Significant new mega ship facility opens at the Port of Felixstowe

Clemence Cheng and Dr Therese Coffey MP celebrate the opening of the new mega ship facility at the Port of Felixstowe
Clemence Cheng and Dr Therese Coffey MP celebrate the opening of the new mega ship facility at the Port of Felixstowe

The Berth 9 Extension at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain, has been opened by Dr Therese Coffey MP, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons.

The 190-metre extension increases the port’s capability to work two of the world’s largest containerships simultaneously. More than eighty ships of 18,000+TEU have already been handled at the port in 2015, confirming Felixstowe’s position as the port-of-choice for mega-ships in the UK.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Coffey said:

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Maritime & Coastguard Agency issues MLC Guidance

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued a Marine Guidance Note providing stakeholders with guidance on the five titles of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 and the regulations applying to UK ships.

The purpose of this Marine Guidance Notice is to explain the UK’s understanding of key terms used in the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC).The UK intends to implement the MLC fully and without departing from the intention of those who drafted the Convention.

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Japan P&I Club issues Bulletin on crane operations and reasons for failures

Japan P&I Club has issued a Bulletin about crane operations and reasons for failures
Japan P&I Club has issued a Bulletin about crane operations and reasons for failures

The Japan P&I Club has issued a Loss Prevention Bulletin on cranes to provide guidance regarding their inspections, maintenance and operation in order to prevent incidents involving damage to a crane.

Cargo handling cranes, commonly pedestal mounted jib cranes, are fitted on board most handy-size bulk carriers, most general cargo ships and some other smaller or larger bulk carriers. These cranes appear to be fairly robust units which will continue to work when only a minimum of maintenance is carried out, but, in fact, they are highly complex pieces of machinery which incorporate numerous components manufactured to very fine tolerances, all of which must function correctly throughout a working period for the crane, as a unit, to be operated as the manufacturers intended. The cranes should be properly maintained, and should be inspected at specified intervals to ensure that they operate correctly and safely. Additionally, all other equipment used in association with a crane should, likewise, be properly maintained and should be inspected as appropriate. If the equipment is not in the appropriate good condition, failures are likely to occur during cargo operations.

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Hakvoort launches its biggest superyacht

Hakvoort announces the launch of its largest ever superyacht Just J
Hakvoort announces the launch of its largest ever superyacht Just J

The 61-metre superyacht Just J features a carefully considered balance of indoor and outdoor spaces and is the largest vessel to be built in the Dutch shipyard of Hakvoort.

One of the striking features is the positioning of the four guest suites and VIP stateroom on the main deck, ensuring that guests have superb views. The main deck is home to a large dining room and lounge, with the owners’ accommodation housed on a dedicated private deck above. This extra deck comprises the master stateroom forward with large skylight, two bathrooms, a master study and a bar with sky lounge.

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Fairline Boats planning for the future

Fairline Boats is undergoing a restructuring following the acquisition by Wessex Bristol Investments
Fairline Boats is undergoing a restructuring following the acquisition by Wessex Bristol Investments

Following the purchase of Fairline Boats Limited last month by Wessex Bristol Investments, its new owners has said it has taken significant steps to move the company back towards profitability.

The company has announced it will be undergoing a workforce restructure, involving the business entering into a collective consultation period with staff. Fairline Boats said it needs to trim down operations to better reflect the marketplace environment and allow it to operate more efficiently.

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Fatigue remains a potent enemy

The most recent edition of Maritime FEEDBACK, published by The UK Confidential Reporting Programme for Aviation and Maritime (CHIRP), has been released with a warning about the hazards of fatigue and its potential implications.

Captain John Rose, Director (Maritime) CHIRP, makes the following comments on the subject.

“Every company desires safe operations and whilst written rules, standards and procedures are important and necessary, they are not enough. Companies must develop a culture in which the value of safety is embedded at every level ashore and at sea. This commitment to safety should be a value that shapes decision making all of the time and embedded at every level in the organization, at sea and ashore.

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Ocean Signal recognised for world’s smallest man overboard device

Ocean Signal has been recognised for world’s smallest man overboard device
Ocean Signal has been recognised for world’s smallest man overboard device

The innovative rescueME MOB1 by British company, Ocean Signal, has been nominated for a prestigious DAME Design Award.

