A routine ballast voyage nearly turned into a major maritime casualty after a fire broke out in the engine room of a 12-year-old product tanker, highlighting the critical dangers posed by aging fuel systems and vibration-induced machinery failures. The vessel was operating normally in open waters with both main engines […]
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Why MLC Compliance Matters During Port State Control Inspections Port State Control (PSC) inspections continue to identify recurring Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) deficiencies onboard vessels. Being caught with these issues can lead to detentions, delays, and reputational damage. Here’s a breakdown of the most common deficiencies found — and […]
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A recent machinery incident involving a commercial vessel highlighted the operational risks associated with improper fuel transfer and treatment practices during bunkering operations. Shortly after departure, the vessel experienced a total loss of propulsion during nighttime navigation after contaminated fuel entered the main engine system. Preliminary investigation revealed that newly […]
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Early Warning Signs Ignored Prior to departure, weather forecasts clearly indicated the development of a low-pressure system, bringing strong winds and increasing sea swell. At 0500 hours, after the pilot disembarked, the master instructed the crew to secure all mooring lines and deck equipment. While the aft station was confirmed […]
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Top Deficiency Areas Leading to Detentions 1. Lifeboats (1101) Category: Life Saving Appliances Associated Detentions: 788 2. Fixed fire extinguishing installation (07109) Category: Fire Safety Associated Detentions: 775 3. Fire detection and alarm system (07106) Category: Fire Safety Associated Detentions: 743 4. Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions (07105) Category: Fire […]
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Deficiency: Where the Fleet is Failing The start of 2026 has brought a surge in Port State Control activity. With 19,234 deficiencies recorded globally in January alone, the industry average has climbed to nearly 3 per vessel. As the 2026 CIC on Cargo Securing begins to loom, and new Lifting […]
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