Marine News

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

Posted on by News Hound
MCA Logo - 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

Posted on by News Hound

MCA LogoThe 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

Posted on by News Hound
Liferaft in action - 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

Posted on by News Hound
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

Posted on by News Hound
Corroded vent pipe - 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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Fishing vessel on seaThe 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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Burning boat - 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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Fishing First Safety Management ProjectThe 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”

AMSA announces focused inspection campaign on planned maintenance

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA Logo - Photo credit: AMSA
Photo credit: AMSA

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has published a marine notice to provide information to ship owners, operators and masters about the Focused Inspection Campaign (FIC) on planned maintenance which will run from 15 January 2022 to 30 March 2022. Planned and corrective maintenance is deemed by AMSA to be a critical component of seaworthiness.

The purpose of the FIC is to determine the level of compliance with the maintenance requirements of the International Conventions. This FIC has been initiated by AMSA and is specific to Australia. It will apply to foreign flagged ships and Regulated Australian Vessels (RAVs) arriving at an Australian port. The FIC will be conducted from 15 January 2022 to 30 March 2022. Continue reading “AMSA announces focused inspection campaign on planned maintenance”

Correct use of hydrostatic release units safety alert issued by AMSA

Posted on by News Hound
Correctly fitted HRU on a life raft
Correctly fitted HRU on a life raft

The publication by the Australian Marine Safety Authority (AMSA) of Safety Alert: 02/2021 aims to raise awareness of the correct use of hydrostatic release units, for both float-free life rafts and float-free EPIRBS.

The Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU) is designed and approved to automatically deploy a life raft or EPIRB in the event of a vessel sinking. HRUs operate between 1.5 and 4 metres of water depth, to release the securing mechanism for the life raft or EPIRB.

AMSA inspectors often identify circumstances where HRUs are incorrectly fitted. In 2021, AMSA has issued over 100 deficiencies in relation to deficient HRU Continue reading “Correct use of hydrostatic release units safety alert issued by AMSA”

EMSA 2021 report notes 466 less casualties in 2020 compared to the previous year

Posted on by News Hound

EMSA Annual overview of marine casualties and incidents 2021The European Marine Safety Agency (EMSA) has published its 2021 Annual Overview of Marine Casualties and Incidents consisting of analysis of marine casualties or incidents accidents reported until 31 December 2020 by the EU Member States in the European electronic database (EMCIP).

2020 was a positive year considering the decrease or stabilisation of most of the indicators, such as the number of occurrences, ships lost, fatalities or injuries. However, consequences of COVID pandemic are very likely to have affected the area of marine casualties and incidents, taking into consideration its significant impact on shipping in 2020: reduced traffic in general, cruise ships and ferries activities heavily disrupted, etc. Continue reading “EMSA 2021 report notes 466 less casualties in 2020 compared to the previous year”

ABS published life extension for ageing offshore assets guidance

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ABS Life extensions of floating production installations guideClassification society, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), has refined its approach to ageing offshore assets with the publication of new guidance entitled ‘Life Extension of Floating Production Installations’.

The offshore assets guidance supports operators looking to extend the operational life of a floating production installation (FPI) by outlining clear Class requirements with a focus on safety. It is informed by lessons learned from ABS supported life extension projects and the findings of a series of FPI life extension joint development projects. Continue reading “ABS published life extension for ageing offshore assets guidance”

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