B.C. fines Teck Coal over $220K for unauthorized waste spills

Waste contained substances harmful to the health of humans and aquatic life, ministry report says

Alex Nguyen · CBC News · Posted: Aug 19, 2024 

A welcome sign in the coal mining town of Sparwood, B.C., which is close to Elk Valley Resources' Elkview operations. The company, which was previously operating as Teck Coal Ltd., has been fined nearly $221,000 by the province after unauthorized waste discharges. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

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A mining company has been fined close to $221,000 for almost 30 instances of discharging waste into the environment without authorization in southeastern B.C.

On Aug. 8, the B.C. Ministry of Environment handed Teck Coal Ltd. — now operating as Elk Valley Resources — two administrative penalties based on waste disposal issues over two years at its Elkview operations near Sparwood, B.C. 

The company was aware that the discharges of process slurry were unauthorized but "did not take all reasonable measures" to prevent them, the ministry said in a report.

It also said in a separate penalty assessment document that the slurry contained substances that are harmful to the health of humans and aquatic life. 

The larger of the two penalties — at $168,750 — deals with 27 separate instances of unauthorized waste discharges between February 2021 and November 2022. 

A coal mining operation in Sparwood, B.C., is shown on Nov. 30, 2016. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

While each instance's release varied in volume, the discharge from these cases totalled more than 109,000 litres, according to the report.

But the ministry also found that they had little to no actual impact to the environment because they were "limited to the heavily disturbed area in and around the [Elkview operations] pit and Coal Processing Plant."

Meanwhile, the second penalty of $52,000 covers just two incidents. But, in these instances, the mining waste did get to nearby creeks that support animal life, the report says. 

In particular, around 1,000 litres of slurry was discharged to the ground and approximately 50 litres reached Otto Creek in October 2021. Three months later, about 10,500 litres were released into the ground and reached Goddard Creek.

The report said water sampled from the second creek exceeded guidelines for sulphide and selenium, which can cause deformities in fish and health issues for humans.

But the ministry also said they were "within historical ranges" for these areas, and found that there was "insufficient evidence" of actual harm. 

According to the report, equipment failures caused the majority of these 29 instances of unauthorized waste discharge.

• B.C. fines Teck Coal $16 million for contaminating Kootenay waterways

• Coal company Teck fined $60M for contaminating rivers in southeastern B.C.

Coal mining now under Glencore

Teck Coal said in a statement to CBC News that investigations were undertaken to determine the root causes of each unintended spill, and that repairs have been completed to prevent any future incidents.

The company is also now operating under Glencore as the new company Elk Valley Resources, after Teck sold its B.C. coal mining operations to the Swiss commodities giant in July. 

"Spills were cleaned up and subsequent monitoring results were within normal ranges for the areas where the spills occurred," a spokesperson said.

The company has 30 days to appeal the penalties, and it didn't say whether it would do so. 

• Teck closes sale of B.C. coal mining operations to Swiss company

• Teck Coal charged for alleged dumping harmful to fish in B.C

This is not the first time the Elkview coal mining operations have been penalized for unauthorized waste disposals. Two years ago, Teck Coal received a penalty of close to $200,000 for several discharges in 2020. 

In addition, Teck Coal has faced tens of millions of dollars in fines for contaminating waterways in B.C. over the years. 

It is also now dealing with allegations of dumping harmful substances into waters frequented by fish in the province's southeastern region. Environment Canada laid five charges against the company in July, and they have not been tested in court. 

A court hearing in that matter is scheduled for Oct. 10.

US gives Electra $20 million to build cobalt plant 

IN CANADA

Bloomberg News | August 19, 2024 | 

Electra Battery Metals’ cobalt refinery in northern Ontario. Credit: First Cobalt

Canada’s Electra Battery Materials Corp. has received a $20 million award from the US government to build a cobalt plant close to North America’s automotive heartland.


The funds will support construction of a cobalt sulfate facility in Ontario that will be North America’s only refinery for the material used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, Electra said Monday in a statement. The $250 million project is about 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of Toronto at Temiskaming Shores.

