Safety Briefings

Click to download the central IIMS Safety Briefings Database in Excel Format, a compilation of hundreds of safety reports: Main Safety Briefing Database 

Golden Ray NTSB report reveals inaccurate stability calculations as the cause of the capsizing
Inaccurate stability calculations caused the capsizing of the vehicle carrier Golden Ray that resulted in $200 million worth of damages, the National Transportation Safety Board reveals in its marine accident report.
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Cargo tank explosion and fire on chemical tanker Stolt Groenland report published
On 28 September 2019, a cargo tank containing styrene monomer on board the MAIC (Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands) registered chemical tanker Stolt Groenland ruptured due to runaway polymerisation.
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Fatality of crew member after head trapped in hatch cover panel report published
JTSB has published its report into the death of a boatswain while the cargo vessel FIRST AI was mooring off Kyoto in September 2019 when his head was trapped in a hatch cover panel while performing hatch cover closing duty.
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Report published on the a fatality due to improper crane lifting
Belgium’s FEBIMA has published an investigation report into the fatality of a crew member onboard the general cargo ship ATLANTIC PROJECT II while in the Port of Antwerp in February 2021.
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Lube oil contamination due to forgotten rubber membrane seals
In a recent publication, the Swedish Club describes a case of lube oil contamination caused by forgotten rubber membrane seals in the engine room of a chemical/oil tanker.
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MPV Everest: Overflowing tank shortly before fire is revealed in preliminary ATSB report
ATSB has issued a preliminary report from its ongoing investigation into a fire onboard the MPV Everest while on charter to the Australian Antarctic Division, last April.
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Report into fire onboard a bulk carrier at Port Kembla published
ATSB has published an investigation report surrounding a fire onboard a bulk carrier, Iron Chieftan, that took five days to contain and extinguish. The report highlights the lack of adequate regulatory requirements and standards to address the known risk of fire on-board self-unloading ships.
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Ferry bottom contact linked to safety management deficiencies
TSB has published an investigation report about the bottom contact of the passenger ferry ‘Deer Island Princess II’ near Letete, New Brunswick, in February 2018. It has determined that common safety hazards, such as extremely low tides, had not been identified and mitigated by the operator of the vessel.
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Fire onboard stresses need for continuous monitoring of inactive vessels
NTSB has published an investigation report on the fire onboard the dive support vessel Iron Maiden, whilst docked at a shipyard in Louisiana, in April 2020. The investigation identified an electrical short from an unidentified source as the main reasons for the incident.
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Loss of containers off Hawaii due to poor cargo loading procedures
Poor barge loading resulted in the loss of 21 cargo containers into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in its report on the accident.
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Safety warning about multiple cruise ship anchor failures
COVID-19 pandemic forced the international cruise industry into an unprecedented operational pause, resulting in many cruise ships anchoring off the UK south coast for long periods of time. The MAIB has been made aware of several marine incidents of anchor failures since October 2020 where cruise ship anchors or anchor cables have failed.
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Colregs violation that caused three deaths result in prison sentence for skipper
A commercial vessel’s skipper has been convicted after passing too close to a small motor boat off the coast of Sussex, UK capsizing it and leaving three men dead as a result – a result of violation of colregs.
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Report published into cargo explosion by Transport Malta
Investigation report into the cargo explosion onboard the container ship MV Croatia while underway in February 2020. The investigation established that flammable vapours had accumulated inside the container, which contained scrap metal and used car parts, resulting in an explosive atmosphere.
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Electrocution fatality during maintenance onboard explained in Britannia’s BSafe campaign case study
As part of its BSafe campaign, the Britannia P&I Club describes a fatality of an electrician from electrocution, while performing maintenance of the inert gas scrubber electrical system whilst onboard an oil tanker.
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Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather that led to eight fatalities
JTSB has published an investigation report on the foundering of JIA DE the cargo ship sinking due to heavy weather in Kanagawa Prefecture, which led to fatalities of 8 crew members in October 2019.
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Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device
Hong Kong Marine Department has shared the findings of a serious fire accident, which took place onboard the accommodation of a Hong Kong registered bulk carrier whilst at anchorage. The investigation showed that the fire was most probably caused by a faulty electrical device.
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Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion reveals report
NTSB has published its investigation report on the fire and explosion which occured onboard the towing vessel Susan Lynn off Lousiana in October 2019. The investigation has identified a catastrophic engine failure as the key cause of the accident.
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Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication
Transport Malta has published its investigation report on a crew fatality in the pump room of the crude oil tanker MT Valtamed, while at Ceyhan OPL Anchorage, Turkey, in February 2020. The autopsy found that the pump man died by n-Butane intoxication.
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Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB
MAIB has released a report on the fatal accident on board the trawler Sunbeam. On 14 August 2018, a second engineer on board was asphyxiated and died in one of the vessel’s refrigerated saltwater tanks. The report found that entering Sunbeam‘s tanks without safety precautions had become ‘normalised’ by the crew and had been done ‘without consequence’ over a period of many years.
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Fire on RoRo linked to accidental fuel spill says accident report
Transport Malta has published an investigation report into the engine-room fire onboard the Maltese-registered RoRo cargo vessel Eurocargo Trieste, following departure from the port of Livorno in November 2019. The investigation identified an accidental fuel spill onto a hot surface as the most likely cause of the incident.
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Cargo friction or self-heating likely cause of container fire on MV Filia T
Transport Malta has published an investigation report on the container fire onboard Filia T while en route to Singapore in November 2019. The report was unable to determine the exact cause of the fire. but has identified either friction or self-heating of the cargo as probable causes.
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Four key safety issues identified after fatal Conception fire in the final report
NTSB has published its official report on the fire onboard the small passenger vessel Conception in September 2019 off California, which killed 34 people. It has highlighted poor oversight by the company and USCG regulatory issue.
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Preliminary ATSB investigation report suggests heavy corrosion led to APL England loss of containers
ATSB published their report TEU APL England. The 5,780 container vessel was rolling and pitching heavily in rough seas and high winds when it lost 50 containers overboard.
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Cause of Maersk Honam fire is inconclusive reveals report
TSIB of Singapore has published its report on the fatal Maersk Honam fire which occurred in March 2018. The report concludes that the actual cause of the fire was not conclusive.
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Varkan Ege: COLREGs implementation called into question after vessels collide reveals MCIB investigation
Ireland’s MCIB has published an investigation report on the collision between the tanker ‘Varkan Ege’ and the sailing vessel ‘Medi Mode’ in Irish waters during August 2019. The investigation attributed the incident to a mix of misunderstanding, inefficient lookout and poor knowledge of COLREGs.
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Delegation from Panama Maritime Authority investigates the Wakashio accident
The Panama Maritime Authority has give a report on the progress of the safety investigation into the Wakashio accident at the Mauritius Islands when the vessel Wakashio ran aground and subsequently broke up.
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DMAIB report: Loss of rescue boat stresses importance of wire rope maintenance
DMAIB has published its investigation report on the accidental fall of a rescue boat from the oil products tanker TORM MAREN while off the coast of Guinea on 1st April 2020. The investigation established that the wire rope maintenance and condition was not recognised as being detrimental to the functioning of the rescue boat system.
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MOL Prestige engine room fire caused by poor maintenance reveals accident report
Maintenance related issues led to the engine room fire on board the container vessel MOL Prestige in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (BC) in January 2018, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) are revealed in its investigation report, now published.
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Dutch Safety Board report: Lessons learned after loss of containers from MSC Zoe
Dutch Safety Board has published an investigation report into the loss of containers from the MSC Zoe in 2019, sharing valuable lessons learned on the shipping routes that pass the Wadden Islands to the north of the Netherlands. The report stressed that minimizing the risks of container loss in the area requires an integrated approach by the container shipping sector, the IMO and the Dutch government.
