Transport Malta issued an investigation report on the fatal fall of a crew member onboard the bulk carrier MV Alma while in the Atlantic Ocean in heavy weather. While there were no witnesses, the investigation did not exclude the possibility that the crew member either lost his stepping or balance due the rolling and pitching motions of the vessel.
NTSB issued an investigation report on the contact of tugboat G.M. McAllister with NGL Energy Partners berth on Elizabeth River, while engaged in manoeuvring operations. The investigation revealed excessive speed and poor communication as main causes of the incident.
Transport Malta issued an investigation report on the engine-room fire onboard the Maltese-registered RoRo cargo vessel Eurocargo Trieste, following departure from the port of Livorno in November 2019. The investigation identified an accidental fuel spill onto a hot surface, as the most likely cause of the incident.
NTSB issued an investigation report on the overturn of lifeboat Kristin Faye while working alongside a platform in the Gulf of Mexico, in September 2019. The report identified the company’s inadequate preload procedure as key cause of the incident.
Transport Malta issued an investigation report on the fire on container onboard the ship Filia T while en route to Singapore in November 2019. The report could not determine the exact cause of the fire but identifies either friction or self-heating of the cargo as probable causes.
The NTSB issued an investigation report on the contact of barge YD 71 with a pier in Virginia, in November 2019, after breaking loose from its mooring. The report identified a shackle pin in the mooring arrangement working itself free in heavy weather led to the barge’s uncontrolled drift.
The proliferation of serious fires onboard container ships in recent years has shocked the shipping industry. Andrew Gray, Director in the London office of Campbell Johnstone & Clark Maritime Law Firm, considers the causes and impact of such fires and the urgent efforts being made by a wide variety of stakeholders to solve this seemingly intractable problem.
In its latest Safety Flashes, IMCA examines two different cases of falls of crew members from step ladders which led to injuries. The two incidents highlight the need for proper risk assessments and routine inspections on ladders.
Following months of investigation, NTSB issued its official report on the fire onboard the small passenger vessel Conception in September 2019 off California, which killed 34 people, reiterating poor oversight by the company and USCG regulatory issues as key areas of concern.
