UPDATE
GUIDE TO SAFE MANAGEMENT OF ASBESTOS IN SHIPS
FiFth FRC deliveRed to U.S. CoaSt GUaRd Bollinger shipyarDs, inc., Lockport, LA, has delivered Margaret Norvell, the fifth Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to the United States Coast Guard. The 154 ft Sentinel Class FRC will be commissioned in June. Based on the Damen Stan Patrol 4708 design, the FRC has a flank speed of 28 knots, state-of-the-art command, control, communications and a stern launch system for a 26 ft cutter boat. The Coast Guard plans to acquire 58 FRCs to replace the service’s 110-foot Island Class cutter fleet, which range in age from 20 to 27 years old.
16 MARINE LOG April 2013
Despite maritime regulations that prohibited its use, asbestos remains a problem in shipping. Exposure can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis –the three major asbestos-related diseases –as a result of occupational exposure. It is estimated that 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases. 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. A UK study estimated a 61% increased incidence of asbestos-related illness in shipyard workers. A similar study in Trieste, Italy, showed that of 153 men who had died of malignant mesothelioma 99 had worked in shipbuilding 19 had been in the navy/merchant marine and 7 had been dockworkers. Classification society Lloyd’s Register has addressed this issue with a recently published guide, Asbestos on ships—how to
manage it safely, to help shipowners, operators, shipyards and other stakeholders to understand how to deal with asbestos on ships and to support compliance with maritime asbestos regulations. 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. It is imperative that we see further and substantial improvements in regulatory enforcement and a reduction in asbestos related mortality.” The guide explores asbestos’ 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. “What is vital is that we continue to guard against the risks of asbestos presents in the maritime industry,” says Townsend.