International News

Elbit Systems introduces a multi mission unmanned surface vehicle system

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Seagull is a new unmanned surface vehicle system craft launched by Elbit Systems
Seagull is a new unmanned surface vehicle system craft launched by Elbit Systems

Drawing on world class know-how derived from generations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) design, development and operation and its naval capabilities, Elbit Systems’ newest offering in the unmanned platform field is Seagull, an organic, modular, highly autonomous, multi-mission Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) system.

Seagull is a 12-metre USV with replaceable mission modules, with two vessels capable of being operated and controlled in concert using a single Mission Control System (MCS), from manned ships or from the shore.

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Futuristic wind energy powered superyacht being pioneered by Inergy

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Inergy is looking to the future through its new Gemma series of superyachts
Inergy is looking to the future through its new Gemma series of superyachts

US wind turbine manufacturer, Inergy, has given an enticing glimpse into the future of environmentally friendly superyachts, which will be powered by wind energy. Gemma One, measuring just over 30 metres, will be the flagship vessel for the new Gemma series of environmentally friendly superyachts developed by Inergy.

The Gemma One is a new generation clean vessel. It is a practical, safe, conservatively styled, amenity-rich and highly automated boat that can be 100% powered by renewable energy, offering nearly unlimited remote operation.

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MAIB issues safety warning about close fitting jacketed synthetic fibre ropes

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Photograph showing LNG carrier Zarga at sea by Fotoflite.com
Photograph showing LNG carrier Zarga at sea by Fotoflite.com

The MAIB has issued a second safety warning after a mooring line failure on board LNG tanker Zarga resulted in serious injury to a deck officer.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is carrying out an investigation into the mooring line failure on board LNG tanker Zarga while alongside South Hook LNG terminal, Milford Haven on 2 March 2015, which resulted in serious injury to a deck officer.

Close fitting jacketed synthetic fibre ropes with low twist constructions are more prone to failure under normal operating conditions than other mooring rope constructions. This is especially the case where the diameter to diameter (D:d) ratio between a ship’s deck fittings and its mooring ropes, is less than that recommended by the rope’s manufacturer. The nature of the close fitting jacket precludes visual inspection of the rope’s core for signs of degradation. Operators of vessels using close-fitting jacketed synthetic fibre mooring ropes are strongly advised to contact the rope’s manufacturer/supplier to:

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Mega ships: boom or bust?

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Are mega ships the way forward? The debate rages on
Are mega ships the way forward? The debate rages on

Ship breakers are watching the evolvement of mega ships with much interest – not in admiration, but as a future source of metal recycling.

If we’re to believe the big container lines, who justify ever larger ships as the remedy for their financial woes, why are so many of them still losing money?

In the size race, Maersk Line led the pack with its Triple-E vessels of 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). But nearly all of its chief rivals, including Mediterranean Shipping Co., CMA CGM, Evergreen Line and China Container Shipping Lines, have been catching up with their own mega-vessels. Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) recently announced an order for six 20,150-TEU ships, and Maersk, among others, is likely to match that.

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Big year ahead for IMCA’s CMID Vessel Accredited Inspector scheme

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IMCA’s CMID users saw a host of improvements in 2015 with the release of version 9 of the document and the launch of the accredited vessel inspectors (AVI) scheme.

The feedback from the user community on version 9, its expanded question sets and re-introduction of supplements has been very positive. The only area of concern surrounds the desire of some users for the option to produce reports which are not watermarked, for vessel inspections which, for whatever reason, cannot be uploaded to the eCMID database.

In an effort to improve both quality assurance and security integrity in the system, the Joint Industry CMID Steering Committee made the decision to watermark all versions of the CMID that were not uploaded to the eCMID database. In fact, a number of inspectors have reported that their clients have registered vessels on the eCMID database in order to get a ‘clean’ report – thereby meeting the aim of this Continue reading “Big year ahead for IMCA’s CMID Vessel Accredited Inspector scheme”

Franmarine finalises in-water hull cleaning system Envirocart

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envirocartThe settlement of marine organisms on vessels underwater surfaces increases drag, fuel consumption (with increased greenhouse gas emissions) and can facilitate the translocation of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) into Australian and New Zealand waters. To minimize this threat, in water hull cleaning was banned in Australia and New Zealand in 1997.

In 2011 the Department of Fisheries – Western Australia (DoF) sought a suitable service provider to trial an in water hull cleaning system capable of cleaning and encapsulating marine biofouling from vessels over 40 metres as a counter measure to minimise the treat of introducing AIS into Australian waters.

