Web Alert: SAMSA Marine Notice 27/2016 - Lessons Learnt from recent Casualties

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) recently released a marine notice (27/2016) which dealt with lessons learnt from three recent marine casualties. In every case, basic deficiencies in watch keeping arrangements or seamanship were cited as contributory factors. Such deficiencies included:

• Poor application of collision regulations
• Complacency
• Failure to ensure the serviceability of key navigation equipment
• Over reliance on electronic navigation aids
• Failure to maintain a proper lookout
• Failure to ensure proper drainage arrangements

Such basic failures in watch keeping and seamanship are unfortunately too common in the maritime industry, the consequences of such lapses are often costly, multiple lives being lost in the three case studies featured in this marine notice.

Members should be vigilant to ensure that their crews are conducting their watch keeping duties in accordance with the standards required by their ship’s safety management system (SMS) and their own training/experience. It should be noted that small instances of SMS non-compliance can undermine the overall safety of a ship and often contribute to an onboard culture where serious lapses in professional practice become commonplace.