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Ineffective inspections and surveys contributed to fatal explosion on a barge off Texas says report

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An explosion and fire aboard the articulated tug and barge ‘Buster Bouchard’ was the result of a lack of effective maintenance and safety management of the barge by the owner company, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed in its report into the incident.

On 20 October 2017, at 0430 local time, the crews of the articulated tug and barge (ATB) Buster Bouchard/B. No. 255 were preparing to get under way from anchorage to proceed into the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, when an explosion and subsequent fire occurred on the bow of the barge.

Two barge crew members who were on the bow were killed in the explosion. The fire was extinguished about 1100 on the same day.

Continue reading “Ineffective inspections and surveys contributed to fatal explosion on a barge off Texas says report”

Small Craft Surveyors Forum Annual Seminar at Seawork announced

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Members of IIMS are reminded that the annual Small Craft Surveyors Forum will take place at the Seawork Show at Southampton on Wednesday 12 June from 1330 to 1630 in Conference Room 2.

The event is free to attend and open to all marine surveyors no matter what their affiliation. This year’s schedule looks good and is sure to draw a strong attendance.

Although a free seminar please reserve your place online  so we have numbers for Health & Safety reasons, chairs and catering.

Programme of presentations

1330 Welcome by Seminar Chairman John Wills, IMarEST

Continue reading “Small Craft Surveyors Forum Annual Seminar at Seawork announced”

IIMS London Conference 2019 in June looming large, open to real time and online only delegates

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Herringham Hall, Regent’s University welcomes delegates for the first day of the IIMS London Conference 2019 on 17 June

The speaker schedules and presenters are fixed and finalised for the forthcoming IIMS London Conference being held at Regent’s University on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 June.

This year for the first time, you can join the Conference as a real time delegate in person, or hop on via Zoom as an online only delegate from the comfort of your office or home.

So what might you learn? The first day is aimed unashamedly at marine surveyors in the commercial sector, but day two will be of interest to all.

Day one (17 June) – Herringham Hall, Regent’s University
Continue reading “IIMS London Conference 2019 in June looming large, open to real time and online only delegates”

Remote surveying techniques are on the rise

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Remote surveying techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Image courtesy Martek Marine
Remote surveying techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Image courtesy Martek Marine

New technologies such as drones, climbers and robot arms are rapidly entering the marine survey and inspection arena. And, in turn, major classification societies are embracing the so-called Remote Surveying Techniques for their class surveys. If you are looking for the reasons why, it is easy to answer – safer and less intrusive surveys!

Without requiring confined space entry, Remote Surveying Techniques are considerably less expensive than other methods. Likewise, they’re far safer than traditional methods of inspection that involve sending inspectors/surveyors into unsafe conditions. Analytically, the pros of Remote Surveying Techniques in conjunction with class surveys are as follows:
– improve efficiency of inspection techniques
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The long awaited report into the loss of Stellar Daisy is published by the Marshall Islands

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The Maritime Administrator of the Republic of the Marshall Islands has released its long-awaited report for publication on the investigation into the 2017 loss of the Stellar Daisy in the South Atlantic.

The Marshall Islands-flagged Stellar Daisy, a 266,141 DWT very large ore carrier, sank on March 31, 2017, approximately 1,700 nautical miles from Uruguay while underway from Brazil to China with a cargo of iron ore for Vale. Of the 24 crewmembers on board, only two were rescued. The other 22 are missing and presumed deceased.

The wreck of the vessel was only located last February in 3,461 meters of water.

The investigation determined that the likely direct cause of the foundering was a rapid list to port following a catastrophic structural Continue reading “The long awaited report into the loss of Stellar Daisy is published by the Marshall Islands”

First freight only Red Funnel Isle of Wight ferry launched

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Isle of Wight ferry operator, Red Funnel Ferries, has welcomed its first freight ferry with a traditional ship naming ceremony.

Built at Cammel Laird’s in Birkenhead, Red Kestrel, the newest addition to Red Funnel’s fleet, will be the operator’s first dedicated Ro-Ro freight ship since the company’s inception almost 160 years ago.

The additional freight capacity that the vessel will provide will mean that the company’s ro-pax ferries will have more capacity freed up for non-commercial traffic.

