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Havyard designs a purpose built vessel for ESVAGT to meet the needs of the wind energy sector

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There is an expected NOK 1000 billion investment within offshore wind power in Europe alone. In addition, there is an increasing number of ocean windfarms around the globe. Farms are also increasingly further away from shore compared to previously. As a result, purpose-built vessels are needed. The equipment package includes DE propulsion system from Norwegian Electric Systems AS.

“We have developed a vessel that has met requirements from both shipowner and the operator of the vessel. We have balanced technical aspects with commercial requirements, and as such, we have been able to win this contract in a tough and competitive market. The vessel is due to be delivered to ESVAGT in August 2019, and will enter a contract with the Danish wind power company MHI Vestas and serve in the OWF Deutsche Bucht field”, says Sales Director Gisle Vinjevoll Thrane of Havyard Design & Solutions.

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Senior coating consultant, Jan Koudstaal, celebrates 50 years in the paint industry

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On September 1st 2017, Jan Koudstaal, an IIMS member and senior coatings consultant in the superyacht industry, celebrates fifty years in the business. On September 1st 1967, he started in the paint industry when he was just 18 years old as an assistant manager/calculator at a blasting and painting company. In the following years, Jan worked in several functions at (among others) Sigma Coatings and International Paint Benelux. His specialty became tank coatings and corrosion protection.

From 2006, he travelled the world for CCS Coating Consultants for Superyachts as senior coating consultant and Technical Manager. Jan has contributed a lot to the superyacht industry for his involvement in setting the standard for Acceptance Criteria, acting as an expert witness, being the Continue reading “Senior coating consultant, Jan Koudstaal, celebrates 50 years in the paint industry”

IIMS publishes three handy guides about insurance damage surveys

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IIMS has just released three new handy guides for sale on the subject of insurance damage surveys. The series of ‘What a marine surveyor needs to know about’ now boasts sixteen titles in total following the launch of these new handy guides, all of which have been written by the doyen of marine surveyors, Capt Barry Thompson.

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IMO updates guidelines for abandon ship drills using lifeboats

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Photo credit: Riley Huntley/wikipedia.org
Photo credit: Riley Huntley/wikipedia.org

At the 98th Session of its Maritime Safety Committee earlier this year, IMO plans to enshrine a range of amendments in to the guidelines relating to abandon ship drills using lifeboats with the aim of reducing related accidents.

The Committee approved the Guidelines on safety during abandon ship drills using lifeboats, following the amalgamation of annex 1 to the Measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats and the Interim Recommendation on conditions for authorization of service providers for lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear in the Requirements for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear.

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Report into the total loss of tug Thomas Dann published

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Thomas Dann tug (Dann Ocean Towing). Photo credit: Birk Thomas
Thomas Dann tug (Dann Ocean Towing). Photo credit: Birk Thomas

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an accident report about the outbreak of fire onboard the towing vessel Thomas Dann that led to a constructive total loss.

The incident
On July 22, 2016, at 1700 local time, a fire broke out in the upper engine room aboard the towing vessel Thomas Dann while it was engaged in towing operations offshore near St. Augustine, Florida, en route to Cape Canaveral, Florida. No one was injured, nor was any pollution reported. However, due to the extent of the fire damage, the vessel, which was valued at an estimated $2.5 million, was declared a constructive total loss.

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Guidance on the use of LPG installations on merchant vessels, fishing vessels, pleasure and other craft issued

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The Irish Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport issued a marine notice, providing guidance on the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installations on merchant vessels, fishing vessels, pleasure craft and other marine craft.

When handled incorrectly, the dangers associated with LPG systems include fire, explosion, burns and asphyxiation due to gas leakage from the system or accumulation of gas following flame failure in an appliance. Such incidents have caused loss of life and material damage.

The scope of recommendations includes:
Installation and Testing: To help prevent accidents with LPG systems, such systems should be installed at least in accordance with the Continue reading “Guidance on the use of LPG installations on merchant vessels, fishing vessels, pleasure and other craft issued”

Ecospeed hard coating stands up to polar research conditions

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Subsea Industries’ Ecospeed hull protection system will be applied to the hull of the 15,000 gt RRS Sir David Attenborough, the polar research ship under construction at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, Liverpool for British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

The decision to apply the Ecospeed hard coating to the hull of the new polar ship has been validated by the recent drydocking of sister vessel RRS Ernest Shackleton. The 80 m long vessel, coated with Ecospeed in 2009, drydocked last month at the Orskov shipyard, in Frederikshavn, Denmark, where the hull was found to be in “very good condition.”

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Iconic Shipping Forecast celebrates its 150th birthday

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The Shipping Forecast has provided uninterrupted service to the shipping world for 150 years
The Shipping Forecast has provided uninterrupted service to the shipping world for 150 years

Issued uninterrupted since 1867, the Shipping Forecast has become an iconic symbol recognised by people from all over the world. This most venerable of institutions celebrates 150 years of service. Yet still today, despite new pretenders on the block, it provides a vital role with information about impending warnings and sea area forecasts four times a day. What’s more, delightful names such as German Bight, Rockall, Lundy and Forties have become household names for many because of it.

The history of the Shipping Forecast
On the night of 25-26 October 1859 the British Isles were struck by a severe storm which subsequently became known as the Royal Charter Storm. The Royal Charter sank off Anglesey in a storm. Of 500 souls aboard only 29 survived. It was the largest loss at sea of the year and provoked a significant reaction about the need to try and predict storms to prevent ships from leaving port and heading into appalling weather conditions.

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Access to the updated IMO Dynamic Positioning guidelines made easy online

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It was in March 2015 that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to use the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) proposals as the basis for the review of the IMO Guidelines for vessels with dynamic positioning (DP) systems (MSC/Circ.645).

Now that IMO has published the update (MSC/Circ.1580), IMCA has consolidated the guidance into document 245 IMO which is quickly and easily accessible on the IMCA website, together with the original guidance contained in 113 IMO which can be found by clicking here – free for IMCA members but payable by non members. The guidelines for vessels with dynamic positioning systems (MSC/Circ.645) were approved by MSC 63 in May 1994 to provide the industry with an international standard for dynamic positioning systems on all types of vessels (see Guidelines for vessels with dynamic Continue reading “Access to the updated IMO Dynamic Positioning guidelines made easy online”

Lürssen delivers the gigantic 123 metre superyacht Al Lusail

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Photo of Al Lusail by Jan Oddvar Eide
Photo of Al Lusail by Jan Oddvar Eide

First sighted in October 2016, those who monitor and are fascinated by the superyacht world were sent spinning! The sheer size of Al Lusail is the first thing one will notice and at 123 meters in length she can lay claims to being one of the 25 largest superyachts in the world.

Her styling is unusual and grabs one’s attention, described by Lürssen as sporty and aggressive. The exterior was designed by H2 Yacht Design the interior by March and White. She is now berthed in Kristiansand, Norway, somewhere that superyachts often sail to following delivery from European yards. The superyacht takes her name Al Lusail from a new city in Qatar and she flies the Qatari flag from her stern.

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The process for reactivating vessels after a period of lay-up guidance issued

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The Shipowners’ Club has issued a guidance note, regarding the reactivation process for a vessel following a period of lay-up. In the guidance note, Shipowners recognises no matter if it be an offshore or any other type of support vessel, reactivation and bringing back into service requires careful management in assessing the risks following a period of lay-up.

As explained, the vessel reactivation specifications should be defined based upon the following elements:
– Lay-up Preservation Plan framework in place and Lay-up logbook records. Lay-up plan to be preferably approved by class.
– Last classification society survey report, docking report or any other survey report as applicable.
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Lessons learnt from bunker fuel contamination incident highlighted by UK P&I Club

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The UK P&I Club has issued guidance about a bunker fuel contamination incident which occurred onboard a general cargo ship during loading a bulk cargo. The Club has, provided details of what happened and highlights the important lessons learned.

This vessel was loading a bulk cargo in two of the vessel’s lower holds. During the loading operation, the vessel bunkered 500 MT of HFO into no.’s 2 port and starboard fuel oil side tanks. Shortly after the completion of bunkering operations, the Chief Engineer (C/E) noticed the level of no.2 port fuel oil tank was decreasing from observation of the remote gauging system.

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