Shipping

The dangers of carrying nickel ore cargo and the associated risks are highlighted by The West of England P&I Club

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Photo credit: Shipspotting
Photo credit: Shipspotting

The West of England P&I Club has warned operators and others involved of the dangers of carrying nickel ore. Carrying nickel ore can be dangerous, because of the risk of liquefaction of the cargo on passage when the moisture content is higher than the cargo’s Flow Moisture Point (FMP).

After a number of ships being lost, with liquefaction of their nickel ore cargoes suspected of being the cause, the West of England Club published a Notice some years ago addressing the Dangers of Carrying Nickel ore. This Notice is still in forced and was re-issued as No.13 2017/2018 – Dangers of Carrying Nickel Ore from Indonesia and the Philippines – Mandatory Notification Requirements (re-issued).

The Club reminds operators of the risk of liquefaction with this cargo, as showcased by the loss of the ‘Emerald Star’, which claimed the lives of 11 seafarers in October 2017.

In addition, the Club has been informed of Continue reading “The dangers of carrying nickel ore cargo and the associated risks are highlighted by The West of England P&I Club”

India set to construct National Maritime Heritage complex at Lothal

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India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi who asked the shipping ministry to build a maritime heritage complex in Gujarat
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi who asked the shipping ministry to build a maritime heritage complex in Gujarat

The Indian Ministry of Shipping, through its flagship programme Sagarmala, is closely working with Government of Gujarat state and other stakeholders to showcase India’s rich maritime heritage through development of a World Class Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in the state of Gujarat.

Preliminary work on design elements of the proposed heritage complex has been completed and consultations from experts are now under process.

In order to further plan and take the project forward, a one day consultation workshop was held at Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Continue reading “India set to construct National Maritime Heritage complex at Lothal”

Shipping fears engine failures as industry switches to low sulphur fuel

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By Ellen Milligan (Bloomberg). Add oil tankers breaking down at sea to the list of things shipping companies are worrying about as they brace for a once-in-a-generation overhaul to the kind of fuel the industry must consume.

From Jan. 1, 2020, the vast majority of the world’s merchant fleet will have to use fuel containing no more than 0.5 percent sulfur, down from 3.5 percent in most parts of the world today. The change is expected to upend both shipping and refining industries, with analysts forecasting higher oil prices, slower-sailing ships, and some observers even warning of risks to world trade.

Now more and more of the world’s largest shipping companies and trade groups, already mindful of spiralling costs, are saying there’s a Continue reading “Shipping fears engine failures as industry switches to low sulphur fuel”

AMSA stresses the importance of marine incident reports

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Photo credit: Reuters
Photo credit: Reuters

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has experienced a steady increase in incident reports from 1,721 in 2013 to 3,017 reports in 2017. This is a 75% increase over a five-year period. For the period from 1 January to 30 June 2018, AMSA received 1,611 incident reports.

Key points to note

– During 2013-2017, the number of ship arrivals to Australian ports has increased by 21%.
From the 1611 incident reports in January-June 2018, the vast majority of occurrences (78%) concerned some form of technical issue.
– Among the technical issues, the most predominant occurrences relate to power, propulsion, and steering. This includes, for example, issues with a vessel’s main and auxiliary engines, and the steering gear and rudder.

AMSA uses incident data in combination with other sources of information, such as inspection and survey reports, research findings, accident investigations, and our day-to-day interaction with vessel crews, owners, and operators. This helps us gain a better understanding of Continue reading “AMSA stresses the importance of marine incident reports”

MAIB report issued on the unintentional release of carbon dioxide from fixed fire-extinguishing systems on ro-ro vessels Eddystone and Red Eagle

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On 8 June 2016, the roll on, roll off (ro-ro) vessel Eddystone experienced an unintentional release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from its fixed fire-extinguishing system while in the Red Sea. A similar incident took place on 17 July 2017 on board the ro-ro passenger ferry Red Eagle while on passage from the Isle of Wight to Southampton. In both cases, gas leaked into the CO2 cylinder compartment, but was prevented from entering the engine room by the main distribution valve which remained closed. Fortunately, no one was harmed in either of these incidents. However, the unintended release of CO2 from fire-extinguishing systems has caused 72 deaths and 145 injuries, mainly in the marine industry, between 1975 and 2000.

Continue reading “MAIB report issued on the unintentional release of carbon dioxide from fixed fire-extinguishing systems on ro-ro vessels Eddystone and Red Eagle”

TT Club emphasises need for cargo integrity ahead of IMO meeting on container safety

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A primary concern is the problem of mis-declared dangerous goods, with some sources suggesting that container fires occur on a weekly basis and that a major container cargo fire engulfs a ship at sea on average once every 60 days.
A primary concern is the problem of mis-declared dangerous goods, with some sources suggesting that container fires occur on a weekly basis and that a major container cargo fire engulfs a ship at sea on average once every 60 days.

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) latest meeting of the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) takes place in London this week and the international freight insurance specialist, TT Club is calling for more urgent action on issues pertaining to the safety of container transport.

For some time now the insurer has been drawing both industry and regulators’ attention to the need for greater ‘Cargo Integrity’, by which is meant the safe, secure and environmentally sound packing, handling and transport of all goods in containers and other transport units, in compliance with conventions (such as SOLAS1) and codes, including IMDG Code2 and the CTU Code3.

TT Club’s Risk Management Director, Peregrine Storrs-Fox comments, “Achieving such Cargo Integrity across the complex web of the international freight supply chain is a big ask and we are in little doubt that a comprehensive result will take time to achieve. However many industry bodies are making significant strides, particularly in the areas of dangerous goods identification, declaration and handling as well as container weighing and packing. We are calling on the regulators, in this case the IMO, to assist in taking action to Continue reading “TT Club emphasises need for cargo integrity ahead of IMO meeting on container safety”

Energy transition offers innovators a competitive edge through “carbon robust” ship designs

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Following on from the 2017 report, the new Maritime Forecast to 2050 focusses on the challenges of decarbonizing the shipping industry.
Following on from the 2017 report, the new Maritime Forecast to 2050 focusses on the challenges of decarbonizing the shipping industry.

DNV GL – Maritime has released its second Maritime Forecast to 2050, part of a suite of Energy Transition Outlook (ETO) reports launched recently in London. The Forecast provides an independent view of the maritime energy future and examines how the energy transition will affect the shipping industry.

“The energy transition is undeniable,” says Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO of DNV GL. “Last year, more gigawatts of renewable energy were added than those from fossil fuels and this is reflected in where lenders are putting their money.”

Following on from the 2017 report, the new Maritime Forecast to 2050 focuses on the challenges of decarbonizing the shipping industry. It examines recent changes in shipping activity and fuel consumption, future developments in the types and levels of cargoes transported, and future regulations, fuels and technology drivers.

“Decarbonization will be one of the megatrends that will Continue reading “Energy transition offers innovators a competitive edge through “carbon robust” ship designs”

Weather-restricted sea transports for heavy lift ships

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The growing tendency of increase in weight and size of project cargoes calls for advanced methods to facilitate the cargo transport overseas in a safe and efficient way. Normally, large and heavy project cargo stowed on a heavy lift ship is secured and lashed according to regulations laid down in Annex 13 of IMO’s CSS Code. Standard procedure is to calculate the forces acting on each cargo item by multiplying the mass of the cargo item with design accelerations tabulated in Annex 13. Those design accelerations represent maximum values that the cargo would go through during a winter crossing of the North Atlantic, where most severe sea conditions of all oceans are assumed. Consequently, the cargo and its lashing gear are loaded by the highest and steepest occurring waves of the most severe sea area and the worst season of the year.

Continue reading “Weather-restricted sea transports for heavy lift ships”

Dr Malini Shankar, Director General of Shipping of India, confirmed as the Chief Guest at the one day IIMS Mumbai Symposium

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Dr Malini Shankar will be the Chief Guest and will speak to delegates at the IIMS Mumbai Symposium
Dr Malini Shankar will be the Chief Guest and will speak to delegates at the IIMS Mumbai Symposium

IIMS is honoured to announce that Dr. Malini Shankar, Director General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, has consented to be the Chief Guest at the IIMS Symposium on Wednesday 10th October 2018. As well as being present at the event, Dr. Malini Shankar will herself give a short address to the assembled audience.

