NTSB analyzes 34 casualties in new safety digest

NTSB analyzes 34 casualties in new safety digest

(WASHINGTON) — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released Safer Seas Digest 2024, which details the most important lessons learned from maritime investigations completed last year. Safer Seas Digest 2024 details the facts and analyzes the probable causes of 34 maritime casualties, including capsizings, collisions, contacts, fires, floodings, groundings and machinery damage. Among the events included in the report…
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Safety alert: Combustible insulation panels on passenger vessels

Safety alert: Combustible insulation panels on passenger vessels

(WASHINGTON) — U.S. Coast Guard marine inspectors discovered a serious structural fire protection deficiency while conducting an inspection of a certificated small passenger vessel (SPV) that had been converted from recreational service. This led to the discovery of similar deficiencies on other SPVs around the United States and a multi-year project that brought 46 certificated vessels into compliance with the…
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Safety alert: Donning of Viking PS2006 immersion suits

Safety alert: Donning of Viking PS2006 immersion suits

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard was recently notified of several vessels whose mariners were unable to properly don their Viking PS2006 immersion suits. This issue was encountered across crewmembers of various sizes, all sizes of the PS2006 immersion suit (small, universal and jumbo), and multiple manufacturing lots. Therefore, manufacturing date and/or body type alone should not be used to…
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Safety alert: Know the explosion hazards of coal

Safety alert: Know the explosion hazards of coal

(WASHINGTON) — A recent explosion on a foreign-flagged bulk carrier highlighted critical safety concerns associated with the shipment of coal. On Nov. 27, approximately 100 nautical miles off the coast of Virginia, a bulk carrier shipping a type of coal called “Bailey high vol coking coal” experienced consecutive explosions in the two forward cargo holds. While still under investigation, the…
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Safety alert: LNG hot work, lockout/tagout procedures

Safety alert: LNG hot work, lockout/tagout procedures

(WASHINGTON) — A recent marine casualty, resulting in a fire and severe injuries to two crewmembers, highlights the risks associated with liquefied natural gas (LNG), performing hot work in hazardous zones, and the necessity of maintaining a robust lockout/tagout program. The U.S. Coast Guard's investigation revealed that two crewmembers were conducting hot work in a known hazardous zone on the…
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Safety alert: Awareness and marking of onboard hazardous zones

Safety alert: Awareness and marking of onboard hazardous zones

(WASHINGTON) — A recent marine incident involving a tri-fueled vessel (liquefied natural gas, diesel, battery) that resulted in a fire and severe injuries to crewmembers highlights the dangers of working in hazardous zones. Despite being aware of nearby crankcase and LNG purge vents in their work area, the crew did not know that the vessel was actively using methane as…
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Lessons learned: Coast Guard publishes new findings of concern

Lessons learned: Coast Guard publishes new findings of concern

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard publishes "findings of concern" to alert stakeholders about safety risks discovered during incident investigations. These findings do not require action but rather are intended to encourage voluntary safety measures or adherence to existing regulations. Unlike urgent safety alerts that require immediate industry attention, findings of concern serve as lessons that should be applied in…
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Dali companies to pay $102 million to settle U.S. lawsuit

Dali companies to pay $102 million to settle U.S. lawsuit

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday that Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, the Singaporean corporations that owned and operated the containership Dali, have agreed to pay nearly $102 million to resolve a civil claim brought by the United States for costs borne in responding to the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The settlement…
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U.S. files $100 million claim against Dali owner, operator

U.S. files $100 million claim against Dali owner, operator

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Justice Department filed a civil claim Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the Singaporean corporations that owned and operated the containership that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge. In the early morning hours of March 26, the motor vessel Dali left the…
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