Tag: loss prevention

More and more ports around the world are now using helicopters to transfer the pilot to and from the vessel instead of the more traditional use of a pilot boat, North P&I Club informs. Despite the fact that this means that pilots can now transfer in increasingly challenging weather conditions, it also introduces new risks, of which ships' crews should be aware of.

During the 2019 Hellenic American Maritime Forum in Athens, Mrs. Panagiota Chrysanthi, DDPA/EMR, Andriaki Shipping Co. Ltd, provided her opinion on safety challenges in the shipping industry, and the crucial role that human factor plays. As noted, from 2012-2016, 75% accidents were due to human error. She also added that the industry has not done enough to prevent human errors.

In its latest Loss Prevention guidance on gangways, the Shipowners Club describes a case of an injury to an elderly passenger disembarking from a tourist craft operating in north-eastern Australia. The Club highlighted a poor implementation of safety management system. 

The Eighth District Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) of the Outer Continental Shelf issued a safety bulletin, 'Lifeboat operations on manned facilities', in order to alert offshore operators about an accident that took place on a floating offshore facility. 

To ensure standards are fit for purpose for the domestic industry, the Australian Maritime Authority (AMSA) is reviewing its approach to setting standards. For this reason, in August 2019, AMSA will be consulting with individual stakeholders, focusing on those who have regular, direct interaction with the technical standards.

In light of several gangway claims, the Shipowners Club issued a revised booklet providing guidance on gangway safety. The booklet notes that gangways should have important information marked on their framework, including manufacturers’ name, safe loading (by numbers and weight), model number and the maximum angle for the gangway to be set at.

This year’s concentrated inspection campaigns by port state authorities will begin on 1 September 2019, focusing on emergency systems and procedures, including emergency drills for crew. For this reason, Gard P&I Club talks about the Potential CIC focus areas, and provides recommendations.

The American Club recently experienced an increase in illness claims regarding heat exposure. In order to supply a loss prevention response to this trend, the Club collaborated with Wise Health Inc. Seafarer Outreach to produce guidance to improve seafarers' awareness of measures to avoid such illnesses. The guidance describes heat-related illnesses, and discusses proactive measures to prevent them.

The British Ports Association, British Tugowners Association, Port Skills and Safety, UK Chamber of Shipping, UK Major Ports Group, and UK Marine Pilots Association issued a joint notice to raise awareness against DWHLs use and the consequences. The notice highlights what is expected of seafarers in the International and Domestic codes of the ILO Code of Practice.

The Swedish Club announced a new loss prevention pilot project, called 'Trade Enabling Loss Prevention (TELP)', which leverages technology in a bid to provide ships with timely advice when they are approaching areas of particular risk, to assist them to trade more safely.