The End Of The Bow Mariner

Just as soon as my sore throat clears up we’ll be posting The Case Of The Unfamiliar Mariner, the story of the explosion and sinking of the Bow Mariner. In the meantime, here’s some video of that sad ship’s end.

Maritime Safety News Today – January 10th 2007

Body recovered after boat capsizes near Gabriola Island
Vancouver Sun – British Columbia, Canada
A body was recovered this morning after a herring vessel capsized near Nanaimo late Monday night. Five fishermen made it to shore on Gabriola Island, .

Runaway trawler caught by Norwegian coast guard
Barents Observer – Archangel,Russia
The ship was then drifting without engine power. In addition, one of the crew members was serious injured after a burning accident, NRK reports.

Fire Tragedy
Korea Times – South Korea
The collision might have been avoided if the two vessels and the local maritime office took appropriate steps in advance. Negligence of safety measures is 

High on the fog – and more to come
Shanghai Daily – Shanghai,China
The Wusong Maritime Safety Administration issued a go-slow go-ahead for vessels yesterday afternoon as water visibility improved. 

USCG – crew of disabled cargo vessel rescued

The US Coast Guard issued a press release stating that it rescued the seven crew members of a cargo vessel that experienced engine failure and was taking on water off the coast of the Dominican Republic.  The cargo vessel is being towed into port by a commercial tug. (1/7/08).

Jetboat investigation to continue all week
Radio New Zealand – Wellington,New Zealand
A Maritime New Zealand expert has finished examining the scene of a jetboat accident on the Waiau River. However, the organisation expects investigations …
See all stories on this topic

Crane falls off SF pier into bay
San Francisco Chronicle – CA, USA
Neff said officials from National Response Corp., a private company contracted by the government to help clean maritime spills, will be on scene later today

Sea Hauler Victims Press On With Demands
The Bahama Journal – Nassau,Bahamas
He was referring to the Wreck Commission that examined the circumstances surrounding the accident. Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) and Port Department were 

US Coast Guard Slaps Fine on Barge Owner

Posted 01/08/08 at 12:10 PM

According to pacificnewscenter.com, The United States Coast Guard filed three notice of violations (NOV) and imposed penalties amounting to $8,000 against the owner of a barge that ran aground in Agana last month.. South Korea to ban single-hull tankers by 2011
Oil & Gas Journal – Houston,TX,USA
The Hebei Spirit was fitted with one hull, according to Lloyd’s Register-Fairplay, which assigns ship-registration numbers. An international ban on such

Hong Kong steps up war on pirates with extradition law
By Keith Wallis
SECURITY officials in Hong Kong are planning to introduce legal changes that would allow maritime piracy and robbery suspects to be extradited to or from other Asian countries, including Japan and Laos, that do not have extradition 

Maritime Safety News Today 3rd January 2008

Container Vessel Runs Aground Off South Coast of UK (Update1)
Bloomberg – USA
2 (Bloomberg) — A container ship ran aground in the Dover Strait, the world’s busiest shipping lane, the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard agency said.

Bering Sea – disabled freighter The US Coast Guard issued a press release stating that it is responding to a distress call from a disabled freighter in the Bering Sea 180 nautical miles northeast of Attu, Alaska.  The ship has a cargo of 28,000 tons of copper concentrate.  It carries a crew of 24 and has 760 metric tons of fuel. (1/1/08). (Update) Freighter adrift near Attu regains power Anchorage Daily News (subscription) – Anchorage,AK,USA Initial reports by e-mail from the crew indicated the ship was probably not in danger of sinking but the Coast Guard wanted to get a look first hand,

Lifeboat tows trawler to shore
RTE.ie – Ireland
Four crewmen on board the vessel dealt with the blaze and stayed on board as it was towed back by the Dún Laoghaire lifeboat.

Three crew saved from sinking yacht near Corregidor
ABS CBN News – Philippines
A rescue ship was immediately dispatched after the yacht’s crewmen sent distress signals to PCG. PCG search and rescue vessel BRP Pampanga was reported to

ID system to become mandatory for all boats on Turkish seas
Today’s Zaman – Istanbul,Turkey
Officials from the Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs, under which the Search and Rescue Coordination Center operates, said the Automatic Identification

REHABILITATION PROSPECTS AFTER WORST KOREAN OIL SPILL ARE GOOD, UN …
… Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit and EC Monitoring and Information Centre, comprising experts from OCHA, UNEP, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, the EC Environmental Directorate-General and the European Maritime Safety Agency.

Customs publishes 10+2 rule

Washington issues long-awaited proposed rule requiring importers and carriers to provide cargo data not found on a ship’s manifest.

Ship emissions below estimate
Air pollution emissions from ships in the Mediterranean Sea might be 30%-40% lower than the estimates made in 2000, calling into question the need to designate the region as a sulphur emission control area, according to data collected by oil industry body Concawe which analysed ship movements and fuel use in the Mediterranean.

New Podcast: The Case of the Tongues Of Fire

The Case Of The Tongues Of Fire

Fire is the third biggest major ship incident, behind collisions and groundings, and costs as many lives as man-overboard, enclosed space accidents and lifeboat incidents. As The Case Of The Tongues Of Fire, the latest episode in the Maritime Accident Casebook series of podcasts, communications and knowhow are vital elements in effective firefighting but leadership and discipline can reduce the chance of it happening in the first place.

The Case Of The Tongues Of Fire tells the story of the fire aboard the Maersk Doha in 2006. Putting water on the fire, inside the casing of the vessel’s exhaust gas economiser actually made the fire hotter. One by one, emergency equipment failed and firefighting procedures proved ineffective.

Maritime Accident explores what happened and why.

Like all MAC podcasts, The Case Of The Tongues Of Fire reveals the circumstance around a real event through an audio podcast and online materials available for free at the Maritime Accident Casebook website, www.maritimeaccident.org.

As with the preceding episodes, each podcast is backed by an illustrated online transcript that seafarers can read, discuss and share with their crewmates and other seafarers. Those with training and safety responsibilities can use the broadcasts and the transcripts freely.

 

Maritime Accident Casebook, MAC, is a unique, free, informal educational resource for seafarers and maritime trainers which seeks to empower seafarers through knowledge to keep themselves alive and their ships safe.  Using audio podcasts that can be played on any computer, MP3 Player or MP3-capable cellphone and online downloadable hard-copy transcripts, MAC encourages seafarers to discuss lessons learned from real-life events and apply them to their own vessels and working practices to create a safety-conscious community.

The Case Of The Tongues of Fire is the thirteenth and final episode in yhe first series of Bob Couttie’s Maritime Accident Casebook. Series Two begins in January 2008.. Earlier episodes deal with pilotage, fatigue, over-reliance on electronic navigation, lifeboat safety, safe anchoring in typhoons, heavy equipment safety and entry into enclosed spaces.

 

END

 

 

For further information about Bob Couttie’s Maritime Accident Casebook see the website at
http://www.maritimeaccident.org
, email mac@maritimeaccident.org or call cellphone (+63928) 936-5665.

Maritime Safety News Today – 3rd December 2007

Five Egyptians die in Nile river cruise ship fire
Reuters South Africa – Johannesburg,South Africa
The accident occurred shortly after an Italian tourist was lightly injured when a charter plane bound for the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm 

Bauxite carrier runs aground in Gladstone Harbour
Courier Mail – Australia
It is feared the grounding might cause the port to be closed for days. Early indications are that a large ocean-going tug from Sydney might be needed to 

SHIP FINED $80,000 FOR POLLUTING VANCOUVER HARBOUR

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that the federal government has successfully prosecuted the Motor Vessel Andre, a Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier for spilling over 7,500 litres of oil into Vancouver Harbour. The pollution incident occurred on July 4, 2006 while the vessel was bunkering fuel oil at anchorage in the Port of Vancouver.

