The Britannia loss prevention team has created a series of COLREGs posters, highlighting the key elements of several rules in Part B of the COLREGs. The posters use simple illustrations … Continue reading BSAFE COLLISION REGULATIONS (COLREGS) POSTERS

Sudden ice accretion can quickly cover a ship’s superstructures, weather decks, and deck machinery, catching crews off guard. This build-up of ice makes hatch covers and machinery unusable until it’s … Continue reading PREPARING FOR ICE ACCRETION ONBOARD SHIPS

The IMO recently hosted the 82nd session of the MEPC between 30 September and 4 October 2024. Highlights include: Two new emission control areas under MARPOL Annex VI were confirmed. … Continue reading INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO) – MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE (MEPC) UPDATE

The ongoing issue of ship anchor loss not only compromises a vessel’s ability to anchor safely until repairs or replacements are made, but also has significant commercial repercussions. These can … Continue reading UNDERSTANDING RECENT ANCHOR LOSSES – LESSONS LEARNED

Harbour tug assistance plays a critical role in the smooth and safe arrival and departure of large oceangoing ships. While these operations are often seen as routine, it is important … Continue reading HARBOUR TUG ASSISTANCE: UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING GIRTING

Bridge visibility, which refers to the unobstructed view the bridge team has from the bridge, is regulated by the SOLAS1 convention. Good visibility is essential for safe navigation, collision avoidance, … Continue reading ENHANCING BRIDGE VISIBILITY FOR SAFER NAVIGATION, COLLISION AVOIDANCE AND EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING

River levels in the Amazon Basin for August have hit a record low compared to historical data. Typically, the driest period in the Amazon Basin occurs between September and November. … Continue reading RECORD LOW RIVER LEVELS IN THE AMAZON BASIN

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

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

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

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

A stevedore on board a general cargo ship was fatally crushed between the gantry crane and a hatch cover during cargo discharge in Antwerp, Belgium. Despite no one witnessing the incident, it is believed that he positioned himself between the moving gantry crane and the hatch cover to check on his team’s progress working in the hold.

Accidents during mooring operations pose significant risks to both maritime personnel and vessels, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. Despite advancements in technology and safety measures, the complex nature of … Continue reading SAFE MOORING OPERATIONS INCLUDING THE SAFE USE OF MOORING EQUIPMENT (MSC.1/ Circ.1620)

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

A dragging anchor incident caused a general cargo ship to collide with two nearby ships, resulting in structural damage to all three ships. Fortunately, no pollution or loss of life was reported.

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

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

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)

The Britannia Loss Prevention team hosted its latest webinar, Surge and Interaction Damage. The webinar was hosted by Captain Charles Chong, Loss Prevention Officer, Britannia P&I, and covered a range … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: SURGE AND INTERACTION DAMAGE

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

A 43,472 GT bulk carrier ran aground on a charted shoal whilst on passage between the Philippines and Australia. The incident occurred after the vessel drifted from the track, with no audible or visual warnings given to the Officer of the Watch (OOW).

The Club’s loss prevention team has been looking into the underlying causes of past collision cases. The number of collision cases is decreasing. This is largely due to the advent … Continue reading COLLISION REGULATIONS – COLREGs

The Britannia Loss Prevention department hosted its latest webinar, Emergency Response Following a Marine Casualty, at 0900 BST on Wednesday 25 May 2022. The webinar was hosted by Captain Simon … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOLLOWING A MARINE CASUALTY

The Britannia Loss Prevention team hosted its latest webinar, Bridge Resources Management Under Pilotage. The webinar was hosted by Captain Slav Ostrowicki, Loss Prevention Manager, Britannia P&I Club, and explored … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: BRIDGE RESOURCES MANAGEMENT UNDER PILOTAGE

The ship pilot, as an expert in ship handling with local knowledge, will engage in a ship’s passage in its most critical phases where marine incidents are most likely to … Continue reading SHIP PILOTAGE AND INTERVENTION – INCLUDING CASE STUDIES

An investigation report published by the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) of Singapore has highlighted some sadly all too familiar lessons regarding the appropriate actions to be taken both before and after a collision

The Club’s surveyors have noted in  a number of condition surveys that Temporary & Preliminary (T&P) notices to mariners have not been correctly applied to charts. In some cases the … Continue reading KEEPING NAVIGATIONAL CHARTS UP TO DATE

When deciding the ship’s berthing position it is important to consider the location of port property (such as fenders) and how they are positioned in relation to any protrusions or … Continue reading FENDER DAMAGE WHEN BERTHING

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (UK MAIB) has recently published its report on the HOEGH OSAKA, a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) which grounded on Bramble Bank in the Solent shortly after departing Southampton in January 2015

SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 19 makes the carriage and use of ECDIS mandatory on certain classes of ships and by July 2018 it will be mandatory for all existing tonnage … Continue reading ELECTRONIC CHART DISPLAY AND INFORMATION SYSTEM (ECDIS): SAFETY SETTINGS, WHEN ECDIS BECAME MANDATORY AND LESSONS LEARNED

NOCC OCEANIC, a 12 deck car carrier, left Keihin Port, Japan on 22 June, bound for Balboa, Panama.

The Association has experience of several incidents in narrow channels where over-reliance on the pilot to monitor the speed and position of the ship has resulted in incidents of capsizing … Continue reading NARROW CHANNELS: DANGER OF OVER-RELIANCE ON THE PILOTS

The loss prevention department have been working with Members to identify and address deficiencies and failures which have resulted from incidents and accidents involving anchoring and mooring. Some of these … Continue reading SAFE ANCHORING PROCEDURES AND MOORING BEST PRACTICE

On 10 December 2013 at 2245 the general cargo ship PAULA C was heading south-west in the Dover Strait traffic separation scheme. It was a dark, clear night with good visibility. She was in ballast, heading for Poole, England.