Hazards: Reporting of Jettisoned or Lost Cargos

[Sinka]

Thought people might be interested to know that the US Government are finally looking at changing the rules and requiring shippers to report jettisoned or lost cargo (including shipping containers etc).

It seems that they are beginning to realise that people might like to know if they are about to sail directly into a potentially fatal hazard!

…..We propose prescribing in 33 CFR parts 97 and 160 when and how the accidental loss or deliberate jettisoning of cargo at sea must be reported. Currently, 33 CFR 160.215 requires a vessel owner or operator to immediately notify the Coast Guard whenever there is a hazardous condition caused by a vessel or its operation. ‘‘Hazardous condition’’ is defined in 33 CFR 160.204 as ‘‘any condition that may adversely affect the safety of any vessel or the environmental quality of any port, harbor, or navigable waterway of the United States.’’ In our view, any loss or jettisoning of cargo at sea must be considered a hazardous condition because, at a minimum, it poses a navigational hazard by threatening vessel safety. We propose making that explicit in part 97. We would also amend 33 CFR 160.215 by prescribing specific information to be included in the notification if the hazardous condition involves the loss or jettisoning of cargo. This should enhance our ability to identify potential problems with securing equipment, locate and warn mariners about drifting debris before it endangers safe navigation, and assess and respond to any environmental hazard created by the cargo loss.

An additional concern is containers that sink. Sunken containers may no longer be a hazard to navigation, but they may pose long-term threats to the environment. Our proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements would facilitate the long-term monitoring of sunken containers and any needed salvage or remediation….. (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013...2013-26886.pdf - page 68789 if you've the time and are really interested!)

Thought this might be of interest too.

… - Captain James J. McNamara, President of the National Cargo Bureau, wrote: “When a container or containers are lost overboard, usually there is no news release and seldom is the fact publicized. The loss is only revealed to those in a need-to-know situation, i.e., the ship owner, shipper, receiver and insurer.”…. - (If you have even more time on your hands and fancy reading the full article - https://www.federalregister.gov/arti...curing-manuals)

[Joe from ny]

I doubt you will see much actual reporting due to the expected attempt to recover any costs of remediation from the carrier/shipper. Imagine if a shipping container of motor oil went over off the coast of jersey.. They can only imagine the cleanup costs of a sunken container leaking oil. I bet they say nothing except "what container".

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Sinka.

[SailFastTri]

Such reports are of little use unless someone is committed to retrieving the flotsam. I've done security calls and reported floating trees or major logs with lat/long position and with reference to ATN or land masses (e.g. 5 NM SE of xxx) and those reports are ancient history after 20 minutes.

[de0xyrib0se]

I really don't see a problem with having a GPS beacon on each container these days. They can be solar powered and the cost is laughable. We can require them on any container entering US waters. Technology is there, industry has to adapt.

As always we'll lead the initiative and the rest of the world will follow.

[reefhunter]

Would that include reporting the hazmat flotsam from Japan?