Loss Prevention

The bunkering of ships, which formerly was a relatively low skill and low value activity, has deployed into a highly focused shipboard operation, due to the continuously rising oil price in conjunction with the imperative need for high marine environmental protection.

Simultaneous Operations occur when two or more potentially conflicting activities are being executed in the same location at the same time. SQE Marine Consulting advised on a proper SIMOPS risk assessment, which is to be conducted through several dedicated meetings, requiring participation of multidisciplinary attendees by all involved parties. 

Japan P&I published a loss prevention bulletin on marine weather and the ship handling in rough seas. Navigating in rough weather conditions deserves extra attention from ship operators; Waves caused by winds and swell from several directions results to vessels experiencing a number of oscillations.

In light of several gangway claims, the Shipowners Club issued a revised booklet providing guidance on gangway safety. The booklet notes that gangways should have important information marked on their framework, including manufacturers’ name, safe loading (by numbers and weight), model number and the maximum angle for the gangway to be set at.

Although shipping industry has seen developments regarding safety, accidents involving dangerous goods continue to happen. For this reason, the UK P&I Club released a guide to support operators who pack dangerous goods into cargo units for sea transportation.

The North P&I Club shared an insight discussing autonomous cargo systems as a means to address the oft-blamed 'human error' in accident reports. The Club suggests that linked ESD systems should be used for oil and chemical transfers, including ship-to-ship transfers.

A large LNG carrier was docked in an LNG terminal in UK. The 345.30m LOA carrier was moored with a total number of 20 lines (high modulus polyethylene ropes) following the ‘3-2-3-2 fore and aft’ rule. The vessel had 22 lines on board (as per manufacturer’s requirements) to be used during mooring operations of 44mm diameter Steelite Superline Xtra high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) with a specified minimum breaking load (MBL) of 137t.

TT Club seeks to understand the risks experienced in the transport and logistics industry, providing loss prevention advice to operators as appropriate. In this article, the Club focuses on the findings of recent analysis into the risks faced by container terminals.

The following real-life incident can be used as case study to help crew members understand how to properly handle similar occasions and take the appropriate knowledge from an incident of fire on board cargo vessel.

In the light of a recent death of a vessel pilot who died when a gangway separated from a vessel, USCG issued a marine safety alert describing measures to ensure safe operation when it comes to gangways and ladders. This reminds that shipboard equipment that seems quite benign can quickly become a hazard.