Loss Prevention Advice
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The MSC Talia F, a 140-meter container ship, suffered a mechanical failure on April 19 about eight nautical miles off Gran Canaria.
The vessel, carrying containers including hazardous materials under the IMDG Code, began drifting south at around two knots. With winds from the NNE at 25–30 knots and seas reaching two meters, Spanish maritime rescue agency Salvamento Marítimo dispatched the emergency tug Heroínas de Sálvora. The crew arrived at 21:50 local time and secured a tow line just before midnight.
The vessel was safely towed to the port of Las Palmas. As informed, the likely cause of the failure was a fuel pump malfunction.
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Regarding the operational, environmental, and legal implications of hull fouling on ships.
Hull fouling has both direct and indirect impacts on a ship’s performance. The most immediate effect is the increase in hull friction reducing the ship’s hydrodynamic efficiency, which leads to increased resistance as the ship moves through water, requiring more power and fuel to maintain speed.
Higher fuel consumption reduces fuel efficiency and significantly increases operating costs for shipowners. Additionally, hull fouling can negatively impact speed performance, potentially leading to performance claims due to failure to meet charter party speed and consumption warranties.
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The “Sampling Guide for Liquid Cargoes” guide, aimed at reinforcing the importance of adhering to standard sampling procedures for liquid cargo.
The guide underscores the crucial role that proper sampling plays as the best defence against cargo claims. It emphasises that despite the industry’s fast-paced nature, safety and accuracy cannot be compromised. “Skipping steps in the rush to meet deadlines not only jeopardises the ship’s safety, but also places the Master at significant risk,” said Joakim Enström, Senior Loss Prevention Officer at The Swedish Club. Some of the steps presented in the guide include:
Sampling and loss prevention guidelines
Sampling should be conducted to ensure the quality of the cargo. Taking samples is the best defence against cargo claims. There should be procedures for taking samples throughout the cargo operation. The Master should ensure that samples are taken as per industry standards. Any sample points on the vessel that are used must be cleaned according to industry practices. The crew should wear PPE as required in the MSDS sheet. This guide focuses on sampling for hazardous chemicals, edible oils, and petroleum cargoes.
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A guidance to bring awareness to the challenges and risks associated with dry cargo shortage claims and propose prevention and mitigation recommendations.
Dry cargoes, particularly those carried in bulk and bagged, are particularly subject to disputes arising related to the volume of cargo having been declared at the load port and that having been delivered at the disport. These disputes can arise due to a number of contributing factors, some of which are more controllable than others to prevent. Such disputes are also more likely more frequent in certain jurisdictions despite efforts by shipowners and their crews that are made to prevent them.
Hazards and types of damages and claims for dry cargo shortages