Marine News

Announcing Roy McFarlane as Britain’s new Canal Laureate 2022

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Together with the Poetry Society, the Canal & River Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Roy McFarlane as Britain’s new Canal Laureate 2022.

Poet Roy grew up in Birmingham and the Black Country, surrounded by canals. He says: “I lived, played and loved by canals and rivers and am looking forward to recapturing those stories; tales of diverse communities in urban settings who lived with canals in their backyard.”

Roy began his role as Canal Laureate 2022 in December 2021, following in the wake of poets Nancy Campbell (Canal Laureate 2018-9), 2021 Continue reading “Announcing Roy McFarlane as Britain’s new Canal Laureate 2022”

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”

Over 5,000 lost Royal Navy vessels are now searchable on a database

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Royal Navy Logo The British Royal Navy has been around since the 16th century and over that time has lost its fair share of warships to accidents and enemy fire. In fact the full list of lost Royal Navy vessels is over 5,000. Working with the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust, it has compiled a full list of the thousands of vessels it has lost over the centuries and has released the searchable database to the public for use in further research.

The new Royal Navy Loss List covers about 5,100 warships and fleet auxiliaries lost in Britain’s naval service since 1512. It is limited to the Royal Navy’s own vessels – not Royal Air Force, Army, Coastguard and merchant vessels which may have had Royal Navy crewmembers. It excludes ships captured by the enemy, lost in the service of other navies or converted to merchant vessels after their naval service.

Created by the Trust in 2011, the list was originally intended to help legal and conservation experts protect Royal Navy wrecks around the globe. Its Continue reading “Over 5,000 lost Royal Navy vessels are now searchable on a database”

The advice is keep batteries of any kind away from metal objects

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In the January Safety Flashes document published by IMCA, a case has been summarised following the explosion of a lithium battery that burnt and damaged the ship’s lifejackets.

During a routine inspection on a vessel in cold lay-up, the lifejackets stored underneath a sitting bench in the wheelhouse were found burned and melted. No one was harmed in the incident.

A Lithium battery (3.6v) had exploded in one of the self-igniting lights. As the bench was in a properly closed position, without any gaps, Continue reading “The advice is keep batteries of any kind away from metal objects”

MCA opens consultation for the inclusion of new guidance for meeting the needs of persons with reduced mobility on small passenger vessels

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A consultation has opened for meeting the needs of persons with reduced mobility
A consultation has opened for meeting the needs of persons with reduced mobility

On 5 January 2022 the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) published a consultation on an amendment to update MGN 306(M) Designing and Operating Smaller Passenger Vessels: Meeting the needs of persons with reduced mobility. The reason for looking to publish an amended version of the MGN is to update it in certain areas due to changes in legislation, documentation, practice and to obtain the views of interested parties. Continue reading “MCA opens consultation for the inclusion of new guidance for meeting the needs of persons with reduced mobility on small passenger vessels”

Recent MCA documentation amendments released in December 2021

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The UK maritime regulator, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), has issued and distributed the following new documentation over the past few weeks.

02 December 2021
SI 2021 No. 1316 – The Merchant Shipping (Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2021
View details Continue reading “Recent MCA documentation amendments released in December 2021”

AMSA provides flexibility to continue to temporarily operate with liferafts undergoing servicing

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Photo credit: AMSA
Photo credit: AMSA

AMSA has amended Exemption 06 to provide the domestic commercial vessel (DCV) industry with greater flexibility to temporarily operate if a liferaft is being serviced, repaired or replaced.

Under the new arrangements:

– Vessels can continue to temporarily operate if liferaft numbers are below complement, provided there are sufficient liferafts to accommodate all on board for a voyage;
– The number of persons and liferafts must be recorded in the vessel’s logbook prior to departure, and evidence that the liferaft is being serviced, repaired, or replaced must also be kept on board the vessel;
– If the liferaft is expected to be out of service for more than 14 days the vessel’s safety management system needs to be updated to address Continue reading “AMSA provides flexibility to continue to temporarily operate with liferafts undergoing servicing”

Sunseeker set to adopt Module F scheme of certification across its range

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Sunseeker International is to adopt the Module F scheme of certification
Sunseeker International is to adopt the Module F scheme of certification

Sunseeker International is to adopt the Module F scheme of certification for its range, believed to be the first UK boatbuilder to adopt the endorsement. All of Sunseeker’s models will be certified by RINA by the end of 2022.

The certification is approved under the Recreational Craft Directive (2013/53/EU) and will apply to the boatbuilder’s entire range by the end of 2022.

For vessels between 12m and 24m, the certification will require two modules of assessment to be applied for. Sunseeker has appointed notified body RINA to carry out the work.

“Going beyond the minimum requirements of the Recreational Craft Directive, to involve a higher level of scrutiny from a third party, demonstrates Sunseeker’s commitment to achieving the highest level of compliance and production quality; ultimately it’s about delivering excellence, to remain best- in-class,” said Ewen Foster, Sunseeker chief technical officer. Continue reading “Sunseeker set to adopt Module F scheme of certification across its range”

Fuel oil tank vent pipes should be inspected regularly

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Image credit: The American Club
Image credit: The American Club

In its most recent Good Catch series, the American Club provides lessons learned from corroded or damaged fuel oil vent pipes in cargo holds.

A bulk cargo vessel experienced a serious problem when some of the clay cargo entered fuel oil tanks through holes in the fuel oil tank vent pipes located in the cargo holds. The problem was first noticed by the engineers when the fuel oil filters became heavily clogged with what appeared to be cargo. After the engineers shifted to a different fuel oil tank, the problem stopped. After offloading the clay and cleaning the cargo holds, the vent pipes were closely inspected in each cargo hold. Continue reading “Fuel oil tank vent pipes should be inspected regularly”

Lack of risk assessment contributes to sinking of fishing vessel says MCIB report

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The Marine Casualty Investigation Board of Ireland (MCIB) has published its report on the sinking of FV Aztec, which took place off Duncannon on 11 January 2021.

The FV Aztec sailed from Duncannon Pier, Co. Wexford to fish sprat in Waterford Estuary alongside its paired trawler the “FV Western Dawn”. There was no risk assessment or method statement for this type of fishing arrangement included in the vessel’s safety statement.

The FV Aztec shot its net first and hauled fish at 09.30 hrs. These fish were stowed in pounds in the fish hold divided by boards. It was Continue reading “Lack of risk assessment contributes to sinking of fishing vessel says MCIB report”

USCG plans to issue interim rules to improve small passenger vessel safety post dive boat tragedy

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Image credit: Ventura County Fire Department
Image credit: Ventura County Fire Department

The U.S. Coast Guard has announced its intention to issue a set of interim rules on certain covered small passenger vessels, the first step to implementing the statutorily mandated requirement. The interim rule is in response to the fire and loss of life on the dive boat Conception off the coast of California on 2 September 2019.

This interim rule adds additional fire safety requirements for small passenger vessels, including fire detection and suppression systems, avenues of escape, egress drills, crew firefighting training, watchmen monitoring devices, and the handling of flammable items such as rechargeable batteries. Continue reading “USCG plans to issue interim rules to improve small passenger vessel safety post dive boat tragedy”

50 Vessels join the Fishing First Safety Management Project

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The Seafarers’ Charity is pleased to report that the project to develop safety management onboard fishing vessels to the standard of the Fishing Safety Management (FSM) Code is well underway.

The new service called Fishing First Safety Management System by SafetyFolder, is being developed to improve safety in the UK fishing fleet and, at the same time, increase supply chain transparency.

50 fishing vessels have joined the project which started in the South West of England and are receiving professional support to develop Continue reading “50 Vessels join the Fishing First Safety Management Project”

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