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Advice issued about the routine fumigation of agricultural products on ships

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Cargo-FumigationNorth P&I Club has published a new free-to-download loss prevention briefing warning its members of the hazards associated with routine fumigation of agricultural products on ships.

The warning follows an explosion of pesticide gases on a panamax vessel, loading corn at Paranagua, Brazil, at the end of December 2015. This resulted in significant structural damage and was one of number of similar incidents reported during the last five years in Brazil and the USA. According to North’s loss prevention director Tony Baker, ‘The application of fumigant on vessels carrying cargoes such as grains, seed cakes and logs is common practice. However, failure to disperse the fumigant pellets properly has led to self-heating problems.

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Phantom T5 ROV deep sea drone makes its debut

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The new Phantom T5 ROV from Deep Ocean Engineering (Photo: AJ Cecchettini)
The new Phantom T5 ROV from Deep Ocean Engineering (Photo: AJ Cecchettini)

Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc., based in the USA has revealed its newest addition to its family of underwater drones, the Phantom T5 ROV.

The applications for use of the Phantom T5 span a broad spectrum of industries, but include port security, vessel inspection, salvage and SAR.

“The Phantom T5 open-frame architecture makes mechanical integrations a breeze, while the dedicated expansion bulkhead connectors, used for both power and telemetry, are provided as standard. In addition, an optional tool skid allows the customer to ‘bolt on’ their sensors or tools by plugging into the expansion bulkhead connectors for nearly limitless, task-specific, expansion possibilities” said John Bergman, Deep Ocean Engineering, Vice President of Engineering.

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Baleària orders giant LNG fuelled ‘smart ferry’

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An impression of the new LNG fuelled Baleària vessel that will be the largest ferry operating in the Mediterranean from 2019.
An impression of the new LNG fuelled Baleària vessel that will be the largest ferry operating in the Mediterranean from 2019.

Baleària, the ferry company head quartered at Denia, Spain, is to build a 232.2 m x 30.4 m LNG fuelled “smart ship” at Spain’s LaNaval shipyard.

It will be the largest ferry operating in the Mediterranean and among the largest in the world and is scheduled to start operations in 2019. It will have a capacity for 1,600 passengers (70% of whom can be accommodated in cabins), plus 340 vehicles.

Baleària decided to use liquefied natural gas and solar power as energy sources to “reinforce the idea of ​​the pleasure of travelling compatible with the respect for the environment,” said Baleària Chairman Adolfo Utor.

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EU releases new operational guidelines for ships in need of assistance

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The European Union has released new operational guidelines for ships in need of assistance at the Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas (SEARICA) Intergroup meeting in European Parliament.

The guidelines were developed by a committee comprising of Member States’ competent authorities with additional support from industry stakeholders.

It aims to promote better integration and coordination among the maritime authorities involved in response to an incident concerning a ship in need of assistance.

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Warning about potential dangers of new technology on ships

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North P&I Club has warned its members that despite the enormous benefits of digital technology on and around ships, there may also be some downsides. In addition to its recent warning on cyber threats, the club highlights some less obvious risks from the digital age in the latest issue of its loss prevention newsletter Signals – including video calls, emails, mobile devices and even 3D printing.

Loss prevention director Tony Baker says, ‘While many ships now offer technology such as satellite video calling to keep crews in touch with loved ones back home, care should be taken to ensure this does not make matters worse. For some seafarers, having easy access to friends, family and their ongoing domestic problems could lead to increased anxiety compared to the traditional clean break of departure.’

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Sky-Futures completes first ever drone oil and gas inspection

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A sign of the changing technology as Sky-Futures carries out its first ever drone inspection
A sign of the changing technology as Sky-Futures carries out its first ever drone inspection

Sky-Futures, the leading provider of drone inspection services for the global oil and gas industry, has completed the first ever oil and gas inspection by drone in the Gulf of Mexico for a leading global oil and gas service and drilling company.

The inspection is the first ever legally carried out in the Gulf of Mexico by a drone for the oil and gas industry. It comes just over 10 months after Sky-Futures received the 46th Section 333 Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Exemption Certificate to operate drones in the USA, and opened their first North America office in Houston, Texas. The inspection scope requested by the client included the Derrick, a heli-deck and 4 cranes on a Drill ship and was completed in 2 days. Current inspection methods would have taken 17 days to inspect the Continue reading “Sky-Futures completes first ever drone oil and gas inspection”

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