Yanmar Holdings and its subsidiary Yanmar Power Technology are to develop a hydrogen fuel cell system for marine applications based on vehicle fuel cell technology.
Initially the new maritime fuel cell system will be installed on Yanmar’s own test boat with field testing starting by the end of 2020.
The company will start with coastal vessels and work vessels in ports with the aim of expanding the Continue reading “Yanmar aiming for zero emissions using new engine technology”
The USCG has published its 2019 Flag State Control Domestic Annual Report, summarizing statistics regarding inspections and enforcement of regulations on US-flagged vessels. In comparison to 2018, the number of vessel inspections increased by 1,423 and the average number of deficiencies identified per inspection has increased from 1.26 to 1.48. The report also found that there were over 100 Flag State detentions.
As a result, the overall US Flag fleet inspection total increased in 2019 by 7%. Additionally, the number of deficiencies issued increased by 25% from the 2018 calendar year report. Continue reading “Over 100 Flag State detentions according to the USCG 2019 Annual Report”
In order to qualify for DNV GL’s SmartShip descriptive notation, a vessel must be equipped with technological features considered as smart technologies in marine applications in accordance with the DNV GL Class Guidelines for SmartShip CG-0508.
Eagle Petrolina received the notation for its navigation decision support system with route optimisation features, an energy efficiency management system with trim optimisation, as well as a ship performance monitoring system. The 279m shuttle tanker is also installed with SVESSEL, SHI’s own solution to meet the SmartShip standard, which allows onshore monitoring of the ship.
The newbuilding project is a result of a joint development project (JDP) between DNV GL and SHI, aimed at developing a “Half Crew Ready Smart Ship”. Signed in 2019, both companies have since then worked Continue reading “SmartShip notation awarded to world’s first DP2 shuttle tanker by DNV GL”
A drone has successfully inspected a 19.4 meter high oil tank on board a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel. The video shot by the drone was interpreted in real-time by an algorithm to detect cracks in the structure. It is the latest step in a technology qualification process that could lead to tank inspections becoming safer and more efficient. Scout Drone Inspection and DNV GL, the quality assurance and risk management company, have been working together to develop an autonomous drone system to overcome the common challenges of tank inspections. For the customer, costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars as the tank is taken out of service for days to ventilate and construct scaffolding. The tanks are also tough work environments, with Continue reading “Scout Drone Inspection: Autonomous drone inspections move step closer after successful test”
The UN-led GloFouling partnership has launched a new alliance with a group of fouling control companies to accelerate the development of hull fouling solutions. Four companies have become the founding members of the new biofouling initiative: hull cleaning service providers CleanSubSea, ECOsubsea and HullWiper and sonic antifouling system manufacturer Sonihull. IMO expects that more companies will join the program.
The four firms in the new Global Industry Alliance for Marine Biosafety (GIA) will work with the GloFouling Partnerships Project – a joint initiative between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and IMO – in order to promote biofouling control solutions.
“This alliance is about the collective pioneering efforts by all maritime industries in undertaking the fight Continue reading “Biofouling industry partnership launched by IMO”
The International Maritime Ogranization (IMO) has published a new circular providing guidance for flag States regarding surveys and renewals of certificates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The circular notes that principles represent a step-based approach to an informed decision-making process which respects the existing regulatory regime, and which can result in an evidence based assessment for the justification of the extension of a certificate.
Considering that the supporting “safety net” of Port State Control has been temporarily suspended to some degree by some and flexibility regarding extensions has been given by some Flag States for ships facing difficulties in maintaining the validity of certificates, the safety and environmental protection of shipping Continue reading “IMO issues guidance for flag states for surveys and certificate renewal”
To help ensure the safe maintenance of gas-fueled ships, the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) has published new guidance on work practices for maintenance, repair and dry-dock operations for ships that use gas/LNG as fuel.
As an increasing number of ships switch to using gas as a fuel, owners will need to be prepared for when their gas-fueled ships undergo routine maintenance in dry dock. While cargo is normally removed from a vessel as part of the drydocking process, sometimes fuel is not.
With 185 gas-fueled ships in active service and with another 212 on order, the release of this publication is Continue reading “SGMF publishes guidelines for safe drydocking of gas-fueled ships”
A preliminary inspection of cargo ship APL England, which lost 40 containers in rough seas, has discovered a major defect and serious concerns with how the load was secured. Australia Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) inspectors found lashing arrangements were inadequate and securing points on the deck of the ship were heavily corroded.
ASMA general manager of operations, Allan Schwartz, says the inspection is continuing but the findings so far are in breach of maritime safety regulations. He says the ship has been detained at the Port of Brisbane.
“The detention will not be lifted until these serious deficiencies are rectified. That is now a matter for the ship’s owner, American President Lines (APL), and operator to rectify,” he says. “These findings will form Continue reading “APL England lost 40 containers in rough seas – initial inspection reveals serious defects”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has published an investigation report into the capsizing of a tug, revealing that the vessel did not operate under a Safety Management System (SMS), and the crew did not have procedures for identifying or mitigating hazards.
On October 1, 2019, Seaspan ULC deployed the tug Sheena M to tow the loaded wood-chip barge Seaspan 566 from Terminal Forest Products’ facility in Langdale, BC, to Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mills in Port Mellon, BC. At approximately 1237, the tug along with the barge departed the Terminal Forest Products Continue reading “SMS not adhered to – investigation of capsized tug finds”
Everything about the HMM Algeciras is big, including the power output of its MAN B&W 11G95ME-C engine – the mightiest ever built by Germany-based MAN Energy Solutions.
The 23,964 TEU containership is the largest ever built, recently launched for South Korean shipping company HMM at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) Okpo shipyard in Geoje, Korea. The newbuild measures 400 metres in length and 61 meters in beam, and has recently entered service between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal.
The record-setting containership is the first of a dozen 24,000 TEU class vessels ordered in August 2018 for delivery this year. DSME will ultimately construct seven of the series vessels, and fellow South Korean Continue reading “HMM Algeciras: Largest engine powers world’s largest containership”
The UK P&I Club, a leading provider of protection and indemnity insurance to the international shipping community, has published a guide for ship-owners to ensure compliance with the Inventory of Hazardous Materials legislation.
The guide addresses the technical aspects, important concepts, processes and requirements of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials, aiming to assist Members in ensuring compliance with the existing regulations and reduce the likelihood of reputational risks.
Over the last decade international and regional ship recycling legislation has been adopted, some of which is Continue reading “Inventory of Hazardous Materials compliance has new guide published by UK P&I Club”
The target of 50% of all bills of lading to be electronic within the next decade has been set by the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) in an announcement made last week. The international freight transport insurer, TT Club welcomes the commitment by the group of container shipping lines that together operate nearly 70% of the world’s capacity. The initiative is consistent with the increased trend towards digitisation across the industry to improve efficiency and reduce costs. However, the current pressures felt through the supply chain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have no doubt spurred the action.
In its role as liability insurer and adviser on risk management throughout the container industry, TT Club is Continue reading “DCSA give fresh impetus to electronic bills of lading development”
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