IIMS News

Panama Canal expansion now 84% complete as gate installation begins

Posted on by News Hound
The Panama Canal expansion program is gathering pace with the arrival of the massive new lock gates. Photo courtesy ACP
The Panama Canal expansion program is gathering pace with the arrival of the massive new lock gates. Photo courtesy ACP

The last gate to arrive has now completed the transfer of the eight gates to the Pacific construction side as the Panama Canal expansion gathers momentum. The transits began on October 22 to move all eight gates through the waterway aboard a barge from the Atlantic temporary dock to the Pacific, assisted by Panama Canal tugs.

Once finished, the Panama Canal expansion program will have added new locks that in total have 16 rolling gates, eight in the Pacific and eight in the Atlantic. Since August 2013, the gates have been arriving in staggered shipments from Italy on a Post-Panamax vessel to a temporary dock in the Atlantic side. The last shipment arrived in November 2014.

Continue reading “Panama Canal expansion now 84% complete as gate installation begins”

Palma Superyacht Show looks forward to its third edition

Posted on by News Hound
The Palma Superyacht Show returns for its third edition alongside the Palma Boat Show
The Palma Superyacht Show returns for its third edition alongside the Palma Boat Show

Having made its debut in 2013, the Palma Superyacht Show, in partnership with MYBA, is now a firm fixture on the yachting calendar. Running concurrently with the 32nd Boat Show Palma, this Mediterranean season opener takes place from 30 April to 4 May 2015.

Jane Thompson, Coordinator of the Palma Superyacht Show, says, “Avoiding comparisons with Cannes or Monaco, the Palma Superyacht Show has established its own clear identity as a brokerage and charter show of excellence, perfectly timed before the summer season. Designed to coincide with 1 May, a public holiday in most European countries, as well as the UK’s Monday ‘May Day’, we hope visitors will take a long weekend break in hospitable Palma, enjoy the sunshine and see a great selection of top quality yachts.”

Continue reading “Palma Superyacht Show looks forward to its third edition”

ClassNK register passes the 230 million gross tons mark

Posted on by News Hound
ClassNK has announced that its register has surpassed the 230 million gross tons mark in 2014 for the first time
ClassNK has announced that its register has surpassed the 230 million gross tons mark in 2014 for the first time

Leading classification society ClassNK has announced that its register topped 230 million gross tons for the first time. The announcement was made following a meeting of the Society’s Classification Committee, which certified that the NK Register listed 8,826 vessels totaling 231.34 million gross tons at the end of November 2014.

As ClassNK finished 2013 with some 220.9 million gross tons on its register, the achievement means that ClassNK has added a net total of more than 10 million gross tons to its register in the first 11 months of the year, continuing the leading classification society’s stunning growth over recent years. Continuing recent trends for the Society, transfers of vessels from other classification societies accounted for more than one third of the vessels joining the ClassNK Register, setting a new record for the Society.

Continue reading “ClassNK register passes the 230 million gross tons mark”

Royal Huisman to build 56 metre classic ketch

Posted on by News Hound
An impression of what the new 56 metre classic ketch to be built by Royal Huisman will look like
An impression of what the new 56 metre classic ketch to be built by Royal Huisman will look like

A classic ketch for family oriented Caribbean cruising and more is being built for an American couple, Royal Huisman has announced. The 183’7” (56-metre) megayacht, to be christened Aquarius, is set for delivery in late 2017.

Aquarius bears styling and naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects. The wood clad deckhouse, teak decks, long overhangs, rich-blue hull, and oval ports give her the profile the owners wanted. Royal Huisman has yet to release full specifications on her sailplan and structural dimensions, though the yacht is intended for good performance in light airs. Aquarius may further participate in some bucket regattas.

Continue reading “Royal Huisman to build 56 metre classic ketch”

Fincantieri Yachts delivers one of the tenth largest mega yachts in the world

Posted on by News Hound
Fincanteiri Yachts has delivered one of the tenth largest mega yachts in the world and the largest to be built in Italy
Fincanteiri Yachts has delivered one of the tenth largest mega yachts in the world and the largest to be built in Italy

At 140 metres long, the “Ocean Victory” is the largest yacht ever built in Italy and, according to the sector rankings, one of the tenth largest ever built in the world. The new mega yacht is positioned on the top market segment in terms of quality and performance and is characterized by complexity, high technology content, innovation, extreme care to details in the interior and exterior design.

The new ship has been acquired also thanks to the commitment of Alex Lees Buckley, broker with more than 30 years of experience in the most prestigious projects of the internationally renowned brokerage company Camper & Nicholsons. “Ocean Victory” has been designed on the basis of a new, unique concept, brainchild of the Monaco based naval designer Espen Oeino and the Paris based interior designer Cabinet Alberto Pinto. The new unit has been developed by the team of Fincantieri Yachts – business unit of Fincantieri specifically focused on this area.

Continue reading “Fincantieri Yachts delivers one of the tenth largest mega yachts in the world”

USMRC and ClassNK sign MOU for future technical cooperation

Posted on by News Hound
USMRC and ClassNK have signed an MOU to work together for future technical cooperation
USMRC and ClassNK have signed an MOU to work together for future technical cooperation

classnkThe United States Maritime Resource Center (USMRC) based in Middletown, Rhode Island and ClassNK, a leading ship classification society located in Tokyo, Japan, are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) laying out a framework for future technical cooperation to carry out joint research and development activities for the maritime industry.

This will mark the first time a major ship classification society has teamed with a prominent marine operations simulation center engaged in specialized training and research in North America.

Continue reading “USMRC and ClassNK sign MOU for future technical cooperation”

Transport & Environment says new EU climate emissions law is weak

Posted on by News Hound
The new EU climate emissions law is weak says Transport & Environment
The new EU climate emissions law is weak says Transport & Environment

For the first time, all shipping companies calling at EU ports will have to measure and publicly report carbon emissions under a law approved by an overwhelming majority of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee. Sustainable transport group Transport & Environment says that the law is weak – it only monitors fuel consumption instead of directly reducing it, and only covers CO2 and not air pollutants like SO2 or NOx – but it can still trigger fuel savings indirectly.

Continue reading “Transport & Environment says new EU climate emissions law is weak”

New Chemical Tanker Safety Guide published by ICS

Posted on by News Hound

tsg-coverA fully updated edition of the definitive industry guidance on the safe operation of chemical tankers has just been published by the shipping industry’s global trade association, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

The new edition of the ICS Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals) replaces the previous edition issued in 2002. ICS recommends that a copy is carried on board every tanker engaged in the carriage of chemical cargoes, and that copies are also held within shipping company technical departments.

Continue reading “New Chemical Tanker Safety Guide published by ICS”

Amsterdam City Council agrees to new large sea lock

Posted on by News Hound
Amsterdam City Council has agreed to the construction of a new large sea lock. Image courtesy of the Port of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam City Council has agreed to the construction of a new large sea lock. Image courtesy of the Port of Amsterdam.

On Wednesday, 26 November, the City Council of Amsterdam said ‘yes’ to the accelerated and expanded construction of the new large sea lock in IJmuiden, with the one-off investment required for this being given the green light. Port of Amsterdam is very pleased with this decision.

The new large sea lock will safeguard the ongoing accessibility of the ports and businesses along the North Sea Canal, including for large vessels with deep drafts. This means a big boost for the port region and the Dutch economy. Port of Amsterdam CEO Dertje Meijer: ‘Great news! The new, larger sea lock will be good for the port, the region and the business community in the area. With this decision, the City Council of Amsterdam is investing in the future and in sustainable growth for the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.’

Continue reading “Amsterdam City Council agrees to new large sea lock”

Revived IIMS SCWG meets in the Western Mediterranean

Posted on by News Hound
Members of the IIMS Western Mediterranean small craft working group who met in November at Palma
Members of the IIMS Western Mediterranean small craft working group who met in November at Palma

Words by Kim Skov-Nielsen

The Western Mediterranean IIMS Small Craft Working Group (SCWG) met for a training day in Palma de Mallorca in November, organised by John Excell and Kim Skov-Nielsen.

On Friday 7 November, a group of a dozen IIMS members met at the excellent training facility in the Port Authority building to hear a review of PI insurance and handling claims and disputes given by Karen Brain and Amanda Ridd of Matrix Insurance Ltd. Thanks are due to Karen and Amanda for coming over. Lots of feedback led to a lively discussion of terminology and different practices in Spain.

Continue reading “Revived IIMS SCWG meets in the Western Mediterranean”

Ben Ainslie Racing teams up with Red Bull Advanced Technologies

Posted on by News Hound
Ben Ainslie Racing Americas Cup team on the water in their catamaran. Photo: Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images
Ben Ainslie Racing Americas Cup team on the water in their catamaran. Photo: Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images

Ben Ainslie Racing has announced it will be working with Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), a division of the Red Bull Formula One group, as it progresses with its campaign to claim the 35th America’s Cup.

Operating as a Design House, RBAT is based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Founded on the group’s impressive F1 DNA, which has resulted in eight Formula One World Championships in the last five seasons, RBAT excels in advanced simulation and mathematical modelling. Ben Ainslie Racing is collaborating with RBAT to draw on this expertise and knowledge.

Continue reading “Ben Ainslie Racing teams up with Red Bull Advanced Technologies”

State-of-the-art Shannon class lifeboat launched by the RNLI

Posted on by News Hound
The RNLI has delivered a new Shannon class lifeboat to Hoylake. Image courtesy of RNLI
The RNLI has delivered a new Shannon class lifeboat to Hoylake. Image courtesy of RNLI

Hoylake RNLI volunteers are preparing for a new era of lifesaving with the eagerly anticipated arrival of their state-of-the-art Shannon class all weather lifeboat, which arrived on Monday 1 December.

The £2M new Shannon class lifeboat, named Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood, arrived by sea at the end of a five day journey from the lifeboat charity’s headquarters in Poole.

Hoylake is only the fourth RNLI lifeboat station in the UK and Ireland to receive a Shannon class vessel, which is the first modern RNLI all weather lifeboat to be propelled by water jets instead of propellers. Designed by an in-house RNLI team, it is the most agile all weather lifeboat in the charity’s fleet and has been developed with the safety and welfare of RNLI volunteer crews as a key priority.

Continue reading “State-of-the-art Shannon class lifeboat launched by the RNLI”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine