Shipping vessels that travel in polar-like conditions or Antarctic or Arctic waters should be ice-strengthened against damage. This structural quality enables a shipping or other vessel to safely travel in waters with visible or non-visible hazards, such as submerged or surface ice. A non-ice-strengthened ship that travels in polar waters risks holing or incurring other catastrophic damage.Routine Features of an Ice-Strengthened ShipThere is no international standard to define the term “ice...

Severe weather is a frequent hazard in the fishing, maritime and shipping industries. Even an experienced captain and crew can be caught up in inclement weather, despite advanced tools to track and chart weather patterns and potential danger zones.Below are eight safety tips for when inclement weather – including everything from a lightning storm to fog – strikes while you or your vessel are out to sea.Safety Tip 1 – Ensure All Aboard Are Wearing a Personal Flotation DeviceEveryone, including...

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has established protocol for using the MAYDAY distress signal in times of maritime emergency. This includes the proper format for issuing a MAYDAY signal and the circumstances under which such a call is warranted. Information to Provide When Issuing a MAYDAY Distress Signal A distress call should be issued as swiftly and clearly as possible using VHF channel 16 or 2182 kHz HF. It should begin with the word MAYDAY spoken three times. The call then must...

Piracy continues to represent a significant safety and financial risk for those working in the international maritime industry. The World Shipping Council reports there were 439 pirate attacks in 2011 and 45 merchant vessels hijacked. The United States Coast Guard, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other maritime safety experts like Giles Noakes of BIMCO has issued best practices for captains and crew when traveling in high-risk waters. When traveling through...