Inventory of Hazardous Materials compliance has new guide published by UK P&I Club

New guide for compliance with the Inventory of Hazardous Materials
New guide for compliance with the Inventory of Hazardous Materials

The UK P&I Club, a leading provider of protection and indemnity insurance to the international shipping community, has published a guide for ship-owners to ensure compliance with the Inventory of Hazardous Materials legislation.

The guide addresses the technical aspects, important concepts, processes and requirements of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials, aiming to assist Members in ensuring compliance with the existing regulations and reduce the likelihood of reputational risks.

Over the last decade international and regional ship recycling legislation has been adopted, some of which is Continue reading “Inventory of Hazardous Materials compliance has new guide published by UK P&I Club”

DCSA give fresh impetus to electronic bills of lading development

Fresh impetus given to electronic bills of lading development by the DCSA
Fresh impetus given to electronic bills of lading development by the DCSA

The target of 50% of all bills of lading to be electronic within the next decade has been set by the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) in an announcement made last week. The international freight transport insurer, TT Club welcomes the commitment by the group of container shipping lines that together operate nearly 70% of the world’s capacity. The initiative is consistent with the increased trend towards digitisation across the industry to improve efficiency and reduce costs. However, the current pressures felt through the supply chain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have no doubt spurred the action.

In its role as liability insurer and adviser on risk management throughout the container industry, TT Club is Continue reading “DCSA give fresh impetus to electronic bills of lading development”

IIMS: What a marine surveyor needs to know about on-off hire condition and bunker surveys handy guide published

IIMS publishes new handyguide
IIMS publishes new handyguide

IIMS has published the twenty-third guide in its series ‘What a marine surveyor needs to know about’, this one covering the important topic of on-off hire condition and bunker surveys.

Capt Allen Brink, a Past President of IIMS and a marine surveyor with many years’ big ship experience, has authored this impressive handy guide, now released for sale. Allen was a driving force in the early days and was one of those who worked hard behind the scenes to get the Institute off the ground nearly 30 years ago.

Running to 244 pages, this comprehensive handy guide takes the surveyor through the main parts and requirements of conducting on-off hire condition and bunker surveys. The handy guide contains examples of a number of templated reports which the surveyor can adapt for his/her use. There are photos to assist, diagrams and examples of the certification and documentation the surveyor needs to inspect too.

The handy guide also contains the most comprehensive appendix with a selection of marine terms to assist the marine surveyor when conducting inspections of ships for charter purposes.

Continue reading “IIMS: What a marine surveyor needs to know about on-off hire condition and bunker surveys handy guide published”

BASS: New App set to ease the ship inspection process and paperwork

BASS has released a new mobile inspection app
BASS has released a new mobile inspection app

Norwegian maritime software company BASS has released a new mobile inspection app, which lets vessel and shore-based personnel go digital when conducting audits and inspections on site. It is fully integrated with the company’s core BASSnet™ SAFIR (Safety & Improvement Reporting) system, including predefined checklists and audit guides.

“Mobile apps have changed the way we approach everyday tasks, and it’s no different when it comes to safety checks,” says Per Steinar Upsaker, CEO and managing director of BASS. “Using predefined templates on-site means standardization of inspection checklists across the company and fleet. Updates can then be Continue reading “BASS: New App set to ease the ship inspection process and paperwork”

EPIRB required on commercial vessels by AMSA from January 2021

AMSA requires commercial vessels to carry EPIRB
AMSA requires commercial vessels to carry EPIRB

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has made some changes to legislation that will require certain types of commercial vessels, including trawlers, to carry float-free Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) from 1 January 2021.

The new legislation follows the number of capsized incidents that took place in Australian waters between 2015-2017, highlighting that none of these commercial vessels were equipped with a means of automatically alerting search and rescue authorities to their unfolding plight. Continue reading “EPIRB required on commercial vessels by AMSA from January 2021”

Transport Malta: Report issued into the sinking of fishing vessel Zaira in heavy weather

Transport Malta issues report
Transport Malta issues report

Transport Malta has published its investigation report on the sinking of the fishing vessel Zaira in Marsascala Bay, resulting in death of two fishermen on 4 May 2019. The findings from the investigation show that the vessel sank after flooding of compartments and a loss of stability in heavy weather.

On 4th May, Zaira was heading towards Valletta to seek shelter from inclement weather. The vessel was around 3.5 nautical miles from Valletta, when a high wave from the East caused it to heel heavily to the port side. Eventually, a second wave caused the vessel to heel further to port and she started to take in water through her hull openings. The fishermen lost control of their vessel and had to abandon it.

