Alerts

Indian Ocean/Gulf of Aden - NATO Shipping Center Alert Map NATO Shipping Center has launched a Piracy Alert Map for 30 November.You may view the Alert Map by clicking here.Source: NATO Shipping Center

UK P&I Club informed that significant insurance damage claims can be made if a bulk cargo is damaged, because of leakage of the bilge system into a loaded bulk cargo hold. To reduce the chance of such cargo damage, operators are advised to inspect and test the cargo hold bilge system as part of the routine pre-loading checks of the cargo holds.

NATO Shipping Center Alert Map 6 December 2010 NATO Shipping Center has issued its Alert Map for 6 December 2010.Please refer to the Alert Map.Source: NATO Shipping Center

Skuld Club informed it continues to experience incidents where crew members are exposed to the dangers of parting lines during mooring operations and during surveys, and vessels are seen to have snap-back zones marked within the mooring areas of the vessels, in contradiction of accepted industry best practice.

Recent inspections of PFD revealed a hazard that may prevent donning in case of emergency The US Coast Guard issued a safety alert stating that recent inspections of Type I Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), in both adult and child size, revealed a potential hazard that could prevent proper donning in the event of an emergency. The chest strap on certain PFDs was threaded through the fixed "D" ring that the strap was intended to clip to when worn. Instead of the strap falling away, allowing the wearer to wrap it around himself or herself, the clip end of the strap could snag in the "D" ring. The PFDs known to be affected are: Kent Adult Model 8830 (USCG Approval Number 160.055/184/0) in Lot 53W manufactured in October 2006 and Kent Child Model 8820 (USCG Approval Number 160.055/150/0) in Lot 012T manufactured in March 2008. Vessel owners and operators should examine their PFDs to determine whether any of them present this hazard. If so, the manufacturer should be contacted.Please refer to the full text of the Safety Alert.Source: US Coast Guard

From 1 July 2012, all vessels fitted with an AIS to have their AIS equipment tested annually Operators are reminded that as from 1 July 2012, all vessels fitted with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) will be required to have their AIS equipment tested annually. The test should be conducted during the first Passenger Ship Safety, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment, Cargo Ship Safety Radio or Cargo Ship Safety Certificate survey (as applicable) after 1 July 2012. The survey is to be carried out by a qualified inspector authorised by the Administration or Recognised Organisation.The new requirement is set out in IMO Resolution MSC.308(88) under new regulation 18.9 to Chapter V of SOLAS which states:"The automatic identification system (AIS) shall be subject to an annual test. The test shall be conducted by an approved surveyor or an approved testing or servicing facility. The test shall verify the correct programming of the ship static information, correct data exchange with connected sensors as well as verifying the radio performance by radio frequency measurement and on-air test using, e.g., a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS). A copy of the test report shall be retained on board the ship".Further information on the testing of AIS units...

Repost of piracy activities Alert update 0700 UTC 10JAN11Vega 5 - 0148N 04558E is assessed as being used by pirates for piracy operations. 1626UTC 07JAN11Shiuh Fu No.1 - 1305S 05633E1045UTC 30DEC10 possibly heading back to the anchorage off Somalia. No current update.Gulf of Aden/Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). The monsoon is not effecting small boat operation in the GoA and skiffs blending in the local traffic to conduct piracy can be expected at any time. On Sunday, 02 January, a suspicious skiff was reported operating in the central IRTC. The skiff was subsequently disrupted and is almost certainly pirate-related activity confirming the threat of piracy without or little warning.Arabian Sea/Greater Somali Basin. The weather in the rest of the Arabian Sea, as well as in both the northern and southern Somali Basin, remains favourable for small boat operations and hence pirate operations in areas are not greatly affected by the monsoon. Although sea states are higher along the eastern coast of Somalia the monsoon has not greatly affected the deeper basin.The number of pirated fishing vessels and dhows conducting piracy operations is assessed to be at least five mother ship pirate attack groups (or PAGs) underway in the Arabian Sea...

The North P&I Club informed that Egypt issued guidelines concerning the coronavirus pandemic, providing information and news on the port developments and guidelines that have been implemented.

The Novel Coronavirus outbreak has made headlines from late December when the first victim of the virus was reported in Wuhan, a city in China. Spreading rapidly, the virus is the top priority for the shipping industry with many key players following the tips issued by the World Health Organization on protection and safety.

AMSA has issued an updated Marine Notice that serves as a reminder to operators on the importance of adhering to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (known as the Collision Regulations or COLREGs ) to reduce the risk of collision at sea.