News Hound

Danish ships to be issued with digital certificates

Posted on by News Hound

Denmark is set to become an international frontrunner as ships flying the Danish flag are to be digitally certified. As one of the first countries in the world to make this move, Denmark has put an end to the 100 years old tradition of certifying ships by means of old-fashioned certificates on paper.

Until now, the certification has been carried out by printing, stamping and signing paper certificates and subsequently sending them around the world to be kept on board ships.Digital certification or electronic certification which is the term used internationally – will put an end to these cumbersome procedures, reduce administrative workloads and pave the way for further maritime digitalisation.

Continue reading “Danish ships to be issued with digital certificates”

Small Craft Surveyors Forum Seminar at Seawork 2016 report

Posted on by News Hound
The Ocean Scene
The Ocean Scene

On board the vessel “Ocean Scene” at the Seawork pontoons in Southampton on 14 June, some 60 plus surveyors and interested parties were treated to presentations associated with surveys on the smaller vessels in the industry.

Opening the seminar, Mike Schwarz, CEO of IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveying), spoke of the need to enhance surveyor standards. He said we need to be aiming higher than the minimum standard. Why does it matter? We need to rid the industry of incompetent surveyors and to nurture, help, and mentor the young and aspiring surveyors to develop and maintain higher standards. To set yourself apart from the incompetent surveyors, of which there are many, you need to invest time, money and commitment. Enhancing standards can be accomplished by addressing areas of weakness in knowledge and by developing other skills e.g. photographic and word processing to present better reports. Professional bodies can help by holding conferences, training days and Continue reading “Small Craft Surveyors Forum Seminar at Seawork 2016 report”

Transport Malta issues technical note about BNWAS on commercial yachts

Posted on by News Hound

yacht bridgeThe Transport Malta Directorate has drawn the attention of all concerned that Technical Notice SLS.22 is hereby revoked. To this effect the attention is drawn to the revised Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), as amended by Resolution MSC.350 (92), which came into force on 1 January 2015.

In view of these amendments a clear time schedule is set to fit a Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) for all Commercial yachts constructed before 1 July 2002. To this effect, all commercial yachts of 150 gross tonnage and over constructed prior to 01 July 2002 that are certified under the provisions of the Commercial Yacht Code, 2015 shall be fitted with a Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS).

Continue reading “Transport Malta issues technical note about BNWAS on commercial yachts”

MAIB releases its report on the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship

Posted on by News Hound
Damaged propeller from the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship
Damaged propeller from the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship

At 1328:21 on 11 May 2015, the Bahamas registered Hamburg cruise ship grounded on charted rocks near the New Rocks buoy in the Sound of Mull, Scotland. The accident caused considerable raking damage to the hull and rendered the port propeller, shaft and rudder unserviceable.

There were no injuries and the vessel continued on its passage to Tobermory.

The investigation found that, having been unable to enter Tobermory Bay on arrival, the passage plan was not re-evaluated or amended. Combined with poor bridge team management and navigational practices, this resulted in the vessel running into danger and grounding. Despite the loud noise and vibration resulting from the grounding, the bridge team did not initiate the post-grounding checklist, no musters were held and neither the managers of the Hamburg cruise ship, nor any shore authorities were notified of the accident.

Continue reading “MAIB releases its report on the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship”

Debut Seawork International at Mayflower Park voted a success

Posted on by News Hound

Seawork International closed its doors for the nineteenth successive year, following three successful days of business at its new and permanent home in Southampton’s Mayflower Park.

Councillor Simon Letts, leader of Southampton City Council, opened Seawork International on Tuesday 14 June at the Waterfront Restaurant, sponsored by Golden Arrow Marine. He was joined by the Deputy High Commissioner of Barbados, Althea Wiggins. The Barbadian inward delegation is just one of a number of VIPs who attended Seawork to explore procurement opportunities. Seawork also welcomed the Naval Advisor to New Zealand, VIPs from Brazil, a delegation from the United Arab Emirates and China, as well as the US Naval Attaché, who is a returning visitor. These delegations provide valuable export opportunities to Seawork attendees, many of whose businesses have flourished thanks to the opportunities that Seawork presents. Many exhibitors reported superb feedback and have high expectations for future business success.

Continue reading “Debut Seawork International at Mayflower Park voted a success”

Cheetah Marine builds the world’s first hydrogen powered boat

Posted on by News Hound

Cheetah Marine has built a hydrogen-fuel catamaran which demonstrates the potential of zero CO2 technology in the marine industry. It is believed to be the first hydrogen powered craft.

The 9.95m catamaran, designed and built at Cheetah Marine’s workshops on the Isle of Wight in the UK, features a Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HICE). The Honda outboard works in the same way as traditional petrol engine, except it burns hydrogen and produces harmless water vapour as the only emission.

Continue reading “Cheetah Marine builds the world’s first hydrogen powered boat”

AMSA prepares for container weight regulation changes

Posted on by News Hound

From July 1, 2016, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) will implement changes to regulations for container weight verifications in the shipping industry, requiring shippers to provide a verified gross mass (VGM) for containers. These changes reflect amendments to the International Safety of Life at Sea Convention, approved by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). To implement the new international requirements, AMSA has amended Marine Order 42 (Cargo, stowage and securing).

Under the changes, the shipper is required to provide a signed VGM to the terminal and the master of a vessel or their representative, in advance of a container being loaded. Providing a VGM for a container allows the master of a vessel to plan ship loading, so that the ship is stable, hull strength and stack weights are not exceeded and lashing arrangements are effective.

Continue reading “AMSA prepares for container weight regulation changes”

Japan P&I Club warns of increasing ignition during petcoke loading in Venezuela

Posted on by News Hound

japanPetcoke (petroleum coke) is a byproduct of the oil refinery coking process that produces low-cost fuel, often with a high sulphur content. Petcoke may also be known as green delayed coke, sponge coke, needle coke, delayed coke or raw coke-fuel grade. Petcoke is over 90 percent carbon and emits 5 to 10% more carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal on a per-unit of-energy basis when it is burned. As petcoke has a higher energy content, petcoke emits between 30 and 80 percent more CO2 than coal per unit of weight.

Continue reading “Japan P&I Club warns of increasing ignition during petcoke loading in Venezuela”

IIMS enjoys a very active at Seawork

Posted on by News Hound

The International Institute of Marine Surveying had a strong presence at the Seawork Exhibition, being held at Mayflower Park in Southampton for the first time. The show attracted over 7,000 visitors and continues to be one of the foremost commercial workboat shows and the largest such event in Europe.

It was an opportunity to meet many members from the UK and further afield as they popped by the stand, which was managed by John Kilhams with assistance from other members of the IIMS head office team.

Continue reading “IIMS enjoys a very active at Seawork”

Biggest shake up for IMCA’s CMID inspectors in the 17 year history of the scheme announced

Posted on by News Hound

IMCA has provided the IMCA M 149 – Common Marine Inspection Document – for 17 years and it has seen a number of iterative changes over this period and has also seen the introduction of IMCA M 189 – Marine inspection for small workboats (common marine inspection document for small workboats). Since 2009, when the electronic CMID (eCMID) database was introduced, there have been calls from the industry to increase the integrity of the common marine inspection document (CMID) system.

That there is a burden of over-auditing on IMCA’s vessel operators is not in doubt and in an effort to reduce this burden in due course, through greater integration with the Continue reading “Biggest shake up for IMCA’s CMID inspectors in the 17 year history of the scheme announced”

New President plots course for The Nautical Institute

Posted on by News Hound

The newly elected President of The Nautical Institute, Captain David (Duke) Snider FNI, has pledged to ensure the mariner’s voice is heard loud and clear within the maritime industry.

Speaking at the Institute’s annual general meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland, on 9 June, Captain Snider said that one of his first roles as President will be to champion the new five-year Strategic Plan, which was launched in March.

The plan, informed by responses from more than 1,400 members surveyed in a questionnaire, will see a renewed focus on human element projects aimed at building competencies for modern integrated ships.

Command, manning and fatigue, mentorship and continuing professional development (CPD) were other themes identified for further development.

Continue reading “New President plots course for The Nautical Institute”

First in-tank drone survey undertaken by DNV GL

Posted on by News Hound

This week, DNV GL announced that it had completed its first drone survey. This most recent maritime application for drones demonstrates a growing interest in the technology that has, over the last year, seen applications emerging across merchant, naval and research fleets around the world.

The survey took place on the MV Apollo, a chemical tanker owned by Carl Büttner Shipmanagement in Germany. Two DNV GL surveyors used the drone survey to inspect 14 tanks over a period of two and a half days.

Continue reading “First in-tank drone survey undertaken by DNV GL”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine