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Clipper Ventures embarks on expansion plan in China

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Zhang Xiaodong and William Ward OBE celebrate the launch of Clipper Ventures Chinese division Photo: Clipper Ventures
Zhang Xiaodong and William Ward OBE celebrate the launch of Clipper Ventures Chinese division Photo: Clipper Ventures

Clipper Ventures has announced the biggest expansion in its 23 year history with the opening of a new division in China.

The company, organiser of the Round the World Yacht Race, hopes that Clipper China will become the industry leader in the development of offshore training and sailing events in the country.

Together with running its own academies, the new division will build its own one-design keelboats and offshore racing yacht fleets under the aegis of British naval architect Tony Castro Design.

Announcing the news at the first China Sailing Cities forum in Beijing, William Ward OBE, chief executive and co-founder (together with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston) of Clipper Ventures, said: Continue reading “Clipper Ventures embarks on expansion plan in China”

AMSA has reported seven serious marine incidents in October

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AMSA has published a list of the most serious incidents that occurred during October
AMSA has published a list of the most serious incidents that occurred during October

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) informed that a total of forty five domestic commercial vessel incidents were reported in the month of October. Of these, seven were categorised as serious.

AMSA has published a list of the most serious incidents that occurred during October:
– A deck hand was bitten by sea snake while bringing in the nets. He could not be revived by emergency services.
– Vessel anchor rope become entangled in the propeller, damaging the rudder and seizing the motor, leaving the vessel disabled.
– A 10m yacht sank with 400 litres of diesel on-board. Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Australia assisted in the rescue of the crew.
– Vessel grounded causing damage to chain locker. A hull inspection revealed damage to the hull and bow stem.
– Collision between two vessels causing damage to Continue reading “AMSA has reported seven serious marine incidents in October”

European Maritime Safety Agency publishes an overview of maritime casualties in 2017

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Photo credit: EMSA
Photo credit: EMSA

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published its annual review of maritime casualties. It has reported a total of 3,301 incidents through 2017. The report reveals that the number of very serious casualties has continuously decreased since 2014 with 74 reported in 2017. A total of 61 people were injured and 61 ships were lost. During the 2011-2017 period, 405 accidents led to a total of 683 lives lost, which represents a decreasing trend.

The report contains statistics on marine casualties and incidents that: involve ships flying a flag of one of the EU Member States; occur within EU Member States’ territorial sea and internal waters as defined in UNCLOS; or involve other substantial interests of the EU Member States.

Key points
– With 3301 occurrences reported in 2017, the total number of occurrences recorded in EMCIP has grown to over 20,000. This amounts to an average of Continue reading “European Maritime Safety Agency publishes an overview of maritime casualties in 2017”

Numerous lessons learned from US maritime casualties in 2017 as NTSB releases its annual report

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US Coast Guard photo by Stasia Ellis
US Coast Guard photo by Stasia Ellis

The NTSB has published its 94 page Safer Seas digest annual report giving an overview of key lessons to be learned from a series of major maritime casualties.

NTSB has noted that many of the issues in last year’s report were recurring topics, including fatigue, poor bridge resource management, and distraction. The 41 marine accidents included in the report involved allisions, capsizings, collisions, fires, explosions, flooding, groundings, equipment damage, loss of life, injuries, and significant property damage.

The failure to maintain watertight integrity was the number one cause of Continue reading “Numerous lessons learned from US maritime casualties in 2017 as NTSB releases its annual report”

Inaugural Marine Surveying International Fest 2018 voted a hit

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On Tuesday 6th November at 11.00 UK time, IIMS opened the first 24-hour non-stop marathon Marine Surveying International Fest 2018, hosted live from the Institute’s offices in Portchester, Hampshire. The aim of the event was to recognise and celebrate as many different branches of the surveying profession as possible through a series of twenty four presentations with a new subject being introduced on the hour every hour. Presentations were delivered by experts in their field from various worldwide locations including Australia, New Zealand, America, Singapore, South Korea, UAE, India, Europe and the UK.

The heart-warming verbatim comments received immediately after the Fest from some of the delegates speak for themselves:
– “Despite the fact I have been a marine surveyor for 34 years the 24 hour Fest provided me with a massive (probably much needed) refresher course as well as new learning. Absolutely excellent in all respects. Congratulations and thanks to all.”
Continue reading “Inaugural Marine Surveying International Fest 2018 voted a hit”

Recommendations on reducing yacht racing risks released

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The report team found that the risk clearly depends on the level of congestion.
The report team found that the risk clearly depends on the level of congestion.

A new Volvo Ocean Race (VOR)-commissioned report has examined ocean racing at night in areas of high vessel traffic density to establish possible steps to mitigate risk following the death of a fisherman during the race.

The independent Volvo High Traffic Density Report follows the collision between Vestas 11th Hour Racing and a fishing vessel this January, in the final stages of the leg into Hong Kong during the most recent edition of the race. The crews recounted that virtually all the vessels had some form of lighting and exhibited AIS. The fishing vessels were either stationary or travelling at slow speeds of 3-6 knots and they did not form an impenetrable barrier.

Recommendations made in the report included use of Continue reading “Recommendations on reducing yacht racing risks released”

Cley Harbour rejuvenated after many years of disuse

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Photo credit: Chris Taylor
Photo credit: Chris Taylor

Norfolk’s Cley Harbour has received its largest traditional working sailing vessel for more than 60 years, marking its return to activity after falling into disuse.

The Coastal Exploration Company owned 30ft open wooden gaff rigged whelk boat Salford came into the harbour to deliver a cargo of North Norfolk beer from Barsham Brewery to the Cley Windmill.

Simon Read, chairman of Cley Harbour committee said: “This is the largest traditional working sailing vessel to visit Cley in over 60 years and will be mark a key moment in the rejuvenation of Cley Harbour.”

The clinker-built traditional Norfolk fishing boat has remained in and around Norfolk’s waters since it was built in the 1950s and was recently in the filming of Continue reading “Cley Harbour rejuvenated after many years of disuse”

IMO has adopted a plan to address the issue of marine plastic rubbish

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Dumping plastics into the sea is already prohibited under MARPOL regulations, which also oblige governments to ensure adequate port reception facilities to receive ship waste.
Dumping plastics into the sea is already prohibited under MARPOL regulations, which also oblige governments to ensure adequate port reception facilities to receive ship waste.

The IMO has pledged to address the significant problem posed by plastics to the marine environment, with the adoption of an action plan which aims to enhance existing regulations and introduce new supporting measures to reduce marine plastic litter from ships.

The plan was adopted on October 26 by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).

Dumping plastics into the sea is already prohibited under MARPOL regulations, which also oblige governments to ensure adequate port reception facilities to receive ship waste. Under the London Convention and Protocol on the dumping of wastes at sea, only permitted materials can be dumped and this waste – such as from dredging – has to be fully assessed to ensure it does not contain harmful materials like plastics.

However, studies demonstrate that despite the existing regulatory framework to prevent marine plastic litter from ships, discharges into the sea continue to occur. Recognising that more Continue reading “IMO has adopted a plan to address the issue of marine plastic rubbish”

Workboat apprenticeship scheme tackles skills and crewing challenges

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Training providers including 54 North Maritime and Red Ensign are drawing up plans to run courses for the scheme
Training providers including 54 North Maritime and Red Ensign are drawing up plans to run courses for the scheme

The National Workboat Association (NWA) has finalised its Workboat Crewmember Apprenticeship standard as the industry faces growing skills and crewing challenges in the thriving workboat sector.

This scheme is aimed at addressing industry concerns about falling numbers of young people entering the industry at ground level, exasperated by experienced seafarers leaving the industry, often by retirement.

As well as tugs and ‘multicat’-type vessels the definition of workboat in this context includes: offshore wind personnel transfer vessels, survey craft and pilot vessels, all sectors experiencing growth involving increasingly sophisticated and technically demanding vessels but still requiring seamanship skills that have been around for generations. The new apprenticeship standard has now been finalised, paving the way for the scheme to be rolled out by training providers across England and Wales.

The Workboat Crewmember Standard and assessment has been Continue reading “Workboat apprenticeship scheme tackles skills and crewing challenges”

New dry dock initiative uses inflatable buoyancy

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For the next phase of construction; the installation of the upper decks to take place, the dry dock needed to be flooded and the hull then towed to the wet dock.
For the next phase of construction; the installation of the upper decks to take place, the dry dock needed to be flooded and the hull then towed to the wet dock.

Unique Group’s Buoyancy & Ballast division has recently facilitated a high-profile dry dock project in Romania, involving the supply and operation of 840t of Seaflex inflatable buoyancy.

The hull and lower decks of the Australian Antarctic Division’s (AAD) new icebreaker Nuyina were constructed in the dry dock at Damen’s Galati Shipyard.

“Our Buoyancy & Ballast division is truly unique within the market and we consistently bring added value to our clients, working in partnership,” said Chris Sparrow, global sales manager, Buoyancy & Ballast at Unique Group.

“We get right up to speed early on in a project during Continue reading “New dry dock initiative uses inflatable buoyancy”

Preventing coal cargo from self-heating

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The atmosphere in each cargo hold should be monitored, at least on a daily basis, for CO, hydrogen sulphide (H2 S), oxygen (O2) and flammable gas (LEL-methane).
The atmosphere in each cargo hold should be monitored, at least on a daily basis, for CO, hydrogen sulphide (H2 S), oxygen (O2) and flammable gas (LEL-methane).

London P&I Club has analysed the problems associated with the transportation of coal in bulk, such as self-heating and flammable gas (i.e. methane) release. Self-heating can lead to fires and the production of carbon monoxide (CO), whilst methane release can lead to an explosive atmosphere being generated in the hold.

Self-heating normally occurs in localised hot spots within a bulk cargo, and temperature measurements are unlikely to identify problems. However, when coal self-heats it produces CO, so measuring the concentration of CO is the most effective method to identify a self-heating cargo.

The atmosphere in each cargo hold should be monitored, at least on a daily basis, for CO, hydrogen sulphide (H2 S), oxygen (O2) and flammable gas (LEL-methane). If the holds are being ventilated, then ventilation should be stopped at least Continue reading “Preventing coal cargo from self-heating”

How to conduct a safe bunkering operation

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A number of safe bunkering measures are required for each bunkering operation. These can be divided into four stages and checks
A number of safe bunkering measures are required for each bunkering operation. These can be divided into four stages and checks

The UK P&I Club has published helpful guidance to ensure safe bunkering operations. The Club said that bunkering operations are routine and critical, high risk operations which require to be carefully planned and performed.

Causes of bunker spills
Although the most of the bunker transfers are carried out without incident, very occasionally, things can and do go wrong. The UK Club notes that only a minority of cases do bunker spills occur because of failure of the hoses or pipelines, while the majority of spills result from a tank overflowing.

But these are not the only causes. Common causes of bunker spills can be summarised as follows:

– Improper set up of pipeline system valves: Potentially causing either overpressure, or flow of bunkers to an unintended location;
– Insufficient monitoring of tank levels during bunkering: All tanks, not only those Continue reading “How to conduct a safe bunkering operation”

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