IIMS News

AMSA fines hire and drive operator for illegal charter

Posted on by News Hound

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has fined a ‘hire and drive’ operator $3,756 for the illegal charter of a domestic commercial vessel (DCV) on Sydney Harbour.

The vessel was chartered out as a class 2 (non-passenger) vessel, with a skipper, when it only held certification as a class 4 (hire and drive) vessel.

The operator advertised the vessel ‘for hire’ through an online third-party agency, which exclusively advertises class 1 (passenger) and class 2 vessels. Continue reading “AMSA fines hire and drive operator for illegal charter”

NTSB Issues Investigative Update for Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Posted on by News Hound
Exemplar terminal block identical to model removed from ship. (Source: WAGO)
Exemplar terminal block identical to model removed from ship. (Source: WAGO)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an update for its ongoing investigation on the shipping incident that caused the Baltimore Bridge Collapse following a collision with the container ship MV Dali.

The Dali was leaving Baltimore Harbor on 26 March when it lost electrical power and propulsion and struck the southern pier supporting the central truss spans of the bridge. A portion of the bridge subsequently collapsed. Six construction crewmembers on the bridge at the time of the contact were fatally injured, one construction crewmember was seriously injured and one crewmember on the Dali was injured. Continue reading “NTSB Issues Investigative Update for Baltimore Bridge Collapse”

Enhancing safety in pilot transfer arrangements: a comprehensive look at the new SOLAS amendments

Posted on by News Hound
Photo Credit: BIMCO
Photo Credit: BIMCO

BIMCO has provided a comprehensive look at new SOLAS amendments, which are expected to be adopted later this year.

The IMO Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) convened for its 11th session from 4 to 13 June, and finalised the draft amendments of SOLAS, Regulation V/23 and associated instruments to improve the safety of Pilot Transfer Arrangements. The amendments are expected to be adopted at the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 109, in autumn this year, with an entry-into-force date as 1 January 2028. There is also a provision of voluntary early implementation for member states.

– PTAs installed on or after 1 January 2028 shall be designed, manufactured, constructed, secured and installed in accordance with the amended performance standards Continue reading “Enhancing safety in pilot transfer arrangements: a comprehensive look at the new SOLAS amendments”

Canal & River Trust responds to awful annual boaters’ survey findings

Posted on by News Hound
CRT responds to awful annual boaters' survey findings
CRT responds to awful annual boaters’ survey findings

The UK Canal & River Trust (CRT) says it will be doing all it can to make improvements following the publication of its annual boaters’ survey, which has revealed a decrease in overall boater satisfaction from 54 per cent to 46 per cent from a year ago.

The organisation says it is greatly concerned to see the fall in boater satisfaction, and that the fall continues a downward trend since 2017.

In a statement, CRT says, “The trust is committed to doing whatever we can within our means to provide all of our boating customers with the experience and service they expect. This disappointing result confirms that we need to re-double our efforts to improve this. Continue reading “Canal & River Trust responds to awful annual boaters’ survey findings”

MAIB Report: Flooding, capsize and sinking of stern trawler Piedras

Posted on by News Hound
UK registered stern trawler Piedras capsized and sank following an uncontrolled ingress of seawater
UK registered stern trawler Piedras capsized and sank following an uncontrolled ingress of seawater

On 1 June 2022, the UK registered stern trawler Piedras capsized and sank following an uncontrolled ingress of seawater in the engine room. The skipper of Piedras gave the order to abandon ship, but the abandonment was hampered as one of its two liferafts failed to function correctly. However, the second liferaft was successfully deployed and used by the 11 crew members who were all rescued uninjured.

Safety issues
– The crew of Piedras did not have an effective flood action plan as recommended by the Fishermen’s Safety Guide Continue reading “MAIB Report: Flooding, capsize and sinking of stern trawler Piedras”

IIMS President meets Sailors’ Society in Goa

Posted on by News Hound
Capt Manoj Joy (left) and Johan Smith (right) from Sailors' Society with Capt Ruchin Dayal in the eDOT office in Goa, India
Capt Manoj Joy (left) and Johan Smith (right) from Sailors’ Society with Capt Ruchin Dayal in the eDOT office in Goa, India

