Beware signage dropping from a crane boom warns IMCA

Warning of Signage droppingIn one of its regular safety bulletins, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has issued new information on an incident involving parts falling from a crane – in this instance a steel sign. IMCA says that this is not the first time this has happened and individuals may wish to review this in light of other similar reported signage dropping incidents.

A piece of metal fell from a crane boom. The incident occurred on a vessel whilst alongside during the testing of the luffing motors’ braking system on the main crane. During this testing the crane boom made an uncontrolled descent into its crutch, resulting in a 60 kg steel sign falling 15m down to the deck. Investigation revealed that the sign was fixed by 4 x stitch welds, of which three were completely rusted away.

Continue reading “Beware signage dropping from a crane boom warns IMCA”

Red Jet 6 Isle of Wight Catamaran ferry completes sea trials

Red Catamaran JetThe new addition to the UK’s Red Funnel ferry fleet, Red Jet 6, has completed its initial sea trials and is scheduled to enter service between Southampton and West Cowes.

Shemara Refit has built the new Red Jet 6 passenger ferry at its facilities on the Isle of Wight. The ferry entered the water for the first time in May.

The new 41.12m long ferry has is capable of accommodating 275 passengers.

Continue reading “Red Jet 6 Isle of Wight Catamaran ferry completes sea trials”

Volvo Penta cuts down on components with new battery management system

Volvo Penta has launched a new remote control battery management system
Volvo Penta has launched a new remote control battery management system

Volvo Penta has launched its latest battery management system, suitable for 12 and 24-volt installations. The device is a remote control and gives users a ‘car like experience’ offering theft protection, battery control and monitoring.

“It gives total control of the system, both status and health,” explained Petter Andolf, product management, Volvo Penta.

“When leaving a boat, people can just switch off and the system will power down and switch off. It’s built to be very simple and robust.”

Continue reading “Volvo Penta cuts down on components with new battery management system”

Danish ships to be issued with digital certificates

The Danish FlagDenmark is set to become an international frontrunner as ships flying the Danish flag are to be fitted with digital certificates. 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”

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

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”

Cheetah Marine builds the world’s first hydrogen powered boat

Cheetah Marine boat

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”

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

Japan P&I Club LogoPetcoke (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

Njord Forseer

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”

First in-tank drone survey undertaken by DNV GL

A in-drone surveyThis 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”

Death of workboat Carol Anne skipper could have been avoided says MAIB Report

The collapsed crane which caused the death of the Carol Anne skipper
The collapsed crane which caused the death of the Carol Anne skipper

The MAIB has now released its report into the incident in which skipper, Jamie Kerr, died on the Carol Anne when the crane fitted to the vessel collapsed leaving the reader in little doubt that this was an avoidable accident. The installation of a crane to a workboat adds significant challenges for the marine surveyor when assessing the structure as this report highlights.

On 30 April 2015, an Atlas lorry loader crane fitted on the workboat Carol Anne collapsed while being used to offload a net at a fish farm at Balure on Loch Spelve, Scotland. The crane fell directly onto the workboat’s skipper, who was declared dead at the scene. The crane had been in operation since its installation just six and a half weeks earlier. It was not overloaded when it failed.

Continue reading “Death of workboat Carol Anne skipper could have been avoided says MAIB Report”

Coastal deaths at five year high: RNLI warns to Respect the Water

a RNLI Lifeboat

Coastal fatality figures released on 9 June by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) show the number of deaths at the UK coast reached a five year high in 2015, with 168 people losing their lives. The number of near fatal incidents was higher still, with the RNLI’s UK lifeboat crews and lifeguards saving 385 lives in 2015.

The figures are released as the charity enters the third year of its national drowning prevention campaign, Respect the Water, which aims to halve accidental coastal deaths by 2024.

Continue reading “Coastal deaths at five year high: RNLI warns to Respect the Water”

Support the IIMS head office team in their ‘muddy’ quest to raise money for Cancer Research

The IIMS 'Muddy Rudders' from left Sam Owen, Sam Legg, Tania Bernice, Elle Hardham and Vicky Lawrence - all set to get muddy for charity
The IIMS ‘Muddy Rudders’ from left Sam Owen, Sam Legg, Tania Bernice, Elle Hardham and Vicky Lawrence – all set to get muddy for charity

It’s a sad fact that we all know, or have heard of someone who has been affected by cancer, whether it is a close family member or a colleague. In some cases people can make a full recovery, but by no means all. This is why the girls from the IIMS head Office have come together to take on a ‘muddy’ challenge to raise funds for Cancer Research on Saturday 9 July at a special event in Portsmouth.

The Pretty Muddy event is an organised race over 5km (3 miles) with all proceeds going to the reserach. As part of the course, the girls will have to tackle a range of different obstacles as well as enduring a lot of mud too! The team name that that the IIMS has chosen is ‘The Muddy Rudders’, taking inspiration from their work in the maritime world.

Continue reading “Support the IIMS head office team in their ‘muddy’ quest to raise money for Cancer Research”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Show details
Performance & Marketing Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. This also helps us optimise our marketing campaigns. User data sent to Google Analytics may be used for ad personalization and measurement of our ad campaigns. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Show details