The Safety Digest News

Videotel, a KVH company, has launched a new training program, “Report a Near-Miss, Save a Life”, in association with The Standard Club, a protection and indemnity (P&I) club, which insures ship owners, operators, and charterers for their liabilities to third parties. The training program examines the importance of sharing near-miss reports, so that lessons can be learned and publicized throughout a fleet, to help reduce the chances of similar incidents happening. Although standards have improved…

The Annual Digest of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) informs of lessons learned from recent accident & incident investigations. MAIB examines and investigates all types of marine accidents to or on board UK vessels worldwide, and other vessels in UK territorial waters. This Safety Digest draws the attention of the marine community to some of the lessons arising from investigations into recent accidents and incidents. It contains information which has been determined up to the time of issue. This information is published to inform the shipping and fishing industries, the pleasure craft community and the public of the general circumstances of marine accidents and to draw out the lessons to be learned.

Shipping Minister David Jamieson has announced the appointment of a new Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents following an open competition. Stephen Meyer will take up his three-year appointment on August 1 2002 in succession to Rear Admiral John Lang who is retiring. The Chief Inspector heads the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), the independent body responsible for investigating maritime accidents involving U.K. flagged vessels anywhere in the world and foreign flagged casualties in U.K. waters. "Mr Lang has raised the profile of the MAIB and in doing so has made mariners and others more aware of the hazards they face. I have…