Mars Reports 2014
The Nautical Institute has issued Mars Report No.12 as follows:
”My vessel was en route to Norway to load cement in bulk through a chute. The cement was to be loaded through the cement access hatch on the main hatch covers. I had joined the vessel two weeks previous as chief officer and found that the cement holes were frozen due to lack of maintenance. A fitter and the deck crew worked many long hours for two days to open the frozen manholes and there was much stress due to this unforeseen complication.
I think many ship staff nowadays are unaware of the purpose of these openings, hence this report. The fatigue/stress/panic of such an event can be easily avoided by doing annual maintenance of these openings, which takes only about 45 minutes; that is opening, cleaning, greasing and boxing back. Some bulk carriers also have ullage ports on top of the hatch covers of ballast holds and the same applies there as well.”
Source: The Nautical Institute/ Mars Report
The Mariners’ Alerting and Reporting Scheme (MARS) is primarily a confidential reporting system run by The Nautical Institute to allow full reporting of accidents (and near misses) without fear of identification or litigation. As a free service to the industry, MARS reports also regularly comprisealerts condensed from official industry sources, so that issues resulting from recent incidents can be efficiently relayed to the mariner on board. With access to the internet from vesselsbecoming more affordable, the MARS database is a valuable risk assessment, work planning, loss prevention tool and training aid for crew and management. MARS reports are held in a publicly-accessible database and can be accessed by clicking on the link below: Contact the Editor of MARS at[email protected] |