IIMS November 2024 News Bulletin

Welcome to the November News Bulletin brought to you by IIMS. It has been another busy month and we have some essential news and industry comments for you to read and digest.

See below for a small selection of stories taken from the more in-depth bulletin.

Click to read the November news bulletin in pdf format , or if you prefer click for the eReader version .

Two 'Lite' podcast versions are also available. Click to listen to the podcast for small craft surveyors (run time 23 minutes). For the commercial ship surveyor podcast, listen here (run time 25 minutes).

IMO issues amendments to lifeboat maintenance and inspection requirements?

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued resolution MSC.559(108) amending the requirements for the maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul, and repair of lifeboats, rescue boats, launching appliances, and release gear.?

The amendments aim to keep safety protocols current, particularly concerning ventilation systems for totally enclosed lifeboats. This is in response to advancements in safety practices and lessons learned from past incidents.?

The resolution recalls previous decisions, notably Resolution MSC.402(96), which set forth the initial requirements for the maintenance and examination of lifesaving equipment. The amendments align with updates made in Resolution MSC.535(107) regarding ventilation.?

Specific amendments to requirements.

The amendments include detailed procedures for annual inspections and operational tests. Key aspects of the new inspection protocols for lifeboats and rescue boats include:?

- Structural Examination: Inspecting the boat structure, including both fixed and loose equipment, and conducting visual checks of void spaces where possible.?

- Engine and Propulsion System: Assessing the condition and functionality of the engine and propulsion systems to ensure safe operation.?

- Safety Systems: Checking installed systems such as sprinklers, air supply, and maneuvering systems to confirm they are operational.?

- Power Supply: Evaluating the power supply systems to ensure reliability in emergency situations.?

- Bailing and Fender Systems: Inspecting the bailing systems and fender/skate arrangements for effective water management and stability.?

- Righting System: For rescue boats, ensuring that the righting systems are functioning correctly, which is vital for crew safety.?

- Ventilation System: Assessing ventilation systems to ensure they are in good working order, particularly for enclosed lifeboats.?

The amendments will come into force on 1 January 2026.?

Always inspect all pilot and embarkation ladders to ensure they are genuine

The Liberia Maritime Authority (LISCR) has published a notice to provide guidance to vessel owners, operators and managers on compliance and maintenance of pilot and embarkation ladders, including notification on counterfeit products and the latest developments from IMO.

The Flag Administration says that several advisories have been issued recently concerning counterfeit pilot and embarkation ladders. In one case, a company copied a certified product and created their own counterfeit certificate for their pilot ladder and then sold the counterfeit product to customers who thought they were purchasing the genuine item.

In another case, a failed embarkation ladder, which caused serious injury to a surveyor, was found to be counterfeit and included incomplete markings and the use of step fixtures of poor quality.

Read the story in full

Transport Canada launches national trial for remote vessel inspections

Transport Canada has issued Ship Safety Bulletin No. 23/2024 regarding the launch of a national trial for remote inspections of vessels loading grain and concentrates in bulk.

This trial will run from September 2024 to September 2025 and is part of Transport Canada's broader efforts to modernize the marine inspection process. The primary goal is to determine whether remote inspections can be as effective as physical, in-person inspections in ensuring compliance with the Cargo, Fumigation, and Tackle Regulations (CFTR), which are key to safeguarding maritime safety.

Purpose of the trial. The trial seeks to gather data that will enable Transport Canada to compare the efficacy and efficiency of remote versus physical inspections. Both methods will be tested on a select number of vessels, allowing for direct comparisons. The remote inspections will focus on "Readiness to Load" (RTL) inspections, which are required before vessels can load grain or concentrates in bulk for export from Canadian ports.

Potential impact of the trial. The results of this trial will have far-reaching implications for the future of marine safety in Canada. If remote inspections prove to be as effective as traditional inspections, Transport Canada may integrate this method into their broader inspection protocols.

Click for full details

Make sure CO2 bottle safety pins are removed?

The Marine Safety Forum published a Safety Alert on an incident where upon inspection it was discovered that CO2 bottles for the engine room fire suppression system still had their safety pins in.??

The incident??

Following a major refit/dry docking, a vessel departed port and sailed to its area of operation to complete the works and prepare for commercial availability. Upon arrival, the Flag State inspected the vessel and found that all the CO2 bottles for the engine room fire suppression system still had their safety pins in place. This meant that if there had been an engine room fire, the crew would have been unable to remotely activate the suppression system, severely hindering any deployment.?

The CO2 safety pins had been inserted at the start of the docking as per normal practice. After the vessel left the dry dock and was moored, a third party was scheduled to test the fire suppression system. The safety pins remained in place during these tests, and the third party left them in situ while testing the CO2 heads. Following the tests, the company claimed the system was back in service, but it became apparent that the pins were not removed and were missed during pre-sailing/pre-undocking checks.?

