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British Marine announce first ever research into UK’s small commercial marine sector

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The size of the UK's small commercial marine sector is the subject of new research by British Marine
The size of the UK’s small commercial marine sector is the subject of new research by British Marine

British Marine has published key findings for the UK’s small commercial marine sector in response to an industry call for a clear barometer measuring the performance of the entire sector. This is deemed pivotal for businesses future planning and ultimately, ensuring the prosperity of the UK industry.

According to the research, the sector generated a turnover of £182 million in 2015-16, employing 1,876 people across 395 businesses. It also reveals that over half (53.7%) of the sector’s turnover was generated by companies within the supply chain, whilst nearly a third (32.9) was from commercial marine builders and the remaining 13.4% was secured by business services.

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Gas Safe Register updates Technical Bulletin 035: Carrying out gas work on waterway craft/vessels

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The new version of Technical Bulletin (TB) 035 replaces the version originally published 19 August 2010 which is now withdrawn. This version has been reviewed and where appropriate revised to ensure that it remains both current and relevant.

Technical Bulletin 035 provides guidance to Gas Safe registered businesses/engineers on the need to be registered (where appropriate) and hold suitable certificates of competence, when required to undertake gas work on inland waterway crafts/ vessels.

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MAIB report published about the fire on board fishing vessel Ardent II

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At approximately 0500 on 16 August 2016, a fire started in the crew mess room of the fishing vessel Ardent II while alongside in Peterhead. The three crew sleeping on board escaped without injury but the vessel was extensively damaged and later declared a constructive total loss.

The MAIB investigation identified that:
– An electrical fault or failure of a multi-socket adapter in the crew mess was the most likely cause of the fire
– There was no smoke detector fitted in the crew mess room and it was fortunate one of the crew awoke and discovered the fire

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Poor inspection regime leads vessel to sinking says MAIB finding from its Safety Digest

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In its 2017 Safety Digest report, the UK MAIB published its findings into the sinking of an unmanned survey vessel due to a not fully closed, defective butterfly valve that was not fully closed, providing a description of what happened and the lessons learnt in an attempt to prevent similar accidents from occurring.

The incident
A fisheries survey vessel sank while alongside a marina berth. The vessel, a 17m long aluminium catamaran, had two independent engine rooms, each located in the port and starboard side hulls. The vessel was unmanned at the time of the accident.

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Flying Clipper, the world’s largest sailing ship, launched in special ceremony in Croatia

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The world’s largest sailing ship was launched recently at the Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia. The Flying Clipper is a near replica of the France II ordered in 1911 at La Gironde shipyard Bordeaux.

The vessel has been under construction for two years for Monaco-based Star Clippers. Flying Clipper has a steel hull and will have teak decking. She is 162 meters (532 feet) long and 18.5 meters (60 feet) wide, with a deadweight of 2,000 tons. She will be square-rigged with five masts and have an overall sail surface of 6,347 square meters (68,300 square feet).

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Columbus Yachts unveils something new and exciting – a new full displacement 80m superyacht

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Something new and exciting - an 80 metre superyacht from Columbus Yachts
Something new and exciting – an 80 metre superyacht from Columbus Yachts

Columbus Yachts has unveiled a new full displacement 80m superyacht, to be delivered to her owner in 2018. The large hexa-deck yacht will be the first in a range that will develop into even larger sizes.

Francesco Carbone, general manager at Columbus Yachts, claimed that Columbus has adopted a new approach to manufacturing the craft by “Working in parallel and not in series”.

The steel hull is currently under construction at the Palumbo Group’s Naples shipyard, and will be completed by the end of June 2017. The hull will be moved by barge from Naples to the sister facility in Ancona, where it will be joined to the pre-fabricated aluminium Continue reading “Columbus Yachts unveils something new and exciting – a new full displacement 80m superyacht”

New diesel injector set to change fuel systems and reduce emissions

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The new RK Lab diesel injector is set to change the fuel system landscape and reduce emissions
The new RK Lab diesel injector is set to change the fuel system landscape and reduce emissions

A new type of diesel injector developed by a Swiss company, RK Lab AG, is claimed to be about to change the face of diesel engine fuel systems and at the same time to reduce emissions.

Not only is this new injector claimed to increase the efficiency of diesel engines, but it is also claimed to greatly simplify the fuel system, removing the need for complex common rail fuel systems.

At the heart of this new fuel system is the self-pressurised RK Injector which utilises the pressure from the piston compression in the Continue reading “New diesel injector set to change fuel systems and reduce emissions”

World’s first LPG-fueled ferry design using GE Gas Turbine completes HAZID meetings

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GE’s compact and lightweight COGES system
GE’s compact and lightweight COGES system

GE’s Marine Solutions reports that the world’s first Liquid Propane Gas (LPG)-fueled ferry design to use GE’s Combined Gas turbine Electric and Steam (COGES) system has successfully completed Hazard Identification (HAZID) meetings. The consortium of Youngsung Global, DINTEC, Korea LPG Industry Association, GE’s Marine Solutions and Far East Ship Design & Engineering Co. (FESDEC) signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding in November 2016 to cooperate on this unique ferry design.

“Bureau Veritas, a world-leading classification society with a large and recognized expertise and experience in gas fueled ships, chaired the HAZID meetings. All consortium members were represented as well as SK Gas and E1 who are members of the Korea LPG Industry Association. These meetings took place over a three-day period in Busan and are a crucial tool used to identify hazards and safeguards at the early ship design stage,” said Brien Bolsinger, GE’s Vice President, Marine Operations, Cincinnati, Ohio. “Now with HAZID meetings Continue reading “World’s first LPG-fueled ferry design using GE Gas Turbine completes HAZID meetings”

BMA issues safety alert about wire gripe line of travel following disengagement of a lifeboat

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The Bahamas Maritime Authority issued a safety alert to inform about the sudden disengagement of a lifeboat during a ship inspection onboard a tanker. The safety alert includes a description of the incident and lessons learnt to try and prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.

The incident
Whilst alongside the loading port, a Aframax tanker conducted a Port State Control (PSC) inspection during which the testing of the lifeboat engine and rudder was required. While swinging out the starboard lifeboat, the lifeboat disengaged from the aft fall hook without any warning. The lifeboat hook did not open, instead the master link pulled clear through the gate on the on-load release gear resulting in the lifeboat falling heavily. The aft end of the boat hit the fish plate on the main deck and slid over the side resulting in the boat hanging from the forward hook. No personnel were in the lifeboat and no injuries were sustained.

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Safety alert about the prevention of fuel spray fire published by USCG

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Fuel spray fire can become an issue when an 'out of sight out of mind' attitude is adopted
Fuel spray fire can become an issue when an ‘out of sight out of mind’ attitude is adopted

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has released a safety alert to inform the industry about a fuel spray fire onboard a commercial vessel. These types of incidents, which involve fuel leaks contacting hot surfaces and igniting, happen with too much regularity and have been the subject for various marine safety organizations to consider for many years.

The incident in question
One recent marine casualty involved a 194 GRT inspected offshore supply vessel with an unmanned engine room. This engine room fire led to significant damage, operational down time of the vessel and lost company revenues. On this occasion no one was injured.

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Surveyors beware the perils of undertaking valuations

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Surveyors need to be aware of the risks when undertaking valuations
Surveyors need to be aware of the risks when undertaking valuations

This short but cautionary article about undertaking valuations has been submitted for publication by IIMS member, Elliott Berry MIIMS.

As most of you will be aware, it’s standard practice to issue valuations either as standalone documents or as part of a survey report.

We have long been under the impression that if we as a surveyor issue a letter of opinion that we are protected from claims as a result of discrepancies or unseen circumstances. However, it would appear that this belief is misplaced and this will have far reaching consequences among the surveying profession. Continue reading “Surveyors beware the perils of undertaking valuations”

Port of Rotterdam set to build a bespoke centre for the offshore sector

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The Port of Rotterdam is creating a new 70-hectare space for a specialist offshore centre for wind energy at sea, decommissioning oil and gas platforms and the oil and gas market.

Offshore Centre Maasvlakte 2 (OCMV2) will be located in Princess Alexiahaven against the seawall, near the berth of the heavy lift vessel Pioneering Spirit. The Port Authority will initially reclaim the first 30 hectares and install a heavy load deep sea quay, initially of 600 meters, with the necessary infrastructure. The plan is that the first businesses will become operational on OCMV2 in the course of 2019. The centre could potentially be extended by a further 40 hectares and 1,000 meters of quay wall.

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