The combined wind and wave action caused the vessel to drift towards Marsascala Bay, where it eventually Continue reading “Transport Malta: Report issued into the sinking of fishing vessel Zaira in heavy weather”

INTERCARGO publishes Bulk Carrier Casualty Report

INTERCARGO publishes Bulk Carrier Casualty Report
INTERCARGO publishes Bulk Carrier Casualty Report

The INTERCARGO Bulk Carrier Casualty Report provides an analysis of casualty statistics covering the years 2010 to 2019. Over that period, thirty-nine bulk carriers with 173 seafarers were reported lost, based on available reports of total losses and constructive total losses from public sources and IMO’s GISIS.

Cargo shift and/or liquefaction has been one of the greatest concerns for the safe carriage of dry bulk over Continue reading “INTERCARGO publishes Bulk Carrier Casualty Report”

Fixed gas detection system: How sure can you be that the correct gas concentration is displayed?

Over the years there have been many incidents in the shipping industry involving leakage of flammable and toxic gases into pump rooms, void spaces, engine rooms and other compartments. A mixture of gas in the air beyond certain concentration levels can be life threatening for crew entering these spaces and pose a serious fire risk. The International Gas Carrier Code (IGC Code) states that gas detection equipment shall be installed to monitor the integrity of the cargo containment, cargo handling and ancillary systems, and should be tested in accordance with recognized standards. To ensure that the fixed gas detection system operates effectively, timely and accurate calibration of the sensors is critical.

On 3 February 2020 the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in their marine safety alert 02-20 highlighted Continue reading “Fixed gas detection system: How sure can you be that the correct gas concentration is displayed?”

The Swedish Club shares lessons learned about an oil spill incident while bunkering

The Swedish Clue - oil spill incident whilst bunkering
The Swedish Clue – oil spill incident whilst bunkering

The Swedish Club has analysed an incident of an accidental oil spill while bunkering in its recent club bulletin. The subsequent report by The Swedish Club highlights that the crew did not deploy the oil boom because of the potential cost implications. As a result the oil spread across the harbour.

The vessel in question was starboard side alongside and carrying out a cargo operation. The Chief Engineer had ordered a fuel barge to bunker 350 MT of fuel oil. The fuel barge came alongside on the port side in the morning. A hose was connected from the barge to the portside bunker station. The Chief Engineer had Continue reading “The Swedish Club shares lessons learned about an oil spill incident while bunkering”

St Clair: Engine room fire on bulk carrier while in layup status report published

St Clair - Photo courtesy of duluthshippingnews.com
St Clair – Photo courtesy of duluthshippingnews.com

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published an investigation report on the engine room fire aboard the bulk carrier St Clair whilst in layup status at TORCO dock in Maumee River, Toledo, in February 2019. The investigation has highlighted a lack of operating procedures for continuous monitoring of the vessel while in layup.

About 2010 local time on February 16, 2019, a fire was reported on the bulk carrier St Clair while the vessel was laid-up for the winter at the CSX TORCO Iron Ore Terminal (TORCO dock) at the mouth of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. No one was onboard. The fire was extinguished approximately 36 hours Continue reading “St Clair: Engine room fire on bulk carrier while in layup status report published”

Static towing assembly guidelines published by OCIMF

Static towing assembly guidelines published
Static towing assembly guidelines published

Static towing assembly guidelines: This information paper supplements the OCIMF publication Guidelines to Offshore Tanker Operations (GOTO) and should be read along with the relevant guidance for static towing operations.

The purpose of this information paper is to provide technical guidance on selecting fit for purpose towing assemblies that minimise risk of injury to crew members or damage to equipment, and to optimise the effectiveness of static towing operations.

This paper discusses the technical factors that tug operators should consider, in collaboration with terminal operators, when selecting the components of towing assemblies for static towing operations at both Single Point Mooring (SPM) and Floating (Production) Storage and Offloading(F(P)SO) terminals.

The recommendations in this information paper come from extensive industry data gathering and a Continue reading “Static towing assembly guidelines published by OCIMF”

IIMS UAE Branch presents an interactive webinar entitled ‘Proceed with caution now and post lockdown’

IIMS UAE Branch is broadcastng an interactive webinar live on 16 April at 10.45 (UAE local time).

The theme of the webinar is ‘Proceed with caution now and post lockdown’.

The areas for discussion during the webinar include:
– Delayed and abandoned cargo
– Demurrage and detentions
– Claims for failure to take delivery
– Disputes and claims arising from charterparties – a Middle East perspective Continue reading “IIMS UAE Branch presents an interactive webinar entitled ‘Proceed with caution now and post lockdown’”

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