Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Machinery Damage News

27 Sep 2023

Inmarsat Report Identifies Deficiencies in Safety Culture

Source: Inmarsat

The 2023 edition of The Future of Maritime Safety Report from Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, reveals that the number of distress calls from ships at sea remains high, despite a continuing decline in vessel losses. The new report, which analyses Global Maritime Distress and Safety System information captured by Inmarsat, registered 853 distress calls from January to December 2022 – up from 794 in 2021.With the number of losses of vessels over 100 gross tonnage (GT) falling by 65% in the last decade…

24 Mar 2021

Stranded Suez Ship's Owner, Insurers Face Millions in Claims

(Photo: Suez Canal Authority)

The owner and insurers of one of the world's largest container ships stuck in the Suez Canal face claims totaling millions of dollars even if the ship is refloated quickly, industry sources said on Wednesday.The 400-metre, 224,000-tonne Ever Given ran aground on Tuesday morning after losing the ability to steer amid high winds and a dust storm, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said in a statement, threatening to disrupt global shipments for days.GAC, a Dubai-based marine services company…

27 Oct 2020

Arctic Shipping Creates Insurance Headaches as Routes Open

© a_medvedkov / Adobe Stock

When Captain Will Whatley guides a ship through Arctic waters, he is starkly aware of what can go wrong.Double the manpower is needed to navigate. Lookout shifts are kept to just one hour, so sailors don't lose concentration and miss a mass of floating ice. Big icebergs show up on radar, but smaller, truck-sized "bergy bits"—even more dangerous—can be missed, the captain says.The cold can freeze equipment and the earth's magnetic field disrupts compasses. If anything goes wrong…

20 Aug 2020

MarTID 2020: Maritime Training Budgets Continue to Rise

Training budgets for seafarers continue to rise around the world, and seafarers themselves increasingly are paying the price, according to the MarTID 2020 Training Practices Report.Responses (278) to the 2020 MarTID report, the third in the series, rose 60% versus 2019, and again included insights from seafarers (accounting for 53% of the response), vessel operators (24%) and METIs (23%).The survey for MarTID 2020 was concluding just as COVID-19 was starting to spread rapidly…

15 Jul 2020

Total Shipping Losses Are Declining, But Challenges Persist -Report

The car carrier Golden Ray sits capsized in St. Simons Sound, Ga. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Brian McCrum)

The record low 41 large shipping losses worldwide in 2019 represents a 20% improvement year-on-year and almost 70% over a decade, but the coronavirus crisis could endanger the long-term safety improvements in the shipping industry for 2020 and beyond, as difficult operating conditions and a sharp economic downturn present a unique set of challenges, according to recent report from marine insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).Consequences of coronavirus and a sustained…

11 Jul 2019

Shipping Losses Lowest This Century as New Dangers Emerge

The Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty AGCS) Safety & Shipping Review 2019 provides a unique and in-depth look at the emerging risks facing international shipping stakeholders.Large shipping losses are now at their lowest level this century having declined by over 50% year-on-year, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) Safety & Shipping Review 2019. The annual study analyzes reported shipping losses over 100 gross tons (GT). AGCS provides global marine and shipping insurance for all types of marine risk, from single vessels and shipments to the most complex fleets and multinational logistics businesses. All told, the Marine Line of Business contributed 11% to AGCS overall premium volume of EUR 8.2bn in 2018.

05 Jun 2019

Shipping Losses Declines by 65%

The international shipping industry is responsible for around 90% of world trade. There are around 60,000 merchant ships, transporting every kind of cargo.The world fleet is registered in over 150 nations, and manned by over a million seafarers, meaning the safety of vessels is critical. The maritime industry saw the number of total shipping losses of vessels over 100GT plummet during 2018 to 46 – the lowest total this century. To put this into context there were 207 total losses reported in 2000.The figures are published by the Safety and Shipping Review from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) incorporating the statistics from the past 10 yearsShipping losses declined by a record level of more than 50% year-on-year from 98 in 2017…

18 Jul 2018

Shipping Losses Continue to Fall

Large shipping losses have declined by 38 percent overall in the past decade, according to the Safety & Shipping Review 2018 by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).Further, the number of total losses declined by 4 percent to 94 last year, the second lowest number in a decade.“Insurance claims have been relatively benign, reflecting improved ship design and the positive effects of risk management policy and safety regulation over time,” says Baptiste Ossena, Global Product Leader Hull & Marine Liabilities, AGCS.Sinking was the most common cause of the loss of a vessel, with 61 foundering events recorded for 2017. Wrecked or stranded vessels were the second major cause…

