Marine News

What caught my eye: June 2024

Posted on by CEO

Be aware (and beware) that some lithium battery safety cases are not fit for purpose

If you follow my scribblings on a semi regular basis, you will know that the subject of lithium battery fires is one that concerns me greatly and is a topic I have written a great deal about. A recent performance test conducted by Yachting Pages on some of the leading safety cases revealed some startling and concerning findings.

With more than 1,000 lithium battery fires reported around the world every week, lithium battery safety cases are of paramount Continue reading “What caught my eye: June 2024”

The Francis Scott Key Bridge ‘Black Swan Event’ and its effect on the insurance markets

Posted on by News Hound
Photo credit: US Coastguard/Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles
Photo credit: US Coastguard/Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles

Learning from this tragedy could prove an invaluable lesson in risk mitigation with complex maritime operations, writes John Butler. In the early morning of 26 March 2024 the container ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore forcing its dramatic collapse which was captured and circulated on television and social media across the world. This is a textbook example of a Black Swan Event, an unexpected incident that has disproportionately created a social and economic impact on a local area. This incident also shines a light on the offshore industry, maritime insurance, and the importance of Marine Warranty Surveyors. Continue reading “The Francis Scott Key Bridge ‘Black Swan Event’ and its effect on the insurance markets”

UK Office for Product Safety and Standards issues product recall alert for Honda Marine Outboards

Posted on by News Hound
Honda Marine Outboard products present a risk of injuries as it has been identified that the actuator link rod may break
Honda Marine Outboard products present a risk of injuries as it has been identified that the actuator link rod may break

The affected Honda Marine Outboard products present a risk of injuries as it has been identified that the actuator link rod may break during use due to a lack of durability. This can then result in a loss of shift operation, leading to a potential loss of control of the vessel. The product does not meet the requirements of the Recreational Craft Regulations 2017. Due to this, the product has been recalled from end users. Continue reading “UK Office for Product Safety and Standards issues product recall alert for Honda Marine Outboards”

What caught my eye: April 2024

Posted on by CEO

Floating art gallery to sail around the Mediterranean

I am rarely surprised by the ingenuity of people these days when most things seem possible, but this idea struck me as being visionary and worthy of a mention. An original concept, Art Explora is billed as the world’s first museum boat, which plans to sail across the world’s oceans with a self-stated mission to bring visitors innovative artistic and cultural experiences. It is the inspiration of its entrepreneurial founder and patron Frédéric Jousset. Art Explora is a large catamaran that can host up to 2,000 gallery visitors on board each day free of charge. Continue reading “What caught my eye: April 2024”

What caught my eye: March 2024

Posted on by CEO

Floating sauna in Oslo fjord rescues occupants of sinking Tesla

This is a remarkable story, one of my favourites for ages, which fortunately had a happy ending. What caught my eye specifically were the details of the good Samaritan vessel – a floating sauna – which came to the aid of a sinking Tesla. I must have led a sheltered life as I was completely unaware that such craft existed and that they are indeed popular in Norway and can be hired by the hour! And being a skipper of a floating sauna sounds like a very cool job – never getting cold on the job either! Continue reading “What caught my eye: March 2024”

IMPA Safety Campaign: Securing pilot ladders at intermediate length is vital

Posted on by News Hound
IMPA Safety Campaign raises awareness of pilot transfer arrangements
IMPA Safety Campaign raises awareness of pilot transfer arrangements to be compliant

The latest International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) Safety Campaign raises awareness of the need for pilot transfer arrangements to be procured, inspected, maintained and rigged in compliance with SOLAS regulation V/23, taking complete account of the ISO 799 standards. IMPA highlights the need for securing pilot ladders at intermediate length and conduct mandatory training, inspection and maintenance.

The results of the 2023 IMPA Safety Campaign show that historical trends in non-compliance continue. The headline non-compliance rate remains over sixteen percent, and the main determinant of noncompliance remains pilot ladders. Pilot ladder observations are included in more than fifty percent of reports of non-compliant arrangements. Continue reading “IMPA Safety Campaign: Securing pilot ladders at intermediate length is vital”

What caught my eye: February 2024

Posted on by CEO
A fishing boat with a Second World War secret
Margot Benstock (left) and Irene Weiss (right) in front of Thor
Margot Benstock (left) and Irene Weiss (right) in front of Thor

Some reading this will know why this story struck a chord with me. A 34-foot wooden fishing boat named Thor, which was used to help Jews out of Denmark during World War II, will soon be on display at the Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

After Denmark was invaded by Germany in 1940, the Danish government resisted any anti-Jewish laws. But in the fall of 1943, the Germans announced that all Danish Jews would be deported. Over the next couple of days, the Danish resistance movement, with the help Continue reading “What caught my eye: February 2024”

CHIRP Annual Digest 2023 published

Posted on by News Hound
The CHIRP Annual Digest 2023 is available to download now
The CHIRP Annual Digest 2023 is available to download now

Recently published, the CHIRP Annual Digest 2023 is the ninth edition to be released by CHIRP Maritime. The publication covers the reports and cases that were published during 2023 along with additional articles on safety topics.

The Digest extends to 78 pages and celebrates CHIRP Maritime’s 20th anniversary. The publication presents a collection of safety-focused incident reports and insightful articles derived from real-life experiences in the maritime industry. The Digest is organized into themed sections, providing readers the flexibility to explore topics of interest. Continue reading “CHIRP Annual Digest 2023 published”

Testing Times Report

Posted on by News Hound
The Testing Times report examines the issues with bunker the bunker supply chain
The Testing Times report examines the issues with bunker the bunker supply chain

The Testing Times report has been written by Thetius on behalf of Lloyd’s Register assesses the vital role of ship fuel oil assessment and quantity verification.

Despite many changes across the maritime industry, fossil fuels remain central to global trade and the ocean economy. Variations in bunker fuel quality have been a pressing issue for some time, and the problem of off-spec and poor-quality bunker fuel looks set to deteriorate further before things improve.

The Testing Times report, written by maritime innovation consultancy Thetius, examines the contemporary issues in the bunker supply Continue reading “Testing Times Report”

Engine room flooding leads to sinking of fishing vessel

Posted on by News Hound
Engine room flooding leads to sinking of fishing vessel
Engine room flooding leads to sinking of fishing vessel

Uncontrolled flooding through a hole in the plating beneath the engine room of a fishing vessel led to its sinking in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Transportation Safety Board report has revealed.

The commercial fishing vessel Captain Alex was fishing offshore of Galveston, Texas on 25 November 2022, when the vessel began flooding. The four crewmembers on board were unable to stem the flooding and evacuated to a responding U.S. Coast Guard boat. The sinking resulted in an oil sheen and debris field; a reported 17,000 gallons of diesel fuel were on board. Continue reading “Engine room flooding leads to sinking of fishing vessel”

MV Mona fire: Transport Malta issues the report

Posted on by News Hound
MV Mona was transiting the Aegean Sea when a fire broke out in the engine room
MV Mona was transiting the Aegean Sea when a fire broke out in the engine room

Transport Malta has published an investigation report about an incident that took place on 14 September 2022. The vessel MV Mona was transiting the Aegean Sea, en route to a dry dock in Tuzla, Türkiye, when a fire broke out in the engine-room. Flames were observed rising above the main engine’s cylinder unit no. 2.

On 11 September 2022, MV Mona departed in ballast condition from the port of Ashdod, Israel, bound for a scheduled dry docking in Tuzla, Türkiye. On 14 September, the vessel was transiting the Aegean Sea, between the Greek islands, and was expected to arrive at Tuzla the next day. The voyage had been uneventful until around 1715 Continue reading “MV Mona fire: Transport Malta issues the report”

2023 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published

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The third edition of the Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium, compiled and published by the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), covers the period between December 2022 and November 2023. It is available to download in pdf format or can be read online in eReader format.

Extending to 172 pages, Edition III builds on the success of the previous versions. The simple aim of the Compendium is to bring together a collection of incident and accident reports that have emerged over the year and to share the learnings. This is coupled with vital loss prevention information published by P&I Clubs and other parties. A calendar of some of the more eye-catching incidents completes the Compendium to highlight the continuing dangers of being at sea or on water, either for work or pleasure purposes.

Click to download the press release

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