International News

Shipwreck of 500-Year-Old Vessel Discovered in Baltic Sea Looks ‘Like it Sank Yesterday’

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Credit: Deep Sea Productions/MMT
Credit: Deep Sea Productions/MMT

An international team of scientists has announced the discovery of a shipwreck. The 500-year-old ship remains pristinely intact in the cold, dark depths of the Baltic Sea.

Scientists say the shipwreck is perhaps the best preserved shipwreck of its period yet to be discovered.

It was first detected in 2009 by the Swedish Maritime Administration using state-of-the-art sonar. For years it went unexplored until earlier this year when, as part of work carried out by survey specialists MMT, the wreck was identified as having great archaeological and historical significance.

Further inspection of the wreck was led by Dr. Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz, Continue reading “Shipwreck of 500-Year-Old Vessel Discovered in Baltic Sea Looks ‘Like it Sank Yesterday’”

Moonen Yachts, Dutch superyacht builder, declared bankrupt

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Dutch superyacht builder Moonen Yachts declared bankrupt
Dutch superyacht builder Moonen Yachts declared bankrupt

A Dutch court has declared the yacht builder Moonen Yachts bankrupt, according to multiple reports. The decision has been made just two weeks after Moonen had announced they had been about to close a deal with a new investor.

Despite the bankruptcy procedure, the builder will continue negotiations with the potential investor. Furthermore, the new potential stakeholder of the yard can even benefit from the bankruptcy, as they will be relieved of the responsibility Continue reading “Moonen Yachts, Dutch superyacht builder, declared bankrupt”

BSU draws attention to watertight integrity after collision

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BSU draws attention to watertight integrity after collision
BSU draws attention to watertight integrity after collision

Germany’s Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) has drawn operators’ attention in a recent collision incident involving a container ship and a fishing vessel on the river Elbe off Stadersand earlier in 2019.

The German schooner ‘No. 5 Elbe’, built in the 19th century, collided with the Cyprus-flagged 141-meter-long container ship ‘Astrosprinter’ about 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of Hamburg on 8 June 2019.

A total of 28 passengers and 15 crew were onboard the schooner at the time of the incident.

The vessel managed to reach the Schwinge estuary without assistance, Continue reading “BSU draws attention to watertight integrity after collision”

Norway plans to eliminate accidents involving recreational boats

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Norway plans to eliminate recreational boat accidents
Norway plans to eliminate recreational boat accidents

The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Torbjørn Røe has initiated an action plan to reduce the number of serious accidents related with the use of recreational boats in Norwegian waters. The government has a zero-accidents vision for boat traffic.

The target is to achieve zero accidents associated with recreational boats at sea. For this reason, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate was tasked to prepare the plan, which covers the period from 2019 to 2023.

In addition to the zero vision, an ambitious milestone for the first period has been set: 50% reduction in the number of fatalities associated with use of recreational boats before the end of the planning period.

“We want everyone to come home safely when they have been on the sea, Continue reading “Norway plans to eliminate accidents involving recreational boats”

The role of the Special Casualty Representative in the salvage of mega box ships

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Nick Haslam, Principal Master Mariner at Brookes Bell is an experienced Special Casualty Representative
Nick Haslam, Principal Master Mariner at Brookes Bell is an experienced Special Casualty Representative

Amid the growing trend of an increase in ship sizes, Mr. Nick Haslam, Principal Master Mariner at Brookes Bell, uses his insight as a Special Casualty Representative (SCR) to consider what the priorities are during salvage of mega box ships. This article was first published in the Standard P&I Club’s Mega Box Ship bulletin.

Definition of an Special Casualty Representative
The role of the Special Casualty Representative (SCR) is to monitor the salvage services and operation then provide a final salvage report, which forms the basis for the settlement of any claim for SCOPIC remuneration (under the Special Compensation P&I Clause) that the salvor might have with the shipowner. Whilst usually appointed by the shipowner and/or its P&I club, the SCR performs this role on Continue reading “The role of the Special Casualty Representative in the salvage of mega box ships”

Superyacht leaders vow to reduce industry’s carbon footprint

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Superyacht leaders vow to reduce industry's carbon footprint
Superyacht leaders vow to reduce industry’s carbon footprint

Some of the biggest names in the superyacht industry have vowed to reduce their carbon footprint in support of the non-profit organisation, Water Revolution Foundation.

So far Benetti, Feadship, Heesen, Lürssen, Abeking & Rasmussen, Alexseal, Amels and Damen, MB92 and Rybovich have signed up to help reduce the carbon footprint of the superyacht industry.

The arrangement means the yachting companies have made a promise to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. They will also make Continue reading “Superyacht leaders vow to reduce industry’s carbon footprint”

Zero emission ships in UK waters given ambitious deadline of 2025

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Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani plans for zero emission
Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani plans for zero emission

All new ships for UK waters ordered from 2025 should be zero emission ships designed with ‘zero-emission capable technologies’, in ambitious plans set out by Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani to cut pollution from the country’s maritime sector.

The commitment is set out in the Clean Maritime Plan published in early July. The government is also looking at ways to incentivise the transition to zero-emission shipping and will consult on this next year.

The plan also includes a £1 million competition to find innovative ways to reduce maritime emissions and is published alongside a call for evidence to reduce emissions on UK waterways and domestic vessels.

Continue reading “Zero emission ships in UK waters given ambitious deadline of 2025”

Update on contaminated fuel from St Petersburg following the discovery of Carbon Tetrachloride

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FOBAS confirms the presence of Carbon Tetrachloride in the contaminated fuel
FOBAS confirms the presence of Carbon Tetrachloride in the contaminated fuel

Following a late June alert regarding contaminated bunkers that were supplied in St Petersburg, Russia, the Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) has published an update on 12 July, in which it confirms the presence of Carbon Tetrachloride in the contaminated fuel.

On 26 June, FOBAS issued an alert to say it was investigating a number of samples bunkered in St Petersburg, Russia, taken from mid-April to the beginning of May. During the use of these fuels, vessels reported a range of, including damage to plungers and M/E and A/E filter damage.

Investigation showed that the operational problems resulted from damage to fuel injection equipment of main and auxiliary engines, as Continue reading “Update on contaminated fuel from St Petersburg following the discovery of Carbon Tetrachloride”

Smart fuel hose set to enhance safety at sea

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Smart fuel hose set to enhance safety at sea
Smart fuel hose set to enhance safety at sea

“A fire in the engine room is any seafarer’s worst nightmare,” says Tom Backlund, Wärtsilä’s General Manager Large Bore Engines.

This is especially true when it comes to fuel leakages in vessel engine rooms. This is why the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulation, enforced by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), stipulates a number of minimum safety standards for operations throughout the vessel, including the engine room, with a strict limit for splash guards’ surface temperatures that could ignite liquid and cause fires.

Wärtsilä continuously delivers improvements to its engines and has introduced a variety of new solutions to comply with the hot surface Continue reading “Smart fuel hose set to enhance safety at sea”

In what is described as a sensational find, archaeologists have uncovered two rare Viking-era boat burial sites in Sweden

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Image courtesy Arkeologerna
Image courtesy Arkeologerna

Archaeologists in Sweden have uncovered two rare Viking-era boat burial sites during an excavation in Uppsala. It has been five decades since the last similar find in the area, and national archaeology agency Arkeologerna described the discovery as “sensational.”

The team stumbled upon the burial sites during the excavation of more modern ruins in Old Uppsala. The boat graves were buried beneath a well and a cellar from later eras. One of the two graves was quite intact, with remains of a man at the stern of the boat and those of a horse and a dog found towards the bow. Personal items – a sword, a spear, a shield and a comb – were also laid within the vessel.

According to the agency, this kind of grave typically dates back to the Vendel Period (around 550–800 AD) or the Viking Age (800–1050 Continue reading “In what is described as a sensational find, archaeologists have uncovered two rare Viking-era boat burial sites in Sweden”

Delivery of first vessel with Wärtsilä HY hybrid technology marks new era in shipping

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The ‘Vilja’, an escort tug operated by the Port of Luleå in Sweden, is the first vessel of its kind operating with the Wärtsilä HY hybrid power module. Copyright: Port of Luleå.
The ‘Vilja’, an escort tug operated by the Port of Luleå in Sweden, is the first vessel of its kind operating with the Wärtsilä HY hybrid power module. Copyright: Port of Luleå.

The technology group Wärtsilä’s hybrid power module solution, the Wärtsilä HY, is now fully operational on the ‘Vilja’, an escort tug owned by the Swedish port of Luleå. The tug was built at Gondan Shipbuilders in Asturias, Spain and was delivered in the end of June 2019 following successful completion of the commissioning and sea trials. The Wärtsilä HY is the first hybrid power module in the marine industry, and its operational application onboard the ‘Vilja’ marks a new era in shipping.

The solution has been specially developed to meet the specific needs of the tug market. It features operating characteristics that include ‘green mode’, with zero emissions and no noise, a ‘power boost’ that delivers a higher bollard pull than any other conventional solution of Continue reading “Delivery of first vessel with Wärtsilä HY hybrid technology marks new era in shipping”

IIMS recognises IMCA’s Technical Director with a Blue Water Award

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Mark Ford (pictured left) is presented with his Blue Water Award by Mike Schwarz
Mark Ford (pictured left) is presented with his Blue Water Award by Mike Schwarz

Mark Ford, Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) was caught by surprise when he was recently awarded an IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveying) Blue Water Award at the IIMS London 2019 Conference Dinner held at 10/11 Carlton House Terrace in central London.

Mike Schwarz, CEO of IIMS quotes from his speech on the night:

“…….Talking about having good people around us, I am also reminded that we have some brilliant partners who we work with and they with us. One of our key partners who we have Continue reading “IIMS recognises IMCA’s Technical Director with a Blue Water Award”

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