Monthly Archives: August 2014

On August 18th 2014 an engine room fire aboard the Bahamian flagged 485ft chemical tanker not only disabled the vessel but killed a crew member out of the 22. The vessel remained without propulsion 700 miles west Cape Blanco. A ship’s engine room is home to a variety of machines with a single purpose which is […]

In the previous entry it was established that an incinerator is a requirement by MARPOL aboard any vessel and is an cost-effective way of waste disposal. However before the focus was possible errors  that can hinder its operations therefore, it is worth dissecting the entire mechanism. Firstly, in theory the type of waste that gets […]

Waste, especially at sea is a continuous nuisance as it is mostly solid and occasionally toxic and damaging to environment; however it is something that cannot disappear and warrants a stable disposal method: the incinerator. Incineration is used in medicine, land-based waste disposal and now on ships where easier methods of disposal are unavailable. Incineration […]

It is fairly common in shipping to sail into a zone which has minimal visibility for either weather changes, climate conditions or man-made factors such as intense fire causing thick smoke. This presents immediate danger for the ship and its crew as it increases chances of collision and later on, pollution. While no one can […]

We all heard and possibly employed many consultants when addressing so-called expert matters; needing attention from those “specialising” in a certain field. Consultants are a common sight in the modern corporate sphere and working in many different spheres from business to legal to our industry, maritime. However the question that remains is what is involved […]

The landscape of the maritime industry is changing, with modern-day changes occurring at a faster pace with major waterways such as the Suez canal being renovated and expanded, creating new conditions for shipping which may not be met by current vessels. The faster pace of modern maritime demands vessels to evolve equally fast which means […]

  Ebola is the latest viral hazard that is a threat to many aspects of life in the modern world; including sectors that exist on globalisation and international travel. This virus, currently, has no cure and thus is a bigger threat as more people die from exposure which warrants a more in-depth analysis on the […]

17th July 2014 marks the outbreak of a mosquito-borne virus Chikungunya in the French West Indies and Guyana; no vaccine or cure is present as if now. The virus is characterized by abrupt fever and joint pain along with fatigue and bodily rashes; however the virus is not fatal. Such viruses make shipping harder for […]

Tragedy at sea is a common occurrence where it is likely for the vessel to be uncontrollable as equipment will malfunction and crew will endure mental and physical struggle; adding possible mutiny to the equation; creating an extremely difficult situation. Assume that a vessel is stranded in bad weather and has trouble keeping afloat; decreasing […]

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