Guide To Prevention and Handling Accidents PDF
Guide To Prevention and Handling Accidents PDF
Guide To Prevention and Handling Accidents PDF
Handling Accidents
1
Foreword
The guidance consists of five volumes; “Guide to Prevention and Handling Accidents”for responding various
accidents and claims, “Guide to Safe Maneuvering”, “Guide to Handling Ship's Fuel Oil”, “Guide to Container
Securing” and “Guide to Prevention of Charter Party Disputes.”
I would like to give my heartful thanks to the professors (Youngmo Kim, Youngsin Hwang, Sohyun Cho) of Korea
Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology, Captain Seonhong Kim - Pilot of Ulsan Port, and Mr. Taebeom Park
- the president of UMD Shipping Company, who did not sparing themselves for writing manuscript. I also would
like to give thanks to Hanjin Shipping company for taking photographs used in this guidance.
As this book is the first trial of binding various special fields into one volume synthetically, there would be some
dissatisfaction. The Korea P&I Club listens carefully to the requests and advices of relevant personnel concerned at
all times, and promises to supplement this book continuously.
Reminding again that a lot of loss of human lives and properties we have experienced so far could be prevented
mostly with a small concerns before the occurrence of accidents, I hope this book would be of a little help for ships
to prevent various accidents on board.
Thank you again for everybody caring for and concerning in the Korea P&I Club.
August, 2015
Gyungjae Lee
As the sea has unexpected and potential dangers at all times in its origin, the person
in charge of safe ship operation is caring always about any accident that could be
occurred during her voyage.
Through the development of communication we can ask the company for advices
on post measures to be provided promptly in case of having any accident on board.
However, if the person in charge of the ship recognizes the situation properly, collects
necessary evidences in advance or asks core advices, the damages by the accident
could be minimized as much as those.
The Korea P&I Club has arranged to publish a book composing the thorough
knowledge to be kept in order to prevent accidents during ship operation and the
measures to be taken in order to minimize the damages in case of having any accident
on board.
We, joint authors of this book, have written this guide book on practical knowledges
learned in industry fields and academic world so far. Theoretical knowledges are
minimized and this book is composed with many case studies and matters to be taken
in practical jobs. In this time we have arranged guidances to five sections considered to
be necessary in preference such as Guide to Prevention and Handling Accidents, Safe
Maneuvering, Handling Ship's Fuel Oil, Container Securing and Prevention of Charter
Party Disputes, and we will expand the sections in future.
Due to the lack of time there would be a regret for insufficient delivery of information,
but we have a plan to supplement this book so as to make a substantial guide book if
occasion offers.
We hope this guide book help the person in charge of ship security, safety operation
and prevent accident, and give thanks to Mr. Gyungjae Lee, the chairman, Mr. Byungil
Moon, executive director of the Korea P&I Club for supporting the publication of this
guide book.
August, 2015
Collection of Evidence 18
Pollution 60
Stowaway 68
Smuggling of Drug 73
Middle of the 19th century was a time of great renovation in social and technical
field, and as it was a time of increasing the scale, complexity and value of ships
and cargoes, the shipowner’s potential responsibilities corresponding to such
changes also were increased.
In the UK Marine Insurance Act 1745 the shipowner was prohibited to have
his/her ship insured in liability insurance with the insured amount exceeding
the ship’s price. In 1836, as the court had judged that the compensation paid by
shipowner to third parties caused by a ships collision accident cannot be included
in the scope of mortgage, the increased responsibilities threaten shipowners. As
a respond to the judgment the underwriter had decided to compensate 3/4 of the
responsible indemnity incurred by ships collision, but the shipowner was faced
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The act concerning with the limit of liability as 15 pounds per ship’s
tonnage was established, but this legal system could not give any reduction of
shipowner’s burden as the market prices of ships were lower than 15 pounds per
ship’s tonnage.
By this reason the association for mutual protection, the Shipowners' Mutual
Protection Society, was formed in 1855 for the first time, and in the beginning
the society compensated loss of life, injuries and ships collision risks that were
excluded from marine insurance policies beyond the monetary limit of these
policies.
The Korea P&I Club was established on 26 January 2000 for the purpose of
providing Korean shipowners with liable P&I insurance in accordance with the
Shipowners’ Mutual Protection & Indemnity Insurance Club Act. Through firm
support by the Korean government and shipping industry, the Korea P&I club has
been developed continuously and has become a club having 983 memberships
Korea P&I Club
now and insured ships of 22,770,000 gross tons or more during last 15 years.
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1 Guide to Prevention and Handling Accidents
P&I Club covers the liability of shipowner and ship management company for third
parties during ship operation. P&I Club does not cover damages of ship's hull and
machinery itself.
In order to cover various and complicated compensation liabilities derived from ships,
the member companies of P&I Club are expanding gradually their business targets to
overall maritime enterprises such as charterers, terminal operators, ship management
companies and subsidiary companies of ships, and etc. in recent days.
The contents of risk covering by P&I club are stipulated in detail on the club rule book
on board. The scope of risk covered by each P&I club varies according to the capability
of security and management, but those are as follows in general:
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All ships have the risk of accident at anytime and anywhere. However, in case of a
ship in operation under good management, the possibility of occurring an accident
would be recognized at all times, and in case of occurring an accident actually, the
accident which could be leading to a big accident can be prevented in advance through
prompt and proper respond.
Korea P&I Club
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1 Guide to Prevention and Handling Accidents
A large number of causes of accidents arising at the sea are similar in its natures, and
most of them could be preventable. Therefore, in this chapter we seek to the method
capable of preventing an accident before providing a guide to responding accidents
which is the object of this chapter.
1) Risk Assessment
One of the methods to identify potential danger on board is to conduct the risk
assessment which is the process to recognize systematically all work practices,
activities, situations and etc. that could lead to accidents or injuries.
