News

Orders for Princess Yachts exceeded US$1BN in 2017

Posted on by News Hound
Princess Yachts orders exceeded US$1BN last year
Princess Yachts orders exceeded US$1BN last year

Princess Yachts recorded its highest ever sales in 2017 with record turnover of £274.4m, an operating profit of £7.9m and advance orders totalling more than US$1bn for the first time in its history.

Financial results for the 12 months to 31 December 2017 show turnover is up 26.6% on 2016 and advance orders 20% higher than the previous year, with results helped by a strong performance at the Cannes, Fort Lauderdale and Düsseldorf boat shows.

Antony Sheriff, executive chairman of L Catterton-owned Princess Yachts, said: “This has been a landmark year in the history of Princess. We have a clear vision to be the highest quality, most innovative and best luxury yacht producer in the world and it is gratifying to our highly skilled and dedicated 2,700-strong team that the market has responded in tune with our efforts.”

2018 has already seen Princess launch the Continue reading “Orders for Princess Yachts exceeded US$1BN in 2017”

Martek Marine provides superyacht D-Fence from drone threat

Posted on by News Hound
Martek Marine provides superyacht D-Fence from drone threat
Martek Marine provides superyacht D-Fence from drone threat

The superyacht fraternity are waking up to the growing threat that drones pose to privacy, safety & security on-board their yachts. Recent years have seen a massive advance in drone endurance, range and payload capacity whilst the price has also plummeted, leading to a proliferation of drones expected to reach 12 million by 2020.

Terrorist use of drones deploying explosives and poison gas attacks are well documented. The potential for a drone to deliver an explosive charge or even payloads such as nerve-gas on-board a superyacht is a stark reality. Paparazzi intrusion using drones approaching superyachts is already a recognised and growing problem. Yachts in port, at anchor or on coastal transits are simply ‘sitting ducks’ and currently powerless to know if/when they’re going to be attacked, let alone be in a position to defend against the threat.

To combat this emerging threat Martek Marine have Continue reading “Martek Marine provides superyacht D-Fence from drone threat”

Recent court ruling found cargo insurer not liable for general average contributions

Posted on by News Hound
Recent court ruling found cargo insurer not liable for general average contributions
Recent court ruling found cargo insurer not liable for general average contributions

A recent UK court decision has concluded that a cargo insurer was not liable for general average contributions as the owner had failed to exercise due diligence, which led to the breakdown of a vessel’s main engine.

The crude oil tanker, “Cape Bonny”, was sailing between Argentina and China when the number 1 main bearing failed catastrophically. The breakdown happened when the vessel was trying to avoid a tropical storm and towage assistance was needed. The shipowner declared general average and contributions were sought from the parties to the common maritime adventure, which naturally included cargo interests. The cargo’s contribution was assessed at about US$ 2.5 million.

General average is governed by the York-Antwerp Rules and is included into charterparties and bills of lading. However, parties to the maritime adventure are not liable to contribute if they can successfully prove a breach of contract.

A breach of contract is possible if the vessel was not fit to sail before and Continue reading “Recent court ruling found cargo insurer not liable for general average contributions”

Standard P&I Club issues a guide to fire safety on ferries

Posted on by News Hound
Standard P&I Club issues a guide to fire safety on ferries
Standard P&I Club issues a guide to fire safety on ferries

A fire is one of the most frightening things that can happen at sea. Often, seafarers have no ready access to the
emergency services when a fire breaks out and will need to rely on their own resources, courage and training to tackle and extinguish the blaze quickly to ensure the safety of the ship and everyone on board. To help Standard P&I Club has issued a guide to fire safety on ferries.

There are numerous causes of fire but the most relevant to ferries are:
– Electrical defects, such as overloaded electrical equipment, damaged cables and poorly formed connections. – Electrical faults in vehicles, especially when engines are hot/running. Reefer containers are major sources of fire.
– Mechanical failure, such as ignition from overheated bearings or a catastrophic engine failure.
– Uncontrolled release of oil or flammable liquid coming into contact with a hot surface, or the release of a low flashpoint fuel, such as petrol vapour, coming into contact with a source of ignition.
– Dry, readily combustible materials (such as wood, paper, textiles) coming into contact with an ignition source, such as a lighted cigarette, sparks or conducted heat from burning or cutting, highintensity lights or defective electrical equipment.

Continue reading “Standard P&I Club issues a guide to fire safety on ferries”

Pride Mega Yachts prepares to launch the largest ever superyacht to emerge from China

Posted on by News Hound
Pride Mega Yachts prepares to launch the largest ever superyacht to emerge from China
Pride Mega Yachts prepares to launch the largest ever superyacht to emerge from China

On Sunday 8th April in Yantai, China, Pride Mega Yachts rolled out its latest 88.5-metre (290-foot) superyacht Illusion Plus in preparation for her launch.

With her keel laid back in December 2010, when the company operated under the name CIMC Raffles Yacht Ltd, her build re-started on speculation, and is now valued at $145 million USD.

Branded by the shipyard as “the superyacht for the future”, Pride Mega Yachts states that one of the most valuable assets of the design is its interior volume, which, with a beam of 15.4m and draft of 4m, totals a volume of 3,603 gross tonnes, making her the largest ever superyacht to have ever been built in China.

According to Pride Mega Yachts, Illusion Plus has been developed using world-class consultants and designers to ensure she exceeds exacting standards set by the company.

Spread over six decks, her modern exterior lines come from the boards of Rainsford Saunders Design, who describe her profile to Continue reading “Pride Mega Yachts prepares to launch the largest ever superyacht to emerge from China”

ClassNK publishes guidelines for use of drones in class surveys

Posted on by News Hound
ClassNK publishes guidelines for use of drones in class surveys
ClassNK publishes guidelines for use of drones in class surveys

Leading classification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Use of Drones in Class Surveys. These guidelines incorporate the applicable range and procedures for use of drones in class surveys, the technical considerations for safe operation and the requirements for drone service suppliers.

Because drone-related technologies are improving at an extremely rapid pace, application in diverse fields is increasingly expected. In the maritime industry as well, efforts aimed at utilization in the field of inspections and surveys are being carried out.

At the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), discussions on the use of Remote Inspection Techniques (RIT) including drones in class surveys are already underway, and IACS Rec. 42 (Guidelines for Use of Remote Inspection Technics for Surveys) was revised in June of 2016. A revision of the related IACS Unified Requirements has also been completed and will take effect in January 2019.

On the other hand, when flying a drone in places such as Continue reading “ClassNK publishes guidelines for use of drones in class surveys”

DMS Holland to start developing stabilisers for fast-planing yachts

Posted on by News Hound
DMS Holland to start developing stabilisers for fast-planing yachts
DMS Holland to start developing stabilisers for fast-planing yachts

Following the successful development and subsequent launch to market of the electric roll damping system for yachts up to 30 metres, the MagnusMaster, DMS Holland has now started, in cooperation with Brabant Engineering, the development of a roll damping system for fast-planing yachts up to 30 metres.

This new AntiRoll damping system, like the MagnusMaster, will be produced as a standard-series stabiliser. Until now, AntiRoll has only been developed as a ‘custom build’ for super- and mega yachts. DMS Holland will be taking this patented dual-axis fin stabiliser and using it to form the basis for their new system. The fundamental concept behind AntiRoll remains the same, namely high-aspect fins that rotate whilst sailing and flap whilst the yacht is at anchor. It is stabilisation at fast speed that will form the extra addition and make it a 3-in-1 stabiliser. “How this will actually be achieved we are keeping to ourselves for a little while longer yet,” says Patrick Noor, DMS Holland’s co-owner responsible for sales & marketing.

Arnold van Aken, inventor of the dual-axis fin stabilisation AntiRoll system and co-owner / Technical Director of DMS Holland explains: “For years we have been Continue reading “DMS Holland to start developing stabilisers for fast-planing yachts”

Bavaria Yachts celebrates 40 years of manufacture

Posted on by News Hound
Bavaria Cruiser 45
Bavaria Cruiser 45

Bavaria Yachts is celebrating 40 years of business and an operational model that has most recently produced the Bavaria C65.

Founder Winfried Herrmann saw a gap in the market for a new domestic boatbuilding company and alongside his business partner Georg Haubner, with whom he ran window production company ‘HeHa’, publicly launched the first Bavaria yacht models.

In 1979 the company acquired its first production facility and subsequently appointed designer Axel Monhaupt. In the 1980s, yacht and charter agent Josef Meltl joined Bavaria Yachts, adding expertise that was instrumental to the company’s successful charter market entry.

From 1992, Slovenian J&J Design designed the new models, while in 2000, the company’s first motorboats were launched. 2014 saw Bavaria Yachts enter the multihull market with the purchase of the French catamaran manufacturer Nautitech and in 2015, the Bavaria Nautitech 46 Open was launched.

Expert design has been a constant focus of the Continue reading “Bavaria Yachts celebrates 40 years of manufacture”

Hugo Du Plessis HonMIIMS obituary

Posted on by News Hound

The sad death of Hugo Du Plessis has been announced at the age of 94. Expert yacht surveyor and author of a guide to fibreglass boat construction and maintenance, Hugo had been an Honorary member of IIMS for some years.

Highly regarded in the cruising world, Hugo was an experienced sailor. Born in 1923, he and his sister were home educated before he went on to boarding school and then to Southampton University where he studied electronics.

Hugo was just 16 when the Second World War broke out and he served with his father, Gerald, in the Boldre Platoon Home Guard.

Growing up in the English New Forest, Hampshire, in close proximity to the Beaulieu and Lymington rivers, his love of boats was born. Many happy hours were spent negotiating the low tide mudflats in various craft from a Sharpie to a canoe before he eventually purchased his first yacht, Crimson Rambler.

Continue reading “Hugo Du Plessis HonMIIMS obituary”

Gori launches a three-blade propeller for sailing boats

Posted on by News Hound
Gori launches a three blade propeller for sailing boats
Gori launches a three blade propeller for sailing boats

Danish propeller manufacturer, Gori, has launched a new three-blade propeller for sailing boats. The new folding propeller is an evolution of the original three-blade version they introduced in 1994 but lacks the ‘overdrive’ function.

The ‘overdrive’ function allowed the helmsman to choose the propeller pitch and profile in the water while sailing forward, by regulating the yacht’s shift and throttle control. It would then operate the same in reverse by first folding closed through the movement before opening again.

This new three-blade propeller has the same features as the standard propeller including the 360o pivot when switching between forward and reverse with the same pitch in either direction for improved stopping.

The original three-blade propeller had a very low Continue reading “Gori launches a three-blade propeller for sailing boats”

RNLI and Helly Hansen announce strategic partnership to help save lives

Posted on by News Hound
RNLI and Helly Hansen announce strategic partnership to help save lives
RNLI and Helly Hansen announce strategic partnership to help save lives

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Helly Hansen have announced a new strategic partnership that will support the lifesaving charity’s aim of defeating drowning.

Helly Hansen, the global technical sailing brand founded in Norway in 1877, has committed to supporting the RNLI for the next five years through a variety of life-saving activities. These include delivering drowning prevention messages to their customers, generating income, supporting fundraising and safety campaigns, product innovation and supplying the very best kit to the RNLI’s lifesavers.

Continue reading “RNLI and Helly Hansen announce strategic partnership to help save lives”

Improper securing arrangement of sea strainer cover leads to vessel capsizing

Posted on by News Hound
Improper securing arrangement of sea strainer cover leads to vessel capsizing
Improper securing arrangement of sea strainer cover leads to vessel capsizing

Shipowners P&I Club has issued a case study about the capsizing of a vessel due to a loose port side sea strainer. Whilst double banked alongside another tug for four months awaiting a placement in dry dock, a harbour tug suddenly developed a list to port. Crew on board at the time quickly investigated to try and determine the point of water ingress, but struggled as the water level reached approximately 1 metre in height in the flooded engine room.

As the engine room crew tried to establish and stop the source of ingress, the deck crew were adjusting the mooring ropes to keep the vessel safely alongside as the vessel listed further to port. Eventually, the master took the decision to abandon the vessel as it was no longer safe to remain on board.

Continue reading “Improper securing arrangement of sea strainer cover leads to vessel capsizing”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine