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AMC designs true new hybrid vessel for wind farm crew transfer sector

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The systems incorporated within the design are all available and proven, they have been brought together in one innovative design.
The systems incorporated within the design are all available and proven, they have been brought together in one innovative design.

Isle of Wight UK shipbuilder, Aluminium Marine Consultants, recently announced a new 24m true hybrid wind farm crew transfer vessel design.

Six months ago AMC sought to take a step back and look closely at the feasibility of producing a truly innovative and radical vessel that would combine the durability of the existing aluminium crew transfer catamaran and the advances in hybrid power, not just related to marine, but to look beyond into automotive technology.

The vessel is based on proven design and exciting technology, but AMC stresses, one that will go Continue reading “AMC designs true new hybrid vessel for wind farm crew transfer sector”

Fire onboard ‘BBC Xingang’ stresses hazards associated with hot work

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The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has published its investigation report on the fire onboard the general cargo ship ‘BBC Xingang’, while berthed at Mayfield number four berth in Newcastle, New South Wales, in December 2017. The incident highlights that, prior to hot work, cargo coverings should be carefully assessed and adequate protection against damage or fire due to hot material should be provided.

The incident
At about 0600 on 11 December, a site supervisor and a boilermaker from a local engineering firm (Varley) boarded the ship. The process of Continue reading “Fire onboard ‘BBC Xingang’ stresses hazards associated with hot work”

Reasons for the demise of the London Boat Show and why the five day format was deemed wrong

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British Marine has cancelled the 2019 London Boat Show citing insufficient support, but what do exhibitors think happened and what impact will it have?

Following a year which saw the LBS reformatted from ten to five days and a tenth year of falling attendance figures, British Marine last month cancelled the 2019 show at ExCel London, claiming research showed ‘insufficient support from a large proportion of the marine industry’ for the show’s ‘current format, duration and location’. This, said BM, made the show commercially unviable.

A non-starter
It’s well-known that Earls Court was favoured as a venue but the show has been held at ExCel for 14 years with plenty of other issues Continue reading “Reasons for the demise of the London Boat Show and why the five day format was deemed wrong”

Overview of IMO Maritime Safety Committee May 2018 meeting

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The 99th session of IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee concluded on 25 May marking new steps and reviewing older developments towards a safer shipping industry on a wide range of topics. Autonomous vessels, piracy and armed robbery against ships, the Arctic shipping safety, as well as the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, were key topics on the agenda.

First steps to autonomous ships
The Committee endorsed a framework for a regulatory scoping exercise, as work in progress, including preliminary definitions of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and degrees of autonomy, as well as a methodology for conducting the exercise and a plan of work.

Continue reading “Overview of IMO Maritime Safety Committee May 2018 meeting”

Netherlands to impose degassing ban on inland navigation vessels

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This ban aims to make the air quality around shipping routes better.
This ban aims to make the air quality around shipping routes better.

The Netherlands will impose a nationwide degasification ban for inland navigation vessels. The Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Van Nieuwenhuizen, wants the degasification ban to be introduced in the Netherlands by mid-2020.

This ban aims to make the air quality around shipping routes better. Inland shipping vessels often leave harmful emissions in the open air while sailing. The degassing ban must provide about 95% less emissions of harmful volatile substances by 2023.

A taskforce will be created in order to ensure along with the business community that the introduction of this national degassing ban runs Continue reading “Netherlands to impose degassing ban on inland navigation vessels”

German authority report suggests containers on two ships caught fire probably from self-heating

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The German Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation has released its reports about two non-connected fires on container ships. The MSC Katrina was in the Elbe estuary when the fire was detected on 20 November 2015. The second ship, the Ludwigshafen Express was in the Red Sea when fire was noticed during an inspection in February 2016.

The first incident
The MSC Katrina was located in the Elbe estuary when its smoke detection system discovered fire. As a result, the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies had the ability to deploy specially trained firefighters.

Continue reading “German authority report suggests containers on two ships caught fire probably from self-heating”

DNVGL issues three free to read publications on tankers, bulk and gas carriers

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DNVGL has released a series of publications with updates on the tanker, bulk carrier and gas carrier industry sectors.

Tanker Update 2018
Articles on: market development, alternative fuels and technologies, cybersecurity and TMSA3, tail shaft notation, batteries on small tankers, environmental regulations, eco …
DNV GL Tanker Update 2018

Bulk Carrier Update 2018
Continue reading “DNVGL issues three free to read publications on tankers, bulk and gas carriers”

Key errors leading to inaccuracies in draught surveys

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The West of England P&I Club has said that it regularly receives claims arising from alleged shortages of solid bulk cargoes as a result of discrepancies between draught survey results. Draught surveys by their very nature are not an exact science and the accuracy of the calculated cargo figure may vary typically by between 0.5% and 1.0%. However, there are occasions when considerable differences in the cargo figures derived from the draught surveys have been obtained.

The commonly forgotten weights are:
– Bilge water present in the cargo holds, machinery spaces, duct keel, void spaces and the chain lockers.
Continue reading “Key errors leading to inaccuracies in draught surveys”

Propulsion system being prepared for Australian icebreaker Nuyina

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An artist's impression of Nuyina, Australia's new icebreaker
An artist’s impression of Nuyina, Australia’s new icebreaker

More than 8,600 tons of steel has now been shaped, welded and assembled into the hull of Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina.

A few key pieces of the ship’s propulsion system have recently arrived at the Damen Shipyard at Galati, including the propellers, propeller hubs and the sterntubes.

RSV Nuyina, will make her maiden voyage to Antarctica in 2020-21. The ship will be the main lifeline to Australia’s three Antarctic research stations and its sub-Antarctic station on Macquarie Island, and will support Australia’s leadership role in Antarctic and Southern Continue reading “Propulsion system being prepared for Australian icebreaker Nuyina”

Stainless steel bolts at offshore facility fail due to corrosion cracking

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A number of strain-hardened, Type 304 stainless steel bolts, (ASTM A193 B8, Class 2) failed unexpectedly at an offshore facility
A number of strain-hardened, Type 304 stainless steel bolts, (ASTM A193 B8, Class 2) failed unexpectedly at an offshore facility

The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) published an alert regarding an unexpected failure of certain kinds of strain-hardened Type 304 stainless steel bolts. The failure happened at an offshore facility during a pneumatic leak test of gas piping exiting a test separator.

The incident
A number of strain-hardened, Type 304 stainless steel bolts, (ASTM A193 B8, Class 2) failed unexpectedly at an offshore facility while a pneumatic leak test of gas piping exiting a test separator was being conducted.

Strain-hardening austenitic stainless steel nuts and bolts to increase their strength may increase their sensitivity to chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) and reduce their safe upper temperature limit. Other factors such as Continue reading “Stainless steel bolts at offshore facility fail due to corrosion cracking”

Recent marine bollard failures give USCG cause for concern

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There have been a number of shore side marine bollard failures whereby moored vessels were cast adrift
There have been a number of shore side marine bollard failures whereby moored vessels were cast adrift

The USCG issued an alert informing that recently, there have been a number of shore side marine bollard failures whereby moored vessels were cast adrift. In some cases, this resulted in damage to the involved vessel, as well as other nearby vessels and shore side structures, the USCG warned.

Neither the USCG nor the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has regulatory oversight over these items. In several cases, the underlying deficient material condition of the bollards was unknown until the failures occurred.

Key causes include:
– the rotting of organic bollards made of marine pilings,
– the undetected fracture of bollard castings due to manufacturer defects,
damage from previous overloads, or
– the degradation of bollard foundations and fasteners.

Typically, the failures are associated with abnormal dynamic loads transferred to the bollard from a vessel. The abnormal loads are oftentimes caused by Continue reading “Recent marine bollard failures give USCG cause for concern”

Ethylene vapors activate carbon monoxide alarm says safety alert

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A certified marine chemist traced the source of the vapors to an eight inch crack on a cargo vapor line
A certified marine chemist traced the source of the vapors to an eight inch crack on a cargo vapor line

The USCG has published a safety alert informing marine inspectors that ethylene vapors on LNG carriers can activate Carbon Monoxide alarms. Specifically, during an examination of a LNG carrier whose cargo tanks contained ethylene vapors, PSC Officers (PSCOs) received alarms on their portable four gas meters giving a reading of 60 to 100 parts per-million (PPM) Carbon Monoxide (CO).

A certified marine chemist traced the source of the vapors to an eight inch crack on a cargo vapor line. PSCOs initially thought the alarm was related to a combustion event and did not suspect the ethylene vapors were the source, because they did not get a Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) reading on their monitors.

The chemist indicated that the LEL most likely never alarmed because of high winds on deck. He further explained that the molecular weight of Ethylene (28 g/mol) was identical to the molecular weight of CO which accounted for the CO PPM readings. USCG personnel contacted the manufacturer who confirmed that Continue reading “Ethylene vapors activate carbon monoxide alarm says safety alert”

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