2) Risk Assumption
Risk assumption can be computed by combination or multiplication of the possibility
of (Table 1) and the severity of (Table 2)
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Possibility Criteria
Severity Criteria
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Severity
(Strength) Serious Usual Minor
Possibility
(Frequency)
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In the event of an incident or allegation that gives, or may give, rise to a P&I problem,
there are certain actions that should be taken necessarily and certain actions that should
never be taken.
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(2) Allow surveyors or lawyers acting for opposing parties on board, unless
accompanied by a surveyor or lawyer acting for your shipowner;
(3) Give written material or physical evidence to opposing lawyers or surveyors. If
indoubt, do not hand over anything to anybody;
(4) Make comments or opinion, especially in the accident report, as to who or what
was responsible;
(5) Allow crew members to express his/her opinions. Everything should be stuck to
the facts;
(6) Admit liability, either verbally or in writing;
(7) Put signature on a document in spite of acknowledging it contains incorrect
information; and
(8) Think the problem will be solved if you do nothing.
3. Collection of Evidence
The fact that the evidence relating to an incident is likely to be found on board the ship
and will be needed by the Club to defend claims received from injured persons, the
owners of damaged cargo or property, or from a terminal operator, should be kept in
mind.
Ships’ masters have an important role in the collection of evidence that will help the
Club evaluate the damage and establish liability. Evidence should be collected, recorded
and preserved.
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Memories will be faded away. It is therefore imperative to make notes on how the
incident occurred as soon as possible after the event. This guidance will help you to
determine what information is needed and to whom it needs.
Legal disputes concerned with vessels are one of the most inherent risks occurring
mostly in shipping business where the vessels are owned or chartered. It is not too much
to say that whether the shipowner wins or loses in those disputes is depended entirely
upon collecting decisive evidences at the time of accident.
In cases where the relevant information and documents are available, claims can
usually be resolved quickly, avoiding lengthy legal wrangles and crippling legal costs.
If good, clear and logical records have been produced, the judges and arbitrators will
infer that the vessel was operated by experienced and skillful ship master and are likely
to lead a favorable judgment for the shipowner.
One of the reasons for the lack of evidences from the ship is that ship’s crew were
unaware of required evidences from the ship through their judgment of having no
fault of their own, and more importantly, they were unaware why such evidences were
required.
The master and officers can be of great assistance to lawyers, surveyors, or other
consultants instructed by shipowners and their insurers to go on board the vessel
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Also, there are many minor incidents and disputes which arise during the normal
course of a vessel’s trading. Although the claims may be relatively small but occurs
frequently, they tend to be collective and they may present a substantial amount of
money. Therefore, the information recorded by the master and officers on a regular and
routine basis will be essential in defending these claims.
An increased awareness of the type of evidence required to defend a claim will also
lead to an increased awareness of potential problems which could arise on a vessel,
and therefore it could lead to greater care being taken by the master and officers in the
management of ship operation.
1) Deck/Engine-room Logbook
It is important that entries of every daily record books on board should be made
thoroughly and in order. Entries in the logbooks should always be written neatly in
ink. If a mistake is made in writing, a single line should be drawn through the relevant
passage. Words should never be erased, either by rubbing out, or by painting with
erasing fluid. Erasures appear suspicious when logbooks are examined by the opposing
party to a dispute, and in any event techniques are available and erased words can be
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read. Furthermore, the opponent examining a logbook having many erasures and is
untidy may draw adverse inferences about the way that a vessel is generally maintained.
2) Daily notebook
Masters and officers often keep their own diaries of events on board the vessel.
These notebooks are of great evidential value. If any part of the notebook is relied
upon as evidence, the entire notebook must be made available to all the parties to legal
proceedings. Therefore, the master should ensure that entries in the notebook are of an
objective and factual nature and should avoid his personal views. In some cases, the
shipowner may be embarrassed by the master’s notebook and such fact may adversely
affect the owners’ interest. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm shipowner’s view by the
master regarding the contents of records in advance, if necessary.
4) Reports
The master’s report should be limited to a factual and objective account of the
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incident. The master, as far as possible, should avoid giving his opinions on how an
incident occurred, but for the purpose of investigating the incident, the master’s views
are extremely important. Therefore, the master’s opinion should not be included in
the master’s report. The master should also avoid making entries of the incident in
the general voyage reports to owners as that document will almost certainly be made
available to all the parties.
2) A Seaworthy Ship
According to the Hague Rules in 1924, the carrier shall have due diligence
before and at the beginning of the voyage as follows:
(1) the hull and fittings shall be strong enough and endurable for the voyage(ship’s
capabilities);
(2) the ship shall be a state to complete the voyage (ship's operation capabilities); and
(3) ship’s cargo holds shall be a state to carry the cargoes safely (cargo carrying
capabilities).
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Under the rules, the carrier is obliged to exercise due diligence to make the ship
seaworthy before the ship is put into the sea. If problems arise on board during
the course of a voyage, it is important for the carrier whether the following tests
were exercised or not to make the ship seaworthy as follows:
① If the defect have come to light by the careful checking of the ship before
the voyage began? and
② if so, did the shipowner mend it after loading before the ship comes to sea?
The master and the crew should not rely on the findings of the outside examiners
such as classification society or underwriters’ surveyors. These surveyors have
different interests and do not usually work to the same guidance, standards or
requirements.
All the checks and regular maintenance works carried out by the crew should be
properly recorded and documented. If something does go wrong and cargo is lost
or damaged, then the presumption will be that the carrier has not taken good care
to make the vessel seaworthy.
The carrier must produce evidences in the form of logbooks, work schedules,
work specifications, accounts, standing instructions, reports, and state at the time
to show that good care has been taken to make the vessel seaworthy.
Korea P&I Club
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1. Summary of Accident
Bulk carrier BR of DWT 26,589, registered at Jeju, Korea, laden
with iron ore in bulk of about 16,992.5M/T, left Penang, Malaysia
at about 1530 hours 13 November, 2011 and bound for Richao (off
Hong Kong), was capsized and sunken during the voyage on 21
November, 2011 around 1513 hours in South China Sea.
2. State of Accident
1) Presumed Causes of Accident
The presumed causes of capsizing and consequently sinking of the
vessel are one or combination of the following factors:
(1) The vessel was not in a suitable condition to complete the
intended voyage at the time of sailing from the loading port, taking into
consideration the condition of the cargo before loading operation (which
might result in instability of the vessel following possible shifting or
liquefaction – free surface effect, etc. in transit, which might lead to
capsizing of the vessel).
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2) Negligence of Parties
(1) Inadequate cargo
The cargo was iron ore of powder and loaded in heavily wet. Before
commencement of loading operation, the cargo had already been
heavily affected by rain because cargoes piled up out in the open
storage yard without any covers.
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4.3 Deviation
The carrier is obliged, in the absence of any agreement to the contrary, to carry the
cargo directly to its destination. And the carrier is also under an obligation to ensure that
the vessel proceeds promptly to her destination. Any unnecessary delay will be treated
in the same way as a deviation from the contractual voyage.
In the event the vessel deviates from the agreed, direct, or customary route, or in
the event of delay in the prosecution of the voyage, the master should notify owners
immediately. In addition he/she should ensure that the precise and detailed reasons for
the deviation or delay are fully and accurately recorded, and documents such as the
logbook, ship to shore communications, course recorders, and nautical charts must be
made available to his/her shipowner.
Korea P&I Club
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In case the port nominated by the charterer is unsafe at the master’s judgment,
the master should immediately contact owners, explain in detail the reasons for his
judgment and request further instructions.
The master, before proceeding to the nominated port according to the charterer’s
voyage instructions related with the port, should consider carefully voyage instructions
given by the charterer.
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1. Summary of Accident
M/V Eastern City was chartered for voyage and dropped anchor
after arriving at the port of Mogador in Morocco, but got aground
caused by strong wind. The shipowner claimed damages against the
charterer in violation of the contract clause – no nomination of safe
port.
2. Causes of Accident
In the port of Mogador, Morocco large ships such as M/V Eastern
City are required to drop anchor within designated anchorage.
However, the trial judge discovered that no vessel dropped anchor at
the anchorage could be protected from southwest wind and swell. In
particular the anchorage of the port of Mogador has very strong wind
between December and next March. The vessel was at the anchorage
at the end of December, and the master of the vessel had ordered to
avoid danger after heaving up anchor but the vessel got aground on
rocks.
The judge of the first trial concluded that the port of Mogador is
not a safe port for large vessels such as M/V Eastern City in the view
of using anchorage in winter season. In the trial on appeal case the
lawsuit of claimant was rejected and the court concluded the trial as
Korea P&I Club
follows;
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If a member of the crew is injured, the master should ensure that a record is made of
the cause and details of the injury.
Usually, in case any member of crew is injured, assistance will be rendered on board
the vessel. If the vessel is in port, the crew member may be sent ashore for treatment
usually. The master also should ensure that a note is kept of the type of treatment
administered to the crew member on board, the treatment administered to him ashore,
by whom the treatment was administered, and the exact time the treatment was given.
In the event that the injury was caused by a failure of a part of the ship’s equipment,
the master should ensure that the damaged part is retained for future inspection. If the
item of ship’s equipment is seriously damaged, the master should request owners to call
in a surveyor to inspect the damaged part.
Korea P&I Club
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crew may be submitted months and even years after an incident. Therefore, in the event
of an incident on board the vessel or in the vicinity of the vessel, the master should
ensure that the contents of incident are properly recorded.
The master also should identify the position of the injured party and discover the
reason why the person is on board. And the master should make a note of whether the
circumstances of the accident were appropriate for the original visiting purpose of the
injured party or not.
The master should complete a standard accident form of the company and record
details of the treatment administrated on board the vessel or retain any piece of ship’s
equipment which may have caused the accident.
The master should prepare a report of the accident as well as a standard accident
report.
The reports should include the following information:
① Details of the circumstances surrounding the incident;
② The conditions at the time of the accident and whether they contributed to
the accident;
③ Whether or not the injured party in any way contributed to the accident or
whether there was any obvious negligence on the part of a third party;
④ Names and position of the witnesses to the accident, including crew members; and
⑤ A drawing or photograph of the scene where the accident occurred.
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① Investigate at all times and complete your company’s accident report form (for
all accidents, not just for crew injuries);
② Report the incident to your shipowner or manager;
③ Do not give any statement to other persons except the lawyer appointed by
the Club;
④ Do not express an opinion as to what happened;
⑤ In case of having an accident of injuries;
- in port, notify your shipowner or manager and the P&I correspondent and
have the injured received medical treatment;
- at sea, notify your shipowner or manager, and obtain radio medical advice;
⑥ As well as completing the accident report, write a detailed description of what
happened (these notes will help to refresh your memory during the
subsequent interview with your lawyer);
⑦ Ask witnesses to write a detailed description of what they saw or heard
(you will need a special form for this which is normally supplied by
your shipowner or manager);
⑧ If the ship’s equipment or the ship’s structure was involved in the injury,
Korea P&I Club
examine the equipment, take photographs of the place where the accident
occurred, record the time and the date of photographs, and retain and properly
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label every evidence. Obtain a copy of the maintenance record of the equipment
and any applicable test certificate;
⑨ Inspect the scene where the accident occurred with the Club’s appointed
surveyor or local correspondent; and
⑩ Keep always detailed records of all medical treatments given on board and
any external advice received.
1. Summary of Accident
General cargo ship JP of DWT 7,209 registered at Jeju, Korea had
arrived at out anchorage of the port of Fukuyama in Japan at about
1800 hours 6 June, 2012 and waited her berth. Second officer of the
ship was dropped into No. 2 cargo hold due to poor visibility and
found dead during heaving up anchor for berthing at about 0045
hours 7 June the next day.
2. State of Accident
The ship left Incheon, Korea in ballast and arrived and anchored at
out harbor of the port of Fukuyama at 1800 hours 6 June, 2012, and
all hatch covers of the ship were opened to load cargo by the request
of ship’s agent.
At about 0045 hours 7 June the boatswain and one deck sailor were
attended at heaving up anchor in order to come alongside at No. 2
Export Terminal of JFE Steel in Fukuyama, and then they moved to
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starboard side of No. 2 hatch for waiting her shifting after heaving up
anchor. On around the time of accident they saw the second officer
was moving to winch room after passing the exit of accommodation
located at rear side of No. 2 hatch, and they heard suddenly the scream
of second officer and run to the scene. They found the second officer
was dropped into No. 2 hold floor of which height is 8.5 meters.
The master received the accident, stopped the ship immediately and
inform Japan Coast Guard Agency of the fact.
Accommodation passage Entrance to the Winch Room
No. 2 cargo hold where the hatch cover was removed already. It is
presumed that the second officer could not see the state of removed
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hatch cover and dropped into the hatch caused by poor visibility.
In the viewpoint of carriers and shippers the bill of lading certifying the quantity of
cargoes being carried on board and the apparent order and condition of the cargoes at
the time of loading is a vitally important document.
The bill of lading also represents the cargo itself, and possession of the original bill
indicates who is entitled to receive the cargo at the discharge port.
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If any description of cargoes on the issued bill of lading are inaccurate, the carrier may
have serious damages by it, therefore the master should check all entries of the bill of
lading in detail and carefully.
The master should check the details on the bills against tally sheets, mate’s receipts,
boat notes and draft surveys, and should make a note on the bills any details of
damaged or short-delivered cargo, or any other discrepancies. If in doubt, call the P&I
correspondent and ask for a surveyor.
The master should not state anything on the B/L which he believes to be inaccurate.
If the B/L does contain inaccurate information, the master should correct it with an
appropriate clause before signing it.
The master never put signature on the bill of lading in the following cases:
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② To sign clean bills for damaged cargo or for cargo that is not in apparent good
order and condition; and
③ To sign bills for cargo that has not been loaded;
Endorsements on the B/L, such as “Shipper’s figures”, “Figures as per shore tally”,
“Quantity and condition unknown” or “Said to be ...”, will seldom absolve the carrier
of blame if he, being able, has failed to check the particulars of the cargo to his own
satisfaction.
If it is agreed to retain one original bill of lading on board against which the cargo may
be delivered, the shippers’/charterers’ instructions for procedures at the discharge port
must be strictly followed. In such a case, to protect the shipowner from a claim for mis-
delivery of the cargo, all original bills of lading should be endorsed as follows:
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6.5 Notification
The master should notify the shipowner or manager and the P&I correspondent
immediately in the following cases:
① If the shipper objects to the bills being claused;
② If you suspect that the agents have signed bills on your behalf without checking
the mate’s receipts or without noting on the bills any remarks that are in the
mate’s receipts;
③ If the delivery of cargo is requested by the person who has not presented the
bills at the discharge port;
④ If cargo condition and quantities or any problem is happened on B/L; and
⑤ If there is any deviation related with loading/discharging cargo.
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P&I clubs do not directly insure the cargo itself, but they do insure shipowners or
managers for their liability to cargo owners for loss or damage arising while the cargo
is in the custody of the ship. Many cargo claims can be prevented by good maintenance
and careful handling, stowage and transportation.
The obligation on the carrier is to do everything necessary to deliver the cargo to the
receiver in good condition as much as when it was entrusted to the carrier. The carrier,
therefore, must ensure that all cargo handling operations including the loading, custody,
transportation and discharging are performed properly and carefully.
The master should be fully aware of any matters demanding special attention that the
cargo may require. Information and instructions with regard to the treatment of cargoes
should be acquired in written form from the shipper. In case the master has not acquired
this information, he/she should request the assistance of owners or their local agents
who may appoint an independent surveyor or expert.
It is necessary for the master to ask an advice of shipowner’s local agent or local P&I
club correspondents regarding local law, regulations and customs for specific cargo
handling.
Korea P&I Club
The carrier’s obligation is to take care of the cargo properly and carefully. So, the
cargo transportation performed according to usual customary practices can not become
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a proper defence against cargo claims. In order to certify that the cargo has been
discharged safely and properly, the master should make correct entries of cargo works
and every operation to be documented.
The carrier should take care and custody of cargoes properly in order to keep the
cargoes as the same condition at the time of loading.
If cargo is being loaded that shows signs of damage, stop loading and call the P&I
correspondent. The mate’s receipts and bills of lading are specified with such a state of
cargo.
2) Damage by rain
Stop loading and close the hatch covers during rain. Record the periods of rain when
the hatch covers were open in the rain. In some times wet cargoes have to be discharged
if necessary.
The responsibility for the wet damage of cargo varies by who have required to work
in rainy weather. If the work was requested by cargo owner, the master must enter
following remark on the mate’s receipt.
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3) Damage by stevedore
If cargo is roughly handled by stevedores, protest against it and a note of the damage
shoul be made.
Damage occurs often during the voyage because of moisture or cargo shifting.
1) Securing cargo
Korea P&I Club
Check lashings before departure and during the voyage. If any loose cargoes were
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secured, ship’s master should make entries of the fact in the logbook.
2) Ventilation
Ventilation condition and cargo temperature during carriage should be checked with
the charterer. In case of convincing the correct condition the ventilation is carried out
and the fact is recorded in the logbook.
If cargo is found damaged on arrival at the discharge port, you should carry out
following matters:
① notify your owner or manager;
② immediately call the P&I correspondent and arrange for the attendance of
a surveyor and survey;
③ delay discharge until the nature and extent of the damage is found; and
④ in case short delivery or contamination of cargo is alleged, contact the
P&I correspondent. You may need a surveyor to witness any sampling
or to calculate the shortage.
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1. Summary of Accident
Hot coil of 4,853 M/T which arrived at Antwerp on 7 May, 2012 by
general cargo ship IT of DWT 42,001 registered at Jeju, Korea were
found to have rusted and deformed.
2. State of Accident
The vessel loaded steel cargoes in the Tianjin (twice call),
Qinhuangdao and Bayuquan (twice call), and dropped at Singapore
for taking bunkers. The cargoes were loaded on board the vessel by
stages in several ports, sometimes loaded for long periods due to
short of cargoes and most importantly with remarkable temperature
variations, from which cargo damage is inferred.
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The vessel opened the hatch covers for ventilating the cargo hold
and chief officer inspected the cargo on a daily basis, but there was no
description of any inspection and ventilation in the vessel’s logbook.
During the voyage from the Far East to Europe, adverse weather
condition were recorded with wind forces up to Beaufort scale 8 and
shipped sea sprays on deck and hatch covers. No intake of sea water
was noted at the inspection in any of the holds, and the inside of the
hatch coaming plating was found dry without any rust streaks. Instead
some pieces of watertight rubber packings of the hatch covers were
replaced in part.
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The steel pipes were loaded on the top of the steel coils in almost of
the cargo holds without covers and some pipes were covered up with
snow.
Also the steel coils were loaded in double tiers or triple tiers, from
which deformation of steel coils are inferred.
The steel cargoes had been loaded on board under the supervision
of the charterer’s supercargo, but no protest was made by the ship’s
master.
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P&I clubs do not cover the damage of the ship itself – that is the responsibility of the
hull and machinery underwriters.
If a collision only results in damage to your ship, your Club will probably not be
involved financially but may still assist the owner related with settling the accident.
However, the damage caused to the other ship in a collision may be insured by the Club
or by the hull underwriters or by both of them.
In case of occurring a collision accident the master should inform immediately your
shipowner or manager, the relevant authority and the P&I correspondent of the fact.
Advise them of the other ship’s name and port of registry, details of the property
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damaged, the date, time and location where the incident occurred, rough extent of the
damage and whether injury or pollution has occurred or not.
The Club will invariably investigate the incident to find out the causes of accident and
who is to be blamed. Depending upon the damage caused by the collision, a survey of
the ship’s damage or of the cargo or an accident investigation may be necessary – the
Club or the P&I correspondent in charge will arrange these surveys.
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maneuvering at low speed, and the master should ascertain details of specific
hazards and proposed ship’s route including strong tidal streams;
⑦ Proper supervision is essential, and a risk assessment performed
prior to commencing even routine tasks could prevent an accident; and
⑧ As fatigue may cause an accident, it is important to monitor the hours of rest
and ship’s crew should be well trained and educated.
1) Prior to collision
Data recorded daily on board the vessel will be crucial in determining how and why
a collision was occurred. It is imperative, therefore, that all sections of the logbook are
recorded and completed fully and accurately at all times.
Nautical charts used for the voyage and bell books are important evidence which have
particular relevance in collision investigations.
(1) Charts
The master should ensure that chart positions are left precisely as plotted and that
positions which do not match others are not erased. The master should also pay special
attention to marking ship’s positions on the charts during her transit of passage under
the command of pilot.
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are made in ink, signed, and dated by the person corrected. The record deleted should
be scored out with a single line leaving the writing underneath legible. The use of
correction fluid should not be permitted.
The master should also ensure that times are recorded accurately. Also he should
ensure that printer outputs from telegraph recorders and the engine room are retained as
part of the bell book.
(3) VDR
Voyage data recorder (VDR) is a data recording system designed for all vessels
required to comply with the requirements of IMO’s SOLAS Convention in order to
collect data from various sensors on board the vessel, and the last 24 hours of stored
data can be recovered and replayed. If an accident occurs, VDR should be stopped by
force in order not to overlap the records.
2) After collision
If possible, the master and the officers should collect, record, and preserve as much
detail of the collision as they can do immediately after an accident.
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⑤ Any change of course or ship’s speed before the time of the collision;
⑥ VDR data;
⑦ Copies of the navigation charts on which details of the courses and positions for
a period of at least 60 minutes before the collision are shown;
⑧ Printouts, with times, from the AIS, GPS, course recorder, engine log,
echo sounder;
⑨ Notebook on bridge, radar, gyro, radio and weather charts;
⑩ Standing orders/night order book;
⑪ The passage plan;
⑫ Make entries of the names and the position of tugs that are ‘made fast’
or ‘in attendance’, and the time when each tug arrived;
⑬ To check the synchronization of bridge, engine room and other clocks; and
⑭ Photographs of any damage to your ship and the other ship or structures.
Instruct those on watch (on the bridge, deck and in the engine room) and any other
potential witnesses on board to make personal statements regarding the incident as soon
as possible, noting only the facts and times.
Also, identify whether there was any witness of third party on the collision.
The master also should ensure that any independent witnesses to the incident are
identified.
The master should record the names of all the vessels in the vicinity and attempt to
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obtain the names and addresses of the officer of the watch of these vessel by VHF.
Finally, the master should ensure that any scraps of paper which have been disposed
in the garbage can on the bridge are retained as these may contain the key as to why and
how a collision occurred.
Remember not to admit liability when questioned (in most collision cases investigated
by the Club, both parties, to a greater or lesser extent, have been found to be at fault), and
take special care to prevent unauthorised surveyors and lawyers from boarding the ship.
Brief crew members to stick to the facts and instruct them not to discuss the incident
with anybody.
3) Under pilotage
The master should secure the name of the pilot on board (if concerned) including any
additional information exchanged between the master and pilot.
The master should also ensure that the watch keeper, helmsman, the look-out, and
any other persons on the bridge at the time of the collision make a complete record of
events.
The pilot also should be requested to make a written account of the events before he
leaves the vessel. A note should be made of the pilot’s name, address, and telephone
number.
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The master should record speed log readings and make a note of the state of the tide
at the time of collision. Estimation of the tide and tidal current are to be made by tide
tables though not correct.
4) Vessel at berth
It is generally the view that unless there is evidence that the moored or anchored vessel
contributed in some way to the collision, the vessel underway is liable for the damage.
The master should secure the following evidences regardless his/her vessel is offender or
not:
① Whether or not the moored vessel or an adjacent vessel was testing her
main engines in such a way as to contribute to the accident;
② Whether or not the moorings on the moored vessel were defective,
slack, or ineffective in any way;
③ An estimate of the tidal direction and strength;
④ The identity of witnesses on shore (company and name);
⑤ Photographs of damage to own vessel, and if possible, of the damage to the
other vessel;
⑥ VDR data; and
⑦ If the damage has been caused by a ship’s wake of sloping effect, make a list of
all other ships that passed at or near the time of the incident. If possible,
estimate their course, speed and distance from your ship.
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Damage caused by a vessel to fixed or floating objects often gives rise to large claims
which owners have great difficulty in defending. The damage may be caused by a
vessel coming into direct contact with, for example, a harbour, dock, pier, jetty, buoy, or
crane, or the damage may be caused by the vessel’s close pass-by.
In most instances, claims for the damage caused by the vessel will be covered by the
vessel’s P&I insurance.
If possible, the master also should contact the local P&I representatives and request
them to attend and assist.
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3) Collecting evidence
If damage is occurred, shipowners and their insurers will appoint expert surveyors to
assess the extent of any damage and repair.
In order to assist the surveyors, who may not arrive at the scene immediately, it is
essential that the master assembles as much contemporaneous evidence as possible.
The master should note that it is not only major accidents which require vigilance.
The master should ensure that the report of the accident which he/she prepares
includes the following information:
① The date, time, and location of the accident in detail;
② The condition prevailing at the time (for example, day or night, weather
condition, visibility, sea state, direction of swell, state of tides and currents,
and etc.);
③ Details of the vessel's manoeuvres (for example, arrival or departure, use of
tugs, pilot on board, and etc.);
④ Names and addresses of all crew members, pilots, tug crews, shore workers, or
any other persons who witnessed the accident. If time allows, the master should
attempt to obtain from the witnesses their statements of the accident; and
⑤ Details of the damaged object.
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1. Summary of Accident
Korean container ship XT of GT 8,503 collided with Chinese bulker
JH of GT 36,986 off Ningbo port in China. XT laden with 805TEU of
container cargo left the Ningbo, China at 0825 hours on 6 December,
2013 and bound for Shanghai port. The vessel left the port with 2
pilots on board and 3 deck crew were kept look out at forecastle deck
due to low visibility of about 0.6 miles and the weather was in state of
the Beaufort scale 3 at the time.
While en-route in channel, the pilot ordered to put the rudder to hard-
a-starboard in order to avoid approaching vessel JT at the distance of
0.3 miles off. But she came into collision with JH at about 0936 hours
in local time on 6th December, 2013.
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2. Causes of Accident
The collision between two vessels happened underway under
the reduced visibility of about 0.5 miles. The master of XT vessel
was absent on the bridge and did not pay keen attention to the safe
navigation during his stay on the bridge, but he put much more focus
on his other works i.e. communicating with head office and discussion
with chief officer on the stowage plan, etc. In the above circumstance,
he could not acknowledge even the presence of the other vessel
during his stay on bridge, so he could not take any preventive actions
for avoiding collision in early stage.
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All the claims including fishery claims and etc. would be about USD
35 million.
by keeping her own course, the stand-on vessel should take physical
measures like as reducing speed and etc.
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9. Pollution
The result of oil pollution disrupts environment and marine ecological systems and
gives effects in wide range, so most countries in real deals severely with the vessel
which discharges even small quantities of oil in their territorial waters.
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① collision, fire, explosion, or grounding which result in the release of oil from
the ship's bunker tanks and/or from the cargo tanks;
② discharge of oils or oily wastes during the pumping of bilges, or deballasting
from cargo tanks, or tank washings;
③ accidental spills while transferring fuel or cargo from ship to ship, or from
ship to shore, and accidental spillage resulting from the incorrect operation
of valves on shipboard or at oil terminal; and
④ oil spills through air ventilation pipes or machinery oils from hydraulic power
plants in rainy weather.
When the oil-contaminated water is to be discharged into the sea through the oily
water separator from ship’s machinery space, the following procedures should be
observed:
Korea P&I Club
① Before discharging, check whether the discharging conditions are coincided with
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1) Basic attitude
If you see or suspect pollution in the vicinity of your ship, no matter how small the
pollution may be, the golden rule is to take action even though you are unsure whether
the pollution is originated from your ship.
The master also should ensure that steps are taken to clean up the spill and prevent
further spillage.
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In the event of an oil spill, however minor, the master should immediately consult
the local P&I club representative. Then the representative will inform the local
authorities of the fact and will advise you on the steps that should be taken, and will
make arrangements for legal representation and attendance of surveyors if necessary.
The representative will also assist the master in dealing any problem with the local
authorities.
If the authorities request permission to come on board the vessel, the master should
attempt to obtain the advice of a legal representative (P&I club local representative or
lawyer) before granting permission. In this case the master should make entries of the
names of persons on board, the department of competent authority, any action and/or
measures taken and etc.
Do not try to cover up or dispose of records or evidence, because this could jeopardize
your owner’s P&I cover and lead to prosecution of shipowner and crew.
Finally, the master should ensure that before the use of any emulsifiers or detergents
the permission of its use from local authority should be obtained, as indiscriminate use
of such materials may be harmful to environment.
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④ Inform port control, your shipowner or manager and the P&I correspondent,
and ask for a surveyor (if the local authority is carrying out an investigation,
ask for a lawyer as well);
⑤ Always follow the shipboard oil pollution response, preparedness and
coordination (OPRC) plan (for tankers) and for others observe the guidelines of
SOPEP;
⑥ Identify other ships and underwater pipelines in the vicinity;
⑦ Take photographs of the pollution state;
⑧ Collect samples and seal and date them. If the pollution is not from your ship,
take individual samples from the ship’s tanks for comparison;
⑨ Co-operate fully with the authorities in all cases;
⑩ If in any doubt about your rights, seek professional advice through your
P&I correspondent before making any statements;
⑪ If pollution originates from your ship, obtain and document the information as
soon as possible from everyone involved;
⑫ If the pollution has been caused by defects of the ship’s equipment, assemble
details of recent examinations, maintenance or tests, plus a certificate of test for
any flexible hose; and
⑬ All defective parts should be labelled and retained on board for examination.
① Deck logbook recording on the use of scupper plug and drip tray etc.;
② Engine logbook recording the member of the crew in charge of bunkering
operation and load/discharge rates and ullages during loading and discharging
operations;
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1. Summary of Accident
On 25 May 2012 about 1730 hours, Panama-registered 82,861 M/
T bulker carrier M/V DS overflowed bunker and polluted overboard
during suppling bunker oils at the anchorage of Jinhae port, Korea.
Korea P&I Club
2. State of Accident
1) Causes of Accident
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At about 1700 hours of the same day the bunkering vessel GD11
commenced supplying bunker to the DS whilst she was lying at
anchor. At about 1730 hours one of the crew found the oil was
overflowing from the air ventilation pipe of No. 3 HFO tank (P)
on upper deck and asked immediately the bunkering vessel stop
pumping. The overflowed oil was accumulated on upper deck but
some of the oil had been spilled into the sea.
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10. Stowaway
1) Definition of stowaway
A stowaway means a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus,
ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected.
The costs for repatriating stowaways are covered by the Club. As repatriation
of stowaways can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive and may result in
unnecessary delays and diversions, it gives a lot of burden to the master and shipowner.
1. Summary of Accident
A stowaway was discovered on M.V. OA registered at Hong Kong
during her voyage from Chittagong, Bangladesh to Colombo, Sri
Lanka.
2. State of Accident
The vessel arrived at the port of Chittagong at 1254 hours on 22
June, 2012 and left the port at 1418 hours on 27 June.
Search was carried out until the stowaway was found at 1450 hours
on 30 June, 2012 on the top of a container at Bay Location 10 07 86.
The master treated him with some water and food after lowering
him down from top of the container and tried to interview him, but as
the stowaway was unable to speak or read in English the master could
not get any information from him.
30 June, 2012. At 0110 hours on 1 July, 2012 the anchor was aweigh
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and proceeded to pilot station and pilot came on board at 0430 hours
1 July then vessel was berthed to South Asia Gateway Terminal at
0530 hours 1 July, 2012.
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onboard for keeping his/her health, and his/her human rights should
not be infringed.
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drug traffickers wishing to enter into the illegal drug trafficking markets of high profits.
Drug traffickers know that it is much easier to smuggle drugs through merchant ships
rather than speed boats or aeroplane with little cost and at low risk of discovering.
There are no "safe" shipping routes where operators can be quite certain that there are
no illicit substances on their ships.
The largest markets of drug smuggling are North America and Europe. If drugs are
found on the vessel, heavy fines are to be levied on the vessel and in some cases the
vessel is to be detained or forfeited. On the other hand the possible involvement of crew
members in drug abuse threatens the safety of the vessel.
2) Risk cover
Although confiscation of the vessel and fines for criminal offences are outside the
traditional covers provided by P&I insurance, the clubs may cover shipowners in cases
where there has been no complicity by the shipowner and their employees.
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④ Draw back the drugs at the presence of witness and keep in a safe place, if
possible in the save of the ship;
⑤ Minimize all contact with the substances and DO NOT attempt to taste or
smell them; and
⑥ Make entries of the discovery in detail and subsequent procedures in the
logbook, and make a written report based on those later.
1. Summary of Accident
Korean oil tanker M/T SD, registered at Marshall Is. laden with
crude oil from Iraq and bound for the United States of America,
was hijacked by Somalian pirates on 4 April, 2010. At the time of
hijacking the vessel was manned by 24 crew: five South Koreans and
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nineteen Filipinos.
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2. State of Accident
M/T SD was located at outside of the area being escorted by the
Chonghae military unit in Aden Bay. The vessel discovered the
approaches of pirate ship, but ship’s speed was only 13.5 knots and
the speed of pirate ship was 20.6 knots. The vessel was hijacked in
half an hour after discovering the pirate ship.
In the beginning the pirate had demanded the money of thirty million
US dollars equal to 1/10 of the total amount of ship’s price and the
crude oil loaded, but the vessel was released finally after paying about
nine million US dollars of ransom on 6 November, 2010 after 217
days of detention.
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The ISPS Code requires that seagoing ships have a Ship Security Plan(SSP) and a
trained Ship Security Officer(SSO). Ship’s staff are also required to have appropriate
security training prior to joining the ship.
The master should be well aware of the current IMO regulations in relation to
the current ISPS Code and ensure that his/her ship complies with these regulations
appropriately.
1) Thorough preparation
In order to avoid the attack of pirates it is essential to practice responding drills in
advance, and the master and crew should make thorough preparation and exercises, and
be well aware of anti-boarding equipment and facilities before entering the high piracy
risk area.
Especially, it is important for the master and officers as well as all crew members
to practice emergency response drills against the attack of pirates in advance through
instructional videos and manuals on how to cope with pirates.
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The master should take several countermeasures and respond in accordance with the
manuals when attack is commenced. Finally, when it comes under the unavoidable
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situation of boarding by pirates, rapid evacuation of all crew members to shelters could
be the best way to minimize damages.
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13.1 Salvage
1) Meaning of Salvage
When a ship is in imminent danger following a casualty or catastrophic failure, it will
be necessary to make quick and positive decisions under pressure.
The Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) 2000 is the salvage contract that is most widely
known, and has the advantage of being on a ‘no cure no pay’ basis. This means that the
salvage award payable to a successful salvor will be determined at a later stage, and you
should not negotiate it on board.
The LOF contract may incorporate a SCOPIC clause, which provides a financial safety
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net to the salvor, and encourages them to ‘have a try’ in difficult or environmentally
sensitive cases.
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However, in case of absolute urgency, the master himself may negotiate the terms
of the salvage agreement with the salvor, subject to the owners’ standing instructions.
Although the master comes to an agreement with salvors without the authority of the
interested parties, these parties may collect the share of salvage from shipowners.
(1) Ensure that an accurate record is kept of any conversations relating to a salvage
agreement. If an agreement is reached for salvage by radio, making notes of the
content of agreement is requested to an independent and unprejudiced third party.
(2) Ensure that a precise record is kept of the time of the commencement of salvage
services, the times of any communications relating to salvage agreements, and time of
arrival of salvage vessels.
(3) The officer in charge of making notes should make entries correctly in writing
by taking photographs or other available methods.
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(4) Ensure that entries of deck, engine, and radio logbooks are accurate and in
particular the deck logbook contains regular recordings of the vessel’s position.
The York-Antwerp Rules define that a general average act is concluded when, and
only when, any extraordinary sacrifice or expenditure is intentionally and reasonably
made or incurred for the common safety for the purpose of preserving from peril the
property involved in a common maritime adventure.
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2) Interested parties
The interested parties are normally shipowner, the cargo owner and the charterer.
3) Contributory Value
The shipowner’s interest in the venture is determined by the current value of the vessel at
the termination of the venture. Time charter hire is normally excluded from owner’s total
interest, but in voyage charters the amount of bunkers onboard would be included in the
shipowner’s valuation.
The time charterer’s interest in the venture is determined by the value of bunkers
remaining onboard at the time of the accident, plus the freight at risk on the voyage.
The cargo owner’s interest is determined by the sound market value of the cargo on
the last day of discharge.
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1. Summary of Accident
Towing ship 108DH owned by BW Shipping in Korea left Nagasaki
port in Japan on 7 November, 2002 to tow a barge No. 50 SK to
Hanlim port in Jeju Is., Korea, and drifted near Japan caused by
engine trouble which resulted in constructive total loss, and finally
general average was declared for repairing costs of the main engine.
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2. State of Accident
1) Declaration of General Average
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After main engine trouble, the towing ship and barge were rescued
by Japan Coast Guard and returned to Sasebo port, Japan, and the
towing ship was towed to Busan port later.
Regarding the extent of damage to the towing ship, the repair costs
were exceeded the insured value of the towing ship by adjustment
company in Korea, so the accident treated as constructive total loss.
2) Cover by Insurance
The P&I Club insured by the owner of towing ship rejected the
compensation for distribution amount because that general average
did not come into existence between towing ship and barge, and the
towing contract itself was not approved by the club in advance.
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the P&I Club joined in advance and should receive the approval for
the contract; and
3) In case of having marine accident, every documentary evidence
that will clarify responsibility relationship later should be secured.
1. Summary of Accident
Container ship M/V MN run aground at outer harbor of Ghana,
Africa, got into danger of the ship and cargoes, and the shipowner had
declared the general average for the ship and cargoes.
2. State of Accident
The shipowner of M/V MN, ST MS Shipping chartered out her
vessel on time basis to AP MM. On 20 July 2007, whilst on a laden
voyage from South East Asia for discharging cargoes to various ports
in South and West Africa, the vessel got aground off the port of Tema,
Ghana. There were 1,139 containers on board at the time, stuffed with
goods owned by a variety of cargo interests and consigned to a variety
of destinations.
The vessel and cargoes run into danger of damage and as it came
under the condition of general average, general average was declared
by the shipowner on 25 July 2007. The vessel suffered serious bottom
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There was a dispute between both parties as to whether the cost for
additional damage during refloating process to be included or not in
the general average, but the final adjustment was published on 10
January, 2012 that 82.17 per cent of the bottom damage and all of
the damage to the propeller were sacrificial damage, and the total
sacrificial amount was US $4,254,985.53.
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Reference
1. A Master’s Guide to : Shipboard Accident Response, Charles Taylor & Co.
Limited, 2012.
2. The Master’s Role in Collecting Evidence, Nautical Institute, 1989.
3. Practice of Shipping Management
4. Minhyon Yoon, Shipping and Risk Management, Korea P&I Club, 2014.
5. Guideline to Prevention and Response Against Pirate Attack, Ministry of Oceans
and Fisheries, 2014.
6. Korea P&I’s Reports
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Brief Personal History of Author
Kim, Youngmo
- Born in 1953 in Masan, Korea
- Graduated from Korea Ocean & Maritime University(Nautical Course) in 1976
- Graduated from Korea Ocean & Maritime University Postgraduate
school(Shipping Management) in 1995
- Master of merchant marine in Hanlim Shipping Co. Ltd.
- Professor of the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology from 1984
to 2014
- Visiting Professor of Southampton Solent University, U.K. in 2004
- Chairman of Safety Sub-committee of Consultative body for Ministry of Oceans
and Fisheries
- Operating Director of Human Element Maritime Forum