Different factors affect a navigating vessel whether she is in port or the open sea. These include current, swell, wind, rain, snow, fog, etc. Waves are caused by either an earthquake, underwater volcanic eruptions, or wind. While swell is formed from a sustained wind strength and duration that builds up a large amount of energy…
The practice of ship navigation is essential for safe and efficient maritime transportation. It is a system that ensures that during the voyage, a vessel stays on course, avoids collisions, complies with international regulations, and minimizes fuel consumption while keeping to schedules. This is accomplished by a set of personnel on the ship’s navigation bridge…
Managing the garbage onboard is one of the most important operations as it can directly affect the environment as well as the health of the crew. Hence, it has become part of international regulations known as MARPOL Annex 5. Garbage management on ships is a system placed on board to organize and process all garbage…
A dangerous goods spillage is not a drill scenario — it is a shipboard emergency with regulatory, operational, and environmental consequences that begin the moment the spill is detected. The correct response depends on the IMDG class of the substance involved, and the correct reference document is not SOPEP. SOPEP covers oil pollution from machinery…
Moisture damage is one of the leading causes of cargo claims on bulk and break bulk vessels. Whether it comes from the cargo itself, from condensation on the ship’s structure, or from atmospheric humidity entering the hold, moisture affects different cargoes in fundamentally different ways — and the first thing a cargo officer needs to…
Chemical tankers play a vital role in moving chemical cargo which is normally in liquid form around the world. These vessels carry different types of chemicals that are stowed differently, so there are different types of chemical tankers. They are classified into three types as stated in the IBC (International Code for the Construction and…
Did you know that more than 50% of cargo transported by sea falls under the hazardous goods category? Dangerous goods exist in liquid, solid, or gaseous forms. They all pose a danger in different ways and extents. Thus, the International Maritime Standards exist to facilitate safety in handling cargo. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), formed…
A reefer container is an ISO-standard refrigerated shipping unit that maintains a controlled internal temperature throughout a sea voyage, rail transit, or port dwell. This article covers reefer technical specifications, cargo type requirements, USDA and EU phytosanitary compliance, vessel power supply systems, pre-trip inspection procedure, and how temperature excursions translate into cargo claims. It is…
When speaking about the history of colonial empires or explorations that circumnavigate the globe, there are a few words that crop up more than most. A lot of these can be worked out by the audience, whether that be a reader or a person in a physical audience, but some still elude people. This is…
There are times when a ship needs to dock at a particular berth terminal. She will either load/discharge a cargo, take in provisions or do bunkering procedures. When at the port, there is also a risk for a vessel to catch fire or have an explosion and this is likely to happen on tanker vessels.…