Loss Prevention Advice
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An agreement at international level to resume grain shipments from Ukraine but warns they should only take place if the safety and security of the vessels, their crew and cargo, can be guaranteed.
This means that there are concrete assurances at berths and anchorages in Ukrainian ports, that vessels, crew and cargo safety and security can be preserved and that shipping in the area is free from attack. The creation of a mine-free sea corridor protected by naval escort is essential.
The safety of our seafarers is crucial which is why bulk carrier crews must be afforded every respect under international conventions when being questioned by authorities.
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The Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a statement that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.
Under several of the non-mutual insurances, including the Charterers’ Terms and Conditions, there are provisions that in the event that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has determined an outbreak of a Communicable Disease to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, no coverage will be provided under this insurance for any loss, damage, liability, cost or expense directly arising from any transmission or alleged transmission of the Declared Communicable Disease.
The exclusions do not apply to infections prior to 23rd July.
WHO’s Director General also added that under the International Health Regulations, he is required to consider five elements in deciding whether an outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern:
The information provided by countries – which in this case shows that this virus has spread rapidly to many countries that have not seen it before;
- The three criteria for declaring a public health emergency of international concern, which have been met;
- The advice of the Emergency Committee, which has not reached consensus;
- Scientific principles, evidence and other relevant information – which are currently insufficient and leave us with many unknowns;
- The risk to human health, international spread, and the potential for interference with international traffic.
WHO’s assessment is that the risk of monkeypox is moderate globally and in all regions, except in the European region where it assesses the risk as high.
There is also a clear risk of further international spread, although the risk of interference with international traffic remains low for the moment.
So, in short, we have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly, through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little, and which meets the criteria in the International Health Regulations
Accordingly, WHO has made a set of recommendations for four groups of countries:
- Those that have not yet reported a case of monkeypox, or have not reported a case for more than 21 days;
- Those with recently imported cases of monkeypox and that are experiencing human-to-human transmission. This includes recommendations:
- To implement a coordinated response to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups;
- To engage and protect affected communities;
- To intensify surveillance and public health measures;
- To strengthen clinical management and infection prevention and control in hospitals and clinics;
- To accelerate research into the use of vaccines, therapeutics and other tools;
- And recommendations on international travel.
- The third group of countries is those with transmission of monkeypox between animals and humans;
- The fourth is countries with manufacturing capacity for diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics.
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The key issues that should be well understood and observed in order to reduce exposure to ingress, and wetting damage claims.
Hatch cover maintenance and operation requires a thorough understanding of basic principles together with type specific issues and requirements. Experience and claims show hatch cover problems still remain one of the predominant causes for claims and accidents on board vessels.
The hatch cover claims are generally associated with wetting damage, it should not be overlooked that incorrect maintenance or operation may involve loss of life and limb or pollution. Moreover, claims for wet damaged cargo, pollution or accidents and injuries will always have an adverse impact on the owner’s business model.”
To avoid hatch, cover related claims, operators should consider setting up dedicated training and familiarization programmes related to occupational safety, operation and inspection. Relevant and type specific hatch cover checklists should also be made and their use implemented.
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Over the years, MAIB has seen many incidents where seafarers have been struck by mooring lines, unfortunately in some cases resulting in serious injury or death.
The incidents continue to occur despite well published guidance on the subject. Even though there have been many advances in technology and automation in the shipping industry, mooring decks remain a place where people need to work in proximity to heavy lines under tension and interaction is unavoidable.
Equipment
Making sure the right equipment is used and then maintained in good condition is essential to keeping safe on mooring decks. Mooring lines need to be regularly inspected to make sure that wear and tear has not degraded the line, there are no hard spots on synthetic lines and no signs of contamination by oils and greases.
The lead of each mooring line needs to be considered carefully to avoid placing additional stress on the lines or introducing chafe points. Inappropriate or poorly maintained equipment has previously contributed to incidents where lines have parted or released under tension and struck crew members, therefore meticulously checking equipment for anything untoward is critical for the safety of the crew.