Government

Australian Government extends Domestic Commercial Vessel scheme levy-free period in surprise move

Posted on by News Hound

In an unexpected turn in the face of severe criticism from the local surveying profession and others associated with the maritime industry, the Australian Government government has announced an additional AUS$10 million in funding to support the launch of the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessel scheme (National System). The scheme, administered by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), officially started on 1 July.

Last year, in response to an industry backlash over new fees and charges associated with the Domestic Commercial Vessel scheme, the government promised AUS$102 million in funding over ten years and announced that no levies would be charged during the first year of the scheme’s operation.

Continue reading “Australian Government extends Domestic Commercial Vessel scheme levy-free period in surprise move”

Shipowners P&I Club issues loss prevention and fishing vessel safety publication

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There have been many studies carried out over the years showing that fatalities on fishing vessels remain a real threat.
There have been many studies carried out over the years showing that fatalities on fishing vessels remain a real threat.

On the occasion of the launch of Maritime Safety Week by the UK government running this week, the Shipowners Club issued its fishing vessel safety booklet, summarizing key safety tips for one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. There have been many studies carried out over the years showing that fatalities on fishing vessels remain a real threat.

It is essential that the vessel’s skipper and all crew are fully familiarised with the vessel and its equipment, including any vessel-specific quirks, prior to departing a berth. A pre-sailing checklist should be completed, including:

– The operation and maintenance of the fishing equipment.
– The location and operation of safety equipment, ensuring it is free from obstruction
– The onboard layout of the spaces such as void spaces, engine room and cargo spaces.
– The location and operation of key Continue reading “Shipowners P&I Club issues loss prevention and fishing vessel safety publication”

BPA calls for alcohol limits in UK recreational boating

Posted on by News Hound
Professional mariners and fishermen in charge of commercial ships are covered by alcohol limits but there is a loophole for those in the leisure sector.
Professional mariners and fishermen in charge of commercial ships are covered by alcohol limits but there is a loophole for those in the leisure sector.

The British Ports Association (BPA) has called for new legislation to introduce alcohol limits for non-professional mariners, replicating the rules that already exist for commercial ships in British waters.

Commenting on the anomaly, the BPA’s Chief Executive, Richard Ballantyne, said:
“As it is Maritime Safety Week its right that we revive the debate around the gap in legislation regarding alcohol limits for non-professional mariners. We understand there will be technical challenges to overcome and also that enforcement will not be easy but it cannot be right in this day and age that such a sizeable section of our maritime sector is exempt from drink-drive rules. There have been too many occasions when alcohol has endangered lives in the maritime environment, both within and outside ports and harbours.”

Professional mariners and fishermen in charge of commercial ships are covered by alcohol limits but there is a loophole for those in the leisure sector.

Laws to introduce drink driving offences for Continue reading “BPA calls for alcohol limits in UK recreational boating”

UK Government rolls out Maritime Safety Week

Posted on by News Hound
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Nusrat Ghani MP is undertaking a series of visits and making a number of announcements.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Nusrat Ghani MP is undertaking a series of visits and making a number of announcements.

The Department for Transport is delighted to announce the inaugural Maritime Safety Week is taking place from Monday 9 July to Friday 13 July.

Nusrat Ghani, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, said, “Safety is absolutely critical to underpinning success at every level and I want to raise awareness and highlight the excellent work which is already being done in this space by a diverse range of organisations and individuals. Maritime Safety Week has been created to do precisely that and provide a focal point to recognise contributions and celebrate success”.

Maritime Safety Week will provide an opportunity to share the wealth of knowledge, experience and best practice which you have and to increase understanding of what the sector is already doing to respond to the safety challenges it faces as well as plans for the future.

“As an island nation we have always depended on the seafarers, shipping and the wider maritime industry for our prosperity but safety isn’t just a concern for Continue reading “UK Government rolls out Maritime Safety Week”

Oyster Yachts plumps for new safety certification process

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Oyster will secure quality control over the construction of its hulls through a new mould production facility in Norfolk
Oyster will secure quality control over the construction of its hulls through a new mould production facility in Norfolk

Oyster Yachts has formed a partnership with Lloyd’s Register EMEA (LR) to secure a safety certification process to be implemented on all its new built yachts.

LR will approve the design, materials and build quality of all hulls and decks on Oyster yachts. To ensure compliance with LR rules, an LR surveyor will inspect all yachts in production once per week. As a result, all newly built Oyster vessels will carry an LR moulding certificate immediately upon completion. Oyster will become the only British builder of sailing yachts sub 24m to carry out this level certification.

Richard Hadida, Oyster’s CEO, said: “It is incredibly exciting to be working with such an esteemed, globally recognised partner in LR, another great British brand. This third-party accreditation will assure Continue reading “Oyster Yachts plumps for new safety certification process”

Hastily imposed retaliatory tariffs on US leisure boats are starting to hurt

Posted on by News Hound
The extra duties are part of the European Commission’s retaliatory measures against US steel and aluminium tariffs with leisure craft just one area affected.
The extra duties are part of the European Commission’s retaliatory measures against US steel and aluminium tariffs with leisure craft just one area affected.

All leisure boats imported to the UK from the US are now subject to additional duties of up to 25%, except those in transit prior to June 22. The extra duties are part of the European Commission’s retaliatory measures against US steel and aluminium tariffs with leisure craft just one area affected.

“We’ve identified some other products that are on the list and we’re asking members to contact us if they are affected,” said Andrew Harries British Marine senior external relations and communications executive.

“We’re making representations to the UK Government and trying to make a case that boats don’t fit in with the EU’s counter measures. The tariffs will have an adverse impact on small businesses – boats are a luxury item and we are reliant on consumer spending.”

He added: “Prior to the EU referendum Continue reading “Hastily imposed retaliatory tariffs on US leisure boats are starting to hurt”

Fatal inland accidents in Russia and Indonesia were avoidable claims ITF

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ITF is repeating its call for ILO and other international maritime bodies and authorities to take steps to move towards a modern set of standards for the inland navigation industry.
ITF is repeating its call for ILO and other international maritime bodies and authorities to take steps to move towards a modern set of standards for the inland navigation industry.

Following two deadly and harrowing incidents involving inland navigation vessels in Russia and Indonesia in recent weeks that have claimed the lives of almost 200 people, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has expressed its deep concern regarding the industry’s procedural and safety compliance, noting that these accidents could have been prevented.

In the first accident, a catamaran, carrying passengers over its capacity, capsized in the Volga River after colliding with another boat, killing 11 people. Russia’s Investigative Committee said the boat’s captain, who was also the owner of the vessel, was drunk and likely to blame for the crash.

The second incident involved the capsizing of a ferry carrying three times its passenger capacity on Lake Toba, Indonesia, leaving over 190 people dead or missing. The vessel was reportedly operating illegally with Continue reading “Fatal inland accidents in Russia and Indonesia were avoidable claims ITF”

Major survey regime change and shake-up announced as AMSA takes control of domestic commercial vessels in Australia

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All domestic commercial vessels are required to have a national law certificate of survey unless an exemption applies.
All domestic commercial vessels are required to have a national law certificate of survey unless an exemption applies.

AMSA, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and regulator, has announced that from 1 July 2018 all domestic commercial vessels that are required to have a certificate of survey will need to be surveyed in accordance with the frequency and requirements in the new marine order 503, and Part 2 of the Marine Surveyor Manual. This includes ‘grandfathered’ vessels, which to date have been surveyed in accordance with the National Standards for the Administration of Marine Safety (NSAMS) 4, the USL Code, or other survey processes.

So what does this mean in practice?
These changes implement the outcomes of the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) under the National System for Domestic Continue reading “Major survey regime change and shake-up announced as AMSA takes control of domestic commercial vessels in Australia”

Green light to adopt Methanol given as a sustainable marine fuel

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Topic areas of the project’s final reports include the technical feasibility of converting vessels to propulsion using Methanol
Topic areas of the project’s final reports include the technical feasibility of converting vessels to propulsion using Methanol

The Methanol Institute has welcomed the findings of the Sustainable Marine Methanol (SUMMETH) project, which has backed the increased use of Methanol as a marine fuel.

The research concluded that there are no obstacles to the efficient use of Methanol in a converted diesel engine and that smaller vessel conversion projects are feasible and cost-effective, with levels of safety that easily meet existing requirements.

Switching to Methanol would offer immediate environmental benefits, including close to zero SOx and particulate matter emissions and significantly lower NOx emissions compared to conventional marine fuels or biodiesel.

Continue reading “Green light to adopt Methanol given as a sustainable marine fuel”

Netherlands to impose degassing ban on inland navigation vessels

Posted on by News Hound
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”

Are ‘Smart Bolts’ the thing of the future?

Posted on by News Hound
Intelligent wireless bolts in wind turbines or satellites may be able to let the operator know when something is wrong
Intelligent wireless bolts in wind turbines or satellites may be able to let the operator know when something is wrong

In the future, intelligent wireless bolts in wind turbines or satellites may be able to let the operator know when something is wrong. This could reduce the risk of human injuries and save cost.

A research team at NTNU in Gjøvik is working to create bolts that send an alert when something is not as it should be or when maintenance is needed. Each bolt must be able to contact a control center, which will receive messages from all intelligent bolts of this type in all installations around the world.

The team working on these wireless bolts includes Professor Michael Cheffena, two fellows and the manufacturer Dokka Fasteners. The vision of the research team is to develop wireless sensors to be installed inside the bolts. If the sensors detect that something is Continue reading “Are ‘Smart Bolts’ the thing of the future?”

UK MCA and RNLI test drones for search and rescue

Posted on by News Hound
Image credit: RNLI / Nigel Millard
Image credit: RNLI / Nigel Millard

The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) have run a special week-long event to test the use of drones along a stretch of coastline at St Athan, Wales. The testing took place between 23 and 27 April. A selection of drones were used in four different search and rescue scenarios to explore how they could be used to help save lives in the future.

The scenarios were a shoreline search for a casualty, an offshore search for multiple casualties in the sea, a mud rescue and a communications blackspot where a drone is required to relay information between rescue teams and a casualty on a cliff.

Featuring RNLI lifeboats and an HM coastguard search and rescue helicopter, the scenarios explored Continue reading “UK MCA and RNLI test drones for search and rescue”

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