Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage

Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage
Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage

Writing in the latest publication by UK P&I Club, Captain David Nichol cites a case history describing a cargo damage case involving a bulk carrier caused by insufficient maintenance of the bilge system valves and the crew’s wrong estimation of the ingress alarm system.

The incident
Prior to loading a full cargo of bulk minerals the cargo holds were cleaned and tested successfully for watertight integrity. In addition, the efficient operation of the cargo hold bilge pumping system and water ingress alarms was also verified. A few days after departure from the loading port, the water ingress alarm for no.2 cargo hold was activated. However, when the hold bilges were sounded by the crew, they appeared to be dry and it was therefore assumed that the ingress alarm system was defective. Daily hold bilge soundings continued to give no cause for concern. At the discharge port, wet cargo was revealed at Continue reading “Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage”

Gard P&I Club warns about forthcoming Asian Gypsy Moth season

Gard P&I Club warns about forthcoming Asian Gypsy Moth season
Gard P&I Club warns about forthcoming Asian Gypsy Moth season

The Gard P&I Club has published an an alert drawing attention to the Asian Gypsy Moth, the destructive forest pest that is known to spread via ocean-going vessels in international trade. In the alert Gard has highlighted that Australia has heightened vessel surveillance for Asian Gypsy Moth and in New Zealand is introducing new requirements from 1 February 2018.

Therefore, vessels calling at certain ports in Asia Pacific between May and September should be inspected and certified free of Asian Gypsy Moth prior to departure. These inspections are undertaken to minimize the potential for regulatory action when arriving in a country where the pest is not native.

According to Gard, countries currently known to regulate and inspect arriving vessels for Asian Gypsy Moth are: Continue reading “Gard P&I Club warns about forthcoming Asian Gypsy Moth season”

First electrically powered inland container vessel is on the horizon

First electrically powered inland cntainer vessel is on the horizon
First electrically powered inland cntainer vessel is on the horizon

Dutch electrical firm Werkina, Lloyd’s Register, Asto Shipyard and inland barge operator Port-Liner are working on Europe’s first electrically powered inland container vessel. The first five small ships in the series will be completed this year, and six larger vessels are in the works.

The novel barges will use containerized battery packs for power, which can either be recharged or exchanged at the terminal, allowing for rapid turn times. The smaller barge will carry 24 TEU and use one battery pack, and the larger model will carry 224 TEU with four battery packs.

Werkina says that Continue reading “First electrically powered inland container vessel is on the horizon”

Engine failure and poor communication resulted in Nenita grounding

Engine failure and poor communication resulted in Nenita grounding
Engine failure and poor communication resulted in Nenita grounding

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its investigation report about the circumstances that led to the grounding of the Marshall Islands registered bulk carrier Nenita on the Columbia River. The incident, which occurred in November 2016 was as a result of an engine failure combined with inefficient communication on-board.

The incident
On November 19, 2016, the fully-laden bulk carrier Nenita was outbound on the Columbia River, when it suffered an engine failure impacting its ability to manoeuvre. The vessel subsequently ran aground at Continue reading “Engine failure and poor communication resulted in Nenita grounding”

British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy

British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy
British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy

The British Ports Association has launched a video highlighting the importance of ports to the UK’s economy. The film uses new economic impact study data produced for Maritime UK – an umbrella group promoting the industry – to highlight the value of the UK ports industry. The figures show that collectively the industry employs 101,000 people, handles almost 500 million tons of freight and contributes £7.5 billion ($7.9 billion) to the economy.

The Chief Executive of The British Ports Association, Richard Ballantyne, said: Continue reading “British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy”

Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers

Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers
Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers

The International Group of P&I Clubs (IG Clubs) and the shipping line members of the Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) have issued a revised version of the guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers.

The Guidelines were first issued in May 2016, with version 2.0 of the Guidelines issued in January 2017 to take account of the package limit of 100lb drums under US measurement as well as the package limit of 45kg net weight.

The Guidelines can be considered Continue reading “Updated guidelines for the carriage of calcium hypochlorite in containers”

Teekay and Wärtsilä to co-operate on new shuttle tanker design

Teekay and Wärtsilä to co-operate on new shuttle tanker design
Teekay and Wärtsilä to co-operate on new shuttle tanker design

Vancouver-based Teekay has teamed up with the Finnish technology company Wärtsilä to develop a new shuttle tanker concept with plans to construct at least four of the dual-fuel, next-generation shuttle tankers.

