The COVID-19 pandemic presents major challenges to seafarers and shipowners due to the lockdown of countries, travel restrictions, and problems accessing healthcare ashore when needed. One of the critical features in addressing the pandemic has been testing for the disease. Gard answers some of the questions.
Gard Club takes a look at what makes risk assessments less meaningful. As it says, rather than ensuring that crew members performing the job are fully informed and aware of the risks to their health, safety and welfare, we may concern ourselves more about other things such as completing the paper document properly.
Amid the global economic downturn, the period spent waiting at anchorage outside ports around the world may increase for some ships. Gard P&I Club advised on the risks involved in lost and dragging anchors.
Welders onboard face an array of hazards, with electric shock being the most serious. The human body is a good conductor of electricity and even low currents can lead to paralysis, burns or even death, Gard warns.
Recently, the US Coast Guard informed about common discrepancies associated with fixed gas detection systems on liquefied gas carriers. The Gard P&I Club discussed two main reasons for these deficiencies, both of which relate to the calibration of fixed gas detection sensors.
The Gard P&I Club has issued a case study as part of its loss prevention initiatives to provide lessons learned for onboard safety meetings. This time, the case illustrates what went wrong during an incident that took place in the Suez Canal with the aim to raise the discussion and perform an onboard risk assessment of the incident and the factors which led to it, based on vessel’s procedures.
Last month, Gard was notified by several of our correspondents that they had received an unusual e-mail from our CEO asking for details about outstanding payments. Security Advisor, Eili Bjelkåsen, in Gard’s Technology and Security department tells the story. Knowing how fraudsters operate is key to understanding how to protect yourself and your company.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the maritime industry in previously unthinkable ways. Ports around the world are denying entry to certain vessels, travel restrictions have postponed crew changes, ships are taken out of service and crew have been laid off. These operational problems are forcing some owners and operators to consider placing vessels in lay-up, notes Mr. Jarle Fosen, Senior Loss Prevention Executive, Arendal.
Gard warns about the dangers of walking up or down stairs at ships. As it says, seafarers should always apply the old adage of ‘one hand for yourself and one for the ship’ and keep one hand free to grasp the handrail.
When decisions are made in isolation during critical operations, such as navigation, the consequences of improper execution can be negative, Gard Club warns. Namely, in an isolated decision-making style decisions are made without consulting the people who will be impacted by the decision.
