News

Bunker fuel contamination cases are on the increase

Posted on by News Hound

UK P&I Club has said bunker fuel analysis indicates more cases of contaminated bunker fuel in the Rotterdam and Amsterdam areas (ARA), suggesting that the problem persists.

During July, Veritas petroleum services (VPS) issued a bunker alert regarding the same issue. VPS reported that they had investigated samples of very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) taken in the ARA region following reports that vessels using these fuels were experiencing operational problems, such as excessive wear of fuel pump plungers, barrels and injectors. Continue reading “Bunker fuel contamination cases are on the increase”

Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard training academy to support the Australian superyacht industry

Posted on by News Hound
Photo courtesy of GCCM
Photo courtesy of GCCM

A new specialised training academy has been established at the centre of the booming superyacht industry on the Gold Coast to support record growth and demand for workers as local and international buyers continue to splash out on luxury marine craft.

With a number of new boats of all sizes being delivered to buyers in Australia, arriving for refits, or just visiting the Gold Coast, the training academy will be the first in Australia to be established at a shipyard. The academy at the Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard (GCCM) will begin turning out an in-demand pipeline of skilled marine trades workers to fill labour shortages across the $80-billion industry, Continue reading “Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard training academy to support the Australian superyacht industry”

Port State Control Australia 2021 Report published

Posted on by News Hound

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has released its Port State Control (PSC) Annual Report for 2021, which shows that detention and deficiency rates per inspection have continued to remain low. AMSA Executive Director of Operations, Michael Drake, said the authority’s reputation for having a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance with internationally agreed standards, continued to have a positive influence on the quality of ships being brought to Australia. Continue reading “Port State Control Australia 2021 Report published”

New laws to restrict the way ships release ballast water into UK seas

Posted on by News Hound
The new laws, put forward by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), is based on the international Ballast Water Management Convention
The new laws, put forward by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), is based on the international Ballast Water Management Convention

New laws have now come into force which will further protect United Kingdom coastlines by stopping international ships from discharging potentially harmful species into the sea.

The Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Regulations 2022 introduces legislation into UK law controlling the discharge of ships’ ballast water into UK waters. Ballast water can contain aquatic species that are harmful to native UK ones and the legislation will stop ships from potentially releasing them onto our coasts. Continue reading “New laws to restrict the way ships release ballast water into UK seas”

The size of North American maritime’s carbon footprint revealed in new report

Posted on by News Hound

The Houston-headquartered Blue Sky Maritime Coalition (BSMC) has released a new report that provides a benchmark for CO2 emissions from the major vessel sectors that make up domestic maritime transportation in North America. The coalition, a non-profit corporation, is a strategic alliance formed to accelerate the transition of North American waterborne transportation (NAWT) toward net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the study gives some insights into what’s needed to meet that goal. Continue reading “The size of North American maritime’s carbon footprint revealed in new report”

Reclamation of underwater hull cleaning waste is essential to sustainability

Posted on by News Hound

Underwater hull cleaning may be a necessary and essential activity for many vessel owners, but it can result in substantial amounts of waste being produced. This is an obvious concern for companies anxious to enhance their ESG credibility.

Marine coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel says that recovering underwater hull cleaning waste material or reclamation is vital for the sustainable future of the industry.

“Reclaiming the waste generated from underwater hull cleaning operations provides assurance to vessel operators that materials generated from their operations are handled in a sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible manner, says AkzoNobel, Continue reading “Reclamation of underwater hull cleaning waste is essential to sustainability”

River cruise ship evacuated after suspected battery explosion

Posted on by News Hound
Suspected battery explosion causes evacuation of river cruise ship
Suspected battery explosion causes evacuation of river cruise ship

Dutch officials are investigating an explosion aboard a river cruise ship docked in Amsterdam as a likely malfunction of the vessel’s battery power system. The newly launched Viking Gymir, which was introduced by Viking for river cruises on the Rhine in 2022, features a new hybrid propulsion system that was developed in place of solely diesel propulsion on Viking’s other Longships.

According to reports from the Amsterdam fire brigade, they were summoned to the vessel Monday, July 25 around 6:30 p.m. after reports of an explosion in the engine room followed by a small fire. Continue reading “River cruise ship evacuated after suspected battery explosion”

Poorly implemented hot-work precautions led to fire on general cargo ship

Posted on by News Hound

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) of New Zealand has published an investigation report on the general cargo vessel Kota Bahagia, which experienced a fire in the cargo hold forcing the crew to evacuate the ship.

At about 0648 on 18 December 2020, two fitters from a local engineering company commenced hot works in number 2 cargo hold ‘tween deck. The number 2 ‘tween deck cargo consisted of nine 40-foot (12-metre) containers at the forward 5 end and six wind turbine nacelles at the aft end. Continue reading “Poorly implemented hot-work precautions led to fire on general cargo ship”

Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

Posted on by News Hound

On the 5th August 2022 the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) has appointed Mr Ian Revell as its new Chief Executive Officer & General Manager, in succession to Capt Andrew Clifton.

Commenting on Mr Revell’s appointment, SIGTTO President, Steffen Jacobson, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Ian Revell to the Society and look forward to working with him as he undertakes this key role. We have made a considerable effort to find the right permanent candidate for this position, and have no doubt that Ian is the person to take the Society forward in meeting its objectives for the future. Continue reading “Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) Appoints New Chief Executive Officer”

Joint industry initiative to tackle microbial corrosion issue

Posted on by News Hound
Image credit: DNV
Image credit: DNV

DNV has joined ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company and Microbial Insights, Inc in a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop the next generation of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) detection, monitoring and mitigation technology.

With global costs of corrosion estimated at USD 2.5 trillion, the project aims to significantly enhance detection and monitoring methods of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). MIC poses a significant problem in numerous industries, and taking early action to mitigate its effects can protect the environment and safe operations by reducing the risk of costly pipeline failures. Continue reading “Joint industry initiative to tackle microbial corrosion issue”

Momentum building for LNG fuelled vessels

Posted on by News Hound
Image: CMA CGM
Image: CMA CGM

The shipping industry is continuing its adoption of LNG fuelled propulsion as the current leader within the alternative fuel sector for new builds. According to the latest update from DNV in its Alternative Fuel Insight report, nine additional LNG fuelled vessels were ordered in July pushing the total orderbook above 500 vessels by 2028, which is approaching nearly two times the fleet of in-service LNG fuelled vessels.

DNV reports that there are currently 313 in-service vessels operating on LNG, mostly with dual-fuel engines. The number has grown rapidly over the last eight years compared for example to 2014 when there were just 50 LNG fuelled vessels in service. Continue reading “Momentum building for LNG fuelled vessels”

UK boat licence fees set to increase from 1 October 2022

Posted on by News Hound

In light of soaring inflation, which is impacting the costs required to keep the waterways safe and navigable, the Canal & River Trust has annouced an inflationary rise of 4% in UK boat licence fees from 1 October 2022. This is in conjunction with cost saving measures that the Trust is taking and actions to increase income from other sources.

Whilst recognising that a second increase in fees this year is regrettable, the Trust is facing significant increases in a range of its costs – notably the prices of energy, fuel, materials and other construction costs which are rising by more than headline consumer inflation rates, Continue reading “UK boat licence fees set to increase from 1 October 2022”

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