SAFE T Y


Investigation report released on Fremantle Highway disaster


Briefings


Safety briefing shorts Fatigue reliability of offshore wind turbine structures – A case study


Offshore Wind Turbines face relentless environmental forces— especially fatigue from wind and waves - that can lead to costly failures in blades, towers, and foundations. Traditional maintenance methods often fall short in predicting these risks effectively.


Read the paper at https://bit.ly/4ePZorX. IMPA Safety Campaign 2025


The International Marine Pilots Association (IMPA) Safety Campaign 2025 is an annual initiative dedicated to improving the safety of pilot transfer arrangements worldwide.


This year’s results reveal that observed non-compliance remains high, at 14%, based on over 5,000 reports received in May 2025. This underscores the ongoing need for strict compliance and shared responsibility among all parties involved.


Photo credit: ANP/Marco van der Caaij Read the report at https://bit.ly/4mkL9xx.


The system for responding to incidents in the North Sea needs to be put in order as soon as possible. That will require improved communication and information sharing between the Coastguard Centre and its cooperating organisations on shore. This is the conclusion of the Dutch Safety Board in its investigation of the emergency response to the fire that broke out on board the car carrier Fremantle Highway during the night of 25 to 26 July 2023.


Problems in the emergency response system are not prioritised, because they do not seem serious enough when considered on their own. The vulnerability of the system only becomes apparent when there is a complex request for assistance that demands coordinated action on the part of multiple coordinating organisations in the emergency response chain, both at sea and on shore.


Dutch Safety Board member Erica Bakkum said: “The Dutch Safety Board has repeatedly pointed out in recent years that the Coastguard Centre is insufficiently capable of assuming control when it needs to collaborate with other parties. It doesn’t help that several ministries share administrative responsibility for the Coastguard. That setup makes it harder to take rapid action. We therefore advocate the appointment of a mandated director who can coordinate the necessary improvements in the response to emergencies.”


In the case of the Fremantle Highway incident, the emergency response focused for a long time on fighting the fire rather than rescuing those on board. In the meantime, seven people jumped overboard and were seriously injured; one of them eventually died. The remaining 16 people on board were ultimately airlifted off by helicopters. The initial focus on firefighting and the limitations in sharing information meant that the Security Regions were not sufficiently prepared for the arrival of the 16 casualties from the helicopters, who also required medical care. There was therefore a delay in transporting them to hospitals in the region.


34 | ISSUE 113 | SEP 2025 | THE REPORT Denmark launches world’s first test program for remote pilotage


Danelec and DanPilot have partnered up to unveil a test program for the world’s first data-driven remote pilotage. After six years of development and approved by the Danish Emergency Management Agency, the test program created by DanPilot and Danelec allows pilots to guide ships from land, using only data transmitted directly from the vessels.


The aim is to improve pilot safety and reduce fuel consumption for ships without compromising navigational safety. F urthermore, the approval has been granted as part of a broader effort to enhance safety and preparedness at sea. The test will serve as a foundation for future regulation and possible broader application, both nationally and internationally.


Incorrect storage and handling of ‘jumbo bags’ can lead to significant claims


The London P&I Club has renewed its warning to shipowners, operators, and charterers over the risks linked to loading dry chemicals in Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs), or ‘jumbo bags’ with the launch of a new video that provides loss prevention advice.


The alert follows several incidents involving cargo fires and damage— particularly on bulk carriers and general cargo ships, with many cases reported at Chinese ports. The Club warns that failure to strictly comply with all relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and guidance governing the storage and handling of jumbo bags could even prejudice P&I cover.


Watch the 8 minute YouTube video at https://youtu.be/e0SEQkCFlbo.


PFOS banned in fire-extinguishing media from January 2026


Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued a regulatory update stating that, from January 1st, 2026, the use or storage of fire-extinguishing media – including firefighting foams – containing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) will be prohibited. This applies to both fixed and portable systems and equipment.


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