Marine News

IIMS Australia branch announces technical workshop dates

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The Australian Maritime & Fisheries Academy in Adelaide. Photo courtesy of Mark Churchman.
The Australian Maritime & Fisheries Academy in Adelaide. Photo courtesy of Mark Churchman.

Adam Brancher, IIMS Australia Branch Chair and VP IIMS, writes:

“We have had lots of feedback on preferred events and formats. We’ve decided to push back from February to a time when many are less busy.

In general it’s clear that people want to get their hands dirty and learn or revise critical skills. To this end we have decided to hold an IIMS Australia branch technical workshop and Branch AGM at the Australian Fisheries and Maritime Academy in Port Adelaide, South Australia on 18/19 June 2015. We are looking at a 10.00 am start on the Thursday and an early afternoon finish on the Friday with an informal dinner on Thursday night locally – to allow easy travel to and from, or indeed for people to take advantage of a long weekend in the Barossa, Clare Valley or any of the other fantastic areas close to Adelaide.

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South Asia still the preferred end of life location says NGO Shipbreaking Platform

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South Asia still the preferred end of life location says NGO Shipbreaking Platform. Photo: NGO Shipbreaking Platform
South Asia still the preferred end of life location says NGO Shipbreaking Platform. Photo: NGO Shipbreaking Platform

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform has released a complete list of all ship owners and their ships sold for breaking last year.

Out of a total of 1026 ships dismantled globally in 2014, 641 – representing 74% of the total gross tonnage (GT) scrapped – were sold to substandard facilities in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh where ships are dismantled directly on tidal beaches. None of the South Asian yards comply with international standards for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling.

End-of-life ships contain toxic materials such as asbestos, heavy metals, PCBs, oil residues and organic waste within their structures – these pollutants can not be contained or safely removed on a tidal beach. The demolition of the largest movable man-made structures is hazardous and must be conducted in a controlled manner using adequate infrastructure such as cranes as well as necessary health and safety provisions – in 2014 the Platform reported 23 deaths and 66 severe injuries due to accidents such as explosions, workers crushed under steel plates and falling from heights on the South Asian beaches.

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Immediate thoughts on the successful salvage operation of the Hoegh Osaka

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The righted Hoegh Osaka car transporter ship finally under tow back to Southampton Docks. Photo: Mick Hopley
The righted Hoegh Osaka car transporter ship finally under tow back to Southampton Docks. Photo: Mick Hopley

Words by Capt. John Noble

The rather dramatic grounding of the large car carrier Hoegh Osaka on the 3rd January raised the spectacle of first, how did it happen and second, how would it be removed.

As I write this article the salvors, Svitzer, have successfully brought the ship into Southampton.

The ship sailed from Southampton at about 2020 hours on the 3rd January. It has been reported that soon after leaving the berth she developed an alarming list. The Master and pilot became extremely concerned and just after passing the notorious Bramble Bank located between the mouth of Southampton water and Cowes on the Isle of Wight a Continue reading “Immediate thoughts on the successful salvage operation of the Hoegh Osaka”

World Shipping Council advises to prepare for Container Weight Verification

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The World Shipping Council warns to prepare for Container Weight Verification changes and legislation coming in July 2016
The World Shipping Council warns to prepare for Container Weight Verification legislation coming in July 2016

At the end of 2014, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) that will require every packed export container to have a verified container weight as a condition for loading aboard a vessel.

This requirement will become legally binding on July 1, 2016.

All parties involved in the international transportation of maritime containers – including shippers, freight forwarders, packers, NVOCCs, carriers, and marine terminal operators – will Continue reading “World Shipping Council advises to prepare for Container Weight Verification”

Fincantieri lays keel for the Seven Seas Explorer

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Fincantieri has laid the keel for the luxurious Seven Seas Explorer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Fincantieri has laid the keel for the luxurious Seven Seas Explorer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The first building block for Seven Seas Explorer was placed on 21 January 2015 during a special keel laying ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The keel laying signals a significant milestone in the construction for what will be the most luxurious ship ever built, and brings the vessel one step closer to its July 2016 maiden voyage.

In a ceremony befitting of the world’s most luxurious ship, a sleek black Rolls Royce Phantom transported the three symbolic coins to the keel laying event. Upon arrival, a dapper butler emerged with a red velvet pillow carrying the coins to be welded into the keel, including a rare 1921 U.S. silver coin known as the Peace Dollar symbolizing the safe passage of Seven Seas Explorer; a 1959 silver Italian Lire representing the year the Fincantieri shipyard was established; and a commemorative coin specially minted for this occasion.

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Continuing saga of the Hoegh Osaka

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The stricken Hoegh Osaka that has provided an extraordinary spectacle for people living on the UK south coast could soon be on the move back to port
The stricken Hoegh Osaka that has provided an extraordinary spectacle for people living on the UK south coast could soon be on the move back to port

The car transporter ship, Hoegh Osaka, was deliberately grounded following the decision made by the Captain and Pilot on Bramble Bank in the Solent early in January after it began to list heavily. The ship was only 50 minutes into its voyage from the port of Southampton and was carrying a full load of Landrover Jaguar cars and heavy duty construction equipment. It is felt that the quick thinking and decision making, taken to protect the lives of the 25 crew on bard, was courageous and correct.

