Ship Navigation

•  Handling Ships in Ice

We have collected a compilation from various sources about risks and solutions during navigation in cold weather or ice conditions. Read More.....

• GMDSS Deficiencies- What a PSC  officer will check 

Most radio-related PSC deficiencies in Paris MOU are related to logbook entries. However, operation of GMDSS or installation of MF/HF appears to be the most frequent detainable deficiencies. Usually, some basic questions during a PSC (or a Flag) inspection will include Read More.....

• Double Banking Operation 

Sometimes ships are required to perform cargo operations with barges in an anchorage or more commonly to take bunkers. The North P&I Club and TANKEROperator have published some valuable guidelines. In this section, we present which hazards a risk analysis should include when a ship’s operator and master are planning such an operation. Read More..... 

• Navigation in Narrow Channels

 The increasing cases of collisions and groundings have exposed the disregard of some navigation officers and masters of the IMO guidelines for voyage planning. Someone may claim that the responsibility is on a ship management company to have comprehensive navigation procedures to guide its deck officers. Read More..... 

• What Ship Collision Is?

After examining 45 cases of deep-sea cargo ships we found the following results. Read More..... 

• Ship Collision Incidents
  

A bulk carrier named “A” while navigating in a two-way water route had a crossing course with another ship called “B”. The route was monitored by a VTS and outside its limits there are shallows. In contrary to Rule 15 the navigation officers agreed to pass starboard to starboard. Read More.....

• The significance of vigilance during anchorage at sea

"The anchor and chain were lost. The vessel was not allowed to continue its journey until the anchor and chain had been replaced. The vessel had a spare anchor but the operation to replace it and the chain took several days." Read More.....

 Carriage of Goods by Sea

• Bauxite Liquefaction   

 The most severe dangers related to cargo transportation are well addressed in the IMO Codes are those that have an adverse effect on the ship’s stability, the structure of the ship, the safety of the crew and the stevedores. The IMO has set a list of bulk materials that may behave like liquids in International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code. Read More.....

• Lashing and Securing of Coils & Other Steel Cargoes

The carriage of such units requires sufficient lashing provided by the crew or the stevedores. In any case, the ship’s master has the responsibility for proper stowage of the cargo, either by interfering or silently approve lashing methods and practices. Read More.....

• Preparation of cargo holds for grain loading at Australia 

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 Marine Pollution

• USCG Ballast Water Regulations 

   

Ballast is an essential issue for a ship’s safety for its stability. The problem is known over 90 years ago. However, recent IMO actions lead to regulation since the increase in global shipping traffic, vessel size, and capacity has led to contamination in 84% of the world’s 232 marine eco-regions. Read More.....

 Ship Maintenance

• Fighting coating failures

Ship's painting is a job that requires special attention and care. Some tips are as follows. Read More.....

• Hatch cover damages

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• Operation and maintenance of rescue boat outboard motors

Major accidents involving mooring equipment in the last 20 years have injured many seafarers and have cost the UK Club over US$34 million (UK P&I 2009) From the accidents reported is believed that 5% is caused by actual equipment failure (UK P&I 2009). Read More.....

• Mooring Safety  - Double Bollards Failures

Major accidents involving mooring equipment in the last 20 years have injured many seafarers and have cost the UK Club over US$34 million (UK P&I 2009) From the accidents reported is believed that 5% is caused by actual equipment failure (UK P&I 2009). Read More.....

 Shipboard Health & Safety

• Hydrogen sulphide exposure- The silent killer 

In the aftermath of IMO 2020 low sulphur regulations enforcement, a more frequent inspection or cleaning fuel tanks may be required. Risks associated with entering into a fuel tank, are well known in the maritime industry. Read More.....

• Incorrect Warnings

Several warnings are usually placed on board to inform seafarers about the location of safety equipment, firefighting equipment. However when warnings are placed should comply with the IMO has established some mandatory colours for . Read More.....

 Ship Cyber Security 

• Maritime Cyber Security Practices

In recent months, we witnessed a tragedy in Ukraine. In military operations, we noticed the capabilities of hackers in damaging power grids, supply chains, banking systems, water treatment, communications, and transportation including ports. As per a report by Microsoft, the success of such cyber-attacks is simply achieved through social engineering targeting careless or untrained employees. Read More 

• Is ship cybersecurity threat real? 

 A recent case of a ransomware attack on a ship's computer network system damaged all its electronic documents. Apart from a security failure, some additional dangerous events could happen from such a cyber-attack as below: 

 1. Navigation & Collisions Risks: In case ECDIS, GPS or AIS compromised Read More...

•  USCG Cybersecurity 

The USCG issued CVC-WI-027(1) and defines Poor cyber hygiene which could lead to ship detention. Read More.....

• Ship Cyber Security Plan 

13 Common Issues for Compliance with the ISPS Code & Cybersecurity Practices. Cybersecurity should be part of ship safety and security prevention. A cyber-attack could affect the ship security and be treated as SSP violation. It is worthy to refresh ISPS code requirements and existing problems in the light of cybersecurity. Read More.....

 Shipboard Emergencies

• Emergency Helicopter Operations 

Helicopter operations may be required for routine operations such as pilot or crew transfer. However, there are also emergency conditions such as evacuation of a ship or medical assistance provided to a crewmember or passenger. Read More.....

• Groundings  in Latin America Rivers

Rivers in Latin America hide navigation hazards occasionally due to seasonal rains. We combined our research findings with a chart published from Skuld P&I Club to show areas where groundings more likely to occur. Read More.....

• Contingency Planning in Fire Incidents

A ship’s captain sent an email to the company that on his ship there was a minor fire incident due to sparks flying from the funnel, brooms which been stored on Funnel deck. Read More.....

 Ship Management

• The International Safety Management (ISM) Code For the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention

The introduction of the ISM Code is believed to be an attempt to regulate human error. In many notable disasters, there were many considerations about the crewmember’s omissions or negligence. Read More.....

• KPIs for Shipping

 The introduction of the ISM Code is believed to be an attempt to regulate human error. In many notable disasters, there were many considerations about the crewmember’s omissions or negligence.  Read More.....

Human Element in Shipping

• The Basics of Human Resources Management

The concept of human resource management could be described as an organised management system aimed at maximising the skills and abilities of the personnel in an organisation or a company.  Read More.....

• Which are the main issues before you hire an employee in a shipping company (or a seafarer)?

Several times ship managers are confused why outstanding employees quit. This is due to wrong job design leading to wrong selection, eg overqualified employee. Here are some tips for assessing a job design. Read More.....

Review on Maritime Regulations

• List of IMO Conventions

All seafarers know that they have to comply with SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, MLC. However, do you know how many conventions are in force? Read More.....

• IMO what it is, how it works, how member states participate

After World War II, the United Nations was established as an effort to resolve peacefully issues among states. The regulation of the maritime industry is a major issue and consequently, an agency was established with respect to safety, environmental and security issues at sea. Read More.....

• What is Port State Control ?

The poor financial position or unwillingness of some states to enforce international laws to their fleets led coastal states to enhance their own inspections on foreign ships that call on their ports or territorial waters. Read More.....