Officer of the Watch

Is MLC Having Any Effect?

January 8, 2014 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

The following article was initially published in the Isle of Man Maritime Blog by Dick Welsh Director of Isle of Man Ship Registry. Back in August, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) came into force, adding seafarers’ rights to existing IMO instruments covering safety, pollution prevention, and crew qualifications. The 30 countries that had already ratified the Convention could now carry out port state control inspections of ships visiting their ports, thereby raising the bar internationally and improving the situation for crew on board ships. But four months into the maritime industry’s newest international regime, have standards for seafarers really improved?

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Filed Under: FEATURED AUTHORS Tagged With: Crew, MLC 2006, seafarers

Offshore Platform Blowout – Investigation Report

December 30, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

This incident refers to a a brief loss of well control that occurred onboard an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico a few years ago. The operator was attempting to pull the tubing free of the seal assembly in a Baker SC-2 packer set at 10,830 feet to repair the Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve (SCSSV) set at 350 feet (RKB) or 232 feet below mud line. In the attempt to retrieve the hanger, the 2 7/8-inch, P-105 tubing parted at approximately 4300 feet while working the pipe up and down. The 2 7/8-inch tubing began getting pushed out of the hole by well pressure and fluid in the annulus began flowing.

Maersk Oil Gryphon A FPSO Recovery Story

December 29, 2013 by Officer of the Watch 1 Comment

Filed Under: VIDEOS Tagged With: FPSO, Gryphon A, Maersk oil

Swordfish Stuck in Offshore Oil Rig

December 28, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

Filed Under: VIDEOS Tagged With: Offshore Platform, swordfish

Incident Information on Grounding due to Temporary Loss of Steering

December 27, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

A number of vessels have reported temporary loss of steering when reducing ship’s speed, which has resulting in unintended changes in the ship’s direction. This incident information refers to a fully loaded tanker approaching port under pilotage, lost steering and grounded. As a result the vessel suffered bottom damage.

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: DNV, grounding, loss of steering, propeller, rudder, tanker, Technical

Paris MoU Detention Report for General Cargo Ship MV Friendship

December 25, 2013 by Officer of the Watch 1 Comment

MV Friendship was a Maltese Flag General Cargo Ship which was carrying cargo from Cuba to Canada. The vessel was targeted for inspection as it was identified by THETIS as a Priority I for a more detailed inspection in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Canada. The ship was discharging a cargo of Nickel in bags. A team of 3 inspectors from Dartmouth office boarded the ship on July 23, 2011. The vessel was detained on July 25, 2011 for a total of 23 deficiencies of which 6 were serious enough to detain the vessel.

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: detention, eficiencies, HSSQE, life saving appliances, lifeboat, load lines, Paris MoU, PSC, PSCO, sounding pipes

Monthly Piracy Report for November 2013

December 24, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

On a monthly basis the Officer of the Watch Blog publishes a report regarding maritime piracy incidents. The report focuses mainly on vessels of the Merchant Navy (Bulk Carrier, Chemical Tankers, Containerships etc). Up until the date this report is being published the figures of maritime piracy related incidents worldwide, according to IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, are as follows:

Total Incidents Worldwide: 234
Total Hijackings Worldwide: 12
Somali related Incidents: 13
Nigeria related Incidents: 30

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Filed Under: PIRACY REPORT Tagged With: armed robbery, gulf of aden, IMB, piracy, somalia, west africa

Blowout and Subsequent Fire On Offshore Platform – Investigation Report

December 23, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

This incident took place almost a decade ago and refers to a rig blowout and the subsequent fire that broke on the platform. Initially the Rig was conducting directional drilling operations. After a stand being pulled the well began flowing at an increasing rate. The annular diverter element was closed and the well was put into the diverter system. The alarm was sounded to evacuate the Rig and Platform. After a while the end of the port diverter pipe blew off and an uncontrolled flow of gas, water, sand, and hydrocarbons caught fire. The fire from the uncontrolled flow out of the diverter was spread on the Rig floor.