Upon investigation, it was found that the work on the system had been conducted without a Permit to Work, which is required by the vessel owner’s procedures for complex tasks involving the CO2 system. If a Permit to Work had been issued, the failure to remove the pins would likely have been caught during the system inspection and permit closure.?

P&I Club Britannia shares lessons learned following death of fumigation contractor

Britannia P&I Club has published an incident case study after two fumigation contractors asphyxiated on a bulk carrier. The unexpected incident occurred onboard the vessel nearing the completion of loading corn cargo, which resulted in the death of one contractor. Before the incident, the cargo holds had been closed for six days, leading to depleted oxygen levels inside. This incident highlights the dangers of closed cargo holds, the lack of awareness about hazardous conditions, and the human tendency to help others in distress without considering personal safety.

Conclusion. Enclosed space-related accidents on board ships are mostly caused by insufficient knowledge or disregard for necessary precautions, rather than a lack of guidance. Shortcomings in the attempt to rescue and the use of improper equipment highlight the need for more awareness, training and drills. When a large number of shore workers board, it is difficult for the ship’s crew to monitor all their actions. However, this should be discussed with the person in charge of the shore workers and a system should be agreed for control of work. Access control to all dangerous spaces on board is paramount. In an emergency rescue, the atmosphere of an enclosed space should be considered unsafe unless confirmed otherwise, and proper procedures should be followed. Rescue operations should only be conducted by properly trained and equipped personnel.

Read the report

MAIB issues safety bulletin after fishing vessel sinks leaving 13 dead

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is urging owners, operators and skippers of fishing vessels fitted with side shell doors to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessment of watertight integrity. Argos Georgia was a longline fishing vessel registered in St Helena. The vessel foundered while on passage from Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands to fishing grounds near the island of South Georgia. Of the 27 persons people on board, 13 perished.

The ongoing investigation has found that the shell door on the starboard side of Argos Georgia descended slowly into the fully open position. This allowed significant quantities of water to enter the vessel.

Safety Issues

• The means of maintaining the shell door in the closed position did not ensure it remained shut when not in use
• The crew was unable to close the shell door once it had opened; and
• The doors in the boundary of the flooded compartment were in the open position, allowing consequential flooding of adjacent spaces
• - The crew was unable to close the boundary doors to the hauling compartment.

Download the safety bulletin

India launches its own centre for maritime arbitration?

In the ongoing revamp of its shipping sector, India has established its first maritime arbitration centre. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) with the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) to launch the new India International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre (IIMDRC) in Mumbai.???

This marks a major milestone in promoting India as a global destination for maritime dispute resolution, especially through arbitration and mediation. Currently, London, Singapore and Hong Kong dominate in the maritime dispute resolution market. While MoPSW said that IIMDRC is designed to handle global cases, it primarily seeks to align with the government’s “Resolve in India” initiative. Essentially, Indian maritime companies will be obligated to work with IIMDRC instead of other foreign centres.?

November news shorts

UK Canal & River Trust 2023/24 Annual Report & Accounts published

The rising cost of looking after the Trust’s 2,000-mile canal network is reported, with two years of high inflation significantly pushing up many of the Trust’s maintenance costs. This underscores the challenge presented by the Government grant settlement, announced in July 2023, with steep funding cuts to be applied from 2027.

Click to download the report and accounts.

AkzoNobel to cut 2,000 jobs?

The Dutch paint and coatings producer said in its statement: “AkzoNobel has announced the next steps to reduce cost and to enhance the efficiency of its functions. This initiative is designed to simplify operations, accelerate decision-making, and streamline the company’s management structure. A key element of the plan involves a reduction of around 2,000 positions globally.”?

Global charity requests archival material donations for historic maritime collection?

Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s Heritage and Education Centre (HEC) is seeking donations of archival material and artefacts from businesses and the public to enhance its already extensive maritime history collection. This request follows the completion of a major project to digitise and catalogue the centre’s extensive Ship Plan and Survey Report Collection.?

The HEC team welcomes anyone with an archive collection to get in touch. Go to https://bit.ly/4e3JM2B .??

AMSA marine notice 08/2024 – Planned maintenance on ships

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued update 08/2024 – Planned maintenance on ships. The purpose of the notice showcases the importance of planned maintenance in ensuring safe operation of ships, and highlights AMSA’s focus on planned maintenance during Port State Control (PSC) inspections.

Read in more detail about the required maintenance of ship and equipment and AMSA’s PSC inspections.

Classification societies join forces to form Yacht Safety and Environmental Consortium

Leading global classification societies Lloyd's Register (LR), RINA, DNV, Bureau Veritas (BV) and ABS, announce the establishment of the Yacht Safety and Environmental Consortium (YSEC) at the Monaco Yacht Show 2024.