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 17 to 25 storms with winds of 39 mph (34 knots) or higher. Out of these, 8 to 13 could become hurricanes with winds of … 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 storage of cargo without direct handling, particularly regarding dangerous goods or fumigated cargoes. A fumigated CTU is a closed CTU, such as a multimodal freight … 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 while underway is an unusual occurrence for many ships and the crews onboard. Consequently, heightened risks are associated with these operations, where skill and experience … Continue reading SAFE SHIP TO SHIP (STS) TRANSFER OPERATIONS GUIDANCE

The Lymantria Dispar, also known as the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC), is a species of moths, native to China, far-East Russia, and other countries of the Asia-Pacific, such as Japan and Korea. Spongy refers to the characteristic of the moth eggs which resemble a sponge-like mass. FSMC is a highly destructive pest posing a … 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 lead to the loss of control over the ship and ultimately to the loss of anchors or chains, grounding, collision or damage to property. As … 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, and significant delays in operations, all of which can lead to claims. Understanding the hold cleanliness requirements is often instrumental when analysing major claims. Typically, … 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 for extreme cold conditions, it is strongly recommended that classification societies, flag and coast states, equipment manufacturers, H&M insurers, training facilities, and other relevant stakeholders … Continue reading OPERATING SHIPS IN ICY CONDITIONS. GUIDANCE TO PREPARE SHIPS, CREW AND CARGO

Draft surveys play a crucial role in determining the quantity of cargo loaded onto a ship. While based on the simple principle of Archimedes’ law of floatation, the calculation process can be complex due to the ship’s shape, non-linear changes in draft due to hog and sag, and external weather conditions. Simply put, the weight … Continue reading DRAFT SURVEY CALCULATION – 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 to cargo damage. In addition to the financial and insurance claims, there are other potentially more serious consequences that need to be considered: Fire – … Continue reading HATCH COVER MAINTENANCE – 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 rapid evacuation of a large number of people without requiring extensive training. The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention requires that each MES installed … 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 to thermal runaway, self-ignition, and the risk of an explosive and toxic atmosphere. Whilst these fire risks have predominately been discussed in connection with the … 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 the local waters and can help to ensure the safe passage of ships. However, pilotage can also be a high-risk activity and the Club continues … 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 that have previously called at Aomori Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Ibaragi Prefecture and Chiba Prefecture. With wastewater from Fukushima nuclear powerplant being … 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 results in cargo being flushed out during ballast water operations. These incidents have highlighted the importance of crew awareness of ballast principles and best practices. … 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 formation of ship or cargo sweat. The Club can have difficulty defending these claims due to poorly conducted ventilation and completion of the ventilation log. … 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 the issue of ship/shore/management interaction, although often a particularly important interface, that of the interaction between the bridge and engine room teams, is either overlooked … 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 become more congested and so there has been an increased number of ships drifting offshore.  This drifting, which may seem straightforward, can involve risks.  In … 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 Margine is not listed as a cargo in the IMSBC Code but we have been informed by cargo experts that it is prone to liquefaction … 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 result in stowage collapse and loss of containers which may endanger both the safety of the vessel and the environment – and potentially become very … Continue reading REDUCING CONTAINER LOSSES – 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 years, the Club has opened just over 250 claims files for allegedly damaged refrigerated containerised cargo carried on Members’ vessels, amounting to claims of just … 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 the local coastguard, but the vessel sustained extensive damage and was later declared a constructive total loss. The incident investigation report identified a number of … Continue reading WARNING OF THE DANGERS OF FATIGUE AND POOR BRIDGE PROCEDURES