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.
A ship was alongside in port when the main engine was started, and the oil mist detector gave a warning alarm. When opening up the crank case a hot crankpin bearing was found. The crankshaft was found to be seriously damaged in way of one crankpin, causing the vessel to be put off hire for more than a month before resuming operation.
This incident information refers to loss of main electrical power onboard a bulk carrier and while at sea. The vessel had completed heavy weather preparations on deck, when she approached a forecasted storm with force 8-9 and waves up to 7 metres. Shortly after running into the storm the fire alarm sounded, a black out occurred and the main engine stopped.
This incident information refer to to heavy corrosion/pitting and subsequent cracking that was discovered in the side shell plating and frames of an old bulk carrier at sea, in ballast condition. The damage was found in way of the pipes connecting the hopper tanks and the top side tanks in cargo hold no. 4.
During a loaded voyage of a bulk carrier it was discovered that water had entered into the double bottom tank No.4, amidships. After inspection it was found that the water was coming through the ship’s side via the access trunk from the top wing tank and then to the double bottom ballast tank. The ingress water was estimated to be approximately 300 cubic meters per hour. Fortunately, the leak was limited to the double bottom ballast tank and the ballast pumps were able to keep the tank empty until the crack could be dealt with.
Water ingress to the engine room of a bulk carrier was discovered during a voyage. The leakage was found to come through the short sounding pipe of the bilge water holding tank in the double bottom. After the visual inspection of the tank, the sea water ingress was found to come through an approximately 45 mm diameter area of serious pitting/hole in bottom plate (see figure below).
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.
This incident occurred while at sea when crewmembers were switching from one circulating pump of the exhaust gas boiler to the other, as part of normal operation. The connected pump fractured and released considerable amount of hot water and steam.
The information contained within this post are referring a technical problem encountered in a number of fishing and offshore support vessels, which have reported sea water leakage at the top of sea chests, located in the engine room. The sea chest holds a box cooler and the leakage has been experienced at the bolt flange between the box cooler and the sea chest. As a result a number of vessels have needed to be taken into dry dock for unscheduled repairs.
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Officer of the Watch 