The Monthly Safety Scenario (MSS) is a Loss Prevention initiative to assist members in their efforts to comply with international safety regulations and to follow best practice.

The Club is publishing, on a monthly basis, a new Monthly Safety Scenario (MSS) to assist owners in their efforts of complying with the above regulations. Alternative scenarios will be uploaded in SCOL. It is easy to download the MSS and enter the written conclusions from the meeting and send feedback to the shore-based organisation.

Right-click on the link below and select “Save target as...“ to save the pdf file on your computer.

MSS Case December - Severely burned crew member died

The oil tanker was in port loading when it was discovered that a valve was leaking in the pump room, so loading had to be stopped. Because of the leakage, the pump room was full of explosive gas. The Master informed the terminal that loading had to be stopped.

When the gas in the pump room was below 1% LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) the crew began to wash down the pump room and lowered a portable water pump in the room to pump out the water. When this was completed, a hydraulic water-powered fan was put in the pump room to dry it out, and the crew started to clean up the leaked cargo.

The AB on the watch didn’t want to wake up the chief officer and bosun to move the fans, so he went to the engine workshop and got a portable electric fan which was lighter. He put it in the pump room for ventilation.

Read more about what happens next in the latest Monthly Safety Scenario.

Read the MSS Case December 2020 »

Under the ISM requirement owners are obliged to carry out monthly safety meetings or safety committee meetings onboard their vessels. This obligation stems from Chapter 5 of the ISM Code: “Master’s responsibility and authority” and furthermore from “5.1.2, motivating the crew in the observation of that policy”.

The obligation can also be derived from the Code of “Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen”, where it is stated that the safety committee should meet regularly: “3.13.2, The frequency of meetings will be determined by circumstances but as a general guideline, the committee should meet about every 4-6 weeks”.

For more Loss Prevention information, please contact:

Scenarios archive (available in SCOL)

2020

• November - Contact with a crane during berthing
• October - Machinery failure
• September - Cargo flooding from the ballast tank
• August - Injury by forklift
• July - Rescue boat drill injuries
• June - Grounding when not using bridge equipment effectively
• May - Oil spill while bunkering
• April - Collision in busy anchorage after grounding
• March - Unfinished arrival checklist lead to severe damage
• February - Heavy weather causes grounding in the archipelago
• January - Lack of cooperation led to grounding

2019

• December - Dangerous heaving line caused injury
• November - Poorly planned maintenance led to engine room flooding
• October - Serious injury during mooring operation
• September - At anchor during a typhoon resulting in a grounding and total loss
• August - Containers lost in heavy weather
• July - Technician fell off pilot ladder and drowned
• June - Stowaways in the steering gear trunk
• May - Accident during Man overboard drill
• April - Crack in cargo hold cover caused wet damage
• March - Engine room fire - carbon dioxide system did not activate
• February - Fall during cargo operation caused serious back injuries
• January - Excessive speed when approaching berth