KR Webzine Vol.110

Please be informed that USCG has issued the following Marine Safety Alerts to enhance onboard vessel safety awareness. 

1.  Safety Alert 16-16 “Correct Steering Gear & Other Nuisance Alarms Immediately“

  -  Summary

 
During steering tests, repetitive alarms “hydraulic lock” were simply acknowledged by the crew and the steering gear adequately moved the rudder.  However, no further investigation was conducted to identify the cause of the alarm by crewmembers. 

  -  Safety action required:

By ignoring the alarms, the crewmembers accepted a higher level of risk and reduced their safety margins. It is strongly recommended that ship owners and operators should address the management of nuisance alarms in Safety Management Systems and insist on the immediate correction of their specific causes.

 
 2.  Safety Alert 17-16 “MAN B&W Cooling Jacket Failures”  

   -  Summary

Cracks on the cooling jacket of a two-stroke crosshead design Mitsui MAN B&W MC-C engine caused a loss of engine cooling water that eventually resulted in the overheating of the cylinder cover. This then triggered an automated slow-down of the engine and an unintended loss or reduction in the vessel’s propulsion and maneuverability.

   -  Safety action required:

It is strongly recommended for engineering personnel on a vessel with MAN B&W MC-C and other similarly constructed engines using the same cooling jacket cover securing method, to review the applicable maintenance, in reference to the attached MAN B&W Service Letter.