Tag: guidance

International shipping industry organisations have launched a new website to provide maritime security guidance to companies and mariners. The new website www.maritimeglobalsecurity.org provides security guidance, which the industry supplies, as well as links to  useful maritime and military security resources. 

USCG provides guidance on the acceptance of Fiber Reinforced Plastic gratings as equivalent to steel on inspected vessels. FRP gratings, listed and labeled as meeting ASTM F3059 by an independent laboratory acceptable for testing for Approval Series 164.040 will not need USCG type approval.

Disputes regarding “off-spec” or contaminated liquid cargoes are a repeated problem and shipowners may have no independent evidence as to the cause of an alleged cargo contamination. However, if the cargo is “off-spec” when the vessel arrives at the discharge port and there is no evidence of contamination from the load port, the vessel could be faced with a claim.

The US Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance released "Guidance on Implementation of New Standards for Fire Protection, Detection, and Extinguishing Equipment," to provide guidance to Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection. This guidance regard changes to regulatory requirements for fire protection, detection, and extinguishing equipment.

UK MCA provides suggestions for operators to ensure the crew's safety and comply with Merchant Shipping Regulations. All structures, furniture and fittings & means of access to and egress from the crew accommodation should be situated and constructed as to minimise any risk of injury to the crew.

The guidance highlights the use of the Maritime Security Transit Corridor, the registration with MSCHOA and reporting to UKMTO, as well as reviewing and updating risk assessments and plans to include new threats.

The Code is designed to set initial standards and best practice for all those involved with the development and operation of autonomous systems, seeking to provide practical guidance for the design, construction and safe operation of autonomous and semi-autonomous vessels under 24m.

DNV GL issued a practical guide for the maritime industry, advising on ways to create value from data, noting that it sees massive opportunities for the industry players able to move fast and with the required commitment. 

The US Coast Guard advised mariners on how to achieve safe navigation in case of GPS interference, as approximately 20 vessels transiting the northeast portion of the Black Sea have experienced such cases from June 2017.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency issued a bulletin to inform operators that it has observed an issue with fire doors manufactured by COSMO Co. Ltd. In particular, it has come to light that the insulation in these doors is missing from the upper part, sides and bottom.