28 Feb 2018

Tech File: Fuel Monitoring Matters

Parker Kittiwake ATR oil analyzer

Whether you choose distillates, liquefied natural gas (LNG) or scrubbers to meet the new International Maritime Organization (IMO) fuel regulations in 2020, it will be ever more critical to regularly monitor the condition of vital equipment to ensure there is no adverse affect on operational efficiency. Industry opinion ahead of the implementation of the 2020 global sulphur cap remains fragmented to say the least. With only a relatively short timeframe remaining before ship owners will be facing the reality of compliance…

13 Jun 2017

Shipping’s ‘Perfect Storm’ is Brewing -Allianz

© Tim Mueller-Zitzke / Adobe Stock

Large shipping losses have declined by 50 percent over the past decade, mostly driven by the development of a more robust safety environment by ship owners, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) fifth annual Safety & Shipping Review 2017. In 2016 there were 85 total shipping losses reported, down 16 percent from 101 a year earlier. The number of shipping incidents declined slightly year-on-year by 4 percent with 2,611 reported, according to the review, which analyzes reported shipping losses over 100 gross tons.

31 May 2017

ITIC Reimburses Marine Surveyor Accused of Negligence

International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has reimbursed a marine surveyor accused of negligence by the owner of a ferry which sustained significant machinery damage while being towed to a shipyard. The ferry, which operated in North American waters, was due to be towed to a shipyard to undergo a refit. A marine surveyor was engaged by the shipyard to undertake a ‘fit for tow’ survey and to provide a certificate of approval confirming that the towage arrangements between the tug and the ferry were satisfactory. The surveyor completed his survey and issued the certificate of approval. Three days later, however, the ferry took on water during the course of the tow and sustained considerable damage to its main machinery compartment.

06 Apr 2017

IUMI Reports Rising Frequency of Major Casualties

Rising energy claims against a reducing premium base; and the increased cargo accumulation risk onboard vessels and in port continue to challenge marine insurers. Statistics released at the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) Annual Spring meeting in Hamburg last week raise a series of issues that will continue to challenge marine underwriters for the foreseeable future. The frequency of major vessel casualties rose again in 2016 for the second consecutive year. They had enjoyed a year-on-year decline until 2015 when they recorded a sharp upturn which was continued in 2016. Conversely, the trend in total vessel losses (from 2000 onwards) continued its downward trajectory through to 2016 notwithstanding a minor uptick in 2015.

09 Jun 2016

K Line Expands Use of ClassNK CMAX LC-A

“K” Line Ship Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd has selected ClassNK Consulting Service’s machinery condition monitoring and automatic diagnostic system ClassNK CMAXS LC-A for use on one of its container vessels, marking the first commercial application of the software. “K” Line Ship Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd selected ClassNK CMAXS LC-A after a successful trial installation in 2014 delivered proven fuel and lubricating oil savings of 200 tons/year. The trial was carried out as part of a joint research project in collaboration with ClassNK and Diesel United Ltd. ClassNK CMAXS LC-A uses innovative diagnosis algorithms to analyze multiple sensor data in the engine room and detect any early signs of machinery damage.

25 Apr 2016

Faulkner Joins Braemar SA as Manager

Braemar (incorporating The Salvage Association) has appointed David Faulkner as ‘Manager, Ports and Harbours (Middle East)’. David is a Master Mariner and pilot and will be based in the Braemar SA Abu Dhabi office. He has extensive experience in providing specialist port consultancy services on aspects such as vessel manoeuvring, navigation, VTS (vessel traffic service) and marine risk, as well as providing expert opinion services to the insurance and legal markets on navigation, unsafe berth and unsafe port cases. David has worked for many years in the Middle East and will be responsible for the development of Braemar SA’s Ports & Harbours consultancy services in this market.

26 Mar 2015

LOC Group Announces Two Appointments

Global marine engineering consultancy LOC Group (London Offshore Consultants) announced appointments in two new positions; John Quarrington has joined the company in London as Group Marine Warranty Surveying Manager and Mark McGurran has been appointed to the Singapore office in the role of Asia Regional Hull & Machinery Coordinator. John Quarrington is based in London where he will be supporting the Group Energy Services Director (Alex Harrison) with the continued development of LOC’s global marine warranty surveying activities across its 33 offices. A master mariner by background, John has worked for large engineering consultancies and oil companies around the world taking the lead on a range of oil and gas projects.