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TAIC investigation report released into crew fatally struck while securing logs
TAIC has published an investigation report on the crew fatality during cargo-securing operations onboard the bulk log carrier Coresky OL, while at Eastland Port, Gisborne, in April 2019.
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APL England lost 40 containers in rough seas – initial inspection reveals serious defects
AMSA’s preliminary inspection of cargo ship APL England, which lost 40 containers in rough seas, has discovered a major defect and serious concerns with how the load was secured.
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SMS not adhered to – investigation of capsized tug finds
TSB has published an investigation report into the capsizing of a tug, revealing that the vessel did not operate under a Safety Management System (SMS), and the crew did not have procedures for identifying or mitigating hazards.
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Island Queen III: Three safety concerns after bottom contact of passenger vessel issued by TSB
TSB) has published its investigation report into the bottom contact of the passenger vessel Island Queen III near Whiskey Island, Ontario, in August 2017. In addition, TBS has issued three safety concerns relating to the carriage of lifejackets, the evacuation of passengers during an emergency, and specialized training for crew.
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Transport Malta: Report issued into the sinking of fishing vessel Zaira in heavy weather
Transport Malta has published its investigation report on the sinking of the fishing vessel Zaira in Marsascala Bay, resulting in death of two fishermen on 4 May 2019. The findings from the investigation show that the vessel sank after flooding of compartments and a loss of stability in heavy weather.
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MV Leopold LD: Total loss of power while underway linked to poor crew familiarization says Transport Malta report
Transport Malta has published its investigation report on the total loss of power of the bulk carrier MV Leopold LD following the failure of the auxiliary engines and the emergency generator while underway in March 2019. The investigation identified lack of crew familiarization with the correct operation of the compensation damping tank.
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Nordstar: Exposure to lethal gas levels contributed to fisherman’s death says AIBN report
AIBN has published an accident report on the matter of a crew member who died on board the factory trawler Nordstar relating to the with preparations for cleaning a silage tank.
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MFV Suzanne II: MCIB publish report on the fire and loss
MCIB has released its investigation report on the fire and loss of MFV Suzanne II, east of Arklow, in May 2019. The report highlights that the quick response of the crew and their knowledge on when to abandon ship was key to their successful rescue.
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St Clair: Engine room fire on bulk carrier while in layup status report published
NTSB has published an investigation report on the engine room fire aboard the bulk carrier St Clair whilst in layup status at TORCO dock in Maumee River, Toledo, in February 2019. The investigation has highlighted a lack of operating procedures for continuous monitoring of the vessel while in layup.
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Overpressurization and rupture of cargo tank onboard Fairchem Filly report published
NTSB issued an investigation report on the overpressurization and rupture of a cargo tank on the cargo ship Fairchem Filly while at Houston Ship Channel, in May 2019. Investigators stressed that the vessel and terminal personnel involved were not following procedures related to cargo discharge and nitrogen-blanketing operations.
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Poor hull maintenance linked to flooding of towing vessel Tom Bussler says NTSB report
NTSB has published an investigation report on the flooding and sinking of towing vessel ‘Tom Bussler’ on Tennessee River in January 2019. The incident stressed issues associated with poor hull maintenance and repair.
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Loss of cargo containers overboard from container ship Ever Smart report published by MAIB
MAIB have published their report on the container ship Ever Smart and it’s loss of containers due to a stow collapse.
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SOLAS compliance poor – lifeboat release hook failure identified in TSB investigation report
TSB has published an incident report on a lifeboat release hook failure during a drill on the passenger ferry ‘Northern Ranger’ in October 2017, which led to minor injuries. The failure was linked to poor compliance with SOLAS and the operator’s safety manual.
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Container ship Washington loss of 137 containers: MAIB investigation report published
Container ship CMA CGM G. Washington unexpectedly rolled 20° to starboard, paused for several seconds then rolled 20° to port. The ship was experiencing heavy seas in the North Pacific Ocean while on passage from Xiamen, China to Los Angeles, USA.
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Cargo lashings insufficient says MAIB report on European Causeway incident
On Tuesday 18 December 2018, the roll-on/roll-of (ro-ro) passenger ferry European Causeway rolled heavily in very rough seas and very high winds during its voyage from Larne, Northern Ireland to Cairnryan, Scotland. Insufficient cargo lashings have been found to be a key factor in the incident.
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Yantian Express fire likely caused by coconut charcoal official report identifies

The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) has published its investigation report about the causes of the fire in the area of the deck cargo on board the container ship Yantian Express, identifying coconut charcoal as the likely cause of the fire.
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Lubrication oil filter was mounted poorly resulting in engine failure
Transport Malta’s MSIU has released an investigation report on the main engine failure of the oil/chemical tanker ‘MV Guroni’ while underway in January 2019. According to the report, the lubrication oil filter of the main engine had been improperly mounted.
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TAIC trawler fire report cited issues with structure and safety standards
The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its report into the accommodation fire on board fishing trawler Dong Won 701 in April 2018, citing issues with the structure of the vessel and crew firefighting efforts.
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STI WINNIE: Report reveals lack of warning signs resulted in electrician’s fatality
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has released an accident report into the fatal injury of an oil tanker electrician, who was electrocuted onboard the vessel STI WINNIE.
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AIBN report says Engine lubricating oil tank levels should be maintained according to instructions
Accident report following the engine failure on the Norwegian cruise ship Viking Sky during a storm in the Norwegian sea, which resulted in the vessel drifting in rough waters just 100 meters off land.
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Seed cake guidelines published for safe carriage in containers
CINS, together with the International Group of P&I Clubs, has published guidelines for the carriage of seed cake (s.c.) in containers.
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World Bora collision with the RABA: DMAIB releases accident report
On February 19, 2019, the Cypriot-flagged cargo ship RABA, sailing from Copenhagen to Szczecin, collided with the Danish-flagged ‘World Bora’, which was sailing towards the Viking wind farm in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
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Report finds fire onboard cargo vessel was due to lack of compliance with SMS
The NTSB has published its report on the fire that took place on board the cargo ship Chipolbrok Moon. After the ocean voyage and before offloading the cargo, the steel sea fastener tabs used to secure the turbine components had to be removed by cutting, using an oxygen/acetylene torch.
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Long awaited report into the loss of Stellar Daisy published by the Marshall Islands
The Maritime Administrator of the Republic of the Marshall Islands has released its long-awaited report for publication on the investigation into the 2017 loss of the Stellar Daisy in the South Atlantic.
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A report confirms damaged valves in BWTS lead to engine room flooding
Transport Malta’s MSIU has published its investigation report into a serious incident concerning the Maltese-registered capsize bulk carrier ‘Capri’. The ballast system’s valves were damaged, causing approximately 1,100 tonnes of seawater flooding the engine room.
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Dynamic loading contributed to deck slewing crane failure says a report
Transport Malta’s MSIU has published its investigation report on the slewing deck crane failure onboard the Maltese-flagged product tanker ‘Bozdag’, while the ship was in the port of Tallinn. The report revealed that the dynamic loading and the sudden halt of the free-falling loads were two major contributing factors to the failure of the deck slewing crane.
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Numerous lessons learned from US maritime casualties in 2017 as NTSB releases its annual report
The NTSB has published its 94 page Safer Seas digest annual report giving an overview of key lessons to be learned from a series of major maritime casualties. The failure to maintain watertight integrity was the number one cause of vessel losses during the 2017 reporting year.
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European Maritime Safety Agency published an overview of maritime casualties in 2018
The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published its annual review of maritime casualties. It has reported a total of 3,301 incidents through 2017.
