Can UK waterways business be saved?

“The patient is being left to die.” Those were the stark words used by Paul Rodgers to describe how grave he sees the situation that UK holiday hire companies, boatyards, boatbuilders, training operations, marinas, boat clubs and other waterways businesses find themselves in thanks to the collapse in business following the COVID-19 related shutdown.

There are now fears among waterways bodies of the demise of much of the sector as a result of the loss of this summer’s business – unless an immediate rescue package is put together.

Continue reading “Can UK waterways business be saved?”

IIMS advocacy acknowledged by Australian Senate as Performance of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority report is published

The International Institute of Marine Surveying’s (IIMS) submission to the Australian Senate, raising members concerns as to the direction and delivery of AMSA’s services for domestic commercial vessels, has been widely agreed with and extensively quoted in the Rural and Regional Affairs committee’s recently published report entitled Performance of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

IIMS expressed concerns over the new system’s excessive red tape, inappropriate and unsafe survey standards being applied and a lack of government concentration on safety Continue reading “IIMS advocacy acknowledged by Australian Senate as Performance of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority report is published”

ECPY clarifies yachting regulations in France

ECPY clarifies yachting regulations in France
ECPY clarifies yachting regulations in France

European Committee for Professional Yachting (ECPY) has clarified the cruising regulations for yachts in France following conflicting reports in the media.

ECPY said it had been in regular contact with the relevant authorities concerning maritime navigation and safety and all ports to remain updated on what yachts can and can’t do as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

It stated that regulations concerning merchant ships applies to yachts, in terms of navigation (orders of the Continue reading “ECPY clarifies yachting regulations in France”

Red diesel future for boaters in the UK

The future of red diesel for boaters in the UK
The future of red diesel for boaters in the UK

The Cruising Association’s Regulations and Technical Services group (RATS) has been in communication with HMRC and confirmed, as a result of the March Budget Statement, that it is their intention to legislate that red diesel in the United Kingdom can only be used in agricultural equipment, on the railways and for non-commercial heating from 1st April 2022.

Since the propulsion of waterborne craft does not fit into these categories, it is HMRC’s intention that they will have to use white diesel for this purpose. The duty on white diesel for boats will be the same as the full rate paid on white road diesel in the UK. This means that the present so called ’60/40′ fuel duty split will disappear but commercial vessels, such as fishing boats, will still be able to claim a rebate on the full rate through their ‘Marine Voyages Relief’ scheme.

HMRC are exploring the issues involved in introducing a scheme that allows private pleasure craft to pay Continue reading “Red diesel future for boaters in the UK”

Static towing assembly guidelines published by OCIMF

Static towing assembly guidelines published
Static towing assembly guidelines published

Static towing assembly guidelines: This information paper supplements the OCIMF publication Guidelines to Offshore Tanker Operations (GOTO) and should be read along with the relevant guidance for static towing operations.

The purpose of this information paper is to provide technical guidance on selecting fit for purpose towing assemblies that minimise risk of injury to crew members or damage to equipment, and to optimise the effectiveness of static towing operations.

This paper discusses the technical factors that tug operators should consider, in collaboration with terminal operators, when selecting the components of towing assemblies for static towing operations at both Single Point Mooring (SPM) and Floating (Production) Storage and Offloading(F(P)SO) terminals.

The recommendations in this information paper come from extensive industry data gathering and a Continue reading “Static towing assembly guidelines published by OCIMF”

MAIB business plan

MAIB Business Plan 2020-2021 published
MAIB Business Plan 2020-2021 published

The UK Marine and Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its new Business Plan for 2020 to 2021.

Purpose
To improve marine safety by determining the circumstances and causes of marine casualties and promoting action to prevent reoccurrence

Vision
To be one of the most professional, effective, trustworthy and influential marine safety investigation Continue reading “MAIB business plan”

MAIB publish latest Safety Digest

Latest MAIB Safety Digest published
Latest MAIB Safety Digest published

The UK Marine & Accident Branch (MAIB) has published a compendium of 25 cases it has investigated over the past months, with details of the incidents and their outcomes.

An extract from Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll’s introduction is as follows:
“I will start my opening comments by thanking Kathryn Neilson, Derek Cardno MNM and Paul Glatzel for the introductions they have written for the main sections of this edition of the MAIB’s Safety Digest. Their individual perspectives provide some insightful comments and, as ever, some useful pearls of wisdom.

Only a year ago, I wrote in my introduction about safe means of access, and that the MAIB had just started Continue reading “MAIB publish latest Safety Digest”

School boat for children in remote Pacific atoll of Fakaofo launched

New school boat for children in remote Pacific atoll
New school boat for children in remote Pacific atoll

Children on the remote atoll of Fakaofo in Tokelau will soon be travelling to school in style on a new school boat built in Christchurch with support from the Pacific Maritime Safety Programme. The Director of Maritime NZ Keith Manch said the boat will provide safe, reliable transport for around 50 children who must cross a lagoon to get to school each day.

The design and construction of the vessel, by ICON Custom Boats in Christchurch, was jointly funded by the Government of Tokelau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The 12.5m school boat has been named Te Kaniva, a name describing the traditional Continue reading “School boat for children in remote Pacific atoll of Fakaofo launched”

Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers

Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers
Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers

EU transport ministers held a meeting in Croatia and adopted a declaration on guidelines for the development of EU maritime policy, calling for an emissions trading scheme to cover ships from all countries with a target of achieving a carbon-neutral and zero pollution waterborne transport sector.

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations has expressed its support, saying, “The declaration clearly shows that the ministers place a huge importance on the competitiveness of the European shipping sector, in view of the vital and strategic role it plays in the EU economy, global trade and the common market.” Continue reading “Waterborne transport declaration made by EU Transport Ministers”

‘Red diesel entitlement to be removed’ consultation announce

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has shared plans to review the current use of red diesel
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has shared plans to review the current use of red diesel

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has shared plans to review the current use of red diesel.  The government is set to consult with red diesel users to determine whether continued access to the fuel is justifiable. The consultation will be conducted with a view to remove the entitlement to red diesel use, except for agricultural, rail and non-commercial heating purposes, by April 2022.

Commercial boats on open waters, including ferries and fishing boats, will remain entitled to the Marine Voyages Relief so will not face a charge increase if the entitlement to use red diesel is revoked. Continue reading “‘Red diesel entitlement to be removed’ consultation announce”

Former IIMS member Kelly Tolhurst is appointed as new UK Maritime Minister

Kelly Tolhurst MP is pictured with Prime Minister, Boris Johnson
Kelly Tolhurst MP is pictured with Prime Minister, Boris Johnson

IIMS is delighted at the news that Kelly Tolhurst, an Institute member for ten years when a practicing marine surveyor, was appointed as the new UK Maritime Minister on 13 February 2020. Kelly who has been the Conservative member of parliament (MP) for Rochester and Strood since 2015, relinquished her membership only last year. She takes up this key role at an interesting time with the huge political upheaval currently underway in the UK post Brexit and IIMS would like to congratulate Kelly and wish her much success in her new role.

Prior to being appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Kelly Tolhurst was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from 19 July 2018.

Continue reading “Former IIMS member Kelly Tolhurst is appointed as new UK Maritime Minister”

HS2: Inland Waterways Association pledges to protect UK canal network

IWA pledges to protect UK canal network from HS2
IWA pledges to protect UK canal network from HS2

Following the UK Government’s recent announcement that the High Speed Rail project HS2 will now go ahead, the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) says it will continue their decade-long campaign to protect the waterways from the worst effects of its construction and operation.

IWA has already achieved several changes to the project since 2010 but continues to be concerned about its noise impacts on many waterways and its damaging effects on some canal restoration schemes. Continue reading “HS2: Inland Waterways Association pledges to protect UK canal network”

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