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Agency Says Baltimore Bridge Ship “Dali” Had Good Risk Safety Score, But Warned That the Ship’s Fleet Operator Urgently Needed a Control Plan to Mitigate Risk

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Copyright, The Frump Report

The container ship Dali, which lost power and collided with a bridge near Baltimore early this morning, was given a positive “green” rating by the International Maritime Risk Rating Agency but its operator , Synergy Marine PTE Ltd, was flagged with an urgent “amber” rating for its performance operating a small fleet of vessels that included the Dali.

The information is contained in a report ordered by this column.

The European-based agency, which uses past ship incidents, age, vessel type and group reputation, to estimate risk, gave the ship a 30 percent risk factor. The Dali belonged in the risk class labeled: Proceed: Vessel higher standard of vessel operation.

However, the operating group was assigned a 36 percent risk rate, which drops it into the yellow/amber caution zone.

Here is what the risk group says about manager ratings:

“Technical Manager/Operator Traffic Light Risk Ratings Explained

Red. Critical: Stop! Fleet high risk for severe incidents/casualties.
Amber. Urgent: Immediate action risk control plan required to mitigate potential risk.
Green. Proceed: Good to go! A higher standard of vessel operation.

The report does not give specific details of what produced the warning but generally the scores are created statistically based on ship inspection data, collision data, ship age, repairs, dry-docks, registration country (flag), and other maritime factors. This would include the performance of all ships in the operator’s fleet — not just the Dali. Several of the other ships scored higher (less favorably) than the Dali.

The rating agency says for example that an operator check includes these points”

  • “Review all fleet operated vessels”
  • “Does the Operator have a good reputation for vessel management across its entire fleet?”
  • “Are fleet efficiencies working?”

Here is the agency’s report on all ships managed by Synergy Marine:

Vessel NameIMO NumberVessel TypeAnalysis DateRisk RatingFleet Type Avg. 
ZOLA9700146Bulk carrier21-FEB-24 Planned approach to Technical Manager/Operator and vessel risk management, recommendation to apply temporary risk management solutions36 %39%
LAMPARD9723980Bulk carrier28-NOV-23 Planned approach to Technical Manager/Operator and vessel risk management, recommendation to apply temporary risk management solutions38 %39%
EVER GIFTED9786827Container Ship17-NOV-23 A high standard of vessel operation, Green Operator risk ratings are more likely to increase your profits.31 %39%
DALI9697428Container Ship17-NOV-23 A high standard of vessel operation, Green Operator risk ratings are more likely to increase your profits.30 %39%
AM OCEAN SILVER9288497Bulk carrier17-NOV-23 A high standard of vessel operation, Green Operator risk ratings are more likely to increase your profits.34 %39%
LOWLANDS HORIZON9826471Bulk carrier13-NOV-23 A high standard of vessel operation, Green Operator risk ratings are more likely to increase your profits.34 %39%
LOWLANDS FUTURE9799771Bulk carrier13-NOV-23 A high standard of vessel operation, Green Operator risk ratings are more likely to increase your profits.29 %39%

1The report does not mean the operator or ship passed or failed any formal inspections, but the criticism of the operator may focus investigators on how well the ship was maintained. Many ships, for example, have back-up systems on power and steering. Moreover, in some passages before reaching open waters, tugboats are called in as a back-up safety measure.

2 comments

  1. This is proof that we still have major national security risks. It doesn’t take a nuke on a ship to close a harbor, simply taking down a bridge does it.

    Reply

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