INTERTANKO Bulletin: Safety Issues

San Francisco COTP issues letter on fuel switching leading to propulsion losses and fuel-related equipment failures – and – Pilotage in the Danish Straits (JPUG 5).

• San Francisco COTP issues letter on fuel switching leading to propulsion losses and fuel-related equipment failures.

Since the implementation of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations, which require ocean-going vessels to switch to low-sulphur marine distillate fuels when calling at California's ports, the Captain of the Port (COTP) in Sector San Francisco has experienced an increase in the number of vessels experiencing propulsion losses and fuel-related equipment failures. The majority of these incidents have occurred during slow speed manoeuvring and each one is seen as a potential catastrophe.

To mitigate this problem in the San Francisco area, the Sector San Francisco COTP has issued a letter and asked that it be forwarded to all vessel operators with vessels operating in the San Francisco area.

The letter urges vessel operators to take proactive measures to prevent propulsion losses and equipment failures and advises that vessels experiencing "one or more engine performance issues...will likely receive COTP orders requiring tug escorts until they can demonstrate their issues have been resolved".

• Pilotage in the Danish Straits – JPUG 5

INTERTANKO has attended the fifth meeting of the Joint Pilotage User Group (JPUG) in Copenhagen, where it was reported that for several years the statistics have shown an increase in the use of pilotage during transits of the Danish Straits, where pilotage is not compulsory but recommended by the IMO.

This year the figures again show improvements, particularly with regard to tankers. In fact, only one tanker has transited without a pilot in 2009 to date. This means that the efforts of JPUG are bringing about an increase in the use of pilots, in accordance with the IMO recommendations on navigation through the entrances to the Baltic Sea.

JPUG consists of Danish maritime authorities (the Danish Maritime Safety Administration, the Danish Pilotage Authority and the Danish Maritime Authority), the service provider for transit pilotage (DanPilot) and users of pilotage services (INTERTANKO together with other international shipping organisations). Interesting to note is that this year the International Group of P & I Clubs took part in the discussions, since the use of pilotage plays a very significant part in reducing the risk involved in navigation through the narrow Danish waters.

JPUG's primary mission is to promote the use of pilotage and thus make navigation in Danish waters as safe as possible. "We are very satisfied about the results, but there is still room for improvement – and due to the present economic situation for many ship owners, developments should be closely monitored," says Svend Eskildsen, Director of the Danish Maritime Safety Administration and Chairman of JPUG. He promises that their efforts in the coming year will be just as intensive, and will be characterised by new measures.

Up to the present, JPUG has made considerable efforts to inform ships' masters and their shipping companies about the advantages of pilotage services, and these information activities will continue in the years ahead. Taking a pilot while transiting the Danish Straits is part of INTERTANKO's best practice for Membership, as agreed by INTERTANKO's Council.