UK government’s maritime biennial report: April 2019 to May 2021 published

The maritime biennial report by the UK government is available to read
The maritime biennial report by the UK government is available to read

Just published, the maritime biennial report outlines the UK government’s maritime achievements for 2019 to 2021. It compares them against the priorities of the 2018 to 2019 maritime annual report.

The following text is the introduction taken from the report itself. Maritime is the key transport mode underpinning international trade, securing the vital supply of fuel and food needed to keep the nation running, and is at the forefront of responding to the global technological, environmental and economic challenges and opportunities that we are facing. Continue reading “UK government’s maritime biennial report: April 2019 to May 2021 published”

United Kingdom National Maritime Strategy for the IMO Instruments Implementation Code

The UK Maritime Administration, collectively, commits to giving full effect to her flag, port and coastal State responsibilities and obligations, to advance maritime safety and environmental protection for our seafarers, our local communities, our economy and our international peers.

The UK National Maritime Strategy aims to support and facilitate the UK Maritime Administration’s implementation and enforcement of the III Code, and UKG Maritime 2050 by:
– Enacting and maintaining UK legislation;
– Enforcing all Instruments;
– Review and Improve performance; and
– Collaborate to grow capability and capacity;

These aims will enable the UK Maritime Administration to continually improve the adequacy of measures to give effect to the international instruments. Continue reading “United Kingdom National Maritime Strategy for the IMO Instruments Implementation Code”

UK Government opens consultation to strengthen the enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft

The Department for Transport has published a consultation document to modernise laws and clamp down on dangerous driving of jet skis to protect the public and coastal areas. The consultation will bring recreational and personal watercraft, such as jet-skis and speedboats, under the same laws as those who operate ships, meaning tougher sentences for those caught driving dangerously.

Under the current system, local authorities (LAs) have the power to regulate speed and nuisance driving through byelaws, with the power to fine those breaching the rules up to £1,000.

Continue reading “UK Government opens consultation to strengthen the enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft”

New Marine Conservation Society report: Decarbonising the UK fishing fleet

Photo credit: Fishing for mussels. @Pauleinerhand © Unsplash.com
Photo credit: Fishing for mussels. @Pauleinerhand © Unsplash.com

The UK regards itself as a leader on the world stage as far as preventing climate change is concerned. The UK has set a high standard so far showing the way with an impressive roadmap to cut its greenhouse gas emissions. It was the first country in the world to set statutory carbon emissions reduction targets in its climate Change Act of 2008, and in 2019 passed a law on net-zero emissions.

In a new report, a group of NGOs – WWF UK, MarFishEco Fisheries Consultants, Marine Conservation Society and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) – have reviewed the UK fishing industry’s response to climate change mitigation. Shipping companies are already working hard to reduce their emissions, and the orders for retrofitting and design for energy-efficient ship propulsion systems is at an all-time high. It is likely the fishing industry will be the next focus.

Continue reading “New Marine Conservation Society report: Decarbonising the UK fishing fleet”

Port of London Authority Harbour Revision Order consultation now open for comments

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has started its formal consultation on a draft Port of London Authority (PLA) Harbour Revision Order (HRO). The consultation is open until 12 October 2021. HROs amend the existing legislative basis of a port and are consented under the Harbours Act 1964. The MMO has, since 2010, undertaken this process on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Department of Transport.

The HRO is intended to modernise the Port of London Act 1968, under which the PLA operates. It takes into account the nature of modern operations and technology in use on the river today and the continued evolution of the PLA as a modern, transparent organisation. The PLA HRO reflects revisions made after an informal, pre-submission consultation in autumn 2019. More than 50 stakeholders contributed through the informal consultation phase. Continue reading “Port of London Authority Harbour Revision Order consultation now open for comments”

IIMS joins forces with four other leading organisations to form the Maritime Professional Council of the UK to influence lawmakers

The logo of the newly formed Maritime Professional Council of the UK
The logo of the newly formed Maritime Professional Council of the UK

Shipping and boating are going through huge technological changes, but the industry’s professional bodies say their expertise needs to be listened to when policy decisions are made in this vital sector. To make this easier five professional bodies have formed the Maritime Professional Council of the UK to make sure policymakers are aware of the considered professional opinions of those with the qualifications, expertise and experience to provide informed advice on the many policy decisions that need to be made.

