Tankship Operators Complain They Get Short End of the SIRE Stick
The Ship Inspection Report (SIRE) programme developed by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) intended that tanker inspection reports should be shared by all OCIMF members. They are not. The cost of inspections should be shared by both parties. They are not. And to make matters worse, ship operators often have to pay the costs of luxury travel for inspectors. INTERTANKO's Chairman, Graham Westgarth of GasLog Ltd, who had been re-elected for a third two-year term as Chairman of the Association…
Videotel Works with Industry for Chemical Tanker Training
Chemical Tanker safety comes into sharp focus in a new training course from leading maritime training provider Videotel Marine International. The newly-launched Advanced Chemical Tanker Course has been developed in conjunction with the Chemical Distribution Institute (CDI), with the involvement of some of the biggest names in the chemical tanker industry. Nigel D. Cleave, Videotel CEO, explained the thinking behind the initiative, “Chemical companies employ some of the highest quality workforce and demand the highest quality training for that workforce.
Safety Data Sheets for Chemical Tankers
Intertanko, the International Parcel Tankers Association (IPTA), the Chemical Distribution Institute (CDI), the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) and the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council (DGAC) have completed a comprehensive information paper on the requirements for Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for Chemical Tankers. This information paper brings together the regulatory requirements and guidance governing the provision of SDS and outlines the key information that should be contained in a safety data sheet. This paper is intended to serve as a single point of reference for seafarers, owners and shippers. SDSs are documents which convey hazard information to anyone who may be involved in the preparation, handling, use and/or carriage of substances of mixtures that may be hazardous.
Dangers of Chemical Cargo Misdescription
The London P&I Club reported that one of its members recently suffered an onboard fire as a result of the wilful misdescription by shippers of a chemical cargo. London P&I warns that there is a danger of further such incidents occurring, given the nature of modern transport logistics. The cargo involved was calcium hypochlorite, a chemical in widespread use throughout the world, most commonly in the treatment and purification of water, and which has some inherent properties which can make it extremely dangerous. For example, if it becomes too hot, or contaminated with impurities, a reaction may set in, leading to fire or explosion. Several such incidents occurred in the late 1990s, some involving explosions in onboard containers which resulted in extensive damage to large oceangoing ships.
Downloading a Solution
Stricter environmental regulations and soaring fuel prices have vessel owners and operators looking for innovative means to drive their vessels more efficiently and cost-effectively. Shipowners and operators faced with mounting fuel costs and tightening environmental regulations are looking at a big hit to the bottom line, and savvy owners are searching for solutions that show promise to reduce operating costs and emissions. While everything is on the table — from modernized machinery to more efficient coatings — the recent improvement in communications alternatives between ship and shore (ie.
