International News

The US Coast Guard has published a safety alert to inform operators and other interested parties of the role that the main propulsion lube oil system was found to have played in the El Faro incident. They have recommended that operators, especially ships’ engineers, review the operational procedures and limitations of vital propulsion machinery and verify compliance with SOLAS, Classification Societies and regulatory standards.

The El Faro sank along with its 33 crew onboard in October 2015, marking one of the worst maritime disasters in US history. The USCG official report on the sinking of the El Faro revealed that loss of propulsion during heavy weather was contributing to the sinking. The exact operational status of all vital El Faro engineering equipment prior to the casualty could not be determined, but bridge audio recordings indicate that the vessel lost lube oil pressure to the main propulsion turbine and reduction gear bearings, resulting in loss of propulsion.

Continue reading “Lessons Learned from El Faro on main propulsion published by USCG”

Addressing the need for clear and consistently applied definitions of ‘critical spares’ and ‘critical equipment’ across the industry, this information paper provides guidance on the identification of safety critical spare parts for companies to consider when preparing a Safety Management System (SMS).

The paper, released on 29 March 2018, introduces some boundary conditions to consider and walks through several steps that may be required to identify safety critical spare parts. It is equally applicable to companies managing any type of vessel.

“The identification of safety critical equipment and the need for safety critical spare parts is a complicated subject”, says OCIMF Director Andrew Cassels. “This paper provides guidance on the challenges that may be encountered when considering safety critical spare parts so that a ship owner can strive to efficiently manage their risks.”

Continue reading “OCIMF releases new information paper about the preparation of a safety management system”