The US Defense Department said separately that the award will help develop North American production of a key material for large capacity batteries and, once completed, will benefit the region’s growing EV supply chain.

The funding is the latest in a series of investments the Pentagon has put toward North American mining companies as part of a push to secure metals needed for EV manufacturing and the transition away from fossil fuels.

Prices for cobalt, the majority of which is processed in China, have plunged from a peak about two years ago in part because of Chinese firms that ramped up production faster than traders anticipated. Toronto-based Electra, which has a market value of about $28 million, paused construction of the project last year due to low prices, and after revealing the plant would cost much more than previously anticipated.

“We’re not in a free market, with China subsidizing producers and overproducing,” chief executive officer Trent Mell said Monday in an interview. “I think it’s essential that, if we’re going to build our own domestic supply chain, we have this financial support.”

Mell said he’s in talks to get more funding from the Canadian government, which awarded the firm C$5 million ($3.7 million) in June.

(By Jacob Lorinc)

BHP’s quick strike fix sets tone for labor talks amid copper rally

“Profits have to be paid to workers”

Reuters | August 20, 2024 | 

Escondida mine site from space. (Image: Google Earth.)

Mining giant BHP’s quick fix to a recent six-day strike at its huge Escondida copper mine in Chile could set the tone for upcoming negotiations elsewhere, with workers emboldened by high copper prices to push for a larger share of the profits.


Members of Escondida’s powerful Union No. 1 signed a sweetened deal on Sunday after walking off the job a week ago when contract talks collapsed, demanding better pay and benefits at the world’s biggest copper mine.

With a preliminary deal in hand already on Friday, a union lawyer had termed the agreement its “greatest recent victory.” It gave each worker a bonus and interest-free loan of about $34,000, compared with BHP’s original offer of some $28,900.

The quick turnaround contrasts with a 2017 walkout that dragged on for a month and a half, severely hitting BHP’s production, boosting global copper prices and even denting Chile’s GDP, heavily reliant on the red metal.

That was a scenario BHP wanted to avoid, particularly given strong current demand and global copper prices, analysts and other experts said. Demand for the metal is expected to shoot up, driven by the rise of electric vehicles and artificial intelligence technologies.

“The specter of the 44-day strike in 2017 created constant fear throughout the negotiations,” said Andres Gonzalez, an analyst at mining consultancy Plusmining. “BHP wanted to avoid something similar, which pushed them to seek an agreement.”

The two sides were also not so far apart when the strike started, he noted, making a middle ground easier to achieve.

The union’s position also appeared to be buoyed by the public perception of BHP having capital to spare. The miner is among the world’s biggest, turning out more than a million metric tons of copper a year at Escondida alone. It recently sought Anglo American in a $49 billion deal before scrapping the offer.

“Its current image is that of a company that has capital available to acquire assets or even invest in mergers … so the union was going to insist on achieving its goals,” said Cristian Cifuentes, an analyst at Chilean think tank Cesco.

Despite occasional strikes, Chile’s mining industry largely manages to renew workers’ collective contracts without conflict and even in advance, avoiding the risk of disrupting production.

Escondida is unique due to its large size and powerful union, which represents 2,400 people, almost all in key operational roles. The union has frequently clashed with BHP.

“Profits have to be paid to workers”

Analysts are now watching whether Escondida will set a precedent, but say other mines in Chile are not necessarily in similar situations, such as those that are smaller or grappling with problems in production and costs.

State-run copper giant Codelco, fighting to revive production from a 25-year low, is due for pay negotiations at its Ministro Hales mine in September, followed by the El Teniente and Gabriela Mistral mines in October.

At each site, the unions represent a substantial part of the overall workforce. Of particular note is El Teniente, one of Codelco’s biggest mines, a complex that represented more than a quarter of company copper production last year.

El Teniente workers are represented by five separate unions, but those combined represent more than 80% of total workers, or 3,200 people.

“What is worrying is how the unions at El Teniente will react,” Cifuentes said.

Workers from one of three unions at Lundin Mining’s Caserones copper mine in Chile also went on strike one day before the Escondida strike and remain so.

“The price of copper has been quite favorable in recent months… Those profits have to be paid to the workers,” said Marco Garcia, president of the striking Caserones union, though he admitted the Escondida union had more “productive pressure.”

“We know that the next three years will be quite profitable for Caserones in the production of copper,” he added. “That’s what leads us to our position and to be able to demand higher wages for the members of our union.”

The Caserones management is due to negotiate with other unions at the site later this year.

The head of Chilean mining association SONAMI, Jorge Riesco, cautioned that it is necessary to strike a balance between worker pay and industry competitiveness.

“It is legitimate for workers to aspire to better working conditions, but it is important that they also consider other aspects,” he said. “Issues of labor productivity and industry competitiveness should also be on the table.”

(By Fabian Andres Cambero and Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Matthew Lewis)

Strike at Lundin’s Caserones copper mine showing no signs of resolution after a week

Reuters | August 19, 2024 | 

Caserones copper mine is located at an altitude of 4,200m to 4,600m above sea-level, close to the border with Argentina. (Image courtesy of Lumina Copper Chile.)

A strike by a workers’ union at Lundin Mining’s Caserones copper mine in Chile that has dragged on for more than a week is not showing any signs of resolution, the union’s president said on Monday.


The union, which represents around 300 workers, or 30% of the total workforce at the mine controlled by the Canadian company, began the stoppage last Monday after negotiations over a new contract failed.

“We have been on strike for a week, and since last Wednesday when we had a meeting at the (labor ministry’s regional office), we have not had any other type of interaction with the company,” union head Marco Garcia told Reuters.

“They agreed to present us with an offer to be able to move on and lift the strike, but to date we haven’t had any sort of dialogue,” Garcia said.

The workers are prepared to drag out the strike for more than 40 days if needed, according to Garcia, despite rain and snow in recent days.

“Things are starting to get complicated at the mine,” he said. “Output is at less than half of capacity, and that obviously makes things complicated for them,” Garcia said, adding he hoped the company would reach out to the union this week.

Lundin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Caserones mine produced 139,520 metric tons of copper in 2023.

(By Fabian Cambero and Kylie Madry; Editing by Jamie Freed)

Heavy rains to threaten 25% of copper projects by 2050

Cecilia Jamasmie | August 20, 2024 |

Cerro Lindo was shut almost two weeks in 2023 due to unusually heavy rains that flooded several mine levels. Image courtesy of Nexa Resources | Flickr.)

A quarter of the world’s copper mining projects are at increasing risk from the impacts of climate change, with extreme rainfall expected to affect production of the metal crucial for the global clean energy transition by 2050, new research shows.


According to a study by risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft, around 25% of global copper projects are projected to face “high” or “very high” risk of extreme precipitation by mid-century. Major copper-producing countries, including Canada, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are expected to be the most vulnerable to climate-related disruptions.


Verisk Maplecroft’s Extreme Precipitation Index, which measures the frequency and intensity of heavy rains across seven different time horizons and three emissions scenarios, shows that 19% of copper mines already face significant risk from extreme weather events. This number is expected to rise as global temperatures increase, leading to both more severe rainfall and drought.

“Health and safety risks to workers, damaged access roads and electrical and structural damage at site facilities can all have an impact on production,” says Jimena Blanco, chief analyst at Verisk Maplecroft. She notes these impacts will likely extend beyond the mine site, affecting local communities and supply chains.

Source: Verisk Maplecroft – Costmine Intelligence.

Canada and Australia account for just under half (47%) of the 718 copper projects benchmarked within the consultancy’s analysis, which focuses on mine sites tagged at “advanced exploration” stage or further based on data from Costmine Intelligence.

The number of Canadian copper sites facing high or very high risks from extreme precipitation is set to more than double, from 16 projects currently to 42 by mid-century (under an intermediate emissions scenario).

