In SwedishSwedish Transport Agency, Maritime Department
Broadband radar does not fulfil requirements
A new type of radar called broadband radar, mainly intended for leisure boats and smaller ships, has been launched on the market. This type of radar differs from traditional radar in that it transmits continuously and not in pulses. It is not compatible with radar beacons and transponders, and does not show racon signals or SART signals (signals from life rafts, for example).
Explosion onboard led to burn injuries
A woman was walking along the quayside where a fishing boat was moored and heard a bang. A person in flames came out of a door in the boat. The woman shouted to the person to jump into the water, which he did. The woman then called for help from other people nearby and they all helped to pull the burned person out of the water. After some time the injured person arrived at a hospital and was given intensive care.
Insjö will change name and reward reporters
The Swedish maritime industry has a reporting system for accidents and near accidents called Insjö/Foresea, which is specially adapted to the internal ISM system that many shipping companies must have.
MOB boat fell with crew in
During an exercise with a man overboard boat (MOB boat) one of the crewmembers happened to pull the handle for releasing the hook (A in the picture). The boat fell 14 metres down to the surface of the water, hitting the davit on the way down and tipping out three of the crew into the water.
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Defective lifebuoys causing problems
The problem with defective lifebuoys which fill with water after the foam in them has collapsed is larger than first envisaged. All the signs indicate that it is the manufacturing method which causes the problem. We are aware of three types and makes in which the foam has collapsed.
Mistaken instrument reading led to grounding
The investigation by the Marine Department indicates that the most probable explanation is that the skipper mistook the rudder angle indicator for the yaw indicator. Both instruments look very similar and indicate values on a display unit.
Drive on Port State Controls
ParisMoU (mainly countries in Europe and Canada) has carried out an inspection drive for three months. Twelve questions related to navigation safety were asked. A total of almost 6000 checks were made, resulting in 81 operating bans relating to the issues in the drive, and 1872 deficiencies registered.
Recommendations stemming from these investigations
The investigation unit of the earlier Marine Surveying Department, now the Marine Department of the Swedish Transport Agency, has carried out 159 investigations since 1997. A total of 313 recommendations have been issued, of which 125 were general and 188 more specific.
Insjö to become Foresea and internationalised
The shared Swedish maritime near-accident and reporting system, Insjö, has changed its name to Foresea. The system is about to be launched abroad and an agreement of cooperation between ICC, which administrates Foresea, and the Finnish Maritime Administration (now the Traffic Safety Agency) has been signed.
Dangerous slicing machines
Slicing machines are among the food processing machines that cause most accidents in catering kitchens. While carrying out its inspections of workplaces on land, the work environment authority has noted that a number of older slicing machines as well as new CE marked models do not fulfil current safety requirements.
Door fell after careless rebuilding
After an elevator to the weatherdeck was rebuilt into a ramp, the door to the weatherdeck was also rebuilt into the guillotine type, opening and closing vertically. While the ship was being loaded a truck drove into the side of the door construction, and when it was operated later on the door would not close the last three metres.
Lifebuoy sank – report from Insjö
At the moment there are 2,416 reports in the marine accident and near accident reporting system, Insjö. One of these describes a remarkable event which took place on a Swedish ferry.
Shortcut when repacking rafts can cause mortal danger
It has been noted a number of times previously that shortcuts are sometimes made when inflatable life rafts are repacked. It appears to be commonplace that the bushing located between the two halves of the shell through which the release line runs is cut. The reason is that when repacking almost the whole line must be pulled through the bushing, which involves an amount of work.
Warnings from the Swedish Transport Agency
The Maritime Department has put out a number of warnings on the Swedish Transport Agency website under the heading of Safety Alert. Refer to http://www.transportstyrelsen.se/Sjofart/Olyckor–tillbud/Safety-alert/.
Low energy lamps may cause interference
There have been warnings about electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones, since it can interfere with sensitive instruments. It now appears that the new type of low-energy lamps may have a similar interference effect as they also operate at high frequencies.
From Insjö
In the marine reporting system for accidents and near-accidents, Insjö, there are currently 2,366 reports. One particularly interesting event concerns the CO2 system on a ship. It may be noted that the arrangement as described in the report does not fulfil approved standards.
Faulty depth data and other deficiencies in electronic sea charts
Some of Garmin’s sea charts contain errors and have been recalled by the manufacturer. The fault lies mainly in the position of the depth contours. More information from Garmin can be found at www.garmin.se/bluechart2009.
Faulty valves in the CO2 high-pressure system
The Swedish Transport Agency has received a warning regarding valves in the high-pressure CO2 system from the US Coast Guard. The valves may self-release unintentionally and put personnel in the vicinity at great risk. The valves are in use on Swedish vessels.
New shipping company network discusses work environment
Closer cooperation with the Swedish Transport Agency and exchange of experience. This is what the person taking the initiative to start a new network for shipping companies is hoping for.
Building out risks
In SAN NEWS 1 2009 a serious accident was described in which a pilot crushed his leg between the pilot boat and the ship which was to be boarded. After the event, the shipping company has tried to build out the risk.
