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12 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | July 2010 HEALTH&SAFETY 3D package offers ‘virtual’ training Pictured above is a scene Afrom what the classification society DNV claims to be the world’s first 3D survey simulator program to provide virtual training for surveyors and port state control inspectors. Installed in a special new building in Gdynia, Poland, the 3D simulator — launched last month — uses software that is based on the principles of computer games. The program uses images taken from real ships to allow trainees to conduct ‘virtual vessel inspections’ and identify safety shortfalls. Trainees can use the system to ‘navigate’ around all parts of a vessel. Inspections can be carried out from the upper part of the superstructure to the lower part of a cargo hold or the ship’s double bottom. The program can be adjusted so that trainees can experience a wide range of different situations — including the degree of corrosion, or weather and light conditions, to fit different purposes. Safety conflicts are also built into the program to encourage trainees to be more aware of potential hazards while inspecting. DNV says the equipment will be made portable so that training can be carried out almost everywhere, and it will also be available for ship’s officers and surveyors. Chief operating officer Olav Nortun said the system would offer improved and accelerated training. ‘I’m proud of what we have achieved and the fact that, after years of intensive in-house software development, we are today presenting a unique tool,’ he added. Mr Nortun said young surveyors are part of what is known as the ‘PlayStation generation’ and the package meets their expectations. ‘Over the past few years, the number of ships in operation has increased a lot and recruiting skilled professionals to all parts of the industry has become a challenge,’ he pointed out. ‘Nothing can replace onboard training when it comes to achieving experience and improving knowledge, but the 3D simulator is the closest we can come on shore,’ he added. Crew praised for fire response Accident investigators have Apraised the crew of a UKflagged workboat for their rapid response to an onboard fire. The Windcat 3 was collecting technicians from the Robin Rigg offshore windfarm in April when crew reported a noise ‘like a firecracker’. Subsequent checks in the engineroom revealed that there was some sort of electrical fire — but there was too much smoke to attempt to enter safely. After shutting off the fuel supply to the engine and closing the vent flaps, the fixed CO 2 system was used to successfully extinguish the fire. The MAIB has written to the vessel’s owners commending the crew’s actions and offering suggestions for improving aspects of the CO 2 system, fire drills, and operations manuals. Nautilus has welcomed moves Hto review the medical stores requirements for UK ships and revise the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide. The Union is taking part in a Maritime & Coastguard Agency consultation on the proposals, setting out its views on what the overhaul should achieve. Announcing the plans, the MCA said there is no evidence that the current Guide or medical stores requirements are failling to safeguard the treatment of seafarers suffering ill-health or injury at sea. However, the Agency says that changes in the way that medical conditions are diagnosed and treated EMSA caution at EU accident rate Agency warns of signs that safety stats are getting worse as traffic picks up need to be reflected. And, it points out, significant improvements in communications between ship and shore ‘may have implications for both the depth of guidance given and the items that need to be carried’. Nautilus senior national secretary Allan Graveson said the Union will make a detailed and constructive input to the review. ‘It is 11 years since it was last done, and so it is very much overdue,’ he told the Telegraph. Both the medical guide and the medical stores requirements need to be reconsidered in the light of technological advances and in parallel with the work being done at international level to overhaul Union welcomes review of medical rules for UK ships Danger zones: the shipping accident density rate in EU waters during 2009 Graphic: EMSA medical standards and the onboard medicine chest, Mr Graveson pointed out. The review will consider whether the current format of the Guide is still appropriate or whether emergency treatment, medical advice for use at sea and training requirements should be met by distinct publications with different formats. The MCA is also seeking views on whether the Guide and associated training for managing medical emergencies at sea should be more closely aligned with practice in other countries, or whether the current scope of training and provision in the UK remains appropriate. PThe number of accidents involving ships in European waters dropped by almost one-fifth last year, according to a new report from the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). But the Lisbon-based organisation suggests that the reduction was largely the result of the slump in seaborne trade as a result of the global economic downturn and warns there are already signs of a rise in the accident rate following the recent recovery in shipping activity. EMSA said its 2009 maritime accident review had shown a total of 626 vessels involved in 540 accidents in EU waters last year, compared with 754 vessels in 670 accidents in 2008 and 535 ships in 505 accidents during 2006. The Agency also reported that the numbers of lives lost on commercial vessels in EU waters dropped by more than one-third during 2009. A total of 52 seafarers died during the year, compared with 82 in both 2008 and 2007 and 76 in 2006. However, EMSA cautioned against assumptions that the downward trend will continue — warning that figures from the early part of 2010 suggest that accident figures are already beginning to increase again as shipping traffic begins to recover. Executive director Willem de Ruiter said the review helped to measure the success of measures intended to improve safety at sea. ‘The positive news is that, while the global economic crisis can be seen as a commercial cloud for shipping, it has a silver lining in terms of maritime safety.’ The report pointed to ‘supply overcapacity, high levels of ship scrapping, lower operating speeds and generally less pressure to meet tight deadlines in the economic downturn’ as key factors in the improved casualty statistics. ‘However,’ it warned, ‘slow steaming is predicted to result in increasing numbers of engine failures, and deferred maintenance and repairs due to decreases in the income of shipowners and operators may also cause problems. ‘With ship traffic and the associated commercial pressures on the increase once more, we cannot afford to let our guard down at any time. It is clear is that any relaxation of standards that results from an improved accident situation in 2009 could lead to greater problems when traffic volumes return to, or exceed, the levels of the recent past.’ The report reveals that 20,644 merchant ships called at EU ports last year — down almost 10% from 2008. Collisions and contact were the most common type of accident in 2009, accounting from almost 47% of the total, followed by groundings (28%) and fires and explosions (11%). The Agency reported that the number of pollution incidents in EU waters during 2009 was 194 — significantly down from 232 in Signs that seafarers are Fbecoming healthier have been revealed by the UK’s leading ship stores supplier — which reports a massive slump in sales of alcohol and tobacco. Alex Taylor, MD of the Hull-based firm Hutton’s, said his company’s chandlery division is dealing with many more requests from owners and managers for healthy food to be supplied to their ships. ‘A number of ship managers and caterers are really taking welfare seriously and increasing the quantities of fruits and vegetables they order, in addition to reducing the amount of fatty foods onboard,’ he added. Sales of alcoholic beverages and the previous year. It estimates between 1,500 and 2,000 tonnes of oil were spilled in Europe last year compared with nearly double that amount in 2008. ‘Overall, these figures suggest that measures aimed at improving the pollution record of shipping are having an effect,’ EMSA added. Almost 70% of the accidents recorded in EU waters last year occurred in the Atlantic and North Sea areas. Within this area, EMSA said, 79% of the incidents (and more than half of the entire European total) took place in the waters around the Netherlands, the UK, Germany and Norway. Shipboard dining ‘is getting healthier’ tobacco have fallen by 50% over the past three years, the company revealed, whilst orders for fresh salad, fruit and vegetables have risen by 10% over the past two years. Some shipping companies are now specifying free-range or low-fat foods, and Hutton’s said it had also noticed an increase in orders for the provision of fitness equipment onboard vessels. John MacDonald, general manager of Hutton’s medical division, said seafarers also need to take a responsibility for healthier lifestyles. ‘Seafarers can easily become overweight if they load up on calories to get through long working shift patterns,’ he pointed out.
July 2010 | nautilusint.org | telegraph | 13 HEALTH&SAFETY Tanker holed in Strait collision Investigations have been Alaunched into the causes of a collision between a tanker and a bulk carrier off Singapore last month that led to a major week-long counterpollution operation. Local authorities deployed a fleet of 21 clean-up vessels after an estimated 2,500 tonnes of crude was spilled when the 105,784dwt Bunga Kelana 3 — pictured right — was holed in the collision with the 25,488dwt bulker Waily. The collision between the Malaysian-flagged tanker and the St Vincent-registered bulker occurred in the Singapore Strait’s traffic separation scheme, some 13 km SE of Changi East. No one was injured in the incident, but the Bunga Kelana 3 suffered a 10m hole in its hull, damaging one of the cargo tanks. Picture: Reuters MAIB hits out at MCA policy The Crete Cement aground in Oslofjord in November 2008 Picture: Norwegian Coastal Administration Report urges rethink of pilots’ hours rules CInvestigators have called for a review of the rules governing marine pilots’ working hours after an investigation blamed pilot fatigue as one of the factors behind the grounding of a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier off Norway in 2008. The 4,075gt Crete Cement had to be deliberately beached after grounding off Aspond Island in the Oslofjord and taking on water. Investigators said the incident occurred because a planned change of course had not been made. A joint probe by the Bahamas and Norwegian authorities ruled that it was ‘highly probable’ that sleepiness was a critical factor in the accident. The pilot had been on duty for a week and, during this period, his workload had been heavy and involved much night work and few opportunities to get enough rest and sleep. ‘Barriers that should have been in place to handle the problem of the pilot’s sleepiness were weak or absent,’ the report added. Investigators said the officer of the watch had been required to deal with other tasks which distracted him from his navigational duties, and his ability to keep track of the ship’s exact position had been reduced because navaids in the area had changed but corrections to the charts were not readily available to the crew. The report notes that the pilot’s working hours were in line with the relevant regulations — but warns that these ‘are not sufficiently based on research relating to people’s needs for sleep and rest and how reduced sleep and rest can contribute to reducing the ability to perform’. Recommendations include a call for the Norwegian Coastal Administration to implement measures to ensure that pilots have sufficient sleep and rest and for the ship’s owners to ensure that the bridge is adequately manned in demanding situations. Ship grounded when tired chief officer fell asleep A Norwegian-flagged fish Fcarrier ran around off Scotland in February after the fatigued chief officer fell asleep, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has found. A preliminary examination of the incident in which the 497gt Ronja Skye grounded on the western shores of Morvern in February said the officer — who was alone on the bridge at the time — had failed to make a course alteration after falling asleep. Investigators also discovered evidence suggesting that the watch alarm fitted on the ship’s bridge was not working at the time of the accident. The MAIB said it has ‘strongly advised’ the ship’s owners, Solvtrans Marine, to review manning levels and to ensure that the risks of crew fatigue are reduced. A dedicated lookout should be maintained during the hours of darkness, it stressed. The accident probe also found that the master of the Ronja Skye had not informed the coastguard of the accident, and had sought refloating assistance from a sistership before continuing into port under its own power. Union says criticism of fishing safety regime shows need for resources PNautilus has expressed concern over a new Marine Accident Investigation Branch report that highlights the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s failure to implement key proposals for improving fishing vessel safety. In a hard-hitting report on three fatal accidents that occurred within the space of just two weeks, the MAIB described the MCA’s policy on fishing vessel safety as ‘reactive rather than proactive’. It calls for the Department for Transport to take urgent action to develop a comprehensive and properly-resourced plan to bring the accident rate in the fishing industry into line with shorebased work. Chief inspector Stephen Meyer said the accidents ‘provide a powerful illustration of the dangers faced by UK fishermen’ and cast ‘a spotlight on sub-optimal working practices and attitudes to occupational safety that seem to be the norm for some in the industry’. All three deaths occurred when the victims either slipped or were dragged overboard by fishing gear, and Mr Meyer said that issues such as working practices, the use of personal protective equipment and the logistics and planning required to recover men from the sea were common to the investigations. The report notes that many of these factors had been identified in previous MAIB investigations and, over time, a series of recommendations had been made to improve safety. ‘Nearly all have been accepted but, in the case of those directed to the MCA, a significant number have yet to be implemented,’ it stresses. Pointing to a similar report on three accidents published five years ago, Mr Meyer added: ‘One could conclude from the results of the MAIB investigations contained in this report that nothing much has changed since 2004, despite a number of accident reports and recommendations being produced by the MAIB.’ He said the MCA had failed to act on an earlier pledge to extend Warning over use of sleeping tablets Canadian accident investigators Fhave sounded the alarm about seafarers using medication to help them sleep onboard. Concern is raised in a report on an incident in August 2007 when the 1,748gt passenger ferry Nordik Express suffered severe damage after grounding in the approaches to Harrington Harbour, in Quebec. Investigations revealed that the watchkeeping officer — who was in the second week of a 21-day familiarisation and training programme — had been taking sleeping tablets after experiencing feelings of ‘extreme fatigue’ during his first week on the vessel. The officer had been taking the drug Lorazepam, which had been prescribed for someone else, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada report on the accident notes that the use of such medication can impair performance, judgement, vigilance and reaction time. The board said it had investigated other incidents in which personnel had been taking sleep medication, and in response to the Nordik Express case it issued a safety bulletin earlier this year warning seafarers against working under the influence of drugs that could affect their performance. The report also noted that the investigations had identified indications of fatigue among other crew members and said the company had failed to develop a fatigue management plan. a pilot scheme on fishing vessel risk assessments, and both it and the Department for Transport had failed to develop a holistic plan for reducing the death rate in the fishing industry, as recommended following a major MAIB study of accidents between 1992 and 2006. ‘The belief that “fishing is a dangerous occupation” is not an acceptable excuse for failing to implement safe practices that would save lives,’ the new report adds. ‘There are already well defined industry rules and guidance that should prevent such accidents from occurring, yet the current regulatory regime does not ensure that existing rules are understood and implemented,’ it states. The MAIB said death rates in fishing were many times higher than in industries ashore, and warned that it was not appropriate simply to place responsibilities on individual crew when appropriate standards have not been identified, safe operating procedures are not enforced, and many fishermen have had little or no safety training. An effective change in safety culture will occur only through a more holistic approach to the mix of training, regulation and individual responsibility, the report argues. ‘A plan of action, properly funded and with the overarching objective of improving future safety within the fishing industry, is urgently needed,’ it adds. Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson said he was concerned by the report. ‘The MCA has critically important responsibilities for the safety and welfare of seafarers on merchant ships and fishing vessels, and it is disturbing to see new evidence that suggests it is not achieving its targets. ‘With a new government in place, and in the current tough public spending environment, we will be seeking assurances that the Agency is given the staffing and resources it requires to discharge these essential functions.’
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