Green dredging vessel Spartacus has keel laid in the Netherlands

Belgium’s DEME Group's green dredging vessel Spartacus
Belgium’s DEME Group’s green dredging vessel Spartacus

Belgium’s DEME Group has welcomed 2018 with a keel laying ceremony for Spartacus at the Royal IHC shipyard in Krimpen aan den Ijssel in the Netherlands. This new cutter suction dredger is set to be the most powerful such vessel of its type in the world.

With a total installed power of 44,180kW the vessel will be able to cut harder soils at speeds previously impossible. This will allow certain works to be undertaken by the cutter dredger rather than reliance upon the use of dynamite for blasting.

Spartacus will be able to dredge to depths of 45m, extending the capabilities Continue reading “Green dredging vessel Spartacus has keel laid in the Netherlands”

MCA amends its Code of Safe Working Practices

A high vis vest that says 'MCA Surveys and Inspections'The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published an updated version of the ‘Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers’. The amendments give advice on improving health and safety of seafarers, primarily for those on board UK registered ships. But surveyors should also take note.

The Code provides guidance on safe working practices for the many and numerous situations that occur on ships.

However, it should not be considered a comprehensive guide to safety and its advice should always be considered in conjunction with the Continue reading “MCA amends its Code of Safe Working Practices”

Wake and currents the cause of L242 pilot boat capsize

Lifeboat on ground and in the waterA preliminary investigation into the capsize of the pilot boat L242 has determined that the craft did not collide with the vessel it was approaching at the time of the accident. Instead, a combination of swells, the wake from the nearby ship and powerful currents led to the capsize of the boat and the death of two individuals on board. Based on information gathered so far, investigators believe that the boat was pushed over to 90 degrees by the combination of these forces. It remained at this angle temporarily, then fully capsized.

At 1700 hours on December 8, the Swedish Maritime Rescue Center Helsinki received notification that a pilot boat had capsized east of Helsinki. The Finnish Border Guard dispatched boat units from Suomenlinna and Porvoo, along with helicopters from Helsinki and the patrol vessel Turva. The responders attempted to parbuckle the pilot boat, but it sank during the righting evolution. After the sinking, divers searched the interior and found the bodies of the boat’s two crewmembers. Continue reading “Wake and currents the cause of L242 pilot boat capsize”

MCA issues MGN 578 about conducting overside work on yachts and other vessels

MGN 578 has been released by the UK MCA
MGN 578 has been released by the UK MCA

The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency has published a Marine Guidance Note – MGN 578 – about the use of equipment while undertaking work on commercial yachts, small commercial vessels and loadline vessels.

The aim of Marine Guidance Note MGN 578 is to provide guidance on the use of “rail and trolley” and similar systems while conducting overside work on yachts and other vessels. The key points are the following:

– To ensure that new systems comply with the current BS/EN Standards,
Continue reading “MCA issues MGN 578 about conducting overside work on yachts and other vessels”

Burgess Marine partly rescued after falling into administration

Outside Burgess Marine officesFollowing falling into administration Burgess Marine assets have been partly sold off to Southampton Marine Services (SMS) saving some jobs at the company with maybe more to follow in the future.

The business and assets at three of the company’s trading locations – in Lowestoft, Avonmouth & Poole, have been transferred to SMS along with all of their works in progress, resulting in 45 jobs being saved.

But the administrator confirmed that at this time 106 employees have still been made redundant.

Continue reading “Burgess Marine partly rescued after falling into administration”

New conference and industry sector awards as Seawork International 2018 comes of age

Speedboat propellorsSeawork International 2018 will celebrate its 21st edition as the ‘go to’ meeting place for the European commercial marine sector.

Seawork 2018 sees an increased focus on vessel construction and maintenance, new award categories for the European Commercial Marine Awards (ECMAs) and a new Vessel Operations Conference; embracing the new MCA Codes of Practice, Cost Saving through Operational Efficiencies and Techniques, and the Future of Hybrid Drives.

Best Project of the Year is a new ECMA award category for challenges in marine civils or vessel operations. Judged by a panel of industry experts, the ECMAs recognise excellence and achievement across the commercial marine sector.

Continue reading “New conference and industry sector awards as Seawork International 2018 comes of age”

Important IMCA changes for those engaged in eCMID inspections

Image: Offshore supply vessel Viking Princess. Only accredited AVIs will be formally recognised to carry out eCMID inspections from 1 January 2018.
Image: Offshore supply vessel Viking Princess. Only accredited AVIs will be formally recognised to carry out eCMID inspections from 1 January 2018.

Marine Surveying Academy, the IIMS subsidiary that manages and runs the eCMID accreditation scheme, has been informed of some important changes regarding the recognition of reports that come into force next year. If you are involved in conducting eCMID inspections, this will affect you.

From 1 January 2018, IMCA will only recognise formal inspection reports conducted using its eCMID database, meaning that reports not uploaded into the database will no longer be considered by IMCA to be authorised vessel inspection reports. The whole eCMID system is now based on the principles described in the ISO 19011 – Guidance for auditing management systems – standard and is aligned with other comparable industry guidance on safety management system assurance.

Continue reading “Important IMCA changes for those engaged in eCMID inspections”

Denmark adopts new measures to enhance Danish maritime activity and boost pleasure craft business

Danish SuperyachtThe Danish Parliament (Folketinget) announced that it has adopted a number of new initiatives in the maritime area, in order to ensure and enhance growth in Danish maritime activity and boost the pleasure craft business.

The new initiatives adopted by the Danish Government regard four areas, which are the following:

– The provisions on foreign owners’ possibility of having ships registered under the Danish flag have been adjusted and clarified. With this measure, Denmark aims to retain and extend its global position as a major attractive flag State and as a maritime hub.
Continue reading “Denmark adopts new measures to enhance Danish maritime activity and boost pleasure craft business”

The importance of cargo ventilation news bulletin issued by Japan P&I Club

 Containership - Photo credit: Japan P&I Club who have issued a news bulletin about the cargo ventilation
Photo credit: Japan P&I Club who have issued a news bulletin about the cargo ventilation

The Japan P&I Club has recently published a news bulletin. It highlights the importance of cargo ventilation, the introduction of air into and through the cargo space and the exhausting of the in-hold air.

Cargo ventilation may be needed in order to ensure that there is a sufficient oxygen supply for safe personnel entry into the cargo space. In addition, ventilation can remove poisonous and flammable gases which could give rise to a dangerous situation.

These gases might be produced by the cargo itself, e.g. evolution of carbon monoxide from a heating coal cargo, or they may originate from another external source, e.g. phosphine gas evolution during cargo fumigation.

Continue reading “The importance of cargo ventilation news bulletin issued by Japan P&I Club”

Danish Shipping presents new “Ahead of the Curve” strategy

men in suits at a conference - Photo credit: Danish Shipping
Photo credit: Danish Shipping

Chairman of Danish Shipping, Claus V. Hemmingsen, has presented the organisation’s new strategy – “Ahead of the Curve”, which covers the next four years and focuses on competencies, digitization and technological development as catalysts for continued growth in the coming years.

Danish Shipping’s strategy for 2018-2021 was launched at a members’ meeting. The strategy envisions to grow the Danish-flagged fleet with more than 10 pct. measured in tonnage, and minimum 10 pct. measured in the number of ships, during the strategy period.

Continue reading “Danish Shipping presents new “Ahead of the Curve” strategy”

Inspecting hull integrity remotely with a new submersible is now possible with Deep Trekker ™

Deep Trekker ™ means underwater hull integrity inspections can be made remotely
Deep Trekker ™ means underwater hull integrity inspections can be made remotely

Deep Trekker ™ has added to its fleet of portable, robust underwater drone robots; the DT640 Utility Crawler is designed to perform a multitude of underwater tasks.

This is a brand new inspection and service robot and is said to be the first three-wheeled vehicle of its kind. Its modular construction allows for the unit to be equipped with multiple operative attachments making the DT640 more than just an inspection vehicle. The Utility Crawler can be outfitted with magnetic wheels, pressure washer, vacuum, thickness gauge and a dozer.

Continue reading “Inspecting hull integrity remotely with a new submersible is now possible with Deep Trekker ™”

Wingsail technology saves fuel and reduces emissions

Container shipOceanfoil’s wingsail technology could achieve an average fuel consumption and emissions saving of 14% on a mid-sized tanker vessel.

This is the research finding from BMT, who said that Oceanfoil’s fuel-assist aerofoil technology, which uses wingsails to capture effective directional thrust from wind power, could also save up to up to 20% in certain wind and sea conditions.

Charles Moray, managing director of Oceanfoil, commented: “Oceanfoil’s ‘wingsail’, is a propulsion assist technology that is well suited for tankers and bulk carriers, which provide good opportunity for the wingsails to use the wind to create forward thrust – thus reducing reliance upon the vessel’s main engines.

Continue reading “Wingsail technology saves fuel and reduces emissions”

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