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.
The London P&I Club and Paul Willis Senior Associate at Hawkins, have launched a loss prevention guide regarding the risks of carrying coal cargoes. The report gives a special consideration on gas monitoring and ventilation. The management of coal cargoes and the proper use of gas detection equipment are vital to prevent coal fire claims.
In its latest Stop Loss publication, London P&I Club analyzed problems associated with the transportation of coal in bulk, such as self-heating and methane release. Self-heating can lead to fires and the production of CO, whilst methane release can lead to an explosive atmosphere being generated in the hold.
As installation schedule ends in July 2018, more vessels are embracing ECDIS as the primary means of navigation. The primary function of ECDIS is to enhance the safety of navigation, but experience is showing that installation and approval alone are not enough to achieve this goal.
Mr. Carl Durow, Loss Prevention Manager at the London P&I Club, says that ECDIS is a top loss prevention concern for the coming years, explaining that further action is needed for a successful integration of ECDIS into fleets. ECDIS Type specific training and IMO generic course training should not stop at sea, Mr. Durow highlights, discussing also other loss prevention challenges.