12 Feb 2015

No Let Up in Navigational Claims Reports

Lars Malm (Photo courtesy: The Swedish Club)

According to The Swedish Club, half of the costs of hull and machinery claims handled by the Club have arisen due to navigational claims such as collisions, contacts or groundings - a figure that has remained steady over recent years despite improved technology and the widespread implementation of Safety Management Systems. The Swedish Club, in its latest Loss Prevention publication, Navigational Claims, has revealed a number of interesting findings relating to claims made for hull and machinery damage between 2004–2013.

05 Aug 2014

Panama Canal Expansion Poses Billion Dollar Challenge

Photo: ACP

As the Panama Canal prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, insurers are warning of the increased risks that will arise from its plan to double the cargo-carrying capacity of ships transiting one of the world’s most important waterways. In a new report entitled Panama Canal 100: Shipping Safety and Future Risks leading marine insurer, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) identifies that the value of insured goods transiting the canal zone may increase by more than $1 billion per day following completion of the Third Set of Locks Project…

09 Jun 2014

Braemar SA Opens Office in Panama

Richard Grayton

Braemar (incorporating The Salvage Association), a multi-disciplinary Marine Surveying and Technical Consultancy, has announced that it has set up a new office in Panama. “Panama has always been a strategically important location, and of course the expansion of the Panama Canal is set to change world trade patterns and open up the area to new markets,” said Richard Gayton, Regional Director, Americas. “Panama serves as a hub airport for multiple south and Central American destinations.

22 Apr 2013

Strike Club Results Reflect Growing Labor Unrest

The early months of 2013 have been marked by damaging labor strike action in several countries which has punished shipowners and charterers even though they are innocent parties, says The Strike Club, the market leader for delay insurance for the marine trades. Some of the worst trouble spots in recent weeks have been in South America, particularly Chile where a three-week strike crippled the country’s key ports, blocking exports of copper (Chile is the world’s largest producer of this metal), fruit and wood products. Chile’s business leaders estimated the country lost more than $200 million a day due to the conflict. There has been a miners’ strike in Colombia…

18 Oct 2013

Strike Club Weighs in on Port Strikes

The news this week that a longshoremen’s strike had effectively stopped cargo operations at the port of Baltimore, a major hub for foreign car imports into the U.S., underlines a new warning by The Strike Club. Strikes by stevedores continue to dominate the list of perils causing delays, reports the mutual insurer after a recent analysis of its claims files. In the 2012-2013 policy year, they accounted for 16.8%, followed by collision (14.4%), closure of port or sealane (13.6%), and strikes by port workers (also 13.6%). Total net claims for the year were $16.8m, with mutual claims accounting for $12.0m net. A somewhat similar picture emerges from a review of the five-year period 2008-2013: closure of port or sealane (17.2%)…

09 Jan 2014

Finding the Ideal Biodegradable Marine Lubricant

In December 2013, the EPA through its Vessel General Permit (VGP) will introduce the mandatory use of “Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants” or EALs. These products include the lubricating oils that are directly used in applications referred to as “oil to sea interfaces” where the only thing holding the oil from entering the water is a simple seal or gasket. Understanding what this all means to you is important. Bio-degradability rating of 60% or more in 28 days (the minimum criteria to also be classified as “readily biodegradable”).

03 Oct 2012

GL Noble Denton Expands MCI Practice

GL Noble Denton Launches Marine Casualty Investigation Operations in Seattle. GL Noble Denton has expanded its Marine Casualty Investigation (MCI) practice in North America by launching operations in Seattle, a primary hub for marine insurance. The new base will allow the company's team of experienced surveyors to meet the growing demand for marine casualty investigations off the West Coast of the US and Canada. Activity in the cruise and offshore energy industries is rapidly developing in the region and GL Noble Denton's local presence will allow them to respond quickly to meet client needs.

21 Nov 2012

Strong Demand for Strike Club's Protective Covers

General Increases of 10% and 5% are Maintained for 2013/14 Mutual Entries. The Strike Club, the market leader in the niche area of delay insurance for the marine trades, reports continuing strong demand for its mutual and fixed-premium covers. Shipowners and charterers are boosting the club’s mutual entries as shipping operations are stamped by uncertainty resulting from the widening economic crisis and growing civil unrest, such as the protests by millions against government austerity measures seen in some of Europe’s largest countries last week. All this is fomenting industrial action which can and often does disrupt the maritime supply chain. Bill Milligan, chairman and chief executive of S.C.