Tag: safe navigation

MPA takes a serious view of any incidents in Singapore waters. Following the recent three collisions resulting in oil spillage, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is conducting investigations to determine the causes of the collisions and if there were systemic issues that need to be addressed

As Hong Kong is entering the fog season, the Director of Marine, Mr Francis Liu, has reminded coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels to post extra lookouts, proceed at a safe speed and strictly comply with the Collision Regulations when navigating in poor visibility in Hong Kong waters.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands has issued Marine Notice Advisory on new voluntary speed restrictions zone in effect through 30 January 2014. A Dynamic Management Area (DMA) has been established 46 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket to protect an aggregation of 3 right whales.

The Danish Maritime Authority's 2014 performance contract is ready. It sets operational as well as development goals in the short and the longer term as regards tasks pertaining to safety, growth and customer service.

Effective from January 1st, 2014 The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) will require the use of an Under Keel ClearanceManagement (UKCM) system for vessels transiting through the Torres Strait from 1 January 2014.The Torres Strait is a vital shipping route for the Asia-Pacific region and is traversed by a number oflarge vessels each week.The UKCM system allows vessel operators and coastal pilots to plan the safeand efficient passage of deep draught vessels through the Torres Strait with accurate vessel informationand environmental data from tide, stream, wind and wave sensors.The web based system is designed to monitor the depth of water under a ship's keel as it traverses theTorres Strait.AMSA Chief Executive Officer Graham Peachey said the aim of the system is to enhance shippingsafety in the Torres Strait by ensuring the minimum under keel clearance requirements are met."The UKCM system is a standardised system that provides an enhanced level of safety for vesselstransiting this unique area," Mr Peachey said."The Under Keel Clearance Management (UKCM) system first become operational in Australian watersin December 2011 and since then, AMSA has been monitoring its use and operation."The system has been used successfully by a number of coastal pilots over the past two years ...

On 20 December 2013, the Danish Maritime Authority submitted a bill to amend the Danish Pilotage Act and various other acts for consultation.

AMSA's new corporate video outlines our main operational functions including vessel and seafarer safety, navigation services, search and rescue, marine environmental response and international engagement and regional capacity building.

AMSA Marine Notice 21/2013 The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued Marine Notice 21/2013 to provide information about all navigational practices thatshould be followed by masters and navigatingofficers of ships in Australian waters.Passage plansRegulation 34 of Chapter V of SOLAS (Safenavigation and avoidance of dangeroussituations) requires that before proceeding to sea,the master must ensure that the intended voyagehas been planned. IMO Resolution A.893 (21)Guidelines for voyage planning provides moredetailed advice on passage planning. AMSAMarine Order 21 implements these requirementsin Australia.Voyage and passage planning includes:appraisal i.e. gathering all information relevantto the contemplated voyage or passage; detailed planning of the entire voyage or passage from berth to berth, including those areas requiring a pilot;execution of the plan; andmonitoring progress of the ship during theexecution of the plan.Passage planning should take into account the potential for reasonable unplanned diversions(due to change of commercial orders oremergencies) that may occur during passage.Any changes made to the plan should be consistent with the IMO guidelines and be clearly marked and recorded. For Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), the voyage or passage plan should be validated by the route-checking function of ECDIS using appropriate safety parameters.If any charts required for the voyage are to ...

AMSA has issued Marine Notice 21/2013 to reaffirm sound navigational practices

The West of England P&I Club has posted on its website updated information regarding the USA- Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Rule reminding Members to ensure their vessels complied with the seasonal speed limit restrictions in place in certain areas off the East Coast of the United States.