Developed by UK communication and safety at sea specialist Ocean Signal as the world’s most advanced Man Overboard locating device, the rescueME MOB1 has been selected by the DAME Awards Jury in the ‘lifesaving and safety equipment’ category.

The MOB1 incorporates both AIS and DSC technologies within the most compact product on the market at 30% smaller than similar products. The easy-to-use device has been designed to integrate into a life jacket, ensuring the best chance of rapid rescue for an MOB in extreme conditions.

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Bunkering ship concept accepted by Bureau Veritas

Bunkering ship concept accepted by Bureau Veritas
Bunkering ship concept accepted by Bureau Veritas

GTT, the world leader in the design of membrane containment systems for the maritime transportation and storage of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), announces that it has received a second Approval in Principle (AIP) for its 4,000 m3 Bunkering Ship concept, using Mark III Flex Cargo Containment system and operating with a vapour pressure of up to 2 barg. Following one delivered by Lloyd’s Register, this new AIP was received from the classification society, Bureau Veritas, after several months of a joint research and innovation program.

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Panama confirms April 2016 opening for Canal expansion

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and Miguel Hincapie, Panamanian Foreign Vice Minister, Saturday confirmed that the Panama Canal’s third set of locks will be complete in time for the scheduled opening date of April 2016, local media reports.

The ACP in a public statement asserted that the completion of the expansion project has “reached 94 percent completion, and everything indicates that in April 2016 the new locks will come into commercial operation.”

Speaking on arrangements for the opening ceremony, Hicapie said that heads of state and government officials will be invited from 70 countries, as “related to trade with the Panama Canal.”

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Green shipping project set to be launched in Norway

Norwegian Government and DNVGL join to launch a new green shipping project
Norwegian Government and DNVGL join to launch a new green shipping project

The shipping industry is in a state of transition as it adjusts to increasingly strict emissions standards set forth by regulators. The European Parliament recently stated its aim to reduce emissions by more than 40 percent by 2030. The International Transportation Forum has also proposed reducing emissions by more than 50 percent by 2080, as well as taxes on those who exceed regulations.

And with the U.N. Climate Change Conference on the horizon, it is possible that emissions regulations will only get more stringent. Government officials and industry leaders are scrambling to innovate to stay ahead of new rules.

In a joint program with the Norwegian government, Oslo-based DNV GL recently launched the Green Coastal Shipping Programme which aims to create the most environmentally-friendly vessels in the world.

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Chinese State visit to the UK could boost Seawork Asia show

The Asian commercial marine industry’s foremost exhibition, Seawork Asia is set for success in light of David Cameron’s talks in October with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Following the Chinese premier’s State Visit, Cameron has hailed greater cooperation along with trade deals, which will help aid British maritime organisations in their quest to launch and reinforce their businesses and brands in China.

China is currently ranked second in the world for shipbuilding, and has experienced fast growth for seven consecutive years. China alone has over 32,000 kilometres of shoreline, 1,400 harbours and 1,600 shipyards containing than 170,000 vessels. Therefore there are myriad opportunities for sales and collaboration between Chinese businesses and firms located across the globe.

The demand for marine civil engineering, workboats and floating plant, together with the equipment and services that keep them in operation is forecast to grow at double figure rates during the next twenty years. The rapid increase in marine activity also requires a wide range of support services such as coastguard, patrol, safety and navigation.

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Qatar International Boat Show to showcase 85 boats

Qatar International Boat Show runs from 10 -14 November
Qatar International Boat Show runs from 10 -14 November

The third edition of the Qatar International Boat Show (QIBS) will this year showcase more than 120 brands and 85 boats, both on land and in water. The show will be held from the 10th to the 14th November at Mourjan Marinas in Lusail City, Qatar.

QIBS 2015 has already secured many international exhibitors, such as Azimut, Sea Ray, Princess, Ferreti, Riva, Gulf Craft, Sunseeker, Prestige, Itama, Benetti, Sunreef, Silver Yachts, Heesen Yachts and many more.

In addition, the Qatari maritime industry will showcase companies such as NDSQ (Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar), Halul Boats, Balhambar Boats and Al Udeid Boats.

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