Specialized provider of Maritime Solutions in the areas of Quality, Health, Safety, Environmental, Security and Risk Management.
Header

Lloyd’s Register guidance to assist with the safer management of asbestos in ships

18 Απριλίου, 2013 | Posted by admin in asbestos - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Lloyd’s Register guidance to assist with the safer management of asbestos in ships)

Lloyd’s Register has published a new guide, Asbestos on ships – how to manage it safely, to help shipowners, operators and all stakeholders understand how to deal with asbestos on ships and to support compliance with maritime asbestos regulations which, since 2002, have widely prohibited the continued use of asbestos.

Asbestos remains a problem in shipping. Despite better management and reduced production of asbestos, there remains considerable room for improvement, primarily to reduce the number of deaths. It is still estimated that more than 107,000 people die each year from mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis – the three major asbestos-related diseases – as a result of occupational exposure.

The report’s author, Robin Townsend, Lloyd’s Register’s Regulatory Affairs Lead Specialist, says: “Far from being a problem of the past, asbestos is still produced in many countries and is still widely used, and it is present in many existing buildings and structures, including ships. Most countries still do not have effective prohibitions and global production is still over 40% of peak values. It is imperative that we see further and substantial improvements in regulatory enforcement and a reduction in asbestos related mortality.”

The guide takes a wider look at asbestos, exploring its history, composition and health effects to underline the vital importance of correct management. It also details asbestos-related regulation and suggests tools that can be used to achieve best practice in asbestos management.

Ships often have an increased risk of asbestos exposure. The use of asbestos in shipbuilding has been unusually high over the years and some of the most dangerous asbestos application methods have been particularly prevalent in ship construction.

You can download the report here.

,

Asbestos inspections on foreign sea-going vessels in Dutch ports

24 Αυγούστου, 2012 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Asbestos inspections on foreign sea-going vessels in Dutch ports)

The Shipping Department of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT/Scheepvaart) will be carrying out on-board checks for compliance with the international SOLAS requirement during the regular PSC inspections of foreign ships in Dutch ports. These inspections will commence in the 3rd/4th quarter of 2012.

The PSC inspector will be accompanied by an expert from an asbestos company who will take samples where necessary. These samples will be analysed and, if asbestos is found, the ship must immediately contact its own Flag State to request an exemption certificate in accordance with MSC.1/circ. 1374.If the ship departs before the results of the analysis are known, a report will be made in Thetis, the PMoU database, if the analysis showed asbestos to be present. If the ship visits a port within the PMoU region, a check will be made to see if the exemption certificate has been issued by the relevant Flag State.

Since the 1st of July 2002 the new installation or use of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) on board sea-going vessels has been prohibited under SOLAS regulations II-1/3-5, except for use in some systems involving high temperatures and high pressure as specified in the aforementioned legislation.

From 1 January 2011, new installation of ACMs is prohibited without exception for all sea-going vessels, pursuant to the SOLAS regulations.

Despite this clear and unambiguous prohibition of ACMs, asbestos is still regularly encountered in various locations on board ships. During inspections asbestos has been found in such places as fire blankets, insulation materials, types of sealants, friction material for brakes, wall and ceiling coverings, cables, cords, electric fuses etc. Moreover, ships that were originally free of asbestos appear to have ACMs on board as a result of repairs at shipyards and/or the purchase of spare parts at a later stage.

Source: http://ilent.nl/english/merchant_shipping/port_state_control/asbest/

,