Recently I was delighted to meet with Captain Manoj Joy and Johan Smith from Sailors’ Society, my chosen charity as President of the IIMS, for the next two years, at my offices in Goa. Sailors’ Society is a vital organization that provides comprehensive support to seafarers and their families around the world. Their work encompasses a wide range of services, from emotional and practical assistance to crisis response, Chaplaincy support, and so on. Captain Manoj, their representative in India, and Johan, Head of Wellness from South Africa, presented an overview of their work, highlighting their commitment to seafarers’ well-being. Continue reading “IIMS President meets Sailors’ Society in Goa”

MERI crane collision and bridge damage in Kiel canal

Posted on by News Hound
BSU has published a report on an accident involving the Finnish-flagged heavy-lift vessel MERI
BSU has published a report on an accident involving the Finnish-flagged heavy-lift vessel MERI

The German Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) has published a report on an accident involving the Finnish-flagged heavy-lift vessel MERI while transporting a mobile harbour crane from Rostock to Esbjerg via the Kiel Canal.

Documentation indicates the ship and cargo exhibited a permissible height to pass the bridges on the NOK safely. However, while passing beneath the first bridges, the high bridges at Holtenau, on 30 November 2022, the mobile Continue reading “MERI crane collision and bridge damage in Kiel canal”

Ensuring compliance of oil filtering equipment on ships

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA has outlined detailed guidelines for the installation and testing of oil filtering equipment
AMSA has outlined detailed guidelines for the installation and testing of oil filtering equipment

In an effort to enforce strict environmental standards, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has outlined detailed guidelines for the installation and testing of oil filtering equipment, specifically oily water separators, on ships.

In particular, oil filtering equipment installed on a ship on or after 1 January 2005 must be approved to meet Resolution MEPC.107(49) to comply with MARPOL Annex I Regulation 14.

The requirements include:
– a truly representative sample of the effluent with adequate pressure and flow is supplied to the 15ppm bilge alarm; Continue reading “Ensuring compliance of oil filtering equipment on ships”

Performance lists Paris MoU

Posted on by News Hound
The Paris MoU Committee approved at its 57th meeting the 2023 inspection results
The Paris MoU Committee approved at its 57th meeting the 2023 inspection results

The Paris MoU Committee approved at its 57th meeting the 2023 inspection results and adopted new performance lists for flag States and Recognized Organizations. These lists will be used from 1 July 2024.

The “White, Grey and Black (WGB) List” presents the full spectrum, from quality flags to flags with a poor performance that are considered high or very high risk. It is based on the total number of inspections and detentions during a 3-year rolling period for flags with at least 30 inspections in that period. Continue reading “Performance lists Paris MoU”

What caught my eye: June 2024

Posted on by CEO

Be aware (and beware) that some lithium battery safety cases are not fit for purpose

If you follow my scribblings on a semi regular basis, you will know that the subject of lithium battery fires is one that concerns me greatly and is a topic I have written a great deal about. A recent performance test conducted by Yachting Pages on some of the leading safety cases revealed some startling and concerning findings.

With more than 1,000 lithium battery fires reported around the world every week, lithium battery safety cases are of paramount Continue reading “What caught my eye: June 2024”

IIMS AGM, Conference and Dinner 2024

Posted on by News Hound

In the first week of June, attendees from around the world gathered for this year’s IIMS AGM, Conference and Dinner.

Held at the beautiful Chilworth Manor Hotel near Southampton, the dinner was a chance for professionals from the marine surveying industry to meet and network.

Incoming President of the Institute, Captain Ruchin Dayal, addressed delegates that evening and announced his chosen charity the Sailors’ Society.

He said, “They are a recognised international organisation worthy of our collective support. Continue reading “IIMS AGM, Conference and Dinner 2024”

Report: Collision between fishing vessel Kirkella and pusher tug Shovette

Posted on by News Hound
UK registered fishing vessel Kirkella collided with tug Shovette
UK registered fishing vessel Kirkella collided with tug Shovette

On 24 June 2022, while alongside at King George Dock, Hull, England, the crew of the UK registered fishing vessel Kirkella lost control of its propulsion system and the vessel collided with the unmanned tug Shovette, which was moored ahead of Kirkella. During the collision Shovette’s hull and starboard fuel tank were breached by Kirkella’s bulbous bow. The tug partially sank, which resulted in pollution of about 7,000 litres of marine diesel oil being released into the dock. Kirkella was not significantly damaged and there were no injuries. Continue reading “Report: Collision between fishing vessel Kirkella and pusher tug Shovette”

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