Tag: CHIRP

Incident reporting scheme CHIRP Maritime has issued advisory papers for seafarers, covering technical and psychological issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its latest issue, CHIRP discusses the issue of fatigue, after receiving a report from a seafarer working in the harbour towage sector about the working and rest hours and the feeling of fatigue received from their co-workers.

In the latest issue, CHIRP presents two reports they received about the use of drugs onboard commercial fishing vessels, highlighting the severe impact drug use has on seafarers.

Knowing exactly where we are at each time is a key component of safe navigation and the use of GPS and ECDIS provide this capability nowadays, but the continuing trend to rely solely on this means of navigation rather than to cross-check with other independent and reliable navigation techniques introduces a significant risk, CHIRP notes.

CHIRP has received correspondence from mariners on the standards and experiences related to passengers with disabilities. CHIRP comments that in the absence of any common rules or practices, possibly the best advice is to ensure that all of requirements are known prior to boarding.

In its 57th issue, CHIRP Maritime discusses a H2S incident, during a tank inspection. While the Chief Officer, the cargo inspector and an Able Seaman were examining the tanks with a portable gauging tape, they unexpectedly put themselves in danger of H2S release.

In it's latest issue, CHIRP focuses on two vessels's crossing situation, while approaching a major port, as one of them didn't follow the 15th rule of Collision Regulations. With a CPA of less than 0.25nm between the vessels, the report describes the whole procedure that each ship made and the actions taken, in order to avoid an incident.

In its 57th issue, CHIRP pays attention to an engine room rating operation that had to be conducted by the Chief Engineer, who declined to conduct the operation in the machinery spaces, due to the lack of safety measures, an act that in the beginning led to the Chief Engineer's exclusion from engine room duties.

In its latest issue for November, CHIRP focuses on the reasons why receiving several reports from marine pilots is a constantly-seen phenomenon. Many of the received reports are based on pilot boarding arrangements or pilotage issues, while CHIRP highlights the facts of this usual situation.

In its 57th issue CHIRP pays attention to deliberate acts of pollution allegedly carried out on a nightly basis on board a vessel, as reported by a member of the engine room crew. In fact, the reporter told CHIRP that has observed every MARPOL violation on the ship, adding that "at night, the crew throw overboard every kind of waste oil, sludge, bilges, used rags and other garbage including plastic and cans."