International News

Enclosed space deaths spark calls for change

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Enclosed space deaths spark calls for change
Enclosed space deaths spark calls for change

Appalled that deaths in enclosed spaces continue to be all too frequent occurrences in the shipping industry, the Maritime Professional Council of the United Kingdom (MPC) has announced its support for fundamental changes to ship operation and design.

MPC member InterManager has been at the forefront of raising this issue where, it says, seemingly innocuous compartments, cargo holds and fuel tanks, vital for storage and operation on board any vessel, have become graveyards for far too many seafarers due to a lack of attention, regulation, and understanding. Continue reading “Enclosed space deaths spark calls for change”

First Saudi Red Sea Authority yachting regulations released

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Saudi Red Sea Authority yachting regulations have been written and published for the first time by the authorities.

The new Saudi Red Sea Authority yachting regulations outline the necessary requirements and conditions for the use of yachts in Red Sea waters, as well as overseeing the issuance of tourism and leisure licenses and permits, the Saudi Press Agency reported. They outline the conditions and procedures for issuing technical licenses for leisure tourism, and the required criteria for yacht owners or authorized tourism maritime agents. Continue reading “First Saudi Red Sea Authority yachting regulations released”

Increase in deficiencies related to ISPS Code noted by Marshall Islands

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a troubling rise in International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) related detentions due to recurring non-compliance issues.
a troubling rise in International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) related detentions due to recurring non-compliance issues.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator has observed a troubling rise in International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) related detentions due to recurring non-compliance issues.

Specifically, deficiencies relating to control of ship access, log keeping, and frequency of security drills have been noted. These deficiencies have led to ships being detained within different Port State Control (PSC) Memoranda of Understanding. Most of these detentions were easily preventable by proper and effective implementation of the Ship Security Plan (SSP). Continue reading “Increase in deficiencies related to ISPS Code noted by Marshall Islands”

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

Posted on by News Hound
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 cargo securing arrangements

Posted on by News Hound
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 cargo securing arrangements”

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

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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

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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

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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

Posted on by News Hound
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

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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

Posted on by News Hound

USCG Logo - Flag State Control Domestic ReportThe 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

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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”

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