Shipping

Rise in electrical deficiences report the US Coast Guard

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Image courtesy of the US Coast Guard
Image courtesy of the US Coast Guard

Due to an increase in reported electrical deficiencies on commercial vessels, the US Coast Guard is warning commercial vessel owners to inspect their vessels’ wiring before getting underway in the spring. Coast Guard marine inspectors have discovered that a number of vessels have significant electrical deficiencies that can pose safety hazards and cause marine-engine causalities, and inspectors will spend additional time during inspections examining electrical systems as a result.

Some examples of common discrepancies include:
Dead-ended wiring: When equipment is changed or removed, new wiring is installed. Often the old wiring is not removed or properly put in a junction box. This poses a shock hazard if the wiring is still energized.

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Consultation period on proposals to change the Maritime & Coastguard Agency survey and inspection is open

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The background to this consultation is that some years ago the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) began to experience difficulties in recruiting and retaining surveyors in a highly competitive market place. This trend has accelerated recently and has now reached the point where the MCA is no longer able to fulfil all of its statutory functions and obligations. Following completion of a review, which started in 2011, changes have been recommended, resulting in the suggested new operating model upon which they are now consulting.

In order to focus on the modernisation of the MCA survey and inspection functions in a way that most effectively supports their customers, the MCA welcomes contributions to the consultation process, which will run until midday on Thursday 21 April 2016.

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South Korean maritime accident rate doubled last year

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The alarming and worrying statistics and high volume of reported accidents in 2015 are the result of poor maintenance of vessels and equipment, the South Korean government said.

The stark truth is that the number of maritime accidents has doubled during 2015 compared to the previous three years, Yonhap news agency reported, citing data from the South Korea Ministry of Public Safety and Security.

According to government reports, a total of 2,740 maritime accidents occurred in 2015, while the previous annual average was just over 1,300.

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Long term decline in shipping losses continues according to Allianz

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Shipping losses continued their long-term downward trend with 85 total losses reported worldwide in 2015, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) fourth annual Safety and Shipping Review 2016, which analyses reported shipping losses of over 100 gross tons.

Although the number of losses remained stable year-on-year, declining by just 3% compared with the previous year (88), 2015 was the safest year in shipping for a decade. Losses have declined by 45% since 2006, driven by an increasingly robust safety environment and self-regulation. However, disparities by region and vessel-type remain.

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Safe carriage of laterite nickel ore cargo under the microscope

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A judgement by a Chinese court shows that the IMSBC Code shall be applicable to the safe carriage of laterite nickel ore cargoes
A judgement by a Chinese court shows that the IMSBC Code shall be applicable to the safe carriage of laterite nickel ore cargoes

The issue of safe carriage of laterite nickel ore has attracted the attention of international societies. The latest judgement by a Chinese court shows that the IMSBC Code shall be applicable to the safe carriage of the laterite nickel ore.

The master shall be cautious and prudent in deciding whether the cargo is suitable for safe carriage. Where heavy moisture of cargo is visible to the naked eyes, the proportion of small particles (<7mm) is large and the moisture content of small particles is above the TML (Transportable Moisture Limit), even if large particles (>7mm) may have a comparatively lower moisture content, the master may, in his professional judgment, deem the cargo unsuitable for safe carriage and is further entitled to make decisions such as to cease the voyage, sun-dry the cargo and to carry out inspection etc. for the common safety of vessel, cargo and the crew, and the carrier shall not be held liable for his breach of obligation under shipping contract.

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DNV GL rethinks its survey reporting programme for fleet managers

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At the annual Seatrade Cruise Global 2016 conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, classification society DNV GL introduced a new form of reporting that revolutionizes survey reporting for fleet managers. The newly structured report defines safety barriers and trends, utilizing DNV GL’s extensive experience with barrier management in the offshore oil and gas industry.

In collaboration with a major cruise line, DNV GL successfully implemented the new barrier management reporting programme. Survey data from 23 cruise ships was included in the pilot programme. The test enabled the project partners to identify and present high-impact risk control measures more efficiently than ever before. This allowed the customer to easily measure the effectiveness of risk-control actions.

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The 2016 UK Budget offers support for shipping and offshore

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Gill Smith of Moore Stephens. The company says that the budget has some surprise developments which are likely to be of interest to the shipping sector
Gill Smith of Moore Stephens. The company says that the budget has some surprise developments which are likely to be of interest to the shipping sector

Moore Stephens International Limited, a global accountancy and advisory network with its headquarters in London, has said that the UK Budget 2016 contains a number of surprise developments which are likely to be of interest to the shipping sector, as well as a radical set of measures which it is hoped will assist the offshore maritime oil and gas sector.

The Government announced a further reduction in the rate of corporation tax, which will be 17% from 1 April 2020. There are also significant reductions in the rates of capital gains tax. From 6 April 2016, the higher rate of capital gains tax for individuals will be reduced from 28% to 20%, and the basic rate will be reduced from 18% to 10%, although an additional 8% will apply for carried interest and for gains on some residential property.

In addition, Entrepreneurs’ Relief will be extended to apply to long-term investors in unlisted companies. Under these new rules, a 10% rate of capital gains tax will apply for gains on newly issued shares in unlisted companies acquired on or after 17 March 2016, provided they are held for at least three years from 6 April 2016. There is a separate lifetime limit of £10 million of gains.

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MAIB report into the Hoegh Osaka grounding published

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At 2109 on 3 January 2015, the pure car and truck carrier Hoegh Osaka was rounding West Bramble buoy in The Solent when it developed a significant starboard list causing some cargo shift and consequent flooding.

With the list in excess of 40°, the ship lost steerage and propulsion, and subsequently drifted onto Bramble Bank, grounding at 2115.

Hoegh Osaka had sailed from the port of Southampton, bound for Bremerhaven, at 2006. A pilot was embarked and there were 24 crew on board. Following the accident, all crew were successfully evacuated from the ship or recovered from the surrounding waters. There was no pollution. A major salvage operation successfully refloated Hoegh Osaka and it was subsequently taken to a safe berth in Southampton on 22 January.

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Best practices for RO/RO vehicle deck fire safety released

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interferryIn response to a string of major incidents, trade association Interferry has produced operational best practice guidance for fire safety on RO/RO ship vehicle decks.

The guidance is based on input from a questionnaire sent to association members last year following at least seven serious fire incidents on ROpax ferries in Europe since 2010. The two most recent incidents resulted in fatalities and total loss of the ships, prompting the initiative by Interferry’s Operators Policy Committee to identify and publicize a common set of best practice mitigating actions.

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Maersk Tankers completes first drone delivery at sea

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Now on the face of it, this could be regarded as a rather frivolous news story – the delivery of a tin of cookie biscuits to the tanker Maersk Edgar at sea. But as you read the story, the potential ramifications for the future become clear.

The first drone delivery to a vessel at sea has been successfully completed by Maersk Tankers, heralding a big cost and time-saving potential for vessels.

The delivery, which took place near Kalundborg in Denmark and was a test, demonstrated how using drones to deliver urgent parcels to vessels and conduct inspections has huge potential for Maersk Tankers. Further tests will now follow before the new drones can become a part of the supply chain for Maersk Tankers’ vessels.

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DNV GL, Gard and The Swedish Club work together to help reduce anchor losses

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Anchor losses are becoming a bigger problem says recent research
Anchor losses are becoming a bigger problem says recent research

The root cause of many groundings and collisions is lost anchors which are also among the top five reasons for claims costs overall. A rising number of anchor losses reported over the last several years prompted DNV GL, Gard and The Swedish Club to investigate this issue. Based on an analysis of damage cases involving anchor and anchor chain losses, the project partners have issued a presentation identifying the most frequent technical and operational causes, and some steps crews and operators can take to address them.

“One of the key takeaways of our investigation is the importance of the officers and crew being aware of the environmental loads their equipment is designed for,” says Håkon Skaret, Senior Principal Engineer at DNV GL. “If these limits are not taken account of in shipboard anchoring procedures, there can be significant damage to the vessel – even beyond the loss of anchor and chain. Many anchor losses are avoidable, if the proper maintenance and handling procedures are adhered to.”

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IMO publicly asserts: No going back on container weighing

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containersIMO Senior Deputy Director for Marine Technology and Cargoes, Maritime Safety Division, Joseph Westwood-Booth, recently told an audience at the ICHCA conference in Barcelona that he wanted to make it “perfectly clear” that there would be “no delays” to the SOLAS amendment on container weighing.

The beginning of March, 2016 has brought significant ambiguity to the container weighing debate, with US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul Thomas telling the TPM Conference that he believes the impending SOLAS guidelines on container weight verification “are not mandatory”.

Following this, the Global Consolidators Working Group wrote a letter to the IMO stating that the container weighing rule is “too vague” to implement.

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