International News

Tackling the issue of underwater noise

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Korean Register issues guidance to help the marine industry tackle underwater noise from ships.
Korean Register issues guidance to help the marine industry tackle underwater radiated noise from ships.

The Korean Register (KR) has issued new class notation and guidance to help the marine industry tackle noise from ships.

“Several countries and ports have already introduced regulations relating to underwater radiated noise and some ports, such as the Port of Vancouver, are offering discounts on port user fees for vessels that meet the standards,” said a KR official.

”If our customers’ vessels have obtained KR’s class notation for underwater radiated noise, they will also be able to benefit from these advantages while reducing their impact on the maritime environment.” Continue reading “Tackling the issue of underwater noise”

Annual Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table published by the International Chamber of Shipping

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Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table 2021/2022 released by ICS
Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table 2021/2022 released by ICS

The annual Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table 2021/2022, from the International Chamber of Shipping, has identified reporting on seafarer wellbeing as a “casualty of the pandemic,” following its publication.

The Table is intended to encourage shipowners to maintain a dialogue with their Flag states, and help facilitate necessary improvements in the interests of safety, the environment and decent working conditions, among other issues. The Flag State of a merchant ship is the jurisdiction under whose laws the ship is registered or licensed and is deemed the nationality of the vessel.

This year’s Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table highlights a drop in levels of reporting on the status of national ILO labour Continue reading “Annual Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table published by the International Chamber of Shipping”

Using remote survey techniques to augment shipyard surveys being examined

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A pioneering joint development project (JDP) between ABS and Nakilat – Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. (N-KOM) will examine how techniques developed by ABS for its industry-leading program of remote survey of vessels in service can be applied to surveys and inspections in the shipyard.

Remote inspection technologies will be applied to six Class surveys for this trial, to test how they can then be used to verify the required survey or inspection by ABS Surveyors to optimize scheduling and minimize downtime for both the shipyard, vessels and ABS.

The JDP will examine how remote techniques can be carried out on rudder clearance inspection; stern tube weardown inspection; rudder Continue reading “Using remote survey techniques to augment shipyard surveys being examined”

IIMS February News Bulletin published

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The 26 page February News Bulletin from IIMS has been published and it’s been a busy news month, both for the Head Office team and with breaking news from around the industry affecting the surveying profession.

Download the News Bulletin for more information about the following topics and more:
– The advice is: keep batteries of any kind away from metal objects
– Important recently announced MCA amendments
– Getting to zero coalition – closing the gap: A new report
– BEIS releases five guidance documents on the UKCA mark in preparation for 1 January 2023 Continue reading “IIMS February News Bulletin published”

Corrosion of tank containers’ inner surface now the main cause of claims says TT Club

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The main cause of claims is from corrosion of tank containers’ inner surface
The main cause of claims is from corrosion of tank containers’ inner surface

TT Club’s analysis of 2020 claims points to an increase in impact related incidents, with corrosion of tank containers’ inner surface and contamination caused by cargoes previously carried as significant other causes of loss.

The analysis makes clear that the effects of increased volumes of tank containers used to trade chemicals and other liquids on the primary east-west trades have altered, to a degree, the risk profile of damage to such units. While in previous years there has been a consistent dominance of contamination as the major source of losses for tank container operators, the current figures show impact incidents as the foremost causation. Continue reading “Corrosion of tank containers’ inner surface now the main cause of claims says TT Club”

Major changes in the ABS Marine Vessel Rules announced from January 2022

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The ABS 2022 Marine Vessel Rules have changed in January 2022, in some cases significantly
The ABS 2022 Marine Vessel Rules have changed in January 2022, in some cases significantly

In an open communication to the maritime industry, Adam W. Moilanen, Vice President/Chief Surveyor with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), has written to advise of the raft of major changes in the ABS 2022 Marine Vessel Rules, Material and Welding, High Speed Craft, Mobile Offshore Units (MOU), Facility on Offshore Installations (FAC) and Single Point Moorings (SPM) that became effective on 1 January 1 2022.

