Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) and Ocean Network Express (ONE) completed a crisis management drill as part of their training on emergency response
The scenario involved ONE’s chartered vessel from K Line grounding on the Elbe River near Hamburg, Germany after losing control of navigation due to power failure.
In the scenario containers on deck collapsed and some, including those containing hazardous materials, fell into the river. A small amount of fuel oil leaked from the ship and was observed on the river surface.
Participants from K Line, ONE headquarters in Singapore, ONE regional headquarters in London, and K Line Ship Management (Singapore) confirmed executing procedures, reviewed possible responses and examined emergency measures while using online communication tools. This drill was undertaken as part of K Line’s principle and vision for enhancing safety, environment and quality in its operations.
“We are preparing for any unexpected and unforeseen circumstances through the emergency response drill,” K Line said. “Furthermore, we promote safety in navigation and environmental conservation and quality enhancement in co-operation with the charterer and concerned parties.”
These drills are increasingly important as container ship operators face more engine failures, ship groundings and cargo losses. ONE has encountered maritime accidents on two of its ships in recent months.
Container ships ONE Apus and ONE Aquila lost or damaged hundreds of containers due to gale-force winds and large swells caused by heavy weather in the northern Pacific.
Other container ship operators had similar issues. In January 2021, Maersk Essen, en route from Xiamen, China to Los Angeles, US spilled up to 750 boxes into the Pacific Ocean.
At the end of December, Evergreen Marine container ship Ever Liberal lost 36 containers in storm conditions, 20 nautical miles off Japan. Another 21 container were damaged as the stack collapsed. In 2020, APL and MSC had similar container dropping accidents.
Container ships have also suffered from engine failures. In one February example, an escort tug prevented two container ships from colliding in the Elbe River as one box ship came to a sudden halt in the fairway after it suffered a power failure.
K Line and ONE’s emergency drill comes as the industry discussed key safety issues causing container ship fires and lost cargo during Riviera’s Container ship safety by design, not by accident webinar. During this webinar, held on 10 February as part of Riviera’s Container Ship Webinar Week, panellists discussed these accidents and other issues, relating them to container ship design, build, operation and security of cargo.
Riviera will provide free technical and operational webinars in 2021. Sign up to attend on our events page
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