Bulk cargo shortage claims are a common yet complex issue, they usually occur when there is a significant discrepancy between the quantity of cargo noted on the Bill of Lading … Continue reading LOSS PREVENTION GUIDANCE: PREVENTING BULK SHORTAGE CLAIMS

A recent INTERCARGO report highlighted cargo liquefaction as the greatest contributor to loss of life at sea in the preceding decade. Despite improved safety, cargo liquefaction incidents continued to occur. … Continue reading LOSS PREVENTION GUIDANCE: UNDERSTANDING LIQUEFACTION AND DYNAMIC SEPARATION IN SOLID BULK CARGOES

A breach of containment of hydraulic hoses or pipes onboard a ship in a port can result in personal injury, disruption to operations and environmental pollution incidents. UNDERSTANDING THE RISK … Continue reading LOSS PREVENTION GUIDANCE: HYDRAULIC HOSE AND PIPE FAILURE IN PORT

Download Traditional Chinese translation here. Download Simplified Chinese translation here. A gangway refers to a platform, a walkway or a ramp connecting the ship to land or other vessels and … Continue reading LOSS PREVENTION: GANGWAYS ON SHIPS – A PRACTICAL SAFETY GUIDE

The surge in demand for Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) across multiple sectors, spanning from automotive, textile to pharmaceuticals or cosmetics, has seen a proportional rise in off-spec cargo claims. It … Continue reading SAFE HANDLING OF MONO ETHYLENE GLYCOL (MEG) CARGOES

Bunkering operations are pivotal in maritime logistics and present distinct risks and challenges. Each bunker operation is to be regarded as a unique event which possesses its own individual risks. … Continue reading BUNKERING PRECAUTIONS AND AVOIDANCE OF BUNKER QUALITY DISPUTES

High collision risk with fishing vessels expected after Chinese fishing ban ends in South and East China Seas, Yellow Sea, and Bohai Sea. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs … Continue reading HIGH COLLISION RISK AREAS IN SOUTH AND EAST CHINA SEAS, YELLOW SEA, AND BOHAI SEA AFTER ANNUAL FISHING BAN ENDS

Occasionally, a shipowner may want to bring a group of third party personnel, often referred to as a riding squad or maintenance crew, onto their ship for specific tasks. These … Continue reading THIRD PARTY WORKERS

Often, when a ship calls at a port or berth, it is conventionally expected that the ship should arrive, dock for cargo operations, and depart safely with minimum disruption. Typically, … Continue reading PRECAUTIONS FOR NAABSA – ‘NOT ALWAYS AFLOAT BUT SAFELY AGROUND’

Occasionally, the Club receives claims regarding damages to Members’ ships caused by interactions or surges while alongside the berth with nearby port infrastructures. These damages typically involve the ship’s gangway … Continue reading UNDERSTANDING SURGE AND INTERACTION DAMAGE WHILE ALONGSIDE PORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Working at sea is a demanding and challenging profession that requires constant attention to safety. One aspect often overlooked is the prevalence of finger injuries among seafarers. In the confined … Continue reading UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING FINGER INJURIES AT SEA

Dr. Jane Olivier brings her expertise to address the crucial issue of malaria in maritime settings. With extensive experience in treatment of malaria, Dr. Olivier emphasises the importance of proactive … Continue reading COMBATTING MALARIA AT SEA – PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ADVICE

A Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) refers to a ship that can operate independently of human interaction. They have the potential to revolutionise the maritime industry, making safer, more efficient, … Continue reading MARITIME AUTONOMOUS SURFACE SHIP (MASS) TRIALS

Deck cargoes present a significant risk of water entrapment, highlighting the complexities of maritime logistics. Ensuring proper handling and stowage of deck cargo is paramount to mitigate potential hazards . … Continue reading DECK CARGOES AND THE RISK OF WATER ENTRAPMENT – ADDRESSING DECK CARGO LIABILITY

The Atlantic hurricane season starts on 1 June and ends on 30 November. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above-normal 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA is forecasting … Continue reading ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON 2024 – WARNING TO SEAFARERS

The surge in popularity of container shipping stems from its convenience and fast turnaround time. This transportation method utilises standardised cargo transport units (CTUs) to facilitate seamless handling, transportation, and … Continue reading CARGO FUMIGATION IN CONTAINERS

A ship to ship (STS) transfer operation is the transfer of cargo between two ships alongside each other, either while stationary or underway. Bringing two ships together and separating them … Continue reading SAFE SHIP TO SHIP (STS) TRANSFER OPERATIONS GUIDANCE

Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC) season 2025 update – This page was originally published in April 2024 and will be updated again when country-specific guidelines are issued in 2025. The … Continue reading FLIGHTED SPONGY MOTH COMPLEX (FSMC) SEASON 2024 – FORMERLY ASIAN GYPSY MOTH

In recent years, the Britannia Loss Prevention team has noticed an increase in the number of dragging anchor incidents. Ships anchor for a variety of operational reasons however anchoring can … Continue reading DRAGGING ANCHOR MEANING AND PREVENTION: LOSS PREVENTION

Ensuring cargo holds are cleaned to appropriate standards is an essential for shipowners operating bulk carriers. Failure to meet these standards can lead to cargo damage, noncompliance with regulations, pollution, … Continue reading CARGO HOLD CLEANING STANDARDS: HOLD WASHING, INSPECTION AND POLLUTION PREVENTION

Operating ships in icy conditions requires a unique set of skills and precautions to ensure the safety of both the ship and crew. To thoroughly prepare ships, crew, and cargo … Continue reading OPERATING SHIPS IN ICY CONDITIONS. GUIDANCE TO PREPARE SHIPS, CREW AND CARGO

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A DRAFT SURVEY? Draft surveys play a crucial role in determining the quantity of cargo loaded onto a ship. While based on the simple principle … Continue reading DRAFT SURVEY CALCULATION ON A SHIP – PRACTICAL GUIDANCE

The lack of hatch cover maintenance and/or improper repairs to hatch covers has been shown to be the primary cause of water ingress into the cargo holds which can lead … Continue reading HATCH COVER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS – PROCEDURES, ROUTINES AND TESTING

Marine Evacuation Systems (MES) on board passenger ships typically consist of large inflatable life rafts and either an inflatable slide or escape chute. These systems are designed to enable the … Continue reading MARINE EVACUATION SYSTEM EXERCISES

Lithium-Ion batteries have gained significant attention in recent years due to their pivotal role in the global shift towards sustainability, as well as their association with certain fire risks relating … Continue reading SAFE CARRIAGE OF ENERGY STORAGE UNITS, CONTAINING LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES, ON BULK CARRIERS

Pilotage is the practice of using a local pilot to guide a ship in or out of a port or through a narrow or congested waterway. Pilots are familiar with … Continue reading PILOTAGE GUIDANCE, BRIDGE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (BRM) AND MASTER-PILOT EXCHANGE (MPX)

Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster happened in 2011, the South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) has monitored by sample surveys the ballast water of vessels at Korean ports … Continue reading GUIDANCE ON MEASURES TO PREVENT INFLOW OF POSSIBLE RADIOACTIVE BALLAST WATER

The Club has seen several pollution incidents involving the accidental transfer of cargo into an adjacent ballast water tank. The main causes are pitting or corrosion of cargo tanks which … Continue reading BALLAST OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICE: BALLAST TANK INSPECTION

The Club frequently encounters cases where there is apparent moisture damage to cargo. This damage may be to agricultural products, or rust damage to steel, for example, due to the … Continue reading CARGO VENTILATION LOGS. THREE DEGREE RULE AND WHEN TO VENTILATE THE HOLD

Emergency response on board vessels is normally comprehensively covered by the Emergency Guidance Manual or similar publication, within the vessel’s Safety Management System. An Emergency Guidance Manual will ordinarily address … Continue reading BRIDGE AND ENGINE ROOM INTERACTIONS IN AN EMERGENCY

When ports are congested and there is no suitable anchorage available, ships may need to drift offshore while waiting for a berth.  In recent years it seems that ports have … Continue reading SHIP DIRFTING OFFSHORE BEST PRACTICE. LOCATION, TRAFFIC, WEATHER AND MORE

We have become aware that the above cargo (sometimes described as “Vegetable Residues” or “Olive Mill Waste Water (OMWW)”) is being offered for loading at ports in North Africa. Olive … Continue reading CARRIAGE OF OLIVE MARGINE

When a vessel experiences adverse weather conditions, it is likely to face various kinds of dangerous phenomena that can lead to excessive rolling motions. For container vessels excessive rolling can … Continue reading REDUCING CONTAINER LOSSES – AVOIDING PARAMETRIC OR SYNCHRONOUS ROLLING – OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE

Claims involving cargoes that are allegedly distressed upon receipt at a receiver’s premises, having been carried in a refrigerated container onboard a Member’s vessel, are commonplace. In the past two … Continue reading REFRIGERATED CONTAINER (REEFER CONTAINER) CARGO CARE & CLAIMS

A general cargo vessel ran aground on Sgeir Graidach Shoal in the Little Minch on the west coast of Scotland. Luckily the crew were safely evacuated from the ship by … Continue reading WARNING OF THE DANGERS OF FATIGUE AND POOR BRIDGE PROCEDURES