Seafarers News

This week at Maritime Reporter...The importance of safety on ro-ro vessels comes under the spotlight.The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch released its report into the engine room fire on board the ro-ro Stena Europe and concluded that the ship’s crew were insufficiently trained to inspect engine fuel systems and the temperature measuring equipment used by the crew to monitor the engine exhaust insulation did not effectively identify any hot spots.The Maritime and Coastguard…

The Scythian philosopher Anacharsis (6th century B.C.) said: “There are three sorts of people: those who are alive, those who are dead and those who are at sea.”Many of those onboard the Nella Dan when she grounded in December 1987 never went to sea again. Such was their passion for the ship.At that time, most of the crew were single, a wild bunch with saltwater in their veins, likely to be found partying together during their time ashore and likely to be telling everyone how Nella Dan was always the first to get to Antarctica at the start of the season despite her newer…

The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (India) has signed an agreement with the Global Seafarers Organisation as part of its efforts to expand its presence across global ports.And as part of the Board’s initiative to appoint International Coordinators to oversee the welfare of Indian seafarers across global ports, Dr. N. Reuben Paul meet with the Indian Ambassador Shri Rudrendra Tandon at the Indian Embassy in Athens, Greece.They discussed the appointment of Board representatives in Greece and European ports…

When the newbuilt tanker vessel Fure Vyl leaves the shipyard, Ailene Barrios heads the technical department on board. She is one of very few Filipino women in the business who have advanced to be a Chief Engineer.Furetank hopes that more will follow.Barrios started working with Furetank 16 years ago after finishing her studies and has been continuously promoted as she has obtained her licenses.“Furetank has always supported me to do my best. Being promoted has come with some fear every time, but I have overcome it, being excited and always up for the challenge.

Reaffirming its dedication to upholding the labor and human rights of seafarers, Panama assumed the role of Vice Chair and governmental spokesperson during the Third Meeting of the Joint Tripartite Working Group of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).The meeting, held at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, focused on adopting international guidelines to ensure the fair treatment of seafarers detained or suspected of committing crimes…

The third meeting of the Joint ILO–IMO Tripartite Working Group to identify and address seafarers’ issues and the human element met in Geneva, Switzerland, between November 26–28 and adopted Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers detained in connection with alleged crimes.The objective of the Guidelines is to ensure that the human rights and legitimate interests of seafarers involved in alleged crimes are recognized, that seafarers detained in connection with alleged crimes are treated fairly by public authorities…

New Zealand’s Maritime Union, representing both seafarers and stevedores, has voted to oppose the proposed resumption of live animal exports.A ban was implemented by the previous government after the Gulf Livestock 1 capsized in 2020 leaving 41 crew and 6,000 cattle missing.Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay says the Union confirmed its opposition to live animal exports at its National Conference in November 2024.He said the world is moving away from live exports…

The Hood is a new social platform built to unite seafarers, their families, and maritime professionals into one inclusive community.Inspired by terms like ‘sisterhood’ and ‘brotherhood,’ The Hood captures the spirit of family and mutual support. Members can job hunt, chat with colleagues, or share ideas and experiences with ease - no matter where in the world they are.The vision behind The Hood began six years ago when Josephine Le, Founder and Managing Director, first entered the maritime industry and recognised its uniqueness.

In response to recent media reports regarding a Seaman’s Book allegedly found with a Lebanese national naval officer, the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has issued a statement clarifying the following:“The individual mentioned holds a Seaman’s Book issued by the Republic of Panama, with an endorsement - meaning official recognition of the title - which was requested at our international offices in 2022. At that time, the individual was not listed by the United Nations as a terrorist…

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has completed a series of visits to countries in the Red Sea area to discuss the current situation and express support for freedom of navigation as well as concern for innocent seafarers, particularly those who remain captive with the MV Galaxy Leader.Yemen’s Houthis seized the roro Galaxy Leader and its 25 seafarers in the Red Sea on November 19, 2023.Dominguez said: “The continuous attacks on ships and seafarers in the Red Sea are endangering innocent human lives, affecting the entire shipping industry and therefore the global economy.

Columbia Group has revealed plans to transform its traditional crewing department into a fully-fledged Maritime HR Department, in a move that aims to enhance its approach to crew management and development.At the helm of this transformation is Capt Faouzi Fradi, Columbia Group’s Director of Crewing and Training, who will take on the new role of Managing Director of the Maritime HR Department.Capt Fradi, said, “The maritime industry is undergoing rapid changes, and it is imperative that we adapt our approach to crewing and crew management.

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its report into the injury of a crew member on the bulk carrier Poavosa Brave on June 23, 2023.The vessel was at anchor outside Tauranga Harbour, preparing to load logs. An on-board crane was hoisting stanchions (vertical posts for securing logs on the main deck) when the crane's block struck an able seaman. The seaman was very seriously injured and was later evacuated to hospital by helicopter.TAIC states that in doing unauthorized work and not telling responsible officers…

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report on a fall overboard from the sail training vessel Pelican of London.The incident occurred at 2308 on October 2, 2023 when the volunteer relief cook on Pelican of London fell from the top of the vessel’s gangway into the flooded drydock while under the influence of alcohol. His absence was not noted until the next morning and a search was started. In the early afternoon of October 3, 2023, police divers…

Appalled that deaths in enclosed spaces continue to be all too frequent occurrences in the shipping industry, the Maritime Professional Council of the United Kingdom (MPC) has announced its support for fundamental changes to ship operation and design.MPC member InterManager has been at the forefront of raising this issue where, it says, seemingly innocuous compartments, cargo holds and fuel tanks, vital for storage and operation on board any vessel, have become graveyards for far too many seafarers due to a lack of attention…

Four seafarers have been abandoned without pay on a 60-year-old tugboat in Washington State.The vessel, Wycliffe, recently changed its flag to Vanuatu, and was scheduled to help tow two retired Washington State Ferries vessels for a 34-day transit to Ecuador – where the new owner is based – for scrap, but the contract was canceled after the tug experienced technical issues.The four crew members on board from Colombia, Panama, and Peru faced dire conditions, including inadequate food…

Crew members on Mike Lynch's yacht have spoken of the moments when a storm sank the vessel off Sicily and their efforts to help save passengers, after a disaster that killed the British tech tycoon and six other people.Matthew Griffiths, who was on watch duty on the night of the disaster two weeks ago, told investigators that the crew members did everything they could to save those on board the Bayesian, according to comments reported by Italian news agency Ansa on Saturday.Griffiths…

Italian prosecutors are investigating two more crew members from British tech tycoon Mike Lynch's yacht, along with its captain, in connection with the vessel's sinking over a week ago, a judicial source said on Wednesday.Being investigated does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will follow.Lynch and six other people were killed when the British-flagged Bayesian, a 56-metre-long (184-foot) yacht, capsized and went down on Aug. 19 within minutes of being hit by a pre-dawn storm while anchored off northern Sicily.On Monday…

Italian prosecutors will investigate the captain of the superyacht belonging to British tech magnate Mike Lynch that sank off Sicily last week during an intense storm, killing Lynch and six other people, Italian media reports said on Monday.Reuters was not able to independently verify the decision. Being placed under investigation in Italy does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will necessarily follow.James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is being investigated for manslaughter and shipwreck…

Maritime software company Ripple Operations has acquired AdonisHR, a Norwegian family-owned provider of crew management and payroll software solutions.The acquisition is supported by a substantial financial investment from New York-based software holding company Bleecker Street Group and significantly accelerates Ripple’s growth in the global maritime sector. By joining forces with AdonisHR, Ripple now serves more than 380,000 mariners on more than 2,000 vessels in nearly 100 countries around the world."This acquisition is a transformative moment for both of our companies.

A series of new recommendations have been published Danish Shipping that aim to end bullying and harassment onboard Danish-flagged ships.The recommendations were announced at Danish Shipping’s annual Blue Pride Bar event and handed over to the Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Morten Bødskov.The move follows the announcement in January 2024 by Bødskov of a series of initiatives to prevent bullying and harassment on Danish ships. One of these initiatives was the creation of best practice recommendations…

Recent data from InterManager, submitted to the IMO in a recent paper (III-10-INF.18), highlights that in 2023 more than 30 seafarers lost their lives due to asphyxiation in enclosed spaces.This figure marks the second-highest annual number of fatalities recorded in nearly three decades.Most of these tragic incidents occurred during planned work, underscoring the need for comprehensive training and heightened safety measures, says MarinePALS.In the interest of saving lives of seafarers, MarinePALS has released two microlearning videos from its extensive library into the public domain.Read in-d

Maritime charity Stella Maris is committing funding “for as long as it takes” to provide urgent support to the thousands of seafarers in Ukraine and those regularly making the perilous journey to and from its Black Sea ports.Seafarers working on vessels that have to navigate Russian threats through the Black Sea face numerous challenges, not least mental health issues associated with life-threatening risks.And in Ukraine itself, seafarers have not been able to work for more than two years because of the country’s wartime rules…

As part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor, Maersk Line Limited will change its safety reporting policies and compensate a seaman the company terminated after they reported safety concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard without first notifying their employer.The actions follow a three-day hearing in June 2024 where Maersk challenged the findings of a whistleblower investigation by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which found the company…