8
Maintaining an Effective Watch Regulations and long-standing prudent maritime practice require a proper lookout for safe navigation. Maintaining a proper lookout, by sight and sound, is a fundamental rule of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGS) for vessels, regardless of their size or activity, and is essential in determining the risk of collision. Operators and crews should ensure that vessel bridge teams are staffed with certificated/credentialed mariners who are familiar with all bridge navigation equipment and able to independently take immediate action when serving as lookout. In addition, repetitive operations, such as ferry transits - back and forth on the same route - require operators to sustain a high level of vigilance to prevent complacency. To combat complacency, operators should comply with procedures, such as operating checklists, that are in place to prevent single points of failure, and companies should train personnel on the importance of following procedures.
9
Avoiding Nonoperational Cell Phone Use Using cell phones and other personal electronic devices has been demonstrated to be visually, manually, and cognitively distracting. Non-operational use of cell phones should never interfere with the primary task of a watchstander to maintain a proper lookout; personnel should follow established protocols regarding cell phone use.
10 11 Planning Appropriately
Lack of planning can lead to a disaster on the water. All operations—no matter how routine— should be adequately planned and all risks assessed. Planning can help prevent mishaps related to unforeseen circumstances. Voyage plans should include every phase of the voyage—from the vessel’s starting port to its end port—including leaving the dock and mooring. The plans should account for any hazards, such as bridges, that pose a risk to vessels and tows with high air drafts.
Properly Maintaining Vessel Equipment and Machinery
Many casualties can be traced back to imprecise, incomplete, incorrect, or improper maintenance practices. Vessel crews and equipment manufacturer technicians should follow manufacturer assembly procedures and guidance and ensure correct replacement parts are installed. Additionally, vessel operators and crews should identify possible hazards or risks to maintenance being conducted, such as the effect of ambient conditions on machinery or how working on one piece of equipment may affect other equipment.
12
Reporting Chart Changes and Hazards Accurate and up-to-date navigation charts are critical for crews to ensure the safe transit of
a vessel while underway. Ports and terminals should immediately report significant modifications to port or terminal configurations to the appropriate hydrographic authority so charts can be updated and the changes made readily available to chart users. In addition to marking hazards on their own charts and charting software, mariners can report issues (errors or omissions) with NOAA’s nautical charts and/or Coast Pilot through the Office of Coast Survey.
13
Avoiding Excessive Speed during Bow-to-bow Harbor-assist Operations The risk of a casualty during bow-to-bow harbour assist operations with ASD tugboats increases with increasing speed. Hydrodynamic forces around an assisted vessel’s bow increase exponentially with speed, while the amount of reserve propulsion power available to the tugboat operator decreases. Therefore, owners and operators of ASD tugboats that perform bow-to- bow harbour-assist operations should set speed limits for these manoeuvres. Additionally, tugboat operators should communicate pre-determined speed limits to pilots and ship masters in command of the vessels that they are assisting before engaging in these manoeuvres.
14
Preventing Vessel Damage from the Risk of Thermal Runaway of Lithium-ion Batteries The risk of fire from lithium-ion batteries is a growing concern as their use becomes more prevalent in handheld radios and other devices. A lithium-ion battery cell - if damaged, shorted, overheated, defective, or overcharged - can spontaneously experience a thermal runaway, a chemical reaction that can cause the cell to ignite and explode. A cell that explodes can be propelled from its initial position within a battery and ignite combustible materials on a vessel. Due to the potential for rapid expansion of a lithium-ion battery fire, detection, containment, and extinguishment are essential to prevent damage to a vessel.
15
Reporting Potential Damage from Dragging Anchors
Underwater pipelines or other utilities can become damaged if anchorages are located too close and vessels drag anchor. Vessel crews should be aware of nearby underwater hazards while anchored and notify the appropriate authorities of an anchor-dragging event.
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30 | ISSUE 109 | SEP 2024 | THE REPORT
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