lessons learned

Grounding highlights need of ECDIS alarms in open waters

In the latest edition of its Safety Digest, UK MAIB describes a grounding of a small bulk carrier on a sandbank. The vessel had been following a planned track in the ECDIS, but the ECDIS alarms had been turned off. The ship remained aground for 6 days and was refloated by salvors.

The incident

The second officer had taken over the bridge watch from the master at midnight. The vessel was heading 146˚ in autopilot at 11kts, but during the watch handover the master told the oncoming OOW to shorten...

https://safety4sea.com/grounding-highlights-need-of-ecdis-alarms-in-open-waters/

Lessons learned: Language differences lead to collision

The UK MAIB issued the second edition of its ‘Safety Digest’, providing useful lessons learned from maritime casualties it has encountered. In the first case of the report, UK MAIB describes a collision between two vessels that occurred from misunderstanding due to language differences.

The incident

A large bulk carrier was approaching a laden oil tanker in a traffic lane of a traffic separation scheme. With a speed of 16kts, the bulk carrier was the overtaking vessel, and as both vessels were...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-language-differences-lead-to-collision/

Serious eye injury during maintenance of fresh water steriliser

In UK Club’s latest ‘Lessons Learned’ article, Captain David Nichol describes a case of a serious eye injury of an engineer while conducting maintenance of fresh water steriliser. The analysis identified that the injured man had not been wearing any face protection, while a proper risk assessment had not been conducted.

The incident

The incident occurred while two of the vessel’s engineers were performing maintenance on the U.V. steriliser of the fresh water generator in port. The work involved...

https://safety4sea.com/serious-eye-injury-during-maintenance-of-fresh-water-steriliser/

USCG: Steps taken three years after El Faro disaster

Three years after the sinking of El Faro, the deadliest shipping disaster in US’ recent history, Rear Adm. John Nadeau, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy reiterated the US Coast Guard’s moves to drive change against shipping tragedies.

The 790-foot, cargo vessel ‘El Faro’, en route from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, sank on 1 October 2015, in the Atlantic Ocean during Hurricane Joaquin, taking the lives of all 33 aboard.

Since then, the Coast Guard has continued to look...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-steps-taken-three-years-after-el-faro-disaster/

Lessons learned: Toolbox meeting could have prevented broken leg

In the latest edition of its Lookout publication, Maritime NZ describes a case of a severe leg injury onboard a dredge, highlighting that the owner company employed an engineering firm to assist with a repair and did not hold a meeting with the engineering firm and all staff members (including the victim) to make everyone aware of any possible risks.

The incident

While maintenance was being carried out on the pump, two men in the engine room were preparing equipment for reassembly. When the main...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-toolbox-meeting-could-have-prevented-broken-leg/

Lessons learned from deadly explosion during tank cleaning

Hong Kong Marine Department shared valuable lessons learned from a violent explosion that occurred at the port side manifold on main deck of an oil/chemical tanker during cargo tank cleaning operation. The incident resulted in one death and five other injuries. The statement advised that all crew of oil/chemical tankers should familiarize themselves with the cargo manifold piping arrangement and follow the ship instruction on handling leaky valves of cargo pipeline.

The incident

A Hong Kong...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-from-deadly-explosion-during-tank-cleaning/

Proper maintenance crucial for emergency exit hatches

In a recent IMCA report, the association informs of an incident when the port side emergency exit to deck from the steering gear room failed to open during an inspection, due to inappropriate locking arrangements.

The incident

A port side emergency exit to deck from the steering gear room failed to open during an inspection by shore-side management. What is more, inappropriate locking arrangements were found used for various emergency exit hatches located on both sides of the main deck.

Probable...

https://safety4sea.com/proper-maintenance-crucial-for-emergency-exit-hatches/

Fire broke out on board vessel due to overloading of multiplug

An incident on board a vessel which almost escalated into a serious accommodation fire. A crew member plugged his mobile phone into an extension cable to charge. In addition, plugged into the extension cable was a fan heater. Shortly afterwards the ship’s fire detection system indicated alarms in near cabins.

The incident

A crew member finished his work for the day and returned to his cabin. He plugged his mobile phone into an extension cable to charge; also plugged into the extension cable was a...

https://safety4sea.com/fire-broke-out-on-board-vessel-due-to-overloading-of-multiplug/

Main engine reduced to idle speed after control module failure

IMCA informed of an offshore support vessel (OSV) that was underway and received the error message , after a sudden drop of starboard main engine RPM was observed.

The incident

An offshore support vessel (OSV) was underway to field loaded with cargo when a sudden drop of starboard main engine RPM was noted.

The main engine dialog screen gave the error message . The engineers informed the bridge immediately. Investigation began, while the onshore office and the client were also informed.

It was...

https://safety4sea.com/main-engine-reduced-to-idle-speed-after-control-module-failure/

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