In SwedishSwedish Transport Agency, Maritime Department
Functioning quick-closing valves?
Quick-closing valves (QCV) are used, among other functions, to prevent fires by isolating the oil in tankers and preventing oil in the system being distributed and maintaining a fire.
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Unmarked bottle with unknown contents
When the gyro needed to be replaced, an engineer emptied the liquid from the old gyro. The liquid was poured into an empty water bottle and was left, unmarked, on the bridge.
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Suction in lifeboat became hazard
A ship was at anchor and the crew were training with a free-fall lifeboat. After the life boat had been launched and the engine started up, there was a negative pressure and the crew of the boat could not open any of the covers.
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Serious burns
A ship’s engineer started a venturi pump in order to start the fresh water separator.
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Explosion risk with refrigeration containers
There is a risk of explosion with refrigerated containers. Three separate events have occurred: two in Vietnam and one in Brazil, resulting in three deaths. Another accident occurred in the United States, when the refrigerant in a container ignited spontaneously on contact with air.
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Rise in the number of deaths at sea in 2011
In 2011, three people died in the maritime transport sector. The year before the number was zero. Certainly these are low numbers, but there are still good reasons to look into the deaths.
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Ships sinking by quayside
Every year there are a number of vessels, often small ships, that sink while moored at berth.
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Lifeboat problems in Insjö/ForeSea
A search in the maritime industry’s accident and incident reporting system Insjö/ForeSea shows that there have been 32 incidents in which the words ”dävert” or ”davit” appears.
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Fault in the triggering device in life jackets
CM Hammar, which produces life-saving equipment, issued a product warning in September 2011 regarding inflatable life jackets manufactured before 2006.
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False or unintentional alarms followed up
Electronic equipment can sometimes cause problems, especially if it includes an alarm function. Last summer the Transport Agency received a request via Stockholm Radio/Sea Assistance from a boat owner who heard a distress alarm on his VHF.
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Unreliable controls constitute a risk
A recurring problem on power driven vessels is faulty machine control or engine control. Problems often occur during manoeuvres because the control gear is not working properly.
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Cuts in personnel is a risk
- Traffic watch on a Ro-Ro ferry
- Signalman on a dry cargo ship
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Damage to drive shaft lead to water influx
While travelling at 27 knots between two quays in western Sweden, there was a mechanical sound on the RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat).
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Measurement of radioactivity in Japanese ports
As a result of the tsunami and the subsequent damage to the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, the authorities there began measuring radioactivity in containers and ships after April 28.
Additional information can be obtained at the following link, http://www.mlit.go.jp/kowan/kowan_fr1_000041.html. Those who wish to communicate further may contact the investigation unit of the Transport Agency’s [...]
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Undeclared goods caused fire incident
Soon after the departure of a ferry, smoke was noticed from a trailer onboard. There was no hazardous cargo declared for the trailer and it had been placed as a barrier between two vehicles carrying dangerous goods. The ship was moored again and the rescue services were called.
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Accident during work at height
A crewmember had climbed up the mast of a ship and was on a spreader (see picture) to do a job. He was wearing a fall arrest harness, which was CE marked and in good condition but with only one hook as a fastening.
It was above freezing outside but at night it would have been [...]
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Life rafts in ice and snow
We can safely say that supervision is sometimes deficient when it comes to keeping rafts and other life-saving equipment free from snow and ice, resulting in their poor functioning.
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Rope ladders in poor condition
It has been noted internationally as well as nationally that rope ladders onboard ships are sometimes in poor condition.
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Asbestos in gaskets
Asbestos has been discovered in gaskets on a number of ships built in Turkey under commission from Dutch purchasers.
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Severe personal injury when mooring
A crewmember was so badly injured by a winch during mooring work that one of his legs had to be amputated.
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