Corrosion under the area covered by the seizing wire can cause breast lines to suddenly break. As seizing wires can prevent proper inspection and lubrication of wire rope mooring lines, it may be better to choose a different solution all together.

Ports and port cities are confronted with the substantial challenge of striking a balance between the pressure on space as a result of economic and urban development and pressure for sustainable development. Some port cities in the world – including Rotterdam – view this development as an opportunity and are explicitly profiling themselves as global maritime capitals.

The adage ‘one hand for the ship and one for yourself’ reminds crew members to work with care. In a recent Mars Report, a small slip while carrying a heavy load caused a crew member to become unfit for duty.

Maritime exhibition Europort is not just for the things that float. This year’s edition of Europort will also feature a special area for visitors to focus on the challenging tasks undertaken by diving, inspection and salvage companies.

Frequently sounding bridge warnings, especially false ones, can create “alarm fatigue” and tempt deck officers to silence alarms without investigation. This was revealed by a survey conducted among masters and senior officers from a wide variety of vessel types.

The Dutch seaports have become large thanks to the refineries and chemical industry. CO2 emissions are inextricably linked to this oil-based technology and CO2 production is therefore in the DNA of the Dutch seaports. The energy transition – the industry’s necessary reduction in CO2 emissions – will therefore significantly change the port landscape and can only be achieved with drastic measures.

Make a point of always checking the safety latches on the hooks of rescue boat davits. An open safety latch recently caused a lifeboat to fall sixteen metres down into the water causing damage to the boat.

Climbing the inside of a hatch cover is never a good idea. A cook-deckhand lost his life trying to do just that in the absence of a mature vessel Safety Management System. In addition, alcohol was in play.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is an integral part of structural engineering, and as such, plays a key role in the ship design process. Naval Architect Nikos Papapanagiotou and FEA Engineer Dmitry Volik from C-Job, a Dutch naval engineering company, talk about the relevance of FEA in the field of naval architecture.

Regular draining of tank level columns will help prevent clogging caused by sludge accumulation and consequent overflowing. In a recent incident, the contents of a fuel oil settling tank overflowed, causing oil to spill onto the lower decks.