Mike Schwarz, IIMS CEO, will open the Symposium with a short speech, introducing and welcoming Dr. Malini Shankar to the event as he does so. The Symposium is being held at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel near Mumbai International Airport.

The speaker programme is being finalised now, but confirmed presenters so far include:
Continue reading “Dr Malini Shankar, Director General of Shipping of India, confirmed as the Chief Guest at the one day IIMS Mumbai Symposium”

Following the publication of the M/V Cheshire report, a recommendation is made that Ammonium Nitrate should not be treated as group C

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The decomposition progressed throughout the length of the vessel to such an extent that, after several days, the vessel’s Master took the decision to evacuate the crew.
The decomposition progressed throughout the length of the vessel to such an extent that, after several days, the vessel’s Master took the decision to evacuate the crew.

Following the investigation report of the 2012 built supramax bulk carrier M/V CHESHIRE which was issued by the Isle of Man Ship Registry, INTERCARGO urges IMO to reconsider how Ammonium Nitrate Based Fertilizer should be designated in the IMSBC Code. Currently, the Ammonium Nitrate Based Fertilizer is listed as a group C cargo, however, the accident showed that this cargo, or at least some of the ammonium nitrate based fertilizers shipped as this cargo, should treated differently under the IMSBC Code.

In August 2017, the 2012 built supramax bulk carrier M/V CHESHIRE, en route from Norway to Thailand, fully loaded with cargo declared by the shipper as being “Ammonium Nitrate Based Fertilizer (Non-hazardous)” and not liable to self-sustaining decomposition, suffered cargo decomposition that led to rising temperatures in the cargo holds and the generation of toxic gases.

The decomposition progressed throughout the length of the vessel to such an extent that Continue reading “Following the publication of the M/V Cheshire report, a recommendation is made that Ammonium Nitrate should not be treated as group C”

IACS updates guidance on bulk cargo loading and discharging

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The process of planning and controlling cargo operations is addressed with special reference to the derivation of the loading and unloading plans and the requirements for ship/shore communication.
The process of planning and controlling cargo operations is addressed with special reference to the derivation of the loading and unloading plans and the requirements for ship/shore communication.

The shipping industry remains highly concerned about the possible damage and loss of bulk carriers carrying heavy cargoes. In July 2018, IACS revised ‘Recommendation 46’ referring to Bulk carriers loading and discharging to reduce the likelihood of over-stressing the hull structure in order to raise further awareness on the potential associated risks.

As explained, the loads that affect the ship’s structure are generally discussed with special reference to the structural strength limitations imposed by the ship’s Classification Society.

For instance, over-loading may induce greater stresses in the double bottom, transverse bulkheads, hatch coamings, hatch corners, main frames and associated brackets of individual cargo holds. In addition, overloading of the cargo hold in association with insufficient Continue reading “IACS updates guidance on bulk cargo loading and discharging”

MPA Singapore has issued advice on how to conduct effective marine incident reporting

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Once this is ensured, the owner, manager and shipmaster of the affected Singapore-registered ships should alert MPA of the incident immediately or at the latest, within 2 hours.
Once this is ensured, the owner, manager and shipmaster of the affected Singapore-registered ships should alert MPA of the incident immediately or at the latest, within 2 hours.

MPA Singapore issued a marine notice to inform operators of Singapore-registered ships on the procedure of reporting of any marine casualty, incident or security-related incident involving Singapore-registered ships.

To begin with, the following can be considered to-be-reported marine incidents:
– the death of, or serious injury to, a person;
– the loss of a person from a ship;
– the loss, presumed loss or abandonment of a ship;
– material damage to a ship;
– the stranding or disabling of a ship, or the involvement of a ship in a collision;
– material damage to marine infrastructure external to a ship, that could seriously endanger the safety of the ship, another ship or an individual; or
– severe damage to the environment, or the potential for severe damage to the environment, brought about by the damage of a ship or ships.

As noted, the general principle in any incident is that urgent steps on the ground, in accordance with ships’ and companies’ approved plans, must first be taken by Continue reading “MPA Singapore has issued advice on how to conduct effective marine incident reporting”

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