Yanmar Holdings and its subsidiary Yanmar Power Technology are to develop a hydrogen fuel cell system for marine applications based on vehicle fuel cell technology.
Initially the new maritime fuel cell system will be installed on Yanmar’s own test boat with field testing starting by the end of 2020.
The company will start with coastal vessels and work vessels in ports with the aim of expanding the Continue reading “Yanmar aiming for zero emissions using new engine technology”
The USCG has published its 2019 Flag State Control Domestic Annual Report, summarizing statistics regarding inspections and enforcement of regulations on US-flagged vessels. In comparison to 2018, the number of vessel inspections increased by 1,423 and the average number of deficiencies identified per inspection has increased from 1.26 to 1.48. The report also found that there were over 100 Flag State detentions.
As a result, the overall US Flag fleet inspection total increased in 2019 by 7%. Additionally, the number of deficiencies issued increased by 25% from the 2018 calendar year report. Continue reading “Over 100 Flag State detentions according to the USCG 2019 Annual Report”
A drone has successfully inspected a 19.4 meter high oil tank on board a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel. The video shot by the drone was interpreted in real-time by an algorithm to detect cracks in the structure. It is the latest step in a technology qualification process that could lead to tank inspections becoming safer and more efficient. Scout Drone Inspection and DNV GL, the quality assurance and risk management company, have been working together to develop an autonomous drone system to overcome the common challenges of tank inspections. For the customer, costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars as the tank is taken out of service for days to ventilate and construct scaffolding. The tanks are also tough work environments, with Continue reading “Scout Drone Inspection: Autonomous drone inspections move step closer after successful test”
The UK P&I Club, a leading provider of protection and indemnity insurance to the international shipping community, has published a guide for ship-owners to ensure compliance with the Inventory of Hazardous Materials legislation.
The guide addresses the technical aspects, important concepts, processes and requirements of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials, aiming to assist Members in ensuring compliance with the existing regulations and reduce the likelihood of reputational risks.
Over the last decade international and regional ship recycling legislation has been adopted, some of which is Continue reading “Inventory of Hazardous Materials compliance has new guide published by UK P&I Club”
The UK’s marine assistance breakdown service Sea Start has experienced one of its busiest periods, with call outs to engine breakdowns at sea amongst the busiest on record.
It’s blaming owners’ “desperate rush to feel freedom” overshadowing much of the normal spring preparation made by conscientious owners.
“The boating population have left their berths en masse,” observes founder and MD, Nick Eales, of Sea Start. “We have received a record number of call outs, many of them to report quite serious failures. It’s not a Continue reading “Sea Start: Record engine failures as owners fail to prepare”
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”
IIMS has published the twenty-third guide in its series ‘What a marine surveyor needs to know about’, this one covering the important topic of on-off hire condition and bunker surveys.
Capt Allen Brink, a Past President of IIMS and a marine surveyor with many years’ big ship experience, has authored this impressive handy guide, now released for sale. Allen was a driving force in the early days and was one of those who worked hard behind the scenes to get the Institute off the ground nearly 30 years ago.
Running to 244 pages, this comprehensive handy guide takes the surveyor through the main parts and requirements of conducting on-off hire condition and bunker surveys. The handy guide contains examples of a number of templated reports which the surveyor can adapt for his/her use. There are photos to assist, diagrams and examples of the certification and documentation the surveyor needs to inspect too.
The handy guide also contains the most comprehensive appendix with a selection of marine terms to assist the marine surveyor when conducting inspections of ships for charter purposes.
The recent second IIMS UAE Branch webinar on COVID-19 practical effects on “Claims handling and Surveys” – are they here to stay? attracted 436 registrations from 43 countries. The initiative was well-received by the community and there was excellent feedback by attentive listeners at the peak of the participation. The initiative taken by the IIMS UAE Branch to bring value to its local and international members was evident by the community coming together for this free to attend seminar for everybody.
Continue reading “IIMS UAE Branch online COVID-19 seminar attracts 400 plus delegates”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published its investigation report into the bottom contact of the passenger vessel Island Queen III near Whiskey Island, Ontario, in August 2017. In addition, TBS has issued three safety concerns relating to the carriage of lifejackets, the evacuation of passengers during an emergency, and specialized training for crew members who are responsible for managing passengers during an emergency.
In the early afternoon of 8 August 2017, the passenger vessel Island Queen III left port for a planned three-hour cruise in the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River, sailing out of Kingston, Ontario with 290 people on board. Almost immediately after departing, the vessel encountered three separate fleets of local sailing school dinghies, causing it to deviate from the planned route. As the vessel moved through a narrow portion of the route, it strayed into shallow water and struck bottom, Continue reading “Island Queen III: Three safety concerns after bottom contact of passenger vessel issued by TSB”
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has launched the first part of a two-part report which aims to highlight the significance of waterways heritage across the UK. The report is part of the IWAs on-going campaign to protect waterways heritage, the need for which was uncovered as part of their ‘Value of Inland Waterways’ report authored by Nicki Schiessel Harvey, which launched last year.
IWA has joined forces with the Historic Narrow Boat Club, National Historic Ships UK and the Railway & Canal Historical Society, who have endorsed the report, and with Historic England who has provided support and research evidence.
The report is focusing on the need for better protection of waterways heritage assets but is also calling on Continue reading “IWA: Inland waterways heritage loss needs to stop urges new report”
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has made some changes to legislation that will require certain types of commercial vessels, including trawlers, to carry float-free Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) from 1 January 2021.
The new legislation follows the number of capsized incidents that took place in Australian waters between 2015-2017, highlighting that none of these commercial vessels were equipped with a means of automatically alerting search and rescue authorities to their unfolding plight. Continue reading “EPIRB required on commercial vessels by AMSA from January 2021”
Transport Malta has published its investigation report on the sinking of the fishing vessel Zaira in Marsascala Bay, resulting in death of two fishermen on 4 May 2019. The findings from the investigation show that the vessel sank after flooding of compartments and a loss of stability in heavy weather.
On 4th May, Zaira was heading towards Valletta to seek shelter from inclement weather. The vessel was around 3.5 nautical miles from Valletta, when a high wave from the East caused it to heel heavily to the port side. Eventually, a second wave caused the vessel to heel further to port and she started to take in water through her hull openings. The fishermen lost control of their vessel and had to abandon it.
The combined wind and wave action caused the vessel to drift towards Marsascala Bay, where it eventually Continue reading “Transport Malta: Report issued into the sinking of fishing vessel Zaira in heavy weather”
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