Tag: Gard Club

The collapse of on-deck container stacks is a continuous threat to the crew and ship safety and the environment, as well; Thus, Gard refers to the causes that may result to collapse.

Gard is seeing significant number of cases where the seafarer who was declared fit for the contractual duration under medication, reports sick because of either a lack of medication or simply not being able to manage his or her medication routine.

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.

Gard discusses about the permit to work (PTW) which is on the one hand a formal authorization system to control work activities, but on the other hand, does not by itself make the job safe.

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.

Port restrictions, changes in the shipping industry and the feeling of unknown that the COVID-19 has brought, is affecting seafarers. Therefore, it is important that seafarers have a good mental health condition and build resilience through this difficult time.

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.