At that time, the Hoegh Osaka was listing at more than 50 degrees and a salvage operation is expected to take several days. She became an instant tourist attraction for not only locals on the south coats, but also further afield. Such a sight as this is rarely seen.

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Rotterdam World Gateway runs first test

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Rotterdam World Gateway has now actively started commercial activities
Rotterdam World Gateway has now actively started commercial activities

On the evening of Saturday 17 January, the first commercial test vessel was handled at the Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) terminal. In total, more than 150 containers were discharged. This made Rotterdam World Gateway’s first commercial container handling reality. After discharge, approximately half of the containers were loaded onto a barge on Sunday 18 January.

This first vessel marks the start of commercial activities at Rotterdam World Gateway. In the months ahead, Rotterdam World Gateway will be receiving commercial test ships more regularly, allowing the terminal to further increase volume and functionalities. In the second quarter of 2015, Rotterdam World Gateway will be ready to welcome the first weekly liner service.

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Norway launches green coastal shipping programme

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Norway is set to launch a green coastal shipping programme
Norway is set to launch a green coastal shipping programme

Minister of Trade and Industry Monica Mæland and State Secretary for Climate and Environment Lars Andreas Lunde have signed a declaration of cooperation with key players in the Norwegian coastal shipping industry. This declaration aims to ensure that Norway has the world’s most environmentally friendly fleet of coastal vessels.

In the future, LNG and battery power are projected to comprise a considerable share of the fuel used by the global fleet. Norway already has a leading position in this field and has a good environmental and business starting point to more broadly implement these new technologies. DNV GL has now taken the initiative to launch a Green Coastal Shipping programme, a joint effort by industry and authorities to ensure that in the future Norway will have one of the world’s most environmentally friendly and efficient coastal shipping industries.

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HUGO BOSS dismasted in the south Atlantic

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HUGO BOSS has been dismasted 370 nautical miles off the coast of Brazil and will take no further part in the Barcelona World Race
HUGO BOSS has been dismasted 370 nautical miles off the coast of Brazil and will take no further part in the Barcelona World Race

Alex Thomson and Pepe Ribes, skippers of yacht HUGO BOSS in the Barcelona World Race lost their mast at 21.02 GMT on 15 January 370 nautical miles off the coast of Brazil. The yacht was reaching in moderate conditions when there was a rigging failure and the mast fell overboard and broke. At the time of the incident, HUGO BOSS was leading and well ahead in the race.

This means they will now cease racing in the Barcelona World Race 2014-2015. The skippers and the shore team are currently evaluating how to get the boat to the nearest landfall, which is likely to be Salvador in Brazil – still a significant distance from the boat’s current position.

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Work begins on £25M quay extension at Port of Tyne

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The Port of Tyne has confirmed Southbay Civil Engineering Ltd as the main contractor for the £25m extension of Riverside Quay
The Port of Tyne has confirmed Southbay Civil Engineering Ltd as the main contractor for the £25m extension of Riverside Quay

The Port of Tyne has appointed the main contractor for the £25m extension of Riverside Quay, the Port’s multifunctional deep-sea facility at South Shields.

The main contract for over 300 metres of quay work includes a 125 metre quay extension, an upgrade of 118m of existing quay and 90m of quay wall renewal at the former McNulty site. The £18.6m contract was won by Tyneside-based Southbay Civil Engineering Ltd who will start construction this month.

This development is required to support the growth in cargo volumes being handled by the Port of Tyne, including the relatively new wood pellet imports used by power stations as they convert from coal to renewable fuels.

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Nautilus welcomes plans to scrap ferry safety rules

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Nautilus welcomes the decision by the UK Government to plans to scrap ferry safety rules
Nautilus welcomes the decision by the UK Government to plans to scrap ferry safety rules

Nautilus International has welcomed the UK government’s decision to abandon controversial proposals to scrap ferry safety rules requiring ro-ro passenger ships to be fitted with lockers containing emergency equipment.

Following an eight-week consultation and talks between the Union and shipping minister John Hayes, the government said ‘persuasive’ arguments had been made in favour of retaining the regulations, which were introduced following the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in 1987.

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Thunderbird 2 launched by Brilliant Boats

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Brilliant Boats has built and launched this interesting vessel called Thunderbird 2
Brilliant Boats has built and launched this interesting vessel called Thunderbird 2

Brilliant Boats and BB Yacht are proud to announce the launch of Thunderbird 2, which has taken place recently in Antalya in Turkey.

Fans of Gerry Anderson and the Thunderbirds series from the 1960’s and 70’s will understand immediately what this vessel is all about. But if not, a little explanation may be appropriate.

Designed to carry a 3 PAX, 1000m capable Triton submarine (Thunderbird 4, of course!), Thunderbird 2 features an 8.5t capacity hydraulic platform for launch and recovery of the sub and other toys, along with the array of battery chargers and oxygen storage and transfer systems required to fully support the submarine.

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