Ship News

Hong Kong Convention set to impact the shipping industry from 2025

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On 26 June 2023, Bangladesh and Liberia acceded to the Hong Kong Convention.
On 26 June 2023, Bangladesh and Liberia acceded to the Hong Kong Convention.

On 26 June 2023, Bangladesh and Liberia acceded to the Hong Kong Convention. This means the Convention will enter into force for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships on 26 June 2025, writes Stela Spiraj, Senior Engineer, Regulatory Affairs Department, ABS. And it could present opportunities and have profound effects for marine surveyors.

The goal of the Hong Kong Convention is to prevent significant risks to human health and the environment throughout a ship’s operating life and during ship recycling. Upon the Convention’s entry into force new and existing ships with a gross tonnage (GT) of 500 or more Continue reading “Hong Kong Convention set to impact the shipping industry from 2025”

MV Mona fire: Transport Malta issues the report

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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”

Draft survey practical guidance published by Britannia P&I Club

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Draft survey practical guidance published by Britannia P&I Club
Draft survey practical guidance published by Britannia P&I Club

This essential practical guidance issued by Britannia P&I Club provides an overview of the key concepts and considerations involved in conducting a draft survey for ships.

Draft surveys play a crucial role in determining the quantity of cargo loaded onto a ship. While based on the simple principle of Archimedes’ law of floatation, the calculation process can be complex due to the ship’s shape, non-linear changes in draft due to hog and sag, and external weather conditions. Continue reading “Draft survey practical guidance published by Britannia P&I Club”

Towing and mooring equipment regulation effective from January 2024

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According to Korean Register, amendments to SOLAS II-1/Reg.3-8 “Towing and mooring equipment” were adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee at MSC 102
According to Korean Register, amendments to SOLAS II-1/Reg.3-8 “Towing and mooring equipment” were adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee at MSC 102

According to Korean Register, amendments to SOLAS II-1/Reg.3-8 “Towing and mooring equipment” were adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee at MSC 102 and will enter into force on or after 1 January 2024. In particular, these amendments introduce new safety requirements for design, selection, inspection, maintenances and replacement of mooring and towing arrangements in conjunction with MSC.1/Circ.1175/ Rev.1, MSC.1/Circ.1619 and MSC.1/Circ.1620.

New ship designs, and especially the design of large ships, have resulted in optimized performance and a greater degree of complexity. It is a widely recognized fact that the development and design of mooring systems have not adequately followed the development of ships. Despite efforts to improve how safe mooring operations, there is still a high number of accidents during these operations.

Continue reading “Towing and mooring equipment regulation effective from January 2024”

Spirit of Norfolk: fire onboard passenger vessel investigation report published

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Spirit of Norfolk: fire onboard passenger vessel investigation report published
Spirit of Norfolk: fire onboard passenger vessel investigation report published

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an investigation report on the engine room fire onboard passenger vessel Spirit of Norfolk in June 2022. The US Coast Guard received a report of an engine room fire aboard the 169-foot-long passenger vessel Spirit of Norfolk while it was underway on the Elizabeth River near Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. The vessel was on a 2-hour sightseeing cruise with 108 persons on board.

The crew determined they could not enter the smoke-filled engine room to fight the fire, the vessel lost propulsion, and the passengers and crew evacuated to one of the Good Samaritan vessels on scene. The Spirit of Norfolk was towed to a US Navy pier. Continue reading “Spirit of Norfolk: fire onboard passenger vessel investigation report published”

EU proposes new measures for safe and green shipping

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The European Commission has presented five legislative proposals to modernise EU rules on maritime safety and prevent water pollution from ships. The proposals will equip the EU with new tools to support clean and modern shipping. They will align EU rules with international regulations, securing a level-playing field for the sector while improving implementation and enforcement through digitalisation and more EU cooperation.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will play a prominent role in the implementation of the new requirements through the support it will offer Member States administration to enforce the new rules. Continue reading “EU proposes new measures for safe and green shipping”

Rescue boat lifting arrangement failure

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The deterioration of the rescue boat release hook support structure is shown
The deterioration of the rescue boat release hook support structure is shown

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator has recently been notified of a marine casualty which occurred aboard an RMI-registered ship’s rescue boat that resulted in the injury of two crewmembers.

During a planned drill, the ship’s rescue boat was being lowered to the water with two crewmembers aboard when the release hook support post failed. The rescue boat and two crewmembers fell about 9 meters to the water. The two crewmembers were quickly recovered from the water and transported ashore for medical treatment. Immediately prior to the incident, the rescue boat had been hoisted, swung over the side, and lowered several meters without anyone on board. Continue reading “Rescue boat lifting arrangement failure”

IACS adopts new unified requirement on buckling strength assessment of ship structural elements

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Ship operations take place in hostile and corrosive environments meaning that the structural strength of the ship’s hull may deteriorate with time leading to buckling or structural instability. Buckling has long been recognised as one of the main modes of failure of ship structural elements and IACS has, for many years, had in place a number of Resolutions to address this.

Recognising, however, that the rules for buckling varied across different IACS Unified Requirements (URs), such as S11, S11A, S21, S21A and Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (CSR for BC & OT), in 2018 IACS agreed to develop a standalone Unified Requirement (UR) dedicated for Continue reading “IACS adopts new unified requirement on buckling strength assessment of ship structural elements”

Response vessel damaged the hull of burning freighter, Almirante Storni

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Cracking and indentation on the hull of Almirante Storni
Cracking and indentation on the hull of Almirante Storni

During the response to a serious fire aboard the lumber carrier Almirante Storni in 2021, a Swedish Coast Guard vessel intentionally pressed its stern into the bulker’s hull, bending in plating and nearly causing flooding, according to the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK).

On December 4, 2021, a fire broke out in a deck cargo of lumber aboard the wood carrier Almirante Storni at an anchorage outside of the port of Gothenburg, Sweden. The vessel was taking on fuel oil at the time, and the bunkering vessel’s crew saw flames towards the Storni’s bow and raised the alarm. Continue reading “Response vessel damaged the hull of burning freighter, Almirante Storni”

Latest DNV Maritime Forecast to 2050 report published

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During a press conference at SMM 2022, DNV unveiled its latest Maritime Forecast to 2050 report with a new focus on how to overcome the “ultimate hurdle” of fuel availability. This year’s publication considers the comprehensive production, distribution and bunkering infrastructures required to enable the maritime industry’s shift to carbon-neutral fuels.

The report also presents an updated outlook on regulations, drivers, future technologies, and costs for decarbonizing shipping. It models two different decarbonization pathways: Continue reading “Latest DNV Maritime Forecast to 2050 report published”

Certain ship’s tanks could be subjected to severe microbial attack

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Microbial attack is a concern on some ships says Lloyd's Register
Microbial attack is a concern on some ships says Lloyd’s Register

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has said that certain ship’s tanks could be subjected to severe microbial attack, causing significant losses in plating thickness. According to LR, this is a result of biological action where the fluid in the tank has been stagnant during an enforced period of reduced operational status. Tanks likely to be affected are those that may have higher biological loads, such as Grey Water and Treated Black Water. Also vulnerable are Distillate (MGO) Tanks, which, if not used, could exhibit this phenomenon due to the presence of condensation. Continue reading “Certain ship’s tanks could be subjected to severe microbial attack”

UK government launches new national shipbuilding strategy

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In support of the announcement of the new national shipbuilding strategy Prince William is pictured setting a plasma cutting machine to work on the first plate of steel for the third Type 26 frigate
In support of the announcement of the new national shipbuilding strategy Prince William is pictured setting a plasma cutting machine to work on the first plate of steel for the third Type 26 frigate

The UK’s shipbuilding industry will be revitalised through a refreshed national strategy, the UK government has announced.

First published in 2017, the National Shipbuilding Strategy outlined ambitions to transform naval procurement, securing export and design contracts for British naval ships. Building on that success, the new release outlines the government’s further ambitions to reinvigorate the whole British shipbuilding industry while contributing to its levelling up mission to boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards across the country.

Over £4bn of government investment aims to galvanise and support shipyards and suppliers across the UK, with new measures including Continue reading “UK government launches new national shipbuilding strategy”

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