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Do not depart port without knowing the final cargo weight distribution
ALERT03 JUN 2021
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In the past there have been serious incidents where the car carriers have capsized as a result of inadequate stability. More concerning was the fact that the crew were also caught unaware. It has more to do with the way the shore side does the cargo planning and execution than the role of the crew, who play little or no part in this.
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Fumigant gasses leaking from cargo holds can have fatal consequences
ALERT28 MAY 2021
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Fumigation is done to target infestations in bulk cargoes like grain and timber. The most widely used fumigant is aluminium phosphide which produces phosphine gas that is poisonous to humans. There have been numerous fatalities onboard ships as a result of the crew having been exposed to the gas.
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“It’s not polite to point” – U.S. bans the use of laser pointers at sea
ALERT25 MAY 2021
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New U.S. Coast Guard regulations banning the use of laser pointers or devices by vessel crews when the laser beam is used to strike a vessel operating in US navigable waters, have no exception for distress situations.
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A delayed response to a fire can be fatal for the fire team
ALERT20 MAY 2021
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Preventing a fire in the first place is always better than fighting it. However, in the unfortunate event of a fire, the aim is to extinguish it while it is in its “local” state, i.e. it should not have spread to other compartments or machinery/equipment. At the same time it is a very important consideration that the fire fighters must not be exposed to an unacceptable degree of risk. Response time is therefore critical.
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Take your own bunker samples - they are a vital piece of evidence
ALERT13 MAY 2021
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Bunker quality disputes are not uncommon. The parties often agree to jointly test a sample to determine if the fuel supplied was on-specification or not, and the result is binding on the parties. Even in the absence of an agreement, bunker samples will be relevant evidence that may help to resolve a dispute one way or another. The question then arises: which samples will be used for testing – the one taken on the bunker barge or the one from the receiving ship’s manifold?
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Preventing COVID-19 onboard
ALERT12 MAY 2021
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At a time when the number of COVID cases increases and many ports and countries operate with differing COVID-19 regulations, we encourage ship operators to review their crew change management plans, implement all relevant recommendations set out in the revised IMO supported protocols for crew changes and travel, and continue to promote compliance with proven health measures such as physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and use of masks.
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Reminder - Anchoring in Malaysian Waters off East Johor
ALERT27 APR 2021
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Updated 26 August 2021
Over the years, several vessels entered with Gard have been detained and fined by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency for anchoring in East Johor waters without the requisite permissions from the authorities. The trend has been on the increase this year.
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Beware of fishing vessels in Chinese waters
ALERT26 APR 2021
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The seasonal fishing ban in China comes into force on 1 May 2021. As the number of fishing vessels in Chinese waters is expected to increase in the period leading up to this date, ship operators and masters are advised to take additional precautions when planning a voyage to and from Chinese ports during this period.
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Prepare for tougher at-berth emissions reductions in California
ALERT15 APR 2021
California’s new regulation designed to further reduce pollution from vessels berthed at its ports is now in force. While compliance by visiting vessels is not required until 2023, the practices, procedures and equipment needed for compliance could be quite extensive and costly, and the preparatory work to ensure timely compliance should not be postponed.
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China’s Yangtze River Protection Law is now in force
ALERT08 APR 2021
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A new Chinese environmental law that bans the carriage of a range of highly toxic and dangerous chemicals in the Yangtze River Basin took effect on 1 March 2021. Violation of the law may lead to substantial fines and ship operators trading in this area should carry out appropriate due diligence to check whether any cargoes carried are on the lists of banned chemicals.
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Beware of Indonesia's immigration law
ALERT17 MAR 2021
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Seafarers entering or leaving the Indonesian Territory without valid entry and exit stamps in their travel documents may face substantial fines, and even imprisonment.
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There is never a wrong time to revisit your enclosed space entry procedures
ALERT02 MAR 2021
Recurring enclosed space incidents serve as a stark reminder that entry into such spaces without following proper procedures can result in seafarers being killed or seriously injured, warns a major flag state.
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‘Bridge Cards’ for use in high-risk areas
ALERT10 FEB 2021
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A set of quick reference 'Bridge Cards’ can be a useful safety aide memoire for masters and crews on vessel transiting a high-risk area - particularly during times of tension caused by piracy attacks or other security threats.
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Maritime piracy hotspots persist during 2020
ALERT28 JAN 2021
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Adding to the COVID19 hardships already faced by seafarers, 2020 saw a year-on-year increase in global piracy, with a record 130 crew kidnapped in the Gulf of Guinea, a continuing rising trend of armed robberies against vessels in the Singapore Strait, and no improvements for robbery incidents in South America.
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Senegal steps up immigration and customs controls
ALERT18 JAN 2021
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Vessels calling at Senegalese ports, particularly Dakar, continue to face customs fines and the amounts of such fines have recently increased substantially.
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Maritime security recommendations for operations in the Persian Gulf
ALERT07 JAN 2021
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Industry organizations remind ship operators and seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden and Red Sea to remain vigilant and listen for military warnings at all times.
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Loading soya beans in Brazil – practical guidance
ALERT16 DEC 2020
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Our local correspondent Representacoes Proinde Ltda. has published a comprehensive guide on the soya bean trade in Brazil and we recommend it as a useful source of reference and practical information.
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New immigration controls for seafarers entering Brazil
ALERT10 DEC 2020
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A valid Seafarer Identity Document issued in accordance with ILO Convention 185 is the only “maritime identity document” that will be accepted as proof of the bearer’s eligibility for visa waiver by the Brazilian immigration authorities.
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California clamps down on air pollution from ships at berth
ALERT05 NOV 2020
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In just over one month, California issued the largest penalty to date for violations of its at-berth emissions regulation and announced a further strengthenining of the same regulation, proposing to include emissions reduction requirements at additional ports and for new types of vessel such as ro-ro vessels and tankers.
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Increased security threats to vessels operating in the Gulf of Guinea
ALERT22 OCT 2020
Just one week after the IMB PRC reported a 40% increase in the number of kidnappings from within Gulf of Guinea waters in 2020, major shipping industry organizations warn that an upturn in piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea is likely now that the dry season approaches and sea conditions improve.
- Most recent case study
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Case studies for onboard safety meetings
- Fires in containers caused by Seed Cake
- Pilot on the bridge
- Security alert - coup attempt in Guinea