News Hound

IIMS UAE Branch 5th Biennial Conference report

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Around 75 delegates from the surveying and wider maritime sector gathered at the well appointed Sheraton Jumeriah Beach Resort in Dubai on Monday 27 November for the one day UAE Branch Conference, the fifth Conference since the formation of the branch nearly 10 years ago.

The event was opened by Peter Valles, Chairman of the UAE Branch. He thanked the speakers and the sponsors for their generous support. He introduced a short video, recorded by Adam Brancher, IIMS President, who was unable to be at the event in person. All presentations were short sharp as each speaker had only 20 minutes to make his point.

Continue reading “IIMS UAE Branch 5th Biennial Conference report”

Fairline Yachts taking over Hythe coastal complex

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British yard Fairline Yachts has announced its intention to begin building larger yachts after acquiring the Hythe coastal complex in Hampshire. The five-acre site was left vacant after its previous incumbents, Green Marine, went into liquidation in October 2017.

The Hythe coastal complex, which covers an area of 20,000 square metres, is scheduled to open in mid-2018 and will be used to build models over 18.29 metres in length. The construction of models under 18 metres will continue at Fairline Yacht’s current base in Oundle, Northamptonshire.

Russell Currie, managing director of Fairline Yachts, explained, “As the global yachting market evolves, clients from across the world are increasingly demanding larger yachts than we’ve been able to create. Our new site will boast state-of-the-art facilities, giving us room to expand and create bigger boats whilst making the most of the existing boatbuilding skills in the location. Continue reading “Fairline Yachts taking over Hythe coastal complex”

Marketing drive to bring more superyachts to Scotland launched

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A new marketing drive has been launched to attract superyachts to the west coast of Scotland, where the shoreline has been added to a European-funded project called Cool Route, which is developing a new yacht cruising route.

It includes the coasts of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Faroe Islands and Norway. Part of the strategy aims to help remote businesses share in Scotland’s £3.7bn marine tourism industry.

Continue reading “Marketing drive to bring more superyachts to Scotland launched”

New requirements for authorized service providers under new IMO requirements

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DNV GL has announced that IMO has introduced new requirements for the maintenance, examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, relevant for shipyards, suppliers, owners/managers, flag states of all ship types. From 1 January 2020, personnel carrying out maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing overhaul and repair of the following items shall be certified by an authorized service providers:

Lifeboats (including free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats and fast rescue boats
Launching appliances as well as on-load and off-load release gear for lifeboats, rescue boats, fast rescue boats and davit-launched life rafts
Continue reading “New requirements for authorized service providers under new IMO requirements”

MAIB issues report and safety flyer about gas explosions on general cargo ship Nortrader

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Nortrader alongside with damaged hatch covers following the gas explosions
Nortrader alongside with damaged hatch covers following the gas explosions

On 13 January, at 1447, Nortrader, anchored off Plymouth with a cargo of unprocessed incinerator bottom ash (U-IBA), suffered 2 explosions in quick succession. The first explosion was in the forecastle store and the second in the cargo hold. The chief engineer, in the forecastle store at the time, suffered second degree burns requiring 4 months to recover. The vessel suffered extensive damage putting it out of service for over 3 months.

Safety lessons
Sea transportation of a cargo that was not included in the schedule of authorised cargoes of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code
Not conducting appropriate tests that could have identified the propensity of the cargo, U-IBA, to release hydrogen when wet
The inadequacy and the inappropriateness of United Nations Test N.5 for the detection of flammable gases from non-homogeneous material Continue reading “MAIB issues report and safety flyer about gas explosions on general cargo ship Nortrader”

New resolution for inspection of holds and tanks

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Local correspondents’ Pandi Liquidadores S.R.L, have submitted an update to the UK P&I Club regarding the new SENASA resolution for the inspection of holds and tanks in Argentina.

The inspection of holds and tanks has been a longstanding problem within the industry, especially when an official inspection was required by the National Food and Grain Health Authority (SENASA), UK P&I Club states.

These problems have been a major concern of the new Authorities of SENASA who came into office at the beginning of 2016 and addressed these issues by enacting resolution Nº 693E/2017, which was published on 23rd October 2017 and is in force from 1st November 2017. Continue reading “New resolution for inspection of holds and tanks”

MAIB report published into the cargo collapse on bulk carrier Graig Rotterdam resulting in one fatality

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The Graig Rotterdam. Image courtesy of shipspotting.com
The Graig Rotterdam. Image courtesy of shipspotting.com

On 18 December 2016, the bulk carrier Graig Rotterdam was discharging a deck cargo of packaged timber at anchor in Alexandria Port, Egypt. At 1109, the bosun, a Chinese national, fell overboard and into a barge that was secured alongside after the timber deck cargo stack on which he was standing partially collapsed. Although the ship’s crew provided first-aid following the accident, the bosun later died of his injuries.

