Ship Casualty

Salvors Plan for Effective Casualty Response

A 10-point plan for more effective ship casualty response has been put forward by the International Salvage Union (ISU). The plan includes a proposal for an advanced EU “Casualty Response Database”, capable of real-time tracking of large salvage tugs and other key salvage assets. Speaking at the Barcelona Shipping Law Forum today, ISU President Joop Timmermans said: “Some of these measures can be put into place very quickly. Others are for the longer term. All 10, however, would make a useful contribution to improved casualty response. The 10 measures put forward by the ISU President are as follows: · Measure 1: EU adoption of the UK Command and Control model, based around a Ministerial Representative (the “SOSREP” in the UK). Joop Timmermans said: “The bigger the pollution threat, the higher up the political ladder the decision-making – and the top of that ladder is very far away from those who understand ship casualties and salvage. The British approach is simple. Only two individuals are involved. The Salvage Master gets on with the job and the Ministerial Representative – who understands salvage and represents the public interest – can intervene if he is not satisfied. This is a rational basis for quick and sound decision-making.” · Measure 2: swift EU action to implement the June 2002 Maritime Monitoring, Control and Information Directive – which includes an obligation to identify places of refuge for ship casualties and, in addition

Ship Casualty Management Guidelines Book Published

The Nautical Institute and the International Salvage Union (ISU) launch publication to advise responses to a ship casualty The Nautical Institute and the International Salvage Union (ISU) have launched 'Casualty Management Guidelines', a book aimed at providing practical guidelines to help seafarers during a casualty, when demands can be confusing, contradictory, unclear or a combination of all three. In the book masters and crew members are told what to expect from people or

Keeping Machinery Spaces Safe

Fire in the engineroom is one of the largest causes of ship casualties around the world, a fact highlighted in a recent Salvage Association annual review. Finland's Marioff Oy — a well-regarded supplier of fire suppression systems — now offers a dedicated HI-FOG water mist fire protection system for ship's enginerooms. The supplier of water mist fire protection systems for ships is gearing up for unprecedented demand for its tailor made HI-FOG local application system following the May 1999

MCA Delivers Study Results on Bulk Carrier Safety

Key risks to bulk carriers are identified as side shell failure and hatch cover failure Extensive work on bulk carrier safety coordinated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) with international participation is now complete, and a final report of the study results has been submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for consideration at their meeting on December 2nd to December 13th 2002.

Marine Salvage: Having A Bad Day at Sea? Call Your Local Salvor

By John W. Waterhouse, P.E., President, Picture this scenario: It's the middle of the night — 3:30 a.m. to be exact. The phone rings — it's a client is calling to say that a vessel is in distress and our services as an engineering firm are needed. "This is no drill." So many factors are at risk - factors that are not to be taken lightly; people's lives, the environment, and property. How will the next few hours or days play out?

Container Ship Casualty Still All at Sea, 'General Average' Declared

There is still no permission for MSC FLAMINIA to enter a sheltered area or a subsequent emergency port says the ship manager's update. Reederei NSB and the salvage company both remain in contact with all littoral states to acquire this permission. At the same time, MSC FLAMINIA and its accompanying group of tugs have taken a position over 400 nautical miles west of the entrance of The English Channel to avoid bad weather and the expected swell.

IMO Provides Assistance to Red Sea Ferry Investigation

With respect to the ongoing investigation into the al-Salam Boccaccio 98 ferry disaster in the Red Sea on 3 February 2006, IMO wishes to clarify the following. Soon after the accident, IMO responded to a request for assistance in the investigation of the casualty from both the Governments of Egypt and Panama, by making available two independent consultants to provide technical advice to the casualty investigation board established jointly by the two Governments.

iPIRB: Accuracy in Locating Casualties at Sea

Scottish company develops vital new level of accuracy for locating casualties at sea. The new iPIRB, launched by MarineMTS and Telemar UK Limited locates and identifies marine casualties fast so that every effort can be concentrated on rescue and saving life.  The technology was showcased  (Friday 16 November) at a launch hosted by the Maritime Rescue Institute at Stonehaven, and attended by marine industry operators including Taqa Bratani, Shell, Nexen, Marathon and Total

Regional Training Course Held in Hong Kong

A regional training course on marine casualty investigation began on June 3 in Hong Kong, following a reception officiated by the Acting Director of Marine, Tsang Man-ching. The two-week course, to be held from today until next Friday (June 14) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is jointly organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) for practicing marine accident investigators from countries in the Asia

Salvage Law: Limitation of Shipowner’s Liability

By Jim Shirley, from the October 2010 edition of MarineNews In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon casualty there have been a number of proposals put before Congress for new legislation or amendments to existing legislation affecting vessel owners and operators. Many of these relate to liability for damages sustained as a result of the casualty or the oil spill that followed. Perhaps the oldest legislation to which amendment and / or appeal is being sought is a statute passed in 1851 to