Dec 2007| Page - 1
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 [Next>>]
 

SIMS, LONAVALA:
“It’s An Extraordinary Achievement!”
- Mr. John Ridgway, Deputy CEO & Chief Operating Officer, BP Shipping Limited.

An impressive list of individuals from the shipping fraternity from all over the world graced the grand occasion of the official inauguration of the SIMS Pre-Sea Campus in Lonavala, on 1st November 2007, Thursday.

Mr. John Ridgway, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of BP Shipping formally inaugurated the institute. An eminent delegation from around the world including local dignitaries such as Mr. G. S. Sahni (former Director General of Shipping, Govt. of India) and Mr. Ajoy Chatterjee (Chief Surveyor, DG Shipping, Govt. of India) also enthusiastically joined in the celebration.

All guests who attended the milestone event were given a tour of the entire 55-acre, state-of-the-art campus, including the unique Ship-in-Campus, which was termed “by far the best” in the country. They were unequivocal in their opinion that SIMS Lonavala is indeed, as commented by Mr. G. S. Sahni, “the best institute that we have in the country today.”

*A 16-page supplement of the SIMS Lonavala Inauguration has been released to give all our readers a brief account and glimpse of the event.



*Note: This monthly safety moment is collected from various sources for educational purpose and is not an actual incident from the ESM fleet.
          Incident is taken from DNV Maritime Casualty Information but lessons learnt have been modified.
Heavy Weather Damage - Near Casualty

Course of events
An oil tanker (80 - 90K GT) was struck by a freak wave in a North Atlantic winter storm.

Extent of damage
The forward store access dog house had its watertight door torn off and washed overboard, resulting in flooding of the entire forward space from the keel and up to the main deck.

The compartment’s hatch cover was torn open, breaking the dogs and was “formed” around the hatch coaming by water pressure.

The ventilator at the base of the forward mast was damaged beyond repair.

Two small goose neck vents in the forward area were damaged by distortion.
Below the deck, inside the stores area, all machinery and equipment were flooded. The paint locker fire door was badly distorted and torn off its hinges.
The emergency fire pump diesel engine was damaged including its wiring harness, starting batteries, and various other accessories.

Probable cause
Under the extreme weather conditions extensive amounts of green sea hit the forecastle deck.
It is considered to be of utmost importance to provide regular and good maintenance, in particular with respect to the maintenance of the cleats for the access hatches and the closing dogs for the watertight doors.
The forecastle, being the most weather and sea- exposed area on the ship, is hardly accessible under conditions as the above. The crew is often forced to wait until the weather has improved to carry out temporary remedial actions. This may result in extensive secondary damage, and even danger to the ship, when the vessel is in a fully loaded condition.


Fig. 1: Damaged hatch cover on forecastle

Lessons to be learned

The deck equipment should be kept well maintained and in good working order so as to prevent water ingress in the foreship (forecastle, forepeak, hold no.1) following heavy weather damage to closing appliances and/or deck structures

The exposed forecastle deck, of course is especially vulnerable, where:

•

All closing appliances for openings into the hull should be subject to regular inspection and maintenance, particularly when trading in heavy weather areas.

•

Locking devices for access hatches and doors should be kept in good working order so that unintended opening, due to green seas, is greatly reduced.

•

Condition and clamping devices of air and sounding pipes should also be regularly checked, as internal corrosion and inadequate clamping may turn out to be critical.

ENB History | Home
 Dec 2007| Page - 1
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 [Next>>]