The Council will bring together the collective voices of the United Kingdom based professional organisations for the British Merchant Navy and associated maritime industry. It will promote professionalism within the industry and offer expert opinion on maritime matters to the Continue reading “IIMS joins forces with four other leading organisations to form the Maritime Professional Council of the UK to influence lawmakers”

Canada’s new vessel safety certificates and inspection standard

Transport Canada has published an overview of the new vessel safety certificates and inspection standard effective from 23 June 2021.
Transport Canada has published an overview of the new vessel safety certificates and inspection standard effective from 23 June 2021.

Transport Canada has published an overview of the new Vessel Safety Certificates Regulations and Canadian Vessel Plan Approval and Inspection Standard. These new regulations came into force on 23 June 2021, and the standard is now effective.

Applying to all Canadian vessels and any foreign vessels in Canadian waters, the regulations specify which vessels require certification and inspection. The standard (TP15456) outlines plan submissions and inspection standards for Canadian vessels requiring a vessel safety certificate.

The new Vessel Safety Certificates Regulations update and modernize old regulations and Canada’s inspection regime. The regulations Continue reading “Canada’s new vessel safety certificates and inspection standard”

UK government releases its decarbonising transport plan

Decarbonisation Transport plan published by UK government
Decarbonisation Transport plan published by UK government

As part of the mission to cut carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions to zero, the UK government has released its much anticipated decarbonising transport plan.

This plan sets out the government’s commitments and actions needed to decarbonise not only the maritme sector, but the entire transport system in the UK, plus details on the scale of additional reductions needed to deliver transport’s contribution to legally binding carbon budgets and achieve net zero by 2050.

It includes:
– The pathway to net zero transport in the UK
Continue reading “UK government releases its decarbonising transport plan”

Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG

Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG
Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has issued inspection guidance for Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), Chiefs of Inspection Division (CID), and Marine Inspectors for the small passenger vessels (SPV) risk-based inspection program.

USCG continues to conduct statutory inspections on the SPV fleet in accordance with 46 U.S. Code § 3301; however, data analytics provide a new tool and modernized approach to the marine inspection program to prioritize marine inspection resources. Using various computational methods, machine learning-enabled software, and a database of deficiency and casualty information, the Coast Guard developed a model to categorize SPVs based on potential risk for an undesirable outcome.

The CVC-WI-028 “Small Passenger Vessel Risk Based Inspection Program” issued by the USCG Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CVC) on 14 June says:

Continue reading “Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG”

Failure or accidental release of the lifeboat hooks can be fatal

Lifeboats are designed to save lives, but over the years there have been many serious casualties that have occurred during drills, routine maintenance operations and inspections of davit suspended boats fitted with on-load release hooks. These accidents have also resulted in seafarers losing confidence in the lifeboat launching systems.

Lifeboat accidents have a variety of causes. Some of the more frequently occurring ones are:
• failure of the on-load release mechanism;
• inadvertent or accidental operation of the on-load release mechanism;
• inadequate maintenance of the lifeboat and its launching equipment. Sometimes the item to be maintained might not be readily accessible due to its location;
Continue reading “Failure or accidental release of the lifeboat hooks can be fatal”

MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels

MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels
MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels

Surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels across the UK. The unannounced inspections are being carried out as part of ongoing work around fishing vessel safety in an industry recognised to be one of the most dangerous in the world.

Since November 2020, there have been eight deaths –that’s more than ten per cent of the total for the previous ten years. Between 2011 to 2020, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), reported 60 fatalities from UK fishing vessels. The MCA says it has worked solidly with the fishing industry, reinforcing the messages about the requirements of legislation around standards of safety for crew and for vessels. Surveyors regularly carry out surveys and inspections of fishing vessels and detain those that do not meet the requirement of the law, until those deficiencies are corrected. Continue reading “MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels”

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises

In a letter published in The Times, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, patron of the Cruising Association (CA), has highlighted the devastating effect of HMRC’s demands for VAT on boats returning to the UK. This includes all British boats that had been out of the UK for three years having to pay VAT again on their return.

His letter is counter-signed by many other sailing names including Sir Ben Ainslie, Mike Golding OBE, Pip Hare, Dee Caffari MBE, Libby Purves OBE, Paul Heiney and Bob Shepton, in addition to the president of the CA, Julian Dussek.

The text of Knox-Johnston’s letter says:

“The freedom for yachtsmen and women to sail from the United Kingdom and return a few years later has been struck a deadly blow by Continue reading “Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises”

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