News

Echo Yachts formed in Australia

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A Singapore based family has formed Echo Yachts, a yacht builder that is to be located in Western Australia’s Henderson Marine Precinct. Their purpose is to undertake the building of the family’s yachts, including the largest ever superyacht built in Australia. The new company has brought together what would seem to be a regional who’s who of the Australian superyacht industry.

Commenting on the project, Echo Yachts director Mark Stothard said “Together with my partners Jurien Van Rongen and Nick Gardiner, we are thrilled to have been selected to head-up this project and we are very excited about the world class credentials of those who will be working with us.”

The 84 metre aluminium vessel will be the largest tri-hulled superyacht ever built anywhere. Construction will take three years from start to finish. The superyacht’s external design and interior styling will be led by Fremantle based (and world renowned superyacht designer) Sam Sorgiovanni. One2three Naval Architects, who operate from both Sydney and Henderson, will act as the project’s naval architects.

Princess Yacht founder to step down

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David King steps down
David King steps down

Having been one of the original founders of Princess Yachts in 1965, David King has decided to stand down as Chairman. Citing his wish for new minds to lead the company forward, Mr King will remain a director and focus mainly on new yacht design and development, an area in which he has always been heavily involved.

After a period of consultation, the Princess board of Directors has appointed Philippe Mellier as its new Chairman. Mr Mellier is the CEO of The De Beers Group, the world’s leading diamond company, and was previously the Executive Vice President at Alstom s.a., the world’s leading high-speed train producer. Prior to this, Mr Mellier worked in the automotive sector, holding senior and board-level positions within Ford, Renault and the Volvo Group. He brings to the role uniquely useful experience in high-quality, performance-focused product manufacturing, marketing and sales.

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Port of Salalah improves container productivity

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The Port of Salalah, the largest port in Oman, has enhanced its berth productivity levels to rank 15th globally and match top container ports in the world according to the independent research firm Journal of Commerce (JOC) which has produced the 2013 Port Productivity report for the second year running.

Based on the 2013 average container moves per ship, JOC has also ranked the Port of Salalah third in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, having achieved an average of 91 gross moves per hour (gmph), a 26% increase over the 2012 average of 71 gmph.

“Our employees have been working hard at improving teamwork and internal processes at the port, and the benefits are shared by our customers as well,” said Ahmed Akaak, Deputy CEO at the Port of Salalah, adding, “for example, we have reduced waiting times at the gate from over 70 minutes to less than 30 minutes, and moreover an astonishing reduction in breakdowns and downtimes, and overall improved levels of work satisfaction and teamwork.”

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Revised Boat Data Book published

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The Boat Data Book
The Boat Data Book

The Boat Data Book is a treasure trove of invaluable information for boat owners, designers, builders, marine surveyors and chandlers.

This updated seventh edition written by Richard Nicolson and Ian Nicolson contains new diagrams and tables of lengths, widths, weights and strengths as well as new data on a vast range of equipment from anchors to masts, propellers to gas cylinders, cleat sizes to winch bases, and hatches to piping.

This is the book you need if you want to find out:
• What size winch to fit
• The breaking strength of stainless steel rigging wire
• The recommended size for seacocks
• What length and size an anchor chain should be
The Boat Data Book is an essential reference book for boat owners, crew – both amateurs and professionals.

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UK SCWG talks propellers

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The UK Small Craft Working Group attracted a good crowd in double figures who met on 22 September at Grafham Water Sailing Club near Huntingdon UK. The day started when Elliott Berry introduced Eur Ing. Jeffrey Casciani-Wood and invited him to give his lecture on the preliminary design and the survey of propellers. You can download and read Jeffrey’s presentation Introduction to the design and survey of marine propellers  . Mike Schwarz was in attendance and gave a short presentation to update those present with some of the latest head office news.

After lunch a trip to nearby Clements Engineering had been arranged for the group. Those who came were given the opportunity to look around this facility where propellers are manufactured and repaired. Feedback was most positive with many saying how informative and interesting the visit had been.

Uk SCWG meeting at Grafham Water Sailing Club
Uk SCWG meeting at Grafham Water Sailing Club

IIMS sets up marine surveying LinkedIn discussion group

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IIMS LinkedIn marine surveying discussion group
IIMS LinkedIn marine surveying discussion group

The IIMS has recently started an online marine surveying LinkedIn discussion group, which already boasts over 100 members. The aim is to set topics for discussion on a regular basis covering all aspects of marine surveying and associated areas. The first subject for discussion on enclosed spaces brought some very lively debate.

Anyone in the group can contribute, or start a new thread, even if just seeking advice from others. The group discussion will not be heavily regulated and a simple set of rules and etiquette has been published that group members are expected to abide by.

Click to view the group.

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Plastic main propellers fitted for the first time

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Japanese classification society ClassNK and Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd., have installed the world’s first carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) propeller on a main propulsion system of a merchant vessel.

The CFRP propeller was installed on the Taiko Maru, a domestic 499 GT chemical tanker owned by Sowa Kaiun YK by Marugame-based Koa industry Co., Ltd. in May 2014. The CFRP propeller installed on the vessel was developed and produced by Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd., with support from ClassNK, which granted approval for the design and manufacturing process of the CFRP propeller, as well as provided research and funding support for the project as part of the ClassNK Joint R&D for Industry Program. Despite its ultra-lightweight composition, CFRP exhibits the same, if not superior strength, to the aluminum-bronze composite materials used in conventional propellers, according to ClassNK. Due to the light weight of the propeller, propeller shafts can be manufactured with smaller diameters, contributing to a significant reduction in weight and fuel costs.

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New Panama Canal means increased insurance risks

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As the Panama Canal prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, insurers are warning of the increased risks that will arise from its plan to double the cargo carrying capacity of ships transiting one of the world’s most important waterways. Every year, over 12,000 oceangoing ships navigate the canal, a figure which could increase significantly following the anticipated opening of the new locks in 2015. It is forecast the expansion will enable between 12 and 14 larger vessels per day (approximately 4,750 additional ships per year) to pass through the canal. Significantly, many of these ships are expected to be new-Panamax class container vessels of 12,600 teu, which are far larger than the existing largest vessels able to access the canal (4,400 teu).

AGCS experts warn the increased traffic and larger vessels may challenge the Panama Canal’s improved safety record over the past decade with the risks exacerbated through the initial period of the canal opening. Captain Rahul Khanna, AGCS’s Global Head of Marine Risk Consulting, explains the potential risk management impact of this expansion: “Larger ships automatically pose greater risks. The sheer amount of cargo carried means a serious casualty has the potential to lead to a sizeable loss and greater disruption. For example, a fully-loaded new-Panamax 12,600 teu container ship is as long as four football fields with a beam of up to 160 feet and could have an insured cargo value alone of $250 million.”

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Maritime & Coastguard Agency to be overhauled

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The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency to be overhauled
The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency to be overhauled

It is reported that the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency is undergoing a massive upheaval to help it cope with the demands of the 21st Century.

Between September 2014 and December 2015, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC’s) at Solent, Portland, and Brixham are due to close. Additionally, the sites at Liverpool, Swansea and Thames will become Coastal Operations Bases, but will no longer have a search and rescue coordination function.

The remaining nine MRCC’s wills be upgraded to Coastguard Operations Centres (CGOC’s) and, together with a desk at the London Port Authority, will be networked through the new National Maritime Operations Centre at Fareham to create a fully resilient national command and control network.

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Arctic shipping routes cause concerns for marine insurers

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The melting of sea ice presents opportunities for international marine transportation networks in the Arctic. Recent discoveries of oil and the potential financial and time savings are making the Arctic routes more appealing to the shipping industry. Two viable Arctic sea routes exist, enabling ships to move between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, thus cutting the distance between East Asia and Western Europe.

These new routes offer viable alternatives, but they are not without risk. Extreme climate and weather conditions create unique hazards, including floating ice, thick fog, and violent storms. Despite new safety features, vessels remain vulnerable to ice damage, machinery breakdown, and more. The harsh environment also creates challenges for crews, few of which have been trained for or have experience in such conditions, according to insurance broker and risk adviser Marsh.

The international shipping industry is keen to start maximizing the opportunities afforded by Arctic navigation. Yet the marine insurance industry — essential to the commercial viability of Arctic transit — holds a host of safety and navigational concerns, which may limit and/or prohibit the possibility of rapid growth in Arctic transit for the foreseeable future.

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IIMS YouTube channel launched

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youtube logoIf you missed notification in last month’s News Bulletin, or have not yet had the chance to check it out for yourself, IIMS has set up its own YouTube channel. Fourteen of the presentations from the June IIMS Conference were recorded and are now available to be watched online at the our new YouTube channel along with a couple of video on the use of moisture meters.

We aim to increase the video content going forward and will notify members when any new content becomes available to view.

Click to access the IIMS YouTube Channel.

MCA publishes new MLC 2006 M notices

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MCA, the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, has published a series of new detailed M notices relating to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006). These documents can be downloaded below in pdf format.

MIN 479 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Food and Catering; Recognised Courses for Ships’ Cooks for Food Hygiene or Food Safety in Catering

MGN 478 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Wages

MGN 479 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Repatriation

MGN 480 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Shipowners Liabilities including Seafarer Compensation

MGN 485 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Seafarer Employment Agreements – Application to Trainees

MSN 1838 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Minimum Age

MSN 1839 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Medical Certification

MSN 1841 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Medical Care Ship’s Doctors

MSN 1844 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Crew Accommodation

MSN 1845 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Food and Catering: Provision of Food and Fresh Water

MSN 1846 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Food and Catering: Ship’s Cooks and Catering Staff

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