Vehicle accidents at the time of Break-out

Analysis conducted on board ships of a major world car carrier indicated a whole accident category - the break-out accidents, which happened frequently in the US and European ports.

Below figure depicts how the vehicle collision damage occurs during the break-out operation, i.e. when a vehicle is being driven out from a stack and to the opening of the designated slopeway. Usually such accidents occurred after two or three hours past the commencement of the cargo operations.

A driver may be compelled to make a large turning in order to make an easy approach to the slopes. During the attempt to break out the vehicle (marked with a star on the figure) is prone to hit another one moved out from the nearby stack in the hold.

The above situation clearly indicates the lack of coordination which is supposed to be done by the signalman and/or crew.

Countermeasures
For Signalman and Crew:

• Stand ahead of passenger side of the vehicle.
• Checked the following at the break-out operation: the front wheels are straight, the driver’s hands are kept neutral position.

For Break-out Driver:

• Keep steering wheel straight unless the vehicles was moved well ahead (at least one car's length).
• Always follow the signalman's instruction - self-judgement is strictly prohibited.

Best practice

The most experienced driver(s), normally a foreman and his assistant, undertake(s) duty of breaking out the vehicles and positioning them just in front of the slope ready to be driven out by the next pack of riding drivers. Key is already inserted, electronic safety switch is turned off, car is ready to drive. Sometimes during high intensity operations, when it is safe to do so, the driver's door is left open as well.

IMDG Code 2010 and transportation of vehicles by sea

Amendments related to the transportation of vehicles by sea as put in the new edition of the IMDG Code.
UN 3166 Engines, internal combustion, flammable gas powered:
“Engine, Internal Combustion Or Vehicle, Flammable Gas Powered Or Vehicle, Flammable Liquid Powered Or Engine, Fuel Cell, Flammable Gas Powered Or Engine, Fuel Cell, Flammable Liquid Powered Or Vehicle, Fuel Cell, Flammable Gas Powered Or Vehicle, Fuel Cell, Flammable Liquid Powered.”

UN 3171 Battery-Powered Vehicle or Battery-Powered Equipment:
"Types of articles transported under this entry include vehicles or equipment powered by wet batteries, sodium batteries or lithium batteries with the batteries installed, such as electrically-powered cars, lawnmowers, wheelchairs and other mobility aids."

New special provisions related to the carriage of vehicles and engines:

"SP312. Vehicles or machinery powered by a fuel cell engine shall be consigned under the entries UN 3166 Vehicle, Fuel Cell, Flammable Gas Powered or UN 3166 Vehicle, Fuel Cell, Flammable Liquid Powered, or UN 3166 Engine, Fuel Cell, Flammable Gas Powered or UN 3166 Engine, Fuel Cell, Flammable Liquid Powered, as appropriate.

“These entries include hybrid electric vehicles powered by both a fuel cell and an internal combustion engine with wet batteries, sodium batteries or lithium batteries, transported with the battery(ies) installed.

“Other vehicles which contain an internal combustion engine shall be consigned under the entries UN 3166 Vehicle, Flammable Gas Powered Or UN 3166 Vehicle, Flammable Liquid Powered, as appropriate.

“These entries include hybrid electric vehicles powered by both an internal combustion engine and wet batteries, sodium batteries or lithium batteries, transported with the batteries installed.”

“SP961. Vehicles and equipment are not subject to the provisions of this Code if they are stowed on a roll-on/roll-off ship or in another cargo space designated by the Administration (flag State) as specifically designed and approved for the carriage of vehicles and equipment and there are no signs of leakage from the battery, engine, fuel cell, compressed gas cylinder or accumulator, or fuel tank when applicable.

“In addition, vehicles and equipment are not subject to the provisions of this Code if any of the following conditions are met:

1) The fuel tank(s) of the vehicle or equipment powered by a flammable liquid fuel is empty and installed batteries are protected from short circuit;
2) The fuel tank(s) of the vehicle or equipment powered by a flammable gas is emptied of liquefied or compressed gas, the positive pressure in the tank does not exceed 2 bar, the fuel shutoff or isolation valve is and secured, and installed batteries are protected from short circuit; or
3) The vehicle or equipment is solely powered by a wet or dry electric storage battery or a sodium battery, and the battery is protected from short circuit.

“SP 962. Vehicles or equipment powered by internal combustion engines, fuel cells or batteries not meeting the conditions of special provision 961 shall be assigned to class 9 and shall meet the following requirements:

1) Vehicles and equipment shall not show signs of leakage from batteries, engines, fuel cells, compressed gas cylinders or accumulators, or fuel tank(s) when applicable;
2) For flammable liquid powered vehicles and equipment, the fuel tank(s) containing the flammable liquid shall not be more than one-fourth full and in any case the flammable liquid shall not exceed 250l;
3) For flammable gas powered vehicles and equipment, the fuel shut-off valve of the fuel tank(s) shall be securely closed;
4) Installed batteries shall be protected from damage, short circuit and accidental activation during transport. Lithium ion or lithium metal batteries shall meet the requirements of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, subsection 38.3, unless otherwise approved by the competent authority; and
5) Dangerous goods required for the operation of the vehicle or equipment such as fire extinguishers, compressed gas accumulators, airbag inflators, etc, shall be securely mounted in the vehicle or equipment.

“The marking, labelling and placarding provisions of this Code shall not apply."

One could as well read more on Dangerous Goods on pages of Shashi Kallada's blog. Particularly his posts relevant to this one, namely: UN 3166 VEHICLE, Vehicle and Dangerous Goods, and 3166 Vehicle and Placarding.

New IMDG Code
2010 is available
at Amazon.com

A vessel not under command

ColRegs, Rule 3 paragraph (f):

The term “vessel not under command” means a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.

???

 Examples of vessels which are likely to be accepted "not under command":

• a vessel which have had breakdown of her engine(s);
• a vessel which have had breakdown of her steering gear;
• a vessel which have lost a propeller;
• a vessel which have lost her rudder;
• a vessel with her anchor down but not holding;
• a vessel riding to anchor chains with anchors unshackled;
• a sailing vessel becalmed;
• a vessel affected in such an exceptional way by weather conditions, that she is unable to keep out of the way of another vessel by alteration of course and/or speed, thus justifying her showing of not under command signals.

With reference to "A Guide to the Collision Avoidance Rules" by A.N. Cockcroft and J.N.F. Lameijer.

CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG - it's a PCC

'CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG' is a new eco-friendly PCC with a spheroidal prow. This ship was built by Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation of Japan in 2010. Ship sighted 22 December 2010 at Kanmon Strait, Japan. Photos and videos published by a Japanese blogger Yoshirou.

A 2000 CEU PCC is definitely fuel-efficient not only to cut running costs and reduce the environmental impact (cutting down fuel consumption by 800 tons or 2500 tons of CO2 per annum), but also to propagate its cargo - the electric vehicles Nissan Leaf.
Well done!