EC – reasoned opinions regarding port security The European Commission (EC) issued a press release stating that it is sending reasoned opinions to Estonia, Malta, Spain, and the United Kingdom for failing to transpose the European rules on enhancing port security into their national law. (11/30/07).

Bunker Convention to Enter Force in ’08

Posted 12/03/07 at 10:48 AM

Pollution damage from fuel oil carried on ships will be covered in 2008 with entry into force of international bunkers liability and compensation convention The last significant gap in the international regime for compensating victims of oil spills from ships is set to be closed, with the entry into force on 21 November 2008 of an international.

Customs expanding cargo risk analysis

Official says agency’s participation in Security Filing Initiative and the Import Safety Action Plan underscores its efforts to leverage its resources through risk-based assessments.

Maritime Safety News Today – 28 November 2007

FATHER OF DEAD FEMALE SEA-FARER DOESN’T BELIEVE IT’S SUICIDE
Niu FM – Auckland,New Zealand
Auckland 6am: The family of the Kiribati woman seafarer said to have hanged herself say they saw no sign that was the case on her body.

Four people and a dog rescued from sinking ship
KTUU – Anchorage,AK,USA
It located the raft and rescued the four men and the dog about an hour later. All were in good condition after arriving in Kodiak. The vessel could not 

Navigation authority issues safety alert as water level of Yangtze …
Xinhua – China
The “yellow warning”, the second highest level, was sent out bythe Yangtze River Maritime Safety Administration for a 680-kilometer stretch of the waterway

Bangladesh police detain 2 suspected people-traffickers, sinking …
International Herald Tribune – France
The vessel sank in calm water and there was no clear indication what caused the accident, officials have said. Survivors have told police it was overcrowded 

Ambrose Light – safety zone

(On 3 November, 2007, the Ambrose Light was struck by an oil tanker, the Axel Spirit)

The US Coast Guard established a temporary safety zone, with a radius of 250 yards, around Ambrose Light, located approximately 8.35 nautical miles east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. The safety zone, which will be in effect through at least May 5, 2008, is intended to provide for the safety of life, property, and the environment during the survey and reconstruction of the light. 72 Fed. Reg. 65886 (November 26, 2007).

Platform Crew Airlifted to Safety After Blaze

Posted 11/27/07 at 09:58 AM

A fire on a North Sea oil platform led to the evacuation of 118 workers. The fire broke out on the Thistle Alpha platform, 325 miles north of Aberdeen and only five miles inside the UK search and rescue area…

Scotland’s Offshore Industry Issued Warning

Posted 11/26/07 at 09:31 AM

Scotland’s offshore oil industry was issued a government health warning by the Health and Safety Executive. The HSE published a new report which says more must be done to improve safety on oil and gas installations.

Coast Guard to Test Oil from Seven Ships in Spill

Posted 11/27/07 at 09:37 AM

Testing of oil samples taken from ships that might have spilled the fuel that washed up in Atlantic Beach and Long Beach last week will probably take place by next week, the Coast Guard said. After the approximately 500 gallons of heavy No..

Pemex May Tear Down Offshore Platform

Posted 11/26/07 at 09:36 AM

Pemex said it may tear down an offshore platform if its structure, hurt by a series of recent fires, weakens further to prevent more damage to adjacent oil-pumping facilities. On Tuesday, a fire broke out at the Kab-121 well on the Kab-101 platform in the Gulf of Mexico, which was damaged in a blaze last month that killed 21 workers.

Estonia report supports official investigation
The Local – Sweden
When enough water had entered the car deck, the vessel tilted to one side,” said Källström. The official explanations for the ferry sinking have been 

Ferry Experts and Legislators to Discuss Steel Electric Ferries

Posted 11/27/07 at 10:14 AM

Washington State Ferries will hold meetings regarding the status of the Steel Electric class vessels and Port Townsend/Keystone ferry service. Legislators and staff from affected ferry communities, Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond and Washington State Ferries Executive Director Mike Anderson will review current ferry status and discuss.. Gulf ships to join global green drive
Gulf Daily News – Manama,Bahrain
“There will be no costs to the legitimate standard vessels as they are modern vessels fitted and equipped and provided with skilled seafarers.

