International News

DNV GL issues first type approval for aluminium cables onboard ships

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DNV GL’s new type approvals for aluminum cables and connectors allow expensive copper to be replaced with aluminum.
DNV GL’s new type approvals for aluminum cables and connectors allow expensive copper to be replaced with aluminum.

As the competitive and economic pressure on the shipping and offshore industries continues to grow, owners, operators and yards are searching for every efficiency. To support its customers, DNV GL has developed the first type approval scheme for the use of aluminium cables and connectors onboard vessels.

“This type approval represents another first for the DNV GL rule set and demonstrates our commitment to moving classification forward to help our customers,” says Geir Dugstad, Senior Vice President, Director of Ship Classification & Technical Director at DNV GL – Maritime. “Electrification is playing an increasingly important role in ship propulsion and this new type approval can help to reduce costs and improve sustainability.”

DNV GL’s new type approvals for aluminium cables and connectors allow expensive Continue reading “DNV GL issues first type approval for aluminium cables onboard ships”

Chairman of IACS satisfied with association’s achievements, emphasises the importance of being agile

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Mr Ørbeck-Nilssen said that over the past year great progress had been made in modernising classification to deal with the digital transformation of shipping
Mr Ørbeck-Nilssen said that over the past year great progress had been made in modernising classification to deal with the digital transformation of shipping

Speaking at the Posidonia trade fair in Athens, Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, who will hand over the reins of IACS in July, examined how the association had evolved during his time as Chairman.

In an industry undergoing rapid change, the IACS Chairman identified the need for classification societies and IACS itself to be adaptable and prepared for change, while staying true to the core purpose of classification.

Mr Ørbeck-Nilssen said that over the past year great progress had been made in modernising classification to deal with the digital transformation of shipping: “I’m pleased to see the progress that was made in modernising the concept of class, to adapt to the digital transformation we see in shipping today. I say transformation because the progress has truly been astonishing. IACS has embraced the challenges and changes ahead, to support the industry – contributing to the development of a safer and more secure Continue reading “Chairman of IACS satisfied with association’s achievements, emphasises the importance of being agile”

The appointment of a suitably experienced surveyor is vital to avoid steel cargo damage says North P&I

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North of England P&I Club has elected to publish a briefing document providing best advice leading to the minimisation of the risk of cargo damage
North of England P&I Club has elected to publish a briefing document providing best advice leading to the minimisation of the risk of cargo damage

Several problems can arise when transporting steel cargoes by sea reports North P&I. The more common issues can be broadly categorised as mechanical damage, or rust-related problems. Indeed, in many cases the damage occurs before it is even loaded onto the carrying vessel. North of England P&I Club has elected to publish a briefing document providing best advice leading to the minimisation of the risk of cargo damage.

Common issues that can result in damage to the cargo include poor handling, substandard stowage and securing, water ingress into the hold and improper hold ventilation.

Key issues
Pre-shipment condition: It is not uncommon for steel cargoes to Continue reading “The appointment of a suitably experienced surveyor is vital to avoid steel cargo damage says North P&I”

One of the largest superyachts in the world is launched by Feadship

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Once completed, Project 1007 will rank among the world’s largest superyachts
Once completed, Project 1007 will rank among the world’s largest superyachts

Feadship’s Project 1007 has been launched at the yard’s Makkum facility – at 110 metres (360 foot), it is the Dutch company’s largest ever superyacht. In addition, once delivered she will join Jubilee as the joint-largest yacht ever to be built in the Netherlands.

Interior styling is from Michael Leach Design in partnership with the owner’s personal New York decorator Brian McCarthy Inc., while De Voogt is responsible for the in-house naval architecture.

With few details so far revealed about the new four-deck displacement yacht, initial video shows a Continue reading “One of the largest superyachts in the world is launched by Feadship”

ABS delivers fuel advisory ahead of impending 2020 global sulfur cap offering practical guidance

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In a recent informal poll of shipowners and operators conducted by ABS, 53 percent said their fleets were not yet ready to meet upcoming sulfur cap requirements.
In a recent informal poll of shipowners and operators conducted by ABS, 53 percent said their fleets were not yet ready to meet upcoming sulfur cap requirements.

ABS has issued the ABS Advisory on Marine Fuel Oil to help industry prepare for IMO’s 2020 global sulfur cap. The Advisory provides owners and operators with industry-leading guidance on the considerations and challenges with marine fuels which are likely to be used in addressing the 2020 global sulfur cap requirements.

“The IMO 2020 sulfur cap requirement will introduce a significant demand change from heavy fuel to low sulfur fuel almost overnight. The industry currently is debating how to prepare as the consequences of this shift are difficult to predict,“ said Dr. Kirsi Tikka, ABS Executive Vice President and Senior Maritime Advisor. “The ABS Advisory addresses concerns about the safety impacts and quality of the Continue reading “ABS delivers fuel advisory ahead of impending 2020 global sulfur cap offering practical guidance”

Green light to adopt Methanol given as a sustainable marine fuel

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Topic areas of the project’s final reports include the technical feasibility of converting vessels to propulsion using Methanol
Topic areas of the project’s final reports include the technical feasibility of converting vessels to propulsion using Methanol

The Methanol Institute has welcomed the findings of the Sustainable Marine Methanol (SUMMETH) project, which has backed the increased use of Methanol as a marine fuel.

The research concluded that there are no obstacles to the efficient use of Methanol in a converted diesel engine and that smaller vessel conversion projects are feasible and cost-effective, with levels of safety that easily meet existing requirements.

Switching to Methanol would offer immediate environmental benefits, including close to zero SOx and particulate matter emissions and significantly lower NOx emissions compared to conventional marine fuels or biodiesel.

Continue reading “Green light to adopt Methanol given as a sustainable marine fuel”

Specialist rescue system for overboard crew launched

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A specialist system to rescue crew members who fall overboard has been developed by boat builder Goodchild Marine Services.

The Man Overboard Recovery Platform (MOB) has been designed to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest in anyone that has fallen overboard by lifting the casualty horizontally rather than vertically.

“This has become one of our bestselling products with widespread interest in the UK and abroad,” said Alan Goodchild, Goodchild Marine MD.

“Key features include an automatically-hinged propeller guard to prevent injury to the casualty, manual back-up and self-cleaning tracks.

Continue reading “Specialist rescue system for overboard crew launched”

Fire onboard ‘BBC Xingang’ stresses hazards associated with hot work

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The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has published its investigation report on the fire onboard the general cargo ship ‘BBC Xingang’, while berthed at Mayfield number four berth in Newcastle, New South Wales, in December 2017. The incident highlights that, prior to hot work, cargo coverings should be carefully assessed and adequate protection against damage or fire due to hot material should be provided.

The incident
At about 0600 on 11 December, a site supervisor and a boilermaker from a local engineering firm (Varley) boarded the ship. The process of Continue reading “Fire onboard ‘BBC Xingang’ stresses hazards associated with hot work”

Overview of IMO Maritime Safety Committee May 2018 meeting

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The 99th session of IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee concluded on 25 May marking new steps and reviewing older developments towards a safer shipping industry on a wide range of topics. Autonomous vessels, piracy and armed robbery against ships, the Arctic shipping safety, as well as the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, were key topics on the agenda.

First steps to autonomous ships
The Committee endorsed a framework for a regulatory scoping exercise, as work in progress, including preliminary definitions of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and degrees of autonomy, as well as a methodology for conducting the exercise and a plan of work.

Continue reading “Overview of IMO Maritime Safety Committee May 2018 meeting”

German authority report suggests containers on two ships caught fire probably from self-heating

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The German Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation has released its reports about two non-connected fires on container ships. The MSC Katrina was in the Elbe estuary when the fire was detected on 20 November 2015. The second ship, the Ludwigshafen Express was in the Red Sea when fire was noticed during an inspection in February 2016.

The first incident
The MSC Katrina was located in the Elbe estuary when its smoke detection system discovered fire. As a result, the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies had the ability to deploy specially trained firefighters.

Continue reading “German authority report suggests containers on two ships caught fire probably from self-heating”

Key errors leading to inaccuracies in draught surveys

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The West of England P&I Club has said that it regularly receives claims arising from alleged shortages of solid bulk cargoes as a result of discrepancies between draught survey results. Draught surveys by their very nature are not an exact science and the accuracy of the calculated cargo figure may vary typically by between 0.5% and 1.0%. However, there are occasions when considerable differences in the cargo figures derived from the draught surveys have been obtained.

The commonly forgotten weights are:
– Bilge water present in the cargo holds, machinery spaces, duct keel, void spaces and the chain lockers.
Continue reading “Key errors leading to inaccuracies in draught surveys”

Propulsion system being prepared for Australian icebreaker Nuyina

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An artist's impression of Nuyina, Australia's new icebreaker
An artist’s impression of Nuyina, Australia’s new icebreaker

More than 8,600 tons of steel has now been shaped, welded and assembled into the hull of Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina.

A few key pieces of the ship’s propulsion system have recently arrived at the Damen Shipyard at Galati, including the propellers, propeller hubs and the sterntubes.

RSV Nuyina, will make her maiden voyage to Antarctica in 2020-21. The ship will be the main lifeline to Australia’s three Antarctic research stations and its sub-Antarctic station on Macquarie Island, and will support Australia’s leadership role in Antarctic and Southern Continue reading “Propulsion system being prepared for Australian icebreaker Nuyina”

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