Safety Issues
Poor stevedoring practices probably contributed to the unsecured cargo stack collapsing, and no measures were in place to prevent the bosun from falling overboard as a result
With the deck cargo lashings removed, the cargo packages had insufficient racking strength to counter the effects of ship movement, cargo repositioning, dunnage displacement, barges securing to deck cargo stacks, and cargo discharge operations over a prolonged period
Poor stevedoring practices that had previously been witnessed by the ship’s crew were not discussed and so were allowed to continue Continue reading “MAIB report published into the cargo collapse on bulk carrier Graig Rotterdam resulting in one fatality”

STQ opts to stay with water lubricated propeller shaft bearings

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STQ says is will not move away from water lubricated propeller shaft bearings
STQ says is will not move away from water lubricated propeller shaft bearings

It is more than twenty years since Société des Traversiers du Québec (STQ) retrofitted Thordon Bearings’ water lubricated propeller shaft bearings to the double-ended ferries Armand-Imbeau and Jos-Dechênes, as part of an ambitious vessel modification project.

Since then, Thordon water lubricated bearings are the only propeller shaft bearings the Canadian ferry operator will specify. This, attests Stéphane Caouette, Director Maritime Services, STQ, is because “they are better for the environment and longer lasting than any oil-lubricated system. The COMPAC water lubricated propeller shaft bearing is the only bearing system we have on our vessels operating with conventional propeller shafts.”

Continue reading “STQ opts to stay with water lubricated propeller shaft bearings”

Conrad Shipyard announces that the largest superyacht ever built in Poland is nearing completion

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Conrad Shipyard has released a statement to say that Poland's largest every superyacht new build project is nearing completion
Conrad Shipyard has released a statement to say that Poland’s largest every superyacht new build project is nearing completion

When one thinks of superyacht hubs, perhaps Poland is not the first country that springs to mind? But Conrad Shipyard has said that its largest ever new build, the Conrad C133, is finally nearing completion at its yard in Gdańsk, Poland. At 40m LOA, the C133 is not only Conrad’s largest project, but also the largest motor yacht ever built in Poland.

With construction currently running on schedule, her build has taken almost three years to complete. Her launch is planned for December 2017.

Continue reading “Conrad Shipyard announces that the largest superyacht ever built in Poland is nearing completion”

UK P&I Club comments on the increase in engine room damage caused by refinery catalytic fines

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UK P&I Club has noticed an increase in engine room damage caused by refinery catalytic fines
UK P&I Club has noticed an increase in engine room damage caused by refinery catalytic fines

Refinery catalytic fines in marine fuel oil are not a new problem, however according to the UK P&I Club, there appears to have been an increase in the frequency of engine damage caused by these highly abrasive particles.

As explained, refineries use catalysts to improve the yield of high value products, such as gasoline, refined from crude oil. Unfortunately, some of these fine particles escape into side stream products that are used as blend components in the production of residual grades of marine fuel. This particulate matter, comprising of aluminium and silicon oxides, is extremely hard and, if entrained in the fuel as it enters engines, can cause severe abrasive wear.

Continue reading “UK P&I Club comments on the increase in engine room damage caused by refinery catalytic fines”

Risks of using non SOLAS or non-pyrotechnic distress flares highlighted in new MCA MIN

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The UK MCA has released a marine notice, MIN 542, which highlights the specific risks of using non SOLAS or non-pyrotechnic distress flares, for example Electronic Visual Distress Signals (EVDS).

To be effective, distress signals need to be internationally recognised. Not all EVDS provide a distress signal listed in COLREGS Annex IV (such as SOS), and the MCA knows of no EVDS device which is compliant with the SOLAS technical performance standards for distress flares. Consequently, the international carriage requirements do not recognise EVDS and the UK national carriage requirements have not been amended to formally recognise them either.

Continue reading “Risks of using non SOLAS or non-pyrotechnic distress flares highlighted in new MCA MIN”

MAIB report into the grounding of the CMA CGM Vasco de Gama published

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Ultra-large container vessel CMA CGM Vasco de Gama
Ultra-large container vessel CMA CGM Vasco de Gama

In the early hours of the morning on 22 August 2016, the 399m long ultra-large container vessel CMA CGM Vasco de Gama grounded on the western side of the Thorn Channel whilst approaching the Port of Southampton. The vessel was the largest UK-flagged vessel at the time and had two of the port’s specialist container ship pilots onboard.

The ship ran aground on a rising tide and on a flat shingle/sand sea-bed. A combination of tugs and ship’s engines enabled it to be re-floated soon after grounding. Continue reading “MAIB report into the grounding of the CMA CGM Vasco de Gama published”

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