Officer of the Watch

Monthly PSC Report For December 2012

January 25, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

The following tables summarize some findings from the PSC inspections conducted in the main PSC MoU areas (Black Sea MoU, Mediterranean MoU, Indian Ocean MoU, Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU) during last month. Data have been also gathered from various Coast Guard agencies and are presented in each month’s report. Data from other PSC MoUs (Vina del Mar, Abuja MoU, Riyadh MoU) could not be extracted at the time this report has been issued and therefore were not included.

PSC MoUs	Black Sea	Mediterranean	Indian	Paris	Tokyo
Total Inspections	509	456	436	1351	2462
With Deficiencies	376	243	261	937	1608
Without Deficiencies	133	213	175	414	854
Detentions	21	27	16	53	80

Loss of Anchor

January 25, 2013 by Officer of the Watch 1 Comment

A vessel lost one anchor and four lengths of chain cable during anchor handling. During the vessel’s previous drydocking, a number of chain cable lengths had been renewed on port and starboard side, including a number of Kenter shackles (joining shackles) as found necessary, due to wastage in excess of allowable limits. The remaining part of the anchor chain cable lengths and Kenter shackles were at that time found to be in satisfactory condition.

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: anchor, anchor handling, chain cable, fatigue cracks, Kenter shackles, Safety & Quality

Chief Officer Pleads Guilty to Causing Grounding

January 23, 2013 by Officer of the Watch 1 Comment

On 2nd July 2012 the Antigua and Barbuda registered cargo ship Coastal Isle was en route from Belfast to Greenock when at 0500hrs in the morning it grounded at Garroch Point on the southern coast of the Island of Bute. The vessel grounded due to the fact that the chief officer on watch left the bridge to go to the toilet.

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: accident, Cargo Ship, Coastal Isle, grounding, navigation, Safety & Quality

Barents Sea Oil and Gas Resources

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

The Barents Sea, supports one of the world’s major fisheries, and is as such, already economically very important. Several major oil firms have expressed interest in exploring deep into Arctic territories, and governments of countries such as the United States, Russia, Canada and Norway have been preparing for this eventuality. RIGZONE published a very interesting article this week regarding Barents Sea exploitation.

USS Guardian Grounding

January 22, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

US Navy minesweeper USS Guardian, which ran aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea the previous week, has turned 90 degrees due to strong currents. According reports the ship’s movement may have caused more damage to the reef’s fragile corals. The grounding occurred while the vessel was en route to Indonesia to participate in a training exercise. The vessel’s crew has been safely evacuated.

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: accident, grounding, minesweeper, Philippines, Sulu Sea, Tubbataha Reef, US Navy, USS Guardian

Major LPG Leak from Gas Carrier – Investigation Report

January 21, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

On 17 October 2006, the Hong Kong registered gas carrier Ennerdale experienced a major leak of liquefied propane, while cargo sampling operations were taking place, alongside Fawley Marine Terminal (FMT). The leak was sealed 29 hours later, after an estimated 66 tonnes of propane had been lost to atmosphere.

Queen Mary 2 Documentary

January 20, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

Filed Under: VIDEOS Tagged With: cruise ship, Queen Mary 2

Super-yacht Engine Room Tour

January 19, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

The yacht “S/Y Dubai Magic” on the video is 45 meters.

Video contribution from Super Yacht Crew Guide

Filed Under: VIDEOS Tagged With: engine room, Superyacht

Flooding of Engine Room During Ballast Operation

January 18, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

During a ballast operation at night, while at a shipyard in order to trim the vessel for drydocking, it was discovered that the engine room was flooded. Damage to submerged electrical equipment occurred Furthermore, the engine room had to be cleaned after the flooding. The ballasting could, however, have caused serious consequences for the safety of the vessel and sinking if not discovered in time.