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MAIB issues report and safety flyer about gas explosions on general cargo ship Nortrader
On 13 January, at 1447, Nortrader, anchored off Plymouth with a cargo of unprocessed incinerator bottom ash (U-IBA), suffered 2 explosions in quick succession. The first explosion was in the forecastle store and the second in the cargo hold.
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Transport Malta investigation report into fatality by toxic gases in bow thruster compartment
Transport Malta’s MSIU issued an investigation report on the fatality of a crew member onboard the Maltese-registered chemical tanker ‘Scot Berlin’ in August 2017. The immediate cause of the accident was the entry into a space which had a significant presence of toxic gases suspended in the air.
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Bahamas Maritime Authority releases safety bulletin following fatality investigation regarding a nitrogen cylinder
The Bahamas Maritime Authority issued a safety alert regarding the potential serious risk for safety on board a ship where nitrogen cylinders are used as a stored kinetic energy system for launching lifeboats. This alert was issued after the authority obtained information from an ongoing maritime incident investigation conducted by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, New Zealand.
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Safety alert about the prevention of fuel spray fire published by USCG
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has released a safety alert to inform the industry about a fuel spray fire onboard a commercial vessel. These types of incidents, which involve fuel leaks contacting hot surfaces and igniting, happen with too much regularity and have been the subject for various marine safety organizations to consider for many years.
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A culture of poor maintenance practices led to Caribbean Fantasy fire says report
A poor safety culture and the ineffective implementation of a safety management system were identified as the most likely causes of the 2016 fire aboard the RoRo vessel Caribbean Fantasy. The vessel’s main engine room was hit by fire in the morning hours of 17 August 2016, when fuel spraying from a leaking flange came in contact with a hot surface on the port main propulsion engine, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a report.
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Improperly tightened bolts on fuel inlet flange the probable cause of a fire on Carnival Liberty
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable cause of the engine room fire on the Carnival Liberty as improperly tightened bolts on a fuel inlet flange.
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Failure of a Master Pear Link prompts BMA to issue a safety alert
A tender boat onboard a cruise ship registered in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas suddenly fell from its stowed position into the water. The immediate cause was a catastrophic failure of the link that connects the fall block to the release gear/hook.
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ClassNK issues warning over hatch covers and coamings deficiencies
Port State Control inspectors have been frequently identifying deficiencies during inspections related to the securing devices of cargo hold hatch covers and hatch coamings, according to a recent warning issued by classification society, ClassNK.
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Broken valve causes oil spill while bunkering
The Swedish P&I Club has described a case of an oil spill during a vessel’s bunkering operations which led to an oil spill, the cause of which was a broken valve. Following investigation, the Club recommended that all involved parties should be informed when tanks are switched and that the crew must always ensure the valves are completely shut and working.
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Rudder compartment hull leak causes major capsizing of towing vessel says NTSB investigation
The US NTSB issued an investigation report on the capsizing of the towing vessel ‘Gracie Claire’, while moored on the Lower Mississippi River in Venice, Louisiana. The report revealed that several factors affecting the stability of the vessel led to its capsizing.
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Beware of fuel oil quick closing valve deficiencies
The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has published a technical alert aimed at highlighting some major deficiencies related to fuel oil quick closing valves, which it has observed during Port State Control inspections.
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Cargo damage caused by leaking hatch covers
The Swedish P&I Club has described the case of cargo damage on a bulk carrier caused by water ingress, as a result of the poor condition of hatch covers.
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Lessons Learned from El Faro on main propulsion published by USCG
The US Coast Guard has published a safety alert to inform operators and other interested parties of the role that the main propulsion lube oil system was found to have played in the El Faro incident. They have recommended that operators, especially ships’ engineers, review the operational procedures and limitations of vital propulsion machinery and verify compliance with SOLAS, Classification Societies and regulatory standards.
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Securing arrangement of sea strainer cover led to vessel capsizing
Shipowners P&I Club has issued a case study about the capsizing of a vessel due to a loose port side sea strainer. Whilst double banked alongside another tug for four months awaiting a placement in dry dock, a harbour tug suddenly developed a list to port.