In brief, the changes to the ABS 2022 Marine Vessel Rules are: Continue reading “Major changes in the ABS Marine Vessel Rules announced from January 2022”

APL England Master charged with operating a vessel in an unseaworthy condition

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Photo credit: AMSA
Photo credit: AMSA

Almost two years after the containership APL England lost containers overboard in a storm, a court in Brisbane has entered formal charges against the captain clearing the way for a trial to proceed. The prosecutor failed to make the case for one set of charges against the captain for pollution but the court agreed he should face charges of operating the ship in an unseaworthy condition. The charges were filed against the captain while the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau continues its investigation and is yet to release a final report on the incident. Continue reading “APL England Master charged with operating a vessel in an unseaworthy condition”

World’s first autonomous ship completes successful voyage in Japan

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Photo credit: Nippon Foundation
Photo credit: Nippon Foundation

The demonstration test of what is claimed to be the world’s first fully autonomous ship navigation system was successfully carried out in January in Japan according to the Nippon Foundation.

The large ferry has autonomously navigated over a 149 mile (240 km) stretch of Japan’s Iyonda Sea at the speed of 26 knots (30 mph or 48 kph) and also performed the docking procedures at the end of its voyage.

The technology used in the demonstration was developed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Nippon Foundation, and it was used Continue reading “World’s first autonomous ship completes successful voyage in Japan”

Problems verifying electronic statutory and class certificates noted by Gard

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Problems verifying electronic statutory and class certificates noted by Gard
Problems verifying electronic statutory and class certificates noted by Gard

Ships continue to experience instances of port state control interventions, and sometimes hefty fines, allegedly because the validity of their electronic statutory and class certificates cannot be verified during onboard inspections.

The practice of issuing signed paper certificates to document compliance with maritime rules and regulations may be nearing its end. Recognising that paper certificates are subject to loss or damage and can be impractical to send to globally-trading ships, most major flag administrations, and classification societies, now facilitate the use of electronic certificates. The process has also been formalized through IMO documents, such as the “Guidelines for the use of electronic certificates” (FAL.5/Circ.39) and the harmonised “Procedures for port state control”, and in accordance with the latter, port state control officers (PSCOs) are requested to note that: Continue reading “Problems verifying electronic statutory and class certificates noted by Gard”

Getting to zero coalition – Closing the Gap: A new report

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Shipping is a cornerstone of global trade and, as such, the GHG emissions created by shipping are significant and rising, accounting for almost 3% of global anthropogenic emissions (Faber et al. 2020a). Recent projections suggest that by 2050, shipping emissions will increase by between 90-130% of 2008 emissions by 2050 (ibid.). However, in April 2018, the IMO adopted the Initial GHG Strategy which set the ambition to reduce total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050, while pursuing effort towards phasing out GHG emissions this century as a matter of urgency, consistent with the Paris Agreement temperature goal. With emissions projected to rise and international targets having been set, the question becomes, how these targets can be met by shipping? Continue reading “Getting to zero coalition – Closing the Gap: A new report”

Maritime Safety Report 2012-2021

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Maritime Safety Report Maritime Safety Report: 2012-2021 released
Maritime Safety Report: 2012-2021 released

Shipping has seen a significant improvement in safety over the past decade as higher standards of ship construction and operation have cut the number of casualties, but emerging risks from new fuels and digital technologies must be mitigated to maintain progress, according to DNV.

It follows the release of a major new analysis, ‘Maritime Safety 2012-2021: a decade of progress’, from Lloyd’s List Intelligence and DNV that shows a marked decline in casualties, losses and detentions over the period.

Between 2012 and 2021, the tally of annual casualties declined 20% from 1922 to 1537 and losses resulting from casualties dropped 56% Continue reading “Maritime Safety Report 2012-2021”

Leading Maritime Cities report 2022 by DNV and Menon published

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The 2022 edition of the Leading Maritime Cities (LMC) report was launched at an event hosted by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF).

There have been many dramatic developments since the last edition of the LMC report was published in 2019. For one, we are still living with the pandemic. Two years of fluctuating restrictions have caused severe trade and travel upsets. Extreme weather events have made us all more acutely aware of the climate crisis, another major driver of change. Shipowners, charterers, cargo owners and lenders are gearing up for a decarbonized future, with rapid adoption of zero-carbon fuels expected over the next decade. Ongoing digitalization, including Continue reading “Leading Maritime Cities report 2022 by DNV and Menon published”

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