Free Silent Assassin Video Available

The Case Of The Silent Assassin

In September 2007, after broadcasting several audio podcasts and blog posts on the subject we realised that confined space/enclose space casualties were disturbingly common and seemed to be a major issue that wasn’t going away. We wanted to do something, however modest, to help address the situation. We discussed the issue with IDESS Interactive Technologies, which shared our concerns, and we agreed to collaborate in the production of three animated versions of MAC podcasts of which the first was to The Case Of The Silent Assassin, based on the Sapphire incident investigated by Ron Strathdee of the Isle Of Man registry.

Below is a low-resolution Flash version to keep bandwidth down. A full resolution version for DVD will be available shortly for download also at no cost.

If you would like a copy of the full version please csa@maritimeaccident.org.

Tuesday, 5 May , 2009 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Step Change Lifting Guidelines Revised

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Step Change in Safety has revised its Lifting and Mechanical Handling Guidelines.

These guidelines define the responsibilities, training, competencies and assessment of those involved in lifting and mechanical handling operations. They set out a structured approach to the planning of safe lifting.

For more information Click Here

Friday, 20 March , 2009 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , , , , | No Comments »

Maritime Safety News – 9th March 2009

Got news? Email it to news@maritimeaccident.org

Australian seaman dies from injuries
Sydney Morning Herald – Sydney,Australia
The cruise ship was moored in Napier and its 70 to 80 passengers were ashore at the time of the accident. Maritime New Zealand and the Transport Accident

Cargo ship capsizes in Red Sea
Radio Netherlands – Netherlands
A cargo ship has sunk in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. The bodies of three crewmembers have been recovered, but 17 are still missing.

Missing drilling unit found near site of tanker
Dallas Morning News – Dallas,TX,USA
… remotely operated underwater vehicle retraced the tank ship’s course to investigate and found the ENSCO 74 near where the ship was before the accident.

PCG intensifies search for two missing fishermen; seizure of light …
Manila Bulletin – Philippines
Taken from its vessel were a Global Positioning System, ten pieces of super light bulb and one microphone. Recovered on the crime scene were 19 empty shells

14 seamen rescued after cargo ship hits sunken vessel off east China
Xinhua – China
The ship, registered in Dongying City, Shandong, collided with a sunken vessel 15 nautical miles south of Shidao Port in Weihai City and was sinking,

Palma port admits fault for MSC accident
TTG live – UK
MSC denied that the accident was due to faults on the ship and lodged an official complaint with the local port authorities, which have now confirmed their

Seaman sues over shower fall during barge collision
Southeast Texas Record – Beaumont,TX,USA
During the collision, McAfee claims he was “violently thrown against the wall of the vessel’s shower, causing injuries to his shoulder and low back and .

Norwegian police let detained Russian cargo ship leave Bodo port
RIA Novosti – Moscow,Russia
The Russian ship, the Mekhanik Tyulenev, is suspected of involvement in the collision with a Norwegian fishing boat, the Marina.

Man arrested after Cork ferry accident
RTE.ie – Ireland
Navy divers working with the Department of the Marine vessel Celtic Voyager are searching for the car, which has not yet been located, contrary to earlier

Salvage operations underway to rescue trawler
Weekend Post – Port Elizabeth,South Africa
The distress call after the collision was received at about 9.12pm last night. … Marine and Coastal Management vessel, the Lillian Ngoyi brought in 26

Tuesday, 10 March , 2009 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , , , , | No Comments »

ROV Bites Back

One lesson from a recent IMCA safety alert: RTFM – Read The Flipping Manual or you might end up taking it on the chin.

According to the safety alert, during a major refit of a vessel-based work-class remotely

operated vehicle ,ROV, spread an ROV pilot technician received an injury to the chin which needed a total of six stitches.

He was servicing the manipulator and had restrained the compensator spring and removed the bladder assembly. The perspex spring housing showed signs of contamination and it was decided to dismantle it further for cleaning.

The compensator spring housing was not user serviceable according to the Schilling maintenance manual. In attempting to remove the spring, the stored energy in the spring was instantly released in an uncontrolled manner and the process the ROV technician sustained an impact injury to the chin.

Says IMCA:

“Following investigation the following conclusions were drawn:

? This was a high potential incident as the consequences of the uncontrolled energy release could have been much worse;

? The instructions and warnings clearly stated in the manual were not followed;

? Components with stored energy (mechanical and/or electrical) should always be treated with respect.

The company has recommended the following actions:

? The removal of the compensator spring on these compensators is not a user serviceable task and units should be returned to the manufacturer’s approved agents for servicing;

? Ensure sufficient spares are available on each ROV spread.”

