Overtightening of locating bolts led to engine failure and grounding

Overtightening of locating bolts led to engine failure and grounding
Overtightening of locating bolts led to engine failure and grounding

The Swedish P&I Club has described in its Monthly Safety Scenario the case of a bulk carrier grounding caused by engine failure. Soon after departing port, a main engine slowdown alarm was triggered due to a loss of cooling water in the main engine. The Master ordered half head, but there was no response from the engine.

The bulk carrier in question loaded a cargo of soya beans in a North American port prior to travelling to Asia. When loading was completed, the vessel anchored to wait for a favourable tide. At midnight, the vessel departed and headed through the fairway. A pilot was onboard and a pilot briefing had been carried out with the Master. Continue reading “Overtightening of locating bolts led to engine failure and grounding”

Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather that led to eight fatalities

Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather - Image courtesy of JTSB
Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather – Image courtesy of JTSB

Japan Transportation Safety Board (JTSB) has published an investigation report on the foundering of JIA DE the cargo ship sinking due to heavy weather in Kanagawa Prefecture, which led to fatalities of 8 crew members in October 2019.

The cargo ship JIA DE, with 12 crew onbaord, was anchoring at K1 anchorage point of Keihin Port on the way to proceed to Song Dang Port, Vietnam, when it encountered winds and waves due to the typhoon No.19 (Asian name “Hagibis”) approaching, and heeled to the starboard side.

The ship subsequently rolled over and took on seawater into the interior of the cargo holds, and thereby foundered around the anchorage at around 21:39 on October 12, 2019. The master and three crewmembers were rescued, but eight crewmembers died.

Continue reading “Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather that led to eight fatalities”

Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device

Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device
Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device

Hong Kong Marine Department has shared the findings of a serious fire accident, which took place onboard the accommodation of a Hong Kong registered bulk carrier whilst at anchorage. The investigation showed that the fire was most probably caused by a faulty electrical device or its accessories in a crew cabin, which led to a short circuit with the heat and sparks igniting the materials placed beside it.

The vessel was at anchorage, when a fire broke out in an unattended cabin of the vessel at night. A laptop computer was being charged in the cabin, and the electric source also supplied power for the lighting and refrigerator. The crew tried to put out the fire, but to no avail. All crew mustered at amidships of the vessel. The fire died down by itself about five hours later.

As a result, the accommodation on D deck and the bridge wings of the vessel were seriously damaged. There was no personal injury or oil pollution.

Continue reading “Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device”

Physical surveys: Keep ‘boots on deck’ for better inspections, surveys and crew morale says Idwal

Importance of physical surveys - Idwal Chief Executive Officer Nick Owens (pictured)
Importance of physical surveys – Idwal Chief Executive Officer Nick Owens (pictured)

The pandemic has demonstrated the value of remote working but the industry must recognise the importance of physical connection to the ship. Idwal, a provider of ship inspection services, is calling on the industry to recognise the positive contribution that physical surveys make to vessel quality and crew morale.

Idwal provides blended remote and in-person vessel surveys on behalf of shipowners, banks, owners, brokers and charterers and believes that over-reliance on remote inspection technology creates risks for operators and worsens conditions for already over-stretched crews.

Last year saw a sharp rise in enquiries to deliver ‘internal inspection’ campaigns for owners and managers, suggesting owners wish to keep a closer eye on their vessels’ condition while their own people can’t travel. But the impact on crews of more remote inspections is increasing and the results are not always positive. Continue reading “Physical surveys: Keep ‘boots on deck’ for better inspections, surveys and crew morale says Idwal”

Sustainable Shipping Initiative publishes white paper for the use of new marine fuels

Sustainable Shipping Initiative publishes white paper for the use of new marine fuels
Sustainable Shipping Initiative publishes white paper for the use of new marine fuels

A new white paper from the Sustainable Shipping Initiative sets out 13 sustainability issues and principles surrounding low and zero carbon marine fuels which are under consideration as part of shipping’s energy transition.

The paper, defining sustainability criteria for zero and low carbon marine fuels, says attention must be paid to the lifecycle sustainability of bunker fuels, and its principles are intended to feed into the development of industry standards and third-party certification schemes ‘to assure and facilitate the selection of – and demand for – sustainable marine fuels’.

The sustainability principles and criteria are intended to be used by stakeholders across the shipping value chain ranging from shipowners; fuel producers and suppliers; Continue reading “Sustainable Shipping Initiative publishes white paper for the use of new marine fuels”

Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication

Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication
Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication

Transport Malta has published its investigation report on a crew fatality in the pump room of the crude oil tanker MT Valtamed, while at Ceyhan OPL Anchorage, Turkey, in February 2020. The autopsy found that the pump man died by n-Butane intoxication. The investigation believes that the presence of H2S in the bilge space may have also contributed, by either causing panic or unconsciousness.

