Based on information received from the Swedish Maritime Authorities and recent reports from Norwegian ship-owners, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD) hereby issues a safety alert concerning buoyancy issues on life buoys.

Paris MoU Press release regarding their updated Black, Grey and White Flag lists which will take effect from 1st July 2010.

The Paris MoU Committee approved the 2009 inspection results and adopted new performance lists for flag States and Recognized Organizations.

Infomarine On-Line Technical Library

File	Description	File size
Press release Target Lists 2010.pdf	Paris MoU Press release regarding their updated Black, Grey and White Flag lists	488 Kb

Applicability All shipowners, operators and charterers Highlighted requirements which will take immediate effect when the Revised MARPOL Annex VI enters into force on July 1, 2010.

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File	Description	File size
Lr-Revised-marpol-26-05-2010.pdf	These include the requirement for all ships to maintain a list of equipment containing ozone-depleting substances	191 Kb

Reducing risk of collisions with whales avoiding collisions prevents damage to ships, and injuries to passengers, crew and whales.

the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is developing detailed guidance in a leaflet, for minimizing the risk of collisions between ships and whales.

The leaflet gives a brief summary of some things to consider as described here bellow:

Infomarine On-Line Technical Library

File	Description	File size
whale-strike.pdf	Reducing risk of collisions with whales avoiding collisions prevents damage to ships, and injuries to passengers, crew and whales. From the office of the Belgium IWC Commissioner Chair, Ship Strikes Working Group.	662 Kb

The following is a Safety Alert issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:

Dangers Associated with Automatic Channel Switching on Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Equipped VHF Marine Radios

It has come to the Coast Guard's attention that an automatic channel switching feature found on certain models of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipped VHF marine radios may create an unintended hazard by automatically switching from a working channel that might be in use at the time to Channel 16 when the VHF marine radio receives a DSC distress alert, distress alert acknowledgment or other DSC call where a VHF channel number has been designated.

Transas has recently drawn the attention of ECDIS users to a warning published by UKHO in its Notices to Mariners, concerning an issue with the use of electronic navigation charts.

The warning reads: “Mariners are advised of a potentially serious issue that has come to light relating to the way ECDIS displays and operates with some shoal soundings.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and Australian Maritime Safety Authority Rescue Coordination Centre – Australia (RCC) are urging the community to dispose of their old distress beacons responsibly and not throw them in the bin or activate them to flatten the battery.

This safety alert serves as a reminder to vessel Owners / Operators, Port Captains / Engineers, crewmembers, and marine inspection personnel of the importance of properly maintaining and repairing vessel electrical systems including those located in inaccessible or confined areas. In this casualty, a young mariner employed onboard a Great Lakes bulk carrier was electrocuted while working in a dark and confined cargo tunnel beneath the ship's cargo holds. Another crewmember discovered the fallen mariner, went to his aid and received an electric shock sustaining a serious injury.

The Coast Guard recognizes that many vessel owners choose to place of decorative lights onboard their vessels during the Holiday season.
The Coast Guard strongly reminds vessel owners not to illuminate such lights during routine navigation unless operating in a Holiday boat parade or when the vessel is secured dockside.

Port state control inspectors of member states of the Paris MOU and the Tokyo MOU carried out a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on lifeboat launching arrangements between September 1 and November 30, 2009.

The 27 member authorities of the Paris MoU carried out 5,749 inspections. During each inspection vital points of SOLAS Chapter III, ISM and the LSA Code requirements were verified.

Dutch Port State Control issued the following warning

Vessels have to change over to marine fuels with a sulpher content not exceeding 0,1% by mass as soon as possible after arrival at berth.
 
The regulation with regards to Maximum sulphur content of marine fuels used by ships at berth in Community ports according 2005/33/EC:

This Classification News replaces No. 24/2009, originally issued on August 14, 2009. It has been updated to clarify the information relating to review of boilers, burners and fuel oil systems.

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File	Description	File size
Maintaining boiler safety and availability when using low-sulphur fuels.pdf	As a result of various environmental regulations, main and auxiliary boilers will be required to change from standard heavy fuel oil (HFO), for which many of them were specifically designed, to operate on low-sulphur fuel oils.	130 Kb

Fishing vessel safety staff in the Coast Guard’s Seventh District has received at least three reports in the past few months regarding unapproved replacements of 406 EPIRB batteries by servicing companies having no association with the EPIRB manufacturer.