By Kathy A. Smith
The year 2023 could see full implementation of a ban of heavy fuel oil use in commercial shipping in the Arctic, according to the outcome of the IMO’s 6th annual meeting of the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR6). The group is also working on identifying the type of fuels to be banned and how and when the stages of implementation will occur.
Deadly Disasters and Other Incidents
A seemingly routine commercial trip through the Rhône at the locks in Sablons, France, turned disastrous after the Pampero tanker-barge, loaded with 2,200 tons of vinyl chloride, was suddenly overcome by suction that caused it to be pulled backward as it was attempting to transit out of the lock. Pampero’s wheelhouse was severely damaged in the incident as it hit the downstream lock gate. The ship ran aground shortly after as it floated nearby after the allision. Pampero suffered three hull breaches, but thankfully, there were no injuries to those on board.
Two container cranes were damaged while en-route aboard the Wish Way heavy lift vessel as she was transiting under the Queen Juliana Bridge l at Willemstad in Curaçao. Reportedly windy conditions led to the incident, even though the cranes were partially assembled to allow for enough clearance for safe passage under the bridge.
Apparent injuries from working with a lathe prompted a crewman from the Titania cargo ship to be medevaced via an area Coast Guard helicopter crew, while the ship was near Hatteras Island, North Carolina.
Two vessels collided in the Netherlands, in the Houtrib Lock in Lelystad. The Bonita cargo ship had trouble slowing speed as she entered the lock and ended up hitting the stern of the self-propelled tanker-barge Noordereiland, which suffered extensive damage in the incident but no one was injured.
The work of commercial fishing was interrupted for one crewman aboard a fishing vessel in the vicinity of Port O’Connor, Texas, after he started experiencing heart attack symptoms. The quick action of an area Coast Guard helicopter crew, along with a USCG response boat, helped get the man in distress to a land-based medical center.
Piracy Pulse
In the Singapore Straits a group of six brazen marauders were busy with their mission in the engine room of a bulk carrier when they were spotted. Despite the alarm being raised, the bandits were still able to get away with ship’s properties.
Again in the Singapore Straits, a would-be thief brandishing a knife was noticed on a product tanker, lurking about in the gear steering room. While a crewman advanced toward the robber, he was surprised to see another raider making a fast getaway to the deck above. However, neither intruder was able to take anything before they departed.
At Lagos anchorage in Nigeria, a pair of bandits scrambled onto an anchored tanker and tried to take a duty AB hostage but to no avail. Once the alarm was raised, the duo left with nothing to show for their efforts.
Odds and Ends
Australia’s HR Wallingford’s Simulation Center has become one of the largest and most technically-advanced simulation centers in Australia after taking delivery of two new state-of-the-art simulators. The center is now able to provide full port environment simulations by connecting all six of its simulators as well as offering a wide range of individual scenarios.
A partnership between Classification Society ABS and Jiangnan Shipyard will see the Society class two now-under-construction very large ethane carriers (VLECs) for Pacific Gas. The 99,000-cmb dual fuel vessels are to be equipped with the Jiangnan-built Type-B cargo containment system “BrilliancE,” as well as a shaft generator able to use ethane, among reportedly other environmentally-progressive onboard equipment.
Have questions?
Could be about news, trends, basic industry terms, ‘how-it’s-done’ or something you’re observing in your own industry sector. Send them to maritimewriter@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to answer them, either by email or in one of my upcoming columns (where first name-only references will be used).
Kathy Smith writes for global maritime trade journals and provides marketing copy to maritime businesses worldwide. She can be reached at maritimewriter@gmail.com.
