News Hound

Hanse Yachts announces the launch of four new models

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Four new Hanse yachts have been launched that are designed to be faster, more convenient, more luxurious and easier to use than previous models the company says.

The 348, 388, 418 and 548 have been developed based on the four elements from ancient Greece; fire water, air and earth.

The 10.4m long and 3.55m wide 348 is the smallest yacht in the new fleet and has a sporty look due to the design of its deck. It boasts a horizontally mounted panorama window in its saloon.

Continue reading “Hanse Yachts announces the launch of four new models”

New Ocean Safety liferafts will enhance boat performance

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The Ocean Ultralite SOLAS compact from Ocean Safety liferafts uses carbon composite technology to reduce the weight by 23%.

They have been developed for yachts taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) and are the result of a ‘close technical partnership’ between race organisers and Ocean Safety.

“Weight saving in ocean racing is the holy grail,” said Ocean Continue reading “New Ocean Safety liferafts will enhance boat performance”

Standard P&I Club publishes a guide to enclosed space casualties

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The Standard P&I Club says that investigation into enclosed space related casualties has shown that most are caused by poor training and knowledge of the correct entry procedures, or a total disregard for them. As a consequence, the Club has published a comprehensive guide to address all key issues and to help anyone to enter enclosed spaces safely. The Standard P&I Club guide highlights shortfalls in individual company procedures in equipment, training and onboard practices.

Firstly, Standard Club enlists incidents related to enclosed spaces which have been already reported to the Club, illustrating different ways in which a seafarer can put himself in danger in these areas onboard. Analysis of these incidents have helped the Club to address key factors that contribute to enclosed space casualties as follows:
• poor training
• failure to follow proper procedures for enclosed space entry
• failure to recognise the danger of an enclosed space
• tendency to trust physical senses and forego testing or checks
• attempts to save a co-worker leading to short cuts and failure to follow procedures
• failure to manage safely any shore workers on board. Continue reading “Standard P&I Club publishes a guide to enclosed space casualties”

DNV GL carries out its first offshore drone survey

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DNV GL surveyors have carried out the classification society’s first offshore drone survey on the semisubmersible vessel Safe Scandinavia in the North Sea. This 25,383 GT tender support vessel (TSV) is owned and operated by Prosafe, supporting Statoil’s drilling operations off the coast of Norway. Using camera-equipped drones, DNV GL’s drone pilots checked the TSV’s fairleads and their connection with the vessel’s two columns as part of the intermediate survey.

“Innovation is one of Prosafe’s core values. We are very pleased that we chose to try the drone survey, as it helped us optimize our survey requirements and allowed us to save significant amounts of time and money. Normally, this kind of operation would cause disruption to our client for several days. The drone survey took only a few hours and was just as effective,” says Ian Young, Chief Operating Officer at Prosafe.

Continue reading “DNV GL carries out its first offshore drone survey”

New global project to address bioinvasions via ships’ hulls

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A new global project to help protect marine ecosystems from the negative effects of bioinvasions via ship hulls has been given the go-ahead for preparation.

The GloFouling Partnerships project – a collaboration between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – will address the transfer of aquatic species through biofouling, in other words, the build-up of aquatic organisms on a ship’s underwater hull and structures – known as a bioinvasions.

Continue reading “New global project to address bioinvasions via ships’ hulls”

America’s ‘Old Ironsides’ Constitution finally leaves drydock following restoration

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On July 23, after a painstaking two-year restoration at Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, USS Constitution was refloated at last. Since she entered dry dock in 2015, ship restorers from the Naval History and Heritage Command and teams of Navy sailors have worked side-by-side to bring “Old Ironsides” back to her former glory.

The restoration involved the replacement of 100 hull planks, along with caulking, rebuilding of the ship’s cutwater on the bow, and the preservation and repair of the ship’s rigging, upper masts and yards. Among other tasks, sailors assigned to Constitution helped the Navy’s ship restorers replace 2200 sheets of copper and the felt that is installed behind it. The copper is a defense against shipworms. “It’s an incredible feeling to be a part of the team to work on Constitution,” said Aviation Ordnanceman Hunter Sensign. “Every day I came to work and it really sinks in that I’m working on a ship that’s 219 years old.” Continue reading “America’s ‘Old Ironsides’ Constitution finally leaves drydock following restoration”

Lerwick port expansion officially opened

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The biggest expansion yet to service port users at Lerwick port Harbour, Shetland Islands, UK was officially opened in mid July.

The £16.5 million quay was named Mair’s Pier by Shetland MSP Tavish Scott when he unveiled a new sign before invited guests, including port users, stakeholders and others.

Mr Scott said: “Lerwick Port Authority has, through the decades, invested in Shetland’s future. New quays, facilities and deeper, sheltered water reflect the needs of larger vessels, the ever-changing oil and gas industry and the importance of seafood to Shetland and the wider Scottish and UK economy.

Continue reading “Lerwick port expansion officially opened”

Attention required when loading a clay cargo following liquefaction incident

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Image courtesy of West P&I Club
Image courtesy of West P&I Club

The West P&I Club has recently encountered a cargo liquefaction case involving a cargo of ball clay that was loaded in Lumut, Malaysia for discharge in Chittagong, Bangladesh. A similar case was reported in 2013. Therefore the Club issues this warning and urges operators to pay special attention when loading a clay cargo.

According to the cub, laboratory testing of samples of the cargo drawn from the vessel showed a Flow Moisture Point (FMP) of 29.7% and Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) of 26.7%, when determined on the flow table, and an FMP of 32.1% and TML of 28.9% when determined by the penetration test. The lowest moisture content of the cargo onboard was notably higher than either TML, at 36.4%.

Continue reading “Attention required when loading a clay cargo following liquefaction incident”

Recent meeting of Fishing Industry Safety Group proposes development of a voluntary safety management system

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New SMS proposed by the Fishing Industry Safety Group
New SMS proposed by the Fishing Industry Safety Group

At a recent meeting of the Fishing Industry Safety Group in York, the group has proposed the development of a voluntary safety management system (SMS) to help co-ordinate the preparation of the ILO C188 Work in Fishing Convention due early in 2018.

The Convention will apply to every fisherman and vessel owner in the UK with requirements for the first time on items such as medicals, crew agreements and safety management.

David Dickens, Chief Executive at the Fishermen’s Mission stated: “The Fishermen’s Mission welcomes ILO C188 particularly for the focus Continue reading “Recent meeting of Fishing Industry Safety Group proposes development of a voluntary safety management system”

ABS set to join Unmanned Cargo Ship Development Alliance to advance autonomous shipping

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ABS to join Unmanned Cargo Ship Development Alliance. Image credit Rolls-Royce.
ABS to join Unmanned Cargo Ship Development Alliance. Image credit Rolls-Royce.

ABS has confirmed that it plans to join the Unmanned Cargo Ship Development Alliance to work with industry partners, including class organisations, shipyards, equipment manufacturers, surveyors, designers and others to contribute to the advancement of autonomous shipping.

The design will integrate features of independent decision-making, autonomous navigation, environmental perception and remote control.

As ABS Greater China Division President Eric Kleess explains, the increasing connectivity and advanced technologies are changing the way the shipping industry operates:
Continue reading “ABS set to join Unmanned Cargo Ship Development Alliance to advance autonomous shipping”

Effectiveness of lifejackets called into question by MAIB report on the foundering of fishing vessel Louisa

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Photograph of Louisa recovery
Photograph of Louisa recovery

Early on 9 April 2016, the fishing vessel Louisa foundered, with the loss of three lives, while anchored close to the shore in Mingulay Bay in the Outer Hebrides.

The skipper and crew, who had been working long hours before anchoring late the previous evening, had woken suddenly as the vessel was sinking rapidly by the bow. They were able to escape to the aft deck, activate the emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), and to don lifejackets. However, they were unable to inflate the liferaft as they abandoned the vessel.

Continue reading “Effectiveness of lifejackets called into question by MAIB report on the foundering of fishing vessel Louisa”

Lack of surveyors at UK MCA highlighted as a programme of modernisation gets underway

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The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is modernising the way the UK Ship Register operates with a number of new initiatives being rolled out as the Agency is also addressing the issue of lack of surveyors on its books.

At the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Maritime and Ports, attendees were informed that the MCA is considering increasing the fee structure for the UK Ship Register to above 2016 levels.

The registry is working to improve the response time for enquiries to one working day, while for complex issues it will take three working days. Increasing ship registry fees would match the higher levels of service being offered, the MCA said. The register also plans to roll out a package fee option in April 2018. Further, a new online ship registry service is expected to be completed by Christmas this year. Continue reading “Lack of surveyors at UK MCA highlighted as a programme of modernisation gets underway”

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