Loss Prevention Advice
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At its 111th session held from 13 to 22 May 2026, approved revised guidelines on safety during abandon ship drills using lifeboats.
The amendments follow changes to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code adopted through resolution MSC.589(111), particularly regarding arrangements for testing free-fall lifeboat release systems under load without launching the lifeboat into the water.
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The revised guidelines build on a series of measures developed by the MSC over the past two decades to reduce the risk of accidents during lifeboat drills and improve the safe conduct of abandon ship exercises.
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PLUG FAILURE (COURTESY OF SKULD CLUB)
Fire in the engine room remains the most common and costly risk in Hull and Machinery insurance, due to the combination of flammable materials, complex machinery and human factors, according to Skuld Club.
Skuld has seen recent cases of engine room fires due to erosion (fusible) plug failure. An erosion plug failure in a fuel pump can cause engine room fires by allowing pressurised fuel to escape as a fine spray, which can ignite instantly upon contact with hot surfaces. An erosion plug is a safety device built into fuel pumps, and particularly in high-pressure fuel pumps.
Erosion plugs are made from a low-melting-point alloy and are designed to relieve pressure during overheating, preventing the fuel pump casing from rupturing or exploding.
However, excessive temperatures, internal friction, pump seizure and inadequate maintenance can cause the plug to melt, erode or blow out prematurely. When this happens, pressurised fuel oil escapes, often as a fine atomised spray rather than a liquid leak.
This fine mist presents a serious fire hazard. If it comes into contact with hot surfaces such as exhaust manifolds or turbochargers, it can ignite almost instantly.
Combined with high fuel pressure and the presence of hot machinery, the resulting flash fire can spread rapidly through lagging gaps, cable runs and accumulated oil deposits, significantly increasing the extent of damage in the engine room.
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A bulk carrier sailing under the Tanzanian flag and operated by an Azerbaijani crew has been struck by Russian drones near the Port of Odesa, with at least one person killed in the attack.
According to Ukrainian media outlets, Russian forces targeted two civilian vessels on 14 July, including the Azerbaijani-manned bulk carrier and another ship operating under the Liberian flag.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry later confirmed that the merchant vessel Atlas Bey, owned by a Turkish company, was attacked near the Odesa coastline. The ministry said 11 Azerbaijani nationals were among the crew and confirmed that all crew members except the captain who reportedly lost his life and was also an Azerbaijani citizen, were rescued.
The incident follows a series of attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea. In recent days, Russian forces have targeted several merchant vessels, including a Togolese-flagged cargo ship that was struck on 13 July while unloading mineral fertilisers at Odesa.
The attacks have heightened concerns over the safety of commercial shipping routes in the Black Sea, where merchant vessels continue to operate amid ongoing military tensions.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has warned that while global attention has been focused on escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a renewed wave of attacks targeting international shipping has emerged in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov regions and urged all parties involved in conflicts to refrain from actions that endanger merchant vessels, seafarers and the marine environment.
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Over the past week, 4-7 July two incidents of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia.
Two CAT 4 incidents of armed robbery (AR) against ships in Asia and one CAT 4 piracy incident. The piracy incident occurred onboard a tugboat and a barge off Pulau Batam, Indonesia, in the South China Sea on 21 June 2026. One AR incident occurred onboard a bulk carrier while at anchor at the Bahodopi Anchorage, Indonesia on 30 June 2026.
The other AR incident occurred onboard a tanker while transiting the Malacca Strait (MS) to Singapore on 5 July 2026. The crew members were not injured, and some ship property / stores were stolen in all three incidents.
Area of concern
With the incident reported in MS, a total of 22 incidents were reported in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) since January 2026. An advice to ships shall to continue to intensify vigilance, maintain a sharp look-out while transiting areas of concern and report all incidents to the law enforcement agencies immediately. The Centre also urges the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in their respective waters, respond promptly to incidents, strengthen coordination and promote information sharing on incidents and the criminal groups involved to arrest the perpetrators.
Situation of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah
For the 6th consecutive year, there has been no report of incident of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. The last incident occurred on 17 Jan 2020. In January 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), coordinated with other stakeholders and counterparts further downgraded the threat level of ‘Abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas’ to ‘LOW’, meaning ‘No information or monitored activities suggest an impending attack; hence incidents are not expected to occur’.
In its Advisory on 14 Feb 2025 advised ships to “exercise vigilance when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and report incidents to the Operation Centres of the Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM)”. Also, to maintain communication with the relevant authorities when transiting the area.
Recommendations
Ship master and crew are to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, referring to the Poster on the Contact Details for Reporting of Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, exercise vigilance and adopt appropriate preventive measures taking reference from the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia.