The impact of a bulk cargo liquifying whilst at sea can have catastrophic consequences as seen in a number of recent high-profile casualties, argues Carl Durow, Loss Prevention Manager, London P&I Club. The role of the P&I Club is to provide insurance against such events but also to provide advice to prevent them for occurring in the first place.
The London P&I Club issued a booklet to provide guidance and practical advice on the loading and the carriage of bulk cargoes which may liquefy, the risks associated with liquefaction and the precautions to minimize these risks.
The English Court of Appeal has recently confirmed that a ship sailing with a defective passage plan is considered unseaworthy, according to data provided by The London P&I Club.
Sometimes a single large event causes a major issue onboard, and at other times it is the accumulation of smaller errors that creates a significant problem. One such accumulation of errors resulted in a large bunker spill and a multi-million dollar claim.
The London P&I Club issued an updated guide on the safe operation and maintenance of ship holds and hatch covers, highlighting some of the common associated causes of damage, loss and personal injury and providing recommendations on best practices and points to avoid.
The shipping industry is in the midst of a considerable challenge in the form of Low Sulphur 2020. However it is arguable that ‘change’ is becoming the new ‘normal’; after all, the industry continues to meet the challenges imposed by the introduction of ECDIS. It seems that managing significant industry-wide changes of that nature will become more common and frequent than in the past, notes Mr. Carl Durow, Loss Prevention Manager, London P&I Club.
The guide ‘Reducing the risk of incidents due to systemic failures’ is based on the partnership of Bureau Veritas, TMC Marine, the casualty and salvage experts, and the London P&I Club, to highlight the challenges in shipping, with the goal to prevent injury, loss of life and damage to ships and cargo.
Operators proceeding to ports in Gabon should note that all vessels are subject to PSC inspection and there is currently a long list of “deficiencies” which vessels should take care to try to rectify beforehand, or otherwise risk being fined, the London P&I Club warned citing information from correspondents TCI/Eltvedt & O’Sullivan.
On the aftermath of the imposition of the martial law, foreign vessels heading to Ukrainian ports on the Azov Sea, such as Mariupol and Berdyansk, may be detained in the Kerch Strait for inspection and search. However, this is possibly not the case for vessels heading to Russian Ports, according to data provided by Dias Marine Consulting.
The London P&I Club reminded operators that both the European Union and US are applying trade sanctions against Syria. These include prohibitions on the transport of crude oil and petroleum products from Syria, as well as restrictions on Syria’s oil and gas and electricity generating industries amongst a number of other measures.
