Port State Control (PSC) refers to the inspections and regulations that port states employ on foreign ships entering their own ports to ensure safe shipping and prevent ship-caused pollution. Port States have the authority to detain a ship until any deficiencies that could jeopardize the safety or create maritime environmental damage are addressed to assure…
A major requirement during the carriage of goods at sea is that the carriage should be done in a way that avoids damage to the carrying vessel. Since most solid bulk cargoes are usually heavy high-density cargoes, vessels loading solid bulk cargoes are subject to structural deformation because of uneven weight distribution. Cargo trimming is…
Speed is an important characteristic of a ship. It impacts a ship’s economic performance as well as her ability to avoid danger. Because of the importance of speed to the safe operation of a ship and the fact that there is no numerical value prescribed for safe vessel operation, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions…
A ship’s primary function is to transport goods and passengers from one port to another. This operation requires proper knowledge, planning, and execution to successfully sail the ship to its intended destination. The process for achieving this is known as “passage Planning. A passage plan is therefore a comprehensive, berth-to-berth guide that highlights probable obstacles…
The need for organizations to transport goods by sea in a cost-effective manner constitutes the backbone of Global trade. Organizations achieve this objective by either using their own ships or leasing them from others in cases where their own assets do not meet their requirements. Chartering of a vessel is a maritime term that is…
The practice of shipmasters using experts with local knowledge to safely guide them when entering or leaving ports, or navigating in potentially dangerous areas that require in-depth local knowledge, dates to the beginning of water transportation. The successful performance of such a task usually requires a special partnership, to be established between the master and…
Risk is an important issue in the maritime industry because of the public’s concern for several catastrophic accidents. While marine insurance typically provides coverage against definite and quantifiable risks to the insured’s own property, or direct financial loss to the company, such as “hull and machinery” damage for shipowners and “cargo loss/damage” for cargo owners,…
If you’ve ever heard the term “poop deck,” you may be curious about its origins and definition. A ship’s aft (rear) is where the poop deck on ships is, a short, tall deck. It had been employed historically to offer a high point for observations and navigation. Because they are no longer necessary, due to…
Have you ever wondered why every ship has rudders? Why isn’t the ship’s bow (the forward part) equipped with a rudder? Or why is it usually positioned behind the propeller, for that matter? A ship’s rudder is a tool that gives the ship directional control and a way to steer so that it can navigate.…
Ever wondered where the control station of massive ships is located where it is operated from? Ships are enormous vessels that can stretch hundreds of meters in length and carry thousands of tons. It is critical to be able to operate and maneuver such a massive vessel safely. The bridge is a vessel’s principal control…