MAIB

Sinking raises safety issues on bilge alarms

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The failure of engine cooling system pipework is one of the most common causes of flooding on small fishing vessels
The failure of engine cooling system pipework is one of the most common causes of flooding on small fishing vessels

In its latest Safety Digest, the UK MAIB provides learnings about an 8.13m fibreglass fishing vessel that was engaged in picking up its fleets of creels when it began to take on water and subsequently sank. The skipper, who was working alone, managed to deploy the boat’s liferaft and climb into it as the boat was sinking and was later rescued without injuries.

The incident
The skipper went out to sea shortly after daybreak to recover his two fleets of creels. The weather was good. As soon as he arrived at the fishing grounds, he hauled in the first fleet of creels and stowed it on the aft end of the deck. He then headed at speed toward the second fleet of creels.

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MAIB releases its first safety digest of 2018 featuring 25 case studies

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The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published a collection of 25 case studies in its first collection of case studies for 2018. The seventy-one page publication covers a variety of accidents reported and investigated in recent months across the commercial, fishing and recreational boating sectors.

The information in the safety digest is published to inform the shipping and fishing industries, the pleasure craft community and the public of the general circumstances of marine accidents and to draw out the lessons to be learned. The sole purpose of the safety digest is to prevent similar accidents happening again. The content must necessarily be regarded as tentative and subject to alteration or correction if additional evidence becomes available. The articles do not assign fault or blame nor do they determine liability. The lessons often extend beyond the events of the incidents themselves to ensure the maximum value can be achieved.

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MAIB report into Windfarm 8 catastrophic damage and resulting fire published

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Photo credit: Image copyright 't schippertje
Photo credit: Image copyright ‘t schippertje

On 7 September 2017, the 15.87m crew transfer vessel, Windcat 8, was on passage to Grimsby, UK, from the Lynn Wind Farm in the North Sea with two crew and eight windfarm technicians on board. Shortly after setting off, the vessel’s port engine suffered catastrophic damage and caught fire.

The passengers were quickly transferred on to Windcat 31 and the fire was contained within the port engine space and soon extinguished. Windcat 8’s port engine was badly damaged and the vessel was towed to Grimsby by Windcat 30. There was no pollution and no injuries.

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Improper maintenance could have cost the lives of two surveyors says UK P&I Club case study

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Photo credit: UK P&I Club
Photo credit: UK P&I Club

In UK P&I Club’s latest ‘Lessons Learned’ series of case studies, Captain David Nichol presents the case regarding improper ventilation after a maintenance operation, which could have led to the deaths of two surveyors during a third party survey on the emergency fire pump.

About the incident
During a third party survey, the surveyor made a request to test the emergency fire pump, which was arranged with the assistance of the chief engineer. The emergency fire pump was located in a recessed well in the steering gear compartment, approximately 3 metres deep and accessed by an inclined stairway. At the start of the test, the surveyor asked to observe the pump being started locally and operating before proceeding on deck to check the hoses rigged fore and aft.

Shortly after descending into the fire pump well, the chief engineer urgently ordered the surveyors to get out and by the time both men reached the steering compartment deck, they were Continue reading “Improper maintenance could have cost the lives of two surveyors says UK P&I Club case study”

Lifecord – a kill cord you will never forget – launched by Landau

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Lifecord - a kill cord you will never forget - launched by Landau
Lifecord – a kill cord you will never forget – launched by Landau

Lifecord is a newly designed kill cord providing the certainty and reliability of a tethered connection between a boat’s engine ignition kill switch and pilot, ensuring the vessel’s engine stops should the pilot be inadvertently thrown from the helm. However, unlike the typical passive kill cords commonly seen, Lifecord is a ‘smart’ kill cord incorporating detection technology designed to trigger an audible and visual warning alarm should Lifecord be connected to the boat’s kill switch but not the pilot, similar to the seat belt warning in your car.

Lifecord’s uniquely designed Key and Clasp connector is comfortable to wear and can be operated easily even while wearing gloves. It also offers a secondary method of pilot connection using Continue reading “Lifecord – a kill cord you will never forget – launched by Landau”

UK canal rescues reach record levels in 2017

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UK canal rescues reach record levels in 2017
UK canal rescues reach record levels in 2017

The number of canal rescues carried out by River Canal Rescue in 2017 has again reached a new high.

In the period from January 1 to December 31, teams from RCR attended 162 incidents (137 major and 25 minor), 8% up from 150 (119 major and 31 minor) in 2016.

Major is defined as submerged, partially sunken or grounded craft, plus salvage work; minor as situations which on attendance, can be resolved without the need for a full rescue team.

Lapse of concentration
“The main causes of major rescues are silling or catching the rudder in the lock,” explained RCR MD Stephanie Horton. “Usually this is due to a momentary lapse of concentration and something that can happen to experienced and inexperienced boaters.”

And she explained that other reasons for rescue often include Continue reading “UK canal rescues reach record levels in 2017”

Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers

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Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers
Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers

The International Group of P&I Clubs (IG Clubs) and the shipping line members of the Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) have issued a revised version of the guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers.

The Guidelines were first issued in May 2016, with version 2.0 of the Guidelines issued in January 2017 to take account of the package limit of 100lb drums under US measurement as well as the package limit of 45kg net weight.

The Guidelines can be considered Continue reading “Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers”

MAIB issues safety bulletin on the use of safety harness tethers on sailing yachts

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Figure 1: Tether hook under deck cleat
Figure 1: Tether hook under deck cleat

Background
The sailing yacht CV30 was taking part in the third leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race having left Cape Town on 31 October 2017 bound for Fremantle, Western Australia. At about 1414 local time on 18 November 2017, the yacht was in position 42°30.3’S, 087°36.3’E, approximately 1500nm from Fremantle, when a crew member, Simon Speirs, fell overboard. He was attached to the yacht by his safety harness tether. The hook at the end of the tether that was clipped to a jack-line, deformed and released resulting in him becoming separated from the yacht. Simon Speirs was recovered unconscious onto the yacht but sadly could not be resuscitated.

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MAIB issues report and safety flyer about gas explosions on general cargo ship Nortrader

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Nortrader alongside with damaged hatch covers following the gas explosions
Nortrader alongside with damaged hatch covers following the gas explosions

On 13 January, at 1447, Nortrader, anchored off Plymouth with a cargo of unprocessed incinerator bottom ash (U-IBA), suffered 2 explosions in quick succession. The first explosion was in the forecastle store and the second in the cargo hold. The chief engineer, in the forecastle store at the time, suffered second degree burns requiring 4 months to recover. The vessel suffered extensive damage putting it out of service for over 3 months.

Safety lessons
Sea transportation of a cargo that was not included in the schedule of authorised cargoes of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code
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MAIB report published into the cargo collapse on bulk carrier Graig Rotterdam resulting in one fatality

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The Graig Rotterdam. Image courtesy of shipspotting.com
The Graig Rotterdam. Image courtesy of shipspotting.com

On 18 December 2016, the bulk carrier Graig Rotterdam was discharging a deck cargo of packaged timber at anchor in Alexandria Port, Egypt. At 1109, the bosun, a Chinese national, fell overboard and into a barge that was secured alongside after the timber deck cargo stack on which he was standing partially collapsed. Although the ship’s crew provided first-aid following the accident, the bosun later died of his injuries.

Safety Issues
Poor stevedoring practices probably contributed to the unsecured cargo stack collapsing, and no measures were in place to prevent the Continue reading “MAIB report published into the cargo collapse on bulk carrier Graig Rotterdam resulting in one fatality”

MAIB report into the grounding of the CMA CGM Vasco de Gama published

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Ultra-large container vessel CMA CGM Vasco de Gama
Ultra-large container vessel CMA CGM Vasco de Gama

In the early hours of the morning on 22 August 2016, the 399m long ultra-large container vessel CMA CGM Vasco de Gama grounded on the western side of the Thorn Channel whilst approaching the Port of Southampton. The vessel was the largest UK-flagged vessel at the time and had two of the port’s specialist container ship pilots onboard.

The ship ran aground on a rising tide and on a flat shingle/sand sea-bed. A combination of tugs and ship’s engines enabled it to be re-floated soon after grounding.

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MAIB releases its report into the ground of Muros on Haisborough Sand

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At 0248 (UTC+1) on 3 December 2016, the bulk carrier Muros ran aground on Haisborough Sand on the east coast of the United Kingdom. Attempts to manoeuvre clear of the shallows were unsuccessful but the vessel was re-floated 6 days later with tug assistance. There were no injuries and no pollution, but damage to Muros’s rudder necessitated the vessel being towed to Rotterdam, Netherlands, for repair.

The MAIB investigation identified, inter alia:
Continue reading “MAIB releases its report into the ground of Muros on Haisborough Sand”

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