Monday, 20 October , 2008 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , | No Comments »

The Case Of the Fallen Saviour

Compared to other launch systems,
free-fall lifeboat accidents are relatively rare.
This one was just a drop in the ocean.

Listen To The Podcast


PLEASE READ HERE FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE

Main Page

Saturday, 6 September , 2008 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Closed

Watch That FRC Winch

From Marine Safety Forum

As part of an abandon ship exercise there was an emergency launch of the FRC. When recovering the FRC the davit winch did not seem to have full power. Just as the FRC was a deck level it started to fall. The davit driver was unable to hold the FRC, and it suddenly fell approximately 3 metres and landed in the water. The FRC crew member injured his leg.

Following x-ray it is confirmed that both bones in leg are broken and will require surgery.

Injured Person likely to be off work for 6/8 weeks.

Immediate Cause

Mechanical failure in the winch motor caused the FRC to fall. In this situation there is no brake that may stop the winch wire from running out.

Mechanical Failure

The motor is being investigated by the supplier to look for causes of failure. The maintenance of the motor was up to date and the maintenance and certification of the FRC/Davit system is up to date.

Conclusion

It was agreed between the investigation parties that his incident occurred due to a technical failure in the winch motor. The winch motor has been removed and sent to the davit supplier for further investigation.

Vessel Actions

• The Master has decided that no Crew members will be on board the FRC when conducting emergency launching exercises

• Improvement to the davit system is required to avoid misunderstandings during operations

• Training in the use of the davit – at present only one Officer is trained for the davit operation – more persons to undergo training.

Monday, 25 August , 2008 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , , , , | Comments Closed

CO2 – Adventures and Hazards

Sorry, but you do not have permission to view this content.

Tuesday, 19 August , 2008 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Closed

Failed Evacuation – A Canterbury Tale

Take nothing for granted when seawater is involved might be one of the messages of the preliminary report on the failure of two Marin-Ark evacuation systems aboard the P&O ro-ro ferry Pride of Canterbury issued by Britain’s Maritime Accident Investigation Branch.


Correct deployment of Marin-Ark System (source: RFD Ltd)

Often regarded as a safer alternative to traditional evacuation by lifeboat for passenger ships, the Marin-Ark system, manufactured by RFD Ltd. of Belfast, involves dropping a chute from the ship with a liferaft built-in and passengers or crew sliding down into the waiting liferaft. One fatality is recorded in a chute-type escape system, when the casualty was jammed in a ‘piked’ position with the chute and suffocated but the system has been regarded as generally reliable.

On 1st February this year one of the Marin-Ark systems installed between decks on the Pride Of Canterbury was given an annual test as part of a joint European inspection. As the carriage mounted on hydraulic rams moved outboard to lower the chute and liferaft it caught on the outer doors, which had only partially opened. The carriage continued to move forward and upwards, twisted, broke deck plates loose and sheared the hydraulic rams off their mountings.

However, the liferafts were still tipped off the carriage, landed in the water and inflated as normal. It wasn’t possible to check how securely the chutes were attached and it was considered too dangerous to use them.

The second system was initiated but again fouled on the outer doors. The carriage was still able to move into the correct position and the rafts and chutes deployed normally. When the liferafts were being bowsed-in against the ship, however, the aluminium-clad stainless steel bowsing wires parted under tension.

Investigation showed that, even though the equipment was designed for the maritime environment, the hinges of the outer doors, which were mounted outside the ship, were fouled by salt and corrosion which prevented them from opening. This went unnoticed because there were no instructions to test or maintain the door hinges and the only time they were in use was during the annual inspection.

Similarly, the aluminium channels through which the stainless steel bowsing wires travelled were choked by corrosion, which prevented them moving freely.

Says the report: “The manufacturers inspected all other vessels fitted with similar equipment, and satisfied themselves that the equipment would function if required. They undertook a detailed technical investigation into the incidents and, in consultation with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, developed modifications to prevent similar faults from occurring in the future. The system was subsequently demonstrated on board Pride of Canterbury and the sister ship Pride of Kent, and found to work correctly.”

So, just because equipment is designed or intended to be virtually maintenance free and suitable for the marine environment, it pays not to take them for granted, and not to wait until an inspection to find out they don’t work as required.

Friday, 27 June , 2008 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Maritime Safety News – 17th-20th June 2008

2 workers killed, 5 hurt in shipyard mishap
Straits Times – Singapore
Fourteen others were hurt in the explosion on the Rainbow Star. No explosion took place on Wednesday on board the ship that was being converted into a

Posted 06/18/08 at 08:42 AM

A 52-year-old Surrey man died after being crushed between two barges at a log sorting operation near Crofton, Canada.com reported. The accident occurred just before midnight while the men were working on barges towed by tugboats in the Shoal Island area, near the Catalyst mill in Crofton

Labrador freighter runs aground
Western Star – Corner Brook,Newfoundland and Labrador,Canada
The Canadian Coast Guard received a distress call at around 1:30 am The ship’s 13 crew members abandoned the vessel in a life boat.

New Jersey – passengers ferried ashore after cruise vessel becomes disabled

The US Coast Guard issued a press release stating that the passengers and crew of a 62-foot long harbor cruise vessel were transported ashore after the vessel’s propellers became entangled.

Edinburgh ship blaze could take week to bring under control, warn …
Glasgow Daily Record – Glasgow,Scotland,UK
A BLAZE severely damaging a ship could take until the end of the week to extinguish, fire chiefs said yesterday. Ten firefighters are tackling the blaze on

UK. Torbay RNLI Lifeboat aids sinking fishing vessel; tows to Brixham
BYM News (press release) – Gibraltar,Spain
A nearby fishing vessel, the Marina, responded to the Pan Pan and proceeded to the sinking vessel. The Marina was requested to stand by the vessel until the .

Regulator failed to check vessel’s safety: coroner
Queensland’s maritime safety regulator failed to inspect an unseaworthy Torres Strait-based vessel in the years before a deckhand fell to his death, the state’s coroner has found.

Queensland coroner Michael Barnes found Maritime Safety Queensland had not inspected the vessel, The Alert, operated by company Torres Pilots for years prior to the 2004 death of 55-year-old Phillemon Mosby, despite receiving complaints that it was unsafe.

German-Based Operator of Ship and Chief Engineer Plead Guilty to …
Biloxi Sun Herald – MS, USA
“The company and chief engineer used the ocean as a dumping ground for waste oil and tried to cover that up,” said David M. Dillon, Special Agent-in-Charge,

Boats, words collide in dispute between marina and shipper
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Milwaukee,WI,USA
By TOM DAYKIN A long-simmering dispute between two Milwaukee businesses has boiled over after a cargo ship operated by St. Marys Cement Inc. collided Monday

9 Non-British Ships Under Detention in the Uk During May

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that 9 foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during May 2008 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection. read more.

Liquefied Natural Gas Tankers Remain Giant Terror Targets
The Cutting Edge – Washington,DC,USA
Foreign seafarers are not. US mariners will be subject to terrorism background checks through the TSA. Foreign Seafarers are not.

Somalia, French firm sign pact to tackle piracy.
By David Barouski(David Barouski)
Mombasa-based Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP) says the move is laudable as it could enhance security of vessels and crew noting that many seagoing vessels and maritime insurers have been avoiding Somali coast because of piracy

Oil dealers raise alarm over danger of big spill at port
Business Daily Africa – Nairobi,Kenya
Marketers raise fears that KPA and the Kenya Maritime Authority may not have capacity to manage a spill of more than 1000 metric tonnes.

Singapore – IMO unique owner and registered owner ID number scheme

The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular reminding owners and operators that, effective 1 January 2009, the IMO unique company and registered owner identification (ID) number must be reflected in a number of ship’s documents.  This includes the Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR), the Document of Compliance, the Safety Management Certificate (SMC), and the International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC), among others. Shipping Circular No. 11 of 2008 (6/16/08).

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Friday, 20 June , 2008 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Finger Chopper Match Results: Second Engineer 2, Fan 3

It was a routine task which left the second engineer three finger short after an encounter with a fan.

The MSF safety flash goes thusly:
A Second Engineer was taking a water sample from the air cooler radiator of an air compressor. He was closing the drain sample point using a spanner held in his left hand and had his right hand on the cooling fan guard at a point where there was a gap in the guard. At that moment the compressor started on auto start. Unfortunately he lost the 3 middle fingers of his right hand.

Lessons learned:
• The guard was not complete around the cooling fan as a small segment had been left for maintenance purposes. This does not appear to have been recognised as a hazard before this accident. Ships management and external inspectors should ensure a critical look is taken at work places during area inspections to identify such hazards.

• The sample drain under the radiator pointed towards the compressor when it could easily have been turned 180 degrees so it could be accessed from a safer position in front of the radiator.

• The isolation of this compressor was not consistently done when water samples were taken on a routine basis. There was no risk assessment or job card to highlight isolation during water sampling.

• It might also be considered that isolating machinery in such a case should be standard engineering practice.
• Chief Engineers should satisfy themselves that the correct level of supervision is in place for all tasks in machinery spaces.

• Routine tasks should receive proper care and attention. Where formal risk assessments are not considered necessary it may be prudent to develop work routines or job cards which state the controls which are required. The Step Change in Safety “Task Risk Assessment Guide” contains useful advice on this.

Wednesday, 21 May , 2008 | bobcouttie | Tags: , , | No Comments »
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