Fire presents a serious threat aboard vessels. It can spread quickly and cause extensive damage, putting the lives of crew members at risk. That's why it's essential for ships to have adequate fire fighting equipment on board. The type of extinguishing equipment...
Maritime disasters have been a tragic reality throughout history. In 2022, the world witnessed several devastating incidents on the seas and rivers, resulting in a significant loss of lives and damage to property. Most of these accidents are a result of negligence and...
Having power and electricity is vital for ships to function at sea. It does not matter if it is a small yacht or a huge supertanker. They need energy to run and reach their destination safely. Hence, seafarers perform maintenance schedules for all the machinery and...
Would you rather have a healthy, restful sleep and wake up in a pool of water, or be disturbed by a menacing alarm during your sweetest dreams? If you are on board, you don't really have a choice. Like it or not, emergency alarms are the number one priority to respond...
A new inspection regime, called SIRE 2.0, will be served to all tanker vessels in the 4th quarter of 2022. According to OCIMF, this modern approach to vetting inspection will have significant improvements compared to the current version of SIRE. But we still don't...
A ship's combination ladder is a setup where a pilot ladder is used in conjunction with an accommodation ladder to facilitate the embarkation and disembarkation of marine pilots. Since ladders are the only means of access on board, their proper rigging is always an...
You might be rigging pilot ladders for many years already without knowing that your methods may not be correct. As a matter of fact, the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) studied 3,322 pilot boarding arrangements and discovered that 13.43% of them are...
If you think that using a ladder in a breathtaking setting only happens in movies, think again. The shipping sector also has this kind of struggle especially because the only access to a ship is by means of a ladder! Whether alongside, in the anchorage, or at sea,...
There are many different types of lifeboats that merchant vessels use today. It is a vital safety appliance on board that it is mandatory to have them. That said, ships with no lifeboats, or have defective ones, are unseaworthy. Your ship may have the perfect...
A line-throwing apparatus (LTA) is a self-contained device that shoots a rocket projectile to a considerable distance while attached to a line. It is mostly used during rescue operations but sometimes on a ship-to-ship transfer where normal methods of contact using...
Emergency towing-off pennant or commonly known as “fire wire” is a long wire deployed on the side of a tanker ship. One end is firmly secured on the bitts while its eye on the other end is hanging one to two meters above the water line. Ships use fire wires...
Like traffic lights, road signs, markings, retro-reflectors, and early warning devices, seafarers also use similar arrangements in waterways aimed at the safety of navigation. We call them the IALA Buoyage Systems or the International Association of Marine Aids to...
If you watched many ship-sinking movies before, you might have already indirectly seen a hydrostatic release unit in action. Movies or news about a sinking vessel sometimes mention liferafts, fully inflated but without anyone inside. You may already hear of...
An International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) is a document that contains the record of your vaccination history. On a positive note, member states of the World Health Organization recognize this certificate. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, seafarers and...
The Bridge Standing Orders are a set of rules that anyone on the bridge team must follow. It consists of guidelines aiding the Officer of the Watch in his decision-making during navigation. Navigation looks pretty easy on the surface. However, going into the details...
A Helmsman is a very important member of the bridge team. Even with today’s modern technology, Captains still prefer helmsmen for steering the ship during channeling and pilotage. With this inclination, the room for human error remains which is basically 75% to 96% of...
Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Trinity Spirit exploded and sunk off the coast of Ukpokiti Terminal, around Excravos, Warri South-west, Delta State, Nigeria on Wednesday (Feb. 2, 2022) early morning. It is unknown how much she is carrying but...
Maltese flag bulk carrier Julietta D collided with tanker vessel Pechora Star off the coast of Ijmuiden, Netherlands on January 31, 2022, at around 0940H UTC. Storm Corrie was battering the area. Around the anchorage area are wind farms. This looks like a recipe for...
Pressure/vacuum (P/V) valves are essential safety devices on tanker ships. They are very important that no tanker vessel can operate without them installed. When I was undergoing a basic tanker training course before coming on board, our instructor hammered into us...
The inert gas system is one of the most critical components of a tanker vessel. Vessels using inert gas in their tanks are enjoying the benefits of safe operation against fire and explosion. No smoking on deck, no naked lights, intrinsically safe equipment only, and...
Recognizing the importance of seafarers in keeping the global economy running, some European ports are now offering free COVID-19 vaccines to seafarers. The first COVID-19 vaccine in the European Union started in Belgium last June 1. Around 2,200 seamen got their jabs...
Anchoring is an operation on board that involves dropping a metallic object with “claws” called the anchor. It is attached to a chain connected to the ship and held at the bottom of the sea. Safe and proper anchoring maintains the ship’s anchor and its fittings in...
Using the services of private maritime security companies became well-considered during the height of pirate infestations in the years 2009 to 2011. Since vessels are vulnerable to boarding on the high seas, the use of armed guards was an option for preventing...
A shipboard organization is similar to the government structure we have in our countries. Vessels have worlds of their own. They are like mini kingdoms having a very small population with each person holding specific duties. The duties vary depending on the crew’s...
SOLAS 1974 Convention or the Safety Of Life At Sea is an international agreement between flag states that sets standards on different aspects of maritime safety. By far, it is the most important of all international conventions related to shipping. Its complete...
What is the ISPS Code? ISPS Code or the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code is a collection of guidelines for the security of the ship her crew, cargo, and the port facility. It is part of SOLAS and you can find more about it in Chapter XI-2 of that...
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