Fire Safety Systems News

A Liberian-flagged containership operated by MSC Shipmanagement Ltd (MSC) has been banned from Australian ports for 90 days over a long list of safety failures and deficiencies, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.AMSA said it issued a refusal of access direction notice to the MSC Kymea II following months of sub-standard performance from the ship’s operator, including critical maintenance issues.The agency's inspection of the vessel found 21 deficiencies in total, including a defective free fall lifeboat steering system, defective fire safety systems, dangerously-stored flammable materials, and multiple wasted or missing…

The most important of all international maritime safety conventions is the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The first version was adopted at a conference in London in 1914. The catalyst for this conference was the sinking of the Titanic on her first voyage in April 1912, which cost the lives of more than 1,500 passengers. This was the beginning of the journey that put in place a regulatory framework to protect those who work and travel by sea.Whilst the sinking of the Titanic was not fire-related…

As the maritime industry continues to develop and test the technologies required for safe autonomous vessel operations, many regulatory questions have remained.Setting out to help answer some of these questions, the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has recently completed a regulatory scoping exercise to analyze relevant ship safety treaties, in order to assess how maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) could be regulated.The scoping exercise was initiated in 2017 to determine how safe…

Classification society ClassNK has released amendments to its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships.The 48 amendments were issued on 3June 30, including the following items:Regarding “Oil-lubricated Propeller Shafts Kind 1”, the notation requirements to affix “1C” to the classification characters of the ships fitted with oil-lubricated propeller shafts (Kind 1C), which have a reputation for being highly reliable by various means not only to prevent corrosion damage to stern tube bearings but also to facilitate general maintenance and management more easily…

The latest technology can detect the risk of an on board electrical fire – before it ignites. It’s not too late to incorporate this feature into your next workboat design.Fire on board always poses a risk to life, although certain vessels such as passenger ships present a particular danger because they carry a large number of people, and tens of millions around the world use them as a method of transport annually. However, a fire on any type of vessel, including the vast number and array of workboats…

Hatteland Display released a new 43 inch premium quality display as part of its Series X MVD product family. Hatteland Display’s latest UHD system features the same 4K panel technology as existing Series X MVD variants, all of which are designed to deliver the brightest, clearest picture for the safe and effective operation of bridge navigation and control systems.With 3840 × 2160 pixels compared to 1920 x 1080 on Full High Definition (FHD) displays, UHD is a significant technology improvement that empowers maritime technology manufacturers to develop new…

The new mandatory code for ships fuelled by gases or other low-flashpoint fuels was adopted by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), when it met at the Organization's London headquarters for its 95th session from June 3-12, 2015. The Committee also placed unsafe mixed migration by sea on its agenda and considered cyber security matters and passenger ship safety. It adopted new ships’ routing measures and approved a number of circulars arising from items put forward by the subcommittees.

U.S. Coast Guard personnel on Monday detained the oil tanker Overseas Jademar in Port Angeles after several safety violations were discovered during a port state control exam. Marshall Island-flagged tanker Overseas Jademar was en route from Malaysia to Anacortes, Washington to offload cargo when Port State Control officers from Sector Puget Sound found several significant safety violations during a port state control exam. The ship will remain detained in Sector Puget Sound's Captain of the Port zone until the safety violations are corrected. The deficiencies found onboard included nonfunctioning distress signaling equipment and fire safety systems.

Coast Guard personnel detained the tanker Overseas Jademar in Port Angeles, Monday. Port State Control officers, from Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, discovered several significant safety violations during a port state control exam of the Marshall Island-flagged tanker, which will remain detained in Sector Puget Sound's Captain of the Port zone until the safety violations are corrected. The deficiencies found onboard included non-functioning distress signaling equipment and fire safety systems. The electronic position indicating radio beacon, an essential piece of distress equipment that notifies authorities of the crew's location in the event of an emergency, was found non-functional.

A fully updated edition of the definitive industry guidance on the safe operation of chemical tankers has just been published by the shipping industry’s global trade association, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). The new edition of the ICS Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals) replaces the previous edition issued in 2002. ICS recommends that a copy is carried on board every tanker engaged in the carriage of chemical cargoes, and that copies are also held within shipping company technical departments.

ClassNK has informed that Six countries viz. During the campaign period, the fire safety plan, fire control measures, drills, crew awareness and other applicable documentation etc. will be verified in more detail. The purpose of the 6 Maritime Authorities of the Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding (RMoU) launching the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) is to ensure compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the International Code for Fire Safety Systems on board ships. This inspection campaign will be held for three months, commencing from October 1st, 2014 and ending on December 31st, 2014. · To raise awareness of fire safety related issues.

