CURRENT AWARENESS BULLETIN - IMO

all containers prior to loading. They want to see an amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea convention
and will be lobbying for the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee to agree at its meeting next May to include
the issue of overweight containers in its work programme." LLOYD’S LIST, 3 December 2010, p 3
Lermontov’s ghost – By Julian Parker “In the first part of his article, published in October, Julian Parker
drew on the famous grounding of the Mikhail Lermontov in 1986 to trigger his thoughts on how accidents
can happen. He showed how our minds can play tricks on us, however experienced and skilled we are.
Here he looks at the contribution of the subconscious mind and fatigue to mariners’ actions before
suggesting ways of achieving greater awareness.” SEAWAYS, December 2010, pp 15-16
Passenger ships – New international safety regulations enter into force 1 st July 2010 “A
comprehensive package of amendments to the international regulations affecting new passenger ships
enters into force on 1 July 2010. Increased emphasis is placed on reducing the chance of accidents
occurring and on improved survivability, embracing the concept of the ship as ‘its own best lifeboat’.”
SHIPPING REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE, December 2010, p 25
Walkway collapse highlights risks from engine movement - By David Osler "The collapse of a
passenger walkway in Heysham earlier this year highlights the dangers of unintended engine movement
in port, according to a report by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch. The publication follows a
MAIB report into an incident on March 25, involving the 1998-built, 12,504 gt Isle of Man Steam Packet
vessel Ben-My-Chree, which had just spent three weeks in drydock. Two shore technicians were on
board to mend the circuit breakers. The starboard main engine was started by the second engineer at
1338 hrs. At 1357 hrs, the chief officer request the third engineer for bridge control of main engines, in
order to test before departure. Not observing that the starboard engine was running, he put both pitch
control levers to full ahead. The vessel surged ahead, causing serious damage to the passenger access
structure. While there were no injuries, eight passengers had to be rescued by the fire service." LLOYD’S
LIST, 22 December 2010, p 3
Death toll of Chinese seafarers reaches 75 - By Adam Corbett "As many as 75 seafarers have died
this year on merchant ships to China following the loss of the 1,022-teu boxship Phu Tang (built 1998),
which mysteriously sank last Friday off Hainan Island in the South China Sea. Out of a crew of 27, only
two survived. Officials from the vessel’s operator, Vinalines Container Shipping, could not confirm the
number of survivors but hoped to provide a more accurate picture later in the week. There are
suggestions the ship may have suffered a mechanical failure in heavy seas." TRADEWINDS, 23
December 2010, p 47
Carnival Splendor fire systems were defective - By David Osler "Onboard firefighting equipment on
Carnival Splendor, the cruiseship left adrift off Mexico after an engineroom fire last month, failed to
function properly when needed, according to two safety notices from the US Coast Guard. The
development will heap further embarrassment on operator Carnival Corp, which sustained unfavourable
publicity after it was forced to rely on US Navy helicopters to airdrop Spam, croissants and Pop Tarts to
the stricken vessel.." LLOYD’S LIST, 24 December 2010, p 2
Bulker losses an ‘appalling’ trend- by Terry Macalister ““The astonishing loss of ships and lives in the
Far East over the past few weeks is a shuddering reminder of the dangers of the sea. It is also a wake-up
call to Chinese shipowners, the Panamana shipping register and Indonesian mine operators to the
dangers of complacency. Three vessels have gone down since 27 October with the loss of 44 lives — that
is an average of more than one fatality a day. And it does not take into account the loss of the 34,000 dwt
Jianmao 9, which sank but the crew was fortuitously rescued by a passing containership on 9 November.”
TRADEWINDS, 10 December 2010, p 2
Fatigue, failures and fines “Port states have begun to crack down on shipping companies that ignore
standards on hours of rest, and one major company was recently fined for a fatigue breach. Martin Watts
looks at the effects of the latest war on weariness.” SAFETY AT SEA INTERNATIONAL, January 2011, p
19
4. MARITIME SECURITY
Pirates linked to terror group - By Gavin van Marle "The ability of insurers and shipowners to pay
ransoms to Somali pirates is at threat after risk forecast company Exclusive Analysis warned of the
increasing likelihood that a link exists between the gangs and terrorists. While the analyst has yet to find
convincing evidence that a partnership exists between the principal Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab and
pirates, deputy head of Africa forecasting Natznet Tesfay said it was “increasingly likely” a connection
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