IIMS President presents cheque to SNSM

bertrand1Last month, IIMS President, Capt Bertrand Apperry, met representatives from Les Sauvateurs en Mer at Ouistreham, Caen in France. The purpose of this ceremony was to present a cheque for £600 to the charity. This money was raised by IIMS members at the 2015 London Conference. Les Sauvateurs en Mer is Bertrand’s chosen charity. They are a volunteer force who do amazing work aiding and protecting seafarers and members of the public who hit trouble around the French coastline.

Here is an extract from Bertrand’s speech:

“Ladies and gentlemen.

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New lithium ion batteries introduced by Mastervolt

The MLS series of high performance 12 V Lithium Ion Mastervolt batteries
The MLS series of high performance 12 V Lithium Ion Mastervolt batteries

Dutch based Mastervolt has announced the launch of its MLS series of high performance 12 V Lithium Ion batteries.

There are four new models of Lithium Ion batteries available, ranging from 80Wh to 390Wh.

The MLS series has been developed with technology taken from the MLI Ultra series, sharing many of the same characteristics.

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Qualifications awarded to 81 New Zealand apprentices

nz marineThe NZ Marine & Composites Industry Training Organisation (NZ MAC ITO) saw another large group of 81 young apprentices graduate recently, with a number of those receiving their qualification at a graduation dinner held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Graduates attended the evening to collect their qualifications and awards, ranging from certificates in alloy boat building, composites, rigging and painting to marine retail and systems engineering.

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Concrete solutions for end-of-life boat dismantling

Boat dismantling is a tricky and contentious issue. Photo courtesy of Gwynnie Griffiths
Boat dismantling is a tricky and contentious issue. Photo courtesy of Gwynnie Griffiths

How to approach the global problem of boat dismantling was under discussion at the recent ‘Boat’s end-of-life, truly the end?’ conference.

The event, held at the Nautic Paris International Boat Show on 8 December 2015, was organised by the European Boating Industry, the French federation FIN and Reed Exposition.

It brought together exhibitors, companies, visitors and public authorities who all heard the clear message that concrete solutions were available for boat’s end-of-life while more work was necessary at EU level to address remaining technical, legal and financial issues.

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Hempel innovates by releasing a fuel saving fouling release coating

Hempel has released a new fuel saving fouling release coating
Hempel has released a new fuel saving fouling release coating

Global marine coatings supplier Hempel A/S has announced that it has launched an innovative new fuel-saving fouling release coating, known as Hempasil X3+, that tricks organisms into believing the hull is liquid, and not a solid structure.

“This innovative new fuel saving fouling release coating has been developed in consultation with our customers to offer an additional choice for owners and yards and to deliver optimal fuel savings,” said Henrik Dyrholm, Group Product Manager at Hempel.

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Maiden voyage for Germany’s first newbuild LNG powered seagoing vessel

fassmerThe first ever newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled German seagoing vessel, which is powered by a complete Wärtsilä LNG propulsion solution, had its maiden voyage on December 11. The ship has been built at the Fr. Fassmer shipyard in Germany.

The passenger ferry, owned by Reederei Cassen Eils GmbH, will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland. This route takes the vessel close to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Wadden Sea National Park, an ecologically sensitive area in the south-eastern part of the North Sea. Because of the need to minimise exhaust gas emissions in this area, the ferry will operate primarily on LNG using two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed dual-fuel engines.

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Time to bring your CPD records up to date

IIMS members are reminded that 31 December 2015 marks the end of the current three year CPD cycle. If you have yet to bring your points up to date, it is vitally important that you do so at your earliest convenience. If you have any queries about your CPD record, or the points you are permitted to claim, please email Jan Cox.

The new three year CPD cycle will commence on 1 January 2016 and finish on 31 December 2018.

You may want to look at the CPD points list. A couple of new activities that gain you points have been added. And remember, it is your responsibility to ensure that your CPD records are not only up to date, but that you have also managed to accrue a minimum of 24 points.

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Ferguson launches third hybrid ferry for CalMac

Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd of Port Glasgow has launched a third hybrid ferry
Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd of Port Glasgow has launched a third hybrid ferry

A cutting edge ferry, which is the third of three unique ‘hybrid’ vessels, was launched on the Clyde today at Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd’s (FMEL) shipyard in Port Glasgow.

The hybrid ferry, named MV CATRIONA, is a sea-going passenger and vehicle roll-on, roll-off ferry incorporating a low-carbon hybrid system of traditional diesel power and electric lithium-ion battery power. Her sister ship, the MV HALLAIG, was the first in the world to incorporate this technology in a sea-going vessel when launched in December 2011. The innovative vessel was launched by Mrs. Anna Østergaard, wife of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) Chairman, Erik Østergaard.

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The application of technology in marine surveying

ristoThe world of marine surveying is no different to any other industry sector or profession when it comes to the onslaught and proliferation of new technologies. The aim always is to make the task easier to carry out and arguably just as accurate, but in a shorter time frame and all down-loadable digitally. For some, this new technology is frightening. Dr Risto Talas sets out to prove the doubters wrong by explaining how iassessor™, a software app, can be deployed to good effect.

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Hull Vane ®: Enhancing performance and efficiency through technology

Fuel saving devices for ships, sometimes called energy saving devices, are considered as something new, but some of them have been around for quite a while. Perhaps the most wide-spread and well-known fuel saving device is the bulbous bow.

The protruding bulb on the bow was first applied in the late nineteenth century, and gathered wider acceptance in the 1920’s. On ships sailing at an appropriate draught and speed-to-length ratio, the bulbous bow is said to reduce resistance by 10 to 12 percent. These days, it’s hard to find a containership, large ferry or cruise ship without a bulbous bow.

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Marine Installation Safety Training: Diesel fuelled heating

The safety of diesel fuelled heating systems in boats is challenged as never before
The safety of diesel fuelled heating systems in boats is challenged as never before

The history
For over 40 years diesel fuelled heating has enjoyed a faultless safety record within the marine industry. This has been achieved despite being largely ignored by most regulating bodies.

So why are we writing this? Heaters are safe right? Well, yes, if installed and maintained correctly, diesel fuelled heating is still one of the safest forms of heating you can use.

Unfortunately, in recent years a worrying trend has started to develop, fuelled by a glut of cheap second hand vehicle diesel heaters and dubious internet knowledge.

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Fuel hoses for petrol inboard engines

The context of this article is in relation to improving the safety of operators and crew of existing inboard petrol powered vessels including auxiliary petrol motors from the possibility of explosion resulting in death or injury.

As one of our clients stated: “This vessel has only exploded once in all my 40 years of fishing. The explosion throwing me backwards onto the net board, so my vessel is perfectly safe!”

This particular case was the result of the fuel tank breather line falling off the fuel tank connection with the resulting fumes allowing free passage through the open boat structure as no bulkheads were included in the construction of the vessel finally allowed to gathering in the bilge under the motor. This nearly resulted in a personal space shuttle, he was lucky.

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