A warning to vessels transiting the Atlantic Coast of France through the Cape Verde Islands to Brazil: A double-handed sailing race started from Le Havre, France on Sunday, 27 October, bound for Salvador Brazil. 59 sailboats ranging from 40-60 feet are taking part. While they are currently concentrated in a relatively small group, this group will expand … [Read more...]
Are We Fools?
“Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others" -Otto von Bismarck You might be tempted to assume that the above photo (courtesy of ShipSpotting.com and Vitaliy Kharchenko) is of the Comoros-flagged SL Star. That feeder container vessel capsized in Bandar Abbas, Iran on March 19th during cargo operations with up … [Read more...]
Smile! The PSC Officer is Here…
In a timely email, we just received some guidance from our company office about dealing with port state control (PSC) officers. Having just left a port where we fully expected an inspection under the Paris MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), the next port or next time through that particular port, it's a sure thing. Our quality manager put together a … [Read more...]
What Went Wrong? Back-to-Back Casualties Kick Off 2019
It’s been an active beginning to 2019 in terms of maritime casualties. The phone at the Panama Marine Accident Investigation Department was likely ringing off the hook with three major incidents on Panama-flagged vessels in the first two days. The first three weeks of the year have produced a wide range of serious casualties...and they are likely just the tip of the … [Read more...]
Graded Assertiveness: Captain, I Have a Concern…
By Rich Madden - Last year, I was inbound to a port-that-will-remain-nameless, with the local pilot at the conn. As we maneuvered up a winding channel, the channel curved to port, yet the pilot ordered starboard rudder as we approached the next turn. Our 3rd officer, who had been onboard for over two months already and well-drilled in bridge resource management … [Read more...]