The Great British-themed naming ceremony, which celebrated Red Kestrel being built in the UK, took place in Southampton docks by the Ocean Terminal and was witnessed by some 200 invited guests. Karen George, wife of Red Funnel’s Chairman, Kevin George, had the Continue reading “First freight only Red Funnel Isle of Wight ferry launched”

Solent University to open the largest maritime simulation centre in the UK

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Solent University will open what it claims to be the UK’s largest and most sophisticated maritime simulation centre on its main campus in Southampton.

Part of Solent’s overall investment of more than £40 million into maritime education and training, the new ship and port simulation centre will open its doors for business this June 2019.

“As pioneers in the use of simulation for professional development of ship’s personnel since the 1970s, we are proud to remain at the forefront in delivering specialist higher-level training,” says Lars Lippuner, Head of Commercial Operations at the University’s Warsash Continue reading “Solent University to open the largest maritime simulation centre in the UK”

Concerns remain for global marine underwriting says IUMI

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Whilst in general, major losses remain stable, the continued erosion of the global premium base means that attritional losses are becoming much more significant. The increased risk of large, more complex and costly claims has the potential to impact all marine underwriting sectors in 2019.

The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) gave expert opinion on the current state of the hull, cargo and offshore energy insurance markets at its Spring Conference in Hamburg on 7-8 April 2019.

Hull casualties
Although the global fleet continued to grow at around 3% in 2018, the number of total losses (vessels over 500GT) stood at a 20-year low. Continue reading “Concerns remain for global marine underwriting says IUMI”

International Transport Workers Federation stresses shocking spike in confined space fatalities

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The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has underlined a shocking spike in deaths in confined spaces, as a workplace hazard long familiar to the shipping industry.

Since January 2018, 16 dockers and 12 seafarers have died from asphyxiation or explosions in confined spaces – or from falls after passing out due to bad air.

To put the recent deaths in perspective, there have been a total of 145 in the past 20 years, and alarmingly 28 in the past 16 months.

We know that maritime workers are generally aware of the risks associated with entry into confined spaces, but they may not be aware of the details and extent of the varied dangers posed by forest products, coal, iron ore, grains, gases and other cargo.

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MAIB report on the fatal capsizing of Laura Jane fishing vessel is published

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At 1311 on 7 May 2018, the single-handed fishing vessel Laura Jane capsized off Mount Batten Breakwater in Plymouth trapping its skipper in the wheelhouse.

The vessel remained afloat with a few centimetres of the wheelhouse protruding above the water. Two RNLI lifeboats arrived at the scene within 15 minutes of the capsize and Laura Jane was towed to the nearby Batten Bay beach, arriving at around 1400.

The skipper was extracted from the wheelhouse by two of the RNLI crew who broke a wheelhouse window to get access to him. He was immersed in water, was unconscious and not breathing.

Attempts to resuscitate him by the lifeboat crew and paramedics from the emergency services were unsuccessful.

He was then airlifted to Derriford Hospital, where he Continue reading “MAIB report on the fatal capsizing of Laura Jane fishing vessel is published”

Western Mediterranean LYSCWG workshop training report

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The Western Med Large Yacht & Small Craft Working Group met for its annual training event in Palma last week.

The event, which stretched over three days this year, was attended by 20 surveyors across the various days, all of whom agreed that it was one of the best events IIMS had organised on the island of Majorca. John Excell, Chairman of the LYSCWG, said it had been the best event since the resurrection of the group some seven or eight years previous in terms of the breadth and quality of the content.

John Walker who co-ordinates IIMS activities on the island for the event agreed; and Mike Schwarz thanked all the presenters for giving their time to share their specialist knowledge.

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Debut London Yacht Show postponed until 2020

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"Following extensive consultation with key stakeholders, we therefore believe it is in everyone’s interest to postpone the show until next year".
“Following extensive consultation with key stakeholders, we therefore believe it is in everyone’s interest to postpone the show until next year”.

Informa worked in partnership with St Katharine Docks and British Marine to organise the event, which was due to take place from 8th to 12th May in Central London.

According to Informa, postponing the event was crucial to guarantee that the yacht show meets the high standards expected of the event and to ensure it gains maximum involvement from the yachting industry’s numerous stakeholders.

Previously known as the London On Water Boat Show, the yachting event endured a complete rebrand in December 2018 to focus on the high-end of the marine and luxury goods market.

Andrew Williams, president of Informa’s Maritime Group, commented, “Since an initial burst of interest in the London Yacht Show, take-up has slowed from some segments of the industry and from luxury brands.

Continue reading “Debut London Yacht Show postponed until 2020”

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