BOURBON OPENS TRAINING CENTRE
Maritime Global Net – Warren,RI,USA
One of the company’s anchor handlers, the Bourbon Dolphin capsized with the loss of eight lives in April. Although the Norwegian investigation into the

Maritime Safety News Today – 15 October 2007

FreeSeas Inc. Reports Successful Refloating of Free Jupiter
CNNMoney.com – USA
… successfully refloated following its grounding incident on September 21, 2007. The vessel’s inspection by its classification society has been completed,

Four die in Malaysia ferry accident
By Signs of the Times(Signs of the Times)
… in an accident that killed four people and injured four more, state news agency Bernama said on Sunday. At least 100 people were aboard the “Seagull Express”, an old and rickety ship that was battling engine problems as it headed

UK. Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors visit high speed …
BYM News (press release) – Gibraltar,Spain
Tony Skeats from Belfast Marine Office said: “We will visit the Stena Voyager at the docks in Belfast to ascertain the safety and integrity of the vessel .

Ferry’s close call on harbour
Sydney Morning Herald – Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
… a high-speed collision with a large commercial boat . It continued and narrowly missed another, smaller, vessel about 20 seconds later, a witness said.

Maritime Safety News Today

Coalition Forces Provide Assistance to Danish Merchant Vessel

Posted 08/24/07 at 10:29 AM

From Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs Two Coalition ships from Combined Task Force (CTF 150), French Warship Commandant Blaison (F 793) and USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), provided assistance to Danish merchant vessel Danica White following its release from Somali pirates Aug.

Fire Breaks Out on Oil Rig

Thirty-two oil workers were airlifted off the semi-submersible Ocean Guardian when a fire broke out in the engine room.

Possible Cause of Grounding Revealed

The grounding of the Pasha Bulker may have been caused by a warning issued by Port Waratah Coal Services.

 

‘Spirit of Charleston’ at fault
WCBD-TV – Mt. Pleasant,SC,USA
The collision occurred when Lambinus altered course back into the tour boat’s direct path only 50 to 75 yards ahead of the vessel.

Nigeria: IMB Commended Over New Security Measure
AllAfrica.com – Washington,USA
GLOBAL maritime industry watchdog, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), has been commended for launching a 24-hour, 365-day security hotline

* Difficult conditions blamed for freighter’s grounding
MLive.com – MI,USA
The 1000-foot vessel was stuck on the sandy bottom of Lake Michigan outside Muskegon’s outer pierheads for about four hours before the captain was able to

PHA Commission Considers $25 Million for Construction Contracts …
Primenewswire (press release) – Los Angeles,CA,USA
The use of the system helps to prevent spills of hazardous materials and vessel grounding. (Agenda M2) Commissioners are being asked to authorize paying

 

Maritime Safety News Today

Ship owner pleads guilty in Aleutians spill
KTUU – Anchorage,AK,USA
AP – August 22, 2007 4:34 PM ET ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – The criminal case in the grounding and fuel spill of the freighter Selendang Ayu is now settled.

Fire Shuts Down Port

Posted 08/22/07 at 09:14 AM

According to reports, Sharjah closed Port Khalid after a fire broke out at a lubricants warehouse. The reason for the fire is unknown. It was said that three firefighters were taken to Sharjah’s Kuwaiti Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Coast Guard Assists Spirit of Columbia

Posted 08/22/07 at 08:55 AM

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage responded to a call from the cruise ship Spirit of Columbia after it ran aground on the east side of Evans Island in Latouche Passage, near Whittier on Sunday. There were 51 passengers and 21 crew members on board with no reported injuries.

MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) BILL
Press Information Bureau (press release) – New Delhi,India
The enhanced security measures will add to maritime safety and security in the Indian shipping industry so that the country’s EXIM trade is not effected due .