Liberian Registry issues notice on recall of rocket parachute flares

The Liberia Maritime Authority has published marine advisory 04/2025 on the Voluntary replacement and recall of rocket parachute flares Kokusai Kakoh Co., Ltd / Type: KP-16.
Kokusai Kakoh Co., Ltd recalled the flare due to concerns regarding the specified altitude and burning time when fired.

The item in question:
• Product name/type: Kokusai Kakoh Co., Ltd. Rocket parachute flares Type: KP-16 ➢ Date of manufacture: From February 2021 to July 2024. The Liberian Maritime Authority recommends replacing these flares in accordance with information provided by the manufacturer, “Instructions (for outside of Japan)”. Continue reading “Liberian Registry issues notice on recall of rocket parachute flares”

IIMS Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium 2024

Edition IV of the IIMS Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium has been published and is available for download. This is an essential addition to every marine surveyor’s online library. As you read and browse the 172-page publication you will discover:

– A wealth of safety briefing information.

– Detail of incident and accident reports from last year.

– Vital loss prevention guidance and advice from leading P&I Clubs. Continue reading “IIMS Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium 2024”

What caught my eye: December 2024

Fishing is world’s most dangerous occupation, says global survey

When I read this story in December 2024 despite the report coming out in October, it did not shock me, but it certainly saddened me. I guess we all know the inherent dangers that fishers the world over face. So, I read that a global safety charity is calling for urgent change and investment after its latest report named fishing as the world’s most dangerous occupation.

A quarter of fishers (26 per cent) have been harmed on the job in the last two years, according to Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s latest World Risk Poll report. Yet, data from the report shows that more than nearly three quarters (73 per cent) have never received any safety training. The figure makes fishing one of the industries with the lowest rates of training in the world. Continue reading “What caught my eye: December 2024”

What caught my eye: October 2024

Major new artwork unveiled on Sheffield & Tinsley Canal

The first artwork on water by Alex Chinneck, the sculpture celebrates Sheffield’s historic waterways and industrial heritage. It takes the form of a full-size canal boat, whose body behaves in an extraordinary way, performing a six metre-high, gravity-defying, loop-the-loop.

An artist renowned for the ambition and scale of his public artworks, Chinneck has previously made multi-storey buildings bend, melt, Continue reading “What caught my eye: October 2024”

What caught my eye: September 2024

Commercial sail power is back with a bang – who would have thought it?

It seems we have gone full circle. Cargo ships powered by sail were lost to us a century or more ago, and to the current generation such vessels are regarded as outmoded transportation from a bygone era. But now they are back, more sophisticated and sustainable than ever. Recently I read about the Anemos, which has claimed the title of the world’s largest sailing cargo ship as she made her inaugural voyage from Concarneau, South Brittany, France. Continue reading “What caught my eye: September 2024”

Key steps to avoid tugboat girting

Britannia P&I Club has issued loss prevention guidance to the maritime industry about tugboat girting
Britannia P&I Club has issued loss prevention guidance to the maritime industry about tugboat girting

Britannia P&I Club has issued loss prevention guidance to the maritime industry about tugboat girting. Girting is a situation whereby a tug is towed broadside by a towline and is unable to manoeuvre out of this position. Deck-edge immersion then occurs, quickly followed by flooding and capsizing, unless the towline is released in good time. This can happen very quickly and does not allow the tug crew enough time to abandon the tug before it capsizes.

Training: The vessel’s crew must be properly trained in the causes and possibility of tugboat girting. Avoiding excessive loads and ensuring proper weight distribution can minimise the risk of overturning. Continue reading “Key steps to avoid tugboat girting”

How to choose the right marine surveying professional development course for you (and guidance on what to watch out for)

Take time to assess marine surveying professional development course providers before jumping in is the advice
Take time to assess marine surveying professional development course providers before jumping in is the advice

Has your chosen education provider achieved an internationally recognised standard? Today, it seems easy to get duped by seductive marketing and one International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) member is urging others to do their due diligence when signing up for a marine surveying professional development course.

A few years ago, the member in question decided to add another specialisation to their skillset at significant expense. Once they had Continue reading “How to choose the right marine surveying professional development course for you (and guidance on what to watch out for)”

What caught my eye: August 2024

Iconic Greek island shipwreck at risk of disappearing

Image credit Wikipedia
Image credit Wikipedia

Like most other people, I hanker after a bit of nostalgia and this story took me back in time to a memorable holiday in the Greek islands. I was fortunate enough to visit the island of Zakynthos about 30 years ago. We took a boat trip out to Navagio Beach to view the iconic, badly rusted wreck of MV Panagiotis. My overwhelming memory was jumping from the side of the boat into the clear blue Ionian waters to swim the 50 metres to the shore fighting against a strong tide – and all to see a rusted, decaying hulk! The MV Panagiotis, which ran Continue reading “What caught my eye: August 2024”

IIMS Marine Surveyor Search app turns 5

Back in 2019 the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) saw the need for a modern solution in searching for a marine surveyor. Five years later and finding a qualified and experienced marine surveyor is still as easy as ever with the Marine Surveyor Search app, the only one of its kind in the world.

Whether you need a survey for a heritage, wooden boat or an LNG carrier, the app gives you access to 950+ accredited surveyors based in Continue reading “IIMS Marine Surveyor Search app turns 5”

IIMS marine surveying training receives international seal of approval

IIMS marine surveying training receives international seal of approval
IIMS marine surveying training receives international seal of approval

The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) has been awarded the globally recognised ISO 9001 standard for quality management of its training services.

ISO 9001 is the most widely used quality management standard with more than one million certificates issued to organisations around the world.

There are seven guiding principles of ISO 9001, which are customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making and relationship management. Continue reading “IIMS marine surveying training receives international seal of approval”

U.S. Coast Guard 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Report

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published its 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Annual Report. This report highlights U.S. domestic fleet inspection, deficiency, and marine casualty statistics and serves as a powerful tool that highlights trends, identifies key performance indicators, and draws attention to findings over the past calendar year.

The report presents information reflecting the U.S. Flag fleet including barges, cargo vessels, passenger vessels, vessels operating on the Outer Continental Shelf, research and school ships, fishing vessels, and towing vessels. Continue reading “U.S. Coast Guard 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Report”

What caught my eye: July 2024

An Englishman’s home is his fort

The three Palmerston forts in The Solent off the UK’s south coast are iconic structures known to many, dating back to 1859 when they were built to counter the threat of invasion by the French. For me they are a familiar sight, but I have never had the opportunity to land on these extraordinary structures – only admire them from afar with extreme curiosity.

But knowing they had been for sale for a number of years unsuccessfully, Continue reading “What caught my eye: July 2024”

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