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MAIB report issued on the unintentional release of carbon dioxide from fixed fire-extinguishing systems on ro-ro vessels Eddystone and Red Eagle
On 8 June 2016, the roll on, roll off (ro-ro) vessel Eddystone experienced an unintentional release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from its fixed fire-extinguishing system while in the Red Sea. A similar incident took place on 17 July 2017 on board the ro-ro passenger ferry Red Eagle while on passage from the Isle of Wight to Southampton. In both cases, gas leaked into the CO2 cylinder compartment, but was prevented from entering the engine room by the main distribution valve which remained closed.
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Improper maintenance could have cost the lives of two surveyors says UK P&I Club case study
In the UK P&I Club’s ‘Lessons Learned’ series of case studies, Captain David Nichol presents the case regarding improper ventilation after a maintenance operation, which could have led to the deaths of two surveyors during a third party survey on the emergency fire pump.
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Deck water spray failure highlighted as one of the main deficiencies on LNG carriers
The US Coast Guard has published an information bulletin about the ongoing issue regarding inadequate deck water spray systems on LNG carriers. US Coast Guard has noted that inadequate coverage of the required areas by a deck water spray system is one of the main deficiencies identified when certificate of compliance inspections are undertaken on these vessels.
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MAIB report published into the cargo collapse on bulk carrier Graig Rotterdam resulting in one fatality
The bulk carrier Graig Rotterdam was discharging a deck cargo of packaged timber at anchor in Alexandria Port, Egypt. The bosun, a Chinese national, fell overboard and into a barge that was secured alongside after the timber deck cargo stack on which he was standing partially collapsed.
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Ethylene vapours activate carbon monoxide alarm says safety alert
The USCG has published a safety alert informing marine inspectors that ethylene vapours on LNG carriers can activate Carbon Monoxide alarms. Specifically, during an examination of a LNG carrier whose cargo tanks contained ethylene vapours, PSC Officers (PSCOs) received alarms on their portable four gas meters giving a reading of 60 to 100 parts per-million (PPM) Carbon Monoxide (CO).
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German authority report suggests containers on two ships caught fire probably from self-heating
The German Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation has released its reports about two non-connected fires on container ships. The MSC Katrina was in the Elbe estuary when the fire was detected on 20 November 2015. The second ship, the Ludwigshafen Express was in the Red Sea when fire was noticed during an inspection in February 2016.
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Fire in cargo hold caused by light bulb reveals Maritime NZ report
The floodlight was unintentionally left on after the hold was filled with timber packs. Some of the timber was destroyed in the fire and other packs charred, but the ship suffered only cosmetic damage. No-one was injured.
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The dangers of carrying nickel ore cargo and the associated risks are highlighted by The West of England P&I Club
The West of England P&I Club has warned operators and others involved of the dangers of carrying nickel ore. Carrying nickel ore can be dangerous, because of the risk of liquefaction of the cargo on passage when the moisture content is higher than the cargo’s Flow Moisture Point (FMP).
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Research findings highlight issues with dirty engine room bilges
Recent analysis of the Shipowners Club’s Condition Survey Programme has highlighted that approximately 25% of the vessels surveyed showed evidence of contaminated engine room bilges. As such they seek to raise awareness of the potential fire hazards associated with oily engine room bilges and the checks and steps that a ship’s crew and/or surveyor should undertake.
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Marine bollard failures give USCG cause for concern
The USCG issued an alert informing that recently, there have been a number of shore side marine bollard failures whereby moored vessels were cast adrift. In some cases, this resulted in damage to the involved vessel, as well as other nearby vessels and shore side structures, the USCG warned.
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Guidelines for ensuring the safe carriage of cocoa butter in freight containers
Members of the CINS Organisation (the Cargo Incident Notification System) have issued guidance and guidelines for the carriage of cocoa butter in freight containers, under the principles set out in the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code).
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