Shipping

Enclosed space deaths spark calls for change

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Enclosed space deaths spark calls for change
Enclosed space deaths spark calls for change

Appalled that deaths in enclosed spaces continue to be all too frequent occurrences in the shipping industry, the Maritime Professional Council of the United Kingdom (MPC) has announced its support for fundamental changes to ship operation and design.

MPC member InterManager has been at the forefront of raising this issue where, it says, seemingly innocuous compartments, cargo holds and fuel tanks, vital for storage and operation on board any vessel, have become graveyards for far too many seafarers due to a lack of attention, regulation, and understanding. Continue reading “Enclosed space deaths spark calls for change”

P&I club Britannia shares lessons learned following asphyxiation on a bulk carrier

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Britannia shares lessons learned following asphyxiation on a bulk carrier
Britannia shares lessons learned following asphyxiation on a bulk carrier

P&I club Britannia has published an incident case study after two fumigation contractors died from asphyxiation on a bulk carrier.

The unexpected incident occurred onboard the vessel nearing the completion of loading corn cargo, which resulted in the death of one contractor. Before the incident, the cargo holds had been closed for six days, leading to depleted oxygen levels inside. This incident highlights the dangers of closed cargo holds, the lack of awareness about hazardous conditions, and the human tendency to help others in distress without considering personal safety. Continue reading “P&I club Britannia shares lessons learned following asphyxiation on a bulk carrier”

Transport Malta investigation into fatality on oil tanker Seaprincess

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Photo of oil tanker Seaprincess at port
Photo by Thenamaris Ships Management Inc. Taken from Transport Malta Marine Safety Investigation Report on Seaprincess.

The Malta Transport Marine Safety Investigation Unit has released a report into a fatality on board oil tanker Seaprincess. The Maltese-registered ship entered TK Tuzla Shipyard, Türkiye, for its planned dry-docking on 29 July 2023.  At the time of arrival in the dry-dock, all cargo and slop tanks had been washed, cleaned and dried, and declared gas free.  The compartments were tested on a daily basis and while they had been declared to be gas free, they were only suitable for entry provided a personal gas monitor was worn.  Moreover, the compartments’ environment was declared unsafe for hot work.

Continue reading “Transport Malta investigation into fatality on oil tanker Seaprincess”

IACS adopts two new unified requirements on preventing the loss of seaborne containers

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IACS has adopted two new Unified Requirements, UR C6 and UR C7, to enhance the cargo securing arrangements of container ships.
IACS has adopted two new Unified Requirements, UR C6 and UR C7, to enhance the cargo securing arrangements of container ships.

In response to the increasing concerns over the number of containers lost at sea in recent years, IACS has adopted two new Unified Requirements, UR C6 and UR C7, to enhance the cargo securing arrangements of container ships.

Container ships play a vital role in global trade, facilitating the transportation of goods across vast distances. However, the safe transport of this cargo type poses unique challenges, particularly with regards to stowage and securing of containers on onboard vessels. By Continue reading “IACS adopts two new unified requirements on preventing the loss of seaborne containers”

Heavy cargo items require extra attention

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Siemens Schottel azimuth thrusters. Photo credit: Wikipedia
Siemens Schottel azimuth thrusters. Photo credit: Wikipedia

The Nautical Institute has composed a case study on an incident where a multi-purpose cargo vessel was transporting six azimuth thrusters in its hold. Each thruster weighing 60 tonnes. Stowage calculations based on the voyage instructions and stowage plan were made by an officer and checked by the Master before loading. The results were sent to the office for approval.

According to the calculations, each thruster would require 10 lashings. To be on the safe side, the Master and crew decided to use 12 or Continue reading “Heavy cargo items require extra attention”

UK MCA issues MIN 709 (M) with 2024 amendments to the ESP Code for bulk carriers and oil tankers

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The MCA have published MIN 709 (M) with the 2024 Amendments to the ESP Code
The MCA have published MIN 709 (M) with the 2024 Amendments to the ESP Code

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published MIN 709 (M) with the 2024 Amendments to the ESP Code. The document details significant updates to the Enhanced Survey Programme (ESP) Code for bulk carriers and oil tankers. These amendments, effective from 1 July 2024, were established through the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) resolution MSC.525(106) in November 2022.

The updates focus on improving safety and inspection standards to ensure the structural integrity Continue reading “UK MCA issues MIN 709 (M) with 2024 amendments to the ESP Code for bulk carriers and oil tankers”

Update on emergency power supply testing non-compliance issued by Tokyo MoU

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The Tokyo MoU has released a Safety Bulletin advising that there have been numerous observations by Port State Control Officers (PCSOs) where the “simulated blackout” testing of the Emergency Generator is demonstrated as fully functional, but during an actual power blackout, the system does not meet the requirements of SOLAS Ch. II-1, Reg. 42 / 43.

PSCOs have observed an alarming number of ships that were able to demonstrate a satisfactory test of the emergency generator utilizing a Continue reading “Update on emergency power supply testing non-compliance issued by Tokyo MoU”

InterManager issues call for industry-wide accident reporting

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Captain Kuba Szymanski, InterManager Secretary General
Captain Kuba Szymanski, InterManager Secretary General

Accidents onboard ships are not decreasing, according to latest accident statistics submitted to the International Maritime Organization by InterManager.

The Association says the number of seafarers injured in falls has remained fairly consistent year on year, as has the number of injuries resulting from rescue and survival craft accidents. However, the Association warns that the casualty rate for enclosed space accidents has almost doubled. InterManager has submitted its figures, which span several decades, to the 10th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee Continue reading “InterManager issues call for industry-wide accident reporting”

Leading shipping organisations express concern over certain CII flaws

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organisations express concern over certain CII flaws
Organisations express concern over certain CII flaws

Six major shipping organisations (BIMCO, CLIA, INTERCARGO, INTERMANAGER, ICS, and INTERTANKO) have issued a joint statement expressing their concern over some flaws of the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) regulation.

With the IMO’s initial Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings delivered from Flag States to shipowners, organisations have noted the CII scheme’s inadequacies. Thus, they will continue to work to ensure a CII methodology that is accurate, reliable, and implemented in a manner that fully reflects the intent of the IMO Strategy for the world’s fleet of commercial ships. Continue reading “Leading shipping organisations express concern over certain CII flaws”

BIMCO informs of the dangers of transporting palm kernel shells

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Credit: BIMCOBIMCO informs of the dangers of transporting palm kernel shells
PHOTO CREDIT: BIMCO 

According to BIMCO, recent events at the port of Ishinomaki, Japan, involved two workers found unconscious during cargo operations aboard a bulker ship transporting palm kernel shells. While the incident is under investigation by the Japanese Coast Guard to determine any connection between the cargo and the workers’ condition, it underscores the importance of understanding the hazards associated with transporting palm kernel shells. Continue reading “BIMCO informs of the dangers of transporting palm kernel shells”

Be aware of the risks of fumigated cargo

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Be aware of the risks of fumigated cargo
Be aware of the risks of fumigated cargo

Hong Kong Merchant Shipping has issued an information note to draw lessons learned from a fatal accident which happened on board a Hong Kong registered general dry cargo ship during discharging a fumigated cargo of logs at Zhangzhou, China.

The incident
A Hong Kong registered general dry cargo ship berthed at the port of Zhangzhou, China to discharge the fumigated logs. In the morning of the day of the accident, a stevedore entered the spiral ladder space of the almost fully loaded No.1 cargo hold from the access entrance on the main deck to unhook the lifting slings of an excavator which was transported from No.2 cargo hold to the hold by the shore crane. Continue reading “Be aware of the risks of fumigated cargo”

10 Golden Safety Rules to live by launched

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10 Golden Safety Rules published
10 Golden Safety Rules published

Together in Safety, a consortium of maritime organisations and companies, has launched 10 Golden Safety Rules to help shipping improve its safety performance.

The 10 Golden Safety Rules were developed by the Together in Safety Coalition following a review of fatal incident reports across all sectors of the shipping industry. They comprise 10 areas for all companies and every seafarer to adopt in their everyday work to prevent injuries and fatalities.

Dr. Grahaeme Henderson OBE, Chair of Together in Safety, emphasized that shipping is fundamental Continue reading “10 Golden Safety Rules to live by launched”

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