A few months ago PSA issued a new journal providing valuable information on some of the most relevant issues and challenges that are being faced by the oil & gas industry in the field of safety. The following information is an extract from PSA’s journal “Dialogue” regarding a mooring incident on the drilling rig Ocean Vanguard in 2004.
BSR’s Clean Cargo Working Group’s 2013 “Collaborative Progress” report-which provides data from more than 2,300 ships, representing more than 60 percent of global ocean container capacity-indicates that average carbon-dioxide emissions for global ocean container transport have declined year on year, and by more than 7 percent between 2011 and 2012.
This investigation report refers to an accident that took place during an attempt to weld the casing head of a slip-on wellhead, gas flow was noticed coming from the +10 valve. Later, unsuccessful attempts were made to stop the flow, which was then coming from the drive pipe/surface casing annular region. The gas flow eventually ignited and caused extensive damage to the platform. The well bridged over and kill operations were completed successfully and fortunately there were no injuries.
The following incident took place onboard an oil tanker while the vessel was in port of discharge. Heated fuel oil was found to be seeping from the “oily water” overboard discharge pipe, and the vessel was subsequently detained. As soon as the oil spill was discovered the port heated fuel oil tank was emptied by transferring to another tank and the heated fuel oil tank/piping for the tank closed/sealed.
There is difference between anti-piracy and counter-piracy. Anti-piracy is about elimination; medium to long-term perspective, strategic, national, regional and international character, in other words it is a ”pipe dream”, cannot be done. Counter- piracy is about containment; short term and medium term, tactical, operational, private, national, regional and international character. This presentation/article is about counter-piracy policies and initiatives. When it comes to East Africa, believe it or not, 99.5% of the funds spent on counter-piracy go to counter-piracy operations.
The following article was initially published in the Isle of Man Maritime Blog by Dick Welsh Director of Isle of Man Ship Registry. I realise I am a Luddite who went to Sea a long time ago, but I am concerned that the modern age of instant communication and social media may not be helping our seafarers.
Shipping is the only sector without an EU cap on emissions. In 2009, the EU committed to include shipping in its climate policy but instead the Commission proposed last year only to monitor CO2 emissions. While the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) proposal is a step in the right direction, it lacks ambition and will have little impact if left unchanged. It can be strengthened to create a MRV system that may not only be used for CO2, but also for SOx and NOx – harmful air pollutants. To actually reduce emissions, unreliable monitoring methods should be removed, and data transparency should be ensured. Finally, there should be a path for transition of MRV requirements into real emissions-reduction measures.
This investigation report refers to an accident that took place during a drill with the vessel’s rescue boat. When the second of the two crewmembers entered the boat at the embarkation level, the jaw end of a swivel connected to the rescue boat’s hook failed due to a damaged split pin, and the boat fell approximately 18 meters to the sea with the two crewmembers on board. One able seaman (AB) was killed instantly when the boat hit the water. The other crewmember was severely injured but with the prospects of a full recovery.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Officer of the Watch 