News Hound

Wavefoil is set to give ferries wings to optimize wave power

Posted on by News Hound
Photo by Wavefoil
Photo by Wavefoil

The boat wings (wavefoil) started as an unfinished idea in Eirik Bøckmann’s head. Now they’re being mounted on a ferry in the Faroe Islands.

Actually, he doesn’t call them boat wings, but wavefoils. Eirik Bøckmann won the regional finals of the NTNU Researchers’ Grand Prix with a lecture on wave-propelled ships in 2013.

The wavefoils on the front of the ship enable the waves to contribute to propelling the ship forward. This reduces fuel consumption. At the same time, the foils can dampen some of the pitching and heaving motion from the waves and provide a more comfortable journey.

Continue reading “Wavefoil is set to give ferries wings to optimize wave power”

Archaeologists have uncovered Viking-era boat burial sites in Sweden

Posted on by News Hound
Image courtesy Arkeologerna
Image courtesy Arkeologerna

Archaeologists in Sweden have uncovered two rare Viking-era boat burial sites during an excavation in Uppsala. It has been five decades since the last similar find in the area, and national archaeology agency Arkeologerna described the discovery as “sensational.”

The team stumbled upon the Viking-era boat burial sites during the excavation of more modern ruins in Old Uppsala. The boat graves were buried beneath a well and a cellar from later eras. One of the two graves was quite intact, with remains of a man at the stern of the boat and those of a horse and a dog found towards the bow. Personal items – a sword, a spear, a shield and a comb – were also laid within the vessel. Continue reading “Archaeologists have uncovered Viking-era boat burial sites in Sweden”

Delivery of first vessel with Wärtsilä HY hybrid technology marks new era in shipping

Posted on by News Hound
The ‘Vilja’, an escort tug operated by the Port of Luleå in Sweden, is the first vessel of its kind operating with the Wärtsilä HY hybrid power module. Copyright: Port of Luleå.
The ‘Vilja’, an escort tug operated by the Port of Luleå in Sweden, is the first vessel of its kind operating with the Wärtsilä HY hybrid power module. Copyright: Port of Luleå.

The technology group Wärtsilä’s hybrid power module solution, the Wärtsilä HY, is now fully operational on the ‘Vilja’, an escort tug owned by the Swedish port of Luleå. The tug was built at Gondan Shipbuilders in Asturias, Spain and was delivered in the end of June 2019 following successful completion of the commissioning and sea trials. The Wärtsilä HY is the first hybrid power module in the marine industry, and its operational application onboard the ‘Vilja’ marks a new era in shipping.

The solution has been specially developed to meet the specific needs of the tug market. It features operating characteristics that include ‘green mode’, with zero emissions and no noise, a ‘power boost’ that delivers a higher bollard pull than any other conventional solution of comparable size, and ‘smokeless operation’ whereby no smoke is produced even during start-up of the main engines. These features have all been successfully tested and demonstrated. Continue reading “Delivery of first vessel with Wärtsilä HY hybrid technology marks new era in shipping”

Seawork 2019 a success despite unseasonal weather conditions

Posted on by News Hound
Nusrat Ghani MP (pictured right) with Mercator Media's CEO, Andrew Webster
Nusrat Ghani MP (pictured right) with Mercator Media’s CEO, Andrew Webster

Three days packed with equipment launches, contract signings and vessel handovers came to an end on Thursday 13 June as the 22nd edition of Seawork closed on an unseasonably cold and wet but successful business high, Seawork 2019 was a success.

Seawork was delighted to welcome Nusrat Ghani, UK Minister responsible for Maritime, Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Maritime Security, Skills and Apprenticeships, who made a return visit to officially open Seawork 2019.

