New Guidance Released to Prevent Loss of Propulsion Incidents

Bureau Veritas, TMC Marine, and the London P&I Club have released new guidance on preventing loss of propulsion events. Image / Pixabay

Bureau Veritas S.A. (Bureau Veritas) today announced that, along with TMC Marine and the London P&I Club, it has released a new booklet providing operational guidance for preventing blackout and main engine failures.

The new document, which was launched during London International Shipping Week 2017, specifically focuses on marine engineering issues and procedures related to loss of propulsion incidents, including how to prevent them.

"The Club has seen an increase in the number of machinery failure related cases in recent years," said Carl Durow, Loss Prevention Manager at London P&I Club.

"This publication is aimed at raising awareness of the necessary good practices and post incident investigation activities, which in combination can result in a much reduced risk of significant claims. In the majority of cases it is the timing and location of the incident which dictates the severity of the claim."

Bureau Veritas notes that the new document is intended as a practical tool for those involved in shipping, and is not meant to replace International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and guidance notes, or documentation forming part of a vessel’s safety management system.

"The industry is aware of the continued incidence of blackouts and propulsion loss. We consider it important that the industry has an easy to use, concise, guide to the risks involved and, importantly, the guidance on the risk management tools that can reduce the risk of propulsion loss," said Jean-François Segrétain, Technical Director at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore.

"The expertise of class, P&I and TMC is a strong combination. We will continue to provide guidance to help reduce risk in marine operations."