IIMS News

Rise in electrical deficiences report the US Coast Guard

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Image courtesy of the US Coast Guard
Image courtesy of the US Coast Guard

Due to an increase in reported electrical deficiencies on commercial vessels, the US Coast Guard is warning commercial vessel owners to inspect their vessels’ wiring before getting underway in the spring. Coast Guard marine inspectors have discovered that a number of vessels have significant electrical deficiencies that can pose safety hazards and cause marine-engine causalities, and inspectors will spend additional time during inspections examining electrical systems as a result.

Some examples of common discrepancies include:
Dead-ended wiring: When equipment is changed or removed, new wiring is installed. Often the old wiring is not removed or properly put in a junction box. This poses a shock hazard if the wiring is still energized.

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Consultation period on proposals to change the Maritime & Coastguard Agency survey and inspection is open

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The background to this consultation is that some years ago the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) began to experience difficulties in recruiting and retaining surveyors in a highly competitive market place. This trend has accelerated recently and has now reached the point where the MCA is no longer able to fulfil all of its statutory functions and obligations. Following completion of a review, which started in 2011, changes have been recommended, resulting in the suggested new operating model upon which they are now consulting.

In order to focus on the modernisation of the MCA survey and inspection functions in a way that most effectively supports their customers, the MCA welcomes contributions to the consultation process, which will run until midday on Thursday 21 April 2016.

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Rolls-Royce reveals its vision for future shore control centre for unmanned ships

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Photo credit - Rolls Royce. This is now a future control crew for unmanned ships might operate
Photo credit – Rolls Royce. This is now a future control crew for unmanned ships might operate

Rolls-Royce has unveiled its vision of the land-based control centres that they believe will remotely monitor and control the unmanned ships of the future. What this vision holds for the future of the marine surveying profession is rather less clear at this point. One thing, however, is for sure. The world of autonomous cars, lorries, ships and presumably planes too is fast approaching and will soon be an accepted every day part of our lives.

In a six minute film, (see below), that some will feel is more akin to the bridge of the Star Ship Enterprise rather and has no place in the world of shipping, Rolls-Royce presents a vision of the future in which a small crew of 7 to 14 people monitor and control the operation of a fleet of vessels across the world. The crew uses interactive smart screens, voice recognition systems, holograms and surveillance drones Continue reading “Rolls-Royce reveals its vision for future shore control centre for unmanned ships”

South Korean maritime accident rate doubled last year

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The alarming and worrying statistics and high volume of reported accidents in 2015 are the result of poor maintenance of vessels and equipment, the South Korean government said.

The stark truth is that the number of maritime accidents has doubled during 2015 compared to the previous three years, Yonhap news agency reported, citing data from the South Korea Ministry of Public Safety and Security.

According to government reports, a total of 2,740 maritime accidents occurred in 2015, while the previous annual average was just over 1,300.

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Sealine F530 to debut in public at the Palma Boat Show

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Sealine has announced that the launch of the Sealine F530 will finally take place at the Palma Boat Show from April 28 to May 2 after a delay.

The hotly anticipated new model is the largest to be built since the British brand was bought out by the Hanse Group in 2013 and production relocated to Greifswald in Germany.
Initial renders emerged in June last year and the Sealine F530 was originally due to be launched in late February at the Istanbul Boat Show, but this plan has been pushed back by two months.

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Long term decline in shipping losses continues according to Allianz

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Shipping losses continued their long-term downward trend with 85 total losses reported worldwide in 2015, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) fourth annual Safety and Shipping Review 2016, which analyses reported shipping losses of over 100 gross tons.

Although the number of losses remained stable year-on-year, declining by just 3% compared with the previous year (88), 2015 was the safest year in shipping for a decade. Losses have declined by 45% since 2006, driven by an increasingly robust safety environment and self-regulation. However, disparities by region and vessel-type remain.

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UK’s new £200m polar research ship could be called RRS BOATY MCBOATFACE

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Shackleton. Endeavour. Falcon. These are just some of the names suggested for the UK’s next world-class polar research ship as part of a campaign that has been launched for the public to put forward names for the state-of-the-art vessel to be built in the North West of England.

Set to set sail in 2019 and backed by £200 million of government funding, the polar research ship will be built at the world-famous Cammell Laird shipyard on Merseyside.

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Aquijo, one of the largest ever sailing superyachts built is delivered

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Aquijo, one of the largest ever sailing superyachts built is delivered
Aquijo, one of the largest ever sailing superyachts built is delivered

At 85 metres, Aquijo is set to become one of the world’s largest sailing yachts. The eagerly awaited joint venture between two of Holland’s most well known superyacht yards, Oceanco and Vitters is nearing completion and Aquijo has been delivered to her new owner.

Built under the project code name P85, Aquijo is significant as the first joint venture of this kind between the two yards, partly for her sheer size but also because of her ability to operate as a true performance sailing yacht.

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Amico & Co set to complete largest superyacht refit project in record time

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Amico & Co has announced that the 16 month conversion project currently underway on the motor yacht formerly known as Delma is almost complete, as she enters the commissioning and certification phase. The conversion, which has been undertaken at the Amico & Co shipyard in Genoa, Italy, has seen the motor yacht extended from 85m to 91.5m LOA. She has also undergone a complete rebuild and refit throughout.

This is the largest and most extensive refit project undertaken by Amico & Co and one of the largest projects of its kind ever attempted, requiring a dedicated team of nine in-house project managers and technical superintendents working in close collaboration with the owner’s representative team, headed up by Wim Koersvelt.

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Safe carriage of laterite nickel ore cargo under the microscope

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A judgement by a Chinese court shows that the IMSBC Code shall be applicable to the safe carriage of laterite nickel ore cargoes
A judgement by a Chinese court shows that the IMSBC Code shall be applicable to the safe carriage of laterite nickel ore cargoes

The issue of safe carriage of laterite nickel ore has attracted the attention of international societies. The latest judgement by a Chinese court shows that the IMSBC Code shall be applicable to the safe carriage of the laterite nickel ore.

The master shall be cautious and prudent in deciding whether the cargo is suitable for safe carriage. Where heavy moisture of cargo is visible to the naked eyes, the proportion of small particles (<7mm) is large and the moisture content of small particles is above the TML (Transportable Moisture Limit), even if large particles (>7mm) may have a comparatively lower moisture content, the master may, in his professional judgment, deem the cargo unsuitable for safe carriage and is further entitled to make decisions such as to cease the voyage, sun-dry the cargo and to carry out inspection etc. for the common safety of vessel, cargo and the crew, and the carrier shall not be held liable for his breach of obligation under shipping contract.

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DNV GL rethinks its survey reporting programme for fleet managers

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At the annual Seatrade Cruise Global 2016 conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, classification society DNV GL introduced a new form of reporting that revolutionizes survey reporting for fleet managers. The newly structured report defines safety barriers and trends, utilizing DNV GL’s extensive experience with barrier management in the offshore oil and gas industry.

In collaboration with a major cruise line, DNV GL successfully implemented the new barrier management reporting programme. Survey data from 23 cruise ships was included in the pilot programme. The test enabled the project partners to identify and present high-impact risk control measures more efficiently than ever before. This allowed the customer to easily measure the effectiveness of risk-control actions.

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The 2016 UK Budget offers support for shipping and offshore

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Gill Smith of Moore Stephens. The company says that the budget has some surprise developments which are likely to be of interest to the shipping sector
Gill Smith of Moore Stephens. The company says that the budget has some surprise developments which are likely to be of interest to the shipping sector

Moore Stephens International Limited, a global accountancy and advisory network with its headquarters in London, has said that the UK Budget 2016 contains a number of surprise developments which are likely to be of interest to the shipping sector, as well as a radical set of measures which it is hoped will assist the offshore maritime oil and gas sector.

The Government announced a further reduction in the rate of corporation tax, which will be 17% from 1 April 2020. There are also significant reductions in the rates of capital gains tax. From 6 April 2016, the higher rate of capital gains tax for individuals will be reduced from 28% to 20%, and the basic rate will be reduced from 18% to 10%, although an additional 8% will apply for carried interest and for gains on some residential property.

In addition, Entrepreneurs’ Relief will be extended to apply to long-term investors in unlisted companies. Under these new rules, a 10% rate of capital gains tax will apply for gains on newly issued shares in unlisted companies acquired on or after 17 March 2016, provided they are held for at least three years from 6 April 2016. There is a separate lifetime limit of £10 million of gains.

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