Marine News

Lithium-ion batteries – should we be concerned?

Posted on by CEO
Six stacks of battery modules in one of the battery rooms. Illustration: The battery contractor
Six stacks of battery modules in one of the battery rooms. Illustration: The battery contractor

An opinion article by Mike Schwarz, IIMS Chief Executive Officer.

I have written this short article following the publication of a report into a Lithium-ion battery fire onboard the ‘MS Brim’ which generated the investigation by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority. The vessel in question is the ‘MS Brim’, a 2019-built all-electric excursion catamaran offering excursion tours in the Norwegian fjords. Although not a technical man, I am troubled by some of the report findings, and forgive me as I have cherry-picked the bits that concern me most from a lengthy report. Continue reading “Lithium-ion batteries – should we be concerned?”

Revised MCA documentation issued between 8 June and 15 July

Posted on by News Hound

The The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has revised various documentation issued between 8th of June and the 15th of July.

All M-Notices (MSNs, MGNs and MINs) can be found through the use of the search engine on the MCA website.

Issued 9 June 2022
SI 2022 No. 0629 – The Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Order 2022 Continue reading “Revised MCA documentation issued between 8 June and 15 July”

ClassNK releases comprehensively revised structural rules

Posted on by News Hound

Leading Classification Society ClassNK released a comprehensively revised version of Part C of its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships setting the requirements for hull structures on 1 July 2022.

ClassNK is constantly revising its Rules and Guidance in order to reflect the latest results from relevant research and development projects, feedback from damage investigations, requests from industry, as well as changes made to the relevant regulations such as international conventions. Continue reading “ClassNK releases comprehensively revised structural rules”

MAIB Annual Report 2021 published

Posted on by News Hound
The MAIB Annual Report for 2021 has been published
The MAIB Annual Report for 2021 has been published

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its 2021 annual report. One of the main findings to note is the number of fatalities in the fishing vessel fleet, which hit a 20-year high. In his annual report statement, Chief Inspector of Accidents, Capt. Andrew Moll OBE, says, “I am pleased to introduce MAIB’s annual report 2021. It was another busy and successful year for the branch improving safety at sea by our sustained output of safety investigation reports, safety digests, and safety bulletins despite lockdown conditions affecting work early in the year. The branch raised 1530 reports of marine accidents and commenced 22 investigations in 2021. Continue reading “MAIB Annual Report 2021 published”

New IIMS President takes up office

Posted on by News Hound
Peter Broad (left), Mike Schwarz (centre) and Geoff Waddington (right)
Peter Broad (left), Mike Schwarz (centre) and Geoff Waddington (right)

At the IIMS Annual General Meeting, broadcast live from Murrills House in Portchester UK on Tuesday 7th June 2022, Peter Broad formally took up his position as the new IIMS President of the International Institute of Marine Surveying for a two-year term succeeding Geoff Waddington. Whilst most delegates joined the AGM online, the management board meeting had taken place earlier in the day meaning that a few could attend the AGM in person for the first-time post-pandemic. The now immediate Past President, Geoff Waddington, opened the AGM with a short speech. In it, he explained what a strange presidency it had been with the inability to meet members due to the pandemic. Continue reading “New IIMS President takes up office”

MCA works to improve support for people to get UK approval for marine equipment

Posted on by News Hound

Manufacturers looking to make sure they get UK approval for the marine equipment they produce are being given a helping hand by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
It will become mandatory from 1 January next year for all new marine equipment placed on board UK vessels to have the UK approval – previously it was covered by the EU regulations. The race is on for equipment producers to meet that deadline and – as it stands – there are not enough accredited organisations to do all the work.
Now there are plans to give the organisations – known collectively as Conformity Assessment Bodies (CAB) – currently going through the accreditation process provisional approval to do the work. Continue reading “MCA works to improve support for people to get UK approval for marine equipment”

EU announces allocate of €1 billion for the ocean protection at Our Ocean Conference

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During the Our Ocean Conference in Palau, the EU renewed its pledges towards international Ocean governance, by presenting a list of 44 commitments for the 2020-2022 period for an amount of almost €1 billion.

The Our Ocean Conference is a key moment for countries across the world, civil society, and industry to commit to concrete and significant actions to protect the ocean. Continue reading “EU announces allocate of €1 billion for the ocean protection at Our Ocean Conference”

Hot work failures led to fire on a commercial fish processor the Aleutian Falcon

Posted on by News Hound
The Aleutian Falcon moored before the fire
The Aleutian Falcon moored before the fire

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published a report about a fire on the commercial fish processor Aleutian Falcon while the vessel was docked for repairs at the Trident Seafoods shipyard in Tacoma, Washington.

Firefighting crews from the Tacoma Fire Department responded, and the fire was extinguished four days later. No one was on board the vessel at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries reported. An estimated 20–30 gallons of hydraulic oil leaked into the water but were captured by a containment boom. Continue reading “Hot work failures led to fire on a commercial fish processor the Aleutian Falcon”

IACS publishes unified requirement for remote classification surveys

Posted on by News Hound
IACS Secretary General, Robert Ashdown
IACS Secretary General, Robert Ashdown

The significant impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the maritime industry resulted in an increase in the deployment of remote classification surveys by IACS Members to ensure the maritime industry was able to continue functioning in as smooth and efficient a manner as possible.

Noting many IACS Members introduced remote survey aspects prior to the pandemic, advancements in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) together with the experience and knowledge gained during Continue reading “IACS publishes unified requirement for remote classification surveys”

Marine surveyors Van Ameyde McAuslands warn seized yachts must be decommissioned to mitigate safety and environmental risks

Posted on by News Hound
Albert Weatherill, MD of Van Ameyde McAuslands and IIMS member
Albert Weatherill, MD of Van Ameyde McAuslands and IIMS member

Seized maritime assets could pose a “significant risk” to ports, harbours and marinas if there is no requirement to ensure mega yachts detained under sanction rules are properly maintained, made safe, or deactivated, according to experienced marine surveyor, Albert Weatherill, managing director of Van Ameyde McAuslands and a long-standing IIMS member.

Safety concerns have been raised by Van Ameyde McAuslands, a global firm of marine surveyors and engineering consultants, following the seizure of a number of high-profile mega yachts thought to be owned by Russian oligarchs, Continue reading “Marine surveyors Van Ameyde McAuslands warn seized yachts must be decommissioned to mitigate safety and environmental risks”

Annual 406Day campaign celebrating 10 years of raising awareness about life-saving beacons

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Annual 406Day campaign notches up 10 years of raising awareness about life-saving beacons
Annual 406Day campaign notches up 10 years of raising awareness about life-saving beacons. Image: ACR Electronics

The annual 406Day campaign, a safety awareness day marked on 6 April, is celebrating a decade of bringing attention to the vital role of 406 MHz beacons.

The 10th 406Day campaign highlights how boaters and adventurers can benefit from the life-saving technology available in these emergency location devices and highlights the importance of EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons), PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) and ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitters). Continue reading “Annual 406Day campaign celebrating 10 years of raising awareness about life-saving beacons”

CHIRP Maritime Feedback edition 66 published

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Edition 66 of the CHIRP Maritime Feedback is available
Edition 66 of the CHIRP Maritime Feedback is available

CHIRP Maritime Feedback, an independent and confidential reporting system for the maritime industry, has published its latest ‘Feedback Maritime’ publication (February 2022) to provide lessons learned and raising awareness of safety issues. Among others in this edition, CHIRP Maritime Feedback highlights an accommodation ladder failure whilst the ladder was being recovered after a pilot had boarded and discusses important issues related to maintenance, design and human factors.

In addition, this issue of CHIRP Maritime Feedback demonstrates poor safety standards upon a floating armoury vessel – many issues, both regulatory and good practice are focused upon. There are also reports concerning a near-fatal fall from a quayside, unsafe lifting Continue reading “CHIRP Maritime Feedback edition 66 published”

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