Safety Chain News

Never easy, but always a critically important task. It is critically important that we assess the ability of our mariners to perform the skills required to safely and efficiently do their jobs. It happens to also be very difficult to do so objectively and at the level of detail necessary to ensure safe operations and continuous improvement. This is especially true in dynamic, team-based scenarios such as drills and complicated safety-critical activities. This article covers a novel initiative by one of the world’s largest cruise lines and its partners to provide a solution to this problem.

Sealing Valley is a new concept that has been developed by Hans Beele, President of Dutch engineering specialist Beele Engineering. He will invest in a center of expertise for the advancement of fire protection and watertight sealing technology to provide the highest possible levels of safety. Modeled on Silicon Valley, Sealing Valley will create a concentrated center of know-how, with shipboard and marine safety a prime focus area. It will be here that expertise, creativity and daily installation practice will come together in a campus set-up.

Hougen Manufacturing, Inc has released a new portable magnetic drill, the HMD918. This new model offers an upgrade to the depth of cut in the line of Hougen magnetic drills. The HMD918 has a high torque motor and extended six inch drilling depth to give metal fabricators more options to drill deep holes in steel whether it is a solid piece of material or multiple stacked plates. The HMD918 includes a pressurized coolant bottle and system. The two gallon bottle easily attaches to the drill arbor and provides pressurized coolant to the cutter no matter the position of the drill.

Hougen Manufacturing, Inc. has released a new model of portable magnetic drill, the HMD934, offering increased power and performance for holemaking in serve industrial applications. The HMD934 was developed to give metal fabricators more strength and torque to drill large deep holes in steel, and is able to drill holes up to 4” deep and up to 3-1/16” in diameter. the HMD934 has a number of features and innovations that provide convenience and ease of use for the operator, the manufacturer said.

Hougen Manufacturing, Inc. has redesigned its HMD904 portable magnetic drill to include new improvements and features. The newest innovation is the mag drill pilot light. The LED light is built into the base of the magnet and allows the operator to more efficiently and quickly line up the pilot with the holes center location in low light or no light conditions. Powering the drill is a proprietary Hougen motor with a new design to the aluminum casing to improve durability. The addition of a two stage magnet increases magnetic holding power by 30 percent when the drill motor is turned on.

Last month, I had the opportunity to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation at a hearing that examined maritime regulations. In what must have been a change of pace for Subcommittee members, instead of detailing the regulatory burdens facing the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, I urged them to exercise their oversight responsibility to ensure expeditious publication of long-awaited U.S. Coast Guard regulations regarding towing vessel inspection.

The role of vessel classification societies continues to change dramatically. As the role and relevance of class is hotly debated, MR/EN picked the brains of the industry's major classification societies to analyze both their individual and collective future. If class is to remain relevant, it must remake itself for the modern world, says ABS president and CEO Robert D. Somerville. He recently told delegates to the World Maritime Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia that "self regulation will continue to provide an effective method for establishing and enforcing standards only if all elements of the industry recognize that substantive overhaul is needed." Somerville highlighted the remarkable…

At the Seatrade International Maritime Convention in London, ABS President and CEO, Robert Somerville commented on Bulk Carrier Safety.It was in the tumultuous period when the tanker industry was still trying to adjust to OPA90, to the mandate for double hulls, to the uncertainties of COFRs and all the rest of the restrictions that were being placed on their operations.It was also a time when there had been a casualty, with a small amount of pollution, involving a bulk carrier.Of course the incident was portrayed the media as another “tanker” casualty.That owner was very, very frustrated.His basic argument was that his dry bulk brethren just “didn’t get it.”That it was not just tanker operators who had been thrust into an entirely different ballgame.

ABS President and CEO, Robert Somerville recently discussed Bulk Carrier Safety at a conference in London. His speech, in part, follows. It was in the tumultuous period when the tanker industry was still trying to adjust to OPA90, to the mandate for double hulls, to the uncertainties of COFRs and all the rest of the restrictions that were being placed on their operations. It was also a time when there had been a casualty, with a small amount of pollution, involving a bulk carrier. Of course the incident was portrayed by the media as another "tanker" casualty. That owner was very, very frustrated. That it was not just tanker operators who had been thrust into an entirely different ballgame. It was the industry.

in St. including INTERTANKO MD Peter Swift. Karamitsos. Bulgarian Register. continued his theme from the previous seminar. added responsibilities for quality management and operation", he said. and products over 5m bbls/day and generating some 10% of the country's GDP. fast). from the Baltic have increased approximately ten times. Mediterranean. makes for one more sensitivity. in unilateral regulation ahead of IMO. This is where the new responsibilities come in, says Swift. least total management of the Safety Chain.

The role of vessel classification societies continues to change dramatically. As the role and relevance of class is hotly debated, MR/EN picked the brains of the industry's major classification societies to analyze both their individual and collective future. If class is to remain relevant, it must remake itself for the modern world, says ABS president and CEO Robert D. Somerville. He recently told delegates to the World Maritime Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia that "self regulation will continue to provide an effective method for establishing and enforcing standards only if all elements of the industry recognize that substantive overhaul is needed." Somerville highlighted the remarkable…

At a series of top-level meetings with regulators and Industry the Council of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) deliberated the way forward for classification societies in the wake of new public and political concerns regarding safety and protection of the environment. At the recent meeting IACS met with the European Commission (DGTREN), the IMO Secretary General and Industry leaders (BIMCO, Intercargo, Intertanko, ICS and underwriters) to liaise with all the stakeholders in the shipping industry about the way ahead. As a result of this inclusive approach major new policy decisions for 2003 were taken. Class is a critical element in the “safety chain”.

Frank J. regulation is required to address this. Singapore. Iarossi lamented the strongly negative image of the industry within the public arena. very infrequent, and sometimes very tragic casualty," he said. commercial aircraft. risk is three times that for merchant ships," he said. heard any uproar over airline safety? aircraft rate. Actual loss rates for vessels of all types of 100 gross tons or more have been halved in the past ten years to about two vessels per thousand per year. stressed. fleet. spilled from ships has declined by over 70 percent. industry notables. "Marine transportation is definitely not risk free. unsinkable ship. continuously striving to improve its performance. clear," he stated. on the industry's own trade press.