Al-Bahriah is committed to the prevention and understanding of casualties by sharing all its experience and knowledge to help Shipowners minimize their losses. Identifying risks and understanding how potential accidents and errors can be avoided help in reducing the cost and frequency of casualties.
Surveys and inspections are one of the backbones of Al-Bahriah’s loss prevention activities. These surveys are conducted in close co-operation with surveyors following specific instructions and guidelines. By using reliable and competent surveyors, Al-Bahriah is able to offer surveys in most ports around the world providing safety recommendations for insured vessels and effective loss prevention for Shipmanagers and Underwriters.
Monitoring the condition of ships, for new and existing Shipowners is of vital importance for maintaining the quality of Al-Bahriah’s portfolio as well as protecting reinsurers. Risk assessments are also conducted on selected risk areas such as vessel types, vessel particulars, insured values, trading areas and other underwriting criteria.
Circular
Best Management Practices – Piracy
Ice Conditions at Mariupol – Ukraine
Pre-Loading Steel Surveys & B/Ls
Collision
Hundreds of collisions of significant nature occur every year. Most ship collision occur in restricted visibility. Traffic Separation Scheme and Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) have been very effective in reducing this type of collisions.
Danger of collisions generally arises in heavy rainstorms and tropical areas such as the Singapore Strait where not only visibility is poor, but the radar ability to detect even large ships is very much reduced. Echoes of ships, which are not in, but on the other side of the rain area will be diminished by attenuation.
Collisions also occur in clear visibility and are caused by poor crew lookout or errors by one or both vessels. The following notes are few recommendations for Masters and officers for prevention of collisions.
Fatigue
atigue results from prolonged mental or physical activity, extended periods of stress, exposure to hard working conditions or loss of rest and sleep. The result of fatigue leads to performance and alertness diminution.
Fatigue is a problem for all ship personnel causing hazardous side effects for the safety of the ship, its crew, its cargo as well as to the environment. Safe ship operation requires constant crew alertness and extreme concentration from ship personnel.
Fatigue is hazardous because it affects the crew regardless of competency, knowledge and training. The following notes are few recommendations for Ship owners and Masters for prevention of fatigue.
Fire
Fire in the engine room is the cause of most fire incidents on board ships.
Fire main sources of ignition are hot exhaust pipes, engine surfaces, rotating machinery heating up, faulty electric equipment, leakage and inadequate cleanliness.
The following notes are few recommendations for Ship owners, Masters and Officers for prevention of fire.
Grounding
Grounding occurs mostly in shallow waters leading to interruption of ships trading. Many areas and rivers around the globe are recently suffering from severe droughts resulting in extraordinary low water levels.
Grounding results in ships being trapped in rivers and remote location where lightering and tug availability is very limited.
The following notes are few recommendations for Ship owners, Masters and Officers for prevention of grounding.
IMDG
Transportation of such cargoes may require the following essential mandatory requirements in:
STOWAGE AND SEGREGATION
HOLD CLEANLINESS
WEATHER PRECAUTIONS
LOADING
PRECAUTIONS
VENTILATION
CARRIAGE
SHIP DESIGN
More….
Machinery
Machinery maintenance is of paramount importance for proper operation of every ship. to assure smooth and safe operation. It is essential that sufficient new spare parts are competent staff and always in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.
Crankshaft deflections should be taken at regular intervals. Lube oil and Fuel oil should also be analysed to make sure that they are free from any contamination or debris.
Main and auxiliary engines may breakdown causing either a fire or severe damage that may result in withdrawing the ship from service until costly and lengthy repairs are accomplished. The following notes are few recommendations for Masters and Officers for proper machinery maintenance.
Pilots
Pilots are often involved in navigational incidents leading to groundings and collisions. Pilots have roles, responsibilities and authority and should fully cooperate with Masters and Officer of the watch at all times.cooperate with Masters and Officer of the watch at all times.
The Master is in command of the ship at all times with only one exception when transiting through the Panama Canal.
The following notes are few recommendations for Shipowners, Masters and Officers of the watch for prevention of casualties whilst pilots are on board.
Piracy
Piracy is an attack at sea on a ship, cargo, crew or passengers by persons owning no allegiance to a recognized flag and acting for personal gain.
Passengers who mutiny. Piracy is defined as an act of armed robbery and may be considered as an act of terrorism.
The following notes are few recommendations for Ship owners and Masters for prevention of Piracy.