The importance of roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) vessels doing stability checks before sailing, and the need for accurate cargo information has again been underscored following the publication earlier this week of the annual Safety & Shipping Review by Allianz.
Although the number of large cargo-carrying vessels (100 gross tonnage) are down – 41 year-on-year since the last review, heralding a 70% decrease or the lowest this century – Allianz said it was alarming how ro-ros had shown up as high-risk vessels.
This much has been revealed by the review which stated that ro-ros accounted for 20% of the 15 ships lost last year.
Of that figure 14 were lost in South-east Asia, red-flagging the region’s seas as a hot spot for ship floundering.
Allianz reportedly said that the frequency of ocean trade in the southern seas and Pacific, the high age of some vessels, and the occurrence of weather events such as typhoons were viewed as reasons for South-east Asia’s high vessel-loss data.
British supply chain portal The Loadstar quoted Allianz executive Rahul Khanna as saying “the rise in number and severity of claims on ro-ro vessels is concerning”.
The global head of marine risk consulting told journalist Sam Whelan that “ro-ros can be more exposed to fire and stability issues than other vessels.
“Many have quick turnarounds in port, and a number of accident investigations have revealed that pre-sail stability checks were either not carried out as required, or were based on inaccurate cargo information.”