Whilst Valtamed was at anchor awaiting berthing instructions, pre-arrival tests of the high-level alarms of the vessel’s cargo tanks, and the forepeak store and pump room bilges were being conducted by the crew members.After testing the atmosphere of the vessel’s pump room, the pumpman proceeded to the bottom platform to test the space’s bilge alarms.

Although the port side bilge alarm was successfully tested, the chief officer noted that starboard side bilge alarm had not activated within Continue reading “Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication”

New approval procedures published for in-water cleaning companies

New approval procedues published for in-water cleaning companies
New approval procedues published for in-water cleaning companies

The International Chamber of Shipping and BIMCO have published an approval procedure for in-water cleaning companies, aiming to set minimum requirements for approval of cleaning companies for various types of operations.

The Approval procedure for in-water cleaning companies is one of two separate documents that outline performance-based requirements for in-water cleaning of ship’s hull, propeller and niche areas with the capture of the materials that are removed during the process:

– Approval procedure for in-water cleaning companies (Approval procedure) Continue reading “New approval procedures published for in-water cleaning companies”

First ever UKCA RCR certificate issued by HPi-CEproof

First ever UKCA RCR certificate issued by HPi-CEproof
First ever UKCA RCR certificate issued by HPi-CEproof

Oxfordshire-based company, HPi-CEproof has issued the Princess X95 with the first ever UKCA RCR certificate of conformity, following the new UK Recreational Craft Regulations which came into force on 1st January this year. HPi-CEproof is currently the only Approved Body empowered to issue ‘UKCA mark’ certificates, enabling compliance with the post-Brexit UK Recreational Craft Regulations.

Celebrating the significance of its appointment, HPi-CEproof auctioned the rights for a boatbuilder to be assessed for RCR certificate number one. Proceeds were split equally between the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) and British Divers Marine Life Rescue. No fees were charged for the assessment.

Continue reading “First ever UKCA RCR certificate issued by HPi-CEproof”

How USCG plan to enforce MARPOL Annex VI Regulation

How USCG plan to enforce MARPOL Annex VI Regulation
How USCG plan to enforce MARPOL Annex VI Regulation

The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published a policy letter to outline how the US Coast Guard will enforce MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 13.5.1.2.1, the Tier III NOx limits, for certain engines installed on recreational vessels above 24 meters in length and less than 500 gross tonnage. The USCG will defer enforcement on the operation of engines on large recreational vessels subject to the prohibition.

IMO postponed the application of the Tier III NOx limits for engines on large recreational vessels to 1 January 2021. While engines certified as MARPOL Annex VI Tier III Continue reading “How USCG plan to enforce MARPOL Annex VI Regulation”

Latest flag state performance table published by International Chamber of Shipping

Latest flag state performance table published by ICS
Latest flag state performance table published by ICS

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published the latest flag state performance table (2020/2021) which finds that many of the largest flag states, including the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong (China), Singapore as well as the Bahamas and Cyprus, continue to perform to an exceptionally high standard, with traditional flags and open registers performing equally well.

ICS Secretary General, Guy Platten, says: “The flag state performance table clearly indicates that distinctions between ‘traditional’ flags and open registers are no longer meaningful. Alongside several European registers, and flags such as Japan, we have seen many open registers amongst the very top performers”. Continue reading “Latest flag state performance table published by International Chamber of Shipping”

New quality standard DryBMS to be launched for the dry bulk sector

New quality standard DryBMS to be launched for the dry bulk sector
New quality standard DryBMS to be launched for the dry bulk sector

RightShip and INTERCARGO have announced the launch of an important new quality standard for the dry bulk sector, DryBMS. The standard will be governed by a new NGO to be established later this year and will support the improvement of safety in the dry bulk segment.

Both organisations have strongly and consistently advocated the need for significant improvements to dry bulk safety standards. In August 2020 both organisations combined their expertise to create a single framework for the whole industry. Supported by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and BIMCO, DryBMS now exists as a simple set of best practices and key performance indicators and raises the bar on safety, environmental and operational excellence.

Continue reading “New quality standard DryBMS to be launched for the dry bulk sector”

Reported loss of containers overboard from Maersk Essen containership in the Pacific

Reported loss of containers overboard from Maersk Essen
Reported loss of containers overboard from Maersk Essen

News of yet another incident involving the loss of hundreds of containers overboard from a containership will surely raise yet more questions about why this is happening at seemingly regular intervals. The probable cause of the loss of around 750 containers from Maersk Essen in the North Pacific was heavy weather.

The incident happened on January 16. The Maersk Essen case is the third such occurrence recently reported in the Pacific as well as other high profile incidents elsewhere in the past six months. According to sources at WK Webster, it seems likely that some containers will have collapsed, or have been damaged in the affected stacks, but remain on board. These containers will need to be removed or repositioned. Continue reading “Reported loss of containers overboard from Maersk Essen containership in the Pacific”

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