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International Group of P&I Clubs Annual Review 2017/18 published

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The thirteen P&I Clubs which comprise the International Group between them provide marine liability cover for approximately 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage. In their recently released Annual Review 2017/18, Hugo Wynn-Williams, Chairman made the following statements in his introduction:

Tonnage up — reinsurance cost down
Another increase in Group-entered tonnage, and a fourth year of savings in the cost of the Group reinsurance purchase, albeit more modest than in recent years, were among the notable and welcome features of 2017/18 for
the Group clubs and their shipowner members.

World fleet growth continues to slow
World fleet growth continued to slow during 2017/18, from just under 4% to just under 3% as at July 2018, a far cry from the 8-9% growth rates experienced in 2010-12. Total Group-entered tonnage as at February 2018 had
increased to just over 1.209 billion GT, up from 1.16 billion GT a year earlier.

Freight markets continue to challenge
The freight markets have experienced a modest upward trend in Continue reading “International Group of P&I Clubs Annual Review 2017/18 published”

What future for freight on the UK canal network?

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Cargoes on the Trent, the Aire & Calder Navigation and the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation included coal, stone, oil, gravel and sand. But one by one these traffics disappeared
Cargoes on the Trent, the Aire & Calder Navigation and the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation included coal, stone, oil, gravel and sand. But one by one these traffics disappeared

Four years ago the Canal & River Trust launched a last-ditch attempt to revive commercial freight carrying on the larger waterways before it died out completely. How has it fared since then?

Back in the 1990s, any guide describing the canals and rivers of Yorkshire and the north eastern part of the network would make a point of emphasising how these large-scale waterways were still busy with freight barges loading several hundred tonnes each and helping to satisfy the nation’s transport needs – unlike the small-scale canals of the Midlands and most of the rest of the system, where regular commercial freight had died out a quarter of a century earlier.

Cargoes on the Trent, the Aire & Calder Navigation and the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation included coal, stone, oil, gravel and sand. But one by one these traffics disappeared, not necessarily for Continue reading “What future for freight on the UK canal network?”

AMSA warns of safety measures for high pressure fire-fighting systems

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Photo credit: AMSA
Photo credit: AMSA

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has issued a marine notice to inform all shipowners, operators, masters and crew of the hazards when working with high-pressure fire-fighting systems and the safeguards that may be implemented to prevent injury.

A seafarer was severely injured when he attempted to carry out maintenance work on part of a 13 bar high-pressure fire-fighting system on a fire-fighting tug. Before the incident, the seafarers had conducted maintenance work on the manifold on the other side of the vessel without any accidents. The assumption was based on the fact that the system was not pressurised.

During his maintenance routine, the seafarer tried to remove the Continue reading “AMSA warns of safety measures for high pressure fire-fighting systems”

IIMS US Baltimore Conference 2019 speaker schedule announced

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James Renn, IIMS US Regional Director, has assembled a fine and wide variety of speakers covering a multitude of surveying topics for the two day Conference to be held on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 January 2019 at MITAGS-Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies, Linthicum Heights, Baltimore, Maryland. This event, becoming something of a regular annual occurrence, is open to IIMS members and anyone from any other surveying organisation. Furthermore, more distant delegates are invited to join online via zoom and take an active part, receiving a copy of the presentation videos that will be made on both days (after the event).

Entitled “New Products for Old Practices” this Conference gives delegates the opportunity to network with fellow surveyors and to chat Continue reading “IIMS US Baltimore Conference 2019 speaker schedule announced”

Renault eyes wind powered ships to cut supply chain carbon

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Neoline's plans to develop industrial-scale wind-powered freight services have led to the design of a commercial demo
Neoline’s plans to develop industrial-scale wind-powered freight services have led to the design of a commercial demo

Major French vehicle manufacturer, Groupe Renault, has signed a three year agreement with Neoline, a start up that says it aims to become the first modern shipowner to fully embrace energy efficiency by relying on wind power as its primary energy source. Nearly 60% of Renault’s parts and vehicles are transported by sea.

“Groupe Renault’s objective is to reduce the environmental impact of each vehicle throughout its entire life cycle, from parts transportation up to delivery and end-of-life processing,” says Jean-Philippe Hermine, Vice President, Strategic Environmental Planning Groupe Renault. “In the context of our strategy to explore new sustainable mobility solutions and to continue along the road to reducing our carbon footprint, the solution designed by Neoline, which combines energy efficiency and operational relevance, has truly captured our attention”.

Jean Zanuttini, CEO of Neoline, declared: Continue reading “Renault eyes wind powered ships to cut supply chain carbon”

Markel and Pantaenius set to partner up

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Pantaenius and Markel’s partnership is the logical development when faced with today’s unstable yacht insurance market.
Pantaenius and Markel’s partnership is the logical development when faced with today’s unstable yacht insurance market.

It has been announced that Markel International is to partner with European yacht insurance provider Pantaenius.

Pantaenius has offices across Europe, USA and Australia and has been providing a range of yacht insurance and related protection for yacht owners for more than 50 years.

Markel’s yacht and superyacht team was established two years ago, with the appointment of senior underwriter Mike Wimbridge to head up the business. Mike will become part of Pantaenius, while remaining located in Markel’s London office.

Continue reading “Markel and Pantaenius set to partner up”

The impact of IMSBC Code changes from 1 January 2019 on coal cargoes

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The classification of coal has been amended so that it will be treated as both Group A and B, unless otherwise tested.
The classification of coal has been amended so that it will be treated as both Group A and B, unless otherwise tested.

On 1 January 2019 amendments to the IMSBC Code will apply. In an article to Gard Club, Penelope Cooke of Brookes Bell LLP, explains the impact of these changes on vessels carrying coal cargoes.

The amendments to the IMSBC Code regard the criteria under which coal cargoes are considered Group A, namely liable to liquefy, in addition to Group B chemical hazards which apply to all coal cargoes. Thus, coal cargoes may need the same TML and moisture certification as other Group A cargoes, such as concentrates, nickel ore and iron ore fines.

Continue reading “The impact of IMSBC Code changes from 1 January 2019 on coal cargoes”

US Coast Guard reviews rigid hull inflatable vessels

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The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center published an update to its technical note “Marine Safety Center Review of Rigid Hull Inflatable Vessels.”
The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center published an update to its technical note “Marine Safety Center Review of Rigid Hull Inflatable Vessels.”

The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center published an update to its technical note “Marine Safety Center Review of Rigid Hull Inflatable Vessels.” The document provides an alternative design standard equivalent to certain regulatory requirements found in 46 CFR Subchapters T and S for rigid hull inflatable and rigid hull foam collar small passenger vessels (RHIs).

The alternative design standard presented in the technical note provides consideration of the unique stability and structural characteristics of RHIs. These guidelines do not preclude the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) from approving RHI structures and stability or applying alternative requirements or restrictions.

The major changes include adjustment Continue reading “US Coast Guard reviews rigid hull inflatable vessels”

If you are a member of the International Institute of Marine Surveying, are you making the most of your membership?

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It became clear from the IIMS membership survey carried out earlier this year that many members were unsure of the full range of benefits of membership and in some cases indicated they had no idea at all what was on offer. Apart from the kudos of being a member of the leading worldwide professional body for marine surveyors, here are some of the many benefits members are entitled to take advantage of and access.

• RECOGNITION
As a Full, Technician or Associate Member a member is entitled to use the appropriate designatory letters after their name to show their professional commitment and membership of the Institute.

Continue reading “If you are a member of the International Institute of Marine Surveying, are you making the most of your membership?”

UK MCA releases a notice on the transport of dangerous goods and marine pollutants

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The IMO has adopted the amendment 39-18 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
The IMO has adopted the amendment 39-18 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code

The UK MCA has released a Merchant Shipping Notice regarding the transport of dangerous goods and marine pollutants in packaged form by sea on ships within UK waters and on UK ships.

The IMO has adopted the amendment 39-18 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. It will enter into force globally on 1 January 2019, with a twelve month “transitional period” until 31 December 2019.

From 1 January 2019, until 31 December 2019 dangerous goods and marine pollutants in packaged form shall be Continue reading “UK MCA releases a notice on the transport of dangerous goods and marine pollutants”

Dynamic loading contributed to deck slewing crane failure says report

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Two crew members, who were inside the deck slewing crane’s cabin, were seriously injured.
Two crew members, who were inside the deck slewing crane’s cabin, were seriously injured.

Transport Malta’s MSIU has published its investigation report on the slewing deck crane failure onboard the Maltese-flagged product tanker ‘Bozdag’, while the ship was in the port of Tallinn on 28 November 2017.

The report revealed that the dynamic loading and the sudden halt of the free falling loads were two major contributing factors to the failure of the deck slewing crane.

Details of the incident
A regular, five-yearly compulsory test on the ship’s deck slewing crane was planned for 28 November 2017. Given that the safe working Continue reading “Dynamic loading contributed to deck slewing crane failure says report”

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