The four newbuilds will be built at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) yard in South Korea.

Wärtsilä says the new concept will offer a new level of economic and ecological performance, and is expected to reduce annual emissions of Continue reading “Teekay and Wärtsilä to co-operate on new shuttle tanker design”

The importance of cargo ventilation news bulletin issued by Japan P&I Club

Photo credit: Japan P&I Club who have issued a news bulletin about the cargo ventilation
Photo credit: Japan P&I Club who have issued a news bulletin about the cargo ventilation

The Japan P&I Club has recently published a news bulletin. It highlights the importance of cargo ventilation, the introduction of air into and through the cargo space and the exhausting of the in-hold air.

Cargo ventilation may be needed in order to ensure that there is a sufficient oxygen supply for safe personnel entry into the cargo space. In addition, ventilation can remove poisonous and flammable gases which could give rise to a dangerous situation.

These gases might be produced by the cargo itself, e.g. evolution of carbon monoxide from a heating coal cargo, or they may originate from another external source, e.g. phosphine gas evolution during cargo fumigation.

Continue reading “The importance of cargo ventilation news bulletin issued by Japan P&I Club”

Danish Shipping presents new “Ahead of the Curve” strategy

Photo credit: Danish Shipping
Photo credit: Danish Shipping

Chairman of Danish Shipping, Claus V. Hemmingsen, has presented the organisation’s new strategy – “Ahead of the Curve”, which covers the next four years and focuses on competencies, digitization and technological development as catalysts for continued growth in the coming years.

Danish Shipping’s strategy for 2018-2021 was launched at a members’ meeting. The strategy envisions to grow the Danish-flagged fleet with more than 10 pct. measured in tonnage, and minimum 10 pct. measured in the number of ships, during the strategy period.

Continue reading “Danish Shipping presents new “Ahead of the Curve” strategy”

Inspecting hull integrity remotely with a new submersible is now possible with Deep Trekker ™

Deep Trekker ™ means underwater hull integrity inspections can be made remotely
Deep Trekker ™ means underwater hull integrity inspections can be made remotely

Deep Trekker ™ has added to its fleet of portable, robust underwater drone robots; the DT640 Utility Crawler is designed to perform a multitude of underwater tasks.

This is a brand new inspection and service robot and is said to be the first three-wheeled vehicle of its kind. Its modular construction allows for the unit to be equipped with multiple operative attachments making the DT640 more than just an inspection vehicle. The Utility Crawler can be outfitted with magnetic wheels, pressure washer, vacuum, thickness gauge and a dozer.

Continue reading “Inspecting hull integrity remotely with a new submersible is now possible with Deep Trekker ™”

Wingsail technology saves fuel and reduces emissions

Oceanfoil’s wingsail technology could achieve an average fuel consumption and emissions saving of 14% on a mid-sized tanker vessel.

This is the research finding from BMT, who said that Oceanfoil’s fuel-assist aerofoil technology, which uses wingsails to capture effective directional thrust from wind power, could also save up to up to 20% in certain wind and sea conditions.

Charles Moray, managing director of Oceanfoil, commented: “Oceanfoil’s ‘wingsail’, is a propulsion assist technology that is well suited for tankers and bulk carriers, which provide good opportunity for the wingsails to use the wind to create forward thrust – thus reducing reliance upon the vessel’s main engines.

Continue reading “Wingsail technology saves fuel and reduces emissions”

New requirements for authorized service providers under new IMO requirements

DNV GL has announced that IMO has introduced new requirements for the maintenance, examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, relevant for shipyards, suppliers, owners/managers, flag states of all ship types. From 1 January 2020, personnel carrying out maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing overhaul and repair of the following items shall be certified by an authorized service provider:

Lifeboats (including free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats and fast rescue boats
Launching appliances as well as on-load and off-load release gear for lifeboats, rescue boats, fast rescue boats and davit-launched life rafts
Continue reading “New requirements for authorized service providers under new IMO requirements”

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