Marine News

Are sustainable flax and basalt fibers the future of marine composites and set to replace glassfibre in boat production?

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The all-electric Voltaire 33 Sky utilizes flax fiber in a bioepoxy resin that can be fully recycled when the power cat is no longer in use.
The all-electric Voltaire 33 Sky utilizes flax and basalt fibers in a bioepoxy resin that can be fully recycled when the power cat is no longer in use.

At last year’s METSTRADE show, the InnovationLab hosted speakers proudly presenting projects which had deliberately moved away from glass fiber and/or polyester resin composites; the kind that have dominated the boat construction market for decades, and still don’t have an environmentally acceptable waste stream solution in order to deal with the ever-increasing volumes coming from end-of-use boats. Instead opting for flax and basalt fibers.

For instance, Amer Yachts announced their intentions to build from a basalt (volcanic fiber) based composite, while Greenboats presented their 27ft day sailer constructed from a flax/bio resin derived matrix. James Starkey from Norco Composites speaking on one of the Sustainability panels, emphasised the importance of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to determine what the real long term environmental impact of any given construction material will be. This means taking its entire life span into account, from raw material harvesting, through to eventual end-of-life impact. Continue reading “Are sustainable flax and basalt fibers the future of marine composites and set to replace glassfibre in boat production?”

Best practice guidelines to reduce the risk of cargo liquefaction before and during loading published

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Cargo liquefaction is a Master's worst nightmare, but new guidance from London P&I Club might help
Cargo liquefaction is a Master’s worst nightmare, but new guidance from London P&I Club might help

The London P&I Club has published a booklet to provide guidance about the risk of cargo liquefaction. It offers practical advice on the loading and the carriage of bulk cargoes which may liquefy and the risks associated with liquefaction, plus the precautions to be taken to minimize these risks.

Cargo liquefaction is described as the phenomenon that is triggered by an increase in water pressure that makes solid bulk cargoes (granular materials that are loaded directly into a ship’s hold) turn from a solid-state into a liquid state, causing a ship to tilt and potentially capsize. It can occur when cargo is loaded into the hold – this often involves a fall from significant heights, or when it is Continue reading “Best practice guidelines to reduce the risk of cargo liquefaction before and during loading published”

Crucial safety flaw is key finding of investigation into Bourbon Rhode sinking and fatalities

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The Bourbon Rhode investigation report has revealed a potentially serious safety flaw
The Bourbon Rhode investigation report has revealed a potentially serious safety flaw

An accident investigation report by the Luxembourg authorities into the sinking of the vessel Bourbon Rhode with the tragic loss of four people on 26 September 2019 in the Atlantic Ocean has revealed a serious safety flaw of significance. The Luxembourg authorities have released an urgent safety bulletin as a consequence.

The Bourbon Rhode, an anchor handling tug, sank on September 26 in the Atlantic Ocean during a transit voyage from Las Palmas to Guyana.

The Bourbon Rhode was equipped with a system called shark jaws, which is installed in the aft Z-Drive compartment to secure chains or Continue reading “Crucial safety flaw is key finding of investigation into Bourbon Rhode sinking and fatalities”

ABS issues ballast water management for yachts guide

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A ballast water management for yachts guide is freely available to read
A ballast water management for yachts guide is freely available to read

ABS has published a ballast water management for yachts guide now that they are now required to comply with the IMO International Convention for the Control and management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) which requires an approved ballast water management system.

As all vessels, yachts are included within the definitions of the BWM Convention according to Article 1.12, whereby a “Ship” means a vessel of any type whatsoever operating in the aquatic environment.

Specifically, the ballast water management for yachts guide highlights that new vessels (keel laying date after September 8, 2017) are r Continue reading “ABS issues ballast water management for yachts guide”

Missing gasket leads to cargo hold flooding

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The Swedish Club in its monthly safety bulletin describes a case history about the cargo hold flooding which was attributed to a tank missing a gasket to the manhole. Also, the bilge sensor was broken and heavily corroded, although it had been inspected a couple of days previously and found at the time to be in good condition.

When the container vessel arrived in port, it was instructed to anchor and wait until its berth was available. While the vessel was waiting for the berth, the Chief Officer decided to carry out a routine ballast tank inspection. The second completed a Permit for entry into the confined enclosed space and also did the inspection. Continue reading “Missing gasket leads to cargo hold flooding”

Life saving appliances service schedules should be maintained warns Survitec

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Survitec says the service schedule of life saving appliances should be maintained

With an increasing number of vessels returning to service following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, Survitec is advising that ships’ life saving appliances are maintained according to their original service schedules in order to avoid delays.

Operators must have a valid safety certificate in place before their vessels can return to service after lockdown and while some flags have allowed three to five month extensions, there are concerns that there will be a backlog of equipment requiring service, which could render the vessel unable to return to service until certificates of compliance have been issued or extensions approved.

