Potential new costs of trading second-hand vessels between the UK and EU highlighted

British Marine and the RYA have now received further information from both the EU Commission and the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on the trade of pre-owned CE marked recreational craft between the UK and EU following the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Both the UK and EU have confirmed that any vessel being traded second-hand between the UK and EU will be required to meet the obligations set out in either the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) in the EU or the Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR) in the UK when placed on either market after the 1 January 2021.

Continue reading “Potential new costs of trading second-hand vessels between the UK and EU highlighted”

Dutch inland vessel to be converted and powered by zero-emissions hydrogen propulsion system

Dutch inland vessel to be converted and powered by zero-emissions hydrogen propulsion system
Dutch inland vessel to be converted and powered by zero-emissions hydrogen propulsion system

A Dutch inland vessel is going to be converted later this year to operate on a zero-emissions hydrogen propulsion system. The project is viewed as a prototype for the development of a fleet of inland and shortsea vessels that will operate in the region and be available for charter.

The 360-foot inland vessel, Maas, is part of a project being undertaken by Future Proof Shipping, a Dutch company focused on the conversion to green energy. The Holland Shipyards Group’s yard in Hardinxveld will undertake the conversion starting in the third quarter of 2021 with the vessel expected to be back in service in December. Once back in service, the Maas will operate transporting shipping Continue reading “Dutch inland vessel to be converted and powered by zero-emissions hydrogen propulsion system”

P&I club guidance on proper coal cargo carriage

P&I club guidance on proper coal cargo carriage
P&I club guidance on proper coal cargo carriage

Coal is an important, widely-used source of energy that is regularly moved as cargo by ship. However, failure to implement proper coal cargo carriage is associated with a number of hazards; it must be carried according to the relevant regulatory requirements.

According to the Britannia Club P&I Club, due to its origins as a carbonaceous sedimentary rock formed by geological processes applying pressure to the remains of plant material over time, coal comes in many different forms and the term covers a relatively wide range of cargoes. Therefore, its properties and the associated hazards also vary significantly depending on the specific form of coal being carried as cargo. However, all coal cargoes require certain Continue reading “P&I club guidance on proper coal cargo carriage”

Electrocution fatality during maintenance onboard explained in Britannia’s BSafe campaign case study

Image courtesy of RMI - Electrocution fatality explained in Britannia's BSafe campaign
Image courtesy of RMI – Electrocution fatality explained in Britannia’s BSafe campaign

As part of its BSafe campaign, the Britannia P&I Club describes a fatality of an electrician from electrocution, while performing maintenance of the inert gas scrubber electrical system whilst onboard an oil tanker. The electrician had been working alone at the time. Before starting work in the morning on the day of the incident, the second engineer (2/E) held a Toolbox Talk to discuss the work planned for that day. The electrician mentioned he might work on the inert gas (IG) scrubber pump starter panel, but he did not specify the items to be completed, nor the timeframe for the work. No formal risk assessment, permit to work (PTW) or Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) procedure were completed, despite all being specifically required by the SMS.

Continue reading “Electrocution fatality during maintenance onboard explained in Britannia’s BSafe campaign case study”

HM Treasury confirms decision to maintain recreational boaters’ entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022

The lobbying campaign, mounted by The Cruising Association, Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and British Marine which the three supported in various ways, has argued successfully that having two colours of diesel would cause fuel supply problems and impact on safe sailing in the UK.

The decision allows for easy refuelling in England, Wales and Scotland and will avoid the logistical and environmental difficulty for the fuel supply industry of changing from red to white diesel, they say. Now pleasure craft in Great Britain will be able to use red diesel and pay fuel suppliers the difference between the red diesel rate and the white diesel rate, on the proportion intended for propulsion use.

For heating purposes, a vessel with a separate tank will still be able to use red diesel at the lower duty rate. The Continue reading “HM Treasury confirms decision to maintain recreational boaters’ entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022”

UK P&I Club releases ‘Ask an Expert’ video on grain contamination claims

UK P&I Club releases ‘Ask an Expert’ video on grain contamination claims
UK P&I Club releases ‘Ask an Expert’ video on grain contamination claims

The UK P&I Club has released the latest video in its online ‘Ask an Expert’ series, featuring Chris Ellyatt from CWA International on the increasing number of grain contamination claims and their causes. The Club continues to see a number of grain contamination claims and Chris Ellyatt explains it is often difficult to work out if these claims are due to the inherent contaminants at the load port, or if they are a result of improper hold cleaning by the ship staff.

Chris highlights the importance of diligent recordkeeping during cargo loading to ensure any untoward contaminants Continue reading “UK P&I Club releases ‘Ask an Expert’ video on grain contamination claims”

Key loss prevention tips for containers lost overboard published in new guide

Key loss prevention tips for containers lost overboard published in new guide
Key loss prevention tips for containers lost overboard published in new guide

Amid an alarming trend of containers lost overboard, the Swedish P&I Club has published a 32 page guide offering guidance on planning and loading the containers. According to the Club’s statistics, the main reason for containers being lost overboard is related to container vessels navigating in heavy weather, combined with crew failure to reduce speed and/or alter course to avoid it or alleviate its effect. The reasons can often be attributed to a series of multiple failures, rather than a single cause, but raising awareness of these issues to both ship and shore staff will serve to prevent accidents from happening.

The guide also notes that other common factors are
– Containers not being correctly stuffed or declared by the shipper;
Continue reading “Key loss prevention tips for containers lost overboard published in new guide”

Overtightening of locating bolts led to engine failure and grounding

Overtightening of locating bolts led to engine failure and grounding
Overtightening of locating bolts led to engine failure and grounding

The Swedish P&I Club has described in its Monthly Safety Scenario the case of a bulk carrier grounding caused by engine failure. Soon after departing port, a main engine slowdown alarm was triggered due to a loss of cooling water in the main engine. The Master ordered half head, but there was no response from the engine.

The bulk carrier in question loaded a cargo of soya beans in a North American port prior to travelling to Asia. When loading was completed, the vessel anchored to wait for a favourable tide. At midnight, the vessel departed and headed through the fairway. A pilot was onboard and a pilot briefing had been carried out with the Master. Continue reading “Overtightening of locating bolts led to engine failure and grounding”

Two prominent British membership organisations join the campaign to challenge HMRC’s post-Brexit plans

Two prominent British membership organisations join the campaign to challenge HMRC’s post-Brexit plans
Two prominent British membership organisations join the campaign to challenge HMRC’s post-Brexit plans

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and British Marine (BM) are adding their voices to the campaign to challenge HMRC’s post-Brexit plans for private leisure craft and the implications thereof.

The marine industry bodies say that they’ve been working for some time to establish what the future holds for recreational boaters now that the transition period has ended and to clarify what measures the Government intends to put in place for VAT, import duty, Returned Good Relief (RGR) and Temporary Admission (TA).

With a view to address the issues of concern and develop workable guidance, the RYA and BM have endeavoured to engage with various HMRC policy teams to provide sector knowledge and experience. Continue reading “Two prominent British membership organisations join the campaign to challenge HMRC’s post-Brexit plans”

IIMS publishes the March 2021 Report Magazine edition 95

The Report Magazine, edition 95, published by IIMS
The Report Magazine, edition 95, published by IIMS

The International Institute of Marine Surveying has published edition 95 of The Report Magazine, March 2021. The 108 page publication has placed an editorial emphasis on two topical and concerning issues:
1) shipping container incidents at sea and;
2) the unintended consequences of Brexit affecting the marine surveying profession in certain parts of the EU.

The highlights and main feature articles of this edition of The Report Magazine are:

– The CTU code – why we need it
– VAT on boats post Brexit explained
– Container stack collapses (causes and solutions)
– New insights into MSC ZOE in shallow water that require further action to prevent future container loss
– Tackling the scourge of container ship fires
– The Estonia disaster continues to be a bottomless source of learning
– Costly claims for crane failures caused by human errors
– From composite evolution to vessel construction revolution
Continue reading “IIMS publishes the March 2021 Report Magazine edition 95”

Report reveals fire on Finlandia Seaways ro-ro cargo vessel caused by catastrophic main engine failure

Report reveals fire on Finlandia Seaways ro-ro cargo vessel caused by catastrophic main engine failure
Report reveals fire on Finlandia Seaways ro-ro cargo vessel caused by catastrophic main engine failure

At 2003 on 16 April 2018, the Lithuanian registered ro-ro cargo vessel Finlandia Seaways sufered a catastrophic main engine failure that caused serious structural damage to the engine and a fire in the engine room. The vessel’s third engineer, who was on duty in the engine room at the time, sufered serious smoke-related lung, kidney and eye injuries during his escape.

Finlandia Seaways was 11nm east of Lowestoft on a regular voyage from Zeebrugge to Rosyth when one of the main engine’s connecting rods broke. Several of the engine’s major internal rotating components were thrown through the side of the crankcase into the engine room, and a short but intense fire occurred. Within 20 minutes the crew had conducted a muster, sealed the engine room, activated its carbon dioxide fxed fire-fighting system and extinguished the fire. The third engineer was recovered Continue reading “Report reveals fire on Finlandia Seaways ro-ro cargo vessel caused by catastrophic main engine failure”

Preventing human errors (DPO) when changing Dynamic Positioning control modes

Preventing human errors (DPO) when changing Dynamic Positioning control modes
Preventing human errors (DPO) when changing Dynamic Positioning control modes

There have been several reports of incidents on Dynamic Positioning (DP) vessels where control was lost because the DP operator (DPO) failed to correctly switch control between different operating stations, notes Mr. John Southam, Loss Prevention Executive at North P&I Club.

Investigations rarely find the cause to be a technical malfunction or an issue with the DP system set up, such as a network error. It is more often caused simply by the incorrect actions of the DPOs.

The importance of redundancy
In some cases, these incidents have been a result of a momentary lapse in concentration, which can happen to anyone. But just like the DP system itself, bridge teams Continue reading “Preventing human errors (DPO) when changing Dynamic Positioning control modes”

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