Warning about potential dangers of new technology on ships

North P&I Club has warned its members that despite the enormous benefits of digital technology on and around ships, there may also be some downsides. In addition to its recent warning on cyber threats, the club highlights some less obvious risks from the digital age in the latest issue of its loss prevention newsletter Signals – including video calls, emails, mobile devices and even 3D printing.

Loss prevention director Tony Baker says, ‘While many ships now offer technology such as satellite video calling to keep crews in touch with loved ones back home, care should be taken to ensure this does not make matters worse. For some seafarers, having easy access to friends, family and their ongoing domestic problems could lead to increased anxiety compared to the traditional clean break of departure.’

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IIMS Western Med Certifying Authority and Small Craft Working Group training days

Details have been announced for the next IIMS Western Med training event (28-29 April), which will take place in Palma, Majorca at the same time as the Palma Superyacht Show.

The event will take place over two days and follows a different theme to past events as it incorporates some Certifying Authority and tonnage education mixed with some small craft surveyor training.

Day One (Thursday 28 April) will be of interest to IIMS Certifying Authority members and any members wanting to become accredited to do tonnages. John Excell, IIMS Chairman of Small Craft Surveying and a member of the Certifying Authority committee, will lead the proceedings and training.

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DNV GL issues advice about combating corrosion due to box cooler

DNV GL issues advice about combating corrosion due to box cooler
DNV GL issues advice about combating corrosion due to box cooler

A technical newsletter has been written and published by DNV GL to give an insight and to make recommendations on how to avoid safety risks due to severe corrosion of vessel’s steel structure by way of the box cooler. In the most severe cases that DNV GL has encountered, the bolted flange of the top plate of the cooling box was involved. This led to increased risk of collapse of the top plate.

Extent of damage
A box cooler eliminates the secondary cooling water circuit of sea water inside the engine room. The cooling effect is achieved by natural circulation of the surrounding sea water and is considered to be a cost-effective alternative.

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New measures proposed following accident caused by leaking hatch covers

Swedish P&I Club makes new proposals following an accident caused by leaking hatch covers
Swedish P&I Club makes new proposals following an accident caused by leaking hatch covers

The Swedish P&I Club has issued its Monthly Safety Scenario for February 2016 that relates to an accident caused by leaking hatch covers. As a result it recommends preventive measures.

About the accident
The vessel comprised loaded up wire coils. When loading was complete the crew taped across the transverse beams of all the cargo holds with Ram-Nek. During the vessel’s transit it sailed through heavy weather that lasted for about two days. During this time the vessel was pitching and rolling and the cargo hatches were covered in water.

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New policy to boost port development in India

The Maharashtra government is set to announce a new maritime policy for the development of the sector. The cabinet is likely to approve the policy on January 27, said people familiar with the development.

The draft policy was submitted to the government some time ago and it has been drafted by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) with inputs from various stakeholders and experts.

A senior MMB officer confirmed to The Hindu that the policy is awaiting Cabinet approval, but declined to share details. Senior government officials said it would be announced by the Chief Minister.

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Sky-Futures completes first ever drone oil and gas inspection

A sign of the changing technology as Sky-Futures carries out its first ever drone inspection
A sign of the changing technology as Sky-Futures carries out its first ever drone inspection

Sky-Futures, the leading provider of drone inspection services for the global oil and gas industry, has completed the first ever oil and gas inspection by drone in the Gulf of Mexico for a leading global oil and gas service and drilling company.

The inspection is the first ever legally carried out in the Gulf of Mexico by a drone for the oil and gas industry. It comes just over 10 months after Sky-Futures received the 46th Section 333 Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Exemption Certificate to operate drones in the USA, and opened their first North America office in Houston, Texas. The inspection scope requested by the client included the Derrick, a heli-deck and 4 cranes on a Drill ship and was completed in 2 days. Current inspection methods would have taken 17 days to inspect the Continue reading “Sky-Futures completes first ever drone oil and gas inspection”

Fairline Yachts established from failed Fairline Boats

Fairline Yachts has emerged from the collapse of Fairline Boats following investment from two Russian businessmen
Fairline Yachts has emerged from the collapse of Fairline Boats following investment from two Russian businessmen

Fairline Boats, which had seemed to be on the verge of disappearing just a few weeks ago, has been saved following the intervention by two Russian investors.

A new company, Fairline Acquisitions, funded by two UK based Russian investors with a background in the marine sector, is to take on the failed company’s order book and initially plans to recruit around 100 of the 380 staff who were made redundant before Christmas following the collapse. The new company plans to trade as Fairline Yachts.

The new business will be run by Russell Currie. He has been a Fairline dealer for the past 18 years.

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Measuring methane gas levels in cargo holds

The West of England P&I Club has issued loss prevention bulletin to advise how to measure methane gas levels in cargo holds when uploading coal cargoes.

Some coal cargoes can produce methane (CH4). Since methane is a flammable gas, the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code requires vessels loaded with coal to monitor the concentration of methane inside the cargo holds via external sampling points. Portable gas detectors are carried for this purpose. However, in the Club’s recent experience it would appear that some crew members may not be aware that the readings for methane may be incorrect if the amount of oxygen inside the hold is low.

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Vanish: The first Feadship launch of 2016

The latest superyacht from Feadship, Vanish, awaits its formal launch
The latest superyacht from Feadship, Vanish, awaits its formal launch

Feadship launched the 66.25 metre superyacht Vanish in a rock ‘n’ roll ceremony at Kaag Island. Hundreds of invited guests enjoyed a performance by a band and the delighted owners treated all yard personnel to a tour of their pure custom creation.

Highlights on this latest scion of the Feadship fleet include a free-standing staircase flanked by a glass wall over three decks, an ingenious extendable balcony for the owner’s stateroom and a highly innovative transom design.

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World’s first marine wireless charging and mooring concept developed

An agreement has been signed between Cavotec Group and Wärtsilä to jointly develop the world’s first combined induction charging and automatic mooring concept.

Cavotec provides automated mooring systems for various types of vessels, as well as shore power and reel systems. Wärtsilä has developed a wireless charging system based on inductive power transfer. By combining the strengths and expertise of the two companies, an integrated wireless charging/mooring concept will be developed for use in Wärtsilä’s ship designs.

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Merchant Shipping Directorate of Malta issues new guidelines for Maltese registered ships

Transport-Malta-noticeThe Merchant Shipping Directorate in Malta has reviewed the guidelines for ascertaining the seaworthiness required in terms of article 12(a) of the Merchant Shipping Act for vessels that are registered as Maltese ships. As a result new guidelines that come into force from February 2016 have been published.

As a rule, merchant ships of 25 years and over will not be registered, while, applications for the registration of other ships will be considered subject to:
the ship being either in class or in the process of being classed with a recognized classification society;
the receipt of an up to date class survey status report or, information on the validity of the current statutory certificates including details of any pending recommendations, exemptions granted, acceptance of equivalents or otherwise, related to both class and statutory certificates;
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North P&I Club publishes loss prevention guide on bulk cargoes

North P&I Club has released a new loss prevention guide on bulk cargoes
North P&I Club has released a new loss prevention guide on bulk cargoes

The 175 million GT, ‘A’ rated North P&I Club has published a major new guide for the international shipping industry on how to reduce losses when carrying bulk cargoes by sea. The 280-page Bulk Cargoes: A Guide to Good Practice adds to North’s comprehensive portfolio of guidance provided about different cargo types and is the first to be made available in both print and e-book formats.

Bulk Cargoes explains the basic rules to be remembered on every occasion during loading, carriage and unloading of bulk cargoes. It describes where various regulations, recommendations and general guidance can be found, and discusses procedures, preparations and good seamanship practice for appropriate and safe carriage of cargoes in bulk. It also describes the problems and recommended procedures associated with particular types of bulk cargo and sets out the points to be remembered during passage planning and the voyage itself.

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