Australia, which hosts the second highest number of potential sites, is set to see a marginal increase, from 27 sites currently to 28 in 2050 – leaving 17% of the country’s copper projects at risk.

Countries like Mexico and the DRC, with fewer potential copper mines, are also projected to face heightened risks. In Mexico, the number of high-risk sites is expected to increase from two today to seven by mid-century. In the DRC, the projects exposed to extreme rainfall could triple from three to nine by 2050.
Multi-million dollar losses

Over the past decade, severe rainfall has led to forced suspensions of operations in copper mines across Chile, Peru, and Australia, resulting in billions of dollars in losses.

Reconstruction efforts following such events are often costly and time-consuming, with damaged equipment and unsafe buildings requiring extensive repairs, Verisk Maplecroft says.

Preparing for both current and future climate risks is essential to bolstering emergency response plans and ensuring the resilience of mining operations, the consultancy notes.

A similar study published in April by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), found that even if the current levels of carbon emissions are reduced rapidly, more than 70% of cobalt and lithium production, and around 60% of the world’s bauxite and iron production will be at risk by 2050 due to climate-related reasons.

PwC reports centred on the effects of extreme high temperatures and shifting weather patterns would have on extending drought periods. Even in an optimistic low emission scenario for 2050, more than 50% of the world’s copper mines will be in areas exposed to drought risk that’s deemed significant, high or extreme, the study showed. For two other energy transition metals — lithium and cobalt — drought exposure is even higher at 74%, it concluded.

Dominican Republic creates state miner to explore for rare earths

Reuters | August 20, 2024 | 

A cityscape of Santo Domingo. Stock image.

The Dominican Republic on Tuesday said it will create a state mining firm to explore and exploit the nation’s key mining resources, including rare earth minerals.


The Dominican presidency said in a statement that the state firm, Empresa Minera Dominicana SA, or Emidom, will explore, exploit and run economic viability studies on the country’s natural resources.

The firm will be able to negotiate contracts and alliances with international firms and it will have a nine-member board, led by the minister of the presidency.

Emidom is also tasked with managing the Avila mining reserve in southern Pedernales province, which borders with Haiti and was in 2018 declared an area to be explored for possible rare earth projects.

Last year the US military said a team of its engineering researchers worked with local authorities in the highlands of Pedernales to evaluate the area’s viability.

The Caribbean nation is home to Canadian firm Barrick Gold’s Pueblo Viejo, the largest gold mine in Latin America and the Caribbean.

(Reporting by Sarah Morland; Editing by Anthony Esposito and Chris Reese)

 

INTERTANKO and Veracity by DNV to Make Emissions Data Sharing Easier

Photo from the partnership signing Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition 2024. From left: Catrine Vestereng, SVP & Global Segment Director at DNV Maritime, Barry Authers, Head of Partnerships at Veracity by DNV, Tim Wilkins, Deputy Managing Director

Published Aug 20, 2024 9:53 AM by The Maritime Executive

 

[By: Veracity by DNV]

Veracity by DNV and INTERTANKO announces partnership, enabling DNV emissions verification customers to seamlessly share their data with INTERTANKO, further supporting the tanker industry in its decarbonization efforts.  

The partnership between Veracity by DNV and INTERTANKO represents an advancement in the use of verified emissions data by making it easier for tanker operators to share emissions data directly with external stakeholders, reducing their administrative workload.  

2024 is the first year where ships trading in the European Union are subject to its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Verified emissions data are increasingly important for EU ETS commercial settlement, Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) implementation, and operational efficiency requiring real-time verification of emissions data. Integration with INTERTANKO's benchmarking tool allows members using DNV as their verifier, to share the verified data in one secure and automatic data stream.

Mikkel Skou, Executive Director of Veracity by DNV said: "Verified emissions data is becoming increasingly crucial for commercial settlements. Now, we’re delighted to see that industry benchmarks and models like INTERTANKO’s can benefit from increased accuracy and trust from verified emissions data. With our Veracity integrated partners, like INTERTANKO, we have prebuilt plug-and-play secure data integration ready for our customers to use. No IT project is needed for customers to automate their operation.” 

