The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) launched its latest information paper, which provides guidance on how to improve policies and procedures concerning the safe use of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
The Maltese registered LPG tanker Seasurfer ran aground in the Port of Praia in October 2019, as the pilotage section of the passage plan contained no specific directions on manoeuvring with the use of tug/s at Praia, investigation by Transport Malta MSIU revealed.
Safe navigation requires from professional navigators to keep themselves up to date with new regulations, practices, technology and information sources. Celebrating release of the 25th edition of The Navigator, The Nautical Institute shared key points highlighted over the years.
Despite small improvement since June 2020, the critically low water levels in the Parana River continue, as the rainfalls in the basin are still expected to be ‘deficient’ during the last quarter of the year.
Capt. Yves Vandenborn, Director of Loss Prevention, The Standard Club, provides tips for safe navigation now that the typhoon season is underway and notes that this can cause widespread disruption and delays in the logistical supply chain. Also, he highlights that the ship’s passage plan should incorporate considerations based on the anticipated weather conditions, and contingency measures for avoiding depressions while maintaining the commercial and economic viability of the voyage.
A series of causes contributed to vessel grounding; the safety investigation revealed that the course recommended by the pilot was different from the one prepared in the passage planning. Moreover, during navigation in El Dekheila Channel (Egypt), the vessel navigated close to shallow areas, and subsequently ran aground and remained stranded.
In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB discussed about a small cargo vessel which grounded as the OOW on duty was watching music videos on his mobile phone and dod not observe the potential risk of grounding, when the vessel was set of the planned track by the tidal stream.
UK MAIB issued an investigation report on the grounding of the fishing vessel Coelleira off Scotland, in August 2019. The report highlighted that the passage was not properly planned and the vessel’s position was not being closely monitored.
The Swedish Club’s Navigational Claims issue highlights the importance of double-checking the vessel’s passage plan to ensure that the vessel’s navigational path is correct according to all data entered into the navigational equipment.
