Tag: prevent loss of life

After refusing to accept 226 migrants onboard a German charity rescue ship last week, Italy now seems to relent, saying on Thursday it would take them in, but would impound the vessel. The crew of the ship operated by Mission Lifeline charity had spotted migrants in two overcrowded rubber boats in international waters on 14 June.

ICS announced its concern about the decision of the Italian Government to close its ports to migrants rescued by vessels operated by humanitarian NGOs. Except from serious implications for the safety of human life at sea, this refusal could also affect the traffic of trade throughout the Mediterranean.

The UK MCA and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution ran a special week-long event to test the use of drones, along a stretch of coastline at St Athan, Wales. A selection of drones were used in four different search and rescue scenarios to explore how they could be used to help save lives in the future.

Dr. Grahaeme Henderson, President of the UK Chamber and Shell's vice president of shipping, launched HiLo, a predictive modelling tool that aims to prevent ‘high-impact’ maritime events like explosions, collisions and groundings by recording the frequent low-level incidents that are pre-cursors to major incidents.

The US Coast Guard issued a statement reminding the consequences of illegal flare lighting, which can be misinterpreted as an emergency signal and subsequently disrupt response to genuine emergency calls.

Speaking at CrewConnect Global in Manila, Mark Woodhead, KVH Videotel senior vice president EMEA, stressed that ship operators should aim for training excellence, rather than just attaining the minimum standards required, and use training as a key tool for attracting and retaining high-calibre seafarers in a competitive market.

Ship owners must prioritise crew wellness to prevent disasters like El Faro was the main message from Sailors’ Society CEO Stuart Rivers, announcing the charity’s second Wellness at Sea Conference, in London, on 16 March 2018.

The complexities of migration, as a humanitarian challenge, were discussed on Monday, 30 October, at a meeting hosted by the IMO, bringing together representatives of UN agencies, the maritime industry and European Union naval forces.  

IMO says that one this Agreement becomes fully ratified and effective, there will be an internationally binding agreement which will facilitate better control of fishing vessel safety by flag, port and coastal States. It will also contribute to the fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.

The UK P&I Club refers to an incident onboard in which a crew member fell down to the tank top, sustaining serious injuries. The Club highlights lessons learned and draws operators’ attention to performing work aloft at sea properly supervised and risk assessed.