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Hapag-Lloyd tests ship-painting robots

Ship-painting robot in motionTraditional manual work is increasingly being replaced by automated processes, such as self-driving Automated Guided Vehicles in container terminals. Thanks to robots, the quality of ship painting can also be improved and the docking time shortened. Hapag-Lloyd is currently testing the process with nine ships.

Keeping barnacles, mussels and algae off the hull – the subject of fouling is as old as shipping itself. Fouling dramatically increases drag, which results in high fuel consumption and makes it harder to achieve climate targets. So, it’s a question that repeatedly arises: How can fouling be efficiently and reliably prevented over a period of five years, when a vessel will have to go into a shipyard anyways for its regular classification survey? Continue reading “Hapag-Lloyd tests ship-painting robots”

Wavefoil is set to give ferries wings to optimize wave power

Photo by Wavefoil
Photo by Wavefoil

The boat wings (wavefoil) started as an unfinished idea in Eirik Bøckmann’s head. Now they’re being mounted on a ferry in the Faroe Islands.

Actually, he doesn’t call them boat wings, but wavefoils. Eirik Bøckmann won the regional finals of the NTNU Researchers’ Grand Prix with a lecture on wave-propelled ships in 2013.

The wavefoils on the front of the ship enable the waves to contribute to propelling the ship forward. This reduces fuel consumption. At the same time, the foils can dampen some of the pitching and heaving motion from the waves and provide a more comfortable journey.

Continue reading “Wavefoil is set to give ferries wings to optimize wave power”

Archaeologists have uncovered Viking-era boat burial sites in Sweden

The dig site with a skull in the ground - Image courtesy Arkeologerna
Image courtesy Arkeologerna

Archaeologists in Sweden have uncovered two rare Viking-era boat burial sites during an excavation in Uppsala. It has been five decades since the last similar find in the area, and national archaeology agency Arkeologerna described the discovery as “sensational.”

The team stumbled upon the Viking-era boat burial sites during the excavation of more modern ruins in Old Uppsala. The boat graves were buried beneath a well and a cellar from later eras. One of the two graves was quite intact, with remains of a man at the stern of the boat and those of a horse and a dog found towards the bow. Personal items – a sword, a spear, a shield and a comb – were also laid within the vessel. Continue reading “Archaeologists have uncovered Viking-era boat burial sites in Sweden”

IIMS recognises IMCA’s Technical Director with a Blue Water Award

Mark Ford (pictured left) is presented with his Blue Water Award by Mike Schwarz
Mark Ford (pictured left) is presented with his Blue Water Award by Mike Schwarz

Mark Ford, Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) was caught by surprise when he was recently awarded an IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveying) Blue Water Award at the IIMS London 2019 Conference Dinner held at 10/11 Carlton House Terrace in central London.

Mike Schwarz, CEO of IIMS quotes from his speech on the night:

“…….Talking about having good people around us, I am also reminded that we have some brilliant partners who we work with and they with us. One of our key partners who we have developed a solid relationship with going back five years is IMCA, the International Marine Contractors Association. We entered into dialogue with IMCA back in early 2014 and the result is the now acclaimed eCMID Accredited Vessel Inspector scheme. I am proud that with IMCA’s help we have been able to play a vital role in cleaning up what was once an unregulated offshore inspection sector. Vessel operators now know who is boarding their ships and boats and where the inspector’s competencies lie. It is testament that organisations such as Siemens, Vattenfall and Orsted, to name but three, have publicly backed the scheme. 600 people have come forward for accreditation. Continue reading “IIMS recognises IMCA’s Technical Director with a Blue Water Award”

MAIB issues urgent bulletin for owners of boats with retractable keels

A retractable keel - Photo courtesy of MAIB
Photo courtesy of MAIB

The MAIB has issued a safety bulletin on retractable keels after the capsize of a sailing boat on Windermere with the loss of one life on 12 June 2019. The bulletin contains details on the background of the accident, initial findings, action taken and a safety lesson.

At approximately 1220 on 12 June 2019, a RS Venture Connect sailing boat fully inverted, its crew comprised an assistant instructor and an experienced disabled crewman. The boat was knocked down in the windy conditions on the day and heeled to such an extent that the keel fully retracted. During the subsequent capsize, the disabled crewman became trapped under the inverted boat. The safety boat crew saw the accident and attended the scene quickly, but had difficulty righting the boat and so were unable to reach the crewman in sufficient time to effect a successful rescue. Continue reading “MAIB issues urgent bulletin for owners of boats with retractable keels”

USCG raises awareness on towing vessel’s unsafe conditions

USCG logoThe US Coast Guard has published Findings of Concern 009-19, entitled Corrosion Caused Casualties. The purpose of this release is to bring awareness to towing vessel’s unsafe conditions. Discovered during 2018 on a Louisiana towing vessel during a marine casualty investigation.

On September 25, 2018, an Inspected Towing Vessel (ITV), pushing a loaded tank barge, experienced a loss of steering and ran aground.

