safe navigation

(FAQs) New Safe ECDIS Guidance by OCIMF

In a major development, the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has launched its latest information paper, which provides guidance on how to improve policies and procedures concerning the safe use of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), says an article published on their website.

What is it?

ECDIS has proven to be a very useful tool for the shipping industry, providing navigational charts and data needed for a safe navigation, while the voyage is planned easier...

https://mfame.guru/faqs-new-safe-ecdis-guidance-by-ocimf/

Recommendations for safe navigation in high water US rivers

The year 2019 was a rough year for safe navigation in Mississippi River, with major flooding in the US Midwest. This flood risk remains a serious concern for 2020 also, as the Mississippi River had already exceeded the monitoring threshold of 15 feet by late February 2020.

Although high water in the lower Mississippi River normally begins to fall by June, high levels continued in July 2019 when Hurricane Barry moved into the Gulf of Mexico. As such, water levels and flood risks remained high in...

https://safety4sea.com/recommendations-for-safe-navigation-in-high-water-us-rivers/

Importance of navigational risk reviews

Over the last 10 years there has been a general increase in the number of claims which relate to the broad description of navigational incidents. These include groundings, collisions and contacts with fixed and floating objects (FFO). Thus, Mr. Clive Rees, Senior Surveyor, the Standard Club notes that the numbers of the relevant pool claims, named because the costs of those claims exceed the retention levels of the individual P&I clubs, are as follows: – grounding 44, collision 45 and FFO 46.

Fig...

https://safety4sea.com/importance-of-navigational-risk-reviews/

Book of the month: A first of its kind guide to safe navigation of lifeboats

Abandon ship is the top challenging situation a mariner could face in his or her career. The risky task is, not only to launch the lifeboat and complete safe embarkation, but also to safely navigate this lifeboat in the high seas until rescued.

Maintaining safety in such conditions -where the panic of passengers for example, could adversely affect safety of the boat- is an extra challenging task, reminding that training in safe water can hardly prepare a mariner for the hazards encountered in...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-book-of-the-month-a-first-of-its-kind-guide-to-safe-navigation-of-lifeboats/

UK MAIB: Lessons learned on the importance of passage planning

Following investigation on the grounding and loss of fishing vessel Coelleira off Scotland, UK MAIB issued a safety flyer to the fishing industry sharing key lessons learned on the importance of passage planning to safe navigation.

The incident

At about 0124 on 4 August 2019, while on passage from fishing grounds, the 30m long-liner Coelleira grounded on Ve Skerries, a group of low-lying reefs 3nm north-west of Papa Stour on the west coast of Shetland, Scotland.

The vessel’s 15 crew quickly...

https://safety4sea.com/uk-maib-lessons-learned-on-the-importance-of-passage-planning/

IntelliTug autonomous project completes its sea trials

The technology group Wärtsilä in collaboration with PSA Marine successfully completed IntelliTug project’s sea trials. In fact, through their initiative both sides aim to further enable autonomous navigation.

Specifically, IntelliTug was carried out in Singapore, while the trials first started back in September 2019.

These trials are Singapore’s first for commercial Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) with the use of the MPA MASS regulatory sandbox, which has been established to facilitate...

https://safety4sea.com/intellitug-autonomous-project-completes-its-sea-trials/

NTSB investigation: Contact of towing vessel with bridge in high current conditions

The US NTSB issued an investigation report on the contact of towing vessel Rivers Wilson and its tow with Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge on the Tombigbee River, in March 2019. There was one minor injury as a result. The investigation stressed issues associated with poor judgement in high current conditions.

The incident

On 10 March 2019, the towing vessel Rivers Wilson, with 8 crew members onboard, was pushing six loaded barges.

At 0100 local time, the vessel contacted the Norfolk Southern...

https://safety4sea.com/ntsb-investigation-contact-of-towing-vessel-with-bridge-in-high-current-conditions/

Book of the month: Have you ever wondered how heavy weather develops?

Heavy weather at sea is a deadly serious and always relevant safety issue, as inappropriate manipulations in such conditions may lead to damage of a vessel, threatening the cargo, the environment or, even worse, human life.

A book, entitled ‘Heavy Weather Avoidance and Route Design: Concepts and Applications of 500 Mb Charts’, is combining the knowledge of a Captain with that of a senior meteorologist, to address this always imminent safety risk and become a fit-for-purpose guide to safe...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-book-of-the-month-have-you-ever-wondered-how-heavy-weather-develops/

Cargo vessel grounds on channel buoys as no one monitors vessel position

The Swedish Club presents another collision incidents from its Navigational Claims issue, according to which a dry cargo vessel collided on channel buoys, as none of the seafarers onboard were checking the position of the vessel on the chart, radar, or by any other means than visually.

The Incident

A dry cargo vessel picked the pilot and was heading towards the fairway to the port, while on the bridge was the Master, the pilot, the OOW and the helmsman. The Third Officer was the OOW and had...

https://safety4sea.com/cargo-vessel-grounds-on-channel-buoys-as-no-one-monitors-vessel-position/

Lessons Learned: Always double-check the passage plan

The Swedish Club’s Navigational Claims issue highlights the importance of double-checking the vessel’s passage plan to ensure that the vessel’s navigational path is correct according to all data entered into the navigational equipment.

During night time and with low visibility because of rain, a 700 TEU container vessel was sailing near the coast towards its next port of call. The Master had approved the passage plan and the Second Officer was on the bridge. Therefore, the OOW (Second Officer)...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-always-double-check-the-passage-plan/

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