Survitec singles out the cruise and ferry segment, which is set to return to service in the fourth quarter, as posing a particular challenge Continue reading “Life saving appliances service schedules should be maintained warns Survitec”

MB92 Barcelona has reorganised its operations department in drive to increase efficiency

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Jordi Ariet of MB92 Barcelona (pictured) has announced a reorganisation of the business
Jordi Ariet of MB92 Barcelona (pictured) has announced a reorganisation of the business

Refit, repair and maintenance shipyard MB92 Barcelona has announced the reorganisation of its Operations department in order to increase efficiency and cater for the important workload since the launch of the new 4,800T shiplift last year. It follows the departure of Miquel À. Lliteras, Shipyard Manager, who after 21 years, has decided to start a new professional adventure.

The new Operations structure comprises HSE, Project Management, Project Administration and Operations Management, and will be headed by Jordi Ariet who has been with the company for more than 15 years. Jordi, who trained as a marine engineer, began his career at MB92 Barcelona as a Project Manager and progressed through the company before becoming Project Director in 2011 and Director of Continue reading “MB92 Barcelona has reorganised its operations department in drive to increase efficiency”

Sembcorp Marine and BV newbuild remote surveys trial is successful

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Successful trials of newbuild remote surveys could lead to a new class procedure for the remote inspection of vessels under construction
Successful trials of newbuild remote surveys could lead to a new class procedure for the remote inspection of vessels under construction

Bureau Veritas (BV), Nokia and Sembcorp Marine, have successfully completed newbuild remote surveys that pave the way for establishing a new class procedure for the remote inspection of vessels under construction.

The new solution enables newbuild remote surveys to be performed at multiple locations with feedback transmitted to a single monitoring station. This optimizes the waiting time between surveys and increases operational efficiencies by providing connectivity between all stakeholders involved, while minimizing inspectors’ and workers’ exposure to onsite safety risks, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continue reading “Sembcorp Marine and BV newbuild remote surveys trial is successful”

Fishing vessel owners found guilty of safety breaches in MCA prosecution

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Fishing vessel owners found guilty of safety breaches in MCA prosecution
Fishing vessel owners found guilty of safety breaches in MCA prosecution

The company owners of two UK-registered fishing vessels which went to sea without the correct certification have been found guilty in a MCA prosecution and fined a total of £4,000.

Philomena Trawlers Ltd and D&G Seafoods Ltd were represented by defence lawyer Paul Rogers at the hearing at Southampton Magistrates Court on Friday, August 28.

Both companies pleaded guilty to charges of offences Contrary to Regulations 5(1)(b) and 5(4) of the Fishing Vessels (Codes of Practice) Regulations 2017. Philomena Trawlers Ltd were fined £1,000 and D&G Seafoods Ltd were fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,380. Continue reading “Fishing vessel owners found guilty of safety breaches in MCA prosecution”

Bunkering Technical Reference on Methanol guidance issued by Lloyds Register and Methanol Institute

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Procedures for safe bunkering of methanol are included in the new Bunkering Technical Reference on Methanol by Lloyds Register and Methanol Institute
Procedures for safe bunkering of methanol are included in the new Bunkering Technical Reference on Methanol by Lloyds Register and Methanol Institute

UK-based classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) and the Methanol Institute (MI) have released a Bunkering Technical Reference on Methanol. The new guidance outlines the procedures required for the safe bunkering of methanol and incorporates dedicated checklists to assist shipowners/operators, ports, bunker suppliers and other stakeholders with safe storage and handling, it said.

LR notes methanol is already in use as a marine fuel on several vessel types. Compared with traditional heavy fuel oil options, its sulphur-free characteristics and lower GHG emissions than conventional fuel can support owners with efforts to meet IMO2020 regulations, it explained.

Continue reading “Bunkering Technical Reference on Methanol guidance issued by Lloyds Register and Methanol Institute”

The elephant in the room: What do remote surveys mean for the marine surveying profession?

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Are remote surveys the future for the profession?
Are remote surveys the future for the profession?

Many things have changed in the past few months and not all of them good as we have learned to cope with tragedy and a new way of living courtesy of the pandemic. COVID-19 certainly has a lot to answer for, but out of the situation that was forced upon the profession, a new way of surveying is fast emerging, particularly in the area of commercial ships and offshore assets. I refer to remote surveying, actually not new, but probably unimaginable to most of us just a few years ago; and a shock to the system of more traditional surveyors and those sceptics amongst us too undoubtedly. They are suddenly fashionable – the talk of the town it appears – and the pandemic has fuelled the latent demand for remote surveys.

Can a vessel really be successfully surveyed remotely? The answer is, of course, yes, but how detailed are remote surveys and what depth of Continue reading “The elephant in the room: What do remote surveys mean for the marine surveying profession?”

NTSB prepares to finalise report on Conception dive boat fire

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Due to the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the first hearing into one of the most serious marine casualties in the U.S. in recent memory will be held via teleconference. The National Transportation Safety Board has scheduled its first public session on the loss of the dive boat Conception for the morning of October 20, The NTSB’s five-member board will vote on the findings, probable cause and recommendations in a draft of the board’s not-yet-released final report.

The dive boat Conception burned and sank in the early hours of September 2, 2019 off Santa Cruz Island, California. 34 people lost their lives in the accident, putting it among the ranks of the deadliest civilian marine casualties in recent U.S. history.

Continue reading “NTSB prepares to finalise report on Conception dive boat fire”

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