The 6 Maritime Authorities of the Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding (RMoU) on Port State Control will launch a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) with the purpose of ensuring compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the International Code for Fire Safety Systems on board ships. This inspection campaign will be held for three months, commencing from October 1st, 2014 and ending on December 31st, 2014. * To raise awareness of fire safety related issues. In practice, the CIC will mean that during a regular port State control inspection conducted within the RMoU region, the fire safety plan, fire control measures, drills, crew awareness…

IMO informs that its Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has adopted important SOLAS amendments related to inert gas systems as well as amendments to a number of treaties to bring into force the mandatory IMO audit scheme. In addition it has approved, in principle, the draft Polar Code and related amendments to make the Code mandatory under SOLAS, with a view to formal adoption at its next session in November. The MSC met at the Organization's London headquarters for its 93rd session, from 14 to 23 May 2014. The MSC approved, for consideration with a view to adoption at its November 2014 session (MSC 94), the draft new SOLAS chapter XIV “Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters”…

This applies to ship’s constructed (keel laid) on or after 1 July, 2014. Ships constructed (keel laid) before 1 July, 2014 must comply no later than 1 July, 2019. This applies to all ships on or after 1 July, 2014. New SOLAS regulation II-2/10.10.4 requires that: “For ships constructed on or after 1 July 2014, a minimum of two two-way portable radiotelephone apparatus for each fire party for fire-fighter's communication shall be carried on board. Those two-way portable radiotelephone apparatus shall be of an explosion-proof type or intrinsically safe.

Foss Maritime Builds New Ice-Class Tugs as it embarks on a new Arctic Challenge. To support growing Arctic business, Seattle-based Foss Maritime Company is building three ocean-going tugs at its Rainier Shipyard in Oregon on the Columbia River. These 132 feet-long, Ice Class vessels will have strengthened hulls designed to withstand the harsh, Arctic climate conditions into which they will eventually be deployed. Work on the tugs began in July, and the first in the series will be delivered in December 2014.

There are roughly 30 liquified natural gas (LNG)-powered marine vessels currently active in today’s global seas, with some estimates showing approximately 30 new builds expected by 2014. With new commitments and orders for LNG-powered ships taking place every month, the potential that LNG-powered vessels will play an important part in shaping the future of the maritime industry is no longer speculation – it is now a fact. Helping to drive the switch from diesel, steam and even…

The Coast Guard on Monday July 15, 2013, released the final report on the investigation into the November 8, 2010, fire onboard the cruise ship Carnival Splendor. The vessel suffered a major mechanical failure in the number five diesel generator, resulting in the fire. Post-casualty analysis of the event revealed that the installed Hi-Fog system for local protection was activated 15 minutes after the initial fire started. This delay was the result of a bridge watchstander resetting the fire alarm panel on the bridge. This was a critical error which allowed the fire to spread to the overhead cables and eventually cause the loss of power.

With the number of vessels using dual fuel/LNG propulsion systems growing steadily, Autronica Fire and Security is focusing on the importance of gas detection in this sector during Nor-Shipping 2013. LNG as a fuel can provide lower bunkering costs and emissions, in addition to less wear on engines, however, LNG propulsion systems must be monitored by reliable gas detection technology to ensure safety of crew and vessel should a failure occur. Autronica offers a dedicated Direct Gas Sampling system for LNG powered vessels, which can be specified in parallel to its fire safety systems, such as AutroSafe 4 and Autroprime. This approach ensures that owners and yards have a single source for all fire and gas detection systems for LNG powered vessels.

Preliminary results from the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Fire Safety Systems, underline fire safety concerns. The results are based on the CIC survey carried out between 1 September 2012 and 30 November 2012 in the Paris MoU region. 103 ships were detained over the 3 month period as a direct result of the CIC for deficiencies related to Fire Safety Systems. 64% of all ships detained in the three month period were detained for fire safety related issues. Problem areas included fire pumps and its pipes, fire fighting equipment and appliances, and the fire control plan.

The Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MoU) held its 46th Committee meeting in Valletta, Malta, from May 20-24, 2013. The meeting was attended by members, the European Commission, EMSA, Montenegro, observers from the ILO, U.S. Coast Guard, Black Sea MoU, Caribbean MoU, Mediterranean MoU, Tokyo MoU and Vina del Mar Agreement. The Committee adopted amendments to the Memorandum to include the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 as a relevant instrument. Guidelines for Port State Control under this Convention were also agreed, providing practical guidance for Port State Control Officers to inspect ships starting August 20, 2013.

The 43 maritime authorities of the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on port state control will launch a joint concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) to verify compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2/ Construction – fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction arrangements on board ships. The CIC will last for three months, starting on 1 September, 2012, and ending on November 30, 2012. In practice, the CIC will mean that during a regular port state control inspection conducted under the regional ship selection criteria within the Paris and Tokyo MOU regions, the fire safety arrangements, maintenance records and other applicable documentation will be verified in detail for compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2.

International Code for the Application of Fire Test Procedures (2010 FTP Code) mandatory from 1 July 2012. Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to make mandatory the International Code for the Application of Fire Test Procedures (2010 FTP Code) came into force on 1 July 2012, thereby enhancing the fire safety provisions onboard all ships. The 2010 FTP Code provides the international requirements for laboratory testing,  type-approval and fire test procedures for products referenced under SOLAS chapter II-2 (which includes regulations on fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction).

World-class builder and fabricator of aluminium, steel and composite material crafts and vessels NGV Tech of Malaysia has chosen Kentec Syncro AS Marine fire control panels for vessels under fit out and refurbishment at the company's shipyard in Sijangkang Malaysia. The vessels, a 52m Multiple Utility vessel built to BV classification for the National Iranian Oil Company, a 38m DP2 Oil and Gas field support Catamaran built to ABS classification for SeaWorks Ltd. and two refurbished 38m multi-purpose oil recovery Fifi tug boats built to BV classification for Marine Services Ltd (Saudi Arabia)…