The Minister stated, ‘Seawork is one of the highlights of the maritime calendar, showcasing an industry that contributes over £3 billion to our economy. This event also demonstrates the range of opportunities on offer in this exciting sector. Our Maritime 2050 strategy highlights how we will continue to help ensure the industry has the talent it needs to prosper.” Continue reading “Seawork 2019 a success despite unseasonal weather conditions”

Wight Shipyard completes two catamarans for Ultramar

Posted on by News Hound

Britain’s Wight Shipyard Co. has completed its second export order. Placed by Ultramar, the largest ferry operator in Mexico, it consists of two 37 meter catamaran fast ferries which will be transported to Cancun at the beginning of July.

“Working with Ultramar is a good match for Wight Shipyard, our standards and attention to detail are of paramount importance to produce not only an on-time build, but one of superior quality. Ultramar provide both commuter and holiday destination vessels and the level of fitout is far higher than normal commuter boats. Stages for live bands, multi colored LED lighting above and below the waterline and very powerful sound systems were a first for us,” said Peter Morton, CEO of Wight Shipyard

Morton said that the critical issues for these newbuilds were timely delivery and the weight savings target that needed to be achieved. Fuel costs are high in Mexico and are of paramount importance to Ultramar. Continue reading “Wight Shipyard completes two catamarans for Ultramar”

IIMS recognises IMCA’s Technical Director with a Blue Water Award

Posted on by News Hound
Mark Ford (pictured left) is presented with his Blue Water Award by Mike Schwarz
Mark Ford (pictured left) is presented with his Blue Water Award by Mike Schwarz

Mark Ford, Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) was caught by surprise when he was recently awarded an IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveying) Blue Water Award at the IIMS London 2019 Conference Dinner held at 10/11 Carlton House Terrace in central London.

Mike Schwarz, CEO of IIMS quotes from his speech on the night:

“…….Talking about having good people around us, I am also reminded that we have some brilliant partners who we work with and they with us. One of our key partners who we have developed a solid relationship with going back five years is IMCA, the International Marine Contractors Association. We entered into dialogue with IMCA back in early 2014 and the result is the now acclaimed eCMID Accredited Vessel Inspector scheme. I am proud that with IMCA’s help we have been able to play a vital role in cleaning up what was once an unregulated offshore inspection sector. Vessel operators now know who is boarding their ships and boats and where the inspector’s competencies lie. It is testament that organisations such as Siemens, Vattenfall and Orsted, to name but three, have publicly backed the scheme. 600 people have come forward for accreditation. Continue reading “IIMS recognises IMCA’s Technical Director with a Blue Water Award”

MAIB issues urgent bulletin for owners of boats with retractable keels

Posted on by News Hound
Photo courtesy of MAIB
Photo courtesy of MAIB

The MAIB has issued a safety bulletin on retractable keels after the capsize of a sailing boat on Windermere with the loss of one life on 12 June 2019. The bulletin contains details on the background of the accident, initial findings, action taken and a safety lesson.

At approximately 1220 on 12 June 2019, a RS Venture Connect sailing boat fully inverted, its crew comprised an assistant instructor and an experienced disabled crewman. The boat was knocked down in the windy conditions on the day and heeled to such an extent that the keel fully retracted. During the subsequent capsize, the disabled crewman became trapped under the inverted boat. The safety boat crew saw the accident and attended the scene quickly, but had difficulty righting the boat and so were unable to reach the crewman in sufficient time to effect a successful rescue. Continue reading “MAIB issues urgent bulletin for owners of boats with retractable keels”

USCG raises awareness on towing vessel’s unsafe conditions

Posted on by News Hound

The US Coast Guard has published Findings of Concern 009-19, entitled Corrosion Caused Casualties. The purpose of this release is to bring awareness to towing vessel’s unsafe conditions. Discovered during 2018 on a Louisiana towing vessel during a marine casualty investigation.

On September 25, 2018, an Inspected Towing Vessel (ITV), pushing a loaded tank barge, experienced a loss of steering and ran aground.

The marine casualty investigation decided the initiating event to the incident to be the port shaft propeller nut that was wedged into the rudder, which obstructed the free and full movement of the steering gear.

Continue reading “USCG raises awareness on towing vessel’s unsafe conditions”

IIMS London Conference 2019 reviewed

Posted on by News Hound

Great venues – Herringham Hall and Regent’s University and 10-11 Carlton House Terrace – none better. Brilliant speaker content on a range of relevant surveying topics on all three days. Meeting old friends and colleagues, networking and reconnecting with old chums and adversaries! Excellent food and the odd beer or two. What’s not to like about an IIMS London Conference? Those who attended have been most kind and wholesome in their praise for the event, which took the best part of a year to plan and deliver.

It would be wrong to single out any one presenter over another and IIMS is truly grateful to the speakers who came to present for the benefit of others! But, for example, Neale Rodrigues (Britannia P&I Club) reminded everyone of the importance of going back to basics and doing the simple things well. Who on earth would ever have thoughts about towing, or steering an iceberg? Yet Nick Sloane showed us that anything is possible. Keith Chappell and Tom Montgomery taught us to be extra vigilant as far as cyber security is concerned. It is many years since the UK regulator, Maritime & Coastguard Agency, came to speak. So IIMS is appreciative that Bas Edmonds, representing the Agency, spoke openly about the challenges ahead. Continue reading “IIMS London Conference 2019 reviewed”

Sunseeker appoints Andrea Frabetti as new CEO

Posted on by News Hound

Andrea Frabetti has taken over as Sunseeker International CEO following the resignation of Christian Marti.

Andrea Frabetti, formerly chief technical officer at Sunseeker, will work with chief financial officer Mike McMillan and chief operations officer Michael Straughan to form a new strategic committee focusing on developing a strategic framework for the business.

The committee will continue to work with the current executive management team of Adrian Powell, Sean Robertson, Barbara Baker (as interim HR director) and Sian Dodds on return from maternity leave, to formalise a more ‘product-facing organisation structure and a robust global distribution network’. Continue reading “Sunseeker appoints Andrea Frabetti as new CEO”

Aisling Patrick accident caused by lack of compliance

Posted on by News Hound

Ireland’s Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has published an investigation report on a fatal incident involving the fishing vessel ‘Aisling Patrick’ 15 nm off Broadhaven, Co Mayo, on 10th April 2018. The accident resulted in one fatality. The report highlighted poor training and maintenance, as well as inefficient EPIRB.

On the 10th April, 2018 at approximately 07.00 hrs, the ‘FV Aisling Patrick’ departed from Ballyglass, Co. Mayo, with three persons on board to fish for mackerel between Erris Head and Eagle Island. Around 12.30 hrs the vessel began listing to starboard. The Skipper entered the wheelhouse and the speed was reduced to ascertain the cause of the list. A wave struck the vessel on the port quarter which pushed the starboard bulwark under water and flooded the deck. Almost immediately a second wave struck the port side again and capsized the vessel. Continue reading “Aisling Patrick accident caused by lack of compliance”

CHIRP has published its Maritime Feedback Report 55

Posted on by News Hound

The CHIRP Charitable Trust has published Maritime Feedback 55. This second bulletin of 2019 contains reports on engine room heat protection, main engine failures, CBM systems, communications and hours of rest violations.

MFB 55 is currently available online in 3 languages; English, Chinese and Filipino and will soon be available in Portuguese.

The CHIRP Maritime Annual Digest 2018, giving a round-up of reports for 2018 along with insight articles, is also available online here.

A second study in collaboration with UCL Department of Neurosciences is close to completion and will be published in June. This second study focuses on “critical decision making” at sea and is a follow on from CHIRP’s “perception” study of 2018.

About CHIRP
The aim of CHIRP is to contribute to the enhancement of aviation safety in the UK and maritime safety worldwide, by providing a totally independent confidential (not anonymous) reporting system for all individuals employed in or associated with these industries.

Continue reading “CHIRP has published its Maritime Feedback Report 55”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Show details
Performance & Marketing Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. This also helps us optimise our marketing campaigns. User data sent to Google Analytics may be used for ad personalization and measurement of our ad campaigns. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Show details
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance