Marine News - International Institute of Marine Surveying

IMO Secretary-General asks for pragmatic approach in response to COVID-19

Posted on March 23, 2020February 14, 2025 by News Hound

IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, has issued a statement and broadcast a video (see below) on COVID-19, stressing the essential need to maintain commerce by sea and protect seafarers’ welfare.

The IMO secretary-General said, “The spread of the coronavirus has placed the entire world in an unprecedented situation. To slow the spread of the disease and mitigate its impacts, travel is being curtailed and borders are being closed. Transport hubs are being affected. Ports are being closed and ships denied entry.”

He added that, it is crucial that the flow of commerce by sea should not be unnecessarily disrupted. At the same time, the safety of life at Continue reading “IMO Secretary-General asks for pragmatic approach in response to COVID-19”

School boat for children in remote Pacific atoll of Fakaofo launched

Posted on March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 by News Hound

New school boat for children in remote Pacific atoll

Children on the remote atoll of Fakaofo in Tokelau will soon be travelling to school in style on a new school boat built in Christchurch with support from the Pacific Maritime Safety Programme. The Director of Maritime NZ Keith Manch said the boat will provide safe, reliable transport for around 50 children who must cross a lagoon to get to school each day.

The design and construction of the vessel, by ICON Custom Boats in Christchurch, was jointly funded by the Government of Tokelau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The 12.5m school boat has been named Te Kaniva, a name describing the traditional Continue reading “School boat for children in remote Pacific atoll of Fakaofo launched”

MCA approach to survey and certification of UK vessels during COVID-19 covered by MIN 612

Posted on March 18, 2020March 19, 2020 by News Hound

MIN 612 details the MCA approach to survey and certification of UK vessels during COVID-19

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published MIN 612, a marine information notice which sets out the policy of the MCA with respect to UK Vessels which are prevented from arranging the relevant surveys, inspections and audits required for compliance with the appropriate Statutory Instruments due to the current pandemic.

In MIN 612 the MCA sets out contingency plans to mitigate disruption to essential statutory activities during the current pandemic. The aim of the notice is to provide a basis for the continued operation of UK vessels during this time.

Continue reading “MCA approach to survey and certification of UK vessels during COVID-19 covered by MIN 612”

Disability badge scheme for boaters developed by CRT

Posted on March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 by News Hound

Following the rumours that the Canal & River Trust (CRT) was considering a boating equivalent of the disabled blue badges (disability badge) seen in UK car windows, the Trust has now launched the scheme after developing it with the help of a series of meetings and an online Q&A session with disabled boaters.

A ‘Canal & River Trust Aware’ window disability badge (pictured) will be sent to all boaters with an ‘agreed equality adjustment’ – which usually means an agreement with CRT that the requirements to move (to conform with CRT’s interpretation of the legal requirement for boats without a home mooring to cruise) have been Continue reading “Disability badge scheme for boaters developed by CRT”

Anti-fouling escapade leaves $79m luxury superyacht partially sunk

Posted on March 18, 2020February 14, 2025 by News Hound

A luxury superyacht owned by a Saudi Prince has dramatically capsized and partially sunk while it was docked at a repair yard in Perama, Greece. The yacht, Nourah of Riyad, owned by Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd Al Saud, was being lifted out of the water for repairs when it capsized.

The $79m USD yacht has 11 cabins for up to 22 guests and a crew of 18, a master suite, a VIP stateroom, a jacuzzi on deck and a cinema on board. There was no marine pollution as a result of the incident according to Greek City Times. The yacht turned at a 45-degree angle, the luxury superyacht becoming partially sunk in the water. The unfortunate and expensive accident happened as the vessel was undergoing anti-fouling works. Continue reading “Anti-fouling escapade leaves $79m luxury superyacht partially sunk”

Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers

Posted on March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 by News Hound

EU transport ministers held a meeting in Croatia and adopted a declaration on guidelines for the development of EU maritime policy, calling for an emissions trading scheme to cover ships from all countries with a target of achieving a carbon-neutral and zero pollution waterborne transport sector.

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations has expressed its support, saying, “The declaration clearly shows that the ministers place a huge importance on the competitiveness of the European shipping sector, in view of the vital and strategic role it plays in the EU economy, global trade and the common market.” Continue reading “Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers”

MV Leopold LD: Total loss of power while underway linked to poor crew familiarization says Transport Malta report

Posted on March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 by News Hound

Transport Malta has published its investigation report on the total loss of power of the bulk carrier MV Leopold LD following the failure of the auxiliary engines and the emergency generator while underway in March 2019. The investigation identified lack of crew familiarization with the correct operation of the compensation damping tank.

MV Leopold LD was en route from the port of Saldanha Bay, South Africa, to Hamburg, Germany, carrying iron ore. On 14 March 2019, the only running Continue reading “MV Leopold LD: Total loss of power while underway linked to poor crew familiarization says Transport Malta report”

Rothen Group completes complex canal wall repair following inclement weather

Posted on March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 by News Hound

The Rothen Group was called upon to help repair a stretch of the Llangollen Canal after heavy rain caused substantial damage to the canal wall. A 20m section of the canal, which links north wales and south Cheshire, was damaged during Storm Miguel resulting in erosion that threatened to close the busy stretch near Marbury. When Kier was contracted by the Canal & River Trust to undertake the work, it became rapidly apparent that the rural location presented challenges.

“The nature and location of the site meant that what should have been a Continue reading “Rothen Group completes complex canal wall repair following inclement weather”

IIMS Canada Branch Vancouver conference voted a great success

Posted on March 17, 2020February 14, 2025 by News Hound

The Lonsdale Quay Hotel hosted the IIMS Canada Branch Conference

A group of 40 plus attendees (including online delegates) and marine industry experts gathered for the first full-scale IIMS Canada Branch Vancouver conference on 6/7 March. Judging by the positive feedback from those who attended, the event was a great success.

The Lonsdale Quay Hotel in North Vancouver with its quirky market and food stalls on the ground floor proved to be a highly popular choice of venue and their hospitality team worked hard to satisfy everyone with a non-stop stream of coffee, pastries and savoury food.

Unable to join in person for business reasons, Regional Director, Ed O’Connor, said a few words to open the conference, before inviting Continue reading “IIMS Canada Branch Vancouver conference voted a great success”

SYVR matchmaking platform and IIMS announce joint initiative

Posted on March 16, 2020February 14, 2025 by News Hound

Henrik Uth (pictured left) and Mike Schwarz

After many months of discussion, SYVR, the first open worldwide matchmaking platform between clients and marine surveyors and the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), the leading global professional body for marine surveyors, have announced a joint working initiative.

The two organisations in parallel have been pushing technological boundaries for the marine surveying industry over the past two years. Both organisations are driven by the desire to increase marine surveying standards and to ensure that only those surveyors who have appropriate skills are engaged by clients to carry out surveys, meaning transparency for all. The smart SYVR matchmaking platform app, launched in 2018, uses algorithms to assess a surveyor’s experience and specialism, then matches them to the client’s requirements when a request for survey is made. Over the same period IIMS has launched three Apps, including the Marine Surveyor Search App. Continue reading “SYVR matchmaking platform and IIMS announce joint initiative”

‘Red diesel entitlement to be removed’ consultation announce

Posted on March 16, 2020December 12, 2024 by News Hound

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has shared plans to review the current use of red diesel. The government is set to consult with red diesel users to determine whether continued access to the fuel is justifiable. The consultation will be conducted with a view to remove the entitlement to red diesel use, except for agricultural, rail and non-commercial heating purposes, by April 2022.

Commercial boats on open waters, including ferries and fishing boats, will remain entitled to the Marine Voyages Relief so will not face a charge increase if the entitlement to use red diesel is revoked. Continue reading “‘Red diesel entitlement to be removed’ consultation announce”

Cold straightening of bent shafts may save time and money

Posted on March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 by News Hound

The Gard P&I club believe cold straightening of bent shafts may save time and money. Some casualties involve damage to machinery parts which are considered very difficult to repair or deemed irreparable. This includes various types of shafts, such as propeller shafts and rudderstock. Large diameter shafts are subject to bending, which can occur during manufacturing, processing or through subsequent use. Such bending can occur in the rough forging of the shaft and when machining to final dimensions. In lively forgings the final cut for a keyway or similar can create bends. In some circumstances, the shafts will become bent after a period of use, or for Continue reading “Cold straightening of bent shafts may save time and money”

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