Catrine Vestereng, SVP & Global Segment Director at DNV, highlighted the practical benefits: "DNV is striving to support our tanker customers in their daily challenges, and by working closely with INTERTANKO within all technical, regulatory, and safety issues. One of the greatest challenges in the tanker industry these days is seamlessly being able to share emission data with external stakeholders, and we are proud to be able to set up this connection with INTERTANKO to reduce the administrative burden for our tanker customers."

Tim Wilkins, Deputy Managing Director at INTERTANKO, shared his perspective on the partnership: "The newly formed partnership enables DNV emissions verification customers to share their verified data with INTERTANKO easily and supports the development of a platform for our members to simplify reporting and eliminate the need for multiple reports to several different entities. The collaboration enhances INTERTANKO’s data analytics tools allowing Members to compare their fleet with the industry or internally across various parameters such as CII, annual efficiency ratio and fuel consumption.” 

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.

 

Poor Port Infrastructure Caused Andros Ferry Incident, Not Ship's Master

Saonisos (Saos Ferries file image)

Published Aug 19, 2024 5:29 PM by Capt. Nikolaos Chalaris, FNI

 

 

Once again the Greek ferry system has attracted international attention for the abnormal and poor operational standards that have become a “custom of the trade.” The master of a ro/pax ferry who saved his ship, passengers and crew from an imminent grounding has not been applauded, but has instead been arrested, fired and ridiculed. Is he a criminal or a hero?

Scapegoats have been a convenient solution to cover the systematic malfunctions that have prevailed for years in the Greek Islands ferry scene, and masters are the stars of this unacceptable standard. The master of the ferry Saonisos acted prudently and pushed away from the pier when gusty side winds hit his vessel during a “touch-and-go” Med mooring maneuver, exactly as vessels have done every day in the Aegean for decades. Unfortunately for him, bystanders with mobile phones captured the scene, and he has been treated as a criminal for doing what he was trained and expected to do - save his ship from an imminent hard grounding.

Why did this occur, and how did we get in this point? Let’s have a look at the history of how the Greek ferry scene developed its current practices.

The Aegean Sea counts numerous islands that have long been connected with the mainland by ferries, and in recent decades a ro/pax ferry system has been developed to serve the increasing development of these islands. Vessel quality, size and service have all improved, but port facilities – which are a key component of the system – have not.

Figure 1: The Fast Ferries Andros in an emergency abort maneuver to avoid a breakwater grounding in Gavrio Port. Courtesy www.enandro.gr

The region’s underdeveloped port facilities are totally disproportional to current vessel size and traffic volume. Therefore, the only solution for fitting bigger and bigger vessels into tiny ports was the development of the master’s and the crew’s skill. The use of the Med mooring technique for a rapid “touch-and-go” turnaround was honed and advanced under siginificant commercial pressure,  and evolved into a standard operational procedure serving countless passengers and vehicles yearly, despite the constant adverse weather conditions of the Aegean.

The Med mooring technique mostly used by ro/pax ferries, and the docking occurs with simultaneous use of anchors, aft mooring lines and a lowered ramp, which acts as a ‘brake’ due to its weight. While in the past the vessel was secured with numerous mooring lines, in a ferry system where sequential port calls are planned and executed in a 15-20 minute timeframe, the Med mooring technique has time saving advantages.

Figure 2: A standard Med mooring maneuver in Mykonos using anchor and mooring lines with stern ramp. Courtesy of the author 

Under pressure to serve the islands, many of which have turned to tourist destinations, the current ferry system developed and established itself. While not rigidly safe as seen from international maritime carriage terms and standards, it is statistically decent, and it has allowed companies to develop, islanders and visitors to move, and masters and crewmembers to make their living.

Andros Port is only two hours by ferry from Rafina, the second port in the Attica region serving numerous travelers. The island does not have an airport, and traffic is primarily served by ro/pax ferries. The main port in the northwest is called Gavrion, and it is in a small bay that is hampered by side northerlies that accelerate through the valley on the north edge. The result is that ferries often have to dock with gusty katabatic winds with sustained speeds higher than 50 knots.

As the vessels get bigger and bigger, Gavrion's port basin remains the same, and the entrance limits the vessel’s size (in case of an aborted approach, it must be able to pass through in parallel, as in figures 1 and 3). Despite the serious risks, this is the standard at this and other ports in the region.

Figure 3: The ro/pax Superferry in an emergency abort maneuver at Gavrion under severe katabatic northerlies. Courtesy www.EnAndro.gr

What the master of the ferry Saonisos witnessed last week was a typical side gust against his ship, like many before him. Unluckily for him, a car tried to drive up the ramp for unknown reasons while his ship started drifting towards the southerly breakwater, resulting in ship’s ramp stuck under the vehicle.

Forced to decide if he would let the heavy winds push his ship aground on the adjacent breakwater, he ordered an emergency abort maneuver to end the docking, as every prudent master should do. He saved everyone, with the exception of minor damage to the car.

Instead of being applauded for his seamanship skills and his timely action to avert a disaster, he has been criminalized, fired and ridiculed internationally. A viral video circulating online shows the scene of the event, but not the context. It is his bad luck that Article 291 of the Greek penal code sees him as a criminal and not a hero.

Until the Greek government decides to face reality and invest in safe port infrastructure, Greek ferry masters should consider setting aside their skills and their sense of community service, and instead systematically abort similar port calls whenever poor weather conditions prevail. This would ensure safe operation despite inevitable interruptions in regular island ferry services.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

 

Britain Invests $35 Million in the DRC's First Modern Seaport

Port of Banana, future site of the DRC's first container terminal (DP World)

Published Aug 20, 2024 10:06 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

UK development finance institution British International Investment is taking a $35 million stake in DP World's new container port in the Democratic Republic of Congo, helping to bring modern logistics to one of the world's least-developed countries. According to BII, the port complex will lead to the creation of 85,000 jobs and about $430 million in new economic output, a major boost for a country with a GDP of $65 billion. 

DP World is building the DRC's first deep-sea port at the town of Banana, a small settlement near the mouth of the Congo River. The country's narrow coastline is about 25 miles long from border to border, and Banana has the only sheltered harbor in the country. It has a small terminal for fishing vessels, but DP World wants to transform it into something new. The plan calls for a new 600 meter quay with 18 meters of depth, capable of accommodating the largest boxships in service today. 

“This investment from BII will help transform DRC’s economy, establishing the country as a major trading hub on the continent, and providing a significant boost to local sectors from infrastructure, logistics and green energy," said UK Minister for Africa Lord Collins of Highbury. 

The concession agreement gives DP World Banana Port a "single window gateway" process for all containerized freight transported into the DRC by sea, including a single electronic interface for customs clearance. The war-torn nation ranks 162nd out of 180 on the Corruption Perceptions Index, and a single window will foster transparency and procedural standardization. The convenience of a "one-stop-shop" will also help expedite cargo movement across the pier, according to DP World. Overall, the efficiencies of the modern single-window port will cut the cost of trade in the DRC by 12 percent, BII estimates. 

DP World has previously partnered with BII on port investments in Senegal, Egypt and Somaliland. According to BII, these projects will lower logistics costs, stimulate growth, add more than $50 billion to global trade volume, and enable the creation of about 140,000 new jobs. 

 

Coast Guard Foundation Activates Emergency Disaster Relief Program

A Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter sits on the ramp in Houston, Texas, July 8, 2024. Air Station Houston conducted search and rescue missions in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Je

Published Aug 20, 2024 12:21 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

[By: The Coast Guard Foundation]

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to strengthening the Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families, announced that its emergency disaster relief program is providing vital assistance to Coast Guard members and their families impacted by Hurricanes Beryl, Tropical Storm Debby, and glacial flooding in Juneau, Alaska. The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has already proven to be one of the most challenging in recent memory. Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 1 storm, made landfall in Texas, bringing with it catastrophic winds, flooding and widespread destruction. Shortly after, Tropical Storm Debby followed, bringing damaging wind, heavy rains and flooding to multiple states on the East Coast, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Then, just last week, a glacial dam burst releasing floodwaters that damaged more than 100 homes in Alaska.

In response to these natural disasters, the Coast Guard Foundation has activated its emergency disaster relief program to provide immediate assistance to Coast Guard members who have been directly affected. The program offers a financial grant to help cover the costs of basic essentials, home repairs, replacement of household goods, temporary housing and emergency travel, and insurance deductibles.

Susan Ludwig, president of the Coast Guard Foundation, expressed her gratitude for the dedication and resilience of Coast Guard members during this difficult time.

“Our Coast Guard members are always there for us in times of disaster, often putting their own lives at risk to protect others,” said Ludwig. “Now, it’s our turn to be there for them. The Coast Guard Foundation’s emergency disaster relief program is designed to provide the critical support these heroes need as they work to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Debby and other natural disasters.”

The Coast Guard Foundation invites individuals, corporations and community organizations to support service members in need by making a donation to the Coast Guard Foundation. Every contribution, large and small, makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have given so much to protect our nation.

To apply for assistance, visit coastguardfoundation.org/emergency-relief-grant.

To support the Coast Guard Foundation’s emergency disaster relief program, visit coastguardfoundation.org/disaster-relief.

To learn more about the Coast Guard Foundation, or to help support its work, please visit www.coastguardfoundation.org or call (860) 535-0786.

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.

 

VIRSEC Launches Pioneering Course on Lithium-Ion Battery Safety on Ships

Mitigate Risks and Enhance Safety with the Online Lithium-Ion Battery Safety on Ships Course

Published Aug 20, 2024 1:36 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

[By: VIRSEC]

VIRSEC, an award-winning online maritime training provider, is proud to announce the launch of its new course, Lithium-Ion Battery Safety on Ships. This comprehensive online course is designed to address the growing concerns surrounding lithium-ion battery-related fires on vessels, offering vital knowledge to maritime professionals worldwide.

Why This Course Matters
With the increasing prevalence of lithium-ion batteries on ships, from smartphones to electric vehicles, the associated risks have become a significant safety concern. Understanding these risks is crucial for the safety of vessels at sea, as well as the well-being of crew and passengers. The course, developed in collaboration with Mariner House and led by Captain Gerard Pollock, a Master Mariner with over 25 years of experience, provides in-depth training on how to mitigate these risks effectively.

Course Overview
The fully online course covers a range of topics, including the functionality of lithium-ion batteries, recognising and preventing battery abuse, understanding the hazards of toxic and explosive gases, and responding to thermal runaway incidents. It also emphasises the importance of compliance with key maritime regulations, such as the ISM Code and STCW Convention requirements, ensuring that participants are well-equipped to manage lithium-ion battery-related hazards.

Target Audience
This course is essential for ship crew, captains, safety officers, emergency response teams, and shoreside managers who interact with lithium-ion batteries in the maritime environment. Whether involved in battery-powered equipment use, charging operations, or implementing safety procedures, participants will gain critical insights and practical skills.

Key Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Identify common locations of lithium-ion batteries on ships.
• Understand the basic functional processes and hazards of these batteries.
• Recognize battery abuse conditions and hazardous defects.
• Respond effectively to lithium-ion battery fires and evaluate fire suppression systems.
• Use specialist equipment for containing and suppressing lithium-ion battery fires.

Insurance & Compliance Benefits
Adhering to safety standards through this course not only signifies proactive risk management but may also positively influence insurance premiums and mitigate potential impacts in claim situations. Insurance underwriters often scrutinise claims related to lithium-ion battery fires, particularly when improper handling is suspected. This course ensures crew members are well-prepared to prevent and respond to such emergencies.

Supporting a Safer Maritime Industry
VIRSEC’s core values are grounded in international standards, competency, and a commitment to elevating the standards of safety and security training in the maritime industry. We believe that this course will contribute significantly to raising the bar for maritime safety.

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.