guidance for stowage”

Container certification guide for safely securing cargoes published

ABS issues guide for the certification of container securing systems
ABS issues guide for the certification of container securing systems

ABS has issued a guide for the certification of container securing systems advising that when special containers are used for unique cargoes that have reduced or increased load capacities, limitations should be considered when stowing them onboard ship and when determining permissible tier and container stack weights.

Surveyors are advised to undertake all surveys on container securing systems upon request, with adequate notification, of the owners or their representatives, and are to report to the Committee. Adding to this, if there is a need for further Continue reading “Container certification guide for safely securing cargoes published”

Cargo handling industry experts move to prevent port and terminal collisions

To minimize risk and improve port safety, three of the cargo handling industry experts have produced an information paper Collision Prevention At Ports & Terminals. Experts from international freight transport insurers, TT Club, together with cargo handling industry experts ICHCA and PEMA share the latest technologies to detect and prevent collisions to promote safety.

In an attempt to improve safety, reduce injuries and loss of life, equipment damage and minimize costly business disruption at ports and terminals worldwide, PEMA, TT Club, and ICHCA International have pooled resources to make available information to promote collision prevention. All relevant stakeholders have been involved in the development of this project. PEMA represents container crane and technology manufacturers, and TT Club and ICHCA International represent container terminals.

Continue reading “Cargo handling industry experts move to prevent port and terminal collisions”

USCG publishes guidance on how to comply with SOLAS amendments on life-saving appliances

The US Coast Guard issued a new circular providing guidance to the maritime industry and Coast Guard personnel on how vessel owners and operators may comply with amendments to SOLAS Chapter III, Regulation 3 and 20 regarding life-saving appliances, that will enter into force from 1st January 2020.

The Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 03-19, “Maintenance, Thorough Examination, Operational Testing, Overhaul And Repair Of Lifeboats And Rescue Boats, Launching Appliances And Release Gear” dated Nov. 20, 2019, supersedes and cancels NVIC 04-07.

Amendments on life saving appliances were adopted during the 96th session of IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 96) in May 2016, Continue reading “USCG publishes guidance on how to comply with SOLAS amendments on life-saving appliances”

NTSB report blames vessel fire on lack of hot work training and poor safety management

Photo credit: US Coast Guard
Photo credit: US Coast Guard

The National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has published an accident report on a vessel fire that took place on the fishing vessel Jeanette which at the time of the incident was pier side at the American Samoa Government (ASG) container facility in the Port of Pago Pago, Tutuila Island, American Samoa, with 18 crewmembers and one shoreside vessel representative on board.

At about 1130 local time on December 5, 2018, one of the duties the crewmembers had to conduct was to remove wasted sections of the overhead frames on the wet deck and weld in new sections. Three crewmembers were responsible of conducting this task; two who would conduct the welding, or “hot work,” and one who would serve as the fire watch. The welders reported to the assistant engineer, and the fire watch reported to the deck boss. Continue reading “NTSB report blames vessel fire on lack of hot work training and poor safety management”

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the IIMS UAE Branch

On the evening of 19 November, nearly 100 invited guests assembled in the Grand Lounge on the famous old ship, the Queen Elizabeth 2, (now permanently moored at Port Rashid in Dubai), for a splendid cocktail party to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the IIMS UAE Branch. The event was kindly and generously sponsored by HFW, represented by Richard Strub, who said a few words.

Once the canapes had been finished, IIMS CEO, Mike Schwarz thanked President, Capt Zarir Irani, the local UAE Branch Chairman, Capt Omprakash Marayil and his committee colleagues for their efforts, both in terms of securing such a prestigious and historic venue to mark this special celebration and for delivering a great event.

Continue reading “Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the IIMS UAE Branch”

The securing of containers on deck on a container ship

There are six different ways in which ships move in the sea, primarily pitching, heaving and rolling.

Lateral rolling motion represents the greatest challenge for stacks of containers. If containers are to be transported safely on the deck of a container vessel, they must be firmly connected to the ship. This is done with the aid of what are known as twistlocks. These twistlocks are inserted into the corner castings of the containers. These corner castings have elongated holes in which the rotating lug of the twistlock engages, locking the containerstogether. In addition, the bottom two layers of the stacked containers are connected to the ship with lashing rods. Initially, it was common practice to stow stacks of containers on deck in such a way that the individual stacks were connected to each other Continue reading “The securing of containers on deck on a container ship”

Consistent testing standards are vital to ensure ballast water compliance

Carried in ships’ ballast waters, invasive aquatic species have had a significant economic impact throughout the world. Specific ballast discharge events have been held responsible for disasters such as outbreaks of deadly disease, complete collapse Continue reading “Consistent testing standards are vital to ensure ballast water compliance”

STI WINNIE: Report reveals lack of warning signs resulted in electrician’s fatality

Electrocution onboard the vessel STI WINNIE
Electrocution onboard the vessel STI WINNIE

The Republic of the Marshall Islands has released an accident report into the fatal injury of an oil tanker electrician, who was electrocuted onboard the vessel STI WINNIE.

On 2 May, 2019, the oil tanker STI WINNIE, owned by Scorpio Marine Management, was sailing in the Arabian Gulf with a final destination the Ras Laffan, Qatar. While the electrician of the vessel was trying to maintain the inert gas (IG) scrubber pump starter panel, he was exposed to high volumes of electrical energy and lost his life.

The crew members found the electrician lying with his head and his hands inside a local group starter panel (LGSP) cabinet. They immediately provide Continue reading “STI WINNIE: Report reveals lack of warning signs resulted in electrician’s fatality”

NTSB report calls USCG to follow its recommendations on duck boat sinking

NTSB published a Marine Safety Recommendation Report on Stretch Duck 7
NTSB published a Marine Safety Recommendation Report on Stretch Duck 7

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published a Marine Safety Recommendation Report following its findings on the fatal accident on the DUKW Amphibious Vessel, Stretch Duck 7. This follows a preliminary report that has already been published and circulated, calling the USCG to require sufficient buoyancy for DUKW amphibious passenger vessels and to require the removal of canopies, side curtains and their associated framing while underway for those without sufficient reserve buoyancy.

On the evening of July 19, 2018, 17 of the 31 persons aboard the Stretch Duck 7 died Continue reading “NTSB report calls USCG to follow its recommendations on duck boat sinking”

Transport Malta: Failure of engine room lashing led to fatal injuries says report

Accident report about the Maersk Jaipur published by Transport Malta
Accident report about the Maersk Jaipur published by Transport Malta

Transport Malta has published an accident report about the Maersk Jaipur, a vessel which faced navigation challenges in rough weather conditions. Work was suspended due to the bad weather, but equipment in the engine room broke and fatally injured two crewmembers.

On 08 October 2018, Maersk Jaipur was sailing through heavy weather conditions, heading to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The vessel was rolling in the heavy seas.

At about 0900, the crew conducted a heavy weather checklist and resulted in the Continue reading “Transport Malta: Failure of engine room lashing led to fatal injuries says report”

EMSA annual overview of marine casualties and incidents 2019 published

EMSA publish report for 2019
EMSA publish report for 2019

The EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) has released its study on marine casualties and incidents in its annual report. It shows a steady situation, but highlights that fishing vessels remain the category of ship with the highest number of ships lost over the 2011-2018 period.

With 3,174 occurrences reported in 2018, the total number of occurrences recorded in the EMSA EMCIP (European Marine Casualty Information Platform) database has grown to over 23000 representing an average of 3,239 marine casualties or incidents per year over the past five years.

The number of very serious casualties had continuously decreased since 2014; Continue reading “EMSA annual overview of marine casualties and incidents 2019 published”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Show details
Performance & Marketing Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. This also helps us optimise our marketing campaigns. User data sent to Google Analytics may be used for ad personalization and measurement of our ad campaigns. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Show details