The marine casualty investigation decided the initiating event to the incident to be the port shaft propeller nut that was wedged into the rudder, which obstructed the free and full movement of the steering gear.

Continue reading “USCG raises awareness on towing vessel’s unsafe conditions”

Sunseeker appoints Andrea Frabetti as new CEO

Andrea FrabettiAndrea Frabetti has taken over as Sunseeker International CEO following the resignation of Christian Marti.

Andrea Frabetti, formerly chief technical officer at Sunseeker, will work with chief financial officer Mike McMillan and chief operations officer Michael Straughan to form a new strategic committee focusing on developing a strategic framework for the business.

The committee will continue to work with the current executive management team of Adrian Powell, Sean Robertson, Barbara Baker (as interim HR director) and Sian Dodds on return from maternity leave, to formalise a more ‘product-facing organisation structure and a robust global distribution network’. Continue reading “Sunseeker appoints Andrea Frabetti as new CEO”

Aisling Patrick accident caused by lack of compliance

Aisling Patrick sailing boatIreland’s Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has published an investigation report on a fatal incident involving the fishing vessel ‘Aisling Patrick’ 15 nm off Broadhaven, Co Mayo, on 10th April 2018. The accident resulted in one fatality. The report highlighted poor training and maintenance, as well as inefficient EPIRB.

On the 10th April, 2018 at approximately 07.00 hrs, the ‘FV Aisling Patrick’ departed from Ballyglass, Co. Mayo, with three persons on board to fish for mackerel between Erris Head and Eagle Island. Around 12.30 hrs the vessel began listing to starboard. The Skipper entered the wheelhouse and the speed was reduced to ascertain the cause of the list. A wave struck the vessel on the port quarter which pushed the starboard bulwark under water and flooded the deck. Almost immediately a second wave struck the port side again and capsized the vessel. Continue reading “Aisling Patrick accident caused by lack of compliance”

CHIRP has published its Maritime Feedback Report 55

CHIRP Publication frontpageThe CHIRP Charitable Trust has published Maritime Feedback 55. This second bulletin of 2019 contains reports on engine room heat protection, main engine failures, CBM systems, communications and hours of rest violations.

MFB 55 is currently available online in 3 languages; English, Chinese and Filipino and will soon be available in Portuguese.

The CHIRP Maritime Annual Digest 2018, giving a round-up of reports for 2018 along with insight articles, is also available online here.

A second study in collaboration with UCL Department of Neurosciences is close to completion and will be published in June. This second study focuses on “critical decision making” at sea and is a follow on from CHIRP’s “perception” study of 2018.

About CHIRP
The aim of CHIRP is to contribute to the enhancement of aviation safety in the UK and maritime safety worldwide, by providing a totally independent confidential (not anonymous) reporting system for all individuals employed in or associated with these industries.

Continue reading “CHIRP has published its Maritime Feedback Report 55”

Ammonia comes under the spotlight as a potential new low emissions fuel

Ammonia fueled shipAmmonia can be safely and effectively applied as a marine fuel to reduce harmful emissions according to new research published by C-Job Naval Architects.

The ground-breaking research uses a new concept design, a carrier fuelled by its own cargo, to study the concept of using ammonia as a marine fuel and achieve a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in shipping. It shows ammonia can be used as marine fuel if a number of safety measures are included in the design.

Niels de Vries, Lead Naval Architect at C-Job Naval Architects and research lead, said: “Reviewing all ammonia power generation options, the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is clearly the most efficient. However, it does have practical challenges as the power density and load response capability are not on an acceptable level yet. “Therefore, in the short term applying the internal combustion engine is the way to go.” Continue reading “Ammonia comes under the spotlight as a potential new low emissions fuel”

DNV GL has published updated bulk cargo liquefaction guidance information

A bulk cargo ship at harbourDNV GL Classification society has updated its bulk cargo liquefaction guidelines. Originally published in 2015, the revised guidelines are based on feedback from readers and practical experiences that have arisen historically. The guidelines focus on design and operation of vessels with bulk cargoes that may liquefy.

Specifically, the revised guidelines provide additional material to better describe precautions to be followed during voyages or even the steps to be taken in the possibility of cargo liquefaction.

Continue reading “DNV GL has published updated bulk cargo liquefaction guidance information”

New Allianz review reveals the lowest shipping losses this century

Allianz logoIn 2018, the maritime industry saw the number of total shipping losses of vessels over 100GT falling significantly to 46, representing the lowest total this century, said Allianz in its new Shipping and Safety review 2019. To put it into context, there were 207 total losses reported in 2000. Cargo vessels were the ship type involved in a third of losses (15) during 2018.

Key points

Shipping losses declined by a record level of more than 50% year-on-year from 98 in 2017, driven by a significant fall in hotspots around the world and weather-related losses halving after a quieter year of hurricane and typhoon activity.

The 2018 loss year is exceptional compared with the rolling 10-year loss average of 104 (down by 55%).

Continue reading “New Allianz review reveals the lowest shipping losses this century”

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