Tag: safety measures

Action by ITF over the shocking condition of shipping on the Black Sea Trade unions from Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine, working with the ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation), are releasing a report today, Monday 25th June, that they hope will help shame governments into action over the shocking condition of shipping on the Black Sea.The report Black Sea of Shame - which can be seen at www.itfglobal.org/infocentre/pubs.cfm/detail/34854 - is intended to help unions raise the issue with their national governments. Starting today, June 25th the Day of the Seafarer, they plan to sound the alarm over the dire state of affairs in the area, alleging that ancient shipping, rock bottom and unpaid wages, assaults, sinkings and corruption are widespread.ITF maritime coordinator Steve Cotton commented: "This is a true catalogue of shame. Our inspectors and our member unions are dealing with the human costs of unsafe and ageing shipping, and managements who consider crews a dispensable luxury, to be paid at whim and undeserving of basic protections, including insurance against death and injury.""This is the beginning of a long haul, that we know will take years, to reform this scandalous state of affairs. We start by going to ...

Shipbreaking at Alang takes place under dagerous conditions for workers and the environment An U.S. flagged tanker called the "Delaware Trader" was cleared by the U.S. Maritime Administration for scrapping on the notorious shipbreaking beach of Alang, India. It is expected to arrive in India within the next days. The authorization and export of the toxic ship comes on the heels of the recent Indian Supreme Court ruling which barred the U.S. built "Exxon Valdez" (now called "Oriental Nicety") from landing at Indian shipbreaking beaches due to suspected hazardous materials, such as asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), used in the ship's construction. The "Exxon Valdez" is thought to be currently anchored off Mumbai, India. India's top court, international law and U.S. law will be tested once again when the "Delaware Trader" soon arrives in India for breaking. Foto: Hans Snoek/PixelioShipbreaking at Alang takes place under extremely dangerous and polluting conditions where workers labor on tidal sands to cut ships up by hand, exposing themselves to the risks of toxic chemicals, fires, explosions and falling steel plates. Pollutants are allowed to flow unimpeded into the marine environment. Meanwhile U.S.-based ship recyclers as well as environmental organizations such as the Basel Action ...

Lessons to improve maritime safety in the future The European Commission has decided to refer Poland to the EU Court of Justice for failing to communicate what measures were being taken to organise safety investigations after serious accidents at sea. The purpose of these investigations is to establish what has caused the accidents and draw lessons to improve maritime safety in the future. By failing to put in place an independent body to carry out these investigations, Poland is slowing down possible maritime safety improvements.The EU rulesThe EU rules aim to improve maritime safety and better prevent pollution from ships by requiring Member States to organise safety investigations after serious accidents at sea. They lay down the basic principles governing investigations into accidents including the establishment of an independent body to carry out such investigations in the maritime transport sector and required Member States to bring these into force before 17June2011.The practical consequences of non-transpositionThe purpose of these investigations, which are separate from any criminal investigations and should be carried out by independent bodies, is to establish what has caused the accidents and draw lessons to improve maritime safety in the future. If they fail to take the necessary measures, ...

Guidelines on the Safe Management of Survey and Inspection Data' (IMCA S 020) The International Marine Contractors Association has published a new book to provide guidance designed to minimise or prevent unnecessary corruption and/or loss of data in the use of IT systems.'Guidelines on the Safe Management of Survey and Inspection Data' (IMCA S 020) aims to help users understand how to safely handle large volumes of material, looking at the risks involved and how to address and mitigate them.The book has been written from a project perspective, addressing the various aspects of data management that can occur during the project lifecycle, from the preparation phase through to project completion."The real cost of corrupted or lost data on a project can be significant, particularly if any re-working is required. It is important that proper systems are in place to protect data and ensure it is safely archived and delivered to the end client or end user," explains IMCA's technical director, Jane Bugler."The principles outlined in our new publication can be applied to any survey or inspection data, from acquisition phase to final end delivery and archiving, irrespective of the volume of data, project duration or complexity, and are intended to ...

IMO DSC 17/7 IMO issues Circlular DSC 17/7 regarding Development of Measures to Prevent Loss of Containers.In June 2012, a broad array of industry stakeholders that included the governments of Denmark, The Netherlands and the United States along with a group of fivemaritime industry associations lead by the World Shipping Council, co-sponsored a formal proposal to the IMO to amend the SOLAS convention to require that the weight of all loaded containers be verified prior to loading onboard a vessel for export. The IMO's DSC 17 will consider this proposal at its September 2012 meeting.For more information, click here.Source: IMO

Paris MoU has agreed that the first year of the new inspection regime has been largely successful The Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MoU) held its 45th Committee meeting in Riga, Latvia, from 7 - 11 May 2012.The Committee agreed that the first year of the new inspection regime (NIR) has been largely successful. An important goal of the NIR is to concentrate inspection efforts on high risk ships and reward quality shipping with a reduced inspection burden. The NIR makes use of company performance and the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS) for identifying the risk profile of ships together with the performance of the flag State and the recognized organization. The inspection history of the ship as well as the ship's age and ship type influences the targeting. The information system THETIS is hosted and managed by EMSA.Mr. Hogan, the Chairman, stated: "The detention rate increased for the first time in years, although less inspections were carried out in the Paris MoU-region, this shows that the NIR is achieving its objective".High importance was given to Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CICs). A CIC on fire safety systems has been scheduled from September to November this ...

The West of England P&I club- Safety Alert The West of England P&I Club has experienced a number of cases recently where dry bulk products stowed inside barges made fast to the ship have been damaged by ballast water. Incidents of this type may lead to significant cargo claims and are almost always avoidable.On two occasions the vessels concerned were discharging into barges and ballasting simultaneously. During the ballasting operation the double bottom tanks were flooded and water overflowed on to the main deck.The water then drained away via the overboard scuppers and into the open holds of barges moored alongside. In another case, topside wing tank drop valves were opened without the operator recognising that the overboard discharge was situated above an uncovered barge.Although shouting from the barge personnel resulted in the valves being closed again shortly afterwards, the damage had already been done.For more information, click here.Source: The West Of England P&I Club

The West of England P&I club- Safety Alert In the past it was not uncommon for seafarers to weight monkey's fists fitted to the end of heaving lines with pieces of scrap metal or sand, or to attach a heavy item such as a shackle, so that the line would travel a greater distance when thrown. This practice is no longer acceptable as it increases the risk of serious injury if a linesman, shore worker or a crewmember aboard a tug or mooring boat is struck by such an object during mooring operations, or if the weighted end hits a member of the vessel's mooring party when the heaving line is thrown back.The United Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) publication "Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen", Section 25.3.2, states that "Vessel's heaving lines should be constructed with a "monkey's fist" at one end. To prevent personal injury, the "fist" should be made only with rope and should not contain added weighting material".If a weighted heaving line is used, the monkey's fist or additional weight risks being cut off by the linesmen or the tug crew before the heaving line is returned to the vessel. Moreover, some ports ...

UK P&I Club The UK P&I Club has recently received reports from Members concerning claims for cargo contamination damage caused by odours. This type of contamination is usually caused by previous cargoes or from cargoes that have recently been fumigated.The Club would like to remind Member's that shipping food products, clothing, household goods, toys, coffee, cotton, animal feed or various other commodities that can absorb odours in a container, which was previously used to ship dangerous goods (DG Cargo) or hides, is very risky and could result in the cargo being rejected and claims being filed for the full value of the cargo.Shipping lines procedures for releasing empty containers often do not include a review of the previous commodity but it makes good commercial sense to add this review to the empty release process in order to avoid cargo becoming tainted.We suggest that owners / operators keep containers that have been steam cleaned and not used to ship dangerous goods (DG Cargo) or hides on standby for bookings of food products, clothing, household goods, toys cotton and animal feed.It is also a good idea to use boxes that were used for DG Cargo or fumigated for bookings of commodities that ...

TCA33, TCR14, TCR16, TCR18, TCR20 and TCR22 turbochargers LR issues Safety Alert regarding Turbocharger Safety applicable to Operators of ships fitted with TCA33, TCR14, TCR16, TCR18, TCR20 and TCR22 turbochargers as follows:MAN Diesel & Turbo have issued two Alert Service Bulletins (ASB2011/12/10 and ASB2011/12/09) relating to the safety and safe operation of the above turbochargers. We have identified the Lloyd's Register classed ships fitted with these turbochargers. The operators of these vessels will be advised of actions required by Lloyd's Register, on a case-by-case basis. Attention is drawn to the recommendations made by the engine designer:1. MAN Diesel & Turbo recommend that no personnel should stay in the vicinity of the turbocharger during operating times in which the engine load exceeds 60%. 2. MAN Diesel & Turbo recommend the inspection and maintenance schedule described in the turbocharger operating manual is strictly adhered to. Lloyds Register requests that records of the